Best 12 Person Tent for Large Groups in 2023

CORE 12-Person Instant Cabin Tent

This CORE Instant Cabin Tent is one of the most highly rated tents on Amazon – and for a good reason. It’s remarkably spacious, comfortable, super quick to setup, and has three separate rooms, all for an extremely affordable price.

This tent is an absolute standout in its category for a multitude of reasons, not least of which is its impressive space. With the ability to comfortably sleep up to 12 people or fit three queen air mattresses, it offers ample space without the hefty weight and price tag often associated with other larger tents. The 80-inch center height further enhances the overall spaciousness, ensuring that even the tallest of campers can stand upright without issue.

One of the distinguishing features of this CORE tent is its instantaneous setup. In under two minutes, we had the tent pitched and ready – a game-changer after a long day of outdoor adventure.

It also boasts an advanced venting system which draws in cool air from the ground while allowing hot air to escape, maintaining an ideal temperature inside the tent. Even on hot days, we were able to keep the inside of the tent cool with this ventilation and all the mesh windows.

Additionally, the tent comes with room dividers, creating a sense of privacy in what would otherwise be a shared space. Moreover, the durable water-resistant fabrics, active bead technology and the fully-taped rainfly (which can be removed in hotter weather) further add to the resilience and versatility of this tent.

Our chief complaint about this tent is that it’s considered water resistant, not waterproof. If you normally camp in ideal conditions, then this isn’t an issue. But if you are exposed to rain and wind, you may need to apply your own waterproofing in order to keep the tent’s insides dry.

The CORE 12-Person Instant Tent delivers the right balance of comfort, price, functionality, and durability. If you’re planning a trip that involves large groups or families, this tent should be at the top of your list. Whether you’re a seasoned camper or just starting out, this tent will revolutionize the way you experience the great outdoors.

Eureka! Copper Canyon 12 Person Tent

The Copper Canyon LX 12 Person is a cabin style tent with near vertical walls and a 7 foot peak height; combine this with the big windows and you have an airy and spacious tent that also made our best tents for tall people list.

There’s lots of standing room – with a peak height of seven feet even your tallest friends and family members can stand up straight throughout the entire tent. This is one of the tallest max heights on this list!

You can make this big interior space into two separate rooms using the included detachable room divider. This is great for families who want to separate kids and adults or even groups of friends who want some privacy while sleeping. There’s even a door for each side of the tent, so you don’t need to go around the divider to get in and out.

To make this tent more affordable, Eureka! does use fiberglass tent poles, but only on the upper poles across the mesh roof. The upright poles that provide all the support are made of steel, making this tent more sturdy and durable than one that uses all fiberglass poles. This was really an ingenious design feature on Eureka’s part.

Some other features include a zippered power port for cord access, plenty of stash pockets and a gear loft, and a simple and quick setup that only requires two people. Plus, it all comes with a lifetime warranty!

Even though this tent is quite large, it still meets the minimum requirements for weather resistance. It has a 1200mm waterhead rating and thick materials that make it waterproof and ready for all kinds of weather.

The only downside we could find with this tent is that the windows don’t use traditional zippers. Instead, they use hook and loop closures. This helps keep the price down and eliminates an obnoxious amount of zippers (because there’s so much mesh!), but it does take longer to open and close the windows.

About the Brand

Eureka! has been making tents for over 120 years, and their quality and craftsmanship shows in their car camping tents. They’ve been able to nicely balance price with features, so you are getting a fun 12 person camping tent that will take you on many adventures to come.

Coleman Skylodge 12 Person Tent

Coleman is easily one of the top brands when it comes to affordable tents, and their Skylodge 12 perfectly balances price with cool features. Our favorite feature is the extended screen room, which measures 5 x 10 feet. This extra space is weatherproof and has a floor, so it’s perfect for a storage space or even hanging out during a rainy day.

As for other weather-proofing, it uses Coleman’s normal WeatherTec system that keeps water out by using inverted and taped seams, welded corners, and a tub-like floor. The rain fly covers the uppermost part of the tent and mesh ceiling, while the lower windows zipper open for ventilation or closed for weather protection and privacy. This Skylodge has been tested in winds up to 35 mph, so it will be able to handle most weather conditions you encounter on warm weather camping trips.

Even not including the extended screen room, this tent measures 15.5′ x 11′, which is large enough for four queen air mattresses. It’s even more roomy because of the 7 ft. interior height and oversized front door that allows for easy access. Coleman calls this tent a ‘portable mansion’ that’s perfect for taking large group and family camping trips to the next level (and we completely agree), and it even has a room divider to separate the interior space into two rooms.

Despite its size, it’s still easy to setup in just a few minutes when two people work together. Overall, it’s a really good tent that comes with all the essentials you would need for a fun time outdoors. The main downside of this tent is the low waterhead rating on the floor, which is only 600mm. This means we would highly recommend purchasing either a matching footprint or a similarly sized tarp to better protect the floor.

Bushnell Shield Series 12 Person Tent

Bushnell makes some really great outdoor gear, and our favorite part about their company is their lifetime warranty. There’s no hoops to jump through if you need their help because they don’t require a receipt and the warranty is fully transferrable.

Perhaps our favorite part of this tent is the instant setup, which takes less than 60 seconds even though this cabin style tent is a massive 11 x 18 feet. The pre-attached poles make it even easier, and that gives you more time to focus on the more important parts of camping and have more fun with less headache.

Besides the quick setup time, this tent also has some other cool features like heat shield technology that has an inner reflective coating on the tent material. It helps block the sun’s rays, which keeps the tent cooler and darker. The tent fabric is also weather-repellant with fully taped seams while the strong frame stands tough against the wind.

