Have you ever thought “why don’t they make a tent that you can connect to the trunk of your SUV?”
Well, they have, and what a difference it makes to your car camping experience. You can sleep off the ground in the comfort of your own car with a tent attached for added space. How great is that!
But, not all SUV tents are made equal. Some leak, some are impossible to set up and others are not going to survive a year of a lot of camping. Also, when you look for an SUV tent, you are going to be inundated with options, and finding the best SUV tent from amongst them isn’t going to be easy and will take days of research.
At A Glance: Our Top 3 SUV Tents
Luckily, we have done the hard work for you and gathered up what top SUV tents are on the market so you can buy the best SUV tent for your needs.
![]() | Best Allrounder
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![]() | Best For Families & Big Groups
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![]() | Best On A Budget
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The Rightline Gear SUV Tent is one of the top SUV tents around and we like it a lot because it is a freestanding tent. By freestanding, we mean that it stands on its own without the SUV attached.
This adds a ton of convenience as you can use it as a normal tent or attach it to your SUV plus you can leave it pitched and drive away to explore for the day and come back to your tent waiting for you.
The SUV tent is particularly spacious and comes with enough space for 4 people to sleep in the tent along with 2 in the SUV, making it an ideal choice for a family of 4 or 5.
The tent has a large door for easy access as well as large mesh windows that keep the bugs out but also create great ventilation. This will remove any internal condensation while the great rainfly keeps the rain out so you stay dry. This tent is also made for 4 seasons so you can camp in the winter with it too.
Inside you’ll find a few gear pockets and a hanger for a lantern plus it even comes with glow-in-the-dark zippers so you can find your way in and out in the night without waking everyone up with a flashlight.
The tent attaches to all SUVs easily and creates a watertight seal. It’s also super easy to pitch packs down small and is light enough to carry around, just.
The main issue with this tent is that the stakes aren’t great and it’s a good idea to replace them. Also, the zippers can catch on the door so be careful while opening it.
If you like to camp as a family or in large groups then the best SUV tent for you in our eyes is the KingCamp Melfi Plus SUV Car Tent.
This tent offers a ton of space including sleeping spots for 6 people, a gigantic vestibule for storage that converts to an awning, along with another awning. If you like to hang out in nature watching the world go by while the kids play in the forest, you will love this SUV tent.
You will find two large doors for easy access to the tent which is key when sharing with six people as well as large mesh windows to keep the bugs out but ventilation in.
You won’t find condensation inside this tent and with its well waterproof flysheet that also blocks the wind, you can sleep in peace whatever the weather. But, this tent is only rated for 3 seasons, not 4, so it’s not made for winter use.
Setting it up is easy and it will connect to any SUV but since it is so spacious, you are going to need 2 people to get it. Once you have pitched it once, you’ll find you can do it in less than 10 minutes.
Once pitched, the tent is freestanding so you can use it with or without an SUV and take the SUV on an adventure and leave the tent ready for when you get back.
The overall build quality is excellent making the tent durable the only negative to this tent is that it’s pretty expensive and it’s heavy and bulky to carry around.
If you’re on a tight budget then the DAC Explorer 2 SUV and Minivan Tent might just be the perfect tent for your needs. This tent looks a bit like a truck bed tent but instead of going over a truck bed, it goes over the opening to the trunk of your car.
Now, due to the design, this tent-only works with SUVs and minivans with liftgate rear panels less than 67″ wide that don’t have a spare wheel attached to them. Luckily, this does cover most SUVs so chances are yours will fit.
Being a 2 man SUV tent, it is incredibly easy to transport as it is both light and packs down small for portability. It also means that setting this tent up is as simple as setting up an SUV tent can be as you just have to strap it to the back of your SUV with the trunk door open.
The design of this tent is pretty ingenious as it adds a ton of space to your trunk so you can throw in your camping mattress and lie flat, off the ground, and completely protected from the elements. This provides some pretty amazing weather protection and you can use it all year round.
The build is durable and the seal onto your SUV is tight to ensure no leaks. There is a large storm door that can be opened into a no-see-um mesh at the trunk end for access, ventilation, and seeing great views of where you are camping.
The one thing this tent is missing is adding any extra covered space, as all it does is extend the sleeping area of your SUV.
The Napier Backroadz SUV Tent is another good option for SUV camping. This is a freestanding tent that connects to any SUV giving you space to sleep up to 5 people, but it’s better with 2, 3, or 4.
Being freestanding means you can pitch the tent without the SUV attached and then attach the SUV when you want to or use the tent normally without the SUV. It’s a spacious tent with lots of room inside along with a large door and three huge mesh windows for excellent ventilation.
With a huge window on every side and one door, the views you get when they are all open of the beautiful surroundings you’re camping in will be pretty awesome. You’ll also find a place to store gear inside and there is a lantern holder for nighttime.
Setting this SUV tent up is as easy as pie, it’s pretty much just like pitching a normal tent which you add the SUV tent too. It comes with a full rainfly for great protection but there can be leaking issues where the SUV joins so try to attach it as well as possible.
