All campers have our moments when we want to escape the elements (in short, heat, rain, and bugs!). So here are the 7 best screen tents…
A screen tent is the best solution for dealing with bugs while camping, especially in peak mosquito season. Plus, it provides shade and rain cover.
A good screen tent, also known as a screen room, can be set up in under a minute by only one or two people. So, it's no surprise that many RVers don't camp without one!
Here is a list of the best screen tents and what makes them different from each other so you can choose the right one for you.
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1. CLAM Quick-Set Escape
Size is a major factor when choosing the best screen tent for you. This CLAM screen tent is one of the bigger options at 11.5′ x 11.5′. It is our favorite of all the screen tents we have seen.
It’s even spacious enough inside to fit a full-size picnic table for 6-8 people. That's ideal when eating in a bug-infested campsite.
It’s also one of the pricier options, but for good reason. It will keep you dry with a water-resistant roof with taped seams. The CLAM will even keep you from getting sunburned by offering 50+ UV ray protection.
For being so roomy in size, it boasts a 45-second setup time and no assembly required. It folds down to a manageable size and at 34 pounds makes for easy storage.
The CLAM is also one of the most recommended screen tents in our RV Lifestyle Community, so my thanks go out to them for sharing!
Preview | Product | Price | |
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CLAM Quick-Set Escape 11.5 x 11.5 Foot | $284.99 | Add to Cart |
2. Gazelle G6 Hub Gazebo
This is another extra large screen tent recommended by our readers. It's 12′ x 12′ and accommodates up to eight people and a table.
The Gazelle is slightly large than the CLAM and has all of the same high-end key features. This includes efficient waterproofing and UV protection.
The assembly is also easy at 45 seconds and weighs only 34 pounds for easy transport. Like the CLAM, you can buy wind resistance panels separately if you’re camping somewhere particularly breezy.
Preview | Product | Price | |
---|---|---|---|
Gazelle G6 Hub Gazebo | $255.49 | Add to Cart |
3. Coleman Back Home
The Coleman Back Home comes in three sizes: 10.5'x9′, 12'x10′, and 15'x13′. This tent requires a few minutes rather than seconds to put up, but it's still quick and easy.
Even the smallest option weighs 49 pounds, but don’t let that discourage you. The transport bag has wheels to compensate for its heavier weight compared to the first two on our list.
The Back Home is equipped with two doors for easy access, creating a feeling of a “front” and “back” door in its 6 total sides. The mesh walls are removable if you just need shade cover.
Preview | Product | Price | |
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Coleman Back Home Screen Canopy Tent | $274.95 | Add to Cart |
4. Alvantor Pop Up Screen House
On the other end of the weight spectrum, is the Alvantor. It is the lightest pop up screen room and comes in four sizes: 6'x6′, 10'x10′, 12'x12′, and 15'x15′.
And yes, it is a “pop up” tent– no assembly required!
Even the largest 15′ option is only 26 pounds! It has 10 walls and can seat over 12-15 adults! This makes the Alvantor a good option when traveling with a large family or group.
While this tent has UV protection, it is not waterproof and not the sturdiest, given its light weight. So, it's not a good shield against inclement weather. It's best for shade and bug protection.
Preview | Product | Price | |
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Alvantor Pop Up Screen House | $399.99 | Add to Cart |
5 – Coleman Skylodge
This Coleman Skylodge comes in two sizes, 15'x13′ and 10'x10′. Both sizes offer a lot of usable space and the 15′-footer'x15′ is only 23 pounds.
Its center height is even 7 feet high in case you have any tall people in your group. Even though it’s light, this Coleman comes with steel pegs to anchor your screen tent and keep it sturdy.
It has 2 entryways to make it easy to bring gear in out. The angled walls mean less shade and rain coverage, but it is great for bug-free lounging.
Preview | Product | Price | |
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Coleman Skylodge | $162.11 | Add to Cart |
6 – Tailgaterz Magnetic Screen House
What makes the Tailgaterz special is the magnetic doors. The Tailgaterz is the best screen tent if you go in and out a lot or often have your hands full carrying food and drinks.
Rather than fiddling with a zipper to keep the bugs out, you can enter and exit hands-free. The magnets will help automatically close the door flap behind you.
Its design will also fit nicely over a standard picnic table and has 7.5 feet of headroom. Keep in mind the magnetic doors are not as tightly sealed as the zippers on other models and the roof isn’t waterproof.
