The summer travel season is in full swing, and many Americans plan to hit the road — or the skies — in the coming months. And if you’re heading out on a summer adventure, chances are your packing list looks a little different than it would in the winter. Think: swimsuits, sunscreen, and maybe even some camping gear for sleeping under the stars. But if that last category is on your list, you’ll want to take note — because the TSA just issued a stern warning that could change your plans.
The Transportation Security Administration recently took to Facebook to remind passengers that camp stoves with propane tanks attached are strictly prohibited in both carry-on and checked luggage. The post came after a traveler at Florida’s Pensacola International Airport attempted to bring one through security, unaware of the rules.
“Listen, friends,” the TSA wrote, “we love watching cooking shows as much as you do, but any top chef has to know that you cannot bring a stove with a propane tank attached through airport security in your carry-on bag.”
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While the stove itself isn’t banned — as long as it’s completely cleaned and contains no fuel residue — propane tanks are never allowed on planes, no matter where you pack them.
Each day, TSA screens more than 2.5 million passengers — and confiscates plenty of items along the way, from oversized liquids to loaded firearms (an eye-popping 6,678 firearms were intercepted in 2024 alone, with 94 percent of those weapons loaded).
Items like propane tanks aren’t just against the rules — they pose a serious safety risk. So before your next getaway to a camping destination, double-check your bags. A quick review of TSA’s “What Can I Bring?” list might just save you time and money, not to mention let you keep possession of your gear.
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