When it comes to camping, the old saying rings true: “the more, the merrier.” Camping is always a blast for large groups of family and friends. For particularly close groups, sharing one large camping tent together can often make the trip a million times more fun. With a 12 person tent, the whole group can laugh, play games, and enjoy each other’s company right up until the moment they fall asleep.
Large camping tents are a great way to have fun, bond together, and create lasting memories that the whole group will be a part of. While twelve are a lot to fit inside one tent, there are some fantastic, high-quality options available. Let’s take a look at the five best 12 person tents.
The Five Best 12 Person Tents
5. Bushnell Sport Series Tent
The Bushnell Sport Series Tent is one of the best large camping tents available. With enough space for twelve people, this tent is big enough and tall enough to throw a party inside. The floor space measures 200 square feet, with a vertical center height of 7 feet (84 inches). Due to the steep slowing walls, the further from the center you are the less vertical space there is to stand, however, you can comfortably lay down anywhere inside.
One of the best features of the Bushnell Sports Tent are the room dividers. There are two detachable room dividers that allow you to split the tent into three separate, private rooms. Each room has a closing D-door, so you get more privacy when entering or leaving. Additionally, the room divider can also function as a projector screen — great fun for a family movie night!
A full panoramic mesh ceiling and the large mesh window in each wall panel gives the occupants plenty of fresh air. A rainfly cover comes with the tent to waterproof the ceiling, and all the windows can zip up from the inside. Inside, there are mesh storage compartments along the walls to safely store your personal belongings and fast-access items.
At 48 pounds (21.8 kg), this tent is definitely too heavy for hiking or backpacking. However, for car campers or families that will not be walking too far, the Bushnell Sports Series tent is a great choice. The tent does include a solid rectangular carry bag that is great for packing, transporting, and storing.
Highlights
- Rating:
- Height: 84 inches (7 feet).
- Floor Space: 20 feet x 10 feet.
- Rooms: Up to three (two removable dividers).
- Form Factor: Dome.
- Setup Time: 15 minutes.
- Material: Fabric: water-resistant polyester. Poles: fiberglass.
- Accessories: Carry bag, rainfly, 2 x room dividers, tent pegs, and poles.
- Weight: 48 pounds (21.8 kg).
- Warranty: One year.
Pros & Cons
4. NTK Super Arizona GT Tent
The NTK Super Arizona GT Tent is another fantastic camping tent, especially for large families or groups. It features two hundred square feet of floor space, with dimensions measuring 20’7” by 10’2”. Inside, the vertical center height is an impressive 83 inches (6’11”), which is more than enough room to stand up in.
The Super Arizona GT Tent comfortably sleeps up to 12 people. It also includes a removable room divider which can transform the interior into two private rooms. Since there are two D-door entrances, both private rooms have their own access door, which is one of our favorite features.
The front section of the tent is a large vestibule with panoramic mesh panels, which can also double as a spare room. This area can also be a great place to store gear, wet clothing, and muddy boots. Inside of the tent, there are hanging pockets on the wall and a hammock in the ceiling to store your personal items.
The NTK Super Arizona GT Tent is a great choice for camping in areas with bad or unpredictable weather. With its 2500mm waterproof fabric and a dome shape for coping with the wind, it holds up incredibly well during heavy rainfall and storms. In addition, the tent floor features a silver coating that helps with insulation and prevents bacterial growth.
Highlights
- Rating:
- Height: 83 inches (6’ 11’).
- Floor Space: 20’7” feet x 10’2” feet.
- Rooms: Up to two (removable divider).
- Form Factor: Cabin.
- Setup Time: 20 minutes.
- Material: Fabric — Polyester Taffeta 68D. Poles — Fiberglass.
- Accessories: Carry bag, rainfly, room divider, tent pegs, and stakes.
- Weight: 42 pounds (19 kg).
- Warranty: One year.
