Nothing is worse than crawling around in your small, cramped tent trying to find your missing sock or flashlight for the third day in a row.
While dome tents and tarps are great for hiking and lightweight adventures, a cabin tent is the perfect way to get more space and enjoy your time outdoors.
Cabin Tents are the ideal tents for car camping, when you are able to park near your campsite but want room to move around while getting ready for bed, changing clothes, or any other in-tent activities.
If you are in the market for a new cabin tent, look no further. We’ve done the hard part for you and come up with a list of the best cabin tents on the market. Say goodbye to your dome and say hello to headspace. Why crawl when you can walk?
It’s time to evolve your tent!
Best Cabin Tents for Camping
Below we’ve compiled a list of 10 different options that we feel are the best cabin tents for camping. Each made the list for a different reason, so read our reviews and find the tent that best suits your needs.
No matter which tent you choose, we know you will love your new cabin tent.
It’s time to start narrowing down our list!
ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek 4-Person Tent
Features
- Base Dimensions: 90” L x 102” W
- Center Height: 84”
- Maximum Number of People: 4
- Weight: 19 lbs. 3oz
- Rainfly: Included, Polyester
- Instant Set-Up?: No
- Price: $$
Best Cabin Tent for Tall Campers:
With an 84” center height, the ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek 4-Person Tent is tied for the highest loft on our list, making it perfect for tall campers. With fiberglass poles and steel supports, this tent was manufactured to keep its nearly straight-walled cabin design and allow maximum headspace for moving around without having to bend over.
It’s hub and pole design does mean it does take longer than some other tents to pitch, but only one person is required for set up.
The ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek 4-Person Tent has a polyester rainfly with a UV resistant coating, and is easy to set up with tent-attached buckles. The rainfly also creates a small awning, allowing you to get in and out of the tent more easily during a rain shower.
The tent has 3 interior mesh pockets for storage, along with a large door and 3 windows for ventilation. While this tent is fairly heavy for its size (all other 4-person tents on our list, along with some 6-person tents weigh less), it is reasonably priced and comes in two color options. For tall camping duos or single-families, the ALPS Mountaineering Camp Creek Tent is the best cabin tent option on our list.
PROS
- Tall
- Storage
- Awning
- Ventilation
CONS
- Heavy
- Hub & Pole Set-up
REI Co-op Grand Hut 4 Tent
Features
- Base Dimensions: 86”L x 100”W
- Center Height: 75”
- Maximum Number of People: 4
- Weight: 14 lbs. 2 oz
- Rainfly: Included, Polyester
- Instant Set-Up?: No
- Price: $$
Best Lightweight Cabin Tent:
Weighing in just over 14 pounds, the REI Co-op Grand Hut 4 Tent is the lightest weight cabin tent on our list. Easy to move around, this tent might not have the fastest set-up with its hub and pole design, but if you have to carry it any distance from your car, this is the tent you will want. It also includes a convenient carry bag with pole and stake pockets.
The REI Co-Op Grand Hut has two D-shaped doors, and the top third of the tent is all mesh, giving you optimal ventilation. The included rainfly gives you an added vestibule or space where you can store gear while keeping it dry at the same time.
The tent’s mesh triangular-shaped pockets are not ideal for storing larger items. However, they’re less prone to snagging or tearing as they’re built directly into existing seams.
Cabin tents are not the lightest weight option on the market, but if you are looking for both the space to stand up and move around while also keeping your tent weight as light as you can, the REI Co-op Grand Hut 4 Tent is the option you want.
PROS
- Two Doors
- Mesh Top
- Vestibule
- Lightweight
CONS
- Heavy
- Hub & Pole Set-up
Coleman 4-Person Cabin Tent
Features
- Base Dimensions: 84”L x 96”W
- Center Height: 59”
- Maximum Number of People: 4
- Weight: 18 lbs.
- Rainfly: None
- Instant Set-Up?: Yes
- Price: $
Budget Cabin Tent:
If you’re in search of a cabin tent on a budget, the Coleman 4-Person Cabin Tent is the cabin tent for you. With pre-attached poles and an instant set-up in as fast as one minute, the Colman cabin tent is perfect for couples and small families that want to grab a tent and get outside.
This Coleman tent sports welded corners and an integrated rainfly – giving you the water protection you want without the extra baggage. While this makes the tent heavier than its competitors, it does include an expandable carry bag to get it from point A to point B. Coleman also provides a 1-year limited warranty, so if your tent has any defects or issues, you can get them fixed without having to worry.
While quick to set-up and low cost, this tent is on the shorter side with a center height of only 59 inches. There are also no extra bells or whistles inside – no storage pockets, gear lofts, hooks, or plugs.
