Best Tent For Hot Weather 2024 (Staying Cool Summer Camping)

For reference, the best hot weather tent is the White Duck Prota Canvas Cabin Tent Deluxe.

Camping can be a blast, but getting a good night’s sleep in the middle of a scorching summer can prove quite challenging. And, there are few things worse than waking up in a hot, stuffy tent-turned-sauna in a pool of sweat.

To fix this, make sure you get a tent that’s optimized for hot weather. Tent material, ventilation, and even construction are some key elements that determine if a tent is good or bad for warm weather.

Fortunately, I’ve put together this comprehensive guide that’ll teach you everything you need to know about hot weather tents. To start, here are my top-rated picks for summer tents:

• Best Summer Camping Tent Overall: White Duck Prota Canvas Cabin Tent Deluxe
• Best Budget Tent Made to Keep You Cool: Coleman Carlsbad Tent with Screen Room
• Best Value Hot Weather Tent: TETON Sports Mesa Person Canvas Tent with Awning
• Best Instant Tent for Hot Weather: CORE 6-Person Instant Cabin Tent
• Best Hot Weather Tent For Larger Families: CORE Equipment 9-Person Instant Cabin Tent

Best Tent For Hot Weather: Our Top Recommendations

White Duck Prota Deluxe Canvas Tent

Tent Size(s): 4 to 8 | Seasons: 4-season | Weight: 66 lbs | Floor: 7 x 9 (63 sq ft) | Inside Height: 75 in | Setup Time: 20 mins

Now, here’s something a little bit different. While most tents out there are made of synthetic materials, this one is made of canvas.

What does that mean? Well, canvas is an excellent insulator. That means that it does a fantastic job of keeping you cool in the summer AND warm in the winter.

Canvas is breathable, which means this tent is well-ventilated at all times. Plus, there are 4 huge windows and 2 doors, all of which have mesh screens. So, you’ll be able to get a nice breeze blowing, without letting any creepy crawlies in.

The main downside when it comes to canvas is its weight. This tent is a great example of that. It’s only a 4-person tent, and it weighs in at a whopping 66 lbs, so if you opt for a larger model, it’ll be quite heavy.

But weight aside, living in Arizona we’ve used this tent in high heat and have enjoyed its ability to keep the interior cooler and less oppressive than other tents that we’ve tested.

You can read our full review of the Prota Deluxe here! 

Pros:

• Sunblock heat-resistant canvas roof regulates inner tent temperature
• Water, mold, and a UV-resistant finish
• 4 windows and 2 doors with mesh provide great ventilation while keeping bugs out
• Features a large awning in front of 1 of the doors
• Shock-absorbing grounding system means it performs well in all kinds of weather
• Groundsheet comes included

Cons:

• Much heavier than other tents, weighing in at 66 lbs.
• Quite a bit pricier than most tents of the same size

Best for: car campers who are looking for an outstanding eco-friendly tent, and don’t mind the extra weight.

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Coleman Carlsbad Tent

Tent Size: 6 | Seasons: 3-season | Weight: 22 lbs | Floor: 15 x 12 ft (120 sq ft) | Screen Room: 60 sq ft | Inside Height: 72 in | Setup Time: 15 mins

Coleman knows that camping in the summer heat can be a big downer, which is why the Carlsbad Tent comes not only with Dark Room Technology, but with a screen room.

Coleman went the extra mile and put extra dark material in the main room of this tent. According to Coleman, this fabric blocks 90% of sunlight and keeps your tent 11% cooler during the day.

Not only that, but they’ve equipped this tent with a 60 sq ft screened porch to keep bugs away, and let you enjoy the outdoors in more comfort.

And best of all, you can get all these features for a very reasonable price.

Also, note that this model is available in 4-person and 6-person configurations. Both come with the same high-quality Coleman construction you’ll learn to love for years.

