When it comes to classic American experiences, outdoor camping takes the lead. There is nothing better than spending quality time with your family in the great outdoors. The trip will leave you with some of the best memories that will last a lifetime.
Going on an outdoor adventure like camping is great for the whole family. It offers adults some time away from the responsibilities and chaos of managing their households and jobs. For children, it gives them opportunity to participate in fun, physical outdoor activities.
In a nutshell, camping gives everyone the right space to bond with one another, share stories, and enjoy each others’ company without the stresses of daily life interfering with their interactions.
Some fresh air, fantastic company and plenty of good memories with a little adventure is just perfect. Of course, you can only enjoy all of that and more if you have the right camping gear and equipment with you. Camping can be challenging, which makes up part of the whole experience. That being said, camping does not have to make you feel miserable.
Having the right gear on hand will help you and your family to make the most of this great American pastime. The most vital aspect of the whole camping experience is the tent you will use. Tents for camping come in all shapes and sizes, catering to the needs of individuals to large tents that can accommodate around 14 people.
Typically, a family consists of four or five people and there are plenty of camping products out there that cater to the needs of a family of five. There are several outdoor equipment manufacturers who are making tents for families and all of them claim that their products are the best in the industry.
When it comes to buying a tent for a family of five, you might get overwhelmed with the number of options there are in the market. Confused about what to choose? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.
We understand that it can get quite difficult to pick the right product to meet your needs when there are so many to choose from. We have created this guide to help you find the best tent for a family of five that you can spend your money on. Additionally, we have included a guide that reveals the information you need to help you select a tent that best suits your requirements.
If you do not have the time to read through the entire content and you want to know our top recommendation, we will give you a quick look at our top product, the Oxley Oztent Lite 5 Frame Family Tent. When it comes to the best tent for a family of five, we think that it does not get better than with this Oxley Oztent product. This family tent has been designed particularly to make the experience of family camping a more convenient affair and it has plenty of features to support that claim.
This is a lightweight product compared to most other tents in the same category that utilizes heavy canvas fabric instead of the fine synthetic fabric used for this. This tent has aluminum framing that works well with the fabric to get a nice and awning cabin-style tent for the whole family. The instant setup design allows you to set the tent up in a matter of minutes.
With the room to give each person 13 square feet in the tent when occupied by a family of five, this tent lets the whole family make the best of the camping experience. Learn the features of our top pick for the best tent for a family of five in the detailed review below.
In a hurry? This is our Winner!
Oztent Oxley 5 Lite Luxurious Comfortable Living
- A free-standing structure
- Constructed with quality materials
- Very tall when upright
- Designed for express setup
Best Tent for a Family – Comparison Table
| Image | Product | Technical Spec | Price |
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Our Top Pick
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Oztent Oxley 5 Lite Luxurious Comfortable Living |
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Check Price On Amazon |
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Oztent 30 Second Expedition 5-6 Person Tent |
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Check Price On Amazon |
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ALPS Mountaineering Meramac 5 ZF |
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Check Price On Amazon |
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Eureka! Tetragon HD 5 Person |
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Check Price On Amazon |
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NTK Indy GT XL Sleeps |
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Check Price On Amazon |
Best Tent for a Family – Reviews
1. Our Top Pick: Oxley Oztent Lite 5 Fast Frame Family Tent
This tent makes for the perfect product if you have a family of five with two parents and three young children. The tent is going to accommodate the whole family with enough room to spare for their gear and other camping supplies easily. There are plenty of reasons why it is our top pick when it comes to the best tent for a family of five.
This tent features what is known as an instant setup construction. The frame of the tent comes preattached, making it much simpler for you to set it all up. You have to make the minimal effort of just making sure you’ve properly secured it to the ground using the stakes provided. Just being able to set the begs or stakes in place properly on the ground will allow you to get the tent set up and ready for use by the whole family.
One thing you might notice about this tent is that it is quite heavy – standing at 41.9 lbs. This, however, is simply a result of the tent’s incredibly robust and strong construction. If you think carrying it around is going to be a problem, then you should know that a beautifully designed carry-on bag is also included.
