When you want to go camping but don’t want to have to deal with the complicated setup, instant camping tents are the way to go. They’re obviously much simpler to deal with and you won’t have to worry about any of the stressful thinking about which parts go where.
Trust us when we say, this can be extremely helpful. Especially if you are going to go hiking and know you’ll be too tired to deal with a hectic tent setup every stop you make while camping. Of course, a lot of people have a mistaken idea about instant camping tents too.
Many assume that they are not made for all 4 seasons or even 3 seasons for that matter. It is even likely some believe these tents cannot hold up against various weather-related issues like rain or snow. Yet this could not be further from the truth.
Not only can many do this quite well, but they’re also not as expensive as you might assume. For your regular tent, prices can vary wildly depending on the brand, the materials, and much more. The same is true for instant camping tents. The difference is that the prices compared to the other actually tend to be lower.
Sit back and relax as we take you through a journey of great instant camping tents that you can use for your instant setup camping needs this year!
Table of Contents
Best Instant Tents
Tent | Max Occupancy | Cost | |
 | Ozark Trail Instant Cabin | 11 | $$$$ |
 | CORE Instant Cabin | 8 | $$$ |
 | Wenzel Klondike | 10 | $$$$ |
 | Alpha Camp | 8 | $$ |
 | Coleman Instant Tent | 8 | $$$ |
Ozark Trail 8-Person Instant Cabin Tent
- Price: $225 Range
- Occupancy Max: 8 to 11 People
- Features: Waterproof, Private Room, Mesh Windows (can cover with rainfly)
Ozark Trail is a great brand known for its several different outdoor products. Yet they seem to be most impressive in the tent department. This tent only adds to that reputation, as Ozark Trail has managed to put an 8-person instant cabin tent together for a low price of $225.
You’d be lucky to get this type of price for a 2 to 4 person instant tent with other tent types on the market today. That said, the size of this tent is quite impressive yet they also added other impressive features.
First, you’ll see the private room. This is great for parents with a large family, as the kids can stay on one side and you on the other. It could also be good for extended family camping or simply for couples wishing to camp together in a randomly large tent. At only 25lbs of weight, this tent is by no means hard to walk around with.
Next, you’ll love the mesh windows and roofing. This will allow you to see the stars at night or simply hang out in the daytime by letting a little light in. Of course, it has coverage that goes over the top of the mesh. The mesh will keep bugs out on its own, but the ability to add coverage means you can let as much light in as you want.
On top of this, the cover acts as a rainfly. This essentially makes the tent waterproof overall, allowing it to be great for times a random rainstorm occurs that you did not expect.
While the tent does claim to only be for 8 people, this is mostly due to comfort size. If you can do so, fitting 11 people in this tent is not difficult. Especially if you’re putting sleeping bags side by side. For a bunch of kids, however, this could be really easy to do.
Of course, due to being an instant tent...setup is literally a breeze. It takes less than a few minutes to complete the setup.
CORE 6-Person Instant Cabin Tent
- Price: $170 to $190 Range
- Occupancy Max: 6 to 8-Person
- Features: H20 Block Technology, 60-Second Setup, Wall Organizer
CORE is yet another great outdoor brand. We love their instant tents, but this particular option from them is terrific. While it claims to be a 6-person tent, it is possible to fit up 8 people in the tent if you organize correctly.
One thing we know you’ll love is the included wall organizer. This will allow you to put everything in one place so that you know where it is. The height is a great 72 inches in the center, allowing most people to stand up without feeling too stuffed.
Speaking of being too stuffy, you’ll never have to worry about that with this CORE Tent. That is due to the grounded air vents that let warm air out to keep you comfortable as you’re trying to catch some much-needed sleep.
CORE’s H20 Block Technology will keep you dry, as it is used within the fabric to ensure waterproofness throughout. Of course, while you can take off the cover to expose some mesh, you can add it right back on to give you coverage as it rains.
We did not even get to the fact that it takes only 60 seconds flat or less to set up this tent completely. CORE truly made this instant cabin tent easy and user-friendly for all who might use it.
