When it comes to choosing the right tent to buy, the amount of sleeping capacity is important. But when you are bringing the kids, what’s just as important is having a separate bedroom for the adults to sleep in. But choosing the best two room tents for camping with the family can be a difficult task while on a budget.
Not too many families have $1000 plus to spend on a luxurious 2 room tent. Many of us want a reliable two room tent with a screened porch to maximize the tents footprint.
So in order to provide not only a fun and exciting family camping trip, but a weatherproof experience as well, we have enlisted the likes of fellow campers, our staff and extensive research to find the best 2 room camping tents that won’t break the bank.
Without compromising quality, waterproof and longevity of course. There is nothing worse than buying a super awesome looking tent which appears to have all your needs to suddenly realize the seams are falling apart and water is dripping in like a waterfall.
With the quality as a major consideration, it’s also important to us that the tent can be divided into two sleeping rooms without having to modify the tent yourself. On top of this, any other features like a sheltered awning, fly-screen room for luggage, table and chairs etc is a massive bonus.
So with that said, we have incorporated all the features, demands etc to come up with a list of top rated two room tents for camping purposes in a variety of sizes to hopefully cater to everyone’s needs. However, if space is what you need, have you considered looking into 3 room tents for camping?. These tents are super spacious and have so much storage space.
Best 2 Room Tent With Screened Porch
I’ll be the first to admit, I love tents with screened porches. Especially when camping with the kids. It opens up a new area for so many things. From turning it into a parents retreat for relaxing sessions on the camp chair to setting it up as the games room for the whole family to enjoy.
The best 2 room tent with a screened porch in my opinion is the Alpha Camp 10 person cabin tent. I find it the ideal tent for 5 people as it offers the room divider and the screed porch area.
The reason I prefer the Alpha Camp two room tent with porch is because unlike other similar sized tents, this tent actually has a decent size porch area. The porch is 12′ wide like the main tent and comes a further 7′ out to give you plenty of space to set up a games room, a few camping chairs and tables etc.
The walls of the screen room completely seal up to keep out no-see-ums and mosquitoes, making it a rather enjoyable way to sit and relax taking in the fresh air while not being burnt to a crisp by the sun.
The Tents Flaw
I don’t know if I can really call this a flaw as most tents with porches are like this. That is, there is no waterproof flooring in the screened porch. No a huge deal if you have a tarp to lay down in the area. But ideally I would have preferred it to be completely enclosed like the Wenzel Klondike tent, which sadly is only a single room plus porch tent.
Overall, I find this 19’x12′ two room tent with screened porch by Alpha Camp truly amazing. It ticks pretty much all the boxes a larger size family could need. Plenty of room, large doors and windows for increased air circulation, e-port, storage pockets and more. If there’s a better two room tent out there with a spacious screen porch like this, I’d love to hear about it.
*Do note: There is also a 6 person version of this tent, so when reading reviews, pay attention to the size of tent they are talking about.
Best Cabin Style Two Room Tent For Campers
Coleman Tenaya Lake Fast Pitch Tent – 8 Person
This 8 person tent has a built-in closet which is really handy for storing gear, and it is incredibly easy to set up compared to other tents of a similar size. This closet is actually build into the side of the tent and you can access it from inside the living area.
I think this is one of the best features I have seen for a family tent. Anyone with kids knows that storage is always an issue, so I really love this cool feature on the Tenaya by Coleman.
The color-coded poles are a nice touch which makes setup easy even when you’re tired after a long journey, and when the kids are harassing you to get the tent up faster. The welded floor and the rugged seams mean that the tent is decently waterproofed.
Plenty Of Space
There is space in the tent for two large air beds, and there’s a soft room divider so that some people can be napping while others are relaxing in the adjacent room. The tent folds up into a nice wheeled carry bag for easy transport once you’re done.
The rain fly on this tent covers the top and sides, but does allow water to run down the side of the tent. This is not an issue for most people, as water from light showers will not soak through the walls thanks to the strong material and the folded seams. However, if you’re concerned about heavier rain or camping in a very wet environment then you might want to look at something that is a little more robust, or throwing a tarp over the top to ensure the entire tent is safe.
But for a rather low cost family camping tent, I find the Tenaya to be a pretty decent product. The built in cupboard, room divider and the welded floor are what makes this tent a stand out from others.
Open Space Or Optional 2 Room Camping Tent
Wenzell Blue Ridge 14 x 9 Foot Review
The Wenzel Blue Ridge 7 person tent is a spacious tent that is easy to set up and that comes with a removable divider that allows you to have one large sleeping area or two smaller, more private ones.
This tent is ideal for taller people, with a high ceiling and a generous D-style door with a privacy flap. It’s intended for luxury camping which has four handy convenience pockets.
What I really love about the Wenzell Blue Ridge compared to the Coleman Tenaya is the E-Port for your electrical cord.This is a genius touch not all tents have. Instead of having to run an electrical cord through the window or door (Allowing critters inside), you can run the lead through this portal. Great idea when car camping.
The mesh roof offers good ventilation and is perfect for star-gazing, and there are some external guy points that can be used to keep the tent sound and stable during high winds. Which is another critical feature if you plan to camp in a high wind zone.
