Best Camping Tents 2023

Capacity: 4 people | Weight: 16.87 pounds | Floor Area: 59.7 square feet | Peak Height: 60 inches

The REI Co-op Base Camp 4 Tent checks nearly all the boxes for a basic, reliable camping tent: It’s a four-season tent that’ll fit up to four people with two doors for easy entry and exit. It’s crafted in a sturdy and rugged dome shape, which is ideal for maximum space to sit up and move around comfortably inside. It has good ventilation on the tent itself, and comes with a structured and reliable rain fly.

Weighing just under 17 pounds, this tent is light enough for smaller people to lug from the car to the campsite. Best of all, it’s simple to set up with color-coded poles and sleeves, so even if you don’t find yourself getting into the great outdoors very often, you’re not going to need to re-learn how to pitch your tent each time you use it.

It doesn’t come with a footprint, but at this great price, it’s easy to snag a solo one or use a tarp. Just note that if you plan to backpack while carrying your tent, you should look at other options on this list (the Base Camp 4 is a tad bit heavy for such endeavors).

Coleman 4-Person Sundome Tent

Capacity: 4 people | Weight: 4 pounds | Floor Area: 63 square feet | Peak Height: 59 inches

The Coleman Sundome is your classic tent: It’s relatively quick to set up, suitable for use in moderate rain and wind, and available in two-, three-, four- and six-person sizes (we recommend a four-person size for novice campers to be most comfortable with two to three people inside). With a dome shape, it maximizes space to stand in.

And of course, there’s no denying that the very reasonable price tag ($25 to $130, depending on the capacity) seals the deal.

We will admit that the sticker price does reflect the quality a bit—this tent isn’t going to stand up to high-speed gusts and the stakes are a bit thin. But when pitched a few times a year for fair-weather camping trips, this no-frills tent is a great value for your money—as evidenced by the thousands of global reviews posted on Amazon which allow the Coleman Sundome to maintain a respectable 4.7/5-star rating after over a decade on the market.

Capacity: 3 people | Weight: 18.1 pounds | Floor Area: 46.8 square feet | Peak Height: 52 inches

A difficult-to-set-up tent can deter novice campers from ever sleeping on the ground again—but not if you use the Decathlon Quechua 2. If you can pull a simple ripcord, you can set up this freestanding, dual-umbrella tent in less than a minute. It’s just that easy.

Decathlon offers a whole range of two- and three-person tents in its “2 Seconds” line, but we love this three-person version, which is the newest, most tricked-out model so far. It has a number of thoughtful features, such as T-shaped doors to help you exit while minimally disturbing your tent mates. Pockets on the ceiling and walls let you store your gear off the floor. And you can crack open a pair of special ventilation windows on warmer nights.

Note that the rainfly isn’t detachable so we don’t recommend this for camping in heavy heat, as you’ll want to maximize air flow on clear nights. But otherwise, the price is right for someone just getting into camping and not wanting to drop too much money yet (relative to competitors).

In other words, it’s not just a one-trick pony, but actually a well-designed, ecologically-minded tent that just happens to set up super fast.

Capacity: 4 people | Weight: 11.2 pounds | Floor Area: 59.2 square feet | Peak Height: 63 inches

Whether you’re in the market for a four-person tent to camp with friends, family or a pack of pups, it’s important to consider both floor space and overall volume. The Marmot Limestone’s vertical wall design increases overhead room compared to a standard camping tent, and while the peak height isn’t high enough for taller people to stand in, the tent feels very spacious.

The vestibule is also large enough that you can store plenty of gear to keep the interior clean and cozy. And with two large and easy-to-use D-shaped doors, you can leave the tent without worrying about waking your mates in the morning. This tent is designed for four people, but it’s easily set up by just two (or even one) thanks to its intuitive design and color-coded poles—especially at this great price.

Kelty Grand Mesa 2-Person Tent

Capacity: 2 people | Weight: 4.06 pounds | Floor Area: 30 square feet | Peak Height: 57 inches

If you’re camping solo or with a plus-one and looking to save on space, a two-person tent is all you need. At roughly 4 pounds, the Kelty Grand Mesa 2 is pretty lightweight for folks who usually car camp but might want a tent for backpacking here and there.

Essentially, it’s a two-pole dome tent with one door and a single vestibule. Just assemble the aluminum tent poles, snap them into the color-coded corners, hoist up the body and clip it to the poles, then throw on a rainfly if you like.

Keep in mind, we generally recommend sizing up to be more comfortable, so what you save on weight and bulk in this two-person tent, you compromise on space. If you’re looking for a more comfortable under-the-stars experience with your partner during car camping trips, McCrackin recommends snagging the four-person Kelty Grand Mesa, which offers an additional 24 square feet of additional floor space for just $75 more.

Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL1 Tent

Capacity: 1 person | Weight: 1.87 pounds | Floor Area: 19 square feet | Peak Height: 39 inches

If you backpack solo, a one-person tent will enable you to move light and fast as you shed weight from your pack. And, thanks to the minimal footprint of a one-person tent, you’ll open up a world of possibility for sleeping outside because you can pitch your shelter in tighter areas.

At less than 2 pounds, the freestanding Tiger Wall UL1 from Big Agnes may be featherlight but it still offers plenty of livability. You can sit up and comfortably change clothes inside, thanks to vertical sidewalls and ample headroom. The reflective guylines illuminate your tent so you can find it easily in the dark without tripping over stakes and ropes, and the huge mesh pocket on the interior provides plenty of storage space. We love that this tent also has color-coded poles and hooks to make set up simple.

However, as with any ultralight gear, be sure to treat it with care, as it’s a little less durable than its more rugged counterparts.

Capacity: 2 people | Weight: 3.25 pounds | Floor Area: 28 square feet | Peak Height: 43.5 inches

The versatility of this ultralight backpacking tent starts with the fact that its modest heft (less than 4 pounds) can be split into three storage sacks. Once the freestanding tent is set up, two of those sacks convert into gear storage pockets, while a translucent diffuser built into the third cleverly provides illumination when you drop your headlamp into it. In addition to its color-coded two-hub pole set, the Telos TR2 (and its big brother, the TR3) sports a special Tension Ridge pole system that angles up the walls, offering both easier entry and a greater volume once inside. Vents in the baseline and at the apex efficiently manage airflow, humidity and condensation while a waterproof, six-inch tub helps keep you and any floor-bound gear dry.

When not being used as protection for the tent, the Telos’s rainfly can be assembled with the help of two trekking poles as a separate, semi-open shelter. So in that way, this three-season system provides two structures in one. If you’ll be using it solo, we recommend practicing the set-up before you head into the backcountry as it can be a little tricky. But all in all, it’s one of the most well-rounded, ingeniously designed and highly functional tents out there.

Nemo Aurora Highrise Camping Tent

Capacity: 4 people | Weight: 13.75 pounds | Floor Area: 62.5 square feet | Peak Height: 75 inches

The Aurora Highrise is lighter, less expensive and offers a little more floor area than the REI Co-op Base Camp 4, our top pick for best overall camping tent. But where you may really be finding Nemo’s entry superior for you is in how its noticeably steep walls and extra 15 inches of height make it luxuriously walkable and cavernously spacious inside.

Other niceties include plenty of pockets for your gear and door clips to make entry and exit that much easier. Plus, its large side windows create better views and increased ventilation.

Note that because this tent is so structured, the rainfly can be a little tricky to get perfectly aligned and, overall, the tent is difficult to setup by yourself.

Capacity: 2 people | Weight: 2.6 pounds | Floor Area: 29 square feet | Peak Height: 40 inches

Compact and ultralight is the name of the game for a backpacking tent. The Cooper Spur 2 HV UL2 is one of Big Agnes’ lightest freestanding tents with two doors, but it doesn’t skimp on the features, making it one of the best backpacking tents on the market. 

The floor area is large enough to comfortably accommodate two people plus gear, and it’s tall enough to promote sitting fully upright in the center. Plus, it has dual-entry doors and vestibules. In fact, according to McCrackin, it’s “the best tent out there for overall space, quality and weight.”

Additionally, it features four mesh ceiling pockets as well as internal hang points for drying socks or hanging headlamps. The full mesh inner tent is great for stargazing and ventilation on hot nights, and a rainfly keeps you warm and dry when the wind or thunderstorms come rolling through. 

Just keep in mind, as with all ultralight gear, the material is much more delicate, so you need to take good care of it to ensure it’ll last season after season.

Capacity: 2 people |  Weight: 108 pounds | Floor Area: 27.4 square feet | Peak Height: 38 inches

Whereas traditional car camping simply refers to sleeping near your car, rooftop tents take vehicle-based camping to a whole new level. Bergdoll admits, “In the past, I’ve been a little critical of rooftop tents. But now a big part of me wants one. The technology is just starting to get really good.”

The 108-pound Thule Tepui Foothill folds down into an aerodynamic, compact package that leaves room for bikes, kayaks, or other cargo on your roof. 

Once you reach camp, the ​​telescopic internal frame poles allow for easy, one-person setup and breakdown. When folded out, the three-season tent offers plenty of head room and protection from the elements with a panoramic rear window and skylights for unobscured views of nature. A wide door and attached step ladder make for easy entry and exit, while the four-centimeter-thick foam mattress provides a comfortable night’s sleep.

Obviously, the biggest drawbacks of going the route of a rooftop tent is the added price, while its weight and setup process mean it’s likely to stay on your car all the time (at least all of camping season), and it requires a drive-up camping spot. But if you want to add a little excitement to your outdoor adventures—and stay safe and comfortable sleeping off the ground—the Thule Tepui is the way to go.