Perfect Family Camping Tents for Your Next Adventure

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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 at the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Textiles Lab 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? According to our pros, these are the best camping tents in 2023 to not only last you a few years but to keep everyone happy.

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.

Jade Canyon X4

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.

Limestone Tent

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.

Wawona 6

Need a camping tent that'll fit the kiddos 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.

Wonderland 4 Tent

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.

Copper Spur HV UL2

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.

How we test the best camping tents

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 make our selections above, 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.

What to look for when shopping for a camping tent

✔️ 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?

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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