How To Boil Water Camping: 15 Quick And Safe Ways

Are you looking for how to boil water camping? I’ve got you covered!

Boiling water is an essential part of camping, whether you’re cooking a meal or just need to sanitize some drinking water. My husband needs his hot morning coffee to start the day so learning how to boil water is one of the first camping hacks I had to learn.

Choosing how to boil your water depends on a few factors including what you have access to (are fires allowed, do you have a car?, do you have power?), how much water you need (just a cup for yourself or a litre for a group) and your altitude (some gases don’t work well at high altitudes).

Here are 15 different ways how you can boil water when camping so you can have a safe and enjoyable experience. From solar energy to firewood and more, there’s a method here for everyone!

So read on for how to safely and quickly get boiling hot water while out in the great outdoors.

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1. With A Saucepan Over A Campfire

This is one of the most popular ways how to boil water camping. To do this safely, use a saucepan with a lid to prevent ash from going in the water, and make sure to use a pot with no plastic handles- as it could melt.

Be aware that this can take some time for the water to boil. Use thick leather gloves to take the saucepan off the fire.

A saucepan can also be used to cook a meal so some campers like that it has multiple purposes compared to a kettle.

Some places like national parks in summer may have fire bans so campfires are not permitted. So having another way to boil water is essential.

2. With A Camping Kettle Over A Campfire

In Australia, this is called a Billy. It is one of the most efficient ways to boil water camping. Most camping kettles are made of durable material and come with a wide base so they won’t easily tip over on the campfire.

Some kettles whistle once the water is boiled so you can leave it on the campfire and then do something else whilst waiting for it to boil.

Choose a kettle with a solid handle to make it easier to lift off the campfire once the water is boiled. Use gloves!!! It will be hot!

I love that cooking over a campfire is a nice way to sit down and relax in nature.

3. Charcoal Grill

Some campsites have grills set up and ready to use. You just need to BYO charcoal. They are also allowed when fires are not permitted. Using a charcoal grill to boil water is not a very fast method as the coals take a while to heat up enough to boil water.

However, if you’re not in a rush, and are using the grill to cook dinner. Then you can leave it on to boil some water in a saucepan or kettle afterward as the coals will still be hot for at least an hour.

4. Gas Barbeque

This is a popular item to take off-grid camping. You just need to take a gas bottle too and then a saucepan or kettle to hold the water.

A BBQ is a great option when campfires are not permitted. However, given their size and weight, they are really only suitable if you are going car camping.

We are going to buy a Weber Baby Q for our Big Lap. Everyone talks about how good they are and it will fit perfectly in the tunnel boot in our caravan.

5. Ghillie Kettle/ Kelly Kettle

A Ghillie kettle or Kelly kettle is an old-fashioned way how to boil water camping.

It is like a double-walled chimney with water contained within the chimney walls.

This is how it works: You fill the kettle with cold water and light a fire in the compartment below. The heat from the fire will travel up and cause a convection current that helps to boil water quicker. You can use twigs and dry leaves for the fire.

These kettles are lightweight and compact so they’re great for smaller groups or solo campers who want something easy to carry with them.

The lid is also a handy whistle so you know when you’re water is boiled.

They can boil 1 litre of water in 3-5 minutes.

Here is a great video that shows how the Ghillie kettle works.

6. Camp Stove

Camp stoves are great for boiling water when camping where campfires aren’t allowed.

The great thing about stoves is how consistent and reliable the heat source is, so they boil water much faster than campfires or wood stoves. Although you need to ensure there is a wind break so the flame doesn’t go out.

Though they are more expensive, it might be worth investing in one if you go camping often. They also save on fuel since campfires can use a lot of wood to get started and keep lit.

You can use a saucepan or a kettle to boil water on a camp stove. You can also use your camp stove to cook your dinner.

We have this Coleman Gas 2 Burner Camping Stove that we take car camping and it’s been so easy to use. It has an instant start ignition button and wind block system. It runs on LPG/ propane.

7. Alcohol Stove

Alcohol stoves are great for backpacking or hiking trips as they weigh less than a camp stove or BBQ.

You’ll need to use outdoor cookware that fits. Most alcohol stoves have one flame setting. This is fine for bringing water to a boil but isn’t great for cooking a meal.

Alcohol can easily be carried in plastic bottles by hikers to save weight and space.

8. Spirit Burner

A spirit burner is a perfect option for someone who wants to travel lighter and to higher altitudes in more remote locations.