Another critical ‘kid friendly’ feature is the unique light reflector system. This i s a gear loft up in the center of the tent. The way the tent is designed allows for any light source you put up there to easily illuminate the whole tent. This is very important when you have kids complaining about it being too dark!.
This is an affordable tent, and it’s great for camping on local sites, but the fiberglass poles can sometimes be a little fragile. While fibreglass is a common tent pole, having poles ail on you while you’re out on the trails is hardly ideal, so that’s something that you might want to bear in mind if you expect to be camping in harsh environments.
For short trips out with the family, however, it’s a convenient choice because of the low cost, ease of set up and comes with a handy storage bag.
Two Room Weather Proof Camping Tent
The WeatherMaster By Coleman (10 Person)
The WeatherMaster 10 person tent is an affordable tent with a nice hinged door, welded floors and rugged, inverted seams. It’s ideal for family camping, and has a high ceiling which gives it a spacious and roomy feel.
The tent is easy to set up, and the color-coded poles that Coleman likes to use on their bigger tents are a really nice touch that make erecting the tent a hassle free job. The waterproofing is good, even stock, although many people opt to use extra treatments to make doubly sure that they stay dry.
There are a few issues in heavy storms, however the rainfly is good for light showers. But not for the kind of extreme weather that you might encounter in some harsher environments.
This appears to be an issue with the WeatherMaster design in general, since Coleman dome tents tend to be quite reliable. That said, the size, layout and other features of the tent make it ideal for fair weather camping and for trips to local sites, so it’s a nice family camper at a reasonable price.
What I Love About The WeatherMaster Tent
- I can’t get enough of the hinged doors on this tent. This is truely unique and such an amazing feature. Having this allows you to open and close the door like a regular hinged door. No more getting zippers stuck in the middle of the night.
- Very spacious yet very simple to put up. Allow 30 minutes on the first time round and you should be good.
- Can fit two queen air mattresses into this spacious tent.
- Incredible air flow. The entire roof is screened and has big windows which allows air to ventilate easily. Really great for limiting condensation.
My Only Recommendation
Like with all tents, I recommend spraying the tent with a waterproof substance like Atsko Silicone Water Guard. It took us 2 bottles to spray this tent which is nothing compared to the reassurance that you will stay dry all day and night. However, my main recommendation is to bring alone more heavy duty tent pegs if you predict any wild weather. Like most average priced tents, manufacturers cut corners on the quality of tent pegs.
The Best Multiple Room Tent For Large Families
Ozark Trail 3 Room Tent 16 x 16 Feet Review
The Ozark 12 person, 3 room tent is an incredibly convenient tent that is so easy to set up you can have it erected within minutes thanks to the pre-attached poles and ‘instant’ design.
Huge Interior
This tent is so big it can fit three queen airbeds, and is perfect for big group camping. While this is a 3 room tent and will set you back a few more bucks, having the third room when camping with multiple kids is an incredible gift to yourself.
The peak is high, and the walls are tall enough that most people should feel quite comfortable in it. The doors are large and make it easy to get in and out of the tent. The only issues are that there aren’t many points to hang lights from.
The tent poles are metal, but the connectors are plastic, so you will need to be careful when setting it up so as not to damage them, otherwise setting up the tent and keeping it up could be tricky, and letting it down when you’re ready to pack up may be problematic as well.
The convenience and size make this a great option for a large group trip, and the layout is well designed, but the construction may not be rugged enough for camping off-grid. This is more of a weekender/festival tent than something for more survival-style situation where weather could be an issue.
What I Like
- This tent also has the electrical portal which I think is a must on a tent of this size
- Incredibly spacious. Having the three rooms in this unique design means adults really can get there privacy from the kids whom are sleeping on the opposite wing.
- Set up time is just unbelievable. So fast.
- Has a triangle shaped air vent up the top of the tent which prevents wind from blowing such a large tent into the next town.
- Includes ground vent large enough for installing a portable air conditioner.
- It’s just epic, you really do feel like you are camping inside a home in the Oztrail. Highly recommended for larger families.
Full Walk Through Video Review Of Ozark Trail 12 Person Tent
Check out this video review of the Ozark Trail 3 room 16 x 16 tent. Get a full understanding of why this tent is ideal for families that need separate rooms.
What Size Tent & How Many Rooms Do You Need
As you can see, there are a number of high quality top rated two room tents available. Even one with a spacious screened porch. But the question remains, are you sure a two room tent is big enough for your family?.
Not all tents come with the same size footprint, so making a decision based on the number of rooms could lead to insufficient space if not careful.
For the most part, a two room tent is suitable for a family of 4 and depending on the size of the tent, 5 family members.
If you are camping with 6 or more people inside the one tent, a three room tent would be highly recommended. The open design and multiple room option gives the parents the privacy they need, while allowing the kids to have their own play space.
While many of these two room tents are labelled as ten or more people, in reality they are best suited to 4 or 5 members. Unless you like sleeping elbow to elbow with your family members, I assure you the siblings won’t. Which is why its important to understand just ho big a tent is before you hit the ‘buy now’ button.