Get down with the heat and excitement because it’s Summertime! Nothing beats the hot sun above us, the melting ice cream and popsicles, long hikes among the trees or a kayaking trip along familiar streams like the summer adventures have for us. The last thing to complete it is a proper tent for summer to shelter you through the nights. On this thrilling occasion, we have brought to you 13 Best Tents for Summer Camping to help you make up the lost connection with nature in the wild!
How to Choose the Best Tents for Summer
As the competition between tent manufacturers gets tighter, it’s only normal that you’ll have a hard time choosing the best camping tent for summer that fits all of your needs. To help you with that, we have compiled the following pointers to aid you in your search should it takes the fun away from your future summer adventures:
The “Season Rating”
If you haven’t noticed, not all tents were built the same. While there are a lot of dimensions to check up on, it’s actually easier if you can find any info on a tent’s season rating. Most tents that aren’t equipped to withstand the abuse of the elements of winter camping are rated as 3-season tents, and that’s exactly what you should be looking for.
These tents are well-equipped to give you shelter throughout Spring, Summer, and Fall, noted by the lightweight attribute and mesh walls. Look for tents with a 3-season rating and it’s good to go. Remember, waterproofed tents are always better since we can never guess the fickle nature of the weather.
Heat and Sunlight Protection
Summer is all about the fun and bright light from the sun. Be careful, though, since sun rays aren’t as fun on your skin. To tackle this, you need to have a reliable shelter that shelters you from the dangerous UV rays. A good tent for summer will have some UV-blocking technology embedded in their canopies like silver-coated nylon or sunlight absorption material. This usually goes hand in hand with ventilation holes or mesh so you won’t get toasted inside the tent.
Materials and Weight
This is where you need to hit the balance between functionality and portability. Naturally, you should opt for the lighter tents that provide a degree of modularity so you can make weight adjustments while retaining its function. However, if you travel by vehicle, weight issues shouldn’t pose too much problem so that opting for the more comfortable, heavy-duty tents makes more sense.
Tent Setup
Setting up the tent won’t be a bother if you’re a seasoned camper. However, if you’re more of a casual one, it’s wise to pick a tent that gives you some ease in putting it up. For this reason, pop-up tents and umbrella opening tents are the best options for you. Besides, setting up a tent with less time and effort also means more time to explore!
Extra Room
As much as you want a clean room, it’s best to keep your belongings next to you for the sake of security. That’s why a tent with extra space for your gear is better than a tent full of people. If you’re willing to spend some pennies, a tent with a vestibule or porch can be a good use – as long as you purchase a footprint to protect the gear off the ground. Planning to travel with a large group? One of the 13 Best Camping Tents for 10 Persons will do the trick.
Columbia Mammoth Creek
13
Being in nature can really refresh you that no activity in the city can compare to. What best way to do that than going camping, especially with friends and family that share your love nature? On its way to be the best camping tent for summer, Columbia Mammoth Creek can definitely accompany your camping trips and provide a great experience to turn into wonderful memories. It comes in three sizes that can accommodate up to six, eight, and 10 people each. Simply choose the one that best fits you and your group!
It’s big and made with a straight-wall design in mind to provide you with plenty of room so you can kiss camping cramps goodbye. Don’t worry about setting it up, though, because it’s such a breeze that it’s up and ready in no time. On the sides, there are pull-out windows that enable you to admire the landscape around you. Rest assured that no leak-related concerns are necessary even when the summer rain comes pours hard. And your tent won’t be too hot or too cold, since there are a ground vent and insect mesh that provide maximum airflow for your comfort. In case it’s not enough, pack up one of the 13 Best Fans for Tent Camping as well!
What We Like
It’s big and suitable for group camping with a hassle-free setup.
Pros:
- Easy setup
- Pull-out windows
- A lot of wiggle room
- Ground leak-preventing tub floor
- Stain and water-repellent
Cons:
- The rainfly might fail and cause some leaking if it rains hard.
NTK Indy GT XL Sleeps
12
Nature has an endlessly vast beauty that it’s such a waste not to make time to explore it. True adventurers make it a mission to spend their lives discovering the gems of Mother Earth with their own eyes. If you’re one of them, you’re going to love camping with NTX Indy GT XL. This tent for summer houses up to six people in sleeping bags, so you can bring your family with you. Not a fan of sleeping bags? Don’t worry, you can fit two air mattresses of the queen and single sizes in it.
