9 Best Family Tents for Camping

Interested in family camping?

Then you need a family tent large enough for mom, dad, kids – and maybe even Fido.

But you also need a tent that’s durable and reliable. Of course, affordability is great as well.

We’ve hand-picked 9 of the best family camping tents to ensure you get the most bang from your buck.

The Best Family Tents for 2021

We’ll start with our number one pick and go from there.

These are the best tents for families available in 2021. Let us know if you have any questions!

1. REI Co-op Base Camp Tent

The REI Co-op Base Camp 4 is our number one choice for the best tent for family camping.

What’s so great about the REI Base Camp?

I love it because it’s well made. All of the materials, especially the rugged tent fabric and heavy-duty poles, hold up well (even to the wear and tear from camping with kids).

As someone who lives in a rainy environment (Washington State), I’m quite pleased with the overall waterproofing. The full coverage rainfly with small gear vestibule has kept me dry on all outings.

In my opinion, the Base Camp would probably even hold up for winter camping in snow, although I’ve only ever used it in milder winter weather.

Possibly the only downside to this REI family tent is its weight. It clocks in at a hefty 16 lbs 14 oz…pretty beefy, even for a car camping tent.

Not only is the Base Camp available in a 4-person model (featured here), it’s also offered as a 6-person model for larger families.

2. REI Co-op Grand Hut Tent

Looking for even more living space?

The REI Co-op Grand Hut 4 is our runner-up family tent after the REI Base Camp 4.

This cabin-style tent is very roomy thanks to its nearly vertical walls and rectangular floor plan to maximize livability.

In fact, the peak height is 75 inches (over 6 feet tall). It’s super nice to have a tent with enough room to stand up inside.

Despite its large design, the Grand Hut stands up surprisingly well to inclement weather. Like the Base Camp, it comes with a full coverage waterproof rainfly with small rainfly (perfect for storing muddy boots).

Now, I wouldn’t trust the Grand Hut in the winter, but it’s an excellent option for family tent camping in the summer and shoulder seasons.

Large family? Then the Grand Hut 6 might just be for you.

3. Kelty Discovery Dome Tent

Not every family needs a top-of-the-line tent with a premium price tag to boot.

For families on a budget, the Kelty Discovery Dome 6 is an awesome tent for car camping in the summer.

It’s not quite as weatherproof (although it does keep rain out) and it might not last quite as long as our top two choices, but there’s a reason we selected this Kelty tent as our top budget tent for families.

It’s very easy to set up. It has excellent ventilation for summer and decent waterproofing for rain. It has built-in guy lines and comes with tent stakes for those windy camping trips.

Although it’s quite spacious, the Kelty Discovery Dome Tent does have one fatal flaw…

It only has a single door.

If you’ve ever crammed six (or even just four) people into a tent, you know how valuable a two-door design is to prevent your kids from stepping on you when they need to use the bathroom at night!

For those on a budget, this Kelty tent is almost perfect. We just wish they’d add a dang second door!

Want to save even more money? The Kelty Discovery Dome 4 is slightly smaller, almost $50 cheaper, and perfect for three sleepers (four is way too crowded in our opinion).

4. NEMO Wagontop Tent

The NEMO Wagontop 6 is a unique-looking tent that’s perfect for large families.

It’s pole structure is not just unique looking, but it also maximizes livable space. The 80-inch peak height makes standing – and even walking – in this tent completely possible.

This top-rated family tent has a single-wall design which is somewhat uncommon. Luckily, large screened windows and the mesh door provide plenty of ventilation and breathability.

Need even more space? The optional Wagontop “garage” attaches where a normal vestibule would. It adds a huge amount of space – enough for a table with chairs.

Now for the cons. This tent is pretty dang tricky to set up alone. It’s also very heavy at around 27 pounds.

A 4-person model and an 8-person model are also available.

5. Caddis Rapid Tent

I like the Caddis Rapid 6 Tent because of all the interior space it offers.

All that extra room is not only nice when it’s bedtime, but also because of all the space for daytime activities and hanging out.

I personally find this family tent a little lower in quality than the others on this list. That’s not to say it’s poor quality, just that it’s not quite as robust as our top-rated models.