Pros:

• Dark Room technology provides unparalleled cooling and blackout inside the tent
• Coleman’s WeatherTec system gives you inverted seams and a welded floor, for superior water protection
• The 60-square-foot screened porch gives you the benefits of a porch without the bugs. It’s also 4 feet deep, giving you plenty of room
• Unique color scheme and Illumiline™ reflective guy lines allow you to find this tent no matter what time of day it is
• Polyguard fabric gives superior durability, making this tent one that’ll last for years

Cons:

• Windows are high off the ground, so not perfect for sight-seeing

Best for: families that want to stay cool, mosquito-free, and well-rested.

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TETON Sports Mesa Canvas Tent with Porch

Tent Size: 6 | Seasons: 4-season | Weight: 71 lbs | Floor: 10 x 10 ft (100 sq ft) | Inside Height: 78 in | Setup Time: 15 mins

The TETON Sports Mesa 10′ is the epitome of durability. With it’s 100 square feet of floor size makes it a formidable competitor in your hunt for a hot weather tent.

With the peak height of 78 inches (or 6.5 feet) means almost anyone can move around the tent with ease.

Add to that the fact it can be easily pitched within 5-10 minutes and that it’s 100% waterproof, and you have one of the best canvas tents out there.

Now, no product is without its flaws. Like all canvas tents, this tent is not for people on a budget. You’re are going to have to pay a pretty penny to get TETON Mesa.

On the plus side, you can safely expect to hand this tent over to your grandchildren, so in the long run, it will probably end up cheaper than most nylon tents.

Pros:

• 100 square feet of floor space means you and your family will have plenty of room
• Easy setup – most people can get it up and ready in less than 5 minutes
• Comes with two extra-large doors that make movement easy peasy
• 100% cotton means it will keep you dry even during the worst thunderstorms
• 78 inches of peak height means even tall people can comfortably use this tent

Cons:

• No way around it – this is not a cheap product. You pay a premium price, but get premium quality
• Tent stakes are of lower quality – you might want to pay a few bucks to get better ones

Best for: campers who are willing to invest a bit more for the durability of a great canvas tent with an easy setup.

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CORE 6-Person Instant Cabin Tent

Tent Size: 6 person | Seasons: 3-season | Weight: 23 lbs | Inside Height: 72 in | Floor: 11 x 9 ft (99 sq ft) | Setup Time: 2 mins

This is a great tent from CORE that is not only one of the best instant tents, meaning it will go up easy peasy, but it is also a cabin tent.

That means it has vertical walls which allow easier movement and greater comfort inside the tent.

What sets this tent apart from the others on this list so far is its ventilation – thanks to multiple windows and the two adjustable floor vents, you will have good airflow throughout your camping trip.

This makes it perfect to keep you cool on warm summer nights.

Read our full review of the CORE 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent here!

Pros:

• 2 minute set up and take down in fair weather conditions
• The expandable carrying case makes it easy to pack the tent after taking it down
• Great ventilation thanks to windows on both sides and the front door keeping you cool
• The back wall comes with a big storage area where you can hang your gear
• Inexpensive cabin tent for beginner buyers

Cons:

• The door zipper can get caught in the flaps running along the door

Best for: people who want a roomy cabin tent with great ventilation at a reasonable price.

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Wenzel Klondike Tent

Tent Size: 8 | Seasons: 2-season | Weight: 26 lbs | Floor: 16 x 11 ft (98 sq ft) | Screen Room: 60 sq ft | Inside Height: 78 in | Setup Time: 15 mins

If you travel in large packs like the great wolves of the Klondike region of Canada, then you’ll love this tent.

Even if you’ve got a small group, this tent is excellent thanks to its spacious interior. I know that I’m guilty of enjoying some extra elbow room every once in a while!

This tent features a mesh roof, which is not only great for stargazing at night, but it also allows fresh air to circulate freely.

Wenzel’s Klondike tent can fit six people without things getting too cramped, and it’s still pretty affordable given the size.

