Best Large Family Tents for More Camping Fun 2023

Camping enthusiast, Wil Rickards, is an expert on outdoor gear and travel for Engearment, and says first-timers should really boils down what kind of camping they want to do.  "If you are going to carry your tent in a backpack, your needs will be very different than if you're car camping. If you're driving to a site, then weight is no longer as important. This means your tent can be bigger."

Think about the weather conditions where you'll be and what you'll mostly use your tent for. "Will you spend a lot of time in your tent? If you do, you may prefer being able to stand up inside."

If you are just going to sleep in your tent, explains Rickards, "your tent does not need to be as tall, which means it may weigh less, take up less space when packed, and be easier to put up."

Don't invest in an expensive, large family tent if you're only going to use it once. For example, "If I'm going to a festival, then I will probably—I hate to admit this!—buy a disposable tent," explains Rickards. "It will likely be destroyed by the end of the weekend, so at this point, quality is not essential."

Best large family tents 2023

• Best overall: CORE Extended Dome Tent
• Best budget: Coleman 4-Person Sundome
• Best luxury: CG International Trading 4-Person
• Best all-weather: Bushnell Instant
• Best for very large groups: Ozark Trail 3-Room
• Best car camping tent: Timber Ridge SUV Large Tent
• Easiest assembly: Londtren Easy Pop-Up
• Best D-door: Kelty Discovery

Best overall

CORE Extended Dome Tent

With over 5,000 impressive reviews, this Amazon's Choice large family tent is sold in an eye-popping shade of orange to make it easy to find and fits up to nine people comfortably. Or, if you're packing bedding, it holds up to three air beds or five foldable mattresses.  One reviewer said the tent fit two queen mattresses and still had lots of room inside.

At 18 pounds, it's also moderately lightweight and comes with a carrying case made of water-resistant durable polyester. The aluminum poles that offer this bestseller its signature dome shape (some experts argue that domes hold up better against wind than triangular tents) are made of fiberglass. Choose from sizes 9.5mm, 8.5mm and 6.9mm sizes.

Once you finish stargazing through the mesh roof, you can cover it up with a water-resistant rainfly (cover) for additional weather protection. Another perk we love is the E-port located inside the tent which allows you to run an extension cord inside to inflate your beds or charge your mobile devices.

Pros

• Comes in wine shade as well
• Available in 11-person (higher pricer point)
• Features include an internal mesh shelf and lantern hook
• Sturdy velcro around the E-port helps keep bugs away

Cons

•  Small front door zipper area

Coleman 4-person Sundome

This basic but mighty large family tent has all the amenities you need for a quick camping trip or hiking adventure. Wonderfully priced at under $80, it sleeps four medium-sized adult people. Lightweight at just 10 pounds when carried, this tent is a solid option for newbie campers or those just looking for a place to chill and rest for a few hours.

The fabric's exclusive WeatherTec System protects against all elements, and the tent's adjustable airflow ventilation keeps mildew and heat away so it doesn't get sweaty and sticky inside. You can easily fit a queen-sized air mattress inside and still have room to spread out your stuff.

Pros

• Fantastic budget-friendly price
• Sturdy materials and construction
• Loads of five-star reviews from real shoppers
• Multiple size offerings

Cons

• May require floor padding from sleeping bags or mats if you plan to walk in and out of it often

CG International Trading 4-Person Tent

If "glamping" (glam-camping) is more your family's speed or you're nostalgic for retro inflatable furniture, this cabin-style large tent is perfect for your crew. It's an eye-catching, breathable tent that sleeps four people comfortably and literally looks like something from a tiny house reality TV show. It has a gorgeous slanted roof and all.

This cotton inflatable temporary home is made of rip-stop fabric and unfolded, it measures an impressive 114" x 80.7 x 78. That means tall people can stand inside of these chic cabin tents without crouching. There are two doors for easy enter and exit access. Rugged and impressively durable, this beauty is recommended for all four seasons.

For those who enjoy camping year round, take advantage of places to hang string lights, a clever mesh ventilation system, storage pocket and charging port. It comes with a manual pump to inflate or you can use an automatic pump, though the pump is sold separately.

Pros

• Quick inflation
• Sleek, modern design
• Front door is made of cloth (no zippers)
• Durable materials
• Fabric wipes clean with warm, soapy water (making it one of our favorite canvas tents of all time)
• Good ventilation

Cons

• Heavy to carry for a long distance at 40 pounds, though excellent for backyard adventures
• Not recommended for more than four campers

Bushnell Instant

Camp with confidence thanks to this rugged six-person large family tent that's that boasts hundreds of positive reviews from those who love sleeping under the stars. With lots of internal pockets inside the tent for all your accessories and gear (like DEET-free bug spray) and sprawling panoramic windows, we think this is a top-notch choice.

Two queen beds fit well inside and fans like that the tent closes up nicely, so it's nice and dark inside with no glaring sun rays peeping through when you're slumbering. Another great touch: the tent's fabric keeps the harsh sun's UV rays out. Made of sturdy and strong demere polyester to moisture out, this sturdy choice is bound to last for years.

We also love the tent's steel frame construction protects it from collapsing in harsh wind and rain. Many reviewers said it holds up well in moderate storms, which is also thanks to the brand's stain and puncture-proof SHIELD series properties.

Pros

• Ideal for both novice and seasoned campers
• Great for varying weather conditions
• Moderate price point
• Can be used at the beach
• Rainfly included

Cons

• A bit bulky at 27 pounds
• May need to seam-seal tent corners in very heavy rain

Ozark Trail 3-Room

Your gang will love this super roomy 16-person tent. That's right...it sleeps a whopping 16 people, so we really mean it when we say it's a large family tent! Three separate-yet-connecting rooms offer all the space and access large families can ask for. It features 230 square feet of interior space with an 80-inch height that makes it easy for even parents to stand in.

