You loaded your car with all your camping gear, your food, and your family. You drive a countless amount of hours to your destination. Finally, you check-in, find your site, and begin unloading.
Now it is time to assemble your sleeping quarters…
After all of this work, who wants to spend 30-40 minutes assembling a camping family tent?
NOBODY.
The solution to this problem is to get a good-sized instant tent for your family.
In this article, I summarize the best instant tents for family camping in the market as of June of 2020. These are the easiest tents to put up, so read on and get your adventure started!
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Top Performers
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What is an Instant Tent?
Let me first clarify what “non-instant” tents involve. With regular tents, the poles are separate. You have to attach the poles to each other, then run them through the channels on the shell of the tent. This process is time-consuming to set up and takedown.
With an instant tent, the poles are already attached to each other and to the tent shell. All you do is raise the poles one side at a time until the tent is fully extended. All done!
Top 11 Instant Tent for Families
1. CORE 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent
- It has two entryways
- Large screened windows for lots of natural light
- Rainfly included
- The top is mesh, which lets lots of natural light but it is also more prone to tearing.
This 14ft X 9ft tent will accommodate a crew of 4 or 5 with plenty of room to spare. According to the manufacturer, you can set up this tent in one minute. Realistically, I would say that while you learn it will probably take you about five, especially considering adding a tarp and the rainfly.
The tents had LOTs of screened windows, and the ceiling itself is all mesh. This lets in a lot of natural light and breeze. However, this comes at the cost of having to add the rainfly each trip, and heat retention is probably not great on colder weather.
Related: How to Plan Your First Family Camping Trip
2. Timber Ridge Camping Tent 6 Person Instant Tent
- Mesh
- Imported
- Advanced Ventilation: 2 big mesh T-doors, 2 big mesh windows and a large mesh ceiling make a good airflow. The extensive mesh of this camp tent provides a good view and bug-free lounging, you can look at the stars at night through the mesh ceiling.
- Instant Camping Tent: This tent uses the easy set up design which comes with pre-assembled poles, you can quickly set up this large tent. It is also equipped with 1 gear loft, 2 wall pockets for storage, and an E-port to connect power. Ideal for camping.
- Waterproof and Windproof Tent: This all weather tent comes with water-resistant polyster fabric, removable rainfly and sealed seams, it can block water if there is a rain. And the durable fabric, strong poles and stakes will protect you from strong wind.
- Big 6-person Family Cabin Tent: Base measures: 10x10 FT, center height: 78 inches, sleeps 6 people comfortably. You can stand and walk freely in this tall cabint tent. Also roomy enough for family or friends to use for camping, traveling, ect.
- Brand Warranty: All our products have a 12 month quality warranty. Please check the tent and accessories before you use it. For any questions, please contact our customer service team directly.
- Simple Designs
- O-shaped door makes it easy to go in and out
- Well ventilated with mesh windows and top
- Side pockets for small items (sunglasses, phones, etc)
- Probably too small for a growing family
- Some complaints about the zippers getting easily caught
This tent only measures 10×10 feet, making it one of the smaller options I am listing here. It is a squared shaped tent that can sleep 6 people. Realistically, this is probably more suitable for a family of three in order to keep the space more comfortable.
The door is O-shaped, making it easier to go in and out. A rainfly and a door mat is included.
3. Outdoor Products 8 Person Hexagon Tent with Built-in Lights
- Sleeps 8 Campers / 15 ft x 13 ft x 80 in high
- Pre-attached poles with built in LED lights make setup quick and easy
- Light up your campsite with built-in LED lighted poles
- Ground Vents: Dual ground vents create cross ventilation throughout the tent
- No-See-Um-Mesh will keep you dry and bite free from bugs
- Spacious and comfortable
- Standing height of 6’7″ inches
- Built-in LED lights for convenience
- The hexagonal shape may make it difficult to fit in small campsites
- The tent may not perform well in extreme weather
- Ground vents need to be retrofitted for AC unit
At 15 ft x 13 ft x 80 in high, this tent is quite large! Just as the name states, it is hexagon shape making it quite roomy. It is tall enough with plenty of headspace. It also features two D-shaped doors, ground ventilation, interior lights, and a power cord port.
4. Core Two Room 12 Person Instant Cabin Tent with Side Entrance
- The tent body with pre-attached poles that lock into place creates a setup time as short as 2 minutes.
- Water Block Technology combines water-repellent fabrics with a fully taped rainfly and sealed seams to resist rain.
- A lower air intake vent draws in cool air from the ground while the mesh ceiling allows hot air to escape.
- An included room divider can be used to create 2 rooms.
- Keep small items off the floor with the conveniently located storage pockets.
