Have you been wanting to try tent camping with your dog? One of your top concerns is probably finding a tent that won’t fall apart with your dog walking around it, especially if your dog likes to scratch or dig.
We’ve researched the best tents for camping with dogs that have the sturdiest floors and walls to keep your tent lasting for a long time, even in the presence of your furry friend.
Keep reading to discover the best tent for camping with dogs! At the end, we’ll walk you through what we considered when choosing our favorite tents. We’ll also discuss frequently asked questions by buyers of tents for camping with dogs.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
REI Co-Op Wonderland X Tent
Best Floor
Coleman WeatherMaster Camping Tent
Best for Backpacking
Timber Ridge 2-Person Backpacking Tent
Best Family Tent
Wenzel Klondike 8 Person Water Resistant Tent
Best Weather-Resistant Tent
Cabela’s Alaskan Guide Model Geodesic 4-Person Tent
Best Overall
REI Co-Op Wonderland X Tent
The REI Co-Op Wonderland X Tent is not only durable, but it provides plenty of space indoors and outdoors under a canopy so you and your pup can stay cool while enjoying the fresh air.
This is a versatile tent for camping with dogs. The inner tent can easily be moved back to create more space to hang out, or it can be removed entirely to create a large community shelter for socializing, cooking, and eating.
It also comes with plenty of pockets to store items off the ground–which makes this the best tent for camping with dogs who are mischievous
This is a freestanding tent, but it comes with 20 stakes, 16 reflective guy lines, and 4 additional guylines with cleat-lock tighteners and a pole repair sleeve for extra security.
Size: four-Person Tent
Pros
- A versatile tent that has multiple uses
- Easy entry for you and your dog
- Heavy duty and sturdy with 150-denier coated polyester flooring
Cons
- Expensive
- Requires a lot of setup time
Best Floor
Coleman WeatherMaster Camping Tent
The Coleman WeatherMaster Camping Tent will easily fit a small family with a couple of dogs comfortably, and it has the sturdiest floor we’ve found. This tent’s floor is well-built with welding-inspired technology intended to eliminate needle holes that can cause leakage or snags. Its wind-strong frame and protected seams also make it a great fit for camping with dogs, since they will have a difficult time tipping it over or damaging it with their claws.
This tent also has a bug-free screen room, so you and your pup can enjoy a safe place to relax during the day. The screen room offers additional sleeping space on extra warm nights.
Size: six-Person Tent
Pros
- Sturdy, durable tent with a 1,000-denier polyethylene floor
- Rainfly and carry bag included
- An auto-closing screen door
Cons
- Challenging to set up
- Large
Best for Backpacking
Timber Ridge Backpacking Tent
Sometimes you just want to take a backpacking trip with just you and your dog. The Timber Ridge 2-Person Backpacking Tent only weighs 6 pounds and is made from durable, dog-safe material.
The big D-shaped doors make for easy entrance as well as ventilation. This is an excellent tent for camping with dogs, and you can rest assured you and your pup will be cozy.
Size: two-Person Tent
Pros
- Lightweight
- Easy to assemble
- Easy entrance
Cons
- Albeit lightweight for this list, it’s heavy for a backpacking tent
Best Family Tent
Wenzel Klondike Water Resistant Tent
If you want to camp with the whole family, then the Wenzel Klondike 8-Person Water Resistant Tent is the best tent for camping with dogs and kids. It comes with a convertible screen room with a T-Styled door and inside zipper windows.
It comes with two mesh accessory pockets, a spacious interior with plenty of headroom, and a screened-in second room to provide great airflow during the heat. This room can be zipped up to act as a second room, to give your family plenty of privacy.
Size: eight-Person Tent
Pros
- Amazing amount of space
- Easy setup
- Well constructed
Cons
- Heavy and bulky
Best Weather-Resistant Tent
Cabela’s Alaskan Guide Model Geodesic 4-Person Tent
Cabela’s Alaskan Guide Model Geodesic 4-Person Tent has been tested to survive the most extreme conditions. This tent has 25 years of actual Alaskan field testing handling strong winds that destroy other tents, and we’ve tested and reviewed it ourselves.
The durability of this tent makes it an excellent tent for camping with dogs. It’s incredibly stable with a state-of-the-art shape and a strong frame created from 7 shock-coded fiberglass poles.
The durable floor has an extra 3,000 mm-rated coating. It has three mesh windows and D-styled windows for ventilation, and an easy entry D-shaped door.
