Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (2024)

Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (1)

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Camping is a great way to enjoy the great outdoors without having to spend a fortune on a resort or hotel. But to ensure your next adventure is comfortable and cozy, it’s important to invest in a high-quality, durable tent to protect you and your family.

A spacious camping tent is not only a place for you to sleep and store your belongings, but it helps keep out unexpected critters as well as shields you from sudden showers. Whether you’re looking for a lightweight tent that’s easy to set up and pack up or one that’s suitable for the entire family, our pros have narrowed down the best camping tents for your next vacation or road trip.

The experts and analysts in the Good Housekeeping Institute have tested outdoor and travel gear for decades, from hiking boots to hiking shoes, hiking socks and backpacks. To evaluate the best camping tents, we looked at a number of factors: Is the tent easy to set up and carry around? Is it spacious and comfortable? Is it durable and able to stand up to the elements? After extensive vetting and evaluations, we think these are the best camping tents you can buy.

Our top picks:

After our top picks, continue reading to learn what to look for when shopping for a camping tent as well as how we tested the best camping tents.

1

Best Overall Camping Tent

Eureka Jade Canyon X4

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1

Best Overall Camping Tent

Eureka Jade Canyon X4

Pros
  • Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (8)Easy, quick set up and disassembly
  • Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (9)Spacious and comfortable
  • Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (10)High-quality construction
  • Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (11)Tall height
Cons
  • Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (12)Heavy to carry

Ideal for small families or groups of four seeking a super spacious, comfortable tent, this camping tent has four storage pockets for organizing books, tablets and other essentials like solar phone chargers. Not only does it feature a large 64-square-foot footprint, but it's one of the tallest tents featured with a maximum height of seven feet so taller campers will no longer have to slouch when moving around or changing inside.

In our previous Lab tests, the Jade Canyon received top scores for performance, and our Lab experts found it to be one of the easiest to set up and take down. Just keep in mind that its weight comes in at just over 20 pounds, making it quite heavy to carry.

Capacity4 person
Floor area64 ft²
Weight21 lbs. 3.2 oz.
Height7'

2

Best Value Camping Tent

Marmot Limestone Tent

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2

Best Value Camping Tent

Marmot Limestone Tent

Pros
  • Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (14)Lightweight
  • Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (15)Spacious, comfortable and well-ventilated
  • Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (16)Excellent construction
  • Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (17)Features two doors and two vestibules
Cons
  • Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (18)Peak height could be greater

You may not want to spend a fortune if you only camp once or twice a year, which is where this camping tent from Marmot is appealing. Though you may sacrifice some floor area with the Limestone Tent, our pros note that it's one of the lightest tents on this list and of great value and excellent construction.

Not only is it easy to carry around, but it comes with two handy doors for easy entry and exit as well as two vestibules for added comfort. In Lab tests, it received top scores for durability and the fly cover left behind no water residue in our rain spray test. While we think the tent height could be taller, our pros found it super easy to set up and take down.

Capacity4 person
Floor area59.2 ft²
Weight10 lbs 13.5 oz.
Height5.25'
Pros
  • Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (20)Spacious floor area and tall tent height
  • Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (21)Vestibule included
  • Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (22)Waterproof
Cons
  • Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (23)Only has one door

Need a camping tent that'll fit the kids too? Look no further than this six-person tent from The North Face. In previous Lab tests, The North Face camping tents received top-notch performance scores and we expect the Wawona to be no exception. According to the brand, this camping tent is waterproof and should be able to handle summer rain showers.

What our pros like most is that it includes a vestibule that gives the tent a homey feel and offers some much-needed shade on sunny days as well as gear storage. We also appreciate that the interior of the tent has a large floor area and nearly seven foot center height. In addition to internal storage pockets, this tent comes with ceiling pockets that make it easy to hold headlamps and lights for the perfect home away from home.

