{ TOP 10 } Best Family Tent – 2020 Reviews

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There is no better way to enjoy the great outdoors than with the whole family. However, finding a tent that your entire family will love is a challenge in itself.

To help you choose the perfect shelter for your next camping trip, we’ve created this ultimate family tent guide to get you started. Up next, we’ll introduce you to ten of our favorite family camping tents. Then, we’ll walk you through the basics of selecting a tent so you can get the model that’s best for your family.

Functional yet affordable, the Coleman Montana 8 is your home away from home for families on a budget. This cabin tent has a roomy interior with a 6’2” center height that can accommodate most campers.

The tent has a single hinged door that opens up for easy access to the interior. When you walk inside, you find that there’s plenty of space for up to three queen-sized beds as well as an abundance of storage pockets for staying organized. Plus, the Coleman Montana 8 comes with an included carry bag and a 1-year warranty so you can feel confident about your purchase.

• Affordable
• Lots of interior room
• Can fit 3 queen-size airbeds
• Plenty of gear storage pockets

• Not fully waterproof
• Will not hold up well in a storm
• Some durability concerns with long-term use

If you need a truly waterproof family tent that doesn’t skimp on comfort, the North Face Wawona 6 might just be what you’re looking for. This beast of a tent is easy to set up, thanks to its single-wall design. The inside of the tent has enough room to house 6 campers, as well as ample headroom for standing upright.

The Wawona 6 has a large front vestibule with two doors for easy entry and exit. There’s plenty of space to store gear inside the vestibule, which can also be used as a mudroom in bad weather. The tent also has large windows for added ventilation, as well as gear pockets and an internal drying line for plentiful gear organization.

• Very waterproof
• Massive vestibule for gear storage
• Internal drying lines and gear organizing pockets
• Large windows for ventilation
• Easy to set up

• Very heavy
• Only one room
• Expensive

Built specifically with car camping families in mind, the Big Agnes Titan mtnGLO 6 is a new take on a classic tent design. The Titan uses an external pole construction which makes set up a walk in the park. Inside, the tent is quite spacious and can comfortably sleep 6 campers, so it’s perfect for a small family.

The Titan can be pitched with an optional vestibule to double your living space and provide plenty of gear storage. It has built-in loops for installing a gear loft for added organization. The best part? You can easily string up some Big Agnes mtnGLO lights to illuminate the whole tent for some nighttime family fun!

• Easy to set up
• Plenty of gear storage options
• Can be used with mtnGLO lighting system

• Heavy
• Expensive
• Need to buy the vestibule separately
• Not fully waterproof without vestibule

The Nemo Wagontop 6 is all about luxury and comfort. This family camping tent has a unique design that prioritizes both functionality and livability all at the same time. The Wagontop has a fantastic peak height of 6’6”, so it can accommodate nearly every camper.

As far as livability goes, the Wagontop has vertical walls that allow for plenty of interior space, as well as overhangs at both ends with built-in ventilation. The tent has a single wall construction which is easy to set up, as well as large side windows for great views in the mountains. Plus, it has a huge vestibule that can be extended even further with the optional “garage” for all your gear storage needs.

• Lots of interior space
• Plenty of gear storage in massive vestibule
• Large windows for ventilation
• Easy to set up
• Very tall ceiling height

• Expensive
• Heavy
• Not great in very windy conditions

The CORE Instant Cabin Tent is a time-honored classic family tent design. This tent features instant setup technology, which allows it to be pitched in just 60 seconds, thanks to its pre-attached poles.

The CORE Instant Cabin has enough space for 9 campers to sleep comfortably at night. It has ample hanging storage pockets, as well as a two room divider, so you can have separate living and sleeping spaces in your tent. Plus, the Instant cabin has an integrated ventilation system to help keep things cool and comfortable in the warm summer months.

• Very spacious
• Lots of interior gear storage options
• Included room divider
• Large windows for ventilation
• Instant set up design

• Not waterproof
• Not great in high winds

If you like to camp all year round, the Dream House Outdoor Canvas Tent is a must-have for your family. This bell-shaped tent has a simple design and only one central pole. The entire tent is made of a robust cotton canvas that is warm in the winter and breathable in the summer.

The tent is fully waterproof and has four ventilation holes for maximum comfort. There is plenty of room inside the tent to sleep a small family. Plus, the tent has a removable groundsheet that can be deployed for camping on snow or muddy terrain all year long.

