Camping, Camping Comparisons, Family Camping, Top Outdoor Lists

Top Family Tents for 2023 – Best 3

top family tents

Breathing in fresh air while hearing the wind whisper through the pine needles is one of the best ways to wake up in the morning. When I was younger, and the nights were warm, I found it better to sleep under the tree limbs and the stars. Now, I have a family, and sleeping sans shelter is not so great for the little ones. So I embarked on determining which top family tents are the best for family camping.

If you have never camped before make sure to check out all you really need to know about camping!

Obviously, this is completely subjective because there are many different criteria that go into play. Like size, climate, material, weight, and setup/tear downtime. This is not the easiest question to answer because even just these few criteria have hundreds of different permutations. Just to start you need to know what kind of tent is best. You first must decide what type of camping are you doing. Then, how much standing room you need, ease of set up, and how many people are in your camping party.


Check out these family campgrounds to use your top family tents.


Assumptions

For the sake of this list, I have made some general assumptions. In the future, I will delve into some of these assumptions and recommend other types of tents. For the sake of this top three list here are the assumptions that I have made.

  • Must be of a size to use at improved and unimproved campsites.
  • Easily set up by two people.
  • Must be capable of a 6’0 person to stand with limited crouching.
  • Must be capable of handling varying weather extremes.
  • Comfortably sleep a family of four with all associated gear.
  • Weight is not an issue because we will consider this for car camping or base camping.

With these assumptions in mind, the following list falls out. The tents are in no order. This is because all of them are excellent options for taking your family out for a great camping trip. There is also a quick comparison table provided at the bottom.


Know where to pitch your tent!


Top Family Tent 1. Coleman 8-Person Red Canyon Tent

Top Family Tent Recommendation

The first top family tent is the Coleman 8-Person Red Canyon Tent hits each of the assumptions that were listed. The tent can sleep 8 people and is capable of creating three separate rooms. For a family of four, this allows a room for the kids, one for the parents, and a common/gear area. Giving plenty of privacy between the rooms. The tent is on the larger side, but would still be able to fit in any improved campsite.

The Red Canyon is approximately 21 pounds so it is not too heavy and would be easily moved if necessary. It is also of a size that would allow for placement between trees for those more adventurous campers. It has a 72″ center height, which will limit the amount of crouching and bending for us taller folk. The Red Canyon tent comes with a rain fly. This can be taken off on fair-weather nights to allow for star gazing and excellent ventilation. Its dome shape also makes it more aerodynamic for strong wind events.

One of the major concerns of families is set up. This tent is easily set up by one person instead of the assumed two.  Testing of this tent showed that it was capable of handling all four seasons. However, for winter camping additional preparations should be made. Personally, I find the style and privacy of this tent great for my family. It makes the tent feel more like a camper with its separate rooms and size.

Top Family Tent Recommendation

The first top family tent recommendation is the Coleman 8-Person Red Canyon Tent if you want separate areas for people in your family (cough cough families with teens), a common area, great headroom, all-weather capabilities, low weight, and easy setup.

Top Family Tent Recommendation

Top Family Tent 2. Ozark Trail 9 Person Instant Cabin

Top Family Tent Recommendation

The second top family tent is the Ozark Trail 9-Person Instant Cabin is another superb option for family camping. This tent sports two rooms plus a bonus screened-in area for when it is raining. The first would allow for multiple people to sleep on a queen-sized air mattress. The second room is of an equal size and can sleep an equal amount of people. Finally, the outdoor porch area could be used for a small card table to enjoy the outdoors during the rain. However, it does have space to sleep additional people if necessary.

Since it can sleep 9, you know there is ample space for a family of four and their gear. In fact, there is even easy access to an extension cord. Just in case you need to power your medical devices or other electronics while on the go. This makes this a good pairing tent for an RV. It also includes some built-in hanging storage.

