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Camping tents come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and brands, enough so that the choices are as seemingly endless as the places to take them. Car campers, overlanders, and even backyard pros can find something that will keep them comfortable and hold up when the conditions turn. This doesn't have to mean a hiking excursion into the backcountry, but instead just a family camping tent that fits the bill for a typical family's size and budget to make the experience one that's enjoyable. Features such as ease of setup, take down, and even peak height make things a little more pleasant, whether you are at the local campground or in a national park. Any camping tent should have room for you and your family's favorite sleeping pad, air mattress, or cot setup along with the right airflow and enough space to make everyone happy.
There are a great many styles, sizes, and brands to choose from so how do you decide? It really comes down to personal choices, but we'll try to help. It doesn't always relate to the number in the family, but more so the comfort level desired. Do you have young ones who want to be close while camping? Or are they a little more grown, and require their own space? A week-long camping adventure also comes with a week's worth of clothes, footwear, toiletries, and camping games, not to mention all the cooking equipment that also needs to be stored.
Remember, sleeping space is one thing, but keeping your sanity is another! Having separate sleeping and living spaces can be the key, especially for larger families. Having a porch or vestibule area before getting inside of the tent can be a great advantage since it is one more defense against the dirt and insects. Those are just some of the things to keep in mind, but ultimately, the best tent is different for every familial group. Determine what you want, and then go through this list for more suggestions.
1. Best Tent for a Small Family
The Big Agnes Dog House 4 seems to pop up on every camper's list of favorite mid-size family camping tents. It has the room for four adults or a family with young children to rest easily and still keep the things they want and need close to them without losing room inside the shelter. It has plenty of floor space, but some may find the peak height of five feet (60 inches) a bit tight for changing clothes. It still has some great features, such as a partial fly the is pre-attached and pre-rigged guylines and tensioners that makes this system a breeze to set up. At under $280, you can spend more on a sleeping bag.
2. A 6-Person Tent With a Convenient Screen Room
Coleman 6-Person Weathermaster Cabin Camping Tent with Screen Room - Coleman, $272.06
This tent features an entrance area that's more akin to a porch than a vestibule, where the campers can stop to remove shoes or even flee a sudden rain without getting the sleeping area dirty. The Weathermaster fits two queen size air mattresses with room to spare and is meant for six people. It also has welded floors and inverted seams to keep the bad weather out. This Coleman tent can be divided into two rooms or used as is for families that prefer a close knit camping experience.
3. A Huge Camping Tent That Feels Like a Cabin
Ozark Trail 16x16-Feet 12-Person Instant Cabin Tent - Amazon, $292.98
This family camping beast sleeps 12, has two separate room dividers, a large front awning, 10 windows, plenty of pockets, access for electrical cords, and much more. It can be set up in just two minutes thanks to the smart construction, which actually has all the poles pre-attached to the tent. If you're serious about bringing the whole crew or truly have a large family, this is an option you should consider. The room dividers add a sense of privacy. This is a great option if you want the feel of a cabin without paying for a pricey Airbnb. It'll fit up to three queen air mattresses or 12 sleeping bags.
Hundreds of campers are impressed by this tent. One customer wrote: "This tent is easy to setup. The 1st time we setup - it took about 2 minutes without instructions. We took this tent camping for 4 nights. Rained and thunderstorm the last night we were there. We stayed dry. Everything worked as it should."
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NEXT: HOW TO MAKE TENT CAMPING MORE COMFORTABLE