Size: four-Person Tent
Pros
- Abrasion-resistant floor, made from 210-denier polyester Oxford
- Gear loft and three mesh pockets
- Easy to set up
Cons
- Heavy
Best Tent for Camping With Dogs Buyer’s Guide
Tent Weight
When choosing the best tents for camping with dogs, we prefer heavier models. Heavier tents are made from stronger fabrics that won’t rip as easily when your dog walks across it–or if they paw at the door to be let out.
Number of People and Dogs
You should always factor in how many dogs and people will be coming with you to determine which tent will be the best fit. Many people like to buy a size up for the actual number of people who will be camping.
For example, a 2-person backpacking tent might be a tight fit for two people, but it’s the perfect size for a man and his 40-pound dog.
Deciding whether you need a four-, six-, or eight-person tent can be tricky when kids and dogs are involved. You need to consider how your dogs will be sleeping. We always recommend bringing your dog their dog sleeping bag.
At the same time, we understand some dogs refuse to sleep anywhere except on top of their owners, which ultimately takes up less space.
To get an idea of how much space you need, add up the dimensions of your sleeping bags. Factor in whether you will be using a sleeping pad or air mattress as well since air mattresses take up more room.
We do not recommend using air mattresses when tent camping with dogs because their claws can easily puncture the mattress.
You might be wondering if you should just play it safe and buy the biggest tent. This is not necessary unless you need the space.
Having a tent that is too big has disadvantages, such as being too heavy and not holding up in the wind as well as smaller tents. Larger tents also take more time to heat up in the cooler months. Some campgrounds also charge more for extra large tents.
Freestanding vs. Non-Freestanding
A freestanding tent can hold its shape on its own, and a non-freestanding tent needs to be staked out. When selecting a tent for camping with dogs, a freestanding tent is ideal.
Freestanding tents, in general, are sturdier. Instead of stakes, they rely on poles to maintain their shape. You also won’t have to worry about your dog running over the guy lines and collapsing your whole tent.
Even though freestanding tents can be supported by themselves without stakes, it’s still a wise idea to stake them to the ground to make them more stable (and prevent them from blowing away in a heavy wind gust).
Floor Denier
The term denier refers to the material’s thickness. When selecting the best tents for camping with dogs, we looked at the floor durability and denier. The higher the denier, the stronger the floor, which is extremely important for protection from your pup’s claws.
Ease of Entrance
When choosing the best tents for camping with dogs, we looked for tents that were easy to access. The last thing you want is to be fumbling with a zipper when your dog has to go out to do their business!
Best Tent for Camping With Dogs Frequently Asked Questions
What should I bring for my dog while tent camping?
We recommend bringing these 15 essential items when tent camping with dogs.
Do dogs get cold in tents?
Absolutely! Dogs may have a fur coat, but they get cold just like we do. That’s why it’s important to create a safe, comfortable environment in your tent for your dog with either a dog bed for camping or a dog sleeping bag.
How do I protect my tent floor from dog nails?
This is the biggest worry pet owners face when tent camping with dogs! If you have a dog who likes to dig and claw at your tent, even the sturdiest tents can wear down. We recommend the following:
- Trim your dog’s nails before every camping trip and bring a pair of nail trimmers for the trip
- Cover your tent floor with a tarp, blanket, ground cloth, or tiles
- Never leave your dog in the tent alone–anxious dogs are more likely to tear up the floor
- Exercise your dog–take an extra long hike. If your pup is exhausted, they will be too tired to do any damage
- Teach your dog commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “leave it,” so they will learn to be obedient in the tent. Teaching your dog commands will make navigating your camping trip with your dog much easier, period.
Wrapping up the Best Tent for Camping With Dogs
Now you know all about the best tents for camping with dogs. If you’re looking for more tips and tricks about camping with dogs, Camping With Dogs: How to Make the Most of the Great Outdoors will share with you everything you need to know about going into the wilderness with man’s best friend!
- About the Author
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Nicole Kinkade grew up in campgrounds in the Midwest with her family in their RV and has many fond memories around the campfire. She and her husband took many tent camping trips at the beginning of their relationship, and she looks forward to sharing the outdoors with her young son as he gets older.
She loves discovering new camping techniques and sharing them with the world. With a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Media Communication, she is a passionate writer who loves sharing her knowledge online.
Nicole can be reached at nicolek.author@gmail.com