Preview | Product | Price | |
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TAILGATERZ Magnetic Screen House | $139.95 | Add to Cart |
7. Ozark Trail Instant Screenhouse
The Ozark is the best screen tent for affordability. Its simple and no-frills construction lends to its affordable price, still offering ample protection from bugs and good protection from the sun.
It’s 10×10 feet and 7 feet tall, with an easy one-minute set-up that could qualify it as one of the instant tents.
The slanted design means slightly less than 100 square feet of usable space inside, but it’s still spacious and weighs less than 20 pounds.
Preview | Product | Price | |
---|---|---|---|
Ozark Trail Instant Screenhouse | $115.49 | Add to Cart |
Best Screen Tents for Camping?
Do you have a favorite screen tent to use while camping in your RV? Please let us know in the comments what you think are the best screen tents!
If you have a screen tent you love, you may want to deck it out with some of the 7 Best Heated Camping Chairs.
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Last update on 2024-10-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
August 04, 2024at2:10 pm, Beth Gorton said:
The one at the top of this post – simple, single or friendly duo size, is what caught my eye – but then nothing was said about it! False advertising?
September 12, 2022at10:55 am, Bob Palin said:
I have the Clam 12×12 and love it, note that only the brown one is compatible with the rain panels which work really well. I’m not sure about the SPF50 rating, I sat in mine for a few hours a few weeks ago and my bald head got burnt, that was the only time I wasn’t wearing a hat. (Admittedly I was at 10,000 feet where the sun is very strong but…)
You will need extra stakes and guy ropes if you want to use it in any kind of wind, it has attachments for guy lines all over it but they only supply a few.
September 14, 2022at3:38 pm, Team RV Lifestyle said:
Thanks, Bob, for these helpful tips! Team RV Lifestyle
September 02, 2022at5:37 pm, 7 Simple Tips To Keep Mosquitoes Away From Your Camp | RV Lifestyle said:
[…] keep the whole group bug-free without scents or fires, a screen tent is the best solution. We have an entire post just for […]
August 08, 2022at4:55 pm, 5 RV Privacy Products To Make Your Campsite More Private | RV Lifestyle said:
[…] have a list of the Best Screen Tents for Camping; however, those all have mesh sides. This AxplorOutdoor pop-up screen tent also has mesh sides, but […]
July 19, 2022at7:46 am, Peter S Donaldson said:
We just purchased the Timber Ridge Screen tent from Costco. It comes with one wind panel is about the same size as the clam and almost have the price.
July 19, 2022at5:15 pm, Team RV Lifestyle said:
Good to know! Thanks for sharing, Peter – Team RV Lifestyle
April 17, 2022at10:08 am, Michele Dawn Wilson said:
Do you know of any screen tents that would also have shades?
January 14, 2022at9:05 am, 5 Best Mosquito & Bug Nets for Camping (2022) said:
[…] for outdoor camping or lounging in hammocks. For RVers who want a bug-free lounge area, I recommend screen tents […]
January 14, 2022at6:15 am, 5 Best Mosquito & Bug Nets For Camping (2022) | RV Lifestyle said:
[…] for outdoor camping or lounging in hammocks. For RVers who want a bug-free lounge area, I recommend screen tents […]
June 05, 2021at1:55 pm, The Awful Truth Of Bugs In The UP: 2021 Advice - 2boomersandababy said:
[…] Use a screen tent to let you get outside but keep the flies and skeeters out. We recently did a review on the five best ones for RVers. See it at https://rvlifestyle.com/best-screen-tents-for-camping/ […]
March 27, 2021at10:21 am, Toni Mariani, Author said:
Hi.
Great topic!
I bought the number one pick! The clam, 12*12.
Any of the pop-up styles, can be one person set-up!
March 25, 2021at7:33 pm, wendy said:
which screen tent is best for one person set up?
March 10, 2022at11:58 am, Adam Sherman said:
The SansBug pop-up screen tent comes in a 1-person size.
March 25, 2021at10:21 am, Nancy Jenkins said:
Some of these tents shown I guess can use over a tent, and during covid some could be used as a bubble. Some of the dome types have seen being used at restaurants in their patios. I would use for extra cover over my Dodge van, and extra cover over any of my tent collections and just in yard.