Overall, the Coleman 4-Person Cabin Tent is the perfect tent for those looking for a simple and affordable option, but those campers wanting some extra comforts of home outdoors should keep looking at our other options.
PROS
- Instant Set-Up
- Pre-Attached Poles
- Welded Corners
- Lightweight
CONS
- Short
- No Storage
Big Agnes Bunk House 6 Tent
Features
- Base Dimensions: 100”L x 118”W
- Center Height: 81”
- Maximum Number of People: 6
- Weight: 19 lbs. 12 oz
- Rainfly: Yes, Polyester
- Instant Set-Up?: No
- Price: $$$$
Best Cabin Tent for Rain:
Providing optimal protection against the elements, the Big Agnes Bunk House 6 Tent is the best cabin tent for rainy days in the wilderness. The Bunk House features a large pole-supported awning, providing optimal space while staying dry.
For more serious storms, the awning zips up for complete protection. There is a large vestibule along with a welcome mat for ditching muddy shoes and gear while not getting soaked in the process.
The Big Agnes Bunk House also features two entry and exit doors, 4 interior mesh pockets, and interior hooks for lights or other gear. It has a back-pack style carry bag, making transportation to and from your campsite easy.
The Bunk House, unfortunately, does feature a classic tent set-up; no pre-attached poles or central hubs here. It is also the most expensive tent on our list. However, if you are looking to stay dry and have extra room for activities during the storm, we definitely think the Big Agnes Bunk House 6 Tent is definitely worth the splurge.
PROS
- 2 Doors
- Welcome Mat
- Large Awning
- Storage Pockets
CONS
- Expensive
- Classic Set-Up
Caddis Rapid 6 Tent
Features
- Base Dimensions: 120”L x 120”W
- Center Height: 80”
- Maximum Number of People: 6
- Weight: 25 lbs. 8 oz
- Rainfly: Included, Polyester Taffeta
- Instant Set-Up?: Yes
- Price: $$
Best Instant Cabin Tent for Single Families:
Want to spend less time pitching your tent and more time exploring? The Caddis Rapid 6 Tent has pre-attached poles and can be standing in less than a minute with only one person on the job.
Setting up the rainfly is slightly more complicated with non-attached poles and 2 people preferred for that operation. But, on nice-weather days, this tent is as “get up and go” as you can get.
The Caddis Rapid 6 is slightly heavier than other options on the market. This is likely due to its more durable steel poles as opposed to the less sturdy but lighter weight fiberglass or aluminum poles that are often used by competitors.
This tent has both storage pockets and a gear loft included in the design. The Caddis Rapid 6 also features an electrical port if you are at a campground that offers an electricity hookup.
Overall, we think the Caddis Rapid 6 Cabin Tent is the best instant tent for single families. You’d be hard-pressed to find a tent with a 6+ person capacity that you can set up faster.
PROS
- Instant Set-Up
- Electric Port
- Storage
- Steel Poles
CONS
- Heavy
- Complicated Rainfly
Coleman Tenaya Lake Fast Pitch 8-Person Cabin
Features
- Base Dimensions: 108”L x 156”W
- Center Height: 80”
- Maximum Number of People: 8
- Weight: 33lbs.
- Rainfly: Included
- Instant Set-Up?: No
- Price: $$
Best Cabin Tent for Glamping:
If you’re looking for the ultimate “glamping” experience, the Coleman Tenaya Lake Fast Pitch 8-Person Cabin is the tent for you and your friends or family.
This tent features a wheeled carry bag, electric port, room divider, storage pockets, and even a closet! That’s right. You heard me correctly. This cabin tent has an extra 2×2-foot closet add-on complete with hanging pole, mesh shelves, and a door. You can truly have dry, wrinkle-free clothes in the wilderness and keep your gear out of sight.
The Coleman Tenaya Lake features a hub and pole pitch design, meaning it takes longer to set-up than some of the other instant set-up tents on our list. It also has a single entry and exit door, and is fairly heavy – weighing in around 33 pounds.
These drawbacks aside, if you have at least 2-3 people that are able to help pitch this tent, the Coleman Tenaya Lake Fast Pitch 8-Person Cabin is a great tent for those wanting to spend time outdoors without leaving all the comforts of home behind.
PROS
- Closet
- Room Divider
- Electric Port
- Wheeled Carry Bag
CONS
- Hub & Pole Set-up
- Single Door
CORE 9-Person Instant Cabin Tent
Features
- Base Dimensions: 108”L x 168”W
- Center Height: 72-78”
- Maximum Number of People: 9
- Weight: 37lbs.
