Finding a suitable tent for a family can be a daunting task. Parents might be bringing their kids, the cousins might be invited, even the family friends have been desperate to go on a camping trip. Thing is, your regular two-man tent isn’t going to fit everyone, is it?
The last thing you want is to be kept up all night with the kids next to you crying at the possibility of bears. Your brother-in-law’s feet are in your face, you just got kicked in the back by someone, and the constant sound of snoring coming from your partner is driving you crazy. There just isn’t enough space.
That’s where the beauty of two-room tents comes into play! These tents are designed for families of all sizes with a handy divider to separate the tent into rooms - so the kids can have their room and you can have your own. Despite their size, these tents are easy to set up and are compact enough for transportation.
We have found the best two-room tents for family camping to suit every family’s needs - and maybe the room dividers will muffle the cries of your child who is certain there’s a bear outside.
OUR TOP PICK
If you’re looking for an affordable and high-quality tent that ticks all of the boxes, this is the tent for you.
The UNP camping tent is designed to hold up to 10 people, providing a spacious interior suitable for 3 queen air mattresses or 10 sleeping bags. Even if you don’t have 10 people sleeping, this is a great space for storage.
This tent features a privacy divider curtain that separates the tent into two rooms. It’s hung from the ceiling, which means the divider is optional.
Not only is this ideal for privacy, but this divider can be used as a screen with a projector to make your own cinema. What a way to get the kids to enjoy camping!
This product is made of 100% heavy-duty polyester that is designed to resist water.
It is equipped with a mosquito repellent mesh roof and windows to prevent pesky bugs from joining your camping adventures - plus it means you can watch the stars as you sleep. The mesh roof can be covered to protect the users from rain.
What’s more, this tent is said to be easy to set up with two people. It also comes with a carry bag to keep the tent safe, which is also handy for carrying around in the car or to your next camping spot.
Pros
- Spacious - Two-room tent can fit up to 10 people
- Mosquito and water repellent - Mesh layer and waterproof polyester cover prevents mosquitoes and rain from getting in
- Easy set up - No skill required, just two people needed to set this tent up within 10 minutes
Cons
- Door zip - The door zip can get stuck on the fabric due to the extra waterproof layer
Best For Extra Dividers
Sometimes, one divider to make two rooms isn’t enough. If you’re camping with the in-laws and your kids, you might want to consider getting a tent that has more than one divider - unless you’re comfortable sleeping next to your father-in-law.
That’s where this tent comes in! Suitable for fitting up to eight people, this tent comes with two removable dividers to make three privacy rooms. Even if you’re just wanting two rooms, you can remove one of the dividers easily. Or you could set up the third divider to protect the food from the kids.
The Pacific Pass tent is made of 1500mm polyester, designed to repel water. It is fitted with an extended awning door, which is great for keeping muddy shoes dry to protect the floor of the tent.
For extra handiness with storage, this tent is equipped with six interior mesh bags for organization, including a hook at the top for a lantern.
Whilst this is a straightforward tent to set up, it does require three to four people, which is a couple of people more than the other tents on our list. It comes with a handy carry bag for space-saving purposes in a car.
Pros
- Two dividers - An extra removable divider can make three privacy rooms
- Good storage - Interior mesh bags keeps small and important items organized
- Waterproof - Repels water and is suitable in windy conditions
Cons
- Requires more people to set up - Despite its straightforward assembly, it requires multiple people
Best Waterproof Tent
Whether you intend to go camping in the rain or you are met with an unexpected bout of bad weather when you reach your destination, you’re going to want the best waterproof tent to prevent leaking.
The Browning Big Horn tent is designed to withstand the elements, from rain to harsh winds. Made of a 2000mm polyester coating with a 150D protective flooring, this tent remains taut and resists damage from UV rays and water. The floor and fly are both sealed to prevent leaking.
To keep the tent upright in windy conditions, the poles and uprights are made of fiberglass and steel respectively. These are durable and heavy-duty materials that are surprisingly lightweight to carry.
