What are the Best Family Tents 2020?
If you have a big camping trip coming up, you may be scrambling to find which family tent will work best. And if there’s one thing that you’ll be looking at the most, it’s the size. It’s understandable, since more space will allow everyone to be more comfortable which translates into a better camping experience overall.
Whether you’re looking for a family tent for beach camping or a budget family tent for the mountains, we’ve got you covered with these 2020 tents.
We’ve compiled a list of the Best Family Tents 2020 to help you find your next camping tent. Through a combination of product testing and online reviews, we’ve narrowed it down to the Top 10 Best Family Tents 2020. Lets take a look.
Best Family Tents 2020
Last update on 2021-01-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. Coleman Montana 8-Person Family Tent – Best Family Tent 2020
When it comes to quality tents, it’s hard to match the durability, design, and amount of styles that Coleman offers. Leading the Best Family Tents 2020 review is the Coleman Montana Family Tent which is the perfect combination of size, durability, and stylish design in an affordable package.
Design
The Coleman Montana Family Tent is based on the classic tent design we’ve grown accustom to. It features a hinged door centered in the middle for easy access to either side. A handy electrical access port is located near the rear of the tent allowing you to easily power your devices or run all sorts of cables and tubing to wherever you want.
The door is equipped with an awning that helps deter wind and rain when you enter and exit. But going one step further, the Montana Family Tent is constructed with Coleman’s WEATHERTEC™ SYSTEM which improves the durability through engineering advances by using Leak-Free Seams, Weather-Resistant Fabric, Protected Seams, Waterproof Floors, Zipper Protection., and a Wind-Strong Frame.
At 16 feet wide and near 7 feet tall, the Coleman Montana Family Tent is spacious enough to comfortably sleep 8 people. People over 6 feet tall will have no problem standing up in the middle of this family tent. It will hold 3 queen sized air mattresses providing plenty of sleeping space.
Features
The Coleman Montana Family Tent is really easy to set up (15 minute setup time). Coleman has designed a system with easy clip poles and snag proof pole sleeves. Trying to get the poles through the sleeves is one of the most frustrating parts of setting up a tent, but that issue has been solved with the Coleman Montana. The sleeves run the length of the tent, so there are no frustrating sleeve gaps to worry about.
Convenient storage pockets line the inside of the Coleman Montana Family Tent for easy access to your belongings. When you go to sleep, you’ll have a place to put your glasses or anything else just a short reach away.
The Coleman Montana Family Tent is the perfect mix of durability and weather resistance all in a great design. When you add to it the fact that it can hold up to 8 people and fit 3 air mattresses while remaining extremely affordable, it’s easy to see why it is at the top of the best family tents of 2020.
Pros: Durable, 15 minute Setup Time, Sleeps 8 People, Weatherproof, Affordable
Cons: One Door, Limited Windows
**To see the Coleman Montana Family Tent at Amazon.com, Click Here!**
2. Ozark Trail 10-Person XL Family Tent – Best 10 Person Family Tent
The Ozark Trail Family Tent is one of the largest camping tents on the Best Family Tents 2020 list. It can sleep an astonishing 10 people comfortably. Measuring in at 20 ft x 11 ft, it fits the needs of most large sized families. There’s plenty of room for 3 queen sized air mattresses and more. This is the family tent to have for a more comfortable camping trip.
Design
The Ozark Trail XL Family Tent is designed with lots of people in mind. In addition to the main door, it features two quick access doors on either side which makes getting in and out so much easier. This is a pretty efficient feature if you’ve only used tents with one door. Never have people crawling over one another to get out of the tent!
Not only can it sleep 10 people, it has a ton of windows too. 6 to be exact. This gives everyone a great view outside and allows for a nice breeze from any direction.
The Ozark Trail XL Family Tent is 184 square feet of usable floor space and 78-inch center height. There’s plenty of room for the whole family and all their gear. This tent is huge!