The main issue with this tent is that Bushnell doesn’t provide a waterhead rating. I did reach out via email asking about this, but they just responded with a third party number I would need to call. This tells me they aren’t proud of their water-proofing, so that’s the only feature of this tent we are skeptical about. That being said, we do really like the instant setup and large mesh windows, so this tent would still be a great option for anyone who doesn’t like camping in rainy conditions.

This tent also made our list for best tent with an AC port, so you could use a window air conditioning unit with it if desired.

Specifications

• Weight: 60 lbs.
• Floor Space: 132″ x 216″ (11′ x 18′)
• Square Feet:
• Peak Height: 80″ (6 ft. 8 in.)
• Poles: pre attached poles for instant setup
• Number of Room Dividers: two dividers to make three rooms
• Material: 150D canopy, floor, rainfly
• Highlight: Great instant tent with a warranty that doesn’t require any hoops to jump through.
• Price: $$$

Coleman Skydome XL 12 Person Tent

Coleman has been around for a while, and their Skydome tent is one of the most popular tents on the market. The largest size is this 12-person, but it also comes in 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 person capacities. We like that this tent is great for beginner campers or budget-conscious adventures because it’s a simple tent with the basics features you need to get outside.

It’s a very generous size, and the dimensions allow for four queen size air mattresses. It uses Coleman’s traditional WeatherTec system to withstand winds up to 35 mph while keep out rain using welded corners and other design aspects. The main downside of this tent is that Coleman isn’t very transparent about their waterhead rating, so there’s no way to know how truly waterproof this tent is. That’s why it’s best for simple weekends away or casual campers who aren’t typically exposed to adverse weather conditions.

Otherwise, it has some great features like a quick and easy setup using color coded poles, a room divider to separate the interior space, a more full coverage rain fly than some of the other tents on this list, and vents at ground level to help circulate air more efficiently. The wide doors let you take gear in and out easily, especially if you camp with queen-sized air mattresses.

White Duck Outdoors Alpha Canvas Tent 14′ x 16′

White Duck is one of our favorite tent brands, but their extensive line of canvas tents is a little outside-the-box from your normal family camping tent. Some people may call them a glamping tent, but these canvas tents are built to last a lifetime and withstand anything you may throw at it while camping. They are one of the best options for camping tents of all sizes, but their over-sized canvas tents are especially great for larger groups and families.

All the bells and whistles you normally see on a traditional camping tent aren’t as important in a canvas tent, as all the quality is put into the materials that are built to last. This will tent will withstand weather conditions much more effectively, and it also has the highest amount of headroom by a longshot (9’5″ peak height).

Their cotton canvas material is 10.10oz. cotton canvas that’s treated to be water repellant, as well as mold and UV resistant. Double-stitched seams and reinforced corners hold tight against the anodized aluminum poles that provide strength and stability. There’s bug mesh on the openings, plus both the doors and windows are storm proof with three-layer protection.

If you were ever interested in winter camping and learning how to hot tent, this would be a great option for something you could use for 4 season camping. It has a built-in stove jack, which is the fireproof hole in the ceiling for the chimney of a wood burning stove. For more information on hot tenting, read our full guide here.

If you consider yourself to be more of a three season camper, this tent would still be a great option. The windows allow for lots of air circulation, and the PVC floor is easy to clean. It can sleep up to 12 people in sleeping bags or 4-6 people on air mattress. You would be investing in a tent that you could use for many years to come.

Specifications for the 14’x16′

• Weight: 260+ lbs.
• Floor Space: 14′ x 16′
• Squre Feet: 224 sq.ft.
• Peak Height: 113 inches (9ft. 5in.)
• Capacity: 12 person or 4-6 glampers
• Poles: aluminum and steel
• Number of Rooms: 1
• Material: 10.10oz Army Duck cotton canvas
• Highlight: Canvas tent that’s built to last a lifetime.
• Price: $$$$

Ozark Trail Instant Cabin Tent (16′ x 16′)

Ozark Trail is a Walmart brand, and they make some really affordable outdoor gear that’s great for casual campers who want a product that will cover all the basic needs for a weekend away. This Ozark Trail 12 person tent is an instant cabin tent that sets up in under two minutes. Even though its quite large, that’s a really quick and easy setup time.

This Ozark Trail 12 person has three rooms in an L-shape design. There’s enough space for three queen air mattresses, but the unique layout doesn’t allow for more than that. There’s a port for an electric cord access point, as well as an oversized ground vent that’s compatible with a small air conditioning unit. With a peak height of 6’10”, even the tallest camper in your group can stand up straight. We also really like how there’s an awning over the two doors, which provides sun protection and an additional space to hang out.

The main downside of this Ozark Trail tent is the lack of weather resistance. It’s not very waterproof, and multiple users have reported that it collapsed in light wind and rain. Make sure you guy out the support lines, and we would recommend adding your own waterproofing spray if you plan on experiencing rainy weather. Otherwise, this tent is best used in ideal summer camping weather only, and you should avoid camping when it’s going to be rainy and windy.

Specifications

• Weight: 55.2 lbs.
• Floor Space: 16 x 16 feet
• Square Feet: 192 sq.ft. (not including awning)
• # of Rooms: 3
• # of Windows: 7
• Peak Height: 82 inches (6ft. 10in.)
• Poles: Pre attached
• Water-Proofing: taped factory sealed seams, tub floor
• Highlight: This Ozark Trail tent is a great oversized tent for weekends away in ideal weather conditions.