5 Best 4-Person Tents for Your Small Family Camping

Last Updated on February, 2025

Did you know? According to a 2023 report, 46% of camping participants in 2022 in the US were millennials. While mature adults represented the least of the cut, it shows that people love camping in groups. 

Therefore, it’s best to have a quality 4-person tent suitable for small groups and families. It means you can take your kids with you or your pets if you still don’t plan to bring more people to the campsite with you. 

Moreover, it gives you enough privacy for your small family and the other family or group with you can enjoy their own tent. 

Now, a 4-person tent can fit in four separate 20 to 25-inch wide pads for sleeping four people. But if you’re looking for a more comfortable room within the tent and want to place your gear inside with you, consider going for a larger 6-person tent, even for four people. 

Therefore, to sort things out for our readers, we have developed this comprehensive guide on the best 4-person tents money can buy. So scroll to read further and find the best 4-person tent for your next outdoor adventure.

Best 4-Person Tent Reviewed

1. The North Face Wawona 4 Tent

The North Face Wawona tent product image
  • Weight: ~11 lbs
  • Floor area: 58.13 square feet
  • Peak height: 68 inches

This 3-season tent by North Face is a lightweight option, and that’s one of the reasons why it sits at the top position on our list of the best 4-person tents. It means that this tent is good enough for hiking and backpacking as well, if you have parked your car away from the campsite. 

The tent features 2 separate doors for ease of access from both sides, and it comes with windows with flaps and rainfly for privacy and keeps the interior dry and ventilated no matter what the weather is outside. 

The tent comes with three different poles and these are made of durable and light DAC MX material, and they come with color coding for easy setup. While the guy lines make your setup more secure during harsh weather conditions. 

The canopy and rainfly are made of 75 denier polyester coming with 1200mm polyurethane coating. While the floor fabric is sturdier and is made of 150 denier polyester with the same coating, without any flame retardants. 

The tent comes with a modern double-wall design and re-engineered poles for a quicker and simpler installation. The tent also comes with a larger mesh door on the front for a much better performance when it comes to ventilation. 

Its interior height is on the higher side with plenty of head room while standing, and you can sit inside your tent with a chair. The tent also comes with a large vestibule as well that you can use to store your gear, so an additional sitting section. 

The tent also has internal pockets that you can use to place your personal belongings close to you. Moreover, there are pockets on the ceiling that you can use to place lights and lamps 

Pros

  • Lightweight design for easy carrying. 
  • Ceiling pockets for placing lamps and lights. 
  • Solid color-coded poles and made of DAC MX material. 
  • Guy lines included to provide the setup with more stability.
  • Large vestibule for additional seating area. 

Cons

  • The yellow-colored option tends to get dirty pretty quickly. 

2. Coleman Sundome Camping Tent

Coleman Sundome Camping Tent Product image
  • Weight: 16 lbs
  • Floor area: 100 square feet
  • Peak height: 72 inches

The Sundome by Coleman is a quality 6-person tent for those who are looking for more interior space. As it is a 6-person tent, you will have plenty of space to move around, if you set it up for 4 persons. 

It has a lightweight design, weighing in at 16 lbs. So you can carry it on your back for a little hike if you want. The tent comes with its own rain fly, and it will keep moisture away even when it is pouring down. 

However, there’s a drawback with this tent as it doesn’t come with any room divider and there’s no vestibule area as well. Therefore, if you’re looking for privacy at night, this might not be an ideal option. But if you have kids on your trip, then this tent works pretty well. 

The tent comes with Coleman’s superior Weathertec system to make it an ideal option for 3 seasons. As it comes with its own stuff sack, setting and winding it up is pretty quick. 

As it is available in three different color combinations, all of them work pretty well outdoors and your tent won’t look that dirty due to mud, etc. This is the best tent out there if you’re looking for plenty of space inside your tent and your goal is to make everything more comfortable for everyone. 

Pros

  • Its Weathertec system will keep you dry.
  • Comes with rain fly to keep rain out of the tent. 
  • Very spacious and properly ventilated due to mesh doors and windows. 
  • Large head room.
  • Can fit in 6 individuals. 

Cons

  • No vestibule area as well. 

3. Big Agnes Bunk House 4 Tent

Big Agnes Bunk House 4 Tent Product image
  • Weight: ~16 lbs
  • Floor area: 58 square feet
  • Peak height: 72 inches

This tent comes with a design that enables you to utilize maximum space for four individuals and their gear as well. It also comes with a couple of large doors and a couple of double closure windows, polyester closure and mesh closure. 

The tent also has a couple of vestibules to provide you with rough protected space for storage as well as entrance. Its front is pole supported and comes with an awning for the door that you can use for your gear. 

