Porch tents are superb for family camping or going outdoors with a large group of friends. The screened room provides a space that is safe from insects.
In some instances, the porch area can even provide you with some extra shelter from the rain without being fully closed off inside of the tent.
It is also a great place to store items (link to our camping storage guide article) that you don’t want to bring all the way into the tent, but don’t want to leave out in the wild either, like toilet paper or shoes.
Not all porch tents are created equal, however, so we have compiled a list of our favorite tents on the market.
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Wenzel 8 Person Klondike Tent With Porch
The Klondike tent is a 3 Season, 8 p
erson tent with a spacious porch. It has six and a half feet of standing room, meaning that most people can stand up inside the tent. (Did you know that a 3 Season tent is the best value? Read more about the Seasons ratings here.)
What we like
The camping porch is so spacious that you can store your small camping table inside of it to keep the insects off of your food. Here is our article about how to keep bugs away when camping.
The mesh porch has zip up walls to provide extra shelter and extra sleeping space. It also comes with a built-in gear loft.
What we don’t like
Though this tent boasts that it sleeps eight, you should really not plan to sleep five people inside of it, unless you want to use your porch space as part of your sleeping space. You will notice this is a bit of a trend in porch tents.
Check out actual owner reviews and price to find more details.
Northwest Territory – 10 man tent with porch
This massive family cabin comes with large lofty windows and screened front porch. You can fit three queen size mattresses in it, and it provides ample space to stand up.
What we like
This is a great summer camping tent for camping with families. The porch is spacious, and the interior comes with a room divider if you need it. There are two points of entry, a front door and a back door which adds convenience and privacy. The tent also comes equipped with hanging shelves and wall organizers so that you don’t have to use your precious foot space as storage.
What we don’t like
The tent is not very sturdy or weather resistant. You should only use this in mild weather and warm temperatures. Even too much wind can cause problems for this tent.
The materials that are used for this tent are fairly cheap, meaning that you wouldn’t want to use it to protect from bugs, UV rays, cold weather, hot weather, or rain. If you are a seasoned camper, you would probably determine that this tent is entirely useless. For the family camper and the “glamper,” this tent does have quite a lot to offer, though.
Check out what owners say about it and see the price for it.
Coleman WeatherMaster – 6 man tent with porch
This six-person sleeper combines traditional camping with a modern touch. You’ll love the spacious interior. On a mild night, you can even sleep in the screen room just beneath the stars.
What we like
This is a standard pitch tent, so if you are used to camping the old-fashioned way, this one will feel familiar. It also has a hinged door, which makes it easy to get in and out of.
What we don’t like
Though the tent claims to be weather and rain resistant, buyers often complain of leaks in extreme downpours. Of course, this can be avoided or at the very least prolonged by applying some extra waterproofing and seam sealant. Read our guide on how to completely waterproof a tent.
This tent is also 32 lbs, which extremely heavy for a tent that only sleeps six people.
See what Coleman users think about this tent and what you expect to pay for it.
Vango Capri 500 XL – tunnel like inflatable tent with screen room
This inflatable tent sleeps five people and is pitched in a matter of minutes. If you’ve never heard of inflatable tents, check out our guide on them. This tent is actually huge and could probably sleep more than five people if you wanted to use the spacious living room area as an additional sleeping space.
What we like
Inflatable tents are all the rage. This tent can be pitched alone, or with help for an even faster pitch. The lime green color and the structure screams that this is a special tent. You will look amazing on the campgrounds and I can almost guarantee you that someone will ask you about this tent.
What we don’t like
The porch isn’t screened in, which means it isn’t very useful in inclement weather, and it won’t keep the bugs away. The price tag for this tent is also pretty steep thanks to the patented inflatable beam technology.
Read owners reviews and check the price on Amazon.
NTK Indy – small tent with porch
The NTK Indy (Amazon link to check price and reviews) is perfect for small family camping or couples camping. It has a porch with an awning, that is big enough to hold a couple of camping chairs. It also has a micro mosquito mesh to keep those pesky small insects out of your space.
What we like
The price tag on this tent is amazing for what you are getting. It also has a fast and easy setup, comparable to a 1-2 person tent.
What we don’t like
The NTK Indy is a little cramped for four grown people to sleep in. You can’t fit a cot, and you can barely fit a full-size air mattress, so you will almost certainly be sleeping on the ground. The tent also stays pretty warm on the inside, which can be less than ideal in the middle of the summer.
Weanas Professional Backpacking Tent
This item is a bit lacking in the way of a porch, but it does allow you to set up an awning to relax under. It made it onto our list for the price point and the “backpack-ability.”
What we like
As you have probably noticed, most tents with a porch are not meant for backpacking, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy an awning while you backpack. This tent weighs in at just 4.9 lbs. The tent is also easy to pitch and take down. One person can do it in around ten minutes. It’s also a 3 Season tent, so it will stand up to heavy rains and winds.
What we don’t like
The manufacturer boasts that this item is “bigger than others.” Unfortunately, that just isn’t true. Yes, this is a great tent for backpacking solo, but you don’t really want to cram too many people into it, even if you buy one of the larger sizes for this tent.
CORE 11 Person Cabin Tent
If the size is your main criteria in a tent, look no further. This tent (Amazon link) has it all.
What we like
The screen room is huge and would fit an entire queen air mattress, or a table with chairs to play cards without losing them. This tent sleeps up to 11 people if you use the screen room as additional sleeping space. If not, you can still fit two queen air mattresses in the back room of the “cabin.” And you can stand up completely. No ducking and dodging to avoid tent hair.
What we don’t like
The tent weighs 25 lbs. Sure, you can split that weight between the eleven people that you plan to sleep, but that is still pretty heavy for a tent of this caliber. Also, there is only one entry point, through the screen door. With the size of this tent, it should probably have a backdoor for added convenience.
Honorable Mention: Alpha Kilo 4000 Canvas 6 Person Bow Tent
Not for the faint of heart, the Alpha Kilo 4000 is perhaps the most durable tent on the market.
What we like
In the way of durability, this tent is unbeatable. It is flame retardant, waterproof, UV protected, and ripstop (meaning unbreakable). The material is military grade and will last for generations. This tent comes equipped with an awning and sleeps up to six people. It also has a bathtub style floor to prevent interior flooding. It is also built to withstand internal heating elements when the proper precautions have been taken.
What we don’t like
If you are a novice camper or a backpacker, this tent is not for you. This is a high quality, heavy duty, professional, and long-lasting tent. It weighs just under 90 lbs, is difficult to put together without experience, and comes with a lackluster instruction manual. It is also over $500!
Conclusion
Camping with a porch is a great way to make sure that you are enjoying nature on your own terms. If your campsite is covered in gnats and you have had it, you can escape to the security of a screened porch. Porches provide a safe space for your belongings, extra sleeping space if needed, and even space to kick back and relax with your friends and family.
Do you have a porch tent that you love that wasn’t listed here? Or do you have a tent that we did list here? Let us know in the comments what kind of tent it is and what you love about it.