5 Best Tents for Camping With Dogs + Things To Consider! (2024)

Whether you’re camping in the wilderness or in own your backyard, you’ll need a tent that will stand up to the elements and your dog. Well, you came to the right place. We’ll give you the lowdown on our five favorites, including our #1 choice, the Coleman Elite WeatherMaster.

What You Should Know About Tents for Camping With Dogs

Taking along your dog on a camping trip is totally doable and worth the extra effort. With a little planning, proper packing, and a mindset for adventure, you’re bound to make some great memories with your furry buddy.

Of course, the right tent can make life easier. Before we dive into our favorites, let’s look at a few points to keep in mind when you are deciding on which tent is right for you and your camping companion.

Things to Consider

Everyone has their own vision of a perfect camping trip, so each person’s dream tent will be slightly different.

Once you take into account things like the number of potential campers (dogs included), season of planned use, distance to the camping site, your dog’s size, and amount of gear necessary, you’ll likely have a better idea of what your ideal tent should be. Let’s get started.

How Many People and Dogs?

If you happen to be plagued by rain on your camping trip, despite your diligent forecast checking, do you really want to be stuck inside a too small tent for hours with no elbow room and the scent of wet dog hanging in the air?

Before buying your tent, consider how many others will likely come along, on your first trip and future trips as well. Will it just be your dog joining you or might your companion bring one too? Now is the time to plan for the unexpected so you’ll be prepared for an extra guest or two.

What Season Will You Be Using Your Tent?

Consider the time of year that you plan on camping. There are two, three, and all-season tents, each designed for different weather conditions and temperatures. In all likelihood, a two or three-season tent will be sufficient. If you plan on heading out in a blizzard though, a four-season tent would be a better option.

Tent Weight

The tent’s weight should definitely be considered if your planned campsite requires a long hike to access. Remember, you’ll be carrying a lot of other gear as well. However, if you are able to drive your vehicle right to the site, then total tent weight won’t matter too much.

How Much Room Will Your Dog Really Need?

A Chihuahua isn’t going to need as much space as a Rottweiler of course, but situations commonly encountered when camping might leave you wishing you had chosen a larger tent.

For example, if your dog has an unfortunate encounter with a skunk, are you really going to want him snuggled up beside you?

Will you need room for a dog crate? Does he tend to sprawl out when he sleeps? It’s usually best to count your dog as a person when deciding on tent size. Chances are, you’ll never regret having some extra room.

What to Look For / What to Avoid

A sturdy tent made of durable, waterproof materials and a heavy-duty floor will likely be best. One that assembles easily and is a breeze to clean (trust us – smelly tents are no fun) will save you time overall.

If your dog is medium size or larger, a tent with an attached vestibule may be perfect, providing additional storage space or a special area for your dog to dry off before entering the sleeping room.

We recommend steering clear of any bargain buys you find. There’s usually a reason they’re priced so low, and they’ll likely be nothing more than a headache.

What to Bring Along for Your Dog

With a little forethought, you’ll be sure to have everything that your faithful friend might need. Here’s a handy checklist to help make sure you won’t forget anything.

• Collar with identification tags and leash.
• Harness (if you use one…here’s one of our favorites).
• First aid kit equipped with dog-friendly products.
• Fresh water or purification tablets.
• Food – dry or canned (These single serving pouches are convenient).
• Bowls for food and water (Collapsible bowls are great for camping).
• Dog bed – unless you want to share your sleeping bag.
• Extra towels for the inevitable event that he gets wet or dirty.
• Brush to clean him up daily.

Don’t forget to:

• Make sure vaccinations and heartworm prevention are current.
• Check your dog often for ticks and fleas.
• Be certain that your dog will actually eat whatever food you plan to bring before you hit the trail.

Check out this video for expert tips for canine campers!

The Top 5 Tents for Camping with Your Dog

Dome, A-frame, backpacking, tunnel, family, pyramid, pop-up, multi-room, pods, yurt style, tepee, cabin, geodesic, – the tent options seem unlimited. Don’t get overwhelmed though. Check out our five favorite tents to give you a better idea of what may be ideal for you and your dog.

Coleman Elite WeatherMaster

We love the spaciousness of this Coleman tent. The screened room is wonderful for when you need somewhere for your wet dog to relax but would like to keep the sleeping area clean. The screened area can also double as a mud room or kitchen on rainy days. The rainfly can be removed for ventilation and stargazing.

Pros:

• Interior room is 11 feet by 9 feet.
• Accommodates up to six people.
• Center height of 6 feet, 8 inches.
• Built in overhead interior light with three settings – high, low, and nightlight.
• Illuminated wall switch to control light without standing up.
• Attached screened vestibule 9 feet by 6 feet.
• Hinged door.
• Sets up in about 20 minutes.
• Room for two queen airbeds inside.
• Includes expandable carry bag.
• Mesh roof lets in air, light, and views in nice weather.
• Rainfly included to cover mesh roof in the event of rain.
• Patented WeatherTec system to keep tent dry.
• Polyurethane coated fabric repels water.
• Inverted seams.
• Storage pockets to hold gear.
• E-port to bring in electric power.
• Auto-roll windows open and close easily.
• Zippered mesh door and/or privacy screen separate the screened room.

Cons:

• On the heavy side at 42.3 pounds.
• Doesn’t include options for covering the sides of screened room.

