Choosing the right lantern can transform your campsite from a dark, shadowy space into a welcoming, functional hub. The ideal camping lantern provides more than just light; it offers safety, extends your evenings for stories and games, and can even serve as a vital power source for your devices. With options ranging from ultra-bright propane models to compact, color-changing LEDs, the perfect light for your adventure is out there.
This roundup highlights nine of the best lanterns available, each selected for its performance, durability, and unique features. Whether you prioritize raw brightness, emergency preparedness, or ambient mood lighting, you’ll find a model here to meet your needs and brighten your next outdoor journey.
Our Top Picks for Camping Lanterns
- Lighthouse 600 Multi Functional Adjustable Light
- Streamlight Siege 540-Lumen Compact LED Camping Lantern
- Coleman Rugged Rechargeable 400 Lumens LED Lantern
- BioLite Alpenglow Multicolor USB Lantern
- Coleman NorthStar 1500 Lumens Gas Lantern
- Black Diamond Equipment Apollo Lantern
- Streamlight Siege AA 200-Lumen Lantern
- Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Lantern & USB Power Hub
- BioLite AlpenGlow 500 Lantern
Lighthouse 600 Multi Functional Adjustable Light
This lantern stands out for its exceptional versatility and off-grid charging capabilities. The 600-lumen LED light is directional and adjustable, allowing you to focus illumination where you need it most. Its collapsible legs create a stable stand for area lighting or fold away for compact storage, and the built-in handle makes it easy to carry or hang.
What truly sets it apart is its multi-source power system. The integrated 5200mAh lithium battery can be recharged via USB, solar panel, or a built-in hand crank for emergency use. Furthermore, the battery doubles as a power bank to charge phones and other small devices, making this a central hub for both light and power at your campsite.
Streamlight Siege 540-Lumen Compact LED Camping Lantern
Built for durability and reliable performance, the Streamlight Siege is a favorite for campers and preppers alike. It delivers a powerful 540 lumens of 360-degree white light, ensuring your entire campsite is evenly illuminated. The design includes multiple hanging points with D-rings on both the top and bottom, offering great flexibility for setup.
This lantern provides useful lighting options with high, medium, and low white light modes. It also features a dedicated red LED mode, which includes both a steady light and an SOS flash function. The red light preserves night vision and is ideal for signaling. The removable globe allows you to choose between a focused beam or a softer, diffused light.
Coleman Rugged Rechargeable 400 Lumens LED Lantern
Coleman’s reputation for dependable outdoor gear is evident in this rugged, rechargeable lantern. It’s built to withstand the rigors of camping with an impact and water-resistant design. The 400 lumens of light are ample for most campsite tasks, and the lifetime LEDs ensure you’ll never need to replace a bulb.
Convenience is key with this model. The built-in lithium-ion battery recharges easily from any home outlet using the included 120V charger. Once charged, the lantern not only provides light but can also function as a power bank, with a USB port to charge your mobile devices, keeping your phone powered up during your trip.
BioLite Alpenglow Multicolor USB Lantern
The BioLite Alpenglow is designed to create atmosphere as much as it provides illumination. Its ChromaReal LED technology offers excellent color accuracy, making it perfect for tasks like cooking or photography at night. With 500 lumens on its highest white setting, it can brightly light a sizable area.
Where this lantern shines is in its color modes. A simple shake cycles through a spectrum of colors and dynamic light patterns, including a festive Fireworks Mode. This feature makes it ideal for setting a fun mood at a backyard gathering or a quiet, colored ambiance inside a tent. It also includes a USB-A charge-out port to top up other devices.
Coleman NorthStar 1500 Lumens Gas Lantern
For those who need maximum brightness, the Coleman NorthStar gas lantern is a classic choice. It produces an intense 1500 lumens, casting light up to 26 meters away, which is powerful enough to illuminate an entire group campsite. The matchless ignition system makes lighting it simple and quick.
This propane-powered lantern runs on a standard 16.4-ounce cylinder and features pressure-control technology for consistent performance in various weather conditions. While it offers the most traditional camping light experience and requires fuel, its unmatched output and familiar warm glow are valued by many outdoor enthusiasts.
Black Diamond Equipment Apollo Lantern
The Black Diamond Apollo offers a sleek, modern design with highly functional features. Its 3-watt LED shines through a unique telescoping frosted globe. You can adjust the height of this globe to transition from a focused, direct light to a softer, more diffused 360-degree glow.
User-friendly controls include a dimmer switch for precise brightness adjustment and a battery-life indicator. It operates on four AA batteries, offering a familiar and easy-to-find power source, and is also compatible with Black Diamond’s NRG Recharge Kit for a rechargeable option. Its compact form factor makes it a great space-saving choice.
Streamlight Siege AA 200-Lumen Lantern
This compact version of the popular Siege lantern is an excellent, budget-friendly option that doesn’t sacrifice utility. It produces up to 200 lumens of even, 360-degree light, which is sufficient for inside a tent or lighting a small picnic table. Its small size makes it very easy to pack.