Features
This Family Tent features 3 dividable partitions that allow you to create three separate rooms for privacy and flexibility. A pretty handy feature with large families that need their space.
The built-in front mud mat and canopy help keep the interior clean and provide protection from wind, rain, and other harsh weather. The canopy zips down for privacy.
The Ozark Trail XL Family Tent is the perfect camping tent for a large family looking for extra space at an affordable price. At 20 feet wide, this familt tent is the largest tent on the Best Family Tent 2020 review.
Pros: Sleeps 10 People, Weatherproof, Affordable, 3 Access Doors, 7 Windows
Cons: Lacks Advanced Weather Protection like in the Coleman Montana
**To see the Ozark Trail XL Family Tent at Amazon.com, Click Here!**
3. CORE 9 Person Family Tent
The Core Family Tent is another great option for those with big families looking to maximize space and increase comfort. This Core Family Tent will sleep up to 9 people easily and provide plenty of space to store gear. And as with the Ozark Trail and Coleman Montana Family Tents, it will fit 3 air mattresses with no problems.
Design
The Core 9 Person Family Tent features one entrance door centered on the front. Mesh windows provide ample air circulation or window views from just about any angle.
It sleeps up to 9 people ( 8 lengthwise and 1 width wise). The 72 inch dome allows for the average person to stand up in the center of the tent without having to hunch over.
The Core Family Tent is constructed with CORE H20 Block Technology which is Core’s patented weatherproof material that improves the durability and weather resistance beyond normal tents. Adjustable ground vents help add additional ventilation in hot weather.
Features
The Core 9 Person Family Tent is equipped with many additional features not seen in some of the other tents in the Best Family Tents 2020 review. These include:
- Gear loft with lantern hook
- Side mounted pockets to keep items organized and off the tent floor
- Electrical cord access port
The Core 9 Person Family Tent provides the most ventilation of any camping tent on the Best Family Tents 2020 Review. You’ll be able to catch the breeze no matter what the wind direction is.
Pros: Sleeps 9 People, Electrical Access Port, CORE H20 Block Technology, Inside Storage
Cons: Only One Door
**To see the Core 9 Person Family Tent at Amazon.com, Click Here!**
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4. AmazonBasics 8-Person Family Tent
Yes, even Amazon has gotten into providing quality family tents, and the AmazonBasics product line is producing quality items at affordable prices. The AmazonBasics Family Tent has a capacity of 8 people, making it a top consideration for small to medium size families that still want their space.
Design
The AmazonBasics Family Tent is built with simplicity in mind. It’s not the largest tent and it doesn’t come with the most features, but it’s 100% polyester exterior is more than capable of providing a good place to rest for many camping trips to come. It’s center dome allows for anyone up to 6 feet tall to stand up comfortably.
- Rainfly for added protection against the elements
- Cool-air port and variable venting system for adjusting the airflow as desired
- Shock corded poles for easy set up
- Inside storage compartments
The AmazonBasics Family Tent is an affordable four seasons tent that checks all the boxes when providing the things you need, with nothing you don’t. It’s added rainfly protection and bonus vent system allow you to customize it to fit the conditions. This tent ranks #4 on the Best Family Tents 2020 list.
Pros: Sleeps 8 People, Inside Storage, Rainfly, Easy Setup
Cons: Only One Door, Could Use More Ventilation
**To see the AmazonBasics Family Tent at Amazon.com, Click Here!**
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5. Coleman Tenaya Lake Family Tent – Best Family Beach Tent
A lot of thought went into making the Coleman Tenaya Lake Family Tent and that’s why it’s ranked high on the list of the Best Family Tents 2020 Review. It’s capable of holding up to 8 people, making it a great option for small to midsize families.
Design
The Coleman Tenaya Lake Family Tent is designed slightly different than most other family tents in that it retains it’s dimension throughout the entire space. Where other tents have a substantial dome in the middle, the Tenaya is more of a square. It’s center height is close to 7 feet, which is more than any other tent on the list.