With that said, the Caddis Rapid is great for families that mainly stay in developed campsites like state parks and private campgrounds.

One final note – this tent is super easy to set up and take down. That in itself leaves you with more time for enjoying camping with your family – a major plus in my book.

6. The North Face Kaiju Tent

The North Face Kaiju 4 Tent is a solid 4-person family tent with enough room to stand up inside.

My favorite feature of this tent are the two doors, each with – get this – their own vestibule. These two features improve hugely improve overall livability.

What else do I like? Well, the ease of setting up is a plus. The three pole design is simple and straightforward (and strong!).

Last but not least is weight. The Kaiju is certainly not light in the grand scheme of things, but it’s pretty lightweight for a family tent at just 12 lbs 11.8 oz.

7. MSR Mutha Hubba NX 3 Tent

A quick note – all of the tents on our list so far (plus tent #8 and #9) are geared towards car camping with your family.

The MSR Mutha Hubba NX 3 is a little different. It’s actually a large backpacking tent that’s ideal for small families hitting the backcountry together.

I love MSR as a brand. All of their products are A+. The MSR Mutha Hubba is no exception.

Unlike some backpacking tents with oddly shaped floors, the Mutha Hubba has a rectangular floor. Combined with the much more vertical walls (compared to other backpacking tents), this makes for a lot of room inside.

How much room? Enough to comfortably sleep three adults (or, possibly, an adult and three kids) with backpacking gear inside the tent.

If you’re planning a family backpacking trip, keep this MSR tent on top of your list. (It weighs just 4 lbs 13 oz, by the way.)

8. Rightline Gear SUV Tent

The Rightline Gear SUV Tent takes car camping to a whole new level.

It actually attaches to the back of your vehicle to combine the interior space of your car itself with the tent.

Although it works on a wide range of vehicles, it’s most compatible with SUVs, minivans, and pickup trucks with truck caps.

Personally, I feel this tent is best for families with a vehicle that has enough room for one or two sleepers in it. Those sleepers sleep in the back of, say, the minivan, and everyone else sleeps in the tent. Yet, everyone is together in the same space.

As for its construction, the tent seems well made. The materials are strong, the rainfly is waterproof, and the large windows provide excellent ventilation.

That said, I’d reserve this tent only for camping in the summer – it’s probably not up to serious weather conditions.

9. Thule Tepui Explorer Autana 4 Tent

Rooftop tents are all the rage these days…

If you’re looking for a large rooftop tent with enough room for a family of four, then the Tepui Explorer Autana 4 is well worth a look.

The benefit of a rooftop tent for family camping is the ability to set it up anywhere at a moment’s notice.

A great option for family road trips, the tent takes just minutes to set up. It features a built-in mattress, a sturdy ladder, and a removable annex to facilitate access and add additional hangout space.

On top of that, this Tepui rooftop tent has awesome weatherproofing for year round use and great ventilation for those muggy summer nights.

Quick Family Tent FAQ

Here are a few quick answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about family camping tents.

Q: How big of a tent do I need for my family?

A: The right size tent all depends on the specific model’s dimensions, your personal preferences, and the size of the campers (kids take up less space). Personally, I prefer a tent rated for one more person than is using it. So, for 3 people, I use a 4-person tent. You’ll need even more room if you plan to keep gear inside of the tent!

Q: What to look for in a family tent?

A: The most important features to look for in a family tent are livable space (including peak height), materials (for waterproofing and durability), and packed size/weight (to make sure it fits in your vehicle). Of course, you also need a tent that’s large enough to fit your whole family!

Q: When’s the best time to buy a family tent?

A: We recommend shopping for a family tent at the start of winter. This is usually when stores start to mark down current year models in preparation for the next year’s models. In fact, we recommend looking at past year tent models – unless your family absolutely requires the latest and greatest.

Still have questions about which tent is right for you? Our camping tent buyer’s guide will help.

So, What’s Next?

A family camping tent is only one piece of the puzzle.

Rest assured you’re bringing all the required gear with our ultimate family camping checklist.

Still have questions? Let me know with a quick comment below.