The most essential item for any camping trip is the tent. It provides you with a home away from home. It keeps you safe and dry when the weather turns sideways, and it gives you a place to relax and hang out when on a family camping trip (or need a moment away from said family.)
There are plenty of different styles and kinds of tents, from ultralight backpacking tents and spacious and strong family camping tents to large, durable, geodesic dome-inspired expedition tents. Even rooftop tents for your 4x4 rig. After nearly a century of modern innovation, tents these days have a multitude of added features that are designed to make your next trip to the backcountry—or car-accessible campsite—fun, enjoyable, and most of all, comfortable.
To aid in your search for the best tent for you and your outdoor goals, we’ve rounded up our top 10 picks for the best tents for car camping, backpacking, and thru-hiking, with a range of group sizes and budgets in mind. And below that, is a proper deep dive tent guide breaking down common tent materials and sizes, what features to look for, and answering FAQs to keep you on the right path. Dig in and have fun.