As an outdoor enthusiast, it stands to reason that camping might be one of your favorite pastimes. If you have furry friends especially a dog, then going camping or hiking with your pet can make the experience even more wholesome. However, you can’t take your dog camping and leave them outside at night. You need to find the best tent for camping with your dog.
Tent camping with your dog isn’t the same as camping with a friend. Most camping dogs are naturally rambunctious. In many cases, they will need room to play around and sleep off the day’s excitement. Something they can’t do in a one-person tent or a tube tent.
Remember that your dog will probably spend most of its time chasing little critters and enjoying great outdoor adventures. This means they will likely be dirty and spreading dog hair when it comes time to settle down for the night.
- Is your tent equipped to handle that?
- Does it have extra space for both of you or will your dog need its own tent?
- What about ventilation?
These are all valid questions that every dog lover who takes their dog camping with them will ask themselves. Going camping with your best furry friend is the easy part. The slightly more difficult part is finding the best tent for your dog.
We have compiled a list of some suitable dog tents that you might consider if you consider bringing your dog with you on your next camping trip.
Table of contents
- Best Overall: Coleman Sundome Camping Ten t
- Best Roomy Interior: Coleman Dome Tent With Screen Room
- Best Dog Tent Option: Pop-Up Puppy Playpen and Cat Tent
- Best Backpacking Options: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2
- Best Pop-Up Tent Option: Zenph Automatic Pop-Up Tent
- Factors to Consider Before Buying the Best Tent for Camping With Dog
- Checklist for Camping with Dog s
- FAQs
- More Tips and Tricks for Staying Comfortable in the Wilderness
Best Overall: Coleman Sundome Camping Tent
Float center: 
- Occupancy: 3-person
- Material: Polyester
- Seasons: 3
- Dimensions: 6.75 x 6.75 x 23.82 inches
Designed and manufactured by a highly dependable and reputable brand, this Coleman Sundome Camping Tent for camping is an excellent choice for people who want to go camping with their dogs.
Available in different sizes, this Coleman Sundome Tent for camping not only comes in several colors but is also quite easy to set up; it takes less than 10 minutes.
One of the main reasons this camping tent is good for dog camping is because it has been tested against 35 mph winds and has been found capable of withstanding that much disturbance, which is exactly what it might have to withstand when your dog bumps into it and plays around inside.
Featuring a ground vent and several windows, this Coleman Sundome Tent offers wonderful ventilation and opportunities for your dog to look outside, especially when it’s raining, and you don’t want them to get wet. Furthermore, it has inverted seams that keep the inside of the camping tent dry even in torrential rain.
What We Like:
- Available in a variety of sizes
- Quick and easy setup
- Weatherproof seams
- Excellent ventilation
What We Don’t Like:
- Bigger tents are a bit expensive
Best Roomy Interior: Coleman Dome Tent With Screen Room
Float center: 
- Occupancy: 6-person
- Material: Nylon
- Seasons: All-weather
- Dimensions: 28 x 10 x 9.75 inches
Yet another Coleman product, this Coleman Dome Tent With Screen Room, might be the perfect tent for dog camping. For one thing, it has a lot of screens that allow the dog to look outside, as well as better ventilation for the tent. This Coleman Dome Tent With Screen Room is great for car camping and regular camping.
It’s easy enough to set up; it only takes about 14 minutes, and it’s designed with the WeatherTec system, which features a patented welded floor and inverted seams. All these things contribute to keeping the inside of the tent warm and dry.
The Coleman Dome Tent With Screen Room has enough room for both you and your dog, as well as your camping gear. It features a screen room where you can hang out without being bothered by bugs. It also has two separate rooms, meaning you and your dog can have your own rooms if you are both fussy sleepers.
Finally, it has an extended awning, allowing you to keep the windows open for longer, even when it’s raining.
What We Like:
- It has a screen room
- It has two separate rooms
- Sleeps 6 people
- Easy to setup
- Well-ventilated
- Inverted seams and welded floors keep the tent dry
- Designed for all weather conditions
What We Don’t Like:
- The screen room isn’t always waterproof
Best Dog Tent Option: Pop-Up Puppy Playpen and Cat Tent
Float center: 
- Occupancy: 1 small dog
- Material: Steel and Oxford
- Seasons: All-weather
- Dimensions: 28 x 7.75 x 7.75 inches
If you would rather your little furry friend have their own sleeping quarters, this Pop-Up Puppy Playpen and Cat Tent is one of the best options for a dog tent, especially for people with smaller dogs.
Designed to be capable of containing your best friend while keeping them comfortable, this Pop-Up Puppy Playpen and Cat Tent has a sturdy steel frame that can withstand some roughhousing from your dog.
