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Jun 13, 2023

9 Best Car Camping Tents, According to Outdoor Experts 2023

By Johanna Flashman There’s nothing quite like driving up to a beautiful outdoor

By Johanna Flashman

There's nothing quite like driving up to a beautiful outdoor locale and setting up camp in an idyllic spot. Memorable excursions are filled with nights under the stars, roasting marshmallows over the fire, and enjoying nature with friends. One essential upgrade to this dreamy scenario? A good car camping tent.

The beauty of car camping—when you set up next to or in your car versus hiking into a campsite— is you can bring more gear than you could for a backpacking trip, and not worry so much about weight or space (this will, of course, depend on your car's size). Without those weight limitations, you can get gear that offers more comfort than your typical backpacking tent. With a car camping option, you can have enough floor space to stand up and walk around a couple of steps, mesh pockets on the walls for organization, room dividers, and plenty of room to store supplies.

If you have lots of gear or use large camping mats, Asia Bradford, founder of Black Girls Camp, recommends getting a tent made for roughly double the number of travelers. For example, if you’re camping luxuriously with five people, get a 10-person tent. Car camping with one other person? Opt for one made for three or four people You absolutely can make a two-person tent work for a duo, but it will likely be a bit cramped. Just know that the size rating for tents is a measurement for how many people can sleep inside, which means it could be a tight fit if you want space for anything else.

Car camping tents can range in price from under $100 to well over $2,000, depending on the size, quality, and luxury features. In beautiful dry weather, most tents will do the job for that one annual outing, but if you know you’ll be camping regularly or in the rain, it may be worth investing a little more in one that will be reliable for the long haul.

For a more detailed explanation of features and tent considerations, check out our full tent buying guide.

I’ve been an avid camper for almost a decade. My journeys have taken me to seven different states and internationally from Iceland to Spain, where I’ve spent plenty of intense rainy and snowy nights. I know all too well that if your tent leaks, breaks, or doesn't set up right, it's a massive buzzkill. At the same time, the right car camping tent can set you up to relax and enjoy the outdoors. So to help you find the right option for your next trip, we polled over a dozen camping experts for their picks. These were the nine tents that came out on top.

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As an outdoor travel writer, I’ve tested my fair share of tents over the years, and this one is the one I consistently go back to when car camping. The tent is well-ventilated with a large mesh front door, and double-wall construction (meaning it has a separate rainfly to put over the main tent for waterproofing and privacy). The three color-coded poles match up with the corners to make setup easy, and the whole structure packs up into a compact carry case.

Why we like it: While the tent is far from cheap, the high-quality material, superb waterproof rainfly, large vestibule, and impressive standing height can make it a worthwhile investment. Bonus: It has lots of organizational pockets for your phone, headlamp, wallet, journal, or whatever else you want to access easily.

Liz Ho, camping gear tester and founder of the website and YouTube channel Camping Guidance, has used the Napier Backroadz SUV Tent for many car camping trips. "It's been the perfect mix of convenience and comfort," she tell SELF.

Why we like it: Ho highlights important features like the vehicle sleeve (which connects car to tent), rainfly, and ventilation. The universal vehicle sleeve attaches to any SUV, crossover, or minivan so you can get into the back of your car without having to leave your tent. It can also convert to a fully standalone shelter if you’re ever sans vehicle. The rainfly and taped seams help keep you dry even in wet conditions, and the wide door and mesh windows keep the tent comfortable and ventilated in warmer temperatures.

This four-person tent is great for car camping trips with two to three people, Tiffany Lin, owner and author of the hiking and gear blog FollowTiffsJourney, tells SELF. "It's extremely spacious and you can stand inside it fully," says Lin. "It fits very large comfortable mattresses."

Why we like it: The House Party is a fun, brightly colored tent that features large doors on each end, and expansive large windows on the sides. The single-wall construction combines the rainfly and body, which makes setup and take-down easier. However, that also means you can't remove the rainfly (which typically leaves you with a mesh cover, offering more airflow on hot summer camping trips) like you can with a double-walled tent.

If you want a tent that's a breeze to set up and take down, this one has you covered. The Quechua 2 Second Easy tent might take slightly more than two seconds to pitch, but not by much! You simply roll it out, pull two strings, and you’ve got yourself a fully waterproof, spacious tent. The Fresh & Black design uses patented blackout fabric to keep the interior dark even when it's daytime, so you can sleep in past sunrise. Plus, the outside is strategically white to reflect light and keep the inside cooler.

Why we like it: Aside from its easy setup and blackout design, this tent can really withstand the worst weather. I tested this tent through three full days of constant British downpours and wind, followed by a week of on-and-off rain. During all of that, the only water that made its way in was some mild condensation on the inside of the rainfly. The main drawback: While it's fairly roomy, you can't stand up inside the tent, and it's truly only suited for two people.