Popular with mountaineers these tiny burners can be fuelled with hand sanitiser gel or spirit fuel. When lit it may not be that obvious as you can’t see a flame.

They have an adjustable simmer lid that can move so you can adjust the amount of heat coming out.

You can place a Trangia Japanese tea pot over it. They are lightweight and can hold 1 litre of water.

You may need to create a windbreak for this setup or use some tent pegs to raise the tea pot off the spirit burner to allow more airflow. This is one of the slowest methods to boil water. It may take 10 minutes to boil a litre of water.

9. Jet Boil

The Jet-boil system is a super fast method to boil water. It is great for those who want to boil water camping in the quickest time possible.

Jet Boil’s technology uses a propane and lightweight aluminum canister to fuel their efficient stoves. The hot water is ready in just minutes!

Plus, it’s easy to transport as everything collapses into one container for storage.

10. With Solar Energy Using A Solar Kettle

If you’re expecting lots of sunshine on your camping trip you could use a solar kettle. This method may not be the most efficient but it works.

Under ideal conditions, a sun kettle can heat 16.9 oz (500 ml) of water to boiling in less than an hour! Though, if weather is not the best for you – don’t worry; it might take a bit longer.

11. 12V Car Cigarette Lighter Kettle

If you’re car camping you can use a kettle that plugs into your cigarette lighter in your car.

I’ve heard some people say their kettle takes 30 minutes to boil so it’s worth checking out the different models available.

12. 12V Car Immersion Heater

These are a cheap and convenient way to heat up a mug of water for a coffee. It takes about 3 minutes to get to a nice temperature, not boiling, for a hot cuppa.

The wire may get hot so don’t leave it unattended.

13. Induction Pot On An Induction Stove

If you are staying at a caravan park with power or are lucky enough like us to have 240V power from a solar panel and inverter in your car then you can run an induction stove and boil water with an induction-friendly saucepan.

I often tell my husband this is a five star campers method. I love that we can use our induction stove at home too and inside our caravan.

14. Electric Kettle/ Collapsible Kettle

This is another method that requires 240V power so this is for five star campers that are either at a campground with power or have their own power system with inverter.

There are a few different electric kettles on the market. I bought my husband one like this for Father’s Day and we tried it out last week when we went camping.

Here is a pic of the electric kettle on the side of our cruiser balancing in front of our slide out fridge.

It was fast and efficient taking about 3 minutes. However, it was quite small and didn’t make a full mug of coffee. We had to fill it up twice at night when my friend and I wanted a herbal tea.

So be to sure to check the capacity of the kettle before purchasing.

A collapsible electric kettle like this popup kettle requires 2 hands to pop it open and packs up pretty easy with one hand into any nook or cranny.

It takes 5 minutes to boil 600 ml of water so it’s pretty efficient to boil enough water to make a coffee or tea for you and a friend. It also turns itself off automatically which is very clever.

15. Microwave

If you’re camping at a caravan park or campground with a public camp kitchen they might have a microwave so you can simply pour some water into a mug and put it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes depending how hot you like it.

Just be sure to use a microwave-safe mug.

This is the easiest option and doesn’t require you to make a campfire or use any electricity.

How To Boil Water Camping FAQs

What’s The Fastest Way To Boil Water While Camping?

The fastest way to boil water while camping is with an electric kettle. Most models will heat up a pot of water in just minutes, making them a great way to enjoy a hot cup of tea or coffee while you’re camping. However, if you don’t have access to electricity then a jet-boil system is the fastest way to boil water while out in the wilderness.

How Long Does It Take To Boil Water For Camping?

It depends on how you’re boiling the water. Using a campfire, it can take 15-20 minutes to boil a liter of water. Using a stovetop, about 5 minutes. With an electric kettle, just 3 minutes. And with a jet-boil system, it takes as little as 90 seconds.

How Do You Boil Water In A Tent?

Boiling water in a tent is not recommended as it poses the risk of fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. Instead, you should boil your water outside of the tent and pour it into a mug or container before taking it inside.

Final Thoughts On How To Boil Water Camping

Those are my 15 quick and safe ways how to boil water when camping – from using a saucepan over a campfire to a stovetop. With the right method, boiling water will be easy no matter how remote your campsite location is.

So how to boil water camping is really just a matter of finding the right method for your needs.

Try a few different ways until you find a few methods that suit your different styles of camping. Wishing you many happy camping adventures with your family and friends!

For more camping articles check out this page.