- Rainfly: Included, Polyester
- Instant Set-Up?: Yes
- Price: $$
Best Instant Two-Family Cabin Tent:
The CORE 9-Person Instant Cabin Tent is the quickest tent to set up that can easily house two separate families or friend groups.
It has pre-attached telescoping poles to pitch in mere minutes, and two doors for easy entrance and exit. Unfortunately, when using the room divider both doors are on the same half of the tent, which is one of our biggest complaints if using this for multi-family camping. It would be nice if both halves had their own entrance or exit.
There is also a height discrepancy depending on where you purchase the tent, with the maximum center height ranging between 72 and 78 inches. Either way, this is one of the shorter tents on our list, meaning tall families might want to look elsewhere. At 37 pounds, this tent is not easy to lug around, but with two people it is manageable over short distances.
The CORE 9-Person Instant Tent does have a single, fully-closable electric port along with storage pockets on both sides of the tent. Ground-level air vents, large windows, and a fully-mesh top give the tent maximum ventilation. When searching for a two-family instant tent, the CORE 9-Person Instant Cabin Tent is the way to go.
PROS
- Electric Port
- Instant Set-Up
- Room Divider
- Two Doors
CONS
- Doors on Same Half of Tent
- Height Discrepancy
Eureka Copper Canyon 12-Person Tent
Features
- Base Dimensions: 168”L x 144”W
- Center Height: 84”
- Maximum Number of People: 12
- Weight: 38lbs. 12oz
- Rainfly: Included, Polyester Taffeta
- Instant Set-Up?: No
- Price: $$$
Best for Two Large Families:
If a massive tent is what you need, the Eureka Copper Canyon 12-Person Tent is the best cabin style tent for you. This tent can house up to 12 adults, and with an 84-inch max height, even the tallest of those adults can move around comfortably.
There is a room divider to provide privacy between two different camping groups. Two doors on opposite sides of the tent provide each room with easy entry and exit. Each side of the tent also has its own storage pockets and gear loft.
An electric port provides access to power if a hookup is available at the campsite. The Copper Canyon also features a bathtub floor to both keep out leaks and reduce tearing at the floor seams.
At almost 39 pounds, this tent is quite heavy and not made to be carried long distances. It also has a slower ring and pin assembly, meaning set-up is ideal for two or more people, and it will likely take more than a few minutes.
While not ideal for every situation, if you need a tent that can house a large group of people and still give two separate groups some privacy, the Eureka Copper Canyon 12-Person Tent is a must-buy.
PROS
- Room Divider
- Electric Port
- Storage
- 2 Doors
CONS
- Tall
- Heavy
CORE 6-Person Instant Cabin Tent
Features
- Base Dimensions:108”’L x 132”W
- Center Height: 72”
- Maximum Number of People: 6
- Weight: 14lbs. 3oz
- Rainfly: Included, Polyester
- Instant Set-Up?: Yes
- Price: $
Best Cabin Tent for Storage & Organization:
With both a storage wall and gear loft, the CORE 6-Person Instant Cabin Tent was designed with organization in mind.
The tent has a speedy set-up with preattached, telescoping poles that can have you ready to camp in mere minutes. You do have to attach it’s extra storage features after set-up since they aren’t built-in, but that also gives you the option to remove them in case the mesh were to tear or you simply need more tent space.
This CORE 6-person tent also features a lantern hook and an electric port connector. Our biggest complaint is that the maximum height is only 72 inches tall, making it the second shortest tent on our list. While there is still plenty of room to move around inside, this tent would not be the ideal choice for campers 6 feet in height or taller.
Overall, if you are looking for a tent that will help you stay organized while away from home, the CORE 6-Person Instant Cabin Tent is a quick and easy way to accomplish this goal. There’s a pocket for every camper and more!
PROS
- Storage Wall
- Pre-attached Poles
- Instant Set-Up
- Electric Port
CONS
- Separate storage Installation
- Short
Ozark Trail 12-Person Cabin Tent & Screen Room
Features
- Base Dimensions: 240”L x 216”W
- Center Height: 76”
- Maximum Number of People: 12
- Weight: 56lbs. 8oz
- Rainfly: Included, Polyester
- Instant Set-Up?: Yes
- Price: $$
Best Multi-Family Cabin Tent:
The Ozark Trail 12-Person Cabin Tent and Screen Room is the ultimate tent for multi-family camping. With two room dividers, you can create three separate rooms, each with their own entry and exit door. This Ozark 12-Person Tent can easily support 2-3 families or groups of people while providing maximum privacy to each!
