10 Best SUV Tents in 2021 (Reviewed) – Tents That Attach To SUVs
10 Best SUV Tents in 2021 (Reviewed) – Tents That Attach To SUVs
As car camping increases in popularity with every coming year, the technologies and equipment available for it grow. Many SUV drivers love to take camping trips in their car, as these vehicles are very well designed for such use. You might not know that SUV stands for, "Sports utility vehicle," and this type of car is one of the most popular to drive from any manufacturer. Like the best motorcycle camping tents, SUV tents are specially designed to make your camping experience much more enjoyable. If you drive an SUV, and you love camping, just wait until you hear about these fantastic SUV tents. Now let’s dive straight into the 10 best SUV tents reviewed!
In a hurry? Here’s the test winner after 10 hours of research:
10 Best SUV Tents - Overview
1. Napier Backroadz SUV Tent
- Spacious 10’ x 10’ tent providing over 7’ of headroom and sleeps 5 adults
Napier Enterprises has made many contributions to this selection of SUV tents, but the Backroadz has to be our number one selection. This tent offers a fantastic balance between great features, plenty of room, and lots of value. It attaches directly to most models of SUV, CUV (crossover utility vehicle), and minivan using a vehicle sleeve which is weatherproof and bug proof.
The tent can sleep up to 5 adults with a 10-foot square footprint, with a standing room of 7 feet so you won’t have to hunch over. While Napier advertises this tent for 5 campers, we think it’s the perfect size for a couple so you have plenty of additional space. One large D-shaped door as well as three mesh windows provide all the ventilation you need.
We also love that this tent can stand alone if necessary, which means you can pitch up with or without your SUV. Napiers patented vehicle sleeve is easy to attach and detach so you don’t have to pack away while making a supply run. Storm flaps are integrated throughout to make sure your camping trip stays dry even if the weather turns sour. In addition, an awning can be set up over the door to keep the rain out while maintaining ventilation.
Unfortunately, this tent does not come ready to use. You’ll need to add a DWR to the seams before using it in a rainstorm as it is not factory sealed. Check out our article on how to waterproof a tent for more information. Also, solo campers might struggle to set up alone, but in this case, a 5-person tent isn’t the right choice. If you’re camping alone with your SUV, the next tent review might be a more appropriate buy.
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2. Napier Sportz Cove SUV Tailgate Tent
- Universal fit canopy shade fits mid-to-full size CUVs, SUVs, and minivans
This SUV tent is ideal for road trips and tailgating, turning your SUV trunk into a decked-out shelter. This budget option from arguably the most popular SUV tent brand is a great choice for people who want to try out camping in their car for the first time. It’s more of an awning than an actual tent, utilizing the back door of your vehicle as a roof and providing a ventilated door instead, with a large rain shelter that’s perfect for tailgating.
A large mesh screen will keep bugs out of your vehicle, and the integrated storm flap offers weather protection as well as privacy. Rather than using a ground tent, you can turn your car into the perfect backcountry shelter with everything a solo camper needs! A single-pole is all that’s needed to hold up the awning, making setup easy and simple. However, it’s worth noting that there’s no solid door, only a mesh window, so privacy may leave a little to be desired. The generic fit will work for most SUV and CUV models, however, small gaps in the connection are possible where bugs could enter.
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3. Rightline Gear SUV Tent
- SLEEP OFF THE GROUND: Nothing beats the comfort of your vehicle; plus the SUV Tent is free standing when you go about the day’s adventures.
This premium SUV tent has some fantastic features which really set it apart. Firstly, a sewn-in bathtub floor offers superior protection from potential flooding as well as unwanted critters. The Rightline Gear SUV tent is advertised to sleep six, but note that only four campers are intended to sleep in the tent while an additional two can sleep in the vehicle cargo area. This is a great option for families, offering a bit of separation between the kids and parents' sleeping area. The main selling point of this tent is the waterproof rating of 2000mm, making it the best choice for rainy weather.
The large windows are made from no-see-um mesh, and a single entranceway to the tent is covered by a small awning. The tent can be disconnected and sealed during the day and will remain free-standing until you return with your vehicle. This versatile backcountry accommodation can connect to any SUV, minivan, crossover, wagon, Jeep Wrangler hardtop, or even a pickup truck with a cap, using straps to secure it to your vehicle. We also like that this tent is simple enough to set up as a solo camper. However, many tent components such as the fiberglass pole sleeves are made from mesh, which raises some durability concerns. In addition, the footprint of 8x8 is smaller than other “family-size” options.
