4 Best Large Camping Tents (2021)

After 12 hours of research evaluating 85 products, we picked Coleman Canyon Car 8-Person Tent for Camping as our top choice.

Camping can be fun for the whole family!

Between the cookouts, the beauty of nature, and the quality time spent together, it’s a great way to bond as parents, children, and siblings.

But it just won’t work without a large tent…

Lots of small tents may give you better privacy, but they’ll be a lot more work to set up. And when the weather turns cold, you’ll want more body heat to keep you toasty warm as you sleep.

That’s why large camping tents are so useful!

A big tent will give you one cozy place to stay all together, and you’ll be able to sleep in comfort and style all in one 8 to 12-person tent.

Want the best family tent for your group? Read our list below—curated after examining and testing hundreds of products and reading thousands of reviews.

Our list of tents will give you everything you need to take your family camping in style!

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.

#1 Best Knife Sharpener Overall

Coleman Canyon Car 8-Person Tent for Camping

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A rugged, family-friendly tent perfect for 3-season camping
Easy to set up, comes with user-friendly instructions
Comfortable, spacious, and customizable interior

Pros Cons

Excellent value, large-sized, roomy interior, lots of headroom for taller campers, can be divided into three separate rooms, wind-resistant, highly effective WeatherTec waterproofing, easy tent setup, vents and ports allow you to adjust air flow, highly durable, and rugged.

Heavy at nearly 25 pounds, and the zippers can be a bit delicate.

Product Ratings

Space

9/10

This tent is sized for 8 people, but you’ll find it’s not kidding about the size! You’ll have no trouble fitting 8 adults into this roomy tent—at 17 feet by 10 feet, it’s large enough to fit the whole family. Best of all, for taller campers, you get up to 72 inches of headroom at the dome, more than ample space to walk and move around in comfort!

Ease of Setup

9/10

The shock-corded poles make it easy to get this tent set up in 10 to 20 minutes, and you’ll love the easy-to-follow instructions. It may take a bit more work to learn how to set up the interior privacy walls, but they’re well worth it if you want to turn your tent’s interior into private compartments.

Weatherproofing

9.5/10

Coleman is famous for its WeatherTec system, which combines a wind-strong frame, weather-protected seams, waterproof floors, and zipper cuff protectors that keep water from seeping in. Though it’s not truly warm enough to be a winter tent, you’ll find it can keep out all but the most intense rain, sleet, and wind.

Plus, the tent comes with a rain cover that will do an amazing job of keeping water from seeping in.

Internal Comfort

9.5/10

Spacious is the word to describe the interior of this tent! With ample room for 8 full-sized adults—complete with air mattresses—you’ll have no problem fitting the whole family. Want privacy? Set up the three compartment panels to give you all the alone time you want.

The great thing about this tent is the Cool Air ports and the Variflo venting system, which allow you to let as much cold and hot air in and out as you want. Whether you’re camping in the heat of summer or the late-fall chill, you’ll be able to control air flow in and out of your tent to keep your gear dry and yourselves comfortable.

Value

9.5/10

At just over $100 for this tent, you’re getting amazing value at a price few competitors can beat! It’s the perfect tent for large families who want comfort, durability, and easy setup, all at an affordable cost.

#2 Best Family Tent for Luxury Camping

Wenzel 8 Person Klondike Tent

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A highly spacious, user-friendly tent that makes camping a breeze
Comfortable, roomy, and great for most-weather use
Durable; great design that lasts for years to come

Pros Cons

Comes with built-in screen room, very spacious, extra-tall dome height, durable polyester, great for spring and summer camping, 10-year warranty, 6 windows and 2 doors offer easy access and decent ventilation, 3-season use, and features a number of accessory pockets.

Main tent chamber can get very hot in the summer.

Product Ratings

Space

9.5/10

Though this tent is supposed to be sized for eight people, you’ll find it can fit up to 10 thanks to the extra room built onto the front of the tent. While it’s intended to be used to store gear or to serve as a “camping porch”, it’s spacious enough that you can fit at least two more people there.

At 11 by 16 feet and up to 78 inches of headroom, you’ll find this tent is beautifully large on its own! With the added 9 by 6 feet of room on the “camping porch”, it’s one that fits a lot of people very easily.

Ease of Setup

8.5/10

Setup on this tent will take about 20 to 30 minutes, at least until you get the hang of using the shock-corded poles. However, there’s not much of a learning curve, and you’ll find it’s pretty straightforward to get this tent—with its camping porch and rainfly—set up.