This tent is equipped with a wall divider to create two privacy rooms and can comfortably hold up to six people. The center is extra tall to allow people to stand upright, which also provides more room for cots and equipment such as fishing rods.
This product comes with two doorways, six windows, and a mesh layer to prevent mosquitoes from entering the tent. This is also ideal for ventilation, plus it means you can watch the stars from the safety of your tent.
Pros
- Waterproof - High-quality and heavy-duty polyester cover and floor prevents rain and water from entering the tent
- Good for bad weather - Strong poles and uprights keeps the tent taut in windy conditions
- Tall center - More room for cots and equipment
Cons
- Tall floor - 12” floor is great for providing comfort and repelling water, but can be a tripping hazard for kids
Best Quality Tent
Camping in summer is always fun, but the light evenings and mornings can be a pain if you’re trying to get to sleep. Campers will be all too familiar with bright tents that don’t shut out the glares from the sun, which means a restless night is on the cards.
The Coleman Rocky Mountain tent is equipped with two blackout bedrooms which block out 99% of the sun, meaning you can have an easy sleep to enjoy the rest of your camping!
Even if you’re wanting a nap in the middle of the day from your adventures, these curtains will be your new best friend. They also make the tent 5° cooler, which is ideal in the hot summer months.
This product is large enough for five people and comes with a divider to create two rooms. To enhance the privacy value, the large windows come with covers to keep your personal items safe from other campers (or animals).
This tent is made of 4500mm polyurethane, which is a waterproof and durable material that makes this the best quality tent on our list. The groundsheet is sewn in and the seams are well-taped to prevent leaking from rain. It also has a UV guard that protects the tent and its inhabitant from the sun’s rays.
Pros
- Ultimate privacy - Divider creates two rooms and windows and doors come with covers
- Blackout bedrooms - Blocks out 99% of sun rays for a comfortable and non-disturbed sleep
- Premium quality material - Hardy polyurethane material is waterproof and protects from UV rays
Cons
- Capacity - Only fits 5 people, which is less than the other tents on our list
Best For Easy Set Up
The last thing you want to do is spend the majority of your camping trip wrestling a tent when you could be exploring the scenery. Pop-up tents are great for one or two people, but they’re hardly the most durable products.
This Campros tent is most ideal for a quick and easy set up. All it requires is two people and five minutes minimum, and you’ve got a fully functional tent ready to be used.
It takes a similar amount of time to disassemble the tent and put it in its carry bag, which is around the size of a regular sleeping bag. Great for space-saving in the car!
This tent is made of high-quality polyester with a 1000mm polyurethane coating, which is slightly less strong than the other tents on our list. Whilst it is suitable for light rain, it won’t be ideal in rainier conditions.
The product comes with a divider to create two rooms, five windows, and is covered with a layer of mesh. This mesh is ideal for ventilation and to repel mosquitoes. It can fit up to eight people - or you could use half of the tent for equipment for hiking or fishing.
Pros
- Easy set up - Tent requires two people to set up within five minutes
- Spacious - Can fit eight to nine people comfortably
- Small carry bag - Fits into a sleeping bag sized bag for easy transportation
Cons
- Not for heavy rain - Suitable for light rain, but not for worse conditions
Best Two Room Tents For Family Camping Buying Guide
Benefits of a two-room tent
Two-room tents are a popular choice for families of a variety of sizes. They are spacious and ideal for campers of all skill levels - especially beginners due to their easy set up.
Here are the main benefits of two-room tents!
Privacy
The biggest benefit of two-room tents is the privacy value. These tents come with a divider that is rolled down from the roof of the tent, which separates the tent into two rooms. This is ideal for families with children because it means the kids can have their own room.
Some tents even come with a second divider to create three rooms, which is great for keeping bags and equipment away from the sleeping areas.
Another reason why the dividers are so popular for families is that they can act as a screen for movies. Bring along a projector and your favorite DVDs, and you’ve got yourself your very own outdoor cinema! There’s no better way to get your kids to fall in love with camping. Might even distract them from the worries about bears and skunks.
