8 Best Instant Tents for Family Camping (For 2022)

Outdoors activities like camping have become even more popular in recent years, with more people vacationing closer to home and in National Parks. Family camping is a great way to connect with both nature and family!

There is a wide range of tents available that include many special features, depending on the factors that are most important to you. These features include instant tents, cabin-style tents, waterproof camping tents, cold weather camping tents, all-weather tents for camping, screen tents, tents for dogs, car camping tents, beach camping tents, and tents for groups ranging in size from 2 to 12 or more people.

This means that, no matter what your family size, style, budget, or needs, you can find the perfect tent for family camping!

The following guide will help you find the best tent for camping, including the best tent for camping with family, to meet all of your needs.

(Top photo by Daan Weijers on Unsplash.)

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Best Instant Tent for Family Camping Comparison Chart

Below are some of my top recommendations for best instant tents:

Top Picks	Product Name	Capacity	Features	Price
Best 2 Person Instant Tent for Camping	Coleman Sundome Camping Tent	2 people	-Rainfly -Dome -Lightweight -Large Windows -Ventilation -WeatherTec -E-Port -Storage Pockets	Click for Price
Best 4 Person Instant Tent for Camping	Coleman Cabin Tent with Instant Setup in 60 Seconds	4 people	-Rainfly -Rectangular -3-Season -Weatherproof -Dark Room	Click for Price
Best 6 Person Instant Tent for Camping	Coleman Sundome Camping Tent	6 people	-Rainfly -All Weather -Ventilation -WeatherTec -Storage Pockets -E-Port	Click for Price
Best 8 Person Instant Tent for Camping	Core 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent	8-9 people	-Rainfly -Carry Bag -Mesh -H2O Block Technology -Room Divider -Wall Storage Pockets -E-Port	Click for Price
Best 10 Person Instant Tent for Camping	Coleman Cabin Tent with Instant Setup in 60 Seconds	10 people	-Rectangular -Carry Bag -3 Season Tent – 2O Block Technology -Room Divider -Front and Back Doors -Gear Loft -Lantern Hooks -Storage Pockets -E-Port	Click for Price
Best 12 Person Instant Tent for Camping	CORE 12 Person Instant Cabin Tent	12 people	-Rainfly -Carry Bag -Mesh Ceiling -Ventilation -Front and Back Doors -2 Room Dividers	Click for Price

What is an Instant Tent

An instant tent is a tent that can be put up in a very short amount of time, sometimes in as little as 60 seconds, and with very little effort. This is due to the fact that instant tents come with the poles already attached and folded into the tent design, which saves time and effort from having to attach the poles to set up the tent.

Instant tents are also referred to as “pop-up” tents, “fast pitch” tents, or “easy set up” tents.

Two of the most popular brands are Coleman and Core. The Coleman Instant Tent and Core Instant Tent are featured in this guide.

You can find more great information on instant tents, plus a video of how to set up an instant tent, by visiting TentHacker.com.

Instant Tent Buying Guide

There are a lot of instant tents available so it can be overwhelming to figure out what tent is best for you.

When purchasing a tent, you should ask yourself the following questions:

What size tent will you need?

Tents come in many sizes, ranging from small tents for just 1 or 2 people, or tents that can fit up to 12 people. Think about who will be going with you on camping trips to figure out the best size for you. And don’t forget about any pet family members who might be camping with you!

What is your budget?

Tents also come in a wide range of price points, often ranging from as little as $30-40, up to $400 and up. Instant tents are generally a little more expensive than traditional tents, but they come with the added convenience of quick and easy setup.

Where will you be using the tent?

Think about the weather, time of year, geography, and other factors when making your decision. For instance, are you planning to camp in colder weather, warm weather, rainy weather, in the woods, on a beach, or in your backyard? This will help you choose what features will be most important, such as whether the tent is waterproof, or all-weather.

Will you be reaching your campsite by car or by foot?

This can be an important consideration when factoring in the weight of the tent. Some tents are very lightweight and can be carried on a hike. Others are heavier and would likely need to be carried in a car until you reach the campsite.

Instant Tent Product Reviews

Best 2 Person Instant Tent for Camping

Coleman Sundome Camping Tent

Weight:

7.5 pounds

Dimensions:

7 feet by 5 feet

4 feet center height

Capacity:

2 people

Features:

The Coleman Sundome Camping Tent is my top pick for best pop up tent. It is a small, lightweight dome tent that is perfect for a single person, 2 people, a small family, or 1-2 people with a dog. It features a simple design, and with a weight of only 7.5 pounds, it can easily be carried when hiking.

Despite its small size, it is sturdy and can withstand strong winds up to 35 mph. It also features large windows for extra ventilation, while also featuring WeatherTec to keep rain and water out. The setup time is a little long, at 10 minutes.

Verdict:

Among smaller tents, the Coleman Sundome Camping Tent is a great, light option for 1-2 people, with added bonuses like great ventilation and waterproof seams.

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Best 4 Person Instant Tent for Camping

Coleman Cabin Tent with Instant Setup in 60 Seconds

Weight:

18 pounds

Dimensions:

8 feet by 7 feet

4 feet 11 inch center height

Capacity:

4 people

Features:

The Coleman Cabin Tent with Instant Setup in 60 Seconds boasts the ability to set up the tent in just 60 seconds. It is big enough to fit a queen air mattress. It is also waterproof, and it blocks sunlight to keep the tent from overheating. It also holds up to dust and sand. All of these features make it the best camping tent for family.

