The Best Camping Tents for 2-3 People


Why sleep just one person in a tent if you’re traveling in a large group? It makes so much more sense to split up into smaller parties of two or three people. If your tent isn’t roomy enough for more than one, then it’s time to upgrade. What are the best camping tents for small groups?

Some of the Best Tents for two to three people:

  • MSR Elixir 3 Tent
  • Marmot Tungsten 2-Person Camping Tent
  • ALPHA CAMP 2/3 Person Camping Dome Tent
  • Marmot Limelight 3P Tent
  • Smittybilt Overlander Tent
  • Ubon 2/3 Person Instant Tent 
  • Coleman Sundome Tent
  • Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 
  • The North Face Stormbreak 3-Person Camping Tent
  • ALPS Mountaineering Meramac 2-Person Tent

Whether it’s you and some friends camping in the woods or a relaxing getaway in nature with you and your partner, these tents will certainly suffice. Keep reading for more information on each of the 10 tents above, including features, materials, size, and price!

The 10 Best Camping Tents for Up to Three People

MSR Elixir 3 Tent

Starting our list is the MSR Elixir, a sizable tent for three.

The freestanding tent has a rainfly made of 68-denier coated ripstop polyester. The tent floor is 70-denier coated nylon while the rest of the tent is a tough combo of nylon mesh and ripstop nylon for withstanding all sorts of weather.

The poles included with the tent are 9 millimeters and built from 7000-series aluminum. You get two poles per tent. Dual doors allow you to enter and exit as you see fit. 

The top height of this tent is 41 inches so even taller users can spend time in here comfortably. The floor area is a large 39.5 square feet, and the tent itself is 84 inches by 68 inches and weighs 7 pounds, 1 ounce. 

Assembling the MSR Elixir tent couldn’t be easier. The poles are color-coded, and with webbing, you’ll have this tent up and ready to go in minutes. The geometry of the poles is another nice feature, as you get more elbow space and headroom. 

Some of the zippers of the tent glow in the dark, and you even have gear lofts for storing your stuff. 

Marmot Tungsten 2-Person Camping Tent

Room for two? You’ll have it in the Marmot Tungsten tent!

The olive-green tent features Marmot’s HD Velocity 7000 Series aluminum poles for stability. The fly and clips are color-coded for quickly attaching them to the poles. Even new campers will feel confident putting together the Tungsten. 

The tent is 40-denier polyester with No-See-Um mesh. The fly fabric and floor fabric are both 68-denier polyester taffeta.  

The nylon pull zippers don’t jingle so you don’t wake up your sleeping partner if you get up early to watch the sun rise over the mountain. The catenary cut floor is seam-taped throughout to prevent gusts of outdoor air from getting in. The vented full coverage fly is also seam-taped.

Do you have a headlamp that you like to use for light after sundown? The included lampshade pocket in the Tungsten tent gives you a place to put the light besides on your noggin. 

A D-shaped door makes exiting and entering the tent easy. Pre-bend zone construction builds vertical walls for more headroom. 

ALPHA CAMP 2/3 Person Camping Dome Tent

The ALPHA CAMP dome tent comfortably fits between two and three people, and even better, it costs less than $100! For the camper on a budget, this tent could be just what you’re looking for.

The poles of the ALPHA CAMP tent aren’t aluminum, but fiberglass for awesome protection against the wind. An electrical port lets you charge your smartphone, tablet, or laptop so you don’t have to be completely disconnected when camping. It is also lightweight tent and portable.

Three windows throughout the dome tent zipper completely closed. They’re also covered in mesh so you’re not letting bugs in. An overhead mesh pocket and side pockets maximize your storage potential. 

The tent measures 50 inches tall by 7 feet wide by 8 feet long. The floor has ground venting so your tent doesn’t become a sweatbox when you’re all zippered up for the night. Reflective rope that’s included with your purchase is a nice safety feature.

ALPHA CAMP promises a two-year warranty on their camping dome tent. You can select from tent colors such as blue, green, red, or orange and gray. 

Marmot Limelight 3P Tent from REI

For camping adventures in groups of up to three, the Marmot Limelight is another great tent to consider. 

It features a free-standing design, a tent footprint, and a three-pole system. The canopy is 40-denier polyester mesh, and the rainfly and floor are both 68-denier polyester taffeta. Each pole is DAC aluminum.

With two doors, you can get out of this 48-inch tent without bumping into your other friends or family members. The large vestibule area is a sizable 7.5 square feet and the floor measures 42.5 square feet or 90 inches by 60 inches, great for storage space.

This tent weighs 6 pounds, 11 ounces when packed for easy transport. It’s recommended for backpacking. 

The other features are a lampshade pocket, seam taping on the cut floor and vented flies, color-coded pitch clips, and Press-Fit pole attachments. 

Smittybilt Overlander Tent

If your budget for a multi-person camping tent is huge, then the Smittybilt Overlander could be right up your alley. 

The Overlander weighs 116.5 pounds and is 51 inches tall, 56 inches long, and 95 inches wide when open. Packing the tent reduces its measurements to 58 inches by 49 inches by 13 inches. This obviously has enough space for comfort and gear storage! 