Pros & Cons
3. Core Straight Wall Cabin Tent
The Core Straight Wall Cabin Tent is another great option for large groups. With dimensions measuring 16 feet by 11 feet, the 176 square foot interior provides a ton of space for 12 people to sleep comfortably. The center height is an impressive 86 inches, so everyone should be able to stand up and walk around inside. Additionally, because the tent features straight walls, the ceiling does not drastically slope downward towards the walls, so you are able to walk around the majority of the interior area.
The Core Cabin Tent includes a removable room divider that splits the tent into a 70/30 configuration. While you can certainly use the setup for any purpose, the intended design is to create a bedroom and a living room. Also, the divider itself doubles as a small movie projector screen, which is an awesome feature that we really love.
The full-mesh ceiling passes through plenty of light and air. Combined with the air vents at the base of the tent, the airflow and circulation inside is fantastic. To access the tent, one side of the tent features a T-door, while the opposite side features a D-door.
For weather resistance, the tent and rainfly both utilize Core’s H2O Block Technology. Among several other awesome features, this includes a waterproof coating that quickly beads and disperses rainwater.
Highlights
- Rating:
- Height: 86” (7’2”).
- Floor Space:16’ x 11’ (12 people).
- Rooms: Up to two (removable divider).
- Form Factor: Straight wall cabin.
- Setup Time: 10 minutes.
- Material: Fabric — 68D polyester. Poles — fiberglass.
- Accessories: Carry bag and pole bag. Room divider, awning pole, rainfly, tent pegs, and stakes.
- Weight: 40 pounds (18.1 kg).
- Warranty: One year.
Pros & Cons
2. Outbound Dome 12 Person Tent
The Outbound Dome 12 Person Tent is one of our favorite large camping tents. With dimensions of 20 feet by 9 feet, and a 180 square-foot interior space, there is plenty of room inside for twelve sleepy campers. Inside the tent is a rectangular floor space where 10 people can sleep shoulder to shoulder, with two additional people sleeping at right angles. The center height is 78 inches, but the ceiling slopes down towards the walls due to the dome-style design.
The most important feature of the Outbound Dome Tent is the lightweight design. It weighs just 21 pounds, which is extremely impressive for a camping tent of this size. The lightweight design gives you the ability to carry the tent for further distances and to more campgrounds.
The tent features one D-door entrance equipped with windows. The ceiling is mesh and, combined with the windows, offers effective airflow and circulation during both the day and night. Attached to the entrance is a small vestibule that helps with water run off and also provides a small area for muddy boots and dirty gear. Inside, you will find two interior storage pockets for keeping personal items safe and accessible.
Highlights
- Rating:
- Height: 78” (6’6”).
- Floor Space: 20’ x 9’ (12 people).
- Rooms: One.
- Form Factor: Dome.
- Setup Time: 30 minutes.
- Material: Fabric — poly taffeta 185T 68D. Poles — fiberglass and steel.
- Accessories: Carry bag, rainfly, guy lines, and stakes.
- Weight: 21 pounds (9.53 kg).
- Warranty: One year.
Pros & Cons
1. Core 12 Person Instant Cabin Tent
The Core 12 Person Instant Cabin Tent is our favorite camping tent for groups of twelve. What sets this tent so far ahead of other large tents is the instant setup feature. The poles, tent fabric, and base are all connected to form one cohesive unit. This unique design allows two people to completely set up the tent in under two minutes, which is truly an incredible feat for a tent of this size.
Once pitched, the floorspace of the tent measures 18 feet by 10 feet, providing 180 square feet of interior space. The 80 inch center height offers enough vertical space to stand up and walk around inside.
The tent features two large entrances, one located on the front and the other on the rear. Each panel of the tent has a window, or a door, with a mesh screen. Hanging from the ceiling is a small hammock for storing your personal items safely off of the floor. Additionally, the tent is power ready, including an electrical access port to power and charge electronic devices.
For privacy, the tent includes two removable divider curtains that can turn one room into two or three. When divided, both entrances of the tent are located in the central area, which ensures privacy in the two separate bedrooms.
Highlights
- Rating:
- Height: 80” (6’8”).
- Floor Space:18’ x 10’ (12 people).
- Rooms: Up to three (two removable dividers).