Big Agnes Copper Hotel HV

The incredible lightweight of this three person tent is just right if you’ll be hiking in to your campsite. We like that the large vestibule can be opened up or totally closed. While it may be a tight fit with three people, there is plenty of room for just one person and their dog.

Pros:

• Weighs only 3 pounds, 7 ounces.
• Two doors that zipper closed.
• One large attached vestibule.
• Oversize door on large vestibule.
• One small attached vestibule.
• Both extensions can be opened up for ventilation or closed completely.
• Sleeps up to three people.
• Two-toned mesh screening for privacy while enjoying a breeze.
• Reflective guy lines to make them visible in the dark.
• Quick Stash holds open vestibule door securely out of the way.
• Two interior mesh pockets.
• One oversize media pocket with two cord routing portals.
• Height of 41 inches.
• Floor area of 29 square feet.
• Large storage roof pocket.
• One fly vent.
• Made from silicone treated ripstop nylon coated with waterproof polyurethane.
• Steep walls shed rain well.

Cons:

• Not tall enough to stand up in.
• Small vestibule does not reach the ground, so bugs or other critters are welcome.
• Requires crawling to enter and exit from large vestibule side.

Coleman Sundome

We like the two windows and easy 10 minute setup time of this three person dome tent. With enough room for one or two people and their dog, this affordable Coleman tent is guaranteed to keep you dry and comfortable. Although there is no vestibule, this one made our list because of its light weight and modest price.

Pros:

• Floor area of 49 square feet (7 x 7 feet).
• Only weighs 8.2 pounds.
• Ground vent for increased air flow.
• Inverted seams and patented WeatherTec system.
• Tub floor for additional rain protection.
• Continuous pole sleeves to prevent snags during setup.
• Expandable carry bag included.
• Large enough for on queen size airbed.
• Tested to withstand winds of 35 miles per hour.
• Awning over door.
• Patented Inst-Clip pole attachments.
• One person easy setup in about 10 minutes.
• One year limited warranty.
• Easily carried on long hikes.
• Portal for electric cord included.
• Center height of 4 feet, 4 inches.
• Large windows provide cross ventilation and close securely with zipper.
• Rainfly included.
• Made with durable Polyguard fabric.
• Spacious interior, compact design.
• Covered zipper on door.
• Multiple storage pockets for small gear and electonics.

Cons:

• Not tall enough to stand up in.
• Only one door.
• No vestibule.
• Not designed for use in winter conditions.

Wenzel Klondike

If your planning on bringing not only your dog but family or friends as well, this eight person tent may be just what you’re looking for. Backed by an impressive 10 year warranty, this tent features a generously sized screened room – perfect for dining, housing your dog while he air dries, or simply taking in the scenery.

Pros:

• Sleeping room floor area of 98 square feet.
• Spacious screened room measures 60 square feet.
• Height at peak – 6.5 feet.
• Features two doors and two large side mesh windows.
• Includes roll-up flaps to close windows.
• Full mesh roof for enjoying the daytime views or the night sky.
• Removable rainfly included.
• Rainfly covers entire screened vestibule as well as sleeping room.
• Weighs 26.38 pounds.
• Rear mesh vent at ground level to increase air flow.
• Two large pockets to stow gear.
• Door in between sleeping room and vestibule zips closed for privacy.
• Screened room converts to second room with zip up walls.
• Storage bag included.
• Steel upright supports and fiberglass roof frame for strength.
• Guy ropes come pre-attached.
• Double stitched seams.
• Made from polyester fabric treated with waterproof polyurethane coating.
• Company offers a 10 year warranty.

Cons:

• For some people, this may be too heavy to carry over long distances.

Mier Two Person

We like the handy little vestibule and easy to carry weight of this three-season tent. If your camping adventures only include you and your canine counterpart, this tent might be ideal. This is the only tent on our list that includes a waterproof footprint – a thick pad to place under the tent as a barrier.

Pros:

• Waterproof footprint included.
• Lightweight at just 4 pounds.
• Easy to pack with the included ultra-compact compression stuff sack.
• Packs down to 16.9 inches by 5.5 inches.
• Designed for three-season (spring, summer, and fall) use.
• One hanger on the roof to hold a light or lantern.
• Two interior pockets for stashing gear.
• Two air vents produce cross ventilation and prevent condensation.
• Tub floor to keep seams above ground level.
• One-piece design.
• Constructed of rip-stop nylon with a silicone/polyurethane coating for weather resistance.
• Hubbed pole system.
• Includes two repair patches.
• Factory-sealed fly and floor seams.
• Vestibule area is 9 square feet.
• Vestibule gives your dog his own room or can be used to store his gear.
• Inner mesh wall.
• Corrosion-resistant aluminum poles and stakes.

Cons:

• Interior peak height of 3.9 feet – not tall enough to stand in.
• One door.
• No windows.
• Must crawl to enter and exit.

Summary

There are indeed a lot of rugged tents available but finding one for a canine camper can be challenging.

Not everyone will be camping with just their dog. Many people bring friends or want to make camping a family affair. That’s why our list includes several sizes. We want to have something for everyone here.

Our favorite, the Elite WeatherMaster would work for single campers or a larger group and still have plenty of room for your dog. We especially love the airy vestibule, built-in light, and height of this durable tent. We are pretty sure you will too.

Last update on 2024-04-25 at 01:09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API