Lastly, do not overlook the ease of set-up and packability of the SUV camping tent. After a long day of hiking and exploring, the last thing you want is to struggle with a complicated tent. Look for tents that are easy to assemble and disassemble, with clear instructions and color-coded poles. In addition, consider the size and weight of the tent when packed, as this will determine how easy it is to transport and store. When I tried my hands on this tent, I had it ready in under 5 minutes with the help of a friend. The spacious tent easily accommodated 3 queen airbeds, and the room divider provided a bit of privacy.
For this guide, we focused on tents that suit the most common terrains you’re likely to encounter when car-camping—grassy lawns or clearings, beaches, dirt campsites, and basic platforms—in spring, summer, and fall. We’re not looking at tents designed for such specialized activities as mountaineering, backpacking, or winter camping, though some of our recommendations have cross-over potential. An avid hiker, camper, and long-haul road-tripper, Claire Wilcox has slept in (and occasionally improvised) tents in 11 states. She covers outdoor gear for Wirecutter and worked on the most recent update of this guide, testing couples’ tents and family tents. Yes, instant tents are worth the money, especially if you shudder at the thought of setting up a regular tent, particularly in terrible weather.
The other door at the right width of the tent doesn’t come with any fiberglass poles, so it’s not hinged, and you do have to zip it open and close. Its adjustable ventilation system even maintains a pleasant atmosphere inside, and the included room divider allows you to create two separate spaces for privacy. Plus, the interior boasts handy storage pockets for keeping small items organized.
This is a great option for beginners, as a kids’ tent, or for budget-minded car campers. What really made this tent stand out is that it is extremely durable. I had this up for over two months in all types of weather, including 40-mph gusty winds, coleman instant tent driving cold rain, and even wet snow. A few inches of wet snow collapsed the tent, but once I removed it, the tent sprung right back into position. The 150-denier polyester offered proven durability and protection for the contents inside.
When the fly is fully deployed, the tent has two vestibules, which provide additional gear storage and also help ventilate the tent in inclement weather. And in a stroke of design brilliance, a small loop sewn into the top of the fly makes it possible to roll up one half of the fly, exposing the full mesh canopy while still providing shade and privacy. Underneath the fly, the Mineral King 3 has a full mesh dome with a waterproof, tape-seamed bathtub-style polyester coleman camping chair floor. The tent doors are nearly wall-sized, and after you unzip them, you simply stuff them into pockets, rather than having to roll and toggle-tie the fabric. Another two hanging pockets plus loops for a ceiling hammock provide simple yet effective interior storage. After our longtime top-pick tent for two people ran into some stock issues in 2021, we researched new models and redesigns, and we assembled a batch of small tents for testing in March 2022, on Oahu.