The tent comes with rough head room with 72-inch height. Therefore, you can comfortably move around in it. The tent has 16 different pockets on the inside that you can use for organizing your stuff. 

The ceiling of this tent is entirely made of mesh to enhance airflow and you can also enjoy those clear nights if you want. And when you need, you can always use the full rain fly to block out rain or other elements. 

The entire tent is made of polyester taffeta with 1500mm polyurethane coating including the canopy fabric, the floor fabric and the rainfly fabric. 

The tent also comes with shelter mode where you can remove the tent body and use only the rain fly and poles along with guy lines for extra stability. These poles and all the webbing comes with color coding that assists you in quickly setting and winding up your tent. 

Pros

  • Plenty of storage options especially with two vestibules. 
  • Mesh top for high breathability and rain fly option. 
  • Shelter mode available as well.
  • Color coded webbing and poles for quick setup.
  • Reflective webbing and gy lines for proper visibility in the dark. 

Cons

  • The orange color of the tent attracts a lot of dirt and mud. 

4. Nemo Aurora Highrise Camping Tent

Nemo Aurora Highrise Camping Tent product image
  • Weight: ~15 lbs
  • Floor area: 62.5 square feet
  • Peak height: 75 inches

Despite the fact that the Nemo Aurora High Rise tent comes with a 4-person design, it still has plenty of space for maximum mobility thanks to its unique frame construction. 

With this design, the tent features steep walls and ensures massive interior space along with standing height. It comes with a couple of doors as well as vestibules for easy access and plenty of storage.

The doors have Gatekeeper door clips to provide easy entrance and storage convenience. This tent is made of durable materials as well to ensure long-term usage. While its poles are made of aluminum to keep it lightweight for hikes if you need. 

The windows on the side have mesh for maximum airflow and ventilation, as well as rain covers to keep the interior of the tent dry. This tent also has an intuitive design to ensure simple and fast setup. 

Pros

  • The tent comes with its durable poles and installation kit. 
  • Comes with a duffel storage bag for convenient packing. 
  • Easy to set up and take down thanks to the intuitive design. 
  • Features a couple of doors and vestibules. 
  • Plenty of interior space and head room. 

Cons

  • The floor material is weak and doesn’t last that long.

5. Kelty Discovery Basecamp 4 Tent

Kelty Discovery Basecamp 4 Tent Product image
  • Weight: ~8 lbs
  • Floor area: 53 square feet
  • Peak height: 58 inches

The Discovery Basecamp 4 tent by Kelty is a 3-season tent that boasts an intuitive X-pole construction and a massive D-door for easy access. 

With this design, the tent is very quick to set up and you won’t need any help in doing so either. It also comes with rain fly with waterproof coating to keep the inside of the tent clean and dry. 

This tent comes with poles that are made of fiberglass. It meant that they are pretty lightweight and sturdy while the guy lines come pre-attached for extra stability even in the high winds. 

The tent also has internal storage pockets that you can use to stash your personal belongings at an arm’s length. Moreover the tent has shark-mouth duffel to ensure simple backup and cross-body carrying if you decide to hike. 

Pros

  • Solid construction with fiberglass poles and 68 denier polyester.
  • Simple design for maximum ease of use. 
  • Features a waterproof rain fly.
  • Comes with mesh for ventilation. 
  • The tent has internal pockets for personal belongings. 

Cons

  • Only features a single door. 

Important Things to Consider When Buying a 4-Person Tent

After reviewing our top 5 best 4-person tents, now let’s discuss the important features that you must keep in mind when buying these types of tents. 

Considering these features in mind will enable you to make an informed decision and get the best bang for the buck. So let’s get into the details of it all, shall we?

Capacity & Size

The size and capacity of a tent are by far the most important aspect of any tent. Of course, you need to have the right tent for the number of people there will be on the trip. 

Therefore, you need to consider the dimensions of the tent that you’re looking for. Of course, capacity will tell you how many people you can fit in your tent, but the space needs to remain comfortable as well. 

Now, if you can go for a bigger tent, a 6-person tent will be an ideal choice for four people if you’re looking for a spacious interior. In other words, everyone will have plenty of room to walk around their beds and have space for their personal belongings and gear. 

Tent Type

There are different tent designs available in the 4-person category. The most common one is the dome tent. There are geodesic and tunnel options available as well. However, inflatable tents are gaining traction as well. 

Dome tents

Dome tents tend to have poles crossing in the middle and create a sturdy half-spherical design that is resistant to the wind without compromising on internal space. 