The seamless, heavy-duty anti-fungus floor material protects you from leaking, so you won’t have to worry about being woken up in the middle of the night due to a puddle slowly forming where you’re sleeping. But what about insects? With its ultra-thin No-see-um micro-mesh, you’ll be able to rest comfortably without having to be busy swatting away pesky mosquitoes or the likes. You don’t need to worry about rain either, because it comes with a double-layer rainfly that provides full coverage. It’s waterproof, of course, and it also offers you UV protection. You’ll be able to spend your nights worry-free and wake up ready to explore nature some more!
What We Like
It’s ideal for summer family campings.
Pros:
- Antifungal floor
- Thick and sturdy Nano-flex tech frame
- Breathable mosquito-mesh
- Waterproof rainfly
Cons:
- The sleeve system makes it harder to set it up.
ALPS Mountaineering Zephyr
11
Summer always offers some fun, and who are we not to take advantage of it? After being trapped in the bustles of urban life between concrete walls and deafening traffic, we deserve to spend some amazing time in nature. So why not go camping? This ALPS Mountaineering Zephyr 3-Person Tent is ready to help you with that. It’s lightweight, you don’t have to worry too much about packing heavily. It’s easy to assemble, too!
You can ask your partner or friend to come with you on your trip, and tell them the good news that they can share the tent with you. It’s supposed to fit three people, but for comfort, it might be best if it only fits two. It has two doors so don’t worry about having to step over someone sleeping when you need to go outside of the tent. It also has two vestibules, so there’s space for extra storage for you and your friend’s gears. You might want to invest in some footprint, though, to save your tent floor and prolong its life expectancy.
What We Like
It’s really easy to set and quite lightweight with a good size.
Pros:
- Quick setup
- Great ventilation
- UV damage and water-resistant fly
- Lightweight
Cons:
- It might not fit three people comfortably like it’s advertised.
Koon Beach Tent
10
What is the one thing that pretty much everyone is reminded of when it’s summer? The beach! Whether you’re there to suntan your summer body, enjoy the view of the glistening wave, swim in the ocean, or pick up seashells for decoration, the beach is the hottest destination. Almost literally, too, because it’s summer. But don’t worry! Koon’s Beach Tent Sun Shelter is ready to accompany you on your next trip to the beach. The sun will still be blazing, but you’ll be protected by the tent’s double silver coating which blocks most of the UVA and UVB rays.
When packed up, this tent is quite light and easy to carry, so you can just put this in your car trunk with your other stuff. It’s easy to set up quickly with the step-by-step instructions sewn in the bag. When it’s set up, this tent can fit four people if you’re going on the beach trip with your family or your circle of friends. The sandbags are included, so you don’t need to worry about the tent flying away when it gets windy. The rollable windows on the three sides of the tent allow you to enjoy the view while being protected from the sun; you can close them for some privacy when you need the space to change your bathing suit.
What We Like
Its heat-reflecting surface keeps the tent area from being scorching hot even at the beach.
Pros:
- UPF 50+ Protection
- The surface reflects heat
- Simple and quick setup
- Suitable for family beach trips
Cons:
- The poles may not be of the best quality.
Weanas Professional Backpacking Tent
9
Summer is the perfect occasion to finally make the time to take a break from the fast pace of urban lifestyle and enjoy the beauty of nature with your family or friends. Weanas Professional Backpacking Tent for summer camping will accommodate you and your group during your mountain-climbing trip or a relaxing backyard camping with your kids. Does backpacking sound like a great idea for this time of the year? Great, then this lightweight tent can be the perfect choice for you since it’s so easy to carry.
It’s made with high-quality material, so if you’re up for some thrilling adventures, it’s going to be able to withstand it. Don’t worry about it getting wet since it’s made of waterproof fabric (and the groundsheet fabric is even anti-tear). What about a solo trip? Perfect! This tent can be easily set up by one person in minutes, so you don’t have to deal with a hard time before resting. It’s freestanding, too, so if you ever need to move and relocate the tent without being disassembled, you can just do so and continue enjoying your trip.
What We Like
It’s easy to carry and can withstand windy or rainy days.
Pros:
- Weatherproof
- Lightweight
- Installable by one person
- Versatile use
Cons:
- Footprint sold separately.
Oileus X-Large 4 Person Beach Ten
8
If the thought of being under the scorching hot sun keeps you from enjoying some quality family time, then you’re going to love Oileus X-Large 4-Person Sun Shade Instant Tent. This tent is quite easy to carry and even easier to set up. When it’s time to go home or continue your trip, you only need around 30 seconds to fold it down. A simple and practical tent for summer camping!
