If you have ever considered starting the great American outdoor tradition of camping with your family, then you definitely need to invest in the best family tent that money can buy. While camping can be the ultimate bonding experience for you and your family, it is best if you have the protection and shelter to keep everyone safe in the tent.
Going on a camping trip with an unworthy tent can really be a dangerous choice for all those involved. The experience can also lead to resentment. Hence, when choosing a camping tent, it is important that you look for certain valuable features.
Firstly, the tent should be able to accommodate all the members of your family securely. Sometimes though, it may be impossible to get everyone under the same tent. Other valuable features that you should seek include proper ventilation and waterproof rating to protect you and your possessions from the rain.
If you are lucky, some manufacturers would include air mattresses with the purchase of your tents, so you no longer have to worry about them or a sleeping bag. With that said, let us look at three tents that you can consider purchasing.
Best Family Tents: Our Top Picks
The Ozark Trail Family Cabin Tent was created for a large family to enjoy camping the way it was meant to be enjoyed. It comes with dividers, so parents and kids can have some privacy and to give you that ‘at home’ feeling with your family. The only difference is that you are getting the experience outdoors.
Features
- Available in 10 colors and seven styles
- Size Dimension: 20 ft x 10 ft x 78 inches
- Fiberglass poles
- Weather protection
- One central door and two side doors
- Six windows
- Tape fly seams
- Full coverage
- Maximum Capacity: ten individuals; three queen-sized mattresses
- Comes with one queen and one twin air mattress
- Comes with everything that is needed for setup
Pros
- Roomy with three separate rooms
- Good ventilation
- Provides a panoramic view of the camping site
- Suitable for rainy or foggy conditions
- Complete package
Cons
- Cannot be purchased by persons residing in California
- Better when put up with two persons
- High winds can break poles and rip the tent
- May need to be held down with tow straps
- Replacement parts are hard to find
- Door cannot be locked
- Needs a lot of space to set up
The Timber Ridge Large Family Tent is also designed with the family in mind. The dome-shaped tent will make your stay safe as it is reinforced with high strength poles and frames. There is no need to worry about bugs because its mesh body not only enables ventilation but prevents mosquitoes and bugs from disturbing your rest.
Features
- Made of 190 T polyester material
- Fiberglass frame
- PU Coating
- Top mesh panel
- Height: 80 inches
- Maximum Capacity: 10 persons
- Two doors
- One room divider
- Two room spaces
- Five windows
- Comes with one inner tent, flysheet, carrying bag, four guy ropes, 14 steel stakes
- One-year manufacturer’s warranty
- Available in blue and green colors
Pros
- Provides maximum cross ventilation
- Suitable for beach campsites
- Can be used in three seasons
- Effortless entry and exit
- Easy and quick to set up and stabilize
- Easy to store and transport
- Provides privacy if needed
- Keeps occupants dry
- Risk-free purchase
- Large enough for a set of bunk beds
Cons
- Not suggested for use on a rainy day
- Zipper is difficult to open and close when wet
- Room divider does not extend across the inside of the tent
The Battop 4-Person Tent promises an instant pop-up family camping and backpacking experience. It is a double-layered tent that is waterproof and suitable for four seasons. The tent is dome shaped and has a spacious interior.
Features
- Sleeps up to four persons
- Size Dimension: 86.7 x 86.7 x 51.2 inches
- Automatic high strength fiberglass frame system
- Single inner tent with large mesh windows
- Made of 190T waterproof polyester
- Comes with a lantern hook, a storage bag, and six fixed windproof ropes
Pros
- Compact and lightweight
- Users can move comfortably while in the tent
- Easy to install and store
- Stable and durable
- Can be set up by one person without assistance
- Suited for sunny or on heavily rainy days
- Anti-mosquito design
- Provides excellent ventilation
- Has space to store or secure small items like keys, phones etc.
- Can be carried in your backpack for space saving
- Looks nice
Cons
- Zipper is a bit fragile
- Tall persons may have to bend on their knees to fit in the tent
- Difficult to take down
- Low maximum capacity
- Not very well ventilated with the rain flap on
- You may get wet during a torrential downpour
- Instructions may not be included with your purchase
Conclusion
Based on the product reviews above, you can note that it would be difficult to find the best family tent for camping. You may have found a tent that can comfortably fit the members of your immediate and some of your extended family, but it may not protect you in a thunderstorm. You might have also decided to buy the tent that is capable of keeping you dry during a drizzle, but it may not be able to hold every member of your family, so you may be forced to buy several of the same tents.
With that said, let us run down the three camping tents we discussed above. The Ozark Trail and Timber Ridge tents are most suitable for persons with larger families. So, if you want to go camping with several persons, either one of these tents will do.
However, if you want some privacy, the Ozark Trail Tent may be the better buy since it divides into three rooms for its campers and has air mattresses. It’s best not to set up this tent in windy areas though.
On the other hand, the Battop tent is suitable for a small family. Despite its claims to protect you from wind, it cannot accommodate more than two adults and is more suitable for your kids’ sleepovers or individual camping trips.
