Choosing the right tent is the cornerstone of a successful family camping trip. It’s your home away from home, providing shelter, security, and a comfortable space to create lasting memories. With so many options on the market, finding the perfect balance of space, weather protection, and ease of use for your clan can feel overwhelming.
This roundup simplifies your search by reviewing eight of the best 8-person tents designed for family camping. We’ve evaluated key factors like setup time, interior space, durability, and special features to help you find the ideal shelter that will keep everyone comfortable and happy on your next outdoor adventure.
Our Top Picks for 8-Person Family Tents
- CORE 6 Person Cabin Tent with Screen Room
- CORE 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent
- Coleman WeatherMaster 6-Person Tent with Screen Room
- Core 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent with LED Light
- NTK Cherokee GT 6 to 7 Person Sport Camping Tent
- Marmot Halo 6-Person 4-Season Camping Tent
- Browning Camping Big Horn Tent, 6-Person
- Eureka! Copper Canyon LX 6-Person Cabin Tent
CORE 6 Person Cabin Tent with Screen Room
This CORE Cabin Tent is an excellent choice for families who value extra living space. The nearly straight-wall design creates an incredibly spacious interior with a 72-inch center height, allowing most adults to stand up comfortably. It easily fits two queen-size air mattresses, making it a true 6-person shelter.
A standout feature is the attached screen room, which acts as a bug-free porch. This versatile area is perfect for storing gear, relaxing during a rainy day, or enjoying the evening air without the nuisance of insects. For weather protection, the tent utilizes H20 Block Technology with a fully taped rainfly and sealed seams to keep you dry during unexpected showers.
CORE 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent
If your priority is a fast and frustration-free setup, the CORE Instant Cabin Tent is a top contender. Its Instant Pop Up Technology features pre-attached poles that lock into place, allowing you to have the tent fully pitched in 60 seconds or less. This is a huge advantage when you arrive at the campsite with tired kids and dwindling daylight.
Despite the quick setup, this tent doesn’t compromise on space or protection. It offers the same generous 11′ x 9′ footprint and 72-inch center height as other models, comfortably accommodating two queen air beds. You also get the reliable H20 Block Technology with a full rainfly to handle wind and rain, ensuring your family stays protected from the elements.
Coleman WeatherMaster 6-Person Tent with Screen Room
Coleman is a trusted name in family camping, and the WeatherMaster lives up to its reputation. This tent is designed with a focus on weatherproofing and livability, featuring the WeatherTec system with patented welded floors and inverted seams to help keep water out. The extended door awning provides extra coverage for the entrance.
Similar to the CORE model, it includes a separate screen room that adds a significant amount of usable space. This area is ideal for dining or lounging without being confined to the main sleeping area. The cabin-style design with straight walls maximizes headroom, making it feel more like a small room than a traditional tent.
Core 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent with LED Light System
This tent combines the ultimate convenience of instant setup with integrated lighting. It includes all the benefits of the standard CORE Instant Cabin Tent, such as the 60-second setup and H20 Block weather protection, but adds a built-in LED light system. This feature provides ambient lighting throughout the tent at the flip of a switch.
The LED system is perfect for family camping, eliminating the need for hanging lanterns or dealing with headlamps inside the tent. It creates a well-lit space for playing games, reading bedtime stories, or getting organized after dark. This thoughtful addition makes camp life easier and more comfortable for the whole family.
NTK Cherokee GT 6 to 7 Person Sport Camping Tent
The NTK Cherokee GT is built for durability and performance in various conditions. It features a robust, multi-pass coating on the rainfly and a reinforced polyethylene floor for superior waterproofing and longevity. The tent is designed with a focus on ventilation, including large mesh windows and a roof to reduce condensation.
Its sport-utility design makes it a reliable shelter for families who camp in different environments. The fiberglass poles are strong yet flexible, and the overall construction is made to withstand repeated use. It offers a great balance of weather resistance, ventilation, and durable materials for active camping families.
Marmot Halo 6-Person 4-Season Camping Tent
For families who venture out beyond the warm summer months, the Marmot Halo is a premium 4-season option. Its unique hexagonal design and extensive pole structure create exceptional strength and stability against strong winds and snow load. The steep walls also maximize the interior volume and livable space.
This tent is engineered for serious weather protection, featuring a full-coverage rainfly and high-quality materials throughout. While it’s a higher-performance shelter, it still offers features like multiple doors for easy access and excellent ventilation. It’s an investment for families committed to year-round camping adventures.
Browning Camping Big Horn Tent, 6-Person
The Browning Big Horn tent is known for its classic, sturdy cabin design and generous headroom. The near-vertical walls and high ceiling make the interior feel very open and spacious, preventing that cramped feeling some tents can have. It includes large windows for excellent airflow and views of your surroundings.