Weight

This tent is a bit heavier than the other two tents at approximately 40 pounds. However, that is not unreasonable for its size, or purpose as a basecamp tent. Set-up is a breeze for this larger tent and even comes with a removal room divider. The tent setup is possible with only one person, but two would be better. This tent has an outstanding 84-inch center height, which means absolutely no crouching for most. Again, this tent can handle all seasons. However, the Instant cabin has a larger footprint (14′ x 13.5′). This still would make it very capable in unimproved campgrounds when you need to squeeze between a couple of trees. The screened-in room can’t zipper shut for the colder or wetter nights. You will find that the shape can handle the wind like a champ.

Top Family Tent Recommendation

This tent is great for family adventures because it allows for sleeping in a single room. It will give you more chances to tell those late-night ghost stories while still giving some additional living area for bad weather days. Therefore, the second top family tent recommendation is the Ozark Trail 9 Person Instant Cabin you are looking for a shared sleeping space (great for families with small children), all-weather capabilities, outstanding headroom, and a compact tent footprint.

Top Family Tent Recommendation

Top Family Tent 3. The NTK Arizona GT

Top Family Tent Recommendation

The third top family tent is the NTK Arizona GT is the last on our list, but it is definitely not the least. This tent has two rooms of nearly equal size. This is great if you need separate rooms for sleeping, or if you would like to have a shared room and a common room. The first room of the tent is of ample size to entertain friends during the pounding rain. The Arizona has all the space a family of four could need which makes it a prime selection for a top family tent.

The tent has exceptional build quality which makes it seem as though it was hand-made instead of mass-produced. All of the seams have high-quality taping to keep the rain out. However, you can trust that this tent will exceed expectations when it comes to extreme weather conditions. That is because it was constructed to withstand the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil. An added benefit for weather events in this tent is that the rain fly goes all the way to the ground to protect against heavy downpours and strong winds.

This tent has a commanding headroom of 96 inches, which means absolutely no crouching except for the very, very tall. The footprint of this tent is average at 17ft x 8 ft. This tent is a nice compact rectangle which will allow for it to fit on any campsite that you can find. Even with the large size, it is also only 24 pounds, which is not the lightest on the list, but it is still reasonable for a basecamp tent.

Top Family Tent Recommendation

This tent is comparable to the Ozark Instant Cabin in shape and amenities, but the quality of the Arizona GT is what puts this over the top. The setup of this tent is quick and easy. It can be done by a single person after some practice, which will come in handy when you get to the campsite late, and you are trying to get the tent up and dinner going. Last but not least the third top family tent is the NTK Arizona GT and it is recommended for families who need separate rooms or want a shared room space, great headroom, ample sleeping and storage space, above-average weather capabilities, and easy setup.

Top Family Tent Recommendation

Conclusion

All of these tents are great options for families. Depending on your specific criteria and camping needs I highly recommend going with one of these three. Each of these tents has comparable interior amenities such as storage pouches and hooks for hanging lamps or lights. Whether you are going on your first family camping trip or your 100 it’s time to upgrade to one of these tents that can last you a long time and give you great memories. Remember to define your criteria for a tent upfront. You may find that the ones listed here are the most commonly that are used, but there are lots of these tents that come in varying sizes in case your family has more than two children or are taller.