This sun shelter tent is made for fun at the beach. It blocks you from the harmful UV rays, and it comes with fiberglass poles to stay stable even when it gets windy. The provided sand pockets and guylines will also help in that department. The mesh storages on the sides of the tent so you can store your drinks and free yourself from the worry of spilling them. Especially when kids are involved. Plus, the orange color looks great against the blue summer sky!
What We Like
The pop-up system makes it so easy to set up and fold down.
Pros:
- Easy assembly and disassembly
- Lightweight and portable
- One-year warranty
Cons:
- It’s better to fit up to 3 people for macimum comfort.
GeerTop Backpacking Tent
7
When the adventure is in your blood, you have no choice but to follow your calling. While hammocks are great to explore the wilderness and be one with nature, Geertop Backpacking Tent is built to appreciate its beauty in comfort. It’s lightweight and can fit it in your backpack, so of course, it’s suitable for backpacking trips for you and a friend. It’s also waterproof and anti-tear; that means you can add hiking, camping, and outdoor sports to the list!
Plus, you can set up the two layers according to your needs: just the inner one to enjoy your surroundings, or with the outer one to protect you from the weather. The outer layer has a special coating that makes the tent UV-resistant and waterproof so you don’t have to worry about rain or snow. The versatility of this tent makes it suitable for traveling in not just summer, but all four seasons. How great is it that you only need this one tent for all your trips?
What We Like
It’s lightweight and durable, great for backpacking in all seasons.
Pros:
- Double mesh window
- Waterproof and anti-tear material
- Cool design and color
- Tough for all seasons
Cons:
- The zippers often catch the linings.
The North Face Stormbreak 2
6
When you’re out in nature, enjoying the surrounding wildlife you, breathing the ocean breeze by the beach, or tasting dewdrops high in the mountains, you may think it’s okay to be away from comfort for a while. But it doesn’t have to be! With The North Face Stormbreak 2 tent, you can enjoy your summer traveling with your friends or family without giving up comfort. The tent is easy to set up, so you don’t have to waste the time and energy you can use to explore more of the wilderness around you. It has two larger doors on the sides, so you can get in and out of it easily or enjoy more of the view from inside.
It’s the classic tent for summer camping, just more enjoyable. You only need this one tent if you’re going on a couple trips with your partner since it shelters two people. It’s also great for camping trips with friends! The new vestibule design provides enhanced durability and makes it tougher under the weather, so you don’t have to worry about the rain or the wind. Keep the word ‘heavy’ away from your mind with this tent since it’s quite lightweight with only 5lbs. It also just has the cool look of the classic tent, and it comes in great colors. And to put the cherry on top, every purchase comes with a lifetime warranty!
What We Like
A tent with easy access and pitching that’s built with quality material.
Pros:
- Lifetime warranty
- Waterproof and durable
- Fits two people nicely
- Easy to pitch
Cons:
- Tall people may find it bothersome to get in and out the tent.
MSR Hubba Hubba NX
5
Going on a hike, enjoying the view of the beach, sleeping under the stars sound amazing, isn’t it? This could be the perfect summer for you to do all of them in one amazing trip! This MSR Hubba Hubba NX is a tent that enables you to do just that. Its lightweight freestanding design makes it easy to carry for backpacking trips with your friends. It doesn’t take much to set up, which is great, and the freestanding style and non-tapered floor creates quite a good space inside the tent. You can share it with a friend, too, as it has enough room to fit two people. The vestibule can be rolled up for stargazing. How neat is that?
The great thing with this one is that it has Xtreme Shield Waterproof Coating, which is supposed to last you three times longer than the standard ones. There goes your need to worry about waking up wet from the midnight rain! It’s also versatile with a design that lets you leave the body behind when you only need a minimalist shelter (footprint sold separately, however). Also, it just looks cool. As the best camping tent for summer, you can go on your trips without hassle – and in style.
What We Like
It’s light, durable, sturdy, and serves as a minimalist shelter without the body.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Xtreme Waterproof coating
- Rollup vestibule for stargazing
- Versatile design
Cons:
- It’s pricey and it doesn’t come with a footprint.