- Includes tent with pre-attached poles, rainfly with attached guylines, room divider, tent stakes, and carry bag.
- Up to 12 people can fit comfortably
- Poles pre-attached for easy set-up
- Vertical walls and durable polyester material
- Large tent at a price point that is affordable
- Not for extreme weather conditions
- Portable but heavy and bulky
- Room divider may not provide complete privacy
Measuring 18ft X 10ft, this is one of the largest tents I included in this review. It features a side door and a “front” door, room dividers, and plenty of height to walk around comfortably. The combination of ground ventilators and mesh ceiling keep the tent nice and dry from condensation.
Related: Essential Items for Camping with a Baby
5. Coleman 8-Person Instant Family Tent
- 150D material
- Imported
- Spacious 8-person tent has enough room for 2 queen-size airbeds.Number of Windows : 7
- Sets up in 1 minute in 3 easy steps
- WeatherTec system with patented welded floors and inverted seams to keep you dry
- Rugged Polyguard 2X double-thick fabric for reliable, long-lasting use
- Measures 14 x 10 feet with 6-foot 7-inch center height
- Quick one-person setup in under 5 minutes. (it says two minutes, but I am being realistic)
- The ceiling is closed, so the rainfly is not a requirement.
- It has room dividers for larger families
- It is a simple design that lacks many modern features (no ground ventilation, no power cord port, etc)
- Rainfly is not included. It must be bought separately here.
This is the tent we have. We have been using it for the past 5 years, so I thought I would recommend it because of its durability. At 14ft x 10ft, it has plenty of space for a family of 4.
Related: The Best Camping Chair for Bad Back: Top 10 Picks
6. Coleman 8-Person Camping Tent with Built-in Closet
- Cabin tent features built-in closet with shelves and hanger bar to help you stay organized
- Fast Pitch design sets up in about 9 minutes
- Spacious 8-person design with room divider included for privacy
- WeatherTec system with patented welded floors and inverted seams to keep you dry
- Measures 13 x 9 feet with 2 x 2-foot closet and 6-foot 8-inch center height
- The closet space and room divider make this tent great for camping comfortably.
- The hinged door is a fabulous addition, no more crawling under floppy fabric!
- It comes in a wheeled carry bag
- No ground ventilation
- The closet shelves are made of mesh, so there is only so much weight you can put on them
- With the added closet space and hinged door, this tent takes longer to set up (10 minutes or so).
This is Coleman’s attempt to join the modern amenity design! It measures 13 x 9 feet and 6-foot 8-inch center height. What is quite unique about this tent is the 2 x 2-foot closet. No more bags lying around to make you trip at night! It has mesh ceiling, included rainfly, power cord port, and a hinged door.
7. Ozark Trail 11 Person 3 Room Instant Cabin Tent
- Quick under 5 minutes set up, despite the added space and features
- The rainfly has awning attached
- No power cord port or ground ventilation system
- The awning does not seem like it would survive a downpour.
This tent is unique in that, at 14ft x 14ft, it still manages to include a third room! The third room is not very tall, but it is quite roomy! It would be great for little kids to set it up as a sleeping area, a play area, or perhaps to store the gear and keep it out of the way.
8. Ozark Trail Instant Cabin Tent with Integrated Led Light
- Front and back door
- Interior lights
- It lacks other useful features, such as electric port and ground ventilation
Plenty of room to stand and spread in this large 18ft x 10ft tent. One of the nicer features is the interior lights having both a front and a back door. Having a backdoor is handy for those that also bring a portable bathroom area! The front door can be put up as a canopy, which is pretty neat!
Related: Best Baby Camping Beds for Safe sleeping
9. Ozark Trail 12 People Instant Cabin Tent
- Largest tent for extended trips or large families
- Power cord access
- Strong entrance awning
- It could use more organization pockets
- A hinged door would make this a luxury tent.
At 20′ x 10′ x 80″, this is the largest tent in this roundup. It features two room dividers, making this a three-room tent. This is perfect for large families, or families with older kids that want their own, separate space.
10. KAZOO 6-8 Person Room Cabin Tent Instant Setup
- It can fit 6 adults and 2 kids very well.
- One person can put it up within 30 seconds, just like opening an umbrella.
- Waterproof and Sturdy KAZOO 6 person camping tent has double layers.
- The liner is made of B3 mesh and 190T breathable Polyester.
- The rainfly is made of 210T Ripstop Polyester.
- Full mesh walls and ceiling to provide excellent ventilation.
- Two large and dual-zipper doors with seams allow for easy entry and smooth closure.
- The zipped door can be supported to make a sunshade.