Intended for use all year long, the Overlander includes a fire-retardant, high-density foam mattress for up to three people. The 420-denier oxford flysheet is waterproof and has spring-steel poles with tension rods. 

To install the Overlander, included U-clamps connect to the dual aluminum track. The tent poles are anodized aluminum and include stainless steel hinges for greater durability. The tent itself is made of heavy-duty 600-denier ripstop polyester that’s impregnated with polyurethane. The tent material is also waterproof.

A 12-volt power adapter/cigarette lighter lets you enjoy basic power. There’s also an interior LED strip. Mosquito nets throughout prevent you from waking up covered in bumpy, itchy bites. The water column is tested for severe weather to stand up to the elements and keep you dry. 

You also get a travel bag for carrying the tent, and an external shoe storage bag. The tent can handle 661 pounds. 

Ubon 2/3 Person Instant Tent

An instant tent that costs under $50 might sound like it’s too good to be true, but it’s real! Look no further than the Ubon tent

Dual inner pockets let you store small items such as your keys, your wallet, your chargers, or your smartphone. Double zippers throughout are for security. Two mesh windows and doors let you see outside without mosquitoes coming in. 

The 210T polyester tent fabric is windproof. If you’re looking for ventilation, the Ubon tent has it. You get two door curtains that you can roll up when you don’t want to use them. 

By releasing the white locks, the tent will pop right up. To stake down your tent, you get 8 tent stakes and 4 ropes. The Ubon tent weighs 3.75 pounds so you can easily backpack with it in your pack and not feel weighed down. 

The Ubon tent comes in several color schemes: sky blue and gray, orange and white, and green and tan. 

Coleman Sundome Tent

You already have other camping equipment from Coleman, so why not add their Sundome tent to that list? 

The two-person tent features 8.5-millimeter fiberglass poles, a polyethylene tent floor, a 75-denier polyester taffeta flysheet, and a single door. The center height of the Sundome is 48 inches. 

The roomy dome includes InstaClip attachments, dual poles, and a ring and pin design for quick, seamless setup and takedown. An electrical access port is a cool extra feature, as is the interior gear pocket.

The privacy vent window keeps air moving, as does the vented Cool-Air port. You also have Variflo ventilation throughout. Coleman’s WeatherTec System will keep you nice and dry even in gloomy weather. It can even handle winds up to 35 miles per hour. 

You can buy the Coleman Sundome in color schemes like green and white or navy blue and gray. 

Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3

The 2020 edition of the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 is the best yet, making it perfect for your camping adventures with up to three people.

This high-quality tent features taped seams for waterproofing, mesh pockets, nylon double ripstop fabric, and silicone-treated ripstop flooring with polyurethane waterproofing. 

Interior loops throughout let you attach camp lights or other accessories. You can zip up the vestibule for some privacy or protection during a storm. Velcro tabs throughout can improve the stability of your tent setup. The webbing and guy lines are even reflective for after-dark camping.

The Quick Stash doorkeeper makes for easy access. Venting throughout the tent is either higher or lower to accommodate for passive and active airflow. The 3D bin mezzanine is another great feature, as it has media pockets, a ceiling pocket, and foot pockets. 

Vestibule awnings increase the roominess of the Copper Spur. You also won’t mind tent assembly so much with TipLock tent buckles that hold onto your pole once attached. 

The Big Agnes Copper Spur is available in two colors, orange or olive green. 

The North Face Stormbreak 3-Person Camping Tent

Here’s another awesome three-person camping tent for your consideration, The North Face Stormbreak

A mid-priced tent from a brand you know and trust, the Stormbreak weighs 6 pounds, 10 ounces for easy transport. Its packaged size is 8 inches by 22 inches and the floor area is 39.72 feet. This tent does not have a footprint, so you’d have to buy your own.

The 75-denier polyester fly, 68-denier polyester floor, and 75-denier polyester taffeta canopy are breathable and built tough. Full seaming along the floor and canopy makes your tent waterproof. You get dual doors for access but no windows. To provide natural airflow, the Stormbreak tent has high-low ventilation points. 

The Stormbreak comes in two color schemes, Golden Oak (gold) and Pavement (dark gray) or Agave Green and Asphalt Grey. 

ALPS Mountaineering Meramac 2-Person Tent

Wrapping up our list is the ALPS Mountaineering Meramac tent for two. 

The tent weighs 7 pounds, 9 ounces with base dimensions of 5 feet by 7 feet, 6 inches. It has all the features you want in a multi-person camping tent, including side mesh panels for breathability and zippered windows that let the sun in as much as you want.

The two doorways have covered awnings for weather protection. You can put your essentials in gear pockets so they’re always close by. 

The inclusion of guy ropes and steel stakes means that installation comes together quickly and easily. The polyester fly material safeguards you from harsh UV rays. The material is also waterproof. 

Final Thoughts 

Camping in groups doesn’t require you to have your own separate tents anymore. Plenty of tents can shelter two to three people under one roof. Whether your budget is moderate or you don’t mind spending $500 to $1,000 on a good camping tent, there’s a tent on this list for you.

Geoff Southworth

I am a California native and I enjoy all the outdoors has to offer. My latest adventures have been taking the family camping, hiking and surfing.

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