Best Tent for Hot Weather Camping: A Complete Guide
Our baby Camping Kiddo playing peek-a-boo while tent camping
Summer’s here, and that means ensuring you have the best tent for hot weather camping!
While the warm weather is excellent for chasing waterfalls, enjoying the beach, and splashing in streams, it can also mean sweaty, miserable tent camping.
I’ve lived in the South my entire life, so I’m no stranger to 95 degree days with 100% humidity.
Yet, my family and I don’t want to sit inside all summer, so we’ve had to find ways to embrace the heat and keep adventuring.
The best thing you can do to prep for hot weather tent camping is to ensure that you have equipment that works with you, and not against you.
Below, I’ll outline what you should look for in warm weather tents as well as suggestions for the best tent that will keep you cool.
This post contains affiliates. If you purchase through the links below, I will receive a commission at no charge to you.
How to Choose the Best Tent for Hot Weather
You might be thinking, how is this woman qualified to tell me about the best summer camping tents?
Well. I’m glad you asked.
As I’ve mentioned before on the blog, I grew up camping mostly in my grandparents’ RV, but, after that was sold, my parents, sister, and I had a brief foray into tent camping.
Only my parents weren’t totally sold on the idea, so we went low-budget on the entire thing.
This led to my parents, teenaged sister, and teen me—plus our cocker spaniel and all of our luggage—crammed into a minuscule tent.
On July 4th weekend.
In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
To make matters worse, we decided to forgo actual camping pads or mattresses and slept on plastic pool floats.
We sweated. We complained. We sweated some more.
Looking back, the entire situation was hilarious!
But at the time, we were exhausted, and it completely shifted our view of that trip…and I haven’t been tent camping with my parents and sister since then.
We’ve all grown as campers, and I’ve tried out many, many tents with my husband and kids.
Here’s what we’ve learned along the way.
1) Go bigger if possible.
Being hot and sticky is bad enough.
Being hot and sticky AND squished against someone else is a recipe for a bad night’s sleep that could ruin your summer camping trip.
Better air flow means you won’t feel as hot, and you can only get better air flow if you space out your campers.
Because of this, we tend to go for a larger size tent than we technically need for summer camping.
For example, we have a couple of 2-person tents than we use as solo tents in the summer.
And, if all 4 of us (plus the dogs) are tent camping in the summer, we use an 8 person tent.
It is massive, but it really does help keep everyone cooler at night.
I know it’s not always possible to carry a huge tent, particularly if you’re backpacking into a site, but consider adding a bit more weight for a better night’s sleep.
2) Keep that air moving.
If you’re car camping, there’s a likelihood that electricity is available at the site.
While it does get away from the “roughing it” aspect of tent camping, that blast of air from a fan can do wonders at helping you sleep on a sweltering night.
When our kids were babies, we tent camped often with friends, and we would take a large electric fan to keep the air moving when our babies were napping.
Babies, in particular, can overheat, but it’s not ever fun for anyone to get a heat rash.
A cheap box fan and an extension cord can turn a tent from a swamp into a relaxing spot in no time.
If you think that an electric fan is too close to glamping, opt for a few battery operated fans scattered inside the tent instead.
A clip on, battery powered fan or two can make all the difference in comfort levels when hot weather tent camping!
Look for a tent that has openings for electrical cords if you go the box fan route.
Otherwise, consider how you might best clip fans into the interior of your potential tent to maximize the air flow from a battery operated fan.
3) Mesh is your friend.
Give me all the mesh! If it’s a nice night, keep the rain fly off, too.
The best tents for hot weather camping are versatile.
They have rain flies and zip panels for soggy days, but they’ll also have the ability to remove or tie up solid fabric panels to allow air flow through mesh panels.
Since that air flow is the key to your camping comfort, the more mesh panels your tent has, the more likely your family will sleep well.
Mesh also serves as a great bug barrier.
And, as anyone who’s gone outside in the summer knows, the bugs are your co-campers.
(See below for suggestions on tents with large swaths of mesh paneling!)
4) Be radically different.
Hear me out on this one.
If you’re looking for a summer camping set up that looks different but works, I have an option for you.
Buy Eno hammocks for each member of your family, top with bug nets, and then cover with a rain tarp.
While this isn’t summer tent camping traditionally, you still have 1) a tent over you, and 2) have a cool place to sleep.