It runs on three common AA batteries and includes a battery-level indicator. Like its bigger sibling, it offers multiple lighting modes: high, medium, and low white light, plus a red LED mode with a steady and SOS flash for emergencies. The removable cover allows for quick battery changes.
Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Lantern & USB Power Hub
This model is a versatile powerhouse designed for extended off-grid use. As a lantern, it provides a bright, adjustable light source. Its core strength lies in its function as a portable power hub, capable of charging phones, cameras, and other USB devices multiple times from its internal battery.
It supports multiple recharging methods, including a wall outlet, a car charger, or a compatible solar panel, making it ideal for long expeditions. The collapsible design and integrated handle enhance its portability. For campers who rely on electronic devices, this lantern serves a dual purpose that can simplify gear packing.
BioLite AlpenGlow 500 Lantern
The AlpenGlow 500 is built for creating the perfect campsite ambiance. It provides functional white light with excellent color quality, but its specialty is its array of colored lighting modes. These modes allow you to customize the mood of your space, from calm and relaxing to lively and festive.
It is USB-rechargeable and includes an output port to share power with other devices. The intuitive shake-to-change interface makes cycling through colors and effects simple and fun. This lantern is an excellent choice for campers who view their lantern as part of the experience, not just a tool.
What to Look For in the Best Lanterns for Camping
Choosing the right lantern can make or break your campsite vibe. I’ve spent plenty of nights fumbling with dim lights or listening to the sad beep of a dying battery, so I know what matters. When you’re looking at the 9 best lanterns for camping, there are a few key things to keep in mind before you click “add to cart.”
First, think about brightness and light quality. Lumens are the number you’ll see, but it’s not everything. A lantern with 500 lumens can be painfully bright for a small tent but perfect for lighting a whole picnic table. Look for models with adjustable brightness. Even better, some have a dedicated red light mode. This preserves your night vision and keeps bugs a little less interested. The type of light is important too; a soft, diffused glow is way more pleasant than a harsh, direct beam.
Next up is power source. This is a big one. Battery-powered lanterns (using D-cells or lithium packs) are common and often very bright, but you need to pack spares. Rechargeable lithium-ion models are my usual go-to; you can top them up from a power bank or your car. Just remember to charge it before you leave! Solar-powered lights are great for long trips if you can guarantee sun, and propane lanterns offer classic, powerful light and warmth but require fuel canisters. I always ask myself: how long is my trip, and how easy will it be to get more power?
Durability and weight are a constant camping trade-off. That super-bright, feature-packed lantern is useless if it’s too heavy to carry on a backpacking trip. For car camping, you can afford a bigger, tougher unit. Look for lanterns with an IPX rating for water resistance – IPX4 means it can handle rain, which is pretty essential. A good handle or a hook for hanging is non-negotiable in my book. Finally, consider extra features. A built-in power bank to charge your phone is a modern lifesaver. A flat base so it won’t tip over, or a collapsible design for packing, are small details that make a huge difference when you’re out there.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lumens do I really need for a camping lantern?
This depends entirely on what you’re doing. For ambient light inside a large tent or around a campfire with a group, I look for something in the 300 to 500 lumen range, preferably dimmable. For task lighting, like cooking or reading, 150-300 lumens focused in one direction is perfect. For backpacking, a small lantern around 100 lumens is often enough to save weight and battery. More isn’t always better; a super-bright lantern can create harsh shadows and annoy your camping neighbors.
Are rechargeable lanterns better than battery-powered ones?
For most of my trips, yes, I prefer rechargeable models. You don’t have to buy disposable batteries, and you can often recharge them from a solar panel or a portable power bank. The initial cost is higher, but it pays off over time. However, I always pack a simple battery-powered lantern (with fresh cells) as a reliable backup. If my rechargeable dies and I’m off-grid, I have a fail-safe. It’s about redundancy.
Is a propane lantern a good choice for camping?
Propane lanterns are fantastic for raw, bright light and they even provide a little heat. They’re a classic choice for car camping or base camps. The downsides are the need to carry fuel canisters, the fact that they get very hot (a safety concern with kids or pets), and they’re not allowed in some fire-prone areas during bans. I use them for group gatherings in cool weather, but for general use, a modern LED is more versatile and safer.
What does the IP rating on a lantern mean?
The IP (Ingress Protection) rating tells you how well the lantern is sealed against dust and water. The first digit is for solids (like dust), the second for liquids. For camping, look for at least IPX4. This means it’s protected against splashing water from any direction—perfect for rain or a damp picnic table. If you’re a serious adventurer, an IP67 rating means it’s dust-tight and can survive temporary immersion in water.
Can I use my camping lantern as a power bank?
Many of the newer rechargeable models have this feature, and it’s incredibly handy. A lantern with a USB-out port can top up your phone, headlamp, or GPS. When evaluating the 9 best lanterns for camping, I always check the mAh (milliamp-hour) capacity of the built-in battery. A higher number means it can hold more charge to power both its light and your devices. Just remember, using it as a power bank will drain the battery faster, so plan accordingly.