Comparison Table


Ozark Trail 9-Person Instant Cabin Tent Coleman 8-Person Red Canyon TentNTK Arizona GT 7 to 8 Person
$290.00$159.99$399.95
Ratings4.4 out of 5 stars4.6 out of 5 stars4.7 out of 5 stars
Notes
Notes
Notes
BrandOZARK TRAILColemanNTK
Closure TypeZipperZipperZipper
ColorGray, GreenRedDark Teal
Feature ListMake sure this fits by entering your model number. Large windows with mesh screens, No assembly required, poles pre-attached to the tentMake sure this fits by entering your model number. Family camping tent can accommodate eight campers; measures 17 by 10 feet with a 72-inch center height Included room dividers allow you to create three separate rooms Coleman’s exclusive Weathertec System is guaranteed to keep you dry from unexpected wet weather on your camping trip Tent setup is easy with its shock-corded poles and easy-to-follow assembly instructionsMake sure this fits by entering your model number. RATED #6 FOR THE BEST FAMILY TENT IN THE USA. SPACIOUS 7 to 8 Person (adults/kids), 2 Doors, 2 Windows Tent Designed for Easy Assembly with color-coded poles. Super 6.2 FT height for maximum comfort. WATERPROOF FULL COVERAGE RAIN FLY: Double layer 190T polyester laminated with polyurethane 2500 mm water column, partially aluminum coated, heat-welded PU seam sealed, and UV protection, Large covered mesh funnel vents provide even more ventilation. Inner tent: Large D-style doors with mosquito mesh for great views and ventilation. Roomy utility pockets. Zipped E-port for easy wiring. FRAME: 100% virgin NANO-FLEX shock-corded fiberglass rods with an improved diameter and double gold plated ferrules. Aluminum Pin-and-ring system for easy and quick setup. MOSQUITO MESH: Inner tent fully breathable with generous Ultra-thin polyester no-see style mesh keeps you safe from smallest insects and mosquitoes while offering some privacy from side view (when not using the rain fly).
MaterialPolyester, Alloy SteelBlendPolyester, Fiberglass, Fabric
Maximum Height84 Inches72 Inches
OccupancySeven-or-more-personSeven-or-more-person8 Person
Pole Material TypeSteelFiberglass
Product DescriptionOzark Trail 9 Person 2 Room Instant Cabin Tent with Screen Room: Sets up in under 2 minutes No assembly required, poles pre-attached to tent Sleeps 9 Fits 2 queen airbeds Includes room divider to create 2 room tent Includes rainfly with factory sealed seams Large windows with mesh screens Electrical cord access Gear organizer included Carry bag included Tent stakes included Measures: 14′ x 13. 5′ Height: 84″ Construction: polyester, steel Model# WMT-14984 Attention California Residents: WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.Product Description The Coleman Red Canyon 8-Person Tent features a spacious interior, so everyone can stretch out and relax without feeling cramped. Great for weekend camping trips with family and friends, this camping tent comes with room dividers that let you create 3 separate rooms for privacy. Its 6-foot center height allows you to stand comfortably and move freely inside the tent. If it rains, the WeatherTec system with patented welded floors and inverted seams helps ensure you and your gear stay dry. A Cool-Air port and Variflo adjustable venting system allow you to adjust the airflow, so you can stay comfortable. This 8-person tent has shock-corded poles and easy-to-follow assembly instructions for quick setup. Separate storage bags for the tent, poles, and stakes are included to keep everything organized. Amazon.com Measuring 17- by 10-feet, Coleman’s Red Canyon tent is spacious enough to comfortably sleep eight campers. Ideal for weekend camping trips with family and friends, the Red Canyon features removable privacy walls, allowing you to create up to three separate rooms.
Ships fromVALUE SUPPLYAmazon.comAmazon
Size48.00 x 10.60 x 10.60″204″ L x 120″ W x 72″ H
Sold byVALUE SUPPLYAmazon.comBLASANI
Special FeatureTent Stakes, RainflyWaterproof, UVProtection, Rainfly
CapacityAvailable in 2P, 4P, and 6P
Setup TypeConventional
Sun-Blocking Dark Room Available
Floor Area1702
Item Weight22.4 Pounds
List Price$169.99 Details margin-left: 5px !important; } text-decoration: underline !important; }
PackagingShows what’s inside and can’t be hidden. If this is a gift, consider shipping to a different address.
Sport TypeCamping & HikingCamping & Hiking
You Save$10.00 (6%)
Center Hight1.85m / 6.07ft
Dimensions H x W x DHeight x Width x Depth 85 x 305 x 360 cms 6.07 x 10 x 11.81 ft
Doors2 D Style doors
Floor Material / Outer MaterialSeamless heavy duty anti-fungal polyethylene to keep you dry and protected / Polyester Taffeta 68D 190T 2500mm PU
Frame / Inner MaterialFiberglass rods connected with internal elastic and chrome plated ferrules / 190T breathable Polyester Mosquito NO-SEE-UM micro net fabric
Mosquito MeshUltra Thin NO-SEE-UM polyester
Seasons3
SleepsUp to 9
Weight8.5kg / 18.74Lb
Floor Length13.9 Feet
ShapeDome

Good luck on your trip and make lots of good memories even on the rainy camping days!