So, we’re counting it as an option.
My husband used this set up while hiking a section of the Appalachian Trail with friends, and he stayed cool the entire time.
Of course, this set up only works if you have older kids who are willing to stay in a hammock alone, but it is fantastically lightweight and cool.
What you’ll need for this set up:
A kid’s hammock is—in general—a great thing to add to your camping gear so your kids can relax at the campsite.
We’ve included our favorite kid’s hammock in our list of best camping gifts for kids.
Best Family Tent for Hot Weather
I’m assuming that, if you’re planning to put your entire family in one tent, that you’re car camping and not backpacking into a site.
This CORE Instant Cabin 8 person tent has 2 separate rooms for plenty of space to spread out on a sticky summer night.
Quick Facts about the Core Instant Cabin 8 Person Tent
Center height of 72” (6 feet)
Total footprint of 117 square feet (13’ x 9’)
Waterproof fabric with UV protection
Includes a room divider, tent stakes, and rainfly
38 pounds
Also comes in 2, 4, and 10 person sizes
My family members all have their own approach to tent camping—I like to sleep raised on a cot, while the others like a combo of sleeping bags, sheets, and mattress pads.
While this tent is rated for 8 people, I will tell you that you’d REALLY have to like each other to get all 8 in here to sleep.
It comfortably fits 2 adults, 2 kids, our dog beds, and a few duffel bags of clothes.
We’ve used this tent while car camping in spring, summer, and fall, and the versatile side panels go a long way to making 3-season tent camping possible.
When the fabric panels are zipped down, nearly the entire upper half of the walls are mesh, which means lots of air flow.
We also like that it comes with a built in rain topper and that my husband and I can both stand up fully in the middle.
Putting up a big tent like this will feel daunting the first time, but it’s actually fairly easy.
I first set ours up in our sun room for practice, and I figured it out by myself in about 20 minutes.
The actual set up time at the tent with both my husband and I was less than half of that.
Add in a box fan or a few clip-on fans, and you’re ready to snooze under the stars.
Best 2 Person Tents for Hot Weather
Again, I’m hoping that you’re going to use these suggestions as a solo tent as it will be SO much cooler.
Unless you’re both tiny, 2 people are going to have to sleep quite close in a 2 person tent, which isn’t ideal for summer.
Even if you’re utilizing the 2 person tent for 2 people, I’ve got options for you that will ensure maximum air flow.
Kazoo Outdoor Camping Tent
The Kazoo Outdoor Camping Tent has a unique 6-sided design, which I think helps with catching every possible breeze.
Quick Facts about the Kazoo Outdoor Camping Tent
Center height of 53” (4.4 feet)
Total footprint of 42 square feet (6.8’ x 6.8’)
Waterproof fabric with UV protection
Includes poles, stakes, and rainfly
6.7 pounds
While this tent touts that I will fit up to 4 people—and advertises itself as a 3 person tent—I think it’s a great size for a 2 person tent.
The front door unzips completely to reveal a mesh panel.
This, along with the matching mesh panel on the back of the tent, is great for cross breezes.
Since it is 6 sided (rather than the usual rectangular), you’ve got more options on how to set up your cots or sleeping bags so you’re not right next to each other.
The design would easily allow for a sleeping bag on either side of the tent—preferably each next to one of the large mesh panels—and your bags snug in between.
If it’s a nice night, you can remove the rain fly to encourage more air flow through the small mesh panel at the top of the tent.
Clostnature Lightweight Backpacking Tent
The Clostnature Lightweight Backpacking Tent is a great option when looking for tents that will keep you cool!
Quick Facts about the Clostnature Lightweight Backpacking Tent
Center height of 46” (3.8 feet)
Total footprint of 35.6 square feet (7’3“ x 4’11”)
Waterproof fabric
Includes poles, stakes, and rainfly
5.7 pounds
Comes in 2, 3, and 4 person sizes
We love that it has nothing but mesh for the upper 2/3rds!
While it does include a rainfly for damp evenings, we love the feeling of open air we get from sleeping in this tent.
And, since there aren’t any big patches of solid fabric, your sleeping experience in this tent is going to be very breezy.
It’s as close as you can get to sleeping under the stars while still being inside a tent.
Although it’s touted as a backpacking tent, the set up is nearly 6 pounds, which I find is a better weight for car camping.
(See below for our backpacking tent picks.)