The Oxley Oztent Lite 5 is a five-person tent with a single room, three windows, and a door that is spacious enough for easy accessibility. Out of its 3 windows, 2 are designed as gusseted panels – which means that you can choose to keep them open at all times, even when it’s raining! Furthermore, this product’s waterproof rating – for all kinds of liquid – stands at 2,000 mm.
2. OzTent RV-5 30-Second Expedition Tent
The second product on the list of the best tent for a family of 5 for two main reasons is another tent made by OzTent. This product features an express setup that allows you to pitch your home away from home in less than 30 seconds. This tent differs from our top pick primarily due to the material used to make the fabric.
The canvas fabric may be a little heavier than synthetic fabric but it also means that the structure is entirely breathable in any climate or weather conditions. Now you may be wondering whether this tent is suitable for cold weather. Well, you’ll be happy to find out that the floor of this tent is made from synthetic material. This material helps because it insulates the weather from its surrounding environment – regardless of whether it is warm or cold. That makes the product weather proof and it can help you enjoy camping in a wide range of conditions.
Also, this tent officially has a capacity of 5-people, but, as was the case with our top pick, it is actually a little smaller, standing at 72 sq ft. Also, when this product is packed, it measures 78.7 x 15.7 x 7.1 inches – which means it will have to be latched onto the roof of your car instead of being carried in a backpack.
The OzTent RV-5 30-Second is a tent that has a stand-up design, and its windows are made out of panels and mesh on three sides. At the front, you will have a large door with the tents durable and firm awnings.
3. ALPS Mountaineering Meramac 5 ZF Tent
If you’ve spent quite a lot of time backpacking across the country, you’ll find that the Meramac 5 ZF Tent is quite popular among campers. The dome-style, free-standing structure is quite simple to carry around and use, and it offers you a spacious 80 sq ft. inner area, making it ideal as one of the best tents for a family of five.
The dimensions of this tent measure up to 10 x 8 ft, so there is no doubt about the fact that five adult-sized sleeping pads will fit easily on the floor. With five people, it might start to feel a little crowded if everybody is grown up. When it comes to accommodating adults, it can easily fit three with plenty of room to spare.
The peak height of this tent is also great, standing at about 72 inches while its weight measures up to 15 lbs. When packed, the tent will be reduced to 25 x 8 inches, and this makes it perfect for short hiking tours where your group members are willing to share some of the weight. However, we would advise you to use this product, like a car camping tent.
The Meramac 5 ZF Tent is constructed with a brow pole, two 11 mm poles made of fiberglass, and two doors. The fabric used in this tent’s body is 75D 185T polyester, and the partial coverage fly and floor are both made up of 1500 mm coating. If you get yourself this tent, you’re going to be twinning with quite a lot of other campers!
4. Eureka Tetragon HD 5 Tent
Why can’t your pick for the best tent for a family of 5 have a little extra space too? Well, this product is part of the large series of tents that have been designed for 2,3,4,5 and even 8 people! All of these tents have a dome structure, and this particular product’s inner area stands at 81 sq ft.
This product doesn’t fall into the category of lightweight tents by a long-shot because it weighs 12 lb but it makes up for its heavy weight with the ton of convenience it offers for the whole family’s camping. Even though this is the case, the different elements of the structure can be easily packed into a different bag for backpack portability. We’re talking about different family members carrying different elements of the structure with absolute ease.
When packed, the tent measures 28 x 6.5 inches, and this means that you can also easily transport it on your motorbike! With all the features, convenience, and safety that this tent has to offer, the price point is quite reasonable if you are looking for a tent that can comfortably accommodate a family of five with plenty of room to spare.
The structure of the tent is sturdy yet lightweight thanks to the fiberglass used in its frame. Also, for a dome structure, you’ll find that this tent is quite tall because it reaches a peak height of 6 ft. Lastly, the waterproof rating of this tent is advertised at a modest 1,000 mm for both the fly and the floor. This is why it’s quite safe to say that this is a summer camping tent.
