Are you looking for a big tent to take your dog and family camping in?
These memories you make with your family and pet will last forever. But you want to make sure these memories are good ones.
When I first took my family and dog camping, it was a disaster. I didn’t pick the right tent, and the dog poked holes in the floor, and there wasn’t any room for my wife, myself, and three kids.
This is why I decided to look for the best tent for family and dog.
The best tent for family and dog depends on your budget and family size, but these options will steer you in the right direction. Try these recommended tents:
- Wenzel 8 Person Klondike Tent
- Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Dome Tent
- Red Canyon Car Camping Tent
- Coleman Elite WeatherMaster 6 Screened Tent
- CORE 10 Person Straight Wall Cabin Tent
Any of these will work well, but look for more details and a direct comparison below.
All links in this article are affiliate links through Amazon which means we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you click the link and purchase an item. However, these tents are recommended out of hundreds of potential options, so rest easy knowing they’re the best around.
Table of Contents
Direct Comparison Of The Best Tents For Family And Dog
In this section, you can have a look at this easy chart for direct comparison of the pros and cons for each tent. Use this chart as a quick reference to help you buy with confidence.
| Tent | Pros | Cons | Award |
  Wenzel | Spacious Durable Screened-in porch | Heavy | Best Value |
  Steel Creek | Very durable Good for weather Easy setup | Smaller space | Most Durable |
  Red Canyon | Very affordable Spacious | Not as durable | Most Affordable |
  WeatherMaster | Excellent weather proofing Good head space Durable | Heavy Less sleeping space | Best in Bad Weather |
  CORE | Very spacious Great weather proofing Durable Lots of accessories | Costs more | Best Quality |
Read on for more details and a breakdown of each product.
What To Look For In A Family And Dog Tent
In this section, we’ll look at the elements of a tent which makes a big impact on its use for families and dogs alike. Use these details to help you decide which tent is best for you in the reviews below.
Size
One of the most important factors to look at is the size of the tent. When camping with family, you’ll already need a larger space, but add in the dog and things get crowded real fast.
Tents are generally given a number for the people the company claims can sleep in the tent. You’ll recognize this by the “2-person” or “4-person” label which often goes with the tent.
These are the number of people that can sleep in the tent. Technically, this number will work, but this is assuming the people are sleeping all up against one another.
When you count the number of people sleeping in one tent, count the dog as one person and then add another 1 or 2 to the number. This should give you enough space.
For example, my family of myself, my wife, and 3 kids would be 5. But add in the dog, and I have 6.
Then, add 2 more for extra space, and I need an 8 person tent.
Material
The material is another key aspect for camping with family and dog. While good and tough materials are great in any tent, this is essential when considering a dog.
Even with trimmed nails, dogs can be hard on the tent. You’ll want a tough and durable material.
Almost all tents are made out of some polyester material, but the specific type and construction makes a big difference.
So how do you tell if it’s good? Look at what users have said.
We do this for you in the reviews pros and cons below.
Flooring
The most easily damaged part of the tent is the flooring. It rubs against the ground, gets stepped on, and rolled on by your pet.
As such, you really want a tent floor that’s reinforced. Either it should be made of a tougher material or designed in a wholly different way.
This protects against water and damage alike.
As you may expect, your dog can be rough on the tent floor, so make sure the flooring is top-notch.
Waterproofing
Everyone wants good waterproofing in a tent. After all, the whole point of having a tent is to seek shelter from the elements.
But with a dog in your tent, this is even more important. Water seeping in may make your dog smell, but it may also pose a health risk if the water makes the dog too cold.
Check out the waterproof number and what the users had to say about the product.
Doors
Many campers don’t give tent doors another thought other than when they go in and out. But get a dog going in and out, and you’ll notice it right away.
If the door doesn’t open completely, sits high off the ground, or secures flimsily, your pet may end up getting himself on the doorway and tearing a new hole in it.
Look for strong doors, lower to the ground, which open nice and wide.
Durability
Along the same lines we discussed above including material, flooring, waterproofing, and doors, a tent has overall durability.
This is attributed to the above factors, but it also has to do with the overall construction of the tent.
If you look for taped seams, extra threading at these seams, double zippers, and things like that, you can figure out if the tent will last awhile.
But the easiest way to pay close attention to the user experience. No manufacturer will admit their tent has problems over time, so you need to trust the people.
We’ve spoken to people who used these tents and used many ourselves, and we’ll mention what we found in the reviews below.
Price
Honestly, many folks online may just tell you to buy the most expensive tent you can find. Sure, these tents are usually better, but you still need to think about your budget.
On a personal note, I would rather you buy a cheaper tent and get out there than be scared off by a high price and never even go. The important things are these memories and experiences, so you do what you need to do.
Still, you need to at least make sure the tent is good enough it doesn’t detract from your experience. This is why we picked a range of price points for these tents.
The prices of the tents are always changing, but we’ll mention their general price areas. You’ll have to check the exact price by clicking the button (sometimes they’re on sale).
Review Of The Best Tents For Family And Dog
In this section, we’ll look at the features of each specific tent and what makes it an excellent choice for camping with family and your dog.
Wenzel 8 Person Klondike Tent
The Wenzel Klondike tent can fit 8 people inside with two Queen beds. The medium-high price point may be worth it with all the features involved.
This tent may be the most spacious of all the tents on our list which is key for camping with your family and dog.
