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Thanksgiving Weekend at a Hocking Hills Cabin: Order Firewood Before You Arrive

Thanksgiving falls on November 26 this year. Settle the firewood a week ahead and the only thing left to worry about is the turkey.

October 30, 2026 · 10 min read · Last checked: October 30, 2026

The dates, and when to order

Thanksgiving 2026 is Thursday, November 26. Most cabin groups arrive Wednesday or Thursday and leave Saturday or Sunday, so the holiday weekend runs roughly November 25 to 29.

Our firewood delivery page says the best time to order is as soon as you book the cabin. A few days is usually enough. A week is comfortable in peak season, which it names as October, November and busy summer weekends.

For Thanksgiving, that puts the comfortable order date around Thursday, November 19. Same-day delivery on a peak weekend is harder, though the delivery page says it is worth asking.

How much firewood: understanding the units

Firewood is sold in several units, and they are easy to confuse. Here is what each one means, based on Ohio's rules and how we sell.

Cord

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) defines a cord as wood stacked 8 feet long, 4 feet high and 4 feet wide, or 128 cubic feet. ODA says non-packaged firewood in Ohio must be sold by the cord or by fractions of a cord.

Face cord or rick

You will still hear people talk about a "face cord" or "rick." ODA's consumer guidance says selling by those units, or by the truckload, is illegal in Ohio. Their size also varies with log length, which is why the term causes so many arguments.

Bundle

Bundles are the shrink-wrapped packs sold at gas stations and camp stores. Sizes vary by brand. Wayne National Forest only allows commercially packaged wood with a USDA inspection label, so bundles have a place there.

Tote

We deliver in 27-gallon totes. They are easy to carry and easy to stack beside a fire ring, fireplace or hot tub.

Rather than guess at a conversion, text us your group size and number of nights. Our delivery page says the reply includes a recommended quantity, so you are not doing math on vacation. Our article comparing a firewood bundle and a face cord covers the units in more detail.

What to ask your cabin host first

Hocking Hills cabins vary widely. Some have a wood fireplace, a wood stove and a fire ring. Others have gas logs indoors and a fire pit outside. Ask before you order, so you are not left with wood you cannot burn.

1. Is the indoor fireplace wood-burning, gas or decorative? Gas logs and decorative fireboxes cannot take wood. Our guide on asking before ordering for an indoor fireplace explains what to look for.
2. Is there an outdoor fire ring or pit, and is it open for use? Some hosts close fire pits in dry spells or by policy.
3. Is any firewood supplied? Many cabins leave a starter amount. Ask how much, so you only order the difference.
4. Where should wood be dropped? A woodshed, a covered porch, or by the fire ring. Our crew stacks it where you say.
5. Is there a gate code or access restriction before check-in? If early access is restricted, our delivery page says we schedule after check-in.
6. Where does the ash go? Ask whether there is a lidded metal ash can outside.

Ohio burn rules for a November weekend

November is one of Ohio's restricted burning months. Two sets of rules matter for a fire pit, and your host's rules come on top of both.

The 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. rule

Ohio Revised Code section 1503.18 bars open-air fires that burn wood, brush, weeds, grass or rubbish between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. in March, April, May, October and November. It applies outside municipal limits, which covers most Hocking Hills cabin country.

The law also says a fire in or near woodland must have flammable material cleared to a safe distance. A Spectrum News report from October 8, 2026 cited the restriction and advised checking with your local fire department before lighting any outdoor fire.

In practice, plan fire-pit time for after 6 p.m. In late November that is after dark anyway.

Ohio EPA's recreational fire limits

Ohio EPA rule 3745-19-03 allows campfires and recreational fires without notice, with conditions. The fire must burn clean seasoned firewood or a similar clean fuel. It cannot be used to burn waste.

The rule caps the total fuel area at 3 feet or less across and 2 feet or less high. It also says the fire should be no larger than needed for its purpose.

Burn bans

Drought can trigger stricter orders. In October 2024, the State Fire Marshal issued an open burning order covering 24 counties, including Hocking, that banned campfires and bonfires. We found no 2026 order during our checks for this article. Ask your host the week of the trip, since orders can come quickly.

Fire-pit safety for a holiday crowd

Thanksgiving groups are bigger than usual, with kids, grandparents and a dog or two. The October 2026 Spectrum News report shared these tips from state officials:

• Use only a designated fire ring or pit.
• Keep the fire at least 25 feet from any structure.
• Clear leaves and other flammable material from around the ring.
• Stay away from steep slopes, overhanging branches and dry grass.
• Never leave the fire unattended, and put it out fully before bed.
• Keep water or an extinguisher close, and keep kids and pets back.

Late November leaves are dry and plentiful. A quick rake around the ring before the first fire takes five minutes and removes the most likely path for an escape.

Indoors, the U.S. Fire Administration says to keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from the fireplace. It also says to put ashes in a lidded metal container outside, at least 10 feet from the building.

Arrival day logistics

Here is how a Thanksgiving delivery typically works, based on our delivery page.

1. Text the details. Address or cabin name, arrival date and time, nights, group size and access notes.
2. Get a reply. During business hours we reply within a few hours with a recommended quantity, pricing, a delivery window of about two hours, and payment options.
3. Approve by text. No paperwork, no online form.
4. Delivery. Usually the morning of arrival or the day before. The crew stacks wood near the fire ring or woodshed and texts photos if you are not there.
5. Pay on delivery. Cash, Venmo, Zelle or card.
6. Restock if needed. Text the same number. Restocks inside the free area are usually same-day or next-day.

The site header also shows a delivery status. "Delivering today" means we are loaded and on the road. If it shows "Fire is out," you can still text to pre-order for the next delivery window.

Once the wood arrives, keep it dry. Leave totes under the porch roof or in the woodshed, not on open ground.

Large groups and multi-cabin gatherings

Some families rent two or three neighboring cabins for the holiday. If so, send one text that lists each cabin and its drop spot. It keeps the quantities straight and saves a second trip.

Tell us which cabins have an indoor wood fireplace and which only have a fire pit. That changes the recommendation. Our guide to ordering firewood for a large cabin group has more on splitting an order.

For a big Friday-night fire, remember the Ohio EPA size cap still applies. A fire that stays within 3 feet across, fed steadily, lasts longer than one big pile that burns down in an hour.

Frequently asked questions