Geodesic tents

Geodesic tents have more poles, and they look like triangles when fully set up. They are even better than dome tents when it comes to stability in harsh weather conditions. But for a simple campsite trip, these tents tend to be overkill. 

Tunnel tents

These tents have a set of poles that give them a shape like a tunnel and come with a living room, and a couple of bedrooms depending on the size. 

These tents are easy to set up, but they have to be pegged into the ground and can’t stand alone. These tents are better suited to families because they offer more interior space. 

Layout & Design

Most 4-person tents feature a multi-bedroom design. Depending upon the size, some of them even come with a separate living room space and some vestibules or storage areas for your gear. 

These tents come with mesh panels and flaps to provide more privacy without compromising breathability. You need to look for the right option based on your preferences and requirements. 

Portability & Weight

Of course, you need to keep in mind the portability and weight of the tent you want to buy as well. Any family-sized tent will weigh around 6 to 20 pounds, so you need to go for a lighter tent if you’re planning backpacking some distance as well. 

In this scenario, your stuff sack needs to be smaller so it remains easier for you to carry with you as you hike. A larger stuff sack makes it much easier for you to roll your tent back into it after taking it apart. But you’ll have to carry a larger pack with you. 

Ease of Use

Take into account the ease of use of a tent that you’re looking to purchase. For example, how easy it is to set up and how convenient it is to take apart. 

In most cases, a user-friendly tent comes with all the poles, stakes, and guy lines, and they are color-coded for easy matchup. 

Some tents have pop-up designs as well, while others are more beginner-friendly. These tents are designed for a single person to set up. But in most cases, you’ll need an extra pair of hands to help you out in this regard. 

Durability & Materials

Type of party tent material

Consider tents that are made of sturdy materials that can withstand various weather conditions and elements. Go for materials that are lightweight yet durable. 

For example, tent poles made of fiberglass and aluminum are solid yet light. In this regard, ripstop fabrics with water-resistive capabilities like 68D or 68 denier polyester fabric perform better. 

Ventilation & Weather Resistance

Of course, you’re looking for tents that are roomy for 4 persons. But your tent also needs to be properly ventilated because the weather outdoors can change without warning. 

You might have to deal with rain and all of a sudden humidity skyrockets. Or maybe you have to deal with a warmer summer day, and you need to get some wind across your tent to breathe easy.

For this, your tent needs to have at least 2 to 3 windows, a large door with mesh, and an awning or rainfly. These features will make your tent more dry and comfortable, and properly ventilated during various weather conditions.

And of course, as we have just mentioned, look for tent materials that come with a weather-resistant coating to keep your tent safe from moisture during rain and UV rays while the sun is out. 

How We Tested These Tents?

Camping fort hot tent

We have researched online and went through hundreds of different options in this category. We have also asked our peers and others directly associated with camping to share their thoughts on different options that they have tried. 

After sorting out the various options that we have based on our criteria, we came up with the top 5 options mentioned in our list. Here are the three criteria that we closely considered coming up with the list, as you see above. 

Assembly & Disassembly 

Assembling and disassembling are the most important features of any tent. If setting up and taking apart a tent is one heck of a job and you need many pairs of hands to assist, then it’s better to overlook it and go for another option that is much easier in this regard.

Your tent needs to come with all guy lines, poles, and stakes and they should be properly color-coded. The tent must also come in a stuff sack for convenient carry. We tested each of these tents and assessed how easy they were to assemble and disassemble. 

Performance

We also made sure that we tried out each of these tents and slept in them to assess how they performed outdoors. We checked how well-ventilated the interior was, and how they blocked the wind and rain. 

Capacity 

We also examined each of these tents by their capacity and checked how many beds each of them could fit and how much room was left to move around and for the gear, etc. 

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FAQs

A 4-person tent ideally weighs between 6 to 20 lbs. For hiking and backpacking, aim for lightweight options around 10 lbs.

Yes, a 4-person tent can fit on a queen-sized bed, but for extra space to move comfortably, a 6-person tent is recommended.

It depends upon the design. Beginner-friendly or popup tents are much easier for a single person to set up. 

For maximum comfort, a 6-person tent is ideal for four people, but a 4-person tent works if space is not a priority.

Conclusion

So the best 4 person tent available on the market is The North Face Wawona 4 Tent. The tent is durable and is easy to set up. It can handle harsh conditions and offers plenty of space for four people to enjoy their outdoor adventure. Consider this tent for easy setup and take down and overall solid performance.

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Author
Dillon Morrison
I have been involved in the flashlight community since 2007. My brother has a flashlight shop from where I have tested and reviewed more than 600+ different types of flashlights. You can find more about me here.

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