Verdict:

This is a great option for up to 4 people, and it has the added bonus of being very easy and quick to assemble.

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Best 6 Person Instant Tent for Camping

Coleman Sundome Camping Tent

Weight:

17 pounds

Dimensions:

10 feet by 10 feet

6 feet center height

Capacity:

6 people

Features:

The Coleman Sundome Camping Tent is a great option for a larger group. It has a capacity of up to 6 people and a tall center height of 6 feet. One negative is that, due to its larger size, it does require up to 10 minutes to set up. It includes other popular features such as WeatherTek to keep out the rain, and it is suitable for all-weather camping.

Verdict:

Though the 10 minute setup time is a little long, the Coleman Sundome Camping Tent is a great option for a larger family.

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Best 8 Person Instant Tent for Camping

Core 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent

Weight:

27.62 pounds

Dimensions:

14 feet by 9 feet

6.5 feet center height

Capacity:

8-9 people

Features:

The Core 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent is a large tent that requires only 60 seconds to set up. It can fit up to 9 sleeping bags plus gear. Other features include advanced venting to keep the interior from getting to0 hot, plus a removable rainfly. It even includes a detachable room divider for privacy among larger groups and families. It is also water-resistant.

Verdict:

The Core 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent has great special features like the room divider, removable rainfly, and advanced venting to keep everyone comfortable in any weather condition. These features help make the tent the best family tent for camping with large families.

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Best 10 Person Instant Tent for Camping

Coleman Cabin Tent with Instant Setup in 60 Seconds

Weight:

42 pounds

Dimensions:

14 feet by 10 feet

6 feet 7 inches center height

Capacity:

10 people

Features:

The Coleman Cabin Tent with Instant Setup is not as big as some of the other options out there, but it gets bonus points for its quick and easy setup. Despite its 10 person capacity, the tent can be set up in under a minute. It also includes a removable rainfly, and weatherproof seams to keep you dry and warm.

The Coleman Cabin Tent also features double-thick fabric to withstand a range of weather conditions. The Coleman Cabin Tent is a three-season tent. The tent also includes a room divider for extra privacy, and a hinged door for easier access in and out.

Verdict:

Though not as big as our runner-up option, the Coleman Cabin Tent wins bonus points for its quick and easy setup in under a minute.

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Best 10 Person Tent for Camping (Runner-Up)

Core 10 Person Straight Wall Cabin Tent

Weight:

28.4 pounds

Dimensions:

29 feet by 12 feet

7 feet center height

Capacity:

10 People

Features:

The Core 10 Person Straight Wall Cabin Tent has an even bigger size and capacity, with the ability to keep up to 10 people comfortably inside. It is not an instant tent, and so it will take up to 20-30 minutes to set up. It can fit up to two queen mattresses, or 10 sleeping bags plus gear. It features a detachable room divider to create two rooms, plus a front and back entrance.

The Core Cabin Tent has extra features such as a gear loft and lantern hook for extra storage, as well as an electrical cord access port. The tent also includes a removable rain fly. The tent has straight walls to create a roomier interior with enough room and floor space for a large family. Along with all of these features, the Core 10 Person tent also features a water-resistant exterior and an advanced venting system to keep everyone comfortable.

Verdict:

The Core 10 Person Straight Wall Cabin Tent comes with lots of features for large family and friend camping trips. One thing to keep in mind though is that it is not an instant tent, and it will take up to 20-30 minutes to set up. It is incredibly durable and roomy though, with great square footage, and the ability to withstand high winds and inclement weather.

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Best 12 Person Instant Tent for Camping

CORE 12 Person Instant Cabin Tent

Weight:

47.8 pounds

Dimensions:

18 feet by 10 feet

6.6 feet center height

Capacity:

12 people

Features:

Despite the fact that it’s a larger tent, the CORE 12 Person Instant Cabin Tent can actually be set up in 2 minutes or less. It can fit up to 3 air mattresses. You can check out some great air mattress reviews and recommendations. The tent features a mesh roof, large mesh windows, and a removable rainfly, which makes it a great pick for wet and warm weather. There is a front and back entrance, extra space for storage, and two-room dividers that can be used to create up to three separate rooms.

Verdict:

The CORE 12-Person Instant Cabin Tent has a huge capacity, plenty of room, and a quick and easy 2-minute setup time, which makes it a good option for large groups or families.

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Best 12 Person Tent for Camping (Runner-Up)

CORE 12 Person Extra Large Straight Wall Cabin Tent

Weight:

41 pounds

Dimensions:

16 feet by 11 feet

7 feet center height

Capacity:

12 people

Features:

The CORE 12 Person Extra Large Straight Wall Cabin Tent can fit up to 12 people, or 4 queen mattresses. Because of its size, it is definitely on the heavier side, weighing 41 pounds. This means it is really only ideal for car camping. The tent is not an instant tent, and so it will take up to 20-30 minutes to set up. It includes extra features such as a removable water repellant rainfly and an advanced venting system. It features front and back entrances and a room divider.

Verdict:

The CORE 12 Person Extra Large Straight Wall Cabin Tent is a great option for extra large groups, however it is not an instant tent, and so it will take longer to set up.

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