Best 3-Room Tent for Camping With More Space

Last updated: February 13th, 2023

Short on time? Our pick for the best 3-room tent is the Core 12-Person Instant Cabin Tent.

How to choose the best 3-room tent for your next group adventure with family or friends.

It’s fun camping with big groups of friends or family, but I get exhausted not having privacy for an entire weekend (or longer on some trips).  

This is why the best kind of tent for larger groups is a multi-room tent, especially a 3-room tent that gives you plenty of space.

3-room family camping tents are ideal for large family trips, festival camping with big groups of friends, or just keeping the peace between tent mates on a long trip.

The organization of having different rooms also means more open space since your sleeping bags won’t be sprawled everywhere.

There are many different options for tents with three rooms, so we’ve broken down our list into the best multi-room tents for all sorts of camping styles.

Whether you’re looking for cheap 3-room tents or luxury multi-room family tents, there’s something for everyone on this list.

Note: this post contains affiliate links, which help run this site at no extra cost to you so I can keep providing free travel advice and tips.

#1 Core 12-Person Instant Cabin Tent

Best Family Camping Tent

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Floor area: 180 ft²
Weight: 47.8 lbs
Height: 80 inches
Capacity: 12 people
Waterproof: No, but water-resistant
Doors: 2
Features: Instant setup, mesh ceiling panels, and electrical cord port

The Core 12-Person Instant Cabin Tent is a great overall pick for a family camping trip. In fact, it’s our pick for the best 3-room family tent on this list. 

As a 12-person, 3-room instant cabin tent, it sets up in a flash and has space inside for everyone.

It comes with T and D-shaped doors in the front and back, a removable rain fly, mesh ceiling panels, and ground and ceiling vents for better airflow.

The Core 12-Person Instant Cabin Tent also features two room dividers and space for up to three queen air beds. Plus, the three rooms easily connect if you want a large open floorplan.

The one downside to this tent is that while it’s a great casual summer camping tent with three rooms, it won’t keep you dry in a serious rainstorm.

The Core 12-Person Instant Tent is also a little more expensive than your standard low-end Walmart tent. 

However, steel poles and durable construction make this 12-person, 3-room instant tent worth every penny.

Overall, the Core 12-Person Instant Tent is the best choice if you want a simple and reliably big 3-room instant tent for the whole family.

#2 Ozark Trail 16-Person Hazel Creek Tent 

Best Tent With a Screened Porch

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Floor area: 230 ft²
Weight: 43.7 lbs
Height: 80 inches
Capacity: 16 people
Waterproof: Yes
Doors: 3
Features: Screen room, mesh windows, and two-room dividers

If you’re looking for a multi-room tent with a porch area, the Ozark Trail 16-Person Hazel Creek tent is the best pick. It has a huge front room and a lot of space.

This multi-room cabin tent comes with two room dividers and plenty of doors, windows, and vents.

Multiple doors are strategically placed so