5. NTK Indy GT XL 5/6 person
The last entry in our list is a product that can accommodate five to six people. This product is also very affordable, and even though it features a large porch, the sleeping area can house 5 people if each is willing enough to sacrifice their own personal space.
The sleeping portion of this tent is shaped in the typical dome structure, and it utilizes 2 fiberglass poles in order to form an ‘X’ shape under the free-standing structure. The porch uses another pole because of its larger-than-average size.
With this tent, you will get two doors along with a door flap that will allow you to configure your tent’s awning effectively. This part of the tent, however, will have to be staked down perfectly for the whole product to be functional. For this reason alone, some experts categorize this product as only ‘partially free-standing.’
The great thing about this product is that it has a 2,500 mm waterproof rating, and the material used for construction is 190 T laminated polyester. The floor, made of improved, high-density polyethylene, is also fully waterproof. Just because of these features alone, this product is a very functional and reliable 3-season tent.
How to Buy the Right 5 Person Tent
With that, you have the reviews of the top five tents for a family of five that we have compiled after testing several products and researching reviews by families who already own and use the products.
In order to help you make the best purchasing decision when it comes to the tent you want to get for your family, here are a few simple steps that can help you make the right choice.
Step 1: Comparative Shopping
One very important thing to consider when you’re searching for the best tent for a family of 5 is the price tag. You probably already know that family vacations can get expensive, and with comparative shopping, you’ll find the best deals without having to trade off comfort and quality.
Do understand that the price tag varies in terms of quality, brand names, and even the size of the tent. So do not make your decision based on the lowest price. If you do so, you’ll end up with something that isn’t practical or even comfortable.
Step 2: Pick the Right Size
The right size of a tent is one very important factor because you want something that is large enough to house your entire family. Make sure that you consider the individual ages of everyone in your family as this will have a direct impact on your choice of tent.
Since we’re already thinking about space, you will also have to take into account all your luggage and additional gear like outdoor activity equipment. Just to be on the safe side, you should also think about how some trips also encounter bad weather, and your tent is your only safe haven for long periods of time.
Step 3: Consider the Qualities of Each Tent
Finally, you should also take the quality of each product into account. Start by looking into the reputation of each brand name. One objective way of doing this would be to skim through the online reviews and testimonials left by customers on Amazon. You should review what customers are saying about the product that you plan on buying.
Other than customer reviews, there are so many third-party reviews on the internet as well. While some of these websites may be biased, you could actually stumble onto the best tent for a family of 5.
The question of the hour, however, is that how do you determine the quality of a tent? Well, every person has their own idea about what counts as quality for them. For instance, if you are expecting harsh weather conditions, a tent that promises to withstand heat and storm equally would could as high quality standards. Of course, you may refer to customer testimonials to make sure these products hold up as promised!
Something more important than weather conditions, however, would be the tent’s durability. You want your investment to pull through for many seasons to come, right? So, why settle for a cheap product that is made of less durable materials. Choose a better quality product that will pull through for at least a couple of years, even if the price is a bit higher?
Frequently Asked Questions
Considering the wide variety of tent styles and types out there, choosing a good tent can even stump the brightest among us. Here are answers to some of the most common questions people have when it comes to tents for families.
What materials should we stick to if we’re going to face harsh weather conditions?
If you’re looking for the best tent for camping during the warm weather and aren’t expecting much wind or rain, then you should stick to cabin-style tents. Why though? Well, these tents are typically quite tall, and their ceilings and windows are made out of mesh. This would mean that you have a sturdy construction while letting plenty of air to pass through.
If you’re going to be up against cooler weather and expect quite a lot of rain, dome-style or tunnel tents will work beautifully. Do make sure, however, that your choice of a tent has full coverage. While these dome-style tents offer their consumers less comfort, you can at least relax because you’re safe from nature’s harsher side.
What combination of weight and packed size works best?