• Very spacious with lots of living space
• Fully waterproof design
• Built-in windows and ventilation
• Removable groundsheet
• Good for four-season use

• Very heavy
• Takes a while to set up
• Car camping only

When it comes to sheer functionality, it’s hard to beat the CORE Lighted Instant Cabin 10. This ideal family tent can be set up in just minutes, thanks to its pop-up design. The tent has a staggering 7’ ceiling height so it is comfortable for pretty much every camper.

Inside, you can easily fit two air beds or 10 campers in their sleeping bags. The tent also has a massive screen room, which is perfect for outdoor relaxation, even when the bugs are out in full force. If all of that wasn’t enough, the tent also has built-in LED lights to illuminate your living space at night with just the flick of a switch.

• Built-in LED lighting system
• Massive screen porch for added living space
• Plenty of interior space
• Easy to set up

• Expensive
• Not fully waterproof
• No interior room divider

If your family loves to backpack, you’re going to have a hard time finding a better tent than the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 4. As one of the best-selling 4 person backpacking tents around, the Copper Spur is the perfect companion for any family trip to the mountains.

This tent has steep-sided walls that maximize the interior living space. It also has two large vestibules that can easily be converted into awnings for a bit of extra shade. Inside, there are plenty of built-in gear pockets to keep things organized, while the tent’s rainfly keeps you dry in any weather. Oh, and this tent is super light, so it’s great for any family adventure.

• Very lightweight
• Vestibules can be converted into awnings
• Plenty of interior gear storage
• Steep sided walls for comfort

• Can’t stand fully upright
• Three season use only
• Very expensive

With room for a family of 5, the Mountainsmith Conifer 5 is a solid all-around family tent for car camping. This tent is designed mostly for base camping and has a nice 6’2” interior height for your comfort. With 84 square feet of floor space, the Conifer 5 has plenty of room for everyone in the family to stretch out and relax.

The tent has a handful of gear storage pockets to keep things organized. It has two doors and two vestibules, which provide ample storage for the whole family. Plus, the tent fly has ventilation windows to provide maximum breathability during those warm summer nights.

• Fully waterproof
• Large vestibules for gear storage
• Interior gear pockets
• Tall center height

• Some durability concerns
• Very heavy
• Large packed size

Housing the entire family is super simple with the Big Agnes Big House 6. This car camping tent can comfortably fit 6 campers for a weekend trip in the woods. Featuring straight-sided walls, the Big House 6 maximizes interior living space to keep you comfortable, even when you’re away from home.

The tent has two large doors with windows so you can ventilate the shelter on warm nights. It also has corner bin pockets for stashing your gear so everyone can have the personal space they need. Oh, and the tent can be pitched with just the fly if you need a quick shelter on your family hike.

• Quick and easy to set up
• Tall center height 
• Lots of interior space
• Built-in gear storage
• Good ventilation

• No vestibules
• Not fully waterproof
• Heavy

Since a family tent needs to be trusted to comfortably and safely house your partner and your children, you need to be sure that you’re buying the right shelter for your needs. So, in this section, we’ll discuss some of the many things you should know when buying a family tent.

How to Choose a Family Tent?

Before we even get into the nitty-gritty details of family tents, let’s talk first about how you go about choosing one in the first place. With so many different tents on the market today, it’s imperative that you find a family tent that works for you. Here’s what you should consider before you start shopping:

Sleeping Capacity

The number of people that can fit comfortably inside a tent at any given time is known as the tent’s “sleeping capacity.” The sleeping capacity of a tent has a direct correlation on the overall size of the shelter. So, you can expect that a 10 person tent will be substantially larger and heavier than a 5 person model.

However, we can’t really give you advice on the size tent you need. Indeed, this is something you have to determine based on the needs of your family. What we can say, however, is that it’s wise to consider getting a slightly larger tent than you actually need.

This is particularly true for families with children, as kids seem to take up a whole lot of space. Plus, as your children get older, they’ll want more personal space. So, a larger tent can help accommodate everyone’s privacy needs while also giving everyone the space they need to stretch out and relax.

Seasons

The vast majority of family tents are made for “three season” use. This means that they’re not designed to be used during the winter months.

If you plan to camp in the winter, though, you’ll need to look for a four season tent. These tents are going to be reinforced to handle the extra weight and pressure of heavy snow and high winds. However, they will also be heavier and more expensive than their three season counterparts.

Some of the best four season family tents will be made from canvas, which is a highly durable and versatile material. Canvas tents are great for year round use as they are spacious and comfortable. But, they can be tricky to set up and quite expensive, so they’re not ideal for infrequent campers.