If you want to experience both backpacking and car camping, but don't want to buy two different tents, a crossover option is your best bet. Backpacking tents will work fine for car camping in most cases—you just won't have as much room as you would with more specialized varieties. If you’re willing to sacrifice a bit of that comfort, a backpacking tent like the Half Dome SL 2+ will offer you some versatility. The Half Dome is a crowd favorite among backpackers and car campers, including Steve Warren, owner of the outdoor travel site Maps Over Coffee.

Why we like it: "We’ve tested the Half Dome 2 in every condition, from snowy winter camping in New York to rainy nights in Iceland," Warren tells SELF. Setup is quick and easy thanks to a single-hubbed pole set (meaning it comes with attached pole connectors to maximize space in the tent) and color-coded guides that indicate which end goes where, he says. Plus, Warren notes the spaciousness of the tent given the backpacking limitations: "There's plenty of headroom for such a packable tent and it's wide enough to fit a queen size mattress inside."

By Kayla Blanton

By Amy Marturana Winderl, C.P.T.

By Malia Griggs

For those who want to take car camping a little more literally, a rooftop tent is a convenient and comfortable choice. Rooftop options strap onto the top of your car and typically pop up when you’re ready to use them, which is an easy setup option at any campsite. They can also feel slightly more luxurious than regular tents because you’re lifted above the ground, and there's even space to store a comfortable foam mattress.

At the same time, rooftop tents are significantly more expensive and heavier than most ground ones and require some pre-travel prep work to get onto your car before you set out. That said, the Roofnest Sparrow addresses some of those concerns, which is why it's our pick for best rooftop car tent.

Why we like it: Samantha Juhan, a disabled traveler and author of the blog Hello It's Jasper, loves the Roofnest Sparrow rooftop tent for its ease of setup. "With my disability, I can find myself in situations where I am in immense pain or absolutely exhausted after a medical episode. At times like these, I need a camping method that is easy and fast to set up," Juhan tells SELF. "With the Roofnest Sparrow, all I have to do is unlock it and push up lightly for it to be 100% set up. I can leave all my sleeping gear inside the Sparrow and climb up with my service dog for a relaxing night."

Pet-friendly outdoor travel expert and founder of The Kas Pack Britt Kascjak uses Coleman's 6-Person Skydome when she goes car camping with her husband, three dogs, and two cats. This budget-friendly tent balances comfort, ease of setup, weather resistance, and durability to create a great no-nonsense car camping tent.

Why we like it: "The design of the tent involves a more vertical side before rounding off into the traditional dome shape," Kascjak tells SELF. "This makes the tent easy to set up like any other dome tent, but has the added benefit of more headroom so my husband, who is over 6 feet tall, can stand up more comfortably." The tent features a double-wall construction with mesh ventilation on the ceiling and halfway down the sides, along with a separate rainfly. Meanwhile, the durable nylon on the bottom half of the tent walls and the WeatherTec tub-like flooring keep Kascjak's pets safe overnight and hold up to excited paws.

Camping with kids is a classic family-time experience, but it's another factor to consider when choosing the best tent. You’ll want to opt for a shelter with extra room and storage capacity to keep everyone happy and comfortable throughout the trip. For Molly Foss, CEO and head writer of the blog Camping Critterz, the Marmot Limestone 6-Person Tent has been the perfect family camping tent for her, her husband, and her now six-year-old son.

Why we like it: "Our family of three has used this tent since our son was eight months old," Foss tells SELF. "A queen mattress and the pack ‘n play [a baby-safe play spot] fit in the Limestone with ample room for a diaper changing area. Now that my son has his own air mattress, we still fit with tons of extra room to spare." The tent features two doors and a full-coverage rainfly with vestibules at each door for extra storage space and convenience getting in and out. "Our tent has weathered many rain storms and never leaked once," says Foss.

By Kayla Blanton

By Amy Marturana Winderl, C.P.T.

By Malia Griggs

Bradford recommends this tent for larger groups who want a bit more privacy. Thanks to the room divider, this 10-person tent can separate into two rooms or serve as one large one. It fits three queen-size airbeds—or two with extra space for bags—making it great for a family of four or a group of friends.

Why we like it: The tent has two doorways including one hinged door that makes getting in and out of the tent a breeze. "You can tell by its name, WeatherMaster, that it works really well in inclement weather," says Bradford. The tent prevents leakage by keeping any seam needle holes tucked away, and a floor design with cornered welds that go up around six inches, creating a tub-like construction for maximum waterproofing. That said, some reviews say some moisture does seep through. With that in mind, it may be worth adding an extra waterproof layer to the rainfly or prioritizing yearly maintenance—that way, this car camping tent can continue to accompany all your outdoor adventures.

SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.