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7 Best Screen Tents for Camping (2024)

| Updated Jan 22, 2024

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.

If you buy something through our links, we may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep our lights on so we can continue to provide helpful resources for RVers. Read our full affiliate disclosure here.

1. CLAM Quick-Set Escape

photo of one of the best screen tents - the clam CLAM Quick-Set 12 x 12 Foot Escape Portable Pop Up Screen Tent
CLAM Quick-Set 11.5 x 11.5 Foot Escape Portable Pop Up Screen Tent

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!

2. Gazelle G6 Hub Gazebo

photo of the Gazelle - one of the best screen tents
Gazelle Pop-Up Portable 6-Sided Hub Gazebo/Screen Tent

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 Gazelle G6 Hub Gazebo $225.59Amazon Prime

3. Coleman Back Home

Coleman screen tent
Coleman Screened Canopy Instant Setup

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.

4. Alvantor Pop Up Screen House

Alvantor Screen House Instant Pop Up Tent
Alvantor Screen House Instant Pop Up Tent

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
Alvantor Pop Up Screen House Alvantor Pop Up Screen House $399.99Amazon Prime

5 – Coleman Skylodge

7 Best Screen Tents for Camping (2024) 1
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
Coleman Skylodge Coleman Skylodge $109.99Amazon Prime

6 – Tailgaterz Magnetic Screen House

Tailgaterz Magnetic Screen House
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
TAILGATERZ Magnetic Screen House TAILGATERZ Magnetic Screen House $139.95

7. Ozark Trail Instant Screenhouse

Ozark Trail Instant Screenhouse
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 Ozark Trail Instant Screenhouse $111.21

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.

Enjoy Great Camping Food in Your Screen Tent!

Camping-Food-Recipes

Stop eating boring camping food or making the same meals over and over again! 

Revive and elevate your camping menu with CampingFoodRecipes.com! It’s our new sister site that shares easy, affordable, and DELICIOUS camping recipes.

We add new recipes every week, but some favorites include: 

Visit CampingFoodRecipes.com to find your new favorite camping recipes!

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7 Best Screen Tents for Camping (2024) 2

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Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Mike Wendland

Published on 2022-07-18

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

14 Responses to “7 Best Screen Tents for Camping (2024)”

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.

Reply

September 14, 2022at3:38 pm, Team RV Lifestyle said:

Thanks, Bob, for these helpful tips! Team RV Lifestyle

Reply

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 […]

Reply

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 […]

Reply

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.

Reply

July 19, 2022at5:15 pm, Team RV Lifestyle said:

Good to know! Thanks for sharing, Peter – Team RV Lifestyle

Reply

April 17, 2022at10:08 am, Michele Dawn Wilson said:

Do you know of any screen tents that would also have shades?

Reply

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 […]

Reply

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 […]

Reply

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/ […]

Reply

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!

Reply

March 25, 2021at7:33 pm, wendy said:

which screen tent is best for one person set up?

Reply

March 10, 2022at11:58 am, Adam Sherman said:

The SansBug pop-up screen tent comes in a 1-person size.

Reply

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.

Reply

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