A great family tent for camping is one that keeps everyone happy and comfortable. (Photo courtesy of ALPS Mountaineering)
April 01, 2025
By Alex Suescun
With weather conditions improving and the end of the school year within sight, now is the time to plan your next family camping adventure, the success which could very well hinge on your choice of tent. To help you pick one that will provide both the desired shelter and the room and features to keep everyone happy and comfortable, here are 10 suggestions to suit different budgets.
Coleman Dark Room Skydome 8-person Coleman Dark Room Skydome 8-person tent Dimensions : 12 feet x 9 feet x 6 feet 4 inchesWeight : 21.6 poundsSeasons : 3Price : $229.99Sturdy, dry, roomy and a cinch to pitch (two people can get it done in 5 minutes, according to the manufacturer), the Dark Room Skydome 8-person tent from Coleman is an excellent option for family camping that won’t break the bank. Dark Room technology blocks 90 perfect of the sunlight, enabling later wake-up times and mid-day naps, while also reducing the heat inside. The strong frame can withstand winds up to 35 mph, and the patented welded corners, inverted seams and tub-like floor of the tent’s WeatherTec system ensures you’ll stay dry and comfy in stormy conditions. Other key features include mesh pockets and a gear loft to store small items, a room divider and front and back entrances with wide doors to easily get in and out.
Kelty Daydreamer 6P Kelty Daydreamer 6P tent Dimensions : 10 feet x 8 feet 11 inches x 6 feet 5 inchesWeight : 19.75 poundsSeasons : 3Price : $249.95Folks looking for a tent that fosters lazy mornings and catching some afternoon Zs in the shade will also enjoy Kelty’s Daydreamer 6P , designed to provide the dark and cozy environs to doze off anytime. The Twilight Tech fabric and rainfly ward off precipitation and sunshine. Simply zip and toggle back the fly if the sun is out and you’re ready to welcome its rays. Or open the Sunrise Window on the back of the rainfly instead to allow in only some sunshine and fresh air. A vestibule lets you stow sizeable gear out of the elements, and interior pockets and a gear loft keep smaller items safe and handy. Kelty’s Quick Corner technology makes setting up and breaking down intuitive and simple, reflective guy lines prevent potential tripping in the dark, and the included Shark Mouth carry bag streamlines the sometimes-frustrating process of tent pack-up.
ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek 6 ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek 6 tent Dimensions : 10 feet x 10 feet x 7 feetWeight : 22.7 poundsSeasons : 3Price : $279.99The Camp Creek 6 by ALPS Mountaineering brings a little extra convenience, along with extra head and elbow room, to your camping adventures. The hub design and the pole clips that snap over the tent poles speed up the tasks of set-up and take-down, while the freestanding design with fiberglass poles connecting to steel uprights provides excellent strength. The extra-tall center height (7 feet) and almost straight walls maximize usable space, enabling your family to set up cots and comfortably gather inside without feeling cramped. Floor seams and a factory-sealed fly that buckles to the tent for maximum adjustability and creates large awnings over the door and rear window deliver the desired weather protection. Four large windows provide great ventilation. Mesh shelfs provide handy storage for valuables and small essentials, and denier polyester construction with a 1500mm coating ensures a long service life.
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Bushnell 6 Person Instant Cabin Bushnell 6 Person Instant Cabin tent Dimensions : 12 feet x 11.5 feet x 8 feet 1 inchWeight : 27.4 poundsSeasons : 3Price : $319.99Featuring Instant Setup Technology that incorporates pre-tensioned side hubs similar to those found in hunting ground blinds, the Bushnell 6 Person Instant Cabin is built tough. A strong fiberglass-and-steel frame and heavy-duty tiedowns withstand strong winds, while the water-repelling, 100-percent polyester fabric with fully taped and sealed seams will keep the fam high and dry. Taking advantage of Bushnell’s Heat Shield technology, the tent boasts a special reflective coating that keeps the inside darker and cooler. The large windows include privacy panels and mesh for bug-free views and ventilation, which is enhanced by rainfly and ground vents. A sleeve through which you can run an electrical cord to a generator allows the use of plug-in accessories while maintaining the tent’s weather-proofness.
Cabela’s Outback Lodge 8-Person Cabela's Outback Lodge 8-Person tent. Dimensions : 12 feet x 12 feet x 9 feetWeight : 28 poundsSeasons : 3Price : $399.99Offering more than a roomy shelter from inclement weather, Cabela's Outback Lodge 8-Person tent was designed with convenience and comfort in mind. The main steel pole and fiberglass corner poles set up quickly and easily and combine to provide great strength. Fiberglass shock-cord poles support the 70-inch-high door with awning to facilitate coming and going. The 1,500-mm, waterproof-rated coating on the tent’s 75D polyester-taffeta walls and ceiling and 210D polyester-oxford floor provide superior protection in heavy downpours. Roof venting and three 68D polyester-tricot mesh windows afford ample airflow to prevent stuffiness and keep the inside cool. The tent features three storage pockets to stash gear and a zippered power port to bring in the juice for your electronics without compromising weatherproofing.