We love the other groovy amenities like three charging ports, a gear loft, storage hammock, added pockets for media devices and organizer pockets. That means your camping trip can stay clutter-free! It also comes with a nifty, removable movie screen (55-inch) if you want a family movie night under the stars.

The large rainfly can be removed and we love that the mesh windows keep even the teeniest of bugs away. The roll-style door flaps help with ventilation inside the tent. It also comes with an incredibly useful duffel-style storage bag for easy transportation.

Pros

• Oversized footprint is ideal for large groups and big families
• Loads of positive reviews
• Movable room dividers
• Easy set up and take down process
• Affordable price point
• Easy-to-clean material
• Largest on our list of multi-person tents housing up to 16 at a time

Cons

• Requires help to set up because if its size, so make sure you're a team of two or more

Timber Ridge SUV

According to Rickards, car camping usually means you drive your car to a specific location and pitch your tent near your automobile. Some people prefer to do this rather than hike a long distance will all their camp gear. Or, if you want to you can literally attach a tent to your car.

This clever SUV tent is made of polyester taffeta and connects to your trunk, adding plenty of storage and snoozing space. It's a standalone tent too (in case you want to transition). Accommodating five people in a spacious 10' x 10' interior with over 7.6' height, we think it's a brilliant large family tent option. Mesh bags organize all your gear and included power outlets charge devices.

A movie screen offers fun entertainment. This handsome tent is weatherproof with PU2000 coating, boasting ample ventilation is ample through a large door, mesh skylight and wide windows. Ideal for outdoor adventures, this full camping experience tent blends convenience, comfort and protection for families.

Safety note: Do not leave the engine running after installing this SUV tent to avoid exhaust fumes and fire.

Pros

• Turns just about any SUV into a camper
• Quality is better than expected
• Setup and takedown process won't damage your vehicle
• Makes camping anywhere an easy process
• Relatively affordable
• Clever access through the side of the tent

Cons

• May need separate bungees to secure it tightly to the tires
• Setup can take some getting used to, but after the second or third time you should be a pro

Londtren Easy Pop-up

This pop-up tent opens shockingly fast and with minimal effort. Lightweight at just 12 pounds, this family-friendly portable tent option is ideal for groups of kids, music festivals and summer camp adventures. It's compact, easy to carry and has UV50+ ultraviolet ray protection from the sun. Choose from green, navy and grey colorways.

When folded up, reviewers reported it's about the size of a hula-hoop, so keep this in mind when packing up your camping gear in the car. It's recommended for four people, is (very) waterproof, has two mesh windows with waterproof shades, two doors and easy-to-open and close door zippers. The bars that hold the tent up are sturdy and made of wind-resistant fiber.

Pros

• Quick, easy setup
• Weighs just 12 pounds, making it extremely portable
• UV50+ sun protection
• Fits up to four people comfortably
• Waterproof construction
• Mesh windows keep the bugs out

Cons

• Tight interior space, so may be best for smaller kids

Kelty Discovery

The main door of this colorful Kelty tent opens nice and wide for larger individuals and to carry in bulky items like chairs. This model is especially popular thanks to an easy-to-use D-door shape, which appeals to those seeking open format camping. This keeps a solid view of nature, the outdoors action and family. A unique X-pole shape layout at top and fiberglass poles make this a sturdy choice against the elements.

It comes with a full rainfly to keep water and moisture out. Users can sprawl out nicely inside thanks to the tent's wide vestibule shape. It weighs just 13 pounds, is popular with car campers and is a tent of choice for festival goers. This beauty measures 119" x 106" x 68"H and is one of the easiest tents on the market to set up.

It also comes with a stuff sac for your personal items like a wallet and phone. There's an easy set-up video on Amazon to follow along when you're ready to pitch this tent, and with conservation in mind, all Kelty tents are made with DWR/PFC-free fabrics and coatings, which reduces waste and negative environmental impacts.

Pros

• Clever D-door access
• Available in green and blue
• Fits a queen bed inside and still has extra room
• X-pole shape
• Lightweight design (just 13 pounds)
• Comes with a full rainfly

Cons

• Somewhat more expensive than other models on our list, but worth it for quality and construction
• Thin bottom (like most tents), so bring sleeping pads or cushy sleeping bags

Our selection of best tents for large families was based on active testing and feedback from frequent campers who hike and travel around the world—often with children in tow. These campers spend hours researching camp gear, especially tents, blogging and posting about their options, and explaining to new campers the importance of specific shapes, fabrics and hardware when looking for a new family tent.

Space inside—both resting and standing—was also taken into consideration, along with whether or not the tent held up well in wind, rain and sun.

FAQs

How do I find a high-quality large camping tent?

Kyle Ogilvie, Kelty marketing manager, has some timeless advice about shopping for the best family tents. "There are tons of great budget tents out there that don’t sacrifice in terms of quality and durability. Besides looking for high-quality materials—we recommend thicker, more durable fabrics."

Should a family tent have one vestibule (door) or two?

"If you are camping with other people, two doors can make a big difference for easy in and out. Does the tent you’re thinking about purchasing have an internal pocket to store and quickly access essential items like keys, phone and wallet? No one likes scrambling and fumbling for essentials in the dark. Are there vents to keep a little airflow coming in on warm nights?"

What should I look for in family tent setup?

Look for high quality materials "and a tent that you are comfortable setting up and breaking down at a moment’s notice. You never know when a pesky summer rainstorm will roll in, and we recommend taking your tent out for a few backyard test runs before the big adventure."

Experts:

• Wil Rickards of Engearment.com
• Kyle Ogilvie, Kelty Marketing Manager