- Form Factor: Cabin.
- Setup Time: 2 minutes.
- Material: Fabric — 68D polyester. Poles — telescoping steel.
- Accessories: Awning poles, tent bag, rainfly, tent pegs, and stakes.
- Weight: 50.75 pounds (23 kg).
- Warranty: One year.
Pros & Cons
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best 12 Person Tent
In order to choose the best 12 person tent for your camping trips, there are a few factors that you should consider. Below are some of the most important things for you to keep in mind.
Ease of Setup
Because of the sheer size, twelve person camping tents can be difficult to pitch. These large tents often require multiple people and anywhere from 15 minutes to well over an hour to fully pitch. Be sure to pay attention to the set up time provided by the manufacturer. It is also a good idea to check out a few customers reviews to get some perspective on how difficult and time consuming the process may be.
You should also look for time saving features, such as an instant pop up design or telescoping tent poles. We highly recommend opting for a pop up tent. However, they can be difficult to find in tents of this size. If set up time is an important factor for you, we recommend considering the Core 12-Person Instant Cabin Tent.
Size
Personal space requirements are an important factor to consider in a camping tent. For instance, someone that sleeps on their back will typically need between 20 to 25 square feet of floor space. Teenagers may cope with sleeping on a floor space of 15 to 20 square feet. Adults are generally more comfortable with 25 to 30 square feet. Using this formula, to have a decent amount of space for twelve campers, you would need a tent with an area of over 180 square feet.
If you only plan to use the tent during the day and will not be sleeping in it, you may want to consider opting for a canopy tent. Canopy tents are great for one day camping trips and provide a large area of shade and shelter during the day. Additionally, many families also enjoy setting up a canopy next to their camping tent, creating a relaxing area for daytime activities and fun.
Windows & Vents
Windows reduce the feeling of confinement and reduce the build-up of condensation and carbon monoxide inside the tent. With 12 people under a single roof, effective air circulation is essential. Be sure to choose a tent that has several sources of ventilation and air, be it multiple mesh windows, mesh doorways, ceiling ventilation, and/or base air vents.
Luckily, if things do get too hot inside, there are a few quick and easy ways to keep a tent cool, even during hot weather.
Insulation
If you are camping in colder climates, or even if the temperature just drops at night, it is important to consider the insulation your tent provides. Will the large tent keep you warm, or are you better off opting for several smaller tents that are better equipped to handle the cold? If the tent is housing a large group of people, the combined body heat will also provide some heat and insulation. There are also some easy and affordable ways to insulate your tent for cold weather.
FAQ: 12 Person Tents
Is a 12 person tent too large and heavy to carry?
Due to the large size, most 12 person camping tents are heavy, many weighing well over 40 pounds. While you can carry one, you certainly do not want to carry it for long distances, even if it is the only piece of gear you are hauling.
While tents of this size are perfect for car camping, they are not ideal for backpacking or hiking trips due to the size and weight. For backpacking trips, the group should instead opt for several smaller tents rather than one large one.
Are extra doorways good for a large tent?
For a large tent, extra doorways are a great feature. For instance, if your sleeping area is in the rear of the tent, a rear entrance allows you to enter and exit without having to disturb and climb over the rest of the group.
If the tent is utilizing room dividers, extra doors are even more important because they allow entering and exiting without disturbing the privacy of those inside the separate rooms.
Where should I set up my 12 person tent?
A 12 person tent has large walls, so you want to avoid direct exposure to strong winds. To help block the wind, it is important to choose a good campsite, located close to a wooded area or group of trees.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the best 12 person tent is the Core 12 Person Instant Tent. We highly recommend this tent for large groups of up to 12. The instant set up feature really sets it apart from the rest of the pack. There is no other tent of this size and quality, in this price range, that offers instant set up capability. On the other hand, pitching a tent of this size without an instant set up design is no joke — the process typically requires multiple people and can take anywhere from thirty minutes to well over an hour to complete.
Happy Camping!
Do you go camping with a large group of family and friends? We would love to hear about your gear, packing tips, and more! Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.