Best Family Tents: Our Top Picks
Ozark Trail Family Cabin Tent
The Ozark Trail Family Cabin Tent was created for a large family to enjoy camping the way it was meant to be enjoyed. It comes with dividers, so parents and kids can have some privacy and to give you that ‘at home’ feeling with your family. The only difference is that you are getting the experience outdoors. [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”B07BYM9MPP” locale=”US” src=”https://campshores.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/41iJqqN5KmL.jpg” tag=”HPD” width=”500″] [easyazon_cta align=”center” identifier=”B07BYM9MPP” key=”wide-orange” locale=”US” tag=”HPD”]Features
- Available in 10 colors and seven styles
- Size Dimension: 20 ft x 10 ft x 78 inches
- Fiberglass poles
- Weather protection
- One central door and two side doors
- Six windows
- Tape fly seams
- Full coverage
- Maximum Capacity: ten individuals; three queen-sized mattresses
- Comes with one queen and one twin air mattress
- Comes with everything that is needed for setup
Pros
- Roomy with three separate rooms
- Good ventilation
- Provides a panoramic view of the camping site
- Suitable for rainy or foggy conditions
- Complete package
Cons
- Cannot be purchased by persons residing in California
- Better when put up with two persons
- High winds can break poles and rip the tent
- May need to be held down with tow straps
- Replacement parts are hard to find
- Door cannot be locked
- Needs a lot of space to set up
Timber Ridge Large Family Tent
The Timber Ridge Large Family Tent is also designed with the family in mind. The dome-shaped tent will make your stay safe as it is reinforced with high strength poles and frames. There is no need to worry about bugs because its mesh body not only enables ventilation but prevents mosquitoes and bugs from disturbing your rest. [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”B017B9PDZ4″ locale=”US” src=”https://campshores.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/41PiN6C3PnL.jpg” tag=”HPD” width=”500″] [easyazon_cta align=”center” identifier=”B017B9PDZ4″ key=”wide-orange” locale=”US” tag=”HPD”]Features
- Made of 190 T polyester material
- Fiberglass frame
- PU Coating
- Top mesh panel
- Height: 80 inches
- Maximum Capacity: 10 persons
- Two doors
- One room divider
- Two room spaces
- Five windows
- Comes with one inner tent, flysheet, carrying bag, four guy ropes, 14 steel stakes
- One-year manufacturer’s warranty
- Available in blue and green colors
Pros
- Provides maximum cross ventilation
- Suitable for beach campsites
- Can be used in three seasons
- Effortless entry and exit
- Easy and quick to set up and stabilize
- Easy to store and transport
- Provides privacy if needed
- Keeps occupants dry
- Risk-free purchase
- Large enough for a set of bunk beds
Cons
- Not suggested for use on a rainy day
- Zipper is difficult to open and close when wet
- Room divider does not extend across the inside of the tent
Battop 4-Person Tent
The Battop 4-Person Tent promises an instant pop-up family camping and backpacking experience. It is a double-layered tent that is waterproof and suitable for four seasons. The tent is dome shaped and has a spacious interior. [easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”B078WPH2TN” locale=”US” src=”https://campshores.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/51yDKzzAufL.jpg” tag=”HPD” width=”500″] [easyazon_cta align=”center” identifier=”B078WPH2TN” key=”wide-orange” locale=”US” tag=”HPD”]Features
- Sleeps up to four persons
- Size Dimension: 86.7 x 86.7 x 51.2 inches
- Automatic high strength fiberglass frame system
- Single inner tent with large mesh windows
- Made of 190T waterproof polyester
- Comes with a lantern hook, a storage bag, and six fixed windproof ropes
Pros
- Compact and lightweight
- Users can move comfortably while in the tent
- Easy to install and store
- Stable and durable
- Can be set up by one person without assistance
- Suited for sunny or on heavily rainy days
- Anti-mosquito design
- Provides excellent ventilation
- Has space to store or secure small items like keys, phones etc.
- Can be carried in your backpack for space saving
- Looks nice
Cons
- Zipper is a bit fragile
- Tall persons may have to bend on their knees to fit in the tent
- Difficult to take down
- Low maximum capacity
- Not very well ventilated with the rain flap on
- You may get wet during a torrential downpour
- Instructions may not be included with your purchase
Conclusion
Based on the product reviews above, you can note that it would be difficult to find the best family tent for camping. You may have found a tent that can comfortably fit the members of your immediate and some of your extended family, but it may not protect you in a thunderstorm. You might have also decided to buy the tent that is capable of keeping you dry during a drizzle, but it may not be able to hold every member of your family, so you may be forced to buy several of the same tents. With that said, let us run down the three camping tents we discussed above. [easyazon_link identifier=”B07BYM9MPP” locale=”US” tag=”HPD”]The Ozark Trail and Timber Ridge tents[/easyazon_link] are most suitable for persons with larger families. So, if you want to go camping with several persons, either one of these tents will do. However, if you want some privacy, the Ozark Trail Tent may be the better buy since it divides into three rooms for its campers and has air mattresses. It’s best not to set up this tent in windy areas though. On the other hand, the Battop tent is suitable for a small family. Despite its claims to protect you from wind, it cannot accommodate more than two adults and is more suitable for your kids’ sleepovers or individual camping trips.Our website author Tom is a devoted outdoor enthusiast and active blogger who has a profound love for the great outdoors, especially camping and kayaking.
This passion for the outdoors combined with studying an MSc. in Product Design, and working as a Product Engineer gives him the perfect combination of experience and expertise to help guide you on the best camping and kayaking gear.
Tom aims to inspire other travellers to appreciate nature’s beauty by sharing their experiences, wisdom, and intriguing stories in engrossing blog articles. He believes in working to promote respect for and preservation of our priceless landscapes out of a dedication to environmental stewardship.
Join Tom on their quest to find undiscovered treasures, exchange helpful advice, and arouse awe for the vast outdoors.