This tent would be an excellent choice for beach camping, too, as you’ll be able to get some amazing breezes off of the ocean at night.
Best Backpacking Warm Weather Tents
My number one choice for backpackers or hike-in camping during the summer is the Eno hammock, rain fly, and bug cover combo mentioned above.
These are lightweight, easy to pack, and highly versatile.
Plus, you’re off the ground, which ensure that you’ll have good airflow above and below you. This will only help in keeping you cool on a hot, humid evening.
But, if you’re a tent camping traditionalist, and really, really want a regular tent, I have some options here, too!
Benvo Trekking Pole Tent
Okay, this isn’t a “regular” tent, but it’s closer than the Eno hammock set up.
The Benvo Trekking Pole Tent looks like an A-frame tent, but everything other than the tent’s footprint is mesh.
Quick Facts about the Benvo Trekking Pole Tent
Center height of 43” (3.5 feet)
Total footprint of 25 square feet (6.8’ x 3.9’)
2 zippered doors
You need to provide poles or tie straps, as well as rainfly
1.5 pounds
Waterproof flooring
At only 1.5 pounds, this tent is perfect for adding to your backpacking gear while still providing ample protection from bugs and other critters while you’re sleeping.
The mesh ensures that you’ve got maximum air movement for a cooler night’s sleep.
We love this tent for its flexibility: it’s designed to be held up by nothing more than your hiking poles, but it can also be tied off to a nearby tree.
Of course, you’ll need to add a rain fly if you’re camping during any potential rain, but that won’t interfere with the air flow of this tent.
This tent is perfect for a hike-in campground in a bug-prone area, such as the Bluff Campground as recommended in my Congaree National Park itinerary.
Clostnature 1-Person Backpacking Tent
Another lightweight option for a summer backpacking tent would be the 1-person Clostnature 1-Person Backpacking Tent.
Quick Facts about the Clostnature 1-Person Backpacking Tent
Center height of 36” (3 feet)
Total footprint of 19.3 square feet (7’3” x 2’8”)
1 zippered door
Comes with poles and rainfly
1.5 pounds
Waterproof flooring and sides
This small tent weighs just over 4 pounds, making it another great options for those looking to keep their gear weight down.
It’s a dupe of the pricier Alps Mountaineering Lynx 1 tent, which is great for beginning hikers on a budget.
When the rain fly is removed, there’s ample real estate on the tent covered in mesh, allowing you to get cool breezes and a great view of the night sky.
While my husband and I would need this as a true 1-person tent, both of our kids could share this tent if necessary.
That makes this a good option for backpacking families who’d rather make sure of multiple small tents instead of using 1 heavier tent for everyone.
Hot Weather Tent Camping FAQs
What should I look for in a summer camping site?
If possible, camp near water as temperatures are naturally cooler near lakes, streams, waterfalls, and oceans.
If the campground or camping area you’re considering has a body of water, go for the closest site—and place your tent as close to the water as you’re able to.
Of course, keep in mind that snakes, lizards, and other critters also know about this water-is-cooler situation, so keep a safe distance from the actual shore or banks.
You’ll also want to keep in mind any potential flooding or natural tidal changes. No one likes waking up in a foot of water!
Where are the best places in the US to camp during the summer?
Anywhere that has lower humidity is going to be generally more tolerable during the peak summer months, especially at night.
While I have tent camped in the summer in high humidity, that particular combination does make for a more difficult time getting and staying cool.
When tent camping here in South Carolina in the summer, we prefer to stay right by the ocean or head into the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Lower humidity areas like the Rockies or the desert are much more tolerable at night for summer tent camping.
For example, you could tent camp in the summer for the duration of the Denver to Grand Canyon road trip and be really comfortable at night, even in July and August.
What should I sleep on to stay cool?
This largely depends on how you naturally sleep. For example, I am always cold when I sleep, so I prefer lots of layers of bedding, even in the summer time.
This set-up allows me to add or remove bedding until I find the perfect temperature.
For this reason, I use a camping cot when we’re car camping and actual sheets and blankets.
The cot encourages more air flow and, generally, keeps me in a comfortable sleeping zone.
My husband and kids prefer to sleep on the ground on a sleeping pad and sleeping bag.
Depending on how warm it is, they’ll either use the sleeping bag as intended or they’ll sleep on both the pad and bag and use a thin blanket to keep warm.