Nemo Aurora Highrise Nemo Aurora Highrise camping tent Dimensions : 7 feet 6 inches x 8 feet 4 inches x 6 feet 3 inchesWeight : 15.875 poundsSeasons : 3Price : $499.95The unique frame design of the 6-person Aurora Highrise from Nemo supports steep sidewalls to provide considerable interior space and standing-height throughout. Large, rain-protected windows supply superb ventilation and panoramic views. Two large doors with vestibules afford easy entry and additional room to keep gear out of the elements but still handy. Color-matched mesh overhead enables better views of the stars at night, and white no-see-um mesh sidewalls keep out the little buggers while also allowing additional air flow and providing privacy. Along with its intuitive setup, this tent continues Nemo’s tradition of offering high-quality materials, like durable fabrics that meet flame-retardant standards without the use of harmful chemicals and a weatherproof floor made of rugged, 150D polyester and printed with a colorful pattern. Gatekeeper one-handed door clips, overhead nightlight pockets with headlamp diffusers and multiple gear pockets are among the other features.
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The North Face Wawona 6 The North Face Wawona 6 tent Dimensions : 10 feet x 8 feet x 6 feet 4 inchesWeight : 20.94 poundsSeasons : 3Price : $550With high-strength aluminum alloy poles and hybrid, double-wall construction for greater durability and sturdiness, enough headroom to comfortably stand upright and sufficient space to fit camp chairs in it, the Wawona 6 tent from The North Face would already be an upgrade over most similar-size-class competitors. But this 6-person model has plenty more to offer, like color-coded poles and trim for easier assembly, a generous vestibule that adds nearly 45 square feet of storage or doubles as a second seating area, and the large front door and windows for exceptional airflow and to take in expansive swaths of the surrounding scenery. Mesh screens keep biting insects outside where they belong, ceiling pockets hold lights, tablets and valuables, and internal organization pockets stow other essentials within easy reach.
Big Agnes Big House 6 Big Agnes Big House 6 tent Dimensions : 9 feet 10 inches x 8 feet 4 inches x 7 feet 9 inchesWeight : 16.06 poundsSeasons : 3Price : $599.95The recently redesigned, free-standing Big House 6 from Big Agnes is dome-shaped to better deflect heavy winds and stand up to harsh weather conditions despite its height. Nearly 8 feet high, this tent is more tall enough for pretty much any living human to stand in comfortably, and its generous overall dimensions provide plenty of interior space for the family to sleep cozily or shelter during a storm without feeling cramped. The rainfly and two broad doors are designed to make getting in and out a cinch. The doors open easily and incorporate dual-slider zippers with storm flaps and windows with mesh for ventilation, as well as a zip-up layer for complete closure. The full-mesh ceiling is terrific for stargazing and helps with moisture management and airflow. Four side pockets and four ceiling pockets provide plenty of options to store gear. Color-coded webbing and buckles make set-up and take-down simple, even in the dark, and reflective guylines and webbing keep you from tripping.
Teton Mesa Canvas 14 Teton Mesa Canvas 14 camping tent Dimensions : 14 feet x 10 feet x 6 feet 6 inchesWeight : 76 poundsSeasons : 4Price : $839.99A spacious, cabin-style option from Teton, the Mesa Canvas 14 is designed for easy setup (even solo), with a flex-bar bracket system that makes pitching this heavy-duty tent effortless. Built with waterproof, 100-percent cotton canvas with reinforced corners and seams, strong zippers and an ultra-durable bathtub floor, the Mesa promises many years of camping enjoyment and delivers consistent breathability in any environment. Built-in vents and wide front and rear doors allow substantial cross-ventilation, as well as quick entry and exit, while a simple-to-deploy awning supplies added shade in an instant. This four-season tent comes with four gear organizers and a lifetime warranty. Available extras include additional organizers, overhead gear lofts and heavy-duty steel stakes for added security in harsh weather.
Zempire EVO TM V2 Inflatable Air Tent Zempire EVO TM V2 Inflatable Air Tent Dimensions : 12 feet 4 inches X 9 feet 2 inches x 6 feet 7 inchesWeight : 53.6 poundsSeasons : 3Price : $1,000Boasting a spacious living area and a multibedroom system with a zip-out divider that gives you the option of either 1 or 2 rooms, Zempire’s Evo TM V2 Inflatable Air Tent inflates in less than 2 minutes with the provided pump. The aerodynamic tunnel design and inflatable airframe offer stability in a stiff breeze, with the Serolink frame system connecting the frame directly to the fly for simpler setup, increased strength and reduced weight. The 6,000-mm waterhead rating ensures protection during heavy showers, and a side door adds easy access and ventilation. A light-diffusing bedroom fabric fosters daytime napping and uninterrupted sleep past daybreak, numerous vents and mesh-protected windows combine to create excellent airflow and the extended front vestibule with clear PVC skylights makes a great place to hang out or enjoy meals in the shade. Power cord access, hook-and-loop rigging straps and lantern webbing loops let you bring power and lighting inside, while storage pocket ladders keep essentials handy and organized.