Capacity6 person
Floor area86.11 ft²
Weight20 lbs. 15 oz.
Height 6.6'

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4

Best 4 Person Camping Tent

REI Co-op Wonderland 4 Tent

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4

Best 4 Person Camping Tent

REI Co-op Wonderland 4 Tent

Pros
  • Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (25)Spacious floor area
  • Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (26)Features two doors
Cons
  • Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (27)Heavy

This camping tent's four-person capacity and 69.4 square foot floor area should feel spacious to most people. It even has a peak height of just over 6 feet, making it suitable for most campers. While we haven't tested this particular model yet, our pros found REI camping tents tested previously to be both easy to set up and take down. We love that this model features two doors for easy entry and exit, multiple storage options inside and great ventilation, according to online reviewers.

Capacity4 person
Floor area69.4 ft²
Weight21 lbs. 11 oz.
Height6.25'

5

Best Crossover Backpacking and Camping Tent

Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2

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5

Best Crossover Backpacking and Camping Tent

Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2

Pros
  • Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (29)Extremely lightweight and easy to carry
  • Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (30)Easy setup
  • Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (31)High-quality construction
Cons
  • Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (32)Pricey
  • Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (33)Not as spacious or tall as other tents

Planning a backpacking trip? Make sure to pack this tent from Big Agnes that can accommodate up to two people (or you and a furry friend). While it's a bit pricey and not nearly as spacious or tall as other camping tents featured, it's perfect if you're looking for an extremely lightweight design (it's only three pounds!). While we haven't tested this specific model in the Textiles Lab, Big Agnes tents were a top performer in previous camping tent tests, standing out for superior workmanship and easy setup. According to our pros, this tent should be just as easy to pack up and carry from one camping site to another.

Capacity2 person
Floor Area29 ft²
Weight3 lbs. 2 oz.
Height3.3'

How we test the best camping tents

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The Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles Lab has tested more than 170 different fitness and outdoor products over the past year, including snow boots, ski gloves, fleece-lined leggings, running jackets, base layers, workout leggings and ski goggles.

To find the best tents, our pros evaluated 10 camping tents for their ease of use, performance and durability. To determine ease of use, camping tents are measured for weight and size and scored for overall ease of carrying, ease of setup and ease of disassembly.

Performance scores are determined by analyzing a tent’s spaciousness, ventilation and overall comfort, noting any accessories and special features. Durability is assessed by scoring the tent’s overall workmanship, materials and construction.

Finally, each tent’s water repellency is evaluated by performing a spray test. While we tested the majority of camping tents featured above, we also considered top-performing brands, our personal favorites and popular styles with positive online consumer reviews.

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What to look for when shopping for a camping tent

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✔️ Size: One of the most important questions you should ask yourself is how many people will you be camping with and how spacious you want your tent to be. Check the floor area of each tent before purchasing, as well as the recommended capacity. Once you’ve settled on the right size, double-check the dimensions of the tent, paying particular attention to the tent height.

If you’re tall or will be camping with someone tall, you’ll want to opt for a tent with a greater height so you’re not always having to slouch over. Lastly, don’t overlook a camping tent’s weight. If you plan on backpacking you should look for a lightweight tent so it’s less of a burden to carry; just keep in might that in previous Lab tests, these tents have scored lower overall when it comes to spaciousness and comfort.

✔️ Ease of setup: A camping tent that is easy to set up will save you a lot of time and spare you from any frustration. Keep in mind that some tents will require at least two people to set up, and always practice setting up your tent at home before taking it out into the wilderness. While most tents are accompanied by clear instruction manuals, it might take you a few tries before you get the hang of it.

✔️ Durability: Ideally your camping tent should be made from high-quality materials and constructed to last a few years. Always check water-resistance claims since you want your camping tent to repel water and comfortably withstand rain showers and other unexpected weather.

✔️ Comfort: Camping and hiking isn't always comfortable, so you want your tent and sleeping grounds to be. Does the camping tent come with multiple doors for easy entry and exit? Are there any pocket storage or hooks to help store essentials? Some tents might even have lighting features, so make sure to decide which accessories are important to you before making a purchase.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

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For decades, the Good Housekeeping Institute has provided expert reviews and advice on the best gear you can buy for your outdoor adventures, whether you're going camping, hiking, skiing or snowboarding.

