If you’re camping in a big group, you might be wondering where you can find the best largest camping tents. Finding a big enough family tent, or a tent for your friends to stay in, can be tricky, as they tend to be a little less common than 4-6 person tents.
What should you look for in the best large camping tent? What kind of layout should you go for? And which are the best tents out there? We’ll give you a guide on what to look for, and how to find the best tents for bigger groups.
The bottom line up front: we like the . It sleeps 10 and takes just minutes to set up.
We also like:
- OUTBOUND 12-Person Tent – a 12-person tent ideal for camping in warmer weather
- TETON Sports Sierra 16-Person Bell Tent – perfect if you want a luxurious tent to stretch out in
Today we’ll be looking at:
- The key things to look for in a large camping tent
- Our top 5, including their key features, pros, and cons
- Some commonly asked questions
- Which models we like the best, and why we like them so much
Table of Contents
- Best Largest Camping Tents Compared
- What to Look for in a Large Camping Tent
- Top 5 Largest Camping Tents
- Frequently Asked Questions
- To Sum Up … Which is the Best Largest Camping Tent?
If you want to know more, keep reading. Let’s start by looking at how the largest camping tents compare to each other!
Best Largest Camping Tents Compared
What to Look for in a Large Camping Tent
Here are a few features you should look for in a large camping tent:
Size and Layout
Size is obviously a factor if you’re looking for a large tent! Tent capacity is measured by the number of people that can sleep in it, for example, ‘sleeps 10’ should technically fit 10 people. However, it’s always worth looking at the actual dimensions of the tent. For example, a 4-person tent may be a pretty tight squeeze for 4 adults but may be better suited for a family with young kids.
If you’re camping in a larger group, it’s worth looking at the layout. Not all large tents come with room dividers – some are just large open spaces. If you want separate rooms for privacy, check the description to see what the actual layout is first.
Style
Tents come in different styles:
- Dome tents – dome tents are, as you might expect, dome-shaped. They have the advantage of being closer to the ground, so they are naturally good tents for high winds.
- Cabin tents – cabin tents have straight walls, which give you more headspace. They’re a good choice if you’re tall and you don’t want to have to bend over while you walk around inside your tent.
- Bell tents – bell tents are pointed with a tall center height. They look a bit like a large teepee – a cone-shaped tent. They’re great if you want something spacious, and they are often used on ‘glamping’ campsites which is a form of luxury camping.
Size Packed
Most tents come with a carry bag, which you can fold your tent into, making it easier to transport. Some large tents come with a separate bag for the poles, too.
It’s also worth checking out the weight – large tents can get very heavy, so you’ll need to make sure you can transport them safely.
Weatherproofing
It’s important to know whether your tent will stand up to bad weather or not. There are a few things to look out for here.
Firstly, you can look at the hydrostatic head measurement (measured in millimeters). This measures the depth of the pool of water that can gather on top of your tent without any water leaking through. The deeper this pool of water can get, the more water-resistant your tent will be. Look for 2,000mm as a minimum if you want your tent to withstand heavy rain.
In terms of rain resistance, you can also look for features like covered zippers and heat-sealed seams, which can stop rain from sneaking in small gaps. Most tents come with a rainfly included, which covers the top of your tent for waterproofing – some tents allow you to remove this, so you can stargaze through a mesh roof at night (like the tents in our guide to the best tents for stargazing).
You’ll need something to form a barrier between the bottom of your tent and the ground, a tent footprint. Some tents come with this included, but others require you to buy a footprint separately. You don’t have to buy a specific footprint to match your tent if you don’t want to – you can always use a large tarp instead, like the Terra Hiker Caping Tarp.
It’s also important to look at ventilation. On hot days, you’ll want to make sure your tent is well ventilated to keep you cool. Ventilation is also important to prevent mold from building up in damper weather. Look for large mesh windows for the best ventilation.
Ease of Use
Look for a tent that is easy to put together with clear instructions. You can also look for tents with features like continuous pole sleeves (to stop the poles from getting stuck in small gaps as you thread them through) and color-coded components.
Larger tents can be difficult to set up with just 1 person, due to their size and weight. You will need to have at least 2 people to make things a little easier.