Pros:

• It has a considerable screen room where you can store gear that needs to dry off — it also helps with ventilation
• The light blue color will reflect most of the sun and keep the temperature inside your tent cooler
• Spacious enough to fit six people comfortably, meaning it’s practically a blue mansion for my boys and me
• Mesh ceiling and windows provide sufficient airflow even during hot days
• Seam-sealed rain fly keeps you dry during summer showers
• Although slightly pricier than the DarkRoom, it’s still affordable enough to fit anyone’s budget

Cons:

• Avoid the gray and green variants of this tent as the darker colors will absorb more of the sun’s heat
• The zippers aren’t well-protected, which means they’re prone to water leaks – this tent is not the best for rainy camping

Best for: experienced campers who want plenty of space, a screen room, and awesome ventilation.

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CORE Equipment 9-Person Instant Cabin Tent

Tent Size: 9 person | Seasons: 3-season | Weight: 27.62 lbs | Inside Height: 78 in | Floor: 14 x 9 ft (126 sq ft) | Setup Time: 2 mins

Here is another great ventilated tent from CORE Equipment with their 9-person instant cabin tent. It’s got a lot of features and a ton of space, all at an affordable price.

When it comes to size, this tent is a great option for groups of four to six people.

The 9-person model can fit two queen size air beds and has a room divider for added privacy between the two.

Even though this tent is extra-large, the setup is not extra-hard. As an instant tent, the poles come pre-attached, meaning setup takes 60 seconds (or less).

To keep you cool at night, this tent has an adjustable ground vent along the edge of the floor. This tent is available in green and wine (burgundy) colors, and there’s a 9 and 12-person model.

Although I recommend the 9-person tent, the 12-person is a great choice if you have an extra-large group that wants a tent with extra room and extra doors.

Pros:

• 6’6” center height allows anyone to walk around inside
• Large T-style front door means moving gear into the tent is no issue
• Bottom air vents keep the whole group cool at night
• Instant setup takes 60 seconds, giving you more time for rest & relaxation
• Strong wind protection thanks to steel uprights
• Reasonably priced – not too expensive, but doesn’t skimp out on quality

Cons:

• If using the room divider, the backroom doesn’t have a door, which can make night-time bathroom breaks a challenge

Best for: large groups that want an easy-to-use tent with tons of space.

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What Makes A Great Hot Weather Tent?

Now you’ve seen my favorite hot weather tents. You might be wondering why I chose these five, or maybe you’re headed to the store to look at some tents.

Either way, read on to learn what makes a great hot weather tent.

Season Rating

The most important thing to pay attention to when looking for the best tent for hot weather is the season rating.

Season ratings indicate what kind of weather a tent is best suited for.

For camping in hot weather, you’ll want to go for a 3-season tent. These can be used during the summer, as well as late spring and early fall.

You might be saying: “hang on, why don’t I just get a 4 season tent that I can use all year round?”

Well, you see, the name is misleading.

4 season tents aren’t actually meant to be used all year round. They’re ideal for winter camping, as well as in late fall and early spring. This is because they’re designed primarily to withstand cold weather conditions.

It would be terribly difficult to stay cool in a 4 season tent if you were using it in the middle of a scorching summer.

So, make sure the tent you choose for your next summer camping trip has a 3 season rating OR a tent that has a versatile fabric that can be used year-round like canvas.

Additional reading: 3 Season vs 4 Season Tents: What’s The Difference?

Protection

Find a tent that has sturdy zippers and seals up completely. When the heat waves of summer loom over the land, various creatures come out to play.

Pesky mosquitos are usually the worst offender. But, there’s always the possibility that more sinister critters may sneak up on you. Giant desert centipedes — common in the southwest — are most active in hot areas. Famed wildlife educator Coyote Peterson said that they possess the most painful bite on the planet.

Paying extra for a secure tent is a worthwhile investment to keep you and your family safe from the threats that come with hot climates.

Ventilation

When building a desktop computer, you should always choose a case that provides good airflow. The same logic applies when selecting a tent for hot weather.

Adept ventilation is key to an enjoyable camping experience despite the hot weather.

Try to find a tent that contains some mesh elements as these will have better ventilation than tents without mesh. Just ensure that the mesh is tight enough that bugs won’t get in.

Controlled vents are always a bonus when you’re picking out a tent for hot weather camping, as they will allow you to adjust how much air you want to let in.

Material

When choosing a tent for hot weather, you must pick a material that’s up for the job. Different materials react differently to heat.