One of the main reasons this Pop-Up Puppy Playpen and Cat Tent is simply a must-have for dog lovers is that it can be used as a travel crate. So you no longer have to worry about traveling long distances with your furry friend. You can put them in this Pop-Up Puppy Playpen and Cat Tent, keep them comfortable, and go as far into the wilderness as you wish. In the end, they also have a place to sleep.
This Pop-Up Puppy Playpen and Cat Tent works well with a small washable mattress for your little friend, and it also has mini windows for excellent ventilation.
What We Like:
- Can double up as a travel cage
- Sturdy steel frames
- Easy to transport
- Comfortable
- It works for both dogs and cats
- Has windows
What We Don’t Like:
- Only suitable for smaller dogs
Best Backpacking Options: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2
Float center: 
- Occupancy: 3 people
- Material: Nylon and Fabric
- Seasons: All-weather
- Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.6 x 13.8 inches
If you are the kind of camper who likes to use their bike or backpack with their pet, then you might find this Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 the ideal backpacking tent.
Not only is it designed with many bike and backpacking-friendly features, but it’s also easy to set up. It features proprietary corner construction and a unique TiLok Tent Buckle with these functions: rainfly attachment, tensioner, stake-out loop, and secure pole-tip capture backpacking tents.
This Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 backpacking tent is designed to be trail-ready and has a stuff sack that can withstand the rigors of rugged outdoor adventures. It has daisy-chain webbing that allows for several bike-frame attachment configurations on these kinds of backpacking tents.
Even though it’s only one room, it has enough space for you and your dog in this backpacking tent.
What We Like:
- It is simple to set up
- Designed for backpacking
- Packs down to a very small package
- Enough room for you and your dog
What We Don’t Like:
- It’s on the more expensive side
Best Pop-Up Tent Option: Zenph Automatic Pop-Up Tent
- Occupancy: 2-3 people
- Material: Polyester
- Seasons: Four seasons
- Dimensions: 102 x 62 x 43 inches
This Zenph Automatic Pop-Up Tent is exactly what it claims to be: a pop-up tent. Simply throw it in the air, and it will pop up and return to the ground as a fully set-up tent. That makes it extremely easy to use, with the setup process taking seconds.
However, this Zenph Automatic Pop-Up Tent isn’t just showy as far as setup is concerned. It also holds its own when it comes to wilderness survival. Made out of polyester, this tent for camping is moisture and waterproof, with its bottom made from Oxford cloth.
It also has windows, which provide it with wonderful ventilation. The windows are covered in gauze, so you can leave them open through the night without suffering mosquitoes and creepy crawlies.
What We Like:
- Easy setup
- Plenty of ventilation
- Moisture- and waterproof
- The floor is made out of Oxford cloth
What We Don’t Like:
- It’s small, making it quite snug
Factors to Consider Before Buying the Best Tent for Camping With Dog
You must consider certain factors if a camping trip with your dog is to be a success. Here are a few that pertain to the kind of tent you buy.
The Size and Personality of Your Dog
This is the first and most important factor to consider when shopping for the best tent for camping with your dog. How big is your dog, and are they calm or rambunctious?
If you get a tent that isn’t big enough for both of you, the whole exercise will be futile as you won’t fit, or even if you do, you will have an uncomfortable night.
Your dog’s temperament also comes into sharp focus. Do they get nervous in enclosed spaces? If so, getting a dog tent with a vestibule where the dog can see the outside world and not feel so closed in might be a good idea.
Tent Material
Most tents are made out of polyester, cotton, nylon, or Dyneema. These materials of dog tent are dog-friendly, but they might not be friendly to your dog. Start by ensuring that you or your dog don’t have any allergies to the kind of material the tent is made of and that you will both be comfortable. Furthermore, the best tent material is breathable, lightweight, durable, and low maintenance.
The Weight of the Tent
The weight of the tent matters if you intend to go backpacking. Many lightweight tents are available, but the material used might not be ideal or tough enough to withstand your dog’s attention.
If, on the other hand, you intend to go car camping, you should know that car camping tents, rooftop tents, or pop-up tents are generally quite heavy. But they are made of better material and are more durable.
It should be noted that when you go for lightweight tents, you are trading durability for lighter weight, and when you are camping with your dog, that might not be the best of ideas.
Dog camping requires the best tents that are tough and can take some abuse. As such, these best tents are going to be slightly heavier.
The Setup of the Tent
When choosing a tent for camping with your dog, you need something that is easy to set up and will also remain standing should your dog bump into it, as it will. In many cases, you will find that freestanding tents are a good idea for camping with your dog.
Occupancy
Both the size and the occupancy of the tent matter. When the manufacturer says that their best tents can house three people, how comfortable those people will be inside that tent depends on the size of those people and their sleeping styles.