Durability is a key focus, with strong pole construction and quality fabrics designed to last for many camping seasons. The setup is straightforward, and the overall design prioritizes livability and comfort. It’s a solid, reliable choice for families who want a traditional cabin tent that provides ample space.
Eureka! Copper Canyon LX 6-Person Cabin Tent
The Eureka! Copper Canyon LX is all about comfort and space. It features an incredibly high ceiling, steep walls, and a roomy rectangular floor plan that truly feels like a cabin. The large mesh roof panels not only enhance ventilation but also provide a great view of the sky when the rainfly is off.
This tent is designed with family convenience in mind, including a roomy gear loft for storage and multiple oversized windows. The combination of massive interior volume and excellent airflow makes it a fantastic option for summer car camping trips where comfort is the main priority.
Buying Guide: What to Look For in the Best 8 Person Tent for Family Camping
When my family decided to get into camping, I quickly learned that an 8-person tent is more than just a big piece of fabric; it’s our home away from home. Choosing the right one makes the difference between a trip we remember fondly and one we’d rather forget. After a lot of trial and error, here’s what I now consider before buying.
First, let’s talk about space, and I mean real space. An “8-person” rating is often a best-case scenario where everyone is sleeping side-by-side like sardines. For a family, you need room for people and their stuff. I always look at the tent’s floor dimensions and, more importantly, the peak height. A tent you can stand up in is a game-changer for changing clothes and keeping everyone comfortable. Many of the best 8 person tent for family camping reviews highlight cabin-style tents for this very reason, as their near-vertical walls create a much more livable interior.
Next up is the season rating. Most family camping happens in the spring, summer, and early fall, so a 3-season tent is usually the perfect fit. These are designed to keep you dry in the rain, provide good ventilation in the heat, and withstand some wind. Unless you’re planning winter expeditions, a 4-season tent is overkill and will be less breathable. I pay close attention to the rainfly—a full-coverage fly is my preference as it offers better weather protection and ventilation options compared to a basic roof-only design.
Durability and setup are two sides of the same coin. I look for tents made with sturdy materials like thick, denier-rated floors and strong pole structures (fiberglass is common and affordable, while aluminum is lighter and stronger). But the coolest tent is useless if it takes an hour and an engineering degree to set up. I prioritize models known for a simple, quick-pitch design, often labeled as “instant” or “fast-pitch.” Practicing in the backyard first is a non-negotiable step for me.
Finally, I think about the little things that make life easier. A room divider is fantastic for creating a separate “bedroom” for the kids. Multiple doors prevent middle-of-the-night traffic jams. Lots of mesh panels improve airflow and offer great stargazing on clear nights. And plenty of storage pockets help keep small items from getting lost in the abyss. By focusing on these key areas—real space, seasonality, ease of use, and livability—you can find a tent that makes your family camping trips comfortable and fun for years to come.
FAQ
Is an 8-person tent actually big enough for a family of four?
Absolutely, and in my opinion, it’s the perfect size. A common rule of thumb is to choose a tent rated for two more people than you have. An 8-person tent for a family of four gives you ample space for everyone to sleep comfortably and have room for your gear, like luggage, a pack-and-play, or dog beds, without feeling cramped. You can use the extra space to stand up, change clothes, and even play cards on a rainy day.
How difficult is it to set up a large family tent by myself?
It can be a challenge, but many modern 8-person tents are designed with this in mind. I always look for “instant” or “quick-pitch” tents that use pre-attached poles. These can often be set up by one person in under ten minutes. However, for larger cabin-style tents or models with multiple rooms, having a second set of hands is highly recommended. My advice is to always do a trial run in your backyard before you head out on your trip.
What is the difference between a cabin tent and a dome tent?
The main difference is the shape and interior space. Dome tents have curved, sloping walls which are great for shedding wind, but they sacrifice a lot of headroom around the edges. Cabin tents have near-vertical walls, which means you get significantly more usable living space and can usually stand up anywhere inside. For family camping where you’ll be spending more time in the tent, a cabin style is often the more comfortable choice.
Are these tents truly waterproof?
Most quality family tents are water-resistant and will keep you dry in a typical rainstorm. The key is to look at the hydrostatic head rating (a measure of water resistance) and the features. A tent with a full-coverage rainfly and taped floor seams will offer the best protection. No tent is 100% waterproof in a torrential downpour, but a well-made one will handle 99% of the weather you’ll encounter. Properly sealing the seams with a seam sealer when you first get it is a good practice.
What is the best way to clean and store my tent after a trip?
This is crucial for making your tent last. I never store my tent while it’s damp or dirty. First, I set it up in my yard to air out completely. Then, I spot-clean any dirt with a soft sponge, mild soap, and cold water. I never use a washing machine or harsh detergents. Once it’s perfectly dry—and I mean bone dry—I loosely roll it up and store it in a cool, dry place, not in its stuff sack, to protect the waterproof coatings and fabric.