Since it retains it height to the outer edge, this means you can walk around a lot easier through virtually the whole inside space. It also comes with Coleman’s patented WeatherTec system that helps keep the elements out with the included Rainfly. This makes for water tight inside floor seams and a durable polyester exterior.
The Coleman Tenaya Lake Family Tent comes with a closet……yes, I said closet. It’s built in to the back side of the tent and comes with a hanger bar for clothes and shelves to keep everything organized. The compartment for the closet easily unzips for access. This is a pretty handy feature for being able to keep items dry and out of the way.
Coleman also included the Fast Pitch™ system into the Tenaya Family Tent. It uses pre-attached, color-coded top poles and hub, fast fit feet and snag-free Insta-Clip™ suspension to let you set up your tent 55% faster than a comparable Coleman® tent with conventional setup.
Pros: Sleeps 8 People, Inside Storage, Separate Closet, WeatherTec Rainfly, Best Easy To Set Up Family Tent
Cons: Only One Door
**To see the Coleman Tenaya Lake Family Tent at Amazon.com, Click Here!**
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What Size Camping Tent Do I Need?
This is a common question that arises when searching for a camping tent. Buying the largest camping tent you can find will lead to a longer set up time and more room than you might need. Buying a family tent that is too small will result in cramped quarters, lack of comfort, and irritability.
As a rule of thumb, it’s recommended that the tent you buy is at least rated for the number of people that are intended to occupy it. One method is to apply a factor of 1.4 to the capacity rating of the camping tent. If a tent is rated for 6 people, then it is recommended that an 8 person tent will provide the comfort and space you need (1.4 X 6 Person Capacity = 8.4 Capacity Total)
Common Camping Tent Capacities
2 Person Tent – Provides plenty of room for one person, ample room 2 people, but will not support a larger capacity. Space is limited, but makes for a lighter weight overall. 2 person tents make great backpacking tents or beach tents with quick setup and small footprints. These are some of the cheapest tents you will find.
4 Person Tent – These tents are slightly larger than 2 man tents, ideal for 2-3 people, but become cramped with 4 or more people. 4 person tents are great for 2 people since it gives extra room for storage of camping equipment and room to move around.
6 Person Tent – When you reach the level of 6 Person Tents, you start to get into tents that allow for you to stand up in. Set up and takedown tends to take considerably longer than both 2 person and 4 person tents, but the added room is noticeable increased. 6 Person tents make for a great choice for a family of 4.
8 Person Tent – Large Family Tents fall into this category. Dimensions of 8 Person Tents can exceed 20 feet in width and 7 feet tall. Many tents in the Best Family Tents 2020 review fall into this category. They are designed for large amounts of people or the storage of a lot of equipment for longer durations. Due to the weight of these tents, they do not make ideal backpacking tents, but are designed more for campgrounds.
Family Tent Camping Equipment and Camping Accessories
The amount of features and accessories that Family Tents have these days is ever increasing. The creature comforts we’ve come to know in our own homes have been integrated into the camping world. Here are a list of camping equipment and camping accessories built into Family tents you should look for when looking for your next camping tent or bug out tent.
Camping Tent Inside Storage – If you’re a seasoned camper, you know how important it is to maximize the available space to store the most camping gear. Tent manufactures have gotten on board by adding additional storage compartments, hangers, and pouches. Rather than piling your camping equipment on the floor in a large heap, make sure your next family tent has a separate storage closet or hanging storage compartments for better organization.
The Coleman Tenaya Lake Family Tent meets both of these criteria with a separate storage closet where you can hang close or store gear, and also comes with elevated camping gear pouches to clear up ground clutter. Most of the camping tents listed in the Best Family Tents 2020 Review have some type of additional storage features.