Top 5 Largest Camping Tents
Here are our top 5 best largest camping tents – from 8 person tents all the way through to 16. These are large, spacious tents in different shapes and sizes, so hopefully, you can find a tent that appeals to you!
CAMPROS 8-Person Tent – Good All-Rounder
Key Features
- Color: Blue
- Size: 14 x 9 x 6 Feet (427 x 274 x 183 Centimeters)
- Size Packed: 25 x 8 x 8 Inches (64 x 20 x 20 Centimeters)
- Materials: Polyester
- Seasons: 4
- Weight: 17.4 Pounds (7.89 Kilograms)
- Hydrostatic Head Measurement: 1,000mm
The CAMPROS 8-Person Tent is a good all-rounder for up to 8 people. It has an optional room divider to create 2 separate rooms, although the divider is a little flimsy. It has small inner pockets to store valuables, but no overhead storage.
The hydrostatic head measurement is 1,000 millimeters – not the highest rating, but it can handle moderate rain without any leaks. It has mesh windows and a mesh roof – you can roll back the rainfly to look outside at night, which is nice for stargazing. The fiberglass frame is strong and is able to withstand windy days without any problems.
It’s pretty easy to assemble, and it packs down into a fairly compact case.
Pros
- Good ventilation
- Strong frame
- Spacious
- Easy to put up and pack down
Cons
- Lacks overhead storage
- Divider is a little flimsy
Coleman 8-Person Elite Montana – Best Weather Protection
Key Features
- Color: Green
- Size: 16 x 7 x 6.2 Feet (488 x 213 x 189 Centimeters)
- Size Packed: 27.5 x 9 x 9 Inches (70 x 23 x 23 Centimeters)
- Materials: Polyester
- Seasons: 3
- Weight: 24.5 Pounds (11.11 Kilograms)
The Coleman 8-Person Elite Montana is great when it comes to keeping the rain out. It has 1 large room, so it won’t be the best choice if you want to have separate rooms for privacy. In terms of storage, it has small pockets and an overhead gear loft.
Coleman’s WeatherTec coating helps to keep the rain away, and the frame is nice and strong. It has large, angled mesh windows, which means you can keep them open when it is raining outside without worrying about your tent getting wet.
It’s pretty easy to put together, with a pin-and-ring system. It folds down into an expandable carry case but the downside is it’s pretty heavy to carry.
Pros
- Good weatherproofing
- Great ventilation
- Easy to put together
- Good storage
Cons
- Doesn’t have room dividers
- Heavy to carry
OT QOMOTOP 10-Person Instant Cabin Tent – Easiest Setup
Key Features
- Color: Blue
- Size: 16 x 7 x 6.2 Feet (488 x 213 x 189 Centimeters)
- Size Packed: 27.5 x 9 x 9 Inches (70 x 23 x 23 Centimeters)
- Materials: Polyester
- Seasons: 3
- Weight: 24.5 Pounds (11.11 Kilograms)
- Hydrostatic Head Measurement: 600mm
The is really easy to set up. It has a room divider, allowing you to create 2 separate areas. It has small storage pockets but lacks overhead compartment space.
The coated polyester is pretty good at keeping the rain away, and it has a very strong frame that can withstand windy weather. It has large mesh windows for ventilation on hot days. The doors are large too, so you can unzip them all the way if you need more airflow through the tent.
It is super easy to set up – it’s classed as an instant tent, and it can be done in about a minute, which is a real advantage if you want to cut down on assembly time. It folds down quite easily into a carry case. It’s quite heavy to carry, which is something to keep in mind.
Pros
- Instant to set up
- Good weatherproofing
- Comes with a detachable room divider
Cons
- Lacks overhead storage
- Quite heavy to carry
OUTBOUND 12-Person Tent – Good for Warmer Weather
Key Features
- Color: Blue and Gray
- Size: 20 x 9 x 6.6 Feet (610 x 274 x 201 Centimeters)
- Size Packed: 23.5 x 9.25 Inches (60 x 23.49 Centimeters)
- Materials: Polyester
- Seasons: 3
- Weight: 21 Pounds (9.52 Kilograms)
- Hydrostatic Head Measurement: 600mm
The OUTBOUND 12-Person Tent is great for warmer weather. It has 1 room, which means it won’t be a good choice for you if you want separate spaces for groups of people. The tent has small storage pockets for valuables but doesn’t have overhead storage.
