With four kids of our own, we know the struggle of finding enough space for the whole family. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best large family camping tents for all you camping families out there. Happy Camping!!
Large Family Camping Tents Reviews
Finding the time and money needed for a family vacation when you’ve got a large family can be a real challenge. Buying plane tickets, booking hotel rooms and eating out at restaurants every day puts a strain on the pocket book. Not to mention, finding one free hour can be a struggle when you’ve got six different schedules to manage. Finding a whole week can be impossible!
Outdoor adventures close to home save time and money. And there’s no better time to explore your own surroundings than right now!
A family camping trip can be both relaxing and easy on your wallet. Spending time together outdoors in the peace and quiet of nature brings families together and provides a great opportunity to bond with your children, friends and family members. There are tons of activities to do each day from swimming and hiking, to canoeing or kayaking. And you don’t have to travel far from home to feel like you’ve entered a whole new world of nature.
The struggle for big families
One of the biggest challenges in camping with the whole crew is finding the best large family camping tent that is big enough to sleep, store gear and move around comfortably. You might feel like your options are limited and that maybe it’s best to setup a couple of tents for the site and sleep separately.
If you’re not comfortable having the kids alone in a separate tent, especially at a young age, then there are still plenty of great and affordable options available which will keep everyone together under one roof. And with the newest technologies and products, you’ll get all of the latest features to keep everyone happy in one big family camping tent.
Before we get down to which family tents are best and why, we need to understand what makes a tent great in the first place.
How to Pick a Tent for Camping
When you’re choosing a family camping tent, there are several factors that go into the decision:
- Size: How many people will be sleeping in the tent? Will you be storing gear in it?
- Waterproof: A leaky tent can literally put a damper on any camping trip.
- Material: Is your family rough on gear? Do you need something more rugged and durable?
- Strength: Tent pole materials will determine how well your tent handles the effects of winds.
- Ease of setup: Do you prefer instant tent technology to traditional setup?
- Price: Tents range in price from under $100 to up to several hundred dollars. Price doesn’t always indicate quality though.
- Number of uses per year: The number of times you plan to camp will have a bearing on the durability needed.
Now that we have some idea of what makes the best large family camping tent, we’re ready to dive in and see what’s out there and what will work for you and your family.
Best Large Family Tent for Young Kids and Late Sleepers
Coleman Dark Room Skydome 6 Person Camping Tent
The Coleman Dark Room Skydome tent is designed with family time in mind. It’s designed with an instant tent setup so you can have the site ready in under five minutes and can turn on relaxation mode. Near vertical exterior walls provide maximum space inside and headroom is quite respectable at six feet. In addition, the dark rest technology blocks out 90% more sunlight and reduces heat inside when compared to traditional tents.
What is dark rest technology?
Also known as a black out tent, dark rest technology blocks up to 99% of daylight from entering the interior of the tent. Because of this awesome quality, the tent stays cooler during the day even when exposed to direct sunlight. The technology is excellent for sleeping in a little later and for mid day toddler naps (or for you, we won’t judge).
Size: 6 person (10’ x 8’6” x 6’)
Waterproof: Yes
Ventilation: OK
Setup Difficulty: Easy
Season: Spring, Summer & Fall
Price: $$
Consumer Rating: 4.5 ⭐’s
Best Rugged Four Season Family Tent
Cabela’s Alaskan Guide Model Geodesic 6-Person Tent
This four season tent has stood the test of time having been manufactured for over 25 years. In today’s throw away culture, when something has been made for that length of time, there has to be a reason why. Maybe it’s got to do with the fact that this beauty has been tested in the wilderness of Alaska and can withstand heavy winds, rain and snow. Or maybe it’s also got to do with its sleek design and excellent headspace. In addition to its full tent rain fly it also extends over the entry port so you can store and keep your gear out of the elements. It’s easy to see why this Cabela’s camping tent is a fan favorite.
Size: 6 person (10’8” x 10’8” x 6’3”)
Waterproof: Yes
Ventilation: OK
Setup Difficulty: Medium
Season: All seasons
Price: $$$$
Consumer Rating: 4.6 ⭐’s
Best Large Family Camping Tent for Tall People
Eureka! Jade Canyon 6-Person Cabin Tent
This roomy six person cabin style tent is perfect for the tall family. With a straight wall setup and seven foot high peak it’ll still have room for little Johnny or Sarah before they head off to play college basketball. The Eureka Jade Canyon has super large windows and plenty of air flow which helps keep the tent cool and also air out the smell of dirty diapers. This tent also has plenty of great extra tech features like the E!luminates reflective fabric ceiling panels to enhance light and the Media Centre sleeve to hold your tablet so you can put a movie on before you enter lala land.