Weatherproofing

9/10

Thanks to the accompanying rainfly, you’ll never have to worry about water leaking through the 68D polyester fabric of the tent. The polyurethane coating on the fabric will protect the tent from leaks and seepage, and the double-stitched seams will never let water in. Best of all, all the webbing, threads, and zippers are also coated with water repellent.

Internal Comfort

9/10

Ventilation on this tent isn’t amazing—you’ve only got two small windows, so it could get hot in the summer. However, thanks to the built-in camp porch, you can leave the tent’s “front door” open to let in a cool breeze without letting in the mosquitoes.

There is, however, a vent built into the back of the tent, helping you to keep air flowing through the tent in even the hottest weather.

You’ll love the built-in accessory pockets, which provide you with mesh netting to safely store all your important accessories and small items off the floor and in easy reach.

Value

9/10

At $140, this is still on the lower end of the price spectrum, but you get a 10-year warranty that guarantees quality usage of your tent for many happy years to come. Definitely a great value at a good price!

#3 Best All-Weather Large Tent

NTK Laredo GT Sport Camping Tent

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Incredibly spacious, built for maximum warmth
An all-season tent with a rugged, long-lasting construction
Heavy duty floors, walls, and windows; highly weatherproof

Pros Cons

Surprisingly warm, can be suitable for mild winter use, built for heavy rains, excellent ventilation, highly durable, excellent weatherproofing, UV protection makes it resistant to sun damage, and includes an anti-fungal floor coating.

Not warm enough for very cold temperatures or high altitudes.

Product Ratings

Space

9/10

Sized for 8 to 9 people, at 10 by 15 feet, this tent is big enough for your family and gear, with enough space to accommodate even luxury (glamping) equipment. The 74-inch height ensures that even the tallest family member can stand up comfortably inside this tent.

Ease of Setup

9/10

Thanks to the color-coded tent poles, you’ll be able to get this tent set up in about 10 minutes. The shock-corded fiberglass poles come with double gold-plated ferrules, ensuring maximum durability from your tent’s frame!

Weatherproofing

9/10

Originally built to withstand torrential downpours in the Amazon jungle, this tent can handle any rain, sleet, or wind the elements throw at it! It’s warm enough to use for mild winter camping, though for higher altitudes or very chilly temperatures, you may want to get a proper winter tent.

Not only does the double layer 190T polyester rainfly keep out the heaviest of rains, but every seam, zipper, and window is sealed against water. There’s a special polyurethane coating to keep out water, UV protection against the sun, and a floor coating that has anti-fungal properties to prevent mold and mildew.

Internal Comfort

9/10

Not only do you get plenty of space, but you’ll love the incredibly fine mesh netting that is capable of keeping out even the smallest bugs and mosquitoes. The built-in netting offers great ventilation in the summer, and the built-in mesh netting pockets make it easy to store gear and accessories off the floor.

Value

8.5/10

While $255 is a lot higher price tag than our top-rated tents, it’s absolutely one worth paying! Not only do you get a high quality tent that is incredibly comfortable and spacious, but the lifetime warranty on the poles—ensuring your tent is always in great working condition!

#4 Easiest Big Tent to Set Up

Coleman 10-Person Dark Room Instant Cabin Tent

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Excellent space for the whole family; beautifully easy to set up
Highly durable; great wind and waterproofing
Large screen windows offer beautiful views and reliable ventilation

Pros Cons

Built to keep out the sunrise, sets up in 60 seconds, durable, quality WeatherTec weatherproofing, highly wind-resistant frame, reduces in-tent heat, comes with room dividers, surprisingly roomy, and, overall, the most user-friendly tent on the market.

Heavy at 40 pounds and requires use of ground sheet.

Product Ratings

Space

8.5/10

At 10 by 14 feet, this tent is sized for up to four queen-sized air beds. For taller users, you’ll love the 6’ 7” clearance at the tent dome—more than high enough for you to stand comfortably. With its roomy interior, you’ll feel like you’re right at home!

Ease of Setup

9.5/10

60 seconds or less! That’s the Coleman Instant promise, which is made possible thanks to the easy-setup frame that literally snaps together in seconds. With a bit of practice, you’ll get the hang of this instant setup and have no trouble getting your tent ready to use in a matter of minutes.

Weatherproofing

8.5/10

Thanks to Coleman’s WeatherTec waterproofing system, you’ll never have to worry about leaks, seepage, or puddling water. You will need to use a ground sheet to keep damp away from your floors, but the walls, windows, and ceiling are 100% waterproof.

The patented corner welds and protected seams not only keep out water, but make the whole tent highly durable and resistant to 35 MPH winds.