Spacious
These tents are much bigger than you’d expect them to be. They’re like weird alternate universes that are huge on the inside. This is ideal for families because it means you can fit a bunch of sleeping bags, cots, or air mattresses without squeezing up against one another.
Sure, camping is a bonding experience, but it’s much nicer to be comfortable and to get a good sleep.
This space is also ideal for keeping camping equipment safe and out of the way. This means you can bring fishing rods, hiking gear, coolers, and other equipment in the tent with you. Some campers feel safer with their gear in the tent rather than in the car.
During the day, a spacious tent is a great way to rest from your activities and ideal for escaping the rain.
Easy set up
Despite their large size, two-room tents are usually pretty easy to set up. Beginners love these tents because of the straightforward assembly.
What’s the point in wasting your time stressing over a tent when it can be set up within 10 minutes? You’re camping to spend time in nature and with your family, after all.
We’re all aware of the struggles with setting up tents. Camping is never stress-free as it is, and an uncooperative tent is a cherry on top. These tents, however, are equipped with foldable and sturdy poles and uprights that make the assembly time faster than you’d think.
Portable
Alongside their easy assembly, these tents can be disassembled and stored in a small carry bag quickly.
The carry bags are usually the size of a regular sleeping bag, which means they take up minimal space in a car. You can carry this bag around the campsite to find your ideal location without struggling with a heavy weight.
In short, a two-room family tent is much easier to carry than two separate tents.
What to look for in a family tent
Size
Of course, the first thing you need to know is how many people you intend to hold in the tent. Whether you’re a family of four, eight, or ten, make sure to consider how many people will be sleeping and what type of people.
Kids are less likely to take up much room due to their size, so you have to consider the size and length of the adults. A night of comfortable sleep is necessary when camping so you don’t have grumpy people to deal with the next morning.
The bonus of two-room family tents is that you can keep the kids on one side and adults on the other. Or you can keep the unwanted in-laws in the other “room” because you didn’t really want to invite them. Nobody has to know.
Mesh coverings
Good tents should all come with a layer of mesh that covers the roof, windows, and doors of the tent. This mesh covering is useful for a variety of reasons.
First, mesh coverings are designed to keep mosquitoes and pesky bugs out. There’s nothing worse than waking up to bites all over your body, especially if you forgot your bug spray. This mesh layer helps to protect the interior of the tent from bugs.
Mesh is also great for ventilation. Stuffy tents are uncomfortable to sleep in and can get super smelly, but leaving the door or window open could invite bugs to fly in. The mesh means that you can remove the coverings when the tent gets too stuffy, which helps with the airflow.
Mesh coverings are also brilliant for viewing the scenery around you. Camping is all about sleeping under the stars, which is kind of redundant if you’re staring at the ceiling of a tent all night. The mesh allows you to look at the night sky without fear of bugs wandering inside - though remember that mesh isn’t waterproof!
Waterproof
Speaking of waterproof, you’re going to need a tent that is resistant to water damage and leaks. Weather reports are pretty much always unreliable, and it’s better to be safe than sorry. Even if you’re certain that your campsite won’t get rain, surely you’d want a tent that is equipped to deal with water anyway?
You could be camping next to a lake where your kids are splashing about, and the next thing you know, your sleeping bag is soaked. You could be camping in your backyard and forgot the sprinklers are due to turn on overnight as you wake up to soggy clothing.
The best material to look for in a tent is polyurethane. Polyurethane covers work to repel rain and are resistant to UV rays, so the sun won’t damage the material. The seams on the floor and walls should be tightly sewn and sealed to prevent leaking.
Height
Sure, you’re not going to be standing in your tent all the time, but you should probably consider the height of it anyway. Some tents come with raised centers which is ideal for tall people and cots, as it means people are less likely to “bump” their heads on sloping tent walls.
A family’s ideal tent is something that exudes comfort from every angle, so you’re going to want one that everyone can comfortably stand up in without having to crouch.