Nylon tends to retain heat and thus increase the internal temperature of your tent. In contrast, other materials such as canvas are better at releasing heat into the air. Therefore, canvas will keep the inside of your tent far cooler.

That being said, canvas is way heavier than synthetic materials like nylon and polyester, and far more expensive too. For that reason, a 3 season nylon tent will still be the best option for a lot of people.

Breathable materials will also reduce the amount of condensation that builds up at night when things cool down. That way you don’t roll over onto any damp spots while getting some shuteye in preparation for the fun ahead.

Size

Getting a tent that’s big enough is always a priority. That rule of thumb is even more crucial when your campground feels like it’s under a giant magnifying glass.

Larger tents will be cooler because there’s more air inside — giving the heat more room to dissipate. If you cheap out and get a tiny tent, then you’ll feel like you’re inside an oven as the heat builds up in your little cubby-hole.

The natural body heat that humans generate is also more pronounced when multiple people are crammed together in a small tent.

Bear in mind that straight walls will increase the amount of space in your tent. That’s why you should look at the shape of the tent in addition to the size.

Screen Room

Tents with screen rooms are generally more expensive. That said, this investment can pay off big-time when you’re trying to have fun camping while the sun batters you with its solar fury.

These screen rooms work wonders for ventilation and provide a safe space that you can go to if you feel smothered inside the tent. They also make for the perfect spot to store wet gear such as fishing rods or socks, as the increased airflow will quickly dry everything out.

From my personal experience, I can tell you that pets love this area too. My boys once brought their cousin’s corgi along on one of our camping trips, since my brother’s family was on an overseas vacation.

That little ball of fluff spent most of his time in the screen room enjoying the breeze. Bear in mind this was the middle of summer, so the temperatures were pretty up there — but he didn’t seem bothered one bit.

Color

Picking a tent with a lighter color like yellow or orange is advised if you plan to use it primarily in hot conditions. A lighter shade will reflect more of the sun’s heat and thus keep your tent cool during the day.

If you only use your tent during the night, then you shouldn’t notice much of a difference. However, maybe you’re like me and tend to sleep in after a long day of hiking.

In that case, getting a lighter color is the best way to ensure you don’t wake up feeling like you slept in a toaster.

FAQs

Are there any tents made specifically for hot weather?

As you can see from our list, there are many models specially designed to make camping in hot weather more bearable.

They use various approaches from Coleman’s Dark Room Technology to utilizing superior materials like canvas fabric to keep the temperature inside the tent as cool as possible.

How do I keep my tent cool in hot weather?

It’s always best to pitch your tent in a shady and breezy spot, as that will help you lower the temperature inside.

Make sure that you utilize all of the ventilation capabilities that your tent offers by opening windows and producing as much airflow through the tent as you possibly can.

You can also use a tent fan to improve airflow inside the tent and make it more comfortable.

Can you cool a tent with AC?

Yes, you can use a portable air conditioner to cool down your tent.

Just keep in mind that you’ll need a power source, so that will only work on a campground with power outlets or if you have a portable power station like the EcoFlow DELTA 2.

Will a fan cool a tent?

That depends on the tent’s cooling capacity as well as the size of the tent.

If you have a large, family tent, then several hanging tent fans might be what you need.

Read: How To Cool A Tent Without Electricity: Staying Comfortable Tent Camping

Are canvas tents good for hot weather?

Canvas tents are excellent for hot weather, as the fabric is much more breathable.

This means it creates better airflow, which also allows for better temperature regulation. They tend to remain cooler for much longer once the sun comes up.

Our Verdict

As you can see, camping in hot weather can still be fun when you get the right tent for the job. There are quite a few to choose from, but we hope that it’ll be easier for you to do so after reading about all the key factors.

After ranking over a hundred tents, we found the White Duck Prota Canvas Cabin Tent Deluxe to be the best tent for hot weather.

Its superior ventilation and breathable duck canvas fabric make it a real winner on hot summer days.

It might be a bit expensive, but it’s worth it if you plan on spending a lot of time camping in hot (or cold) weather.