The Napier Sportz SUV Tent is another affordable option if you just want an SUV tent for two that makes your trunk space a great place to sleep. It’s a little like a truck bed tent but it has the added bonus of having your car roof for the ultimate weather protection.
A thing I love about this tent is that not only does it connect to all SUVs but also to CUVs and minivans too. Setting it up is super easy and when pitched it creates a sheltered awning for you to sit under and enjoy the shade. You can even open up the mesh to stop any bugs coming in and disturbing you while you read a book.
Access is through a large storm flap and door that gives you direct access to the trunk. You can also keep the door open to get lovely views from the comfort of your bed.
Being a small SUV tent, this is very light and portable making it easy to carry around and store in your vehicle as you travel around. The annoying thing is that it requires the SUV so anytime you want to drive somewhere you have to pull the tent down and repitch it again later.
If you own a small CUV or hatchback then you are going to love the Sportz Dome-To-Go Tent as it’s specifically made just for those vehicles. So it’s actually a CUV/hatchback tent and not an SUV tent.
The tent is built from high-quality polyester taffeta and polyethylene for durability and comes with excellent weather resistance to handle the wind and rain with ease.
Connecting it to your car is simple and easy, plus once pitched you will find a lot of space inside. It’s a freestanding tent so it doesn’t need the car to stay up giving you some vehicle independence.
You’ll find 2 doors for easy access as well as a huge window for ventilation. With them, all open you’ll have views in almost any direction. It also provides a lovely awning space to hang out in during the day.
The one issue with this tent is if your car is too small, the seal between the tent and car can leak when it rains.
The Napier Sportz SUV Family Tent is another great option if you like to camp as a family or as a large group as it offers a ton of space.
There is enough space for 6 people to sleep comfortably in this tent, plus then you also have a huge vestibule for storage that converts to an awning, plus another awning. Relaxing outside in the shade and enjoying nature never got so easy.
The tent features two large doors for easy access, it’s 7ft tall so everyone can stand inside it, and there are 3 mesh windows to boot for great ventilation. It connects to any CUV, minivan, and SUV with ease but be sure to attach it securely as there are reports of the sleeve leaking when it rains.
Being such a big tent, it’s super heavy and weighs 50 lbs, so you might need 2 people to carry it and you’ll definitely need 2 people to set it up. Luckily it’s built for large groups so setting it up is easy when everyone gets involved.
It’s a freestanding tent, which is something I love as you are free to take the car whenever you like and you use it as a normal tent too.
The Honda Genuine OEM SUV Tent is specifically made by Honda for Honda vehicles so it doesn’t work with any SUV. You can only use this tent with a Honda 2007-2013 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2005-2013 Odyssey, 2009-2013 Pilot.
It’s durably built from a high denier polyester and comes with 1,200mm waterproofing so it can handle the weather well. But, unfortunately, the seams don’t seem to be welded properly so you can experience leaks through those.
It is a very easy tent to pitch and once up is spacious inside. It features two doors for easy access and comes with large windows for nice views and lots of ventilation. The tent is also freestanding so you can disconnect the car and go exploring whenever you like without having to repitch the tent.
This tent does have some issues though as the poles can snap with heavy winds and the zippers tend to snag, so you should use them with caution so as not to rip the tent.
When it comes to SUV tents, unlike rooftop tents, you have two options to choose from: freestanding or not freestanding.
Freestanding SUV tents can be pitched like normal tents and used like them too with added bonus of being able to attach them to the trunk of your SUV. Nonfreestanding tents require the SUV to be able to be pitched.
The benefit of a freestanding SUV tent is that you can pitch it and still use your car without taking the tent down. Also, they provide a lot more space so if you want to camp with more than 2 people, a freestanding SUV tent is a must.
The one area where an SUV tent leaks from in most cases is the tent’s connection to the SUV. Make sure the tent you choose has a solid seal that works so you can avoid waking up damp after a night sleeping out in the rain.
The all-around best SUV tent is the Rightline Gear SUV Tent. This tent is freestanding, durable, easy to set up, fits any SUV, and is super comfy to sleep in. You can fit up to 6 people inside this tent but I’d recommend having 2.3 or 4 people inside so that you get a ton of living space too.
This tent also handles the weather well and doesn’t leak or blow over but you might want to consider replacing the stakes with some stronger, heavier ones.
If you’re after the best SUV tent for families and large groups then the KingCamp Melfi Plus SUV Car Tent is right up your street. This durable tent provides a ton of sleeping and storage space, outdoor awning areas, and excellent protection from the elements.
It works with any SUV, has 2 doors for easy access, a ton of windows for ventilation, and connects to any SUV seamlessly. Plus it’s freestanding so you can use it as a normal tent.
The best SUV tent, if you’re shopping on a budget, is the DAC Explorer 2 SUV and Minivan Tent. This tent covers your open trunk area to make the perfect place to sleep with extra room in the trunk of your car.
It attaches seamlessly, provides you with excellent weather protection, is very durable, and it’s as affordable as they come. The one downside is that it doesn’t add any “extra tent space” but it is super light and portable for use on the road and very quick to set up.