It can withstand a rain shower, but prolonged heavy rain may cause leaks. It does work well for warm weather though, as the ventilation is excellent. You can take off the rainfly to stargaze at night and improve airflow without letting insects in. It has a pretty strong fiberglass frame too.
It’s fairly simple to set up, but may require 2 people given the size. It folds down into a fairly compact carry case.
Pros
- Great ventilation
- Large space
- Simple to set up
Cons
- Lacks overhead storage
- No room dividers
- Won’t withstand heavy rain
TETON Sports Sierra 16-Person Bell Tent – Best Largest Tent
Key Features
- Color: Brown
- Size: 7.87 x 7.87 x 11.2 Feet (240 x 240 x 341.37 Centimeters)
- Size Packed:
Tent Bag: 31 x 17 x 13 Inches (78.74 x 43.18 x 33 Centimeters)
Pole Bag: 36 x 7 x 4 Inches (91.44 x 17.78 x 10.16 Centimeters) - Materials: Cotton canvas
- Seasons: 4
- Weight: 114 Pounds (51.70 Kilograms)
The TETON Sports Sierra 16-Person Bell Tent is a bell-shaped tent with a center height of 11.2 feet (341.37 centimeters). This makes it feel spacious and airy, ideal for large groups, or if you’d really like to spread out and make yourself at home. It has small storage pockets, but no overhead storage due to the shape of the tent. It doesn’t have room dividers.
The tent material is cotton canvas, which works quite well at keeping the rain out. All the components are durable and of high quality, which is great – this tent should last for a long time. The downside is it doesn’t come with a footprint included, but you can buy the TETON Sports Sierra Footprint to match.
It’s pretty straightforward in terms of setup, but the material is heavy, and it’s very large – so you’ll need at least 2 people to help.
Pros
- Very large
- Setup is straightforward
- High-quality components
Cons
- Lacks overhead storage
- Doesn’t come with footprint included
- No room dividers
Frequently Asked Questions
Before we decide which largest camping tent is the best, here are some frequently asked questions:
Can I make my large camping tent more waterproof?
You can use waterproofing spray, but you’d need a lot of it to cover a large tent – we like the Star Brite Waterproofing Spray as it comes in a large bottle.
You can find more tips in the Trespass guide on How to Re Waterproof a Tent.
If you’re looking for a tent that can withstand the elements, check out our guide to the best waterproof tents.
Can I take a large tent on a plane?
You can take a large tent on a plane. The only thing to watch for is that they can get very heavy, so you’ll need to check with your airline about weight restrictions. You can find out more about taking a tent on a plane using the TSA’s ‘What Can I Bring?’ website.
How do I make a tent secure?
You can make a tent secure by using any kind of padlock, like a luggage lock. While it’s not foolproof, it may give you a little more peace of mind.
It’s also important to hide your valuables, or take them with you when you go out for the day – tablets, phones, and other expensive items should stay with you if possible.
Also, make sure to cover your tent with a rainfly when you leave if you think it might rain, otherwise, you’ll be coming back to a very soggy tent!
It’s important to consider grizzly bears. The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee has some great bear safety tips to follow.
What else should I bring camping?
If you’re new to camping, you might be wondering what to bring other than your tent. As a basic guideline, think about what you will eat and where you will sleep! You can read more about this in our guide on what to bring camping in a tent.
To Sum Up … Which is the Best Largest Camping Tent?
We think the is worth checking out. Large tents can be fiddly to put together, but this is simple and fast. If you want to rock up to your campsite, quickly get your tent unpacked, and head off for the day, this is the best choice.
If you want something a bit larger that works well for hot weather, check out the OUTBOUND 12-Person Tent. It has great ventilation for hot days.
If you want something spacious, try the TETON Sports Sierra 16-Person Bell Tent. It’s a high-quality, durable tent that gives you plenty of headroom.
If this has helped you to find the best largest camping tent, please share it with your friends and family. We’d also welcome your recommendations for large tents – what do you like about your tent, and what do you think could be improved? Leave us a comment below with your thoughts!