Size: 6 person (10’ x 10’ x 7’)
Waterproof: Yes…ish (large windows and a smaller rainfly mean a windy rain might allow some moisture in)
Ventilation: Excellent
Setup Difficulty: Easy
Season: Spring, Summer & Fall
Price: $$$
Consumer Rating: 4.6 ⭐’s
Best Family Camping Tent for Storage Space
Coleman Tanaya Lake Fast Pitch Cabin Tent
This eight person monster of a tent is ideal for the family that brings too much stuff camping. Its built-in closet with shelves and a hanger bar means you can pack your whole wardrobe with ease. Equipped with a fast pitch system, this crazy big family camping tent is surprisingly easy to set up and can be completed in under ten minutes. It’s also surprisingly sturdy and inexpensive for its size which makes it an excellent value tent.
Size: 8 person (13’6” x 9’ x 6’4”)
Waterproof: Yes…ish (a smaller rainfly allows for large windows and door openings but does expose more areas for water to enter)
Ventilation: Excellent
Setup Difficulty: Medium
Season: Spring, Summer & Fall
Price: $$$
Consumer Rating: 4.6 ⭐’s
Quality, Lightweight Family Camping Tent
Coleman Montana 8 Person Tent
The Coleman Montana is a large family camping tent that boasts excellent waterproof features so that you can stay dry and comfortable in unpredictable weather. The extended door awning keeps the entrance dry and adds an area to store gear. Combine that with the angled windows which can remain open even while it’s raining and the advanced WeatherTec system and you’ll see why this is a fan favorite in wet climates.
Size: 8 person (16’ x 6’6” x 6’1”)
Waterproof: Yes
Ventilation: OK
Setup Difficulty: Medium
Season: Spring, Summer & Fall
Price: $$$
Consumer Rating: 4.5 ⭐’s
Best Bargain Family Camping Tent with Screen Porch
Wenzel Klondike Tent
The Wenzel Klondike 8 person tent is perfect for areas where mosquitoes and other bugs are sure to be an issue. The screened in room creates a nice area to sit where critters can’t get you. However, keep in mind that the screened in porch is included as part of the eight person calculation. The main tent has room for five, while the screen room accounts for three additional sleeping spaces.
Size: 8 person (16’ x 11’ x 6’6”)
Waterproof: No. The relatively flat roof over the screened tent porch will hold water which can eventually seep in.
Ventilation: Excellent
Setup Difficulty: Medium
Season: Spring, Summer & Fall
Price: $$
Consumer Rating: 4.4 ⭐’s
Best Huge Family Tent
Coleman Skylodge 12 Person Tent with Screened Porch
This brand new model, twelve person quick setup cabin tent can surprisingly be set up in just minutes. Impressive for such a huge family tent. The screened in porch provides an excellent space to get away from mosquitoes and other bugs but it also zips up nicely to protect you and your gear from rain and winds. With 89 inches of peak head space and near vertical walls, there is ample room for the whole family in this outstanding looking tent.
Size: 8 person (19’ x 10’ x 7’5”)
Waterproof: Yes
Ventilation: Excellent
Setup Difficulty: Medium
Season: Spring, Summer & Fall
Price: $$$
Most Durable Family Camping Tent
Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Deluxe Tent
If you’re looking for rugged durability, then this tent is made for you. The Kodiak Canvas can take a pounding from you, your kids and the elements. Made of 100% cotton duck canvas and a heavy duty Flex-Bow frame, the manufacturers stand behind this product with a limited lifetime warranty. With plenty of space for the whole family inside, it also comes with a large awning outside so you can relax in the shade. While it hasn’t been specifically made for winter camping, it’s made strong enough for some light winter weather adventures as well.
Size: 8 person (10’ x 14’ x 6’6”)
Waterproof: Yes
Ventilation: Good
Setup Difficulty: Medium
Season: 4 Season
Price: $$$$$
Consumer Rating: 5.0 ⭐’s
The Most Unique Family Camping Tent
Coleman 3-Person Connectable Tent
This may only be a 3-person tent on the surface, but its ability to connect with other tents make its size unlimited. Each tent has 3 connection points with privacy doors in between so you can create clusters of tents to suit your needs. I wonder if this counts as breaking the old “one site, one tent” rule? Equipped with a fast pitch system and strong frame that can withstand 35mph winds, this is an excellent option for a growing family.
Size: 3 person per section. Unlimited possibilities (12’ x 10’)
Waterproof: Yes…ish (large window and door areas mean greater risk of water dripping through)
Ventilation: Excellent
Setup Difficulty: Easy
Season: Spring, Summer & Fall
Price: $$$
Consumer Rating: 4.5 ⭐’s
Just decided you’re gonna leave the kids at home and go camping yourself? Check out this guide to 4-person tents over at Tents n Trees.
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