One of my favorite features of this tent is also the screened-in front porch area. If the weather was nice, this could be a place for your dog to sleep (just use a leash), and it’s also perfect for protecting your pup from heat and rain.
With nice pockets for storage, you can keep your gear off the ground and give yourselves more room for moving around. The 6.5 feet of head room will also make a big difference for this.
Their weather armor material, double stitching, and seam taping make this a tough tent to last for a long time.
Here’s what other customers and users thought about the Wenzel tent:
Pros For This Product:
- Large space for many people
- Fairly easy setup
- Solid, durable construction
- Screened in porch is a huge bonus
Cons For This Product:
- Dark-colored rainfly makes it hot in warm weather
- Heavy tent, not for backpacking
Coleman Steel Creek Fast Pitch Dome Tent
This Coleman Steel Creek dome tent fits 6 people inside with an additional screened porch. The tent is affordable for most situations with a durability that ensures your investment will last.
The screen room can be opened to allow lounging if the fresh air or closed up to prevent insects getting in. It also makes a good place for your dog to sleep or find shelter from the hot sun.
This tent uses Coleman’s effective WeatherTec system to prevent rain and water leakage. This system all adds a lot to the durability of the tent.
Adding to this durability is the Polyguard fabric. This fabric is perfect for helping keep damage done by dogs and kids away.
The fast-pitch design helps you set up the tent in under 7 minutes (or so the company claims). My friends who use this tent say it takes them closer to 10 minutes, but this is still quite fast for a tent of this size.
This is great for those who’ve been camping with their dogs and family. Let me tell you from personal experience, you want that tent up quick.
This is what other users had to say about the tent:
Pros For This Product:
- Fits medium-sized families with dogs well
- Very durable
- Great in weather
- Easy setup
Cons For This Product:
- Smaller screen room
- Lower head height
Red Canyon Car Camping Tent
The Coleman Red Canyon tent model fits 8 people inside at a very low price for the size.
This tent does fit 8 people in easily with two Queen beds. This is perfect for the family and dog.
There is 6 feet of head room at the peak making it seem even bigger. But if you want some privacy, you can insert one of 3 room dividers.
This tent also uses Coleman’s WeatherTec system for protection from the rain.
The setup for this tent is also quite easy when compared to other tents.
Here is what the user experience boils down to:
Pros For This Product:
- Affordable pricing
- Spacious for family and dog
- Easy setup
Cons For This Product:
- Lower durability compared to other tents
- Fewer accessories
Coleman Elite WeatherMaster 6 Screened Tent
This Coleman Elite WeatherMaster tent can sleep 6 people. This medium-priced tent is perfect for those who want to camp with a family and dog in tricky weather.
The polyester taffeta 75D material is fairly tough and water-resistant. Even though this tent is for 6 people, it feels like more.
The tent can fit two Queen beds but has a 6 foot 8-inch ceiling height. The rainfly and advanced waterproofing system makes this tent handle the weather very well.
There’s also an attached screen room for hanging out and letting your dog relax.
The accessories with this tent make it a great purchase for anyone. There’s a preinstalled LED lighting system, e-port, and many pockets just to name a few.
Pros For This Product:
- Easy setup
- Great in all weather
- Screen room is a nice addition
- Nice height, decent ground space
Cons For This Product:
- Heavy
- Sleep space may be tight
CORE 10 Person Straight Wall Cabin Tent
The CORE 10-person cabin tent is the most expensive on the list, but the space and quality you get are clearly above the other options.
This tent sleeps 10 people tightly and 8 people easily. The center height is a massive 7 feet 2 inches.
Their weather system is called H2O block technology. This is CORE’s version of a waterproofing system, and it works effectively.
They also include vents for help battling the heat when the rainfly has to be on.
There’s also a room divider you can use to separate the tent into a front and back door access on either side.
This CORE tent also includes important accessories like lantern hooks, E-port, gear loft, and carry bag to name a few.
This is what users said about the CORE tent.
Pros For This Product:
- Tons of space
- Handles weather well
- Durable material for dog and family
- Easy setup
- Lots of useful accessories
Cons For This Product:
- A little more expensive
Frequently Asked Questions
In this section, we’ll answer a few of the most often asked questions related to dogs and camping.
Can dogs sleep in tents? – Yes! Make sure there is plenty of space in the tent and give your dog a mat, blanket, or dog bed to sleep on to help it be comfortable.
What do you do with your dog when you go camping? – If you bring your dog with you, you can walk or play with your dog just as you would at home. If you can’t bring it on this trip, a dog sitter or friend coming to see the dog is best.
Where does your dog sleep when camping? – Your dog can either sleep in its own bed or blanket, or it can sleep with you in your sleeping bag or on your mat.
You could also put your dog outside on a leash with its own small shelter, but make sure it’s warm enough at night. Staying in a tent with you is better.
How do I keep my dog in a tent? – You should never leave your pet alone in a tent. You never know what animals or people will come by.
Otherwise, make sure your tent has a strong door, good material, and have a leash attached at all times.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed learning about the best tents for family and dogs. These tents would all work well, it’s just a matter of which one you want.
If I had to recommend one, it would be the Wenzel 8 person tent. The screened-in porch is great for dogs and families, and the space is big enough to hold many people.
Now get outside and enjoy the fresh air!
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