Media & Tech Reviews Analyst Olivia Lipski, who covers everything from travel to outdoor gear to fitness to consumer electronics and more, recently attended the 2023 Outdoor Retailer Snow Show to meet with various brands and evaluate camping equipment such as tents and accessories firsthand.

A North Carolina native, she grew up camping and knows firsthand how the right setup is key to having a great experience (and a good night's sleep).

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Olivia Lipski

Media & Tech Reviews Analyst

Olivia (she/her) is a media and tech product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, covering tech, home, auto, health and more. She has more than five years of experience writing about tech trends and innovation and, prior to joining GH in 2021, was a writer for Android Central, Lifewire and other media outlets. Olivia is a graduate of George Washington University, with a bachelor's degree in journalism, political science and French, and she holds a master’s degree in communications from Sciences Po Paris.

Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure (2024)

FAQs

Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure? ›

These are as follows: Best Overall Family Tent: Vaude Badawi 4. Best Value Tent for Family Camping: Kelty Rumpus 6. Best Bell Tent: Robens Klondike.

Which tent is best for a family? ›

These are as follows: Best Overall Family Tent: Vaude Badawi 4. Best Value Tent for Family Camping: Kelty Rumpus 6. Best Bell Tent: Robens Klondike.

What is the best tent to live in full time? ›

White Duck Regatta Canvas Bell Tent is the best overall tent for full-time living, due to its high-end features and versatility. The tent's rugged canvas material and waterproof finish make it ideal for all seasons, while the built-in stove jack provides a comfortable and warm experience even in cold weather.

Why are Eureka tents so expensive? ›

The most expensive, top-tier Eureka tents are closer to $350 to $550, and these tend to be really large, packed with features and have top-of-the-line weather protection technology.

What is the most stable tent shape? ›

Originally a 'geodesic' was the shortest route between two points on earth. Nowadays, it's used to describe a tent where the poles criss-cross over the surface, intersecting to form triangles. This distributes the stress across the structure, making it the most stable type of tent for extreme weather conditions.

Which tent type is the most popular and widely used? ›

The dome tent is the most common design today. It has two flexible tent poles that cross in the center and are anchored to the corners of the tent with stakes, creating a dome shape that makes this tent easily distinguishable from other types.

What are the 4 main types of tents? ›

Four types of tents which can be characterized by their unique shapes are A-Frame tents, Pyramid tents, Hoop tents , and Dome tents. tents tend not to be very spacious, given their ground surface area.

Which tent stays the coolest? ›

For summer camping, a 2- or 3-season tent is typically the best option because it provides some protection from unexpected weather but can still keep you cool if it's warm overnight. A 1-season tent could also work if you plan to only camp for shorter trips, in places that won't have much rain or wind.

How many years should a tent last? ›

They're also often made with heavier materials, making them more durable and long-lasting. A well-looked-after family tent should last you at least 5 years of regular use, but this can vary depending on the weather conditions it's been used in, how frequently it has been used, and how well you care for it.

What is the most comfortable thing to sleep on in a tent? ›

Inflatable sleeping mats offer the best combination of low weight and sleeping comfort. Down sleeping bags offer the best warmth to weight ratio, but in damp conditions synthetic is better. A three-season tent is usually more than adequate. Dome tents are ideal if you're camping on exposed precipices or hard ground.

Should I buy a family tent? ›

Before purchasing the tent, consider the number of people that will be staying inside and whether they will be able to move around comfortably. A good way to make sure there's plenty of space for everyone is by sizing up – if there are 4 people camping, consider a 5 person tent.

Which type of tent that can be used for large group or families? ›

Although they have some drawbacks, multi-room tents are the preferred choice for large family gatherings, as they will provide comfort and plenty of space - you could even fit multiple cots or air mattresses (in some tents even a king-size mattress) inside!

What tents do the military use? ›

The TCOP is a unique Eureka! designed tent produced for the U.S. Military. This individual shelter incorporates all of the important features requested by personnel in the field – dry, tough and fast by design.

What is the luxury version of camping? ›

Glamping is a fusion of "glamorous" and "camping" that offers travelers an opportunity to immerse themselves in nature without sacrificing comfort and luxury at any outdoor location.

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