- Smooth and reliable SBS dual zippers, mesh interior pockets, incredibly durable rip-stop fabric materials, full-coverage rainfly and firm lightweight structure, to stand up to your biggest adventures.
- Simple design, set up in a couple of minutes
- Two doors
- Could be small for large families
- No additional features, such as cord port.
This tent is on the smaller size, measuring roughly 9 ft x 9 ft. The center of the tent is around 72in, which means it is tall enough for most people, at least right in the center. It has two D-shaped doors, and the rainfly provides complete coverage as well as an awning!
11. Bushnell Instant Hub Style Tent
- Max Height: 6 ft 6 in
- Floor Area: 12 ft x 11.5 ft
- Square Footage: 138sqft
- Max Capacity: 6 person
- Max Weight: 43 lbs
- Quick and easy setup with hub-style design
- Durable and waterproof fabric for protection against the elements
- Large windows and mesh panels for excellent ventilation
- Affordable price point for a high-quality tent
- Limited interior space for 6 people
- Not suitable for extreme weather conditions
- The tent may require additional guy lines or stakes for stability in windy conditions
Gear up for hassle-free family adventures with the Bushnell Pop Up Tent – your ultimate instant camping companion! Say goodbye to the tedious tent setup struggles; this beauty unfolds and stakes out at each corner in less than two minutes, thanks to its nifty instant pop-up technology. Crafted for durability, the tent flaunts robust 210 denier fabric walls and a tough 300 denier floor fabric, ready to take on all the wear and tear your family can throw at it.
Stay cool and comfy under the stars with the Bushnell’s thoughtful design. Huge windows, a 50/50 no-see-um mesh door, and mesh wall panels create a refreshing airflow, perfect for those balmy nights. Step inside and revel in the roomy interior, thanks to frame poles that bend outwards, giving you a spacious dome-like feel with a generous 7’8” headroom – finally, a tent you can stand tall in! Mother Nature throwing a curveball? No worries! The included rainfly and fully taped waterproof seams mean you can weather any storm without a drop inside.
But that’s not all – this tent is in tune with modern camping needs. Need to charge your gadgets or power up a mini-fridge? No problem! An integrated electrical port keeps you connected while keeping bugs and weather out. Wrapping up your outdoor escapade is a breeze with the large carry bag – 74 inches x 10 inches x 9 inches of portable perfection. So, pack up the family and get ready for instant, easy, and downright enjoyable camping with the Bushnell Pop Up Tent!
Features to look for when shopping for instant tent for your family
Tent Size
I’m a minimalist and prefer simple set ups. That being said, there’s so much more comfort added when you are able to stand up and move around inside a tent!
This is especially important when the weather is not particularly friendly, such as when it is raining. Having enough space inside the tent for the kids to do activities inside during bad weather is worth the extra weight.
Tent Shape
In this round-up you will find rectangular, square, and hexagon tents. My personal experience is that rectangular shapes allow for better organization and layout within the tent. Hexagon shapes will give a roomy feeling. Square shapes should work well with small families.
Transportation
All tents in this review come in their own carry bag. Because I focused on family tents, they are still rather large. One thing you should know is that, regardless of the tent you acquire, it is much easier to get them out of the bag than it is getting it back inside!
Realistic timing
Although most of these claim a 1 minute setup, I would tell you to expect more of a 5 minute endeavor (longer the first few times). That is still significantly better than tents that are not “instant”
Other factors
The tents in this round up have a mix of features. Some have interior lights, some have power cord port, others have hinged doors, multiple doors, or attached awnings.
Adding features will possibly increase setup time and weight. Keep this in mind as you search for the right tent for your family.
What Else do you Need to Set Up your Tent?
- Make sure your tent includes a rainfly!
- I would recommend a tarp underneath, like this one. That will keep the moisture out and soften the ground underneath.
- Some people like to put a canopy over their tent. This is to reduce the chance of water getting in, and also to block out direct sunlight during warm months of the year.
- A camping rug set right outside your tent will help keep some dirt out.
- Inflatable mattress, preferable ones with the pump attached like these ones.
- Small space heater during cooler months. We use this one that turns off automatically if it gets tipped over.
- A fan for the warmer months
- Portable AC unit for the hottest months. You will need to place the exhaust out of the tent.
My Pick?
If I were shopping for a new tent this year, I must say the Ozark Trail 9-person instant tent would serve our needs quite well. It has most of the features we would need for a tent. However, we are a small family of 4. For those with larger families, I think the Ozark Trail 11 people with three rooms would be the way to go!
Do you have an instant tent that absolutely love? If so, let me know in the comments below!
Great reviews! Thank you for all this information!