External Openings for Ventilation and Power – Camping without an A/C or a fan, especially in summer, means you need plenty of ventilation. Most family tents are designed with ventilation flaps and mesh on either end to create a draft throughout then entire space. Some family tents go even further by adding ventilation around the entire exterior. This is the most beneficial since it doesn’t matter what direction your camping tent is facing, it will always be able to let the breeze blow though and keep you cool at night.
The Core 9 Person Family Tent is a great choice for a camping tent that has a mesh top which will let you take advantage of maximum ventilation for those hot summer camping trips.
Camping Tents with Power Cord Openings and Access – Another innovative design that some family tents are equipped with are external openings that allow you to pass cords, such as power, water, or Cat 5 internet into the camping tent itself. In the past, you usually had to run external cords through the tent door, but not today. These convenient openings are located at the rear of most family tents and contain a zippered opening that is resistant to water intrusion. Simply run the cord through the opening and it’s out of the way and secure.
Additional Family Tent Features to Look For – In addition to the features already mentioned, several other features are important to look for as well. The first are ingress and egress points. Since family tents are big tents, it’s assumed that up to 10 people could be using it at any given time. This makes selecting a tent with multiple entrances and exits preferable over one with just one door.
The Ozark Trail Family Tent comes with 3 openings. One door is centered at the front, as is with any standard tent, but it also has 2 other doors on the sides which let people exit from any direction. This is an important feature especially at night where people don’t have to climb over others just to leave the tent.
Pop Up Tents and Easy Setup
Very few people want to spend a ton of time to set up their camping tent. In fact, most would say it’s the thing they look forward to the least on a camping trip. It doesn’t have to be that way though, and tent manufacturers have come a long way in providing reengineered designs that make putting together family tents quick and easy.
The Coleman Montana Family Tent is one such tent that prides itself on a quick and easy setup. Rated at less than 15 minutes of set up time, it has a few extra features that make putting up the tent the least of your worries. For starters, all the poles are labeled and directions are step by step. The poles themselves are designed with easy clips that take less than a few seconds to put together. And the best improvement of them all are the pole sleeves which have been designed with no pesky gaps or inside seems that can result in snagging. The poles go through easily and you don’t have to spend time searching for where it’s hung up at. For a quick set up, look to the Coleman Montana Family Tent for one of the Best Family Tents 2020.
Cheap Tents for Family Camping
When you think of cheap tents, you don’t always think of family tents. Mainly due to their size and added features, it’s difficult to keep the price down like a 2 person tent or 4 person tent. However, there are some cheap tent options which still meet the requirements of a family tent size.
The Coleman Montana Family Tent with an 8 person capacity is still under $120. It is one camping tent that could qualify as a budget tent or cheap tent relative to most other listed in the Best Family Tents 2020 Review. It offers all the basic features you need, without the added features you will pay extra for.
Another option when searching for cheap tents is to purchase a smaller tent. This isn’t always a recommended option, but the Coleman Montana Family Tent or others are too expensive, your options are extremely limited. You may even be able to purchase two 4 person tents cheaper than one 8 person tent, so look into that as well if you’re on a budget.
Wrapping It Up
The days of camping in confined spaces and claustrophobic conditions are long gone. The Best Family Tents 2020 Review has listed many tents that provide all the space a large family would need to make their next camping trip comfortable and more enjoyable. Whether it’s a simplistic tent such as the AmazonBasics Family Tent that sleeps 8, or the Coleman Tenaya Lake Family Tent with a built in closet, there’s something for every situation and price point. The path forward is choosing which family tent is right for you with these new tents for 2020.
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We use the Coleman Tenaya at the beach and it fits our family of 4 just fine. You may have to go considerably larger to fit 5 or more people and still have enough room.
Many people already enjoy driving their truck out to a camping site and simply sleeping in the bed of it. Unlike the other campers, those in truck beds don’t need to lie on the hard ground, and risk having insects and other critters crawling into their sleeping bags.
Just wanted to say that the Core 9 person tent was perfect for our family of 4. I’m sure you can fit more people, but the 4 of us had plenty of room.