Internal Comfort

9/10

Aside from the roomy interior, you’ll love the fact that the tent comes with dividers that allow you to separate it into multiple rooms. And the walls and windows have been treated with special anti-UV and anti-sunlight coating that will block out up to 90% more sunlight than your average tent. If you want to sleep in every morning, this is the tent for you!

Not only will the tent keep out the sunlight, but it’ll also prevent overheating. With the built-in ventilation and the large windows, you’ll be able to keep the tent’s interior cool even on the hottest summer days.

Value

8.5/10

At $310, it’s the priciest tent on our list. But, given how easy it is to set up—literally 60 seconds of effort—it’s absolutely worth the cost if you want to get the tent up and move on with your activities!

Camping Tips & Guide

So, you’re in the market for a large tent for that planned camping trip with the family. It should be a pretty straightforward affair, right? But the seemingly endless selection (and styles, and types) of tents to choose from have made it quite the task.

Well, don’t worry because we’ve got you covered. Here’s our complete guide to help you find the perfect camping tent to make that next trip the most awesome one yet. You’re welcome.

Camping 101

Keep in mind that for the duration of the trip, your tent will essentially be your home. It’s where all your activities will be centered on. So, picking the perfect tent will depend on a few basic factors that are unique to your needs.

Size and Sleeping Capacity

Choose a tent that can comfortably accommodate your family or group. You’ll want a good night’s rest after a day of outdoor activities. Especially when camping for a longer period of time, a little elbow or wiggle room can go a long way. Reserve additional space for pets, gear and storage.

Remember that the actual tent capacity isn’t always as advertised. There are no established industry standards that determine per-person tent dimensions. A manufacturer may describe its tent as having a six-person capacity when it only adequately sleeps five.

In general, expect a snug fit from the advertised capacity. A great rule of thumb is to subtract one from the number of a tent’s marketed capacity. For example, select a model that claims to accommodate six when buying a tent for a family of five.

It’s a good idea for parents of growing kids to buy a tent that’s larger than what they currently need. Also, consider your traveling companions’ height and heft, as well as claustrophobia, and tossing and turning at night.

There are a number of companies that produce multi-room tents. Although more expensive, they do provide more room and privacy. They come in two and three-room models. The “rooms” are divided by tent fabric doors fastened with zippers or Velcro.

Seasonality

Tent manufacturers assign a season rating to inform customers what sort of weather condition and range of temperature a tent can withstand.

2-Season – A tent in this category is designed for easy summer camping. Most will come with a small rainfly—more like a dew guard, really—and a meager coat of waterproofing. Anything heavier than moderate rain will drench its walls or cause the ceiling to drip. Medium gusts of wind can waggle, bend or break the poles if the tent isn’t properly tethered to the ground. To be fair, these tents were designed for comfort in hot weather and shouldn’t be expected to achieve more.

3-Season – A tent with this rating offers more versatile protection against the elements. It’s built with a bit more substance with added features. The tent will stand up against moderate rain and will repel condensation. The construction will be sufficient enough to shield its occupants from moderate gusts of wind. As its rating implies, the tent is designed for use during spring, summer and fall. The flexibility of a 3-season tent makes them the most popular model.

4-Season – A tent that falls within this classification is built for heavy duty camping. It can withstand heavy rains and strong winds. It’s especially ideal for winter camping because its robust build and ample insulation can provide protection and warmth for frigid conditions. More expensive than 2 and 3-season tents, a 4-season tent is a bit too much for the average weekend camper. And, although it’s touted as a tent for year-round camping, its construction makes it impractical for camping in more temperate climates.

Weight and Portability

The campsite may be a short walk from your car or a 4-hour trek away. Either way, a tent’s weight will determine its portability. Manufacturers use two weight classes to advertise their tents.

Packaged Weight – is the weight of a tent’s full setup. It includes every component that came with your tent purchase. This is your tent’s heaviest possible weight. Packaged weight is the most accurate gauge to how portable your tent will be.
Trail Weight – is the weight of a tent’s lightest setup. It is the combined weight of the tent body, poles and rainfly. It doesn’t include stakes, guylines or other parts of a tent. Also referred to as minimum weight, trail weight is an excellent benchmark for backcountry hikers who only need a bare minimum tent setup.

As a general rule, the packaged weight of a tent should not be more than 2.5 pounds per person to be adequately portable. When camping with the family or a group, distribute the load by separating the tent, rainfly, footprint, and poles. This arrangement will be ideal if the campsite is a considerable hike from your vehicle.