Storage
Two-room tents come with the added bonus of extra space for storage. If you buy a tent suitable for eight people with only four of you inside, just think about the amount of space left to keep your belongings and equipment in one place.
Some tents come with built-in mesh bags and pockets. These are most ideal for keeping small items safe, because we all know the struggle of trying to find sunscreen in a messy tent. You can keep electronic devices, torches, bug spray, makeup, underwear, and keys all safe in these pockets so you won’t misplace them.
What to consider with a family tent
Not every tent is equipped with every accessory, so here is a list of factors to consider for additional purchases.
Awnings
If a two-room tent has an awning built-in, this is usually attached above the door and provides some shelter before you step into the tent. They don’t come with walls or floors, but they’re still a nice touch.
Awnings and porches are ideal for all tents because they can provide an area for you to take your muddy shoes and clothes off before entering the tent. As camping usually involves activities such as hiking or swimming, it’s in your best interest to keep your tent as clean as possible.
Awnings are also a lovely way to sit outside of your tent under a shelter from the sun or rain. Camping is all about the great outdoors, so why not sit under the awning in your lawn chair with your partner and friends as you sip your morning coffee?
Some awnings (purchased separately) come with walls, which is most ideal for dogs. Dogs are brilliant camping partners, but not when they’ve been swimming in lakes and rolling in mud. To avoid the wet dog smell, your dog can sleep in the awning which protects them from the cold and wet.
Windows
Ask yourself how much light you would like there to be in your tent. Windows made of mesh materials are a great way to ventilate the area, repelling mosquitoes, and they allow a nice viewing point from the comfort of your sleeping bag.
However, some people might struggle with sleeping around windows with covers that don’t block out the light. As summer is the most popular time for camping, few hours of darkness are suitable to sleep in.
If you want an uninterrupted sleep, you should consider finding a tent with blackout curtains or making some DIY adjustments. You can always attach blankets or fabric to the windows, for example. Also, this will help to keep the temperature cool during the day and warm at night as curtains are great for insulation.
Hooks
Some tents will offer a hook system in the middle of the ceiling which is designed to hold a lantern.
This is a great space-saver as you won’t have to keep the lanterns on the floor where they could knock over. It also means everyone gets the same amount of light.
Cable entry
If you’re going to a campsite that has an EHU (Electric Hook Up), you need to find a tent that has an entry for an electrical cord. Unfortunately, you can’t just cut a hole in the tent and call that a cable entry hole.
These cable entry holes need to be built-in, as they are designed to keep water out of the tent and away from electricity. Much more effective than running the cable through the front door!
Best Two Room Tents For Family Camping - FAQ's
How big of a tent do I need for a family of 4?
For a family of four to comfortably fit inside a tent, the minimum-sized tent you should look for will have a floor area of 90 to 100 square feet.
Most four-person tents are best suited for two to three people, because the extra space needs to be used for storage and equipment.
As a family of four is bound to bring a lot of luggage and equipment with them, they would benefit more from a six-person tent. The extra space will also be more comfortable for lanky teenagers and tall parents.
The general rule of thumb is to go for a tent that is said to hold two more people than you are planning on bringing.
Is a 4 person tent big enough?
Four-person tents are big enough for a family of four, but it will be a cozy bonding experience. Generally speaking, four-person tents are best suited for couples and up to three people, because they can use the extra space for luggage.
Some families with small kids might find that four-person tents are ideal, but others will benefit more from six-person tents for the extra space.
What is the best brand of camping tents?
The best brands of camping tents are:
- Coleman
- Browning
- Kodiak Canvas
- ALPS Mountaineering
- Eureka
What’s best to sleep on when camping?
Sleeping bags are the most common item for campers to sleep on. You should look for a thick and high-quality bag that retains heat, resists water, and is padded for comfort.
Other campers like to bring camping cots or air mattresses for elevation from the ground. As the floor can be hard and uncomfortable, cots and air mattresses bring lots more comfort to a camping experience. However, they do take up more space in a tent.