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4. Napier Sportz Dome-To-Go SUV Tent
- 8.5 (L) x 8.5 (W) ft. tent sleeps 4 people along with the extra sleeping or storage space provided by you vehicle’s cargo area
This Napier tent is slightly smaller than the Backroadz model, but it has some additional features that we love. Like the previous SUV tent review, the Sportz Dome-To-Go has Napiers patented vehicle sleeve which is easily removable and fits most recreation vehicles. The 8.5-foot square footprint can sleep up to 4 campers, but again, we recommend using this tent with up to 3 for extra storage space.
There are two large doors, an upgrade from Backroadz’s single entrance, and 3 large mesh windows. In this model, the windows are made from no-see-um mesh which offers a great improvement for privacy. Internal features include 2 storage pockets as well as a gear loft to keep larger items away from the ground. The tent is made from high-quality polyethylene and polyester taffeta which is long-lasting for year-round use. A large awning attachment is also included offering an additional 6-foot shaded area beside your tent.
The headroom in the Napier Outdoors Sportz SUV tent is slightly reduced at 6.5 feet, enough for standing room in the center. However, in a dome-style tent, an extra half-foot of height does make a difference. Another downside to this reduced size is that it makes the tent harder to fit larger hatchback SUVs, taking away from Napier's universal claim.
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5. Patio Joy 5-Person SUV Tent
This standalone tent from Patio Joy is a truly 5-person SUV tent. Boasting a huge footprint of 14 x 9 feet, the interior has 7 feet of headroom. The spacious interior offers a ton of space for family camping, with a large living space and exterior vestibule. The rainfly is removable if you need extra ventilation throughout the day, which could be necessary as this tent does not have any windows.
It’s a great budget option for family camping in your SUV, but our next tent review has more features and improves quality. We do like the multiple storage pockets as well as a media pocket, which is very helpful for keeping your gear organized. A Mud Mat is attached to help keep the interior clean, but you may want to use a ground tarp as well.
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6. Napier Outdoors Sportz Family SUV Tent with Screen Room
- Roomy 10- by 10-foot tent sleeps 5-6 people with over 7 feet of headroom; 7- by 6-foot floorless screen room
For a truly family-sized SUV tent with all the best features, consider Napier Sportz’s largest offering. This 10-foot square tent can sleep 5-6 people, with over 7 feet of headroom! If that wasn’t enough, a 7 by 6-foot floorless screen room is also included. This pricier model is well worth the money with so many fantastic features. It can even be set up by one person due to the new steel and fiberglass pole structure, although this tent is clearly not intended for a solo camper.
As the screen room is floorless, you’ll probably want to add a waterproof ground tarp to your setup. A tent footprint is available specially designed for this model, sold separately on Amazon. The sleeping area can easily fit more than one air mattress, with plenty of additional space for gear storage. As well as the screen room, the Napier Outdoors Sportz Family Tent has a 6x6 foot side awning with an extra door that is perfect for picnics and provides even more rain shelter.
The tent floor is a bathtub style for reliable water protection, and two skylights offer great ventilation. Napier’s universal SUV attachment means this tent will fit most vehicles, however, some users might struggle with the rainfly. Most common models from brands including Honda and Chrysler should have no issue with the fit. This roomy tent is higher priced than other 5-person options, but it really can’t be beaten on versatility and space.
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7. Honda SUV Tent
- Used for: 2007-2013 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2005-2013 Odyssey, 2009-2013 Pilot. Main Tent Material is high quality polyester with 1,200mm of waterproof protection.
This fantastic car camping solution is made by Honda, for Honda owners. It’s not a universal tent as it fits only certain Honda models, but if you’re the lucky owner of one then it could be a perfect choice. The tent offers 10 square feet of internal space, which is enough to sleep 4 campers, while a further 2 can sleep in the car bed. The tent upper is made from ripstop polyester while the floor is double-coated polyethylene, promising high-quality water-resistant materials.
There are two doors with large windows making ventilation as well as ingress and egress a breeze. Above one door, a 6x6 foot rainfly extension gives you extra usable shelter during bad weather. It also doubles as a shade from the sun. This Honda innovation can be used as a standalone ground tent when you need to detach your car. Interior tent features we love include mesh storage pockets, a gear loft, and a handy lantern strap. The only change we’d like to see is the use of no-see-um mesh for privacy.