With pre-attached poles, this tent has an instant set-up and can be pitched in only 2-3 minutes between two people. With 10 windows and ground vents, ventilation is no issue even in this massive space.
The Ozark Trail 12-Person Cabin Tent brings the comforts of the indoors outside with an electric port and six internal storage pockets. Its taped seams, rainfly, and fully closable windows ensure everyone stays dry in the event of a storm. On nice weather days, the front room can open into a screen room, providing bug protection while still enjoying the outdoors.
The main downside to the Ozark Trail is its massive weight. At 56.5 pounds, this monster is nearly 20 pounds heavier than every other tent on our list. With a tent this big you definitely need two adults to carry and set it up. But since it sleeps up to 12, there should be at least one other pair of hands nearby to give you a hand!
PROS
- 3 Rooms
- 3 Doors
- Instant Set-Up
- Ventilation
CONS
- Very Heavy
- 2+ Person Set-Up
How to Choose a Cabin Tent
If you still aren’t sure which cabin tent is the perfect one for you, we’ve listed some additional considerations below that might help narrow down your search.
Durability & Sturdiness
Are your support poles made out of fiberglass, aluminum, or steel? Is there a lot of plastic in the construction of your tent? Is your tent made out of polyester or ripstop nylon? Is the mesh used high quality?
The materials your tent is made of can be the difference between it lasting a single trip or lasting for years to come. Making sure your tent has been manufactured out of high-quality materials that can stand against the sun, wind, and rain is crucial. You don’t want to spend money on something that is going to fall apart within a few days of being outside.
Waterproof
Leaky seams. Floor puddles. Soggy bedding. Nothing can ruin a camping trip quicker than getting caught in a storm with a tent that is less than waterproof. Consider your cabin tent’s waterproof rating before purchasing.
Are the seams taped? Does it have a bathtub floor? Does it include a rainfly? Is there a waterproof coating on your tent? You can always apply your own waterproofing spray, but it’s important to know if your tent is truly waterproof or just water-resistant before purchasing!
Capacity
The cabin tents on our list range in capacity from 4-12 people. While it’s great to have extra space, larger tents often lead to more weight and cost. Think about if you are traveling with just your family or multiple families, and how many people you will need to fit in your tent. Purchasing a tent with enough capacity to fit everyone is key.
Ease of Step Up
How many people do you have available to help set up your tent? How quickly can you set it up? Are the poles pre-attached or is there a color-coded system in place? Does your rainfly clip-on or is it a completely separate piece of equipment?
The cabin tents on our list range in set-up time somewhere between 1 minute all the way up to 15+ minutes to pitch. Therefore, consider if you need a quick, one-person pitch tent or if you have the time and resources available to do a slower set-up in order to get some added features.
If you want to set-up and go, it’s probably worth a little extra weight to invest in an instant setup. If you need to carry your tent to a location further away from your car, it might be worth sacrificing a few minutes in order to drop some carry weight.
Additional Comfort Features
Nowadays there is an unlimited number of “extra features” that can be found in tents. Features have been added for storage, electricity, ventilation, privacy, and more.
Consider the number and size of pockets, gear lofts, vestibules – even closets – that might be available for storage and organization.
Do you need an electric plug? How about a room divider or wall? It’s important to recognize which features are nice to have and which, if any, you need to have. Taking weight, price, and durability into account along with these extra features can help narrow down your options.
Price
The cabin tents on our list range vastly in price, starting at under $100 and quickly going above $500.
It can be a daunting task trying to choose the cabin tent that is not only right for you but right for your wallet. It’s important to set a budget and not exceed your maximum price. We guarantee that whether that top price is $200 or $2,000 you will be able to find a great cabin tent.
If you are sharing a tent among multiple people or families, you could also consider splitting the cost of the tent. Just be sure you also set guidelines for shared use and responsibility. Nothing is worse than paying for half of something and only getting to use it once!
Final Thoughts
It’s time to ditch your small dome tent and get the space you want. The best cabin tents will give you a more natural, comfortable sleep and give everyone the room they want to move around with ease.
Whether you go with our Editor’s choice of the REI Co-op Grand Hut 4 Tent, the Ozark Trail 12-Person Cabin Tent for multi-family camping, the budget option of the Coleman 4-Person Cabin Tent, or any other cabin tent on our list, we guarantee you will love your new cabin tent.
What are you waiting for? Choose your cabin tent and get going. The wilderness is calling!
Related Reading:
- Best Tent Cot for Camping
- Best Tents for Camping With a Dog
- Best Tent for Motorcycle Camping
- Best Tents for Kayak Camping