Sadly, there is no simple answer to this question. First off, the weight of the tent will be directly proportional to its size. Secondly, dome-style tents are generally lighter and can be packed up very efficiently. You will also notice that, when packed, they won’t take up too much space in the trunk of your car!
If there is no fixed capacity for these tents, what capacity is the safest?
Usually, manufacturers decide on what capacity should be advertised for their tents. This is done by determining how many sleeping pads can easily fit inside. For a family camping experience, however, you will have to really think about all the gear you plan on carrying around with you.
We would advise that it’s best to ignore the advertised capacity and consider the actual dimensions of the inner-tent. This should particularly be the case if you’re impressed by a dome or cabin-style tents.
Tunnel tents are one category that is almost always built with quite a lot of space. Many of these products are brought us by European manufacturers – and hence an added perk would be that they are built especially for harsh weather conditions. Oftentimes, these manufacturers also add in multiple rooms to cater to your family’s comfort as well.
Which tent is the best one for a family of 5?
That’s what we’re here for. So, let’s go over everything we’ve learned so far.
Well, there is no single answer to this question. These 5-person tents are great for a small family or a group of friends who love spending quality time in nature. It doesn’t matter whether you are having a backyard party, spending a day at the beach, or heading out for a camping adventure – these tents can really make your investment worthwhile.
Our recommendation would be to think about when and where you plan on heading out. Let’s say you’re going to be sitting ducks in a place where thunderstorms are a normal occurrence. If this is the case, your choice of best tent for a family of 5 should be one that is durable and well-built. Summer camping, on the other hand, has completely different demands, and if this is the case, then you should be thinking about ventilation and mesh options.
Once you’ve considered the weather, you should think about how spacious your choice of a tent is going to be on the inside and whether it will be able to fit everyone inside comfortably. If there isn’t enough room for all of us, we’re going to be a bunch of cranky campers!
If you enjoy this excursion enough, your family may want to explore other seasons for their next camping adventure. This is why a safe bet will be to pick a 3 or 4 season tent. If you plan on venturing out in the safest of climates, then you’re safe with a 3 season tent. Nevertheless, it is going to be worthy of your investment if you get yourself an all-year-round tent. Trust us!
How do I plan a family camping trip?
Family camping trips can be difficult to plan, as different family members have different attitudes towards ‘adventure.’ If you’re worried about losing focus trying to balance both extremes, here are some general rules for every family that is planning an outdoor adventure:
- Reserve Your Camping Spot
If you plan on staying at a campground, then you better reserve your camping spot a couple of weeks before setting out. This way, you won’t have to hurry all your affairs and make a hasty decision for the best tent for a family of 5.
- Inspect Your Camping Tent
Wouldn’t it be really awkward if you realize that your well-thought-out-investment has a missing part or even a huge hole in it when you begin setting up camp? We would recommend that you try and pitch your tent at home, and make sure it doesn’t have any surprise inconveniences beforehand.
- Think of All the Necessities
Consider bringing along gloves, a hat, a raincoat, an adequate supply of food and water, waterproof shoes, a first-aid kit, medications, personal hygiene products, and of course, double clothing.
- Pick a Room to Store All You Camping Things In
Now you’re in for some expert advice. Everything you plan on taking along for your camping trip should be stacked up in one room of your home. Doing so will make sure that you don’t forget something in all that last-minute scurrying.
Final Thoughts
So this was our comprehensive buyer’s guide for the best tent for a family of 5. As you may have realized on your own, the difference between each product is significant in terms of features and sizes. This, however, doesn’t mean you’ve got a problem on your hands. Tents are very easy to use and people deal with them on a daily basis. If you’ve given it enough thought, we’re sure you’ve probably nailed your decision! Just make sure you don’t go over your budget, and you’re good to go.
It isn’t difficult to pull off a pleasant camping trip. Focus on having a good time and solve problems as they appear. You’ve already packed all the essentials, so now you can finally relax and set off for a couple of stress-free days.
Oztent Oxley 5 Lite Luxurious Comfortable Living
- A free-standing structure
- Constructed with quality materials
- Very tall when upright
- Designed for express setup