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8. North East Harbour Universal SUV Tent
- Sleep Off The Ground - Nothing Beats the Comfort of your Vehicle, plus gives you the added security of having access to your vehicle
The brand North East Harbour brings an excellent SUV tent offering in this 8-person model. While it’s advertised to sleep eight campers, the 8 x 8-foot tent floor would be more suited for up to 5. The tent is 7.2 feet high which means more headroom than most other options, and can detach from your vehicle to become a free-standing tent. However, the opening for SUV attachment leaves a hole when you move your vehicle, making it less secure than other tents.
It has one large door, with a smaller entrance on the reverse side which is useful for ventilation. There’s only one mesh window in the larger door panel, which could be why the second door is needed. A universal fitment can connect to most SUVs, minivans, and Jeep Wrangler Hardtops as well as other models. However, this area is not covered by the rainfly so leakage could be an issue.
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9. KingCamp Melfi Plus SUV Car Tent
- Oversized SUV Tent : Set Size: 202.7×118.1×78.7inches, 2 Room Front Room Roomy 9.5- by 9.5-foot tent sleeps 5-6 people with over 7.5 feet of headroom; 9- by 6.5-foot screen room with removable PE...
This KingCamp SUV tent offers something no other brand does; two rooms! The KingCamp Melfi Plus is jam-packed with features that make it the best SUV tent of its size. It’s the only tent on this list that lives up to the claim of sleeping more than 5 people, with a 9.5 square foot main room, a 9 x 6.5-foot screen room, and of course room for two campers to sleep inside the vehicle. The headroom stands at 7.5 feet, and as it isn’t a dome tent that measurement covers the majority of space inside. The connection to your vehicle is elasticated which promises a universal fit, but that does mean it isn’t the most weathertight.
There’s a removable PE floor included for the screen room, which means you can benefit from extra ventilation on non-rainy days. The rainfly is super durable made from 190T polyester with a whopping 3000mm PU coating for the ultimate weather resistance. A total of three doors make this tent a fantastic choice, one of which converts the rainfly into an awning for waterproof shelter and shade. KingCamp doesn’t skimp on the extra features either, with mesh pockets and a lantern hook for your convenience. The only reason this tent isn’t our top pick is that it’s simply too much space for most campers’ needs. However, large families will love the dual rooms.
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10. Hasika Family Camping Tunnel Tent
- ANTI-UV AWNING FOR CAMPING: The tunnel tents are made of first-class Polyester, which is molded by its density, anti-UV,durability and water-repellent properties. Provide a comfortable place for our...
This SUV tent has a radically different design than most of the more popular options, but it could be exactly the solution you’re looking for. It’s made of anti-UV polyester with water-repellent properties and can be set up in a number of different ways depending on your needs. This spacious Hasika tent can sleep 8-10 people, but without a waterproof floor, some extra equipment will be necessary.
There are no insect screens, and some parts of the tent remain open all the time, so it’s by no means a fully sealed tent. It is, however, a fantastic canopy and shelter which can easily accommodate the back end of your car. There’s no attachment to seal in your vehicle, rather a large opening that you can back your car into. Three large doors on each side give you the option to completely open up your tent, or close it to provide more shelter.
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Winner
There is a huge range of options for campers looking to utilize their SUV, and each of our top ten offer excellent quality and utility. Every choice on this list offers good value for money and great features, but one stands out if a winner must be crowned.
The Napier Backroadz SUV Tent offers excellent value with a prized list of features, and a seamless universal vehicle connection that works with almost any SUV. While you need to rain-seal this tent before use, it’s good maintenance practice anyway and every camper should know how to re-waterproof their tent.
There’s plenty of room inside and an external awning for rain shelter and shade. Three mesh windows offer plenty of light and ventilation, and the storage pockets and gear loft help you keep your stuff organized. With a setup time of only 10 minutes, we couldn’t ask much more from this fantastic tent for SUVs. Now you’ve got accommodation sorted for your next trip, check out the best car camping gear to see what gadgets you’re missing out on.
Why Buy an SUV Tent?
If you’re car camping in an SUV, there’s no reason not to use a regular tent. However, you could be missing out on some of the amazing and useful features of SUV tents! They seamlessly attach to the rear of your vehicle to create a multi-purpose camping area. Pickup truck tents are a similar option where the tent sits in the truck bed, as well as roof top tents, but these can put a lot of pressure on your vehicle. We prefer SUV tents because they utilize the extra room without threatening damage to your car.
Bonus tip: Check out this video for some useful car camping advice!