Coleman Dark Room Skydome Tent
4
Traveling is already fun, but when you’re traveling with your friends especially when it involves a campfire, marshmallows, a guitar, and endless throwbacks to the good times that everyone had! That kind of night usually never ends early, and after a lot of walking and exploring during the day, you’re exhausted, so you head to your tent to catch some sleep. But before you know it, the sun rises and its rays penetrate into your tent, forcing you to wake up. Who hates that? Most people. But with this Coleman Dark Room Skydome Tent for summer camping, you can kiss that goodbye!
The Darkroom technology blocks 90% of sunlight from interrupting your much-needed rest inside the tent, and it even reduces heat to keep you from sweating too much under the sun. It’s also equipped with the WeatherTec system that keeps water out and a strong frame that can withstand the wind. The compact size is also great for when you feel like going backpacking. There’s even extra assurance with the one-year limited warranty! But really, it’s the ability to sleep in that sells us on this one.
What We Like
It allows you to sleep in past sunrise in the wild.
Pros:
- Blocks most sunlight
- Bigger headroom
- Weather protection
- 1-year limited warranty
- Ideal to house bed cots and lightweight chairs for camping
Cons:
- The number of people who can fit in the tent maybe smaller than advertised.
Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent
3
Summers are incredibly hot sometimes! But you won’t let it pass without having some fun, will you? Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent is the answer to your problem. As the name suggests, it’s a beach tent that provides you the much-needed shade from the scorching hot summer sun while enjoying the view of the ocean. It’s lightweight, so it doesn’t take much for you to bring the ultimate tent for summer camping with you on your trip. And the process of setting it up is such a breeze, it’s almost fail-proof.
How it does it is by deflecting the direct sunlight with its UPF 50+ sun protection, and to prevent things get toasty inside, it has large windows to allow for great ventilation. The inside part has mesh storage for you to put your beach necessities like your towel or sunscreen, or just to keep your drinks from the possibility of being knocked and spilled over. You don’t need to worry so much about when it gets windy either because it has sand pockets to help you with that.
What We Like
It’s simply perfect for what we expect it to do: be a great shade on the beach.
Pros:
- UPF 50+ sun protection
- Water-resistant PE floor
- Super easy to set up
- 1-year warranty
Cons:
- It could use a little more room.
Gazelle T4 Overland Edition
2
Going camping with your family or friends makes for a really memorable moment that you can look back to fondly. Especially when it’s summer and everyone makes the time to spend with each other, traveling together can be a great activity for bonding. After hours of having fun while enjoying the scenery, you’ll want to be able to rest comfortably to face the next day. Luckily, this Gazelle T4 Overland Edition tent can help you provide just what you need for that.
First of all, the cool hub design allows you to set it up really quickly and easily. Once it’s set up, it has plenty of room and can fit up to four people and additional storage. This tent is 78-inch tall, which allows you and your taller friends to move more freely with the bigger headroom. There are two D-shaped doors with tight-weave mesh screens to allow for good ventilation. If it rains, just get inside your tent as it won’t leak, and you can stay dry and play some games or just hang out while riding it out. Get ready to make great memories!
What We Like
A top-notch material lives up to the weather-protection expectations.
Pros:
- Tall design for more headroom
- Quick and simple set up
- D-shaped windows for ventilation
- Lots of wiggle room for your gear
Cons:
- The removable floor has gaps that allow bugs to crawl into the tent.
Coleman Sundome Tent
1
When going camping in the summer, dealing with the tent is not the number one priority: it’s having fun, exploring, and making memories that really feed your sense of adventure. The Coleman Sundome Tent will put you in good hands. The dome design makes the setup process really simple and can be done in around 10 minutes. It’s to be expected from the best tent for summer camping. Once the tent is set and the rainfly awning is attached, you can do whatever it is you set out to do with your friends or family, or maybe just yourself if you’re up for some awesome solo traveling.
It’s equipped with a tech called the WeatherTec system, which has patented welded floors and inverted seams to keep you dry at all times. Even if the rain suddenly starts to pour, you’ll be safe and sound inside. The spacious interior allows you to move around freely so it doesn’t feel so tight inside the tent. You can easily use the mesh storage pockets on the wall to store your stuff, like your sunglasses or even phone, within easy reach. There’s even an E-Port that allows for easy access to electrical power while you’re inside the tent.
What We Like
It’s simple, weatherproof, and breathable.
Pros:
- E-port
- Dome design for easy setup
- WeatherTec system for weather protection
- Much room to move around
Cons:
- Not made for freezing weather.