Number of Rooms

Some modern family tents even come with built-in room dividers so everyone can have some privacy, even when you’re outside. These room dividers are particularly useful for families with children. As children age, they’ll start craving personal space, so having a tent with room dividers can keep everyone happy.

A tent with room dividers can also help separate your living and sleeping areas. Or, it can create two separate sleeping quarters if you’re camping with extended family or even some friends.

However, not all family tents have room dividers, so you should pay close attention as you read tent reviews if this is something you’d value in your next family camping shelter. If you do want room dividers, you can sometimes find a tent that has 3 or more rooms for added comfort and flexibility while camping.

Key Considerations for Choosing a Family Tent

Once you have a general idea of the kind of family tent you want, it’s time to start digging into the details of specific models. Here are some of the top things that you should look out for as you’re comparing different family tent models:

Ease of Set Up

Setting up a tent can be a tricky task, especially if you’re new to camping. Regardless of your camping experience, though, no one likes to waste time pitching a tent when they could be enjoying the great outdoors instead.

Thankfully, many tents now come with instant set-up technology, which allows them to be pitched in just a matter of minutes. This is ideal for busy families with young children that just want to get camp set up so they can maximize their time outside.

Keep in mind, though, that instant tents tend to be heavier than other options. Additionally, most instant tents are not fully waterproof, so they’re not ideal for backpacking or for use in particularly rainy environments.

If an instant tent isn’t right for you, you can always look for a tent with other good set-up features. Tents that are easy to set up will often have very few poles, as well as color-coded designs that simplify the entire pitching process.

Weight

The weight of a tent is one of the most important features to consider, particularly if you’re going to be backpacking with your family. Since no one wants to carry around more weight than they need to, a lightweight tent is ideal.

But, even if you’re not planning to backpack, the weight of your tent is still important. A very heavy tent is difficult to transport, even if it’s just from your car to the tent site.

However, always remember that some very lightweight tents sacrifice durability in favor of weight savings. So, lighter tents aren’t necessarily the best option.

Weather-Resistance

The main reason to buy a tent is so that you have some form of weather protection while you’re camping. Tents were originally designed to be waterproof shelters where you could rest for the night without getting soaked in a storm.

But, as tent styles evolved and manufacturers started creating tents more for comfort than for performance, their water-resistance started to flounder. Indeed, many of the larger cabin-style tents are not truly waterproof.

While they will keep you dry in a light drizzle, they will not hold up well in a major storm. The easiest way to see if a tent is truly waterproof is to look at its rainfly. If the rainfly doesn’t cover the whole tent, then the shelter is not completely waterproof.

This is fine for most car camping adventures in dry climates. But you should always look for a tent with a full-coverage rainfly for backpacking trips in remote terrain.

Gear Storage

A family goes camping with a whole lot of gear. So, it’s imperative that you have a way to store all of your gear and stay organized wherever life’s adventures might take you.

Most family camping tents will offer some form of gear storage. The vast majority of these tents will have built-in pockets that allow you to organize small pieces of gear, like clothing and headlamps inside the tent.

Additionally, the best tents will have some sort of vestibule or screen porch where you can safely store your gear outside. This is particularly beneficial in wet environments, where you need a place to stash your gear at night without bringing dirty equipment in the tent.

Doors and Entrances

The doors of a tent might seem like a relatively minor feature. But, if you think about how often you have to use a tent door, you’ll start to realize why they’re so important.

Small tent doors make it difficult to get in and out of your shelter at night. Plus, if your tent only has one door, you’ll have to crawl over your tent mates just to answer nature’s call.

At the same time, tents with many doors tend to be heavier and bulkier than their single-door counterparts. That being said, if you have a family, having a tent with multiple entrances will make things way more convenient for you in the long run. So, it’s probably worth the extra weight to have multiple doors.

Durability

The very last thing you want when you buy a new family tent is to have it break after just one trip. Thus, durability is one of the most important considerations in any family tent.

Tent durability is generally the result of the tent’s materials and design. Shelters built with more robust materials, like ripstop nylon, are going to last longer than those made with low-end fabrics. Of course, high-end products cost more, so you might have to pay a premium for that durability.

Additionally, tents that are designed well tend to last a long time. Unfortunately, while cabin-style tents are quite convenient and comfortable, they are not great for long-term durability. This is because they often get blown around in the wind and can rip easily in a storm.

The Verdict

Camping with the whole family is a great way to bond and enjoy the wonderful world of the outdoors. But, finding the best family tent is crucial to a successful trip. Every family is unique, so it’s important that you keep your family’s needs in mind when searching for that perfect tent.