I’m not a huge fan of three-room tents personally. They tend to take up a lot of space, making it difficult to find a suitable spot to set them up. Moreover, larger tents are often heavy and not very sturdy in windy or stormy conditions. That’s why I find it more convenient to use two separate tents or even a screened tent for hanging out.
However, if you’re camping with a large group and planning to stay in one place for an extended period (or if you don’t mind setting up a massive tent for a weekend trip), then a three-room tent can offer you the extra space and privacy that you need.
Here are some of the best three-room tents available. These tents genuinely have three distinct rooms (I’m not counting a vestibule as a separate room!). I’ve excluded cheaper alternatives that are prone to leaks and breakage.
Contents
Quick Picks
- Best overall: Core 12P Instant Tent
- Runner up: Coleman Rocky Mountain 5 Plus
- Best on a budget: Ozark Trail 10P
Comparison Table
Click the arrows to sort the table by type, size, rooms, and more.
| Tent | Type | Sleeps | Footprint | Weight | Doors | Headroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core 12 Instant | Cabin | 12 | 18×10′ | 52lbs | 280 | |
| Coleman Rocky | Mountain 5 Plus | Tunnel | 5 | 14.9×10′ | 37lbs | 172 |
Best Three Room Tents
1. Core Instant Cabin 12P
Best for: A three-room tent that can withstand inclement weather.
Review
Despite its affordable price tag, the Core Instant Cabin 12P is surprisingly well-made and boasts an excellent design. This instant tent is quite sturdy and can handle harsh weather conditions with ease. It also offers built-in ventilation, effectively preventing condensation problems in cold weather.
What I love about this tent is its thoughtful design. The entrance doors are positioned in the middle, leading to a spacious room that can be used for hanging out or storage. On each side, there are room dividers that create two separate sleeping spaces. The room dividers are zippered, making them easy to open and close. You don’t have to unhook them to access the sections, unlike some cheap family tents. Each section of the tent can comfortably accommodate a queen-size air bed, although there might not be much room left around the sides.
The only downside is that this tent is quite heavy, and packing it up can be a bit challenging due to its substantial fabric. While it holds up well against bad weather, you may need to reseal the seams at some point.
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2. Campros 12P Tunnel Tent
Best for: Budget tent with ample space for a large family.
Review
The Campros Tunnel Tent comes in 9P and 12P sizes. The 9P version has two rooms, while the 12P version features two room dividers, effectively creating three rooms. The entrance door is located in the middle of the tent, and there are no other doors. Consequently, the middle room is primarily suitable for hanging out or gear storage (unless you want to crawl over people sleeping in the middle).
The room divider in this tent isn’t the most practical. Since there is only one door, you won’t be able to access a room when the divider is up. There’s no zipper on the divider, so it can be slightly inconvenient to unhook it every time you need to enter or exit the room.
Considering its affordable price, the Campros Tunnel Tent is surprisingly well-made and capable of withstanding inclement weather. The curved shape of the tent makes it more resistant to windy conditions compared to a typical cabin tent. Adequate ventilation is provided, preventing condensation on cold nights. However, personally, I’m not a big fan of tunnel tents. They require complete staking out to remain upright, which can be difficult on rocky terrain.
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Advice for Buying a Three Room Tent
1. There Probably Are Only Two Bedrooms
Even if a tent has three rooms, not all of them are intended for sleeping. Usually, the middle or front room is designed as a hangout or gear storage area. While you can have people sleep in that room, those in the back room will have to crawl over them to enter or exit.
2. Choose a Tent with Multiple Doors
To avoid having to crawl over sleeping people to access your bedroom, it’s essential to opt for a tent with more than one door. Some three-room tents have two doors, but if you intend to use each room as a separate sleeping area, you’ll need three doors. As far as I know, the only tent with this feature is the Ozark Trail 10P. Unfortunately, it doesn’t perform well in rainy conditions.
3. Do You Need Dividers with Zippers?
Zippers can significantly increase the cost of a tent. To keep prices low, manufacturers often avoid using zippers whenever possible. Instead, they use hook mechanisms to secure dividers. Unhooking the divider to access a room can become incredibly annoying, especially if you need to do so in the middle of the night or in low lighting conditions.
If your main concern is privacy while getting dressed (and you don’t mind leaving the rooms open the rest of the time), then the lack of zippers might not be a significant issue. However, it’s something worth considering.
4. Understand the Types of Tents
Many negative reviews of three-room tents actually stem from issues related to the tent type rather than the tent itself. For example, tunnel tents can be problematic to set up due to their multiple stake points, while cabin tents tend to perform poorly in windy weather. If you’re unsure about which type of tent is best for you, I recommend reading this post about the Types of Camping Tents (with Pictures).