All of this comes with CORE telling us they provide a 1-year warranty on the tent. Just in case something happens to it in that timeframe. A tent this terrific under $200 is already great but the extra insurance is even better.
Wenzel 8-Person Klondike Tent
- Price: $184 to $230 Range
- Occupancy Max: 8 to 10-Person
- Features: Shock-Corded Fiberglass Roof Frame, Weather-Resistant PU Coating
The Wenzel brand has been in business since 1887 if you can believe it. Camping is a generational thing for this brand. As a result, it is nice to see that they too wanted to put together a great instant camping tent for people to utilize.
They really outdid themselves with their 8-Person Klondike Tent. You’ll notice it comes in a few different price points. This is mostly due to the extra screen room that can pretty much act as an extra bedroom or even a screen-room people can lounge in during the day/evening.
The screen room is convertible with an inverted “T” style door to it, along with the inside flap, zippered windows.
You’ll also get mesh roof vents to add circulation, along with 2 different zipper side windows with inside flaps included. The fly is seam-sealed yet also removable. The coating is made from polyurethane and made to be weather-repellent.
This means that while it may not be waterproof, it is terrifically water-resistant and thus can handle snow and even some hail. You’ll need to just be aware of how much water is accumulating on the roofing and remove as needed.
Finally, you’ll also see a shock-corded fiberglass roof frame that can handle just about anything. This comes along with steel uprights and elbows combined with a pin & ring that allow for an easy setup. Plus, there is a guy-out vent at the back of the tent.
Alpha Camp Family Tent
- Price: $140 to $170 Range
- Occupancy Max: 6 to 8-Person
- Features: Water-Resistant, Mesh Panel, High-Grade Steel Poles
Alpha Camp has managed to put together a large tent that is not only easy to set up but also contains a lot of great features. First, you should keep the price differences in mind when it comes to this tent option.
For the 6-person model, you’ll pay around $140 but for the 8-person option, it is only $30 more for $170. This is a steal of a price in our book, especially with the added room. Even if you just need it for 6 people, buying the 8-person tent could offer some extra legroom for everyone involved.
For both, you’ll get a lot of features. This includes a large “D” style door as well as five windows with a top mesh-panel. This will provide great circulation and ventilation for the entire tent. This comes on top of high-grade steel poles that offer nice wind-resistance. Of course, the mesh windows included will keep out pesky bugs and especially mosquitos.
Along with this, you’ll get a sealed floor seam that blocks moisture and prevents problematic leakage. You’ll also get 2 large side-pockets and more than enough room within them to keep your stuff well organized. They even included a cable port for electrical cord access, in case you have multiple uses for your tent.
It takes a minute or less to set up, and it’s even water-resistant to near waterproof status.
If that is not enough for you, Alpha Camp is also including a 1-Year Guarantee. They feel this confident about their tent, and we feel you’ll love it too.
Coleman 6-Person Instant Tent
- Price: $170 to $190 Range
- Occupancy Max: 6 Recommended (can fit up to 8)
- Features: WeatherTec System, Polyguard 2x Double-Thick Fabric
Coleman is one of the top outdoor brands, period, end of story. Yet they truly are one of the best Tent Brands you can find. While not usually known for some types of tent, they have become incredibly well-known in the instant camping tent market. This is for good reason.
All of their tents are usually pretty easy to set up. Yet this 6-person instant tent option is really easy. While they say it takes around a minute to set up completely, we’ve seen it set up in about 30 seconds too. Seriously, it is that quick for some.
This is aided by pre-attached poles, making it much quicker to set up right away. You literally just extend and secure them in place. It cannot be easier, right?
Inside the tent, you’ll have a vented rainfly for extra airflow that will not require any extra assembly on your part.
The best part is that Coleman also included their patented WeatherTec System that will keep water out of your tent. This includes welded floors and inverted seams to make this a waterproof tent that can also handle itself in the snow and even in some hailstorms too.
The fabric is rugged and made with double-thick polyguard fabric that will handle itself well in the outdoor world you’ll be camping in. Truthfully, Coleman could not have packed more into this tent if they tried.