It won’t be big enough if you buy a 3-person tent for camping with two friends and your gear. If you add your dog to the mix, you definitely won’t fit.
It’s also important to remember that the measurements provided by the manufacturer are often for the outside and not the inside of the tent. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to buy a tent that’s a little bigger than you need, especially when camping with your dog.
Camping with your dog can be fun, especially when you find the best tent for camping. This list includes some of the best tents for camping with your dog. All you have to do now is find one that works for you and your furry best friend.
Checklist for Camping with Dogs
A comprehensive checklist of items to bring when camping with your dog.
Essential Items
- Dog-Friendly Tent: A durable dog tent with enough space for you and your dog.
- Dog Bed or Sleeping Pad: To keep your dog comfortable and warm at night. Our pick on Amazon here for $29.99
- Leash and Collar: Including an extra leash in case one gets lost or damaged.
- Dog Food and Treats: Enough for the entire trip plus a little extra.
- Water and Portable Dog Bowls: To keep your dog hydrated. Our pick Ruff Products BarkBowl – Buy on Amazon for
- Dog First Aid Kit: Include bandages, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, and any medications your dog might need. Get this top pick by ARCA Pet Store on Amazon for $20.95
- Waste Bags: To clean up after your dog.
- Updated ID Tags: Ensure your dog’s collar has an ID tag with your current contact information.
- Microchip Information: Ensure your dog’s microchip information is up-to-date.
Get it on Amazon for $8.95
Clothing and Protection
- Dog Booties: To protect your dog’s paws from rough terrain. Get this top pick on Amazon for $21.99
- Reflective Vest or Collar: For visibility at night. Shop on Amazon for $17.95
- Life Jacket: If you plan to be near water.
- Weather-Appropriate Clothing: Dog jackets or cooling vests depending on the weather conditions. Get Carhartt Firm Duck Insulated Dog Chore Coat on Amazon for $39.99
Safety and Comfort
- Tether and Stake: To secure your dog at the campsite.
- Portable Fence or Playpen: For a safe, enclosed space.
- Dog-Safe Insect Repellent: Protect your dog from fleas and ticks.
- Sunscreen for Dogs: Especially for camping dogs with short fur or light skin.
- Comfort Items: Favorite toys or a blanket to help ease anxiety.
Hygiene and Grooming
- Towels: For drying your dog after swimming or rain.
- Dog Shampoo: In case they get dirty.
- Brush or Comb: Particularly for long-haired breeds.
Navigation and Tracking
- GPS Tracker for Dogs: In case your dog wanders off.
- Flashlight or Headlamp: For nighttime bathroom breaks. Buy this best seller dog collar light on Amazon for
- Map of the Area: Know where the nearest vet clinic is located.
Miscellaneous
- Camera: To capture memorable moments.
- Notebook: To jot down memorable moments or keep track of feeding and medication schedules.
- Emergency Contact List: Include numbers for the nearest vet, animal control, and a pet poison helpline.
For the Car
- Seat Cover or Crate: To keep your dog safe and your car clean during the drive.
- Water and Food for the Journey: Especially important for long drives.
Pre-Trip Preparations
- Vet Check-Up: Ensure your dog is healthy and vaccinations are up-to-date.
- Familiarize Your Dog with Camping Gear: Let them explore the tent and gear at home first.
- Practice Commands: Brush up on basic commands like ‘stay’, ‘come’, and ‘leave it’.
FAQs
This will depend on both of your sleeping temperaments. If you are a dog owner who tends to overheat when you snuggle with your dog, or if your dog is a restless sleeper, it might be a good idea to get separate best tents.
It should, however, be stated that each arrangement has its own merits and demerits. If you have a small dog and are concerned that it might get nervous or run off in the night if you don’t keep an eye on her, then maybe you need to keep them in your tent. If this is the case, you can get a tent with separate sleeping quarters or a vestibule for your dog.
Yes, if it’s only you and the dog going camping, a 2-person tent will do nicely. However, if there are two of you and the dog, the spacing might be too tight to fit all three parties.
Leaving them alone in your tent might spell disaster if you have a hyperactive dog. Dogs tend to get restless, and since tents are often lightweight and made out of somewhat flimsy material, they’re not like your concrete floor.
Your tent’s floor is often the most vulnerable if you leave your dog alone unsupervised. Start by not leaving your dog in the tent alone and unsupervised to protect that floor.
The other option would be to use an extra groundsheet inside your tent. The other option is to make sure that your dog is well-groomed before you go camping. This means clipping their nails and filing down any sharp edges.
More Tips and Tricks for Staying Comfortable in the Wilderness
Here are some links to our most popular articles:
Last update on 2025-02-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API