Key Features and Terminology

When buying a tent, expect to be confronted with tent and gear jargon. Like any other hobby or pastime, outdoor living has its nerdy aspect. Not a few have adopted it as a way of life. Naturally, the community of outdoor enthusiasts has its own lexicon. A newbie would surely be intimidated with the terminology that he or she has to decode. Believe us, we feel your pain. However, in order to make an informed purchase, it’s necessary to know a few basic terms. They’re really quite easy to learn. So, here are the components that make up a tent, and the qualities they need to have to make a tent secure, efficient and comfortable.

Freestanding

A freestanding design allows a tent to stand without using stakes. The design element hastens setup significantly. More importantly, when you need to relocate—because of rising tide or a coming storm—just lift and carry to a safer spot. Freestanding tents are heavier because they use more poles to make the structure sturdier. Most family tents are freestanding.

Rainfly

Also called a flysheet or outer tent, a rainfly is your tent’s umbrella. It’s a separate cover tailored to fit over a tent’s canopy or roof. Wider rainflies cascade down the sides of a tent to provide better protection. Rainflies are made from waterproof fabric while most tents are water-repellant. Bright colored rainflies are preferred as they allow more sunlight to pass through.

Peak Height

Some tents have peak heights (the highest point from floor to ceiling) of over seven feet. The high clearance makes the space inside the tent luxuriously roomy and airy—pretty much like home. Plus, there’s no need to crouch when changing clothes or when walking out the tent. If you’d rather go smaller, note that people of average height can comfortably sit up in a tent with at least a 3.5 ft. peak height. Taller persons should consider a more sizable tent height.

Doors

It will add more weight to the tent and more dollars on the price tag. But an additional door does away with the inconvenience of climbing over everybody to get through that one door. Extra doors are particularly useful when having to answer the call of nature in the middle of the night. And, typically, each door will have its own vestibule.

Vestibule

A tent vestibule is your tent’s porch or garage. It’s a roofed, floorless area just before the actual entrance, or along the sides. A vestibule can be used to hang gear (via the awning) to keep them safe from rain or mud. It’s also a great place to change from wet to dry clothing before entering the tent.

Aluminum Poles

Although more expensive, aluminum poles last a lot longer than fiberglass. Strong yet lightweight, aluminum tends to bend rather than break. These qualities make aluminum poles withstand the stress of an overburdened tent much better than poles made from other materials. Tents with more complicated designs should have color-coded poles for easier setup.

Groundsheet

A groundsheet is your tent’s floor. This is the surface you’ll be walking and sleeping on. It should be one piece with elevated seams that are double-stitched to the tent’s sides. Bathtub-style raised seams prevent rainwater from seeping into the tent. There are several models with antifungal-coated groundsheets to fight off mold and mildew.

Footprint

A footprint is what comes between your tent’s floor and the ground. It’s a waterproof mat that protects the underside of a tent from scuffs, scrapes and tears. It also safeguards a tent from groundwater seepage and moisture. Footprints are usually sold separately.

Ventilation

Doors, windows and ceilings are lined with mesh panels to provide ventilation inside your tent. Sufficient air circulation also prevents condensation. Pick models with large mesh panels when you do your camping mostly during the summer or in humid weather.

Interior Pockets

A tent needs as much space as it can use. Mesh pockets integrated into the inner tent walls are used to store items and keep the tent floor clutter-free. They come in very handy for organizing personal effects and keeping more important gear like matches and first aid kits within easy reach.

Dividers

Large tents usually include detachable dividers for the inner tent. The screens are hooked into the ceiling of the tent to allow more privacy for the occupants. They are doubly convenient when changing clothes or when somebody wants to have a daytime nap.

Zippers

The zippers on your tent’s doors are going to be zipped and unzipped hundreds, if not thousands of times. See to it that they glide smoothly and do not snag on the tent’s door flaps. A stuck or broken zipper may spoil your camping trip. And, it’s not an easy fix so you’ll need to have them repaired at an outdoor gear shop when you get back home.

Andrew Peloquin

Expert Author

Fitness has come hard for Andy; he's had to work for it. But, his trials have led him to become a martial artist, an NFPT-certified fitness trainer, and a man passionate about exercise and healthy living. That’s why he’s our resident fitness expert. His favorite food is lettuce-leaf steak tacos – though he’ll admit to a love of hot wings if you leverage the right pressure. We know him as the guy who understands British humor and wishes everyone was as passionate about life as he is. His previous forays into the worlds of international business and education have left him wildly optimistic. And, if that wasn’t enough, he's also a best-selling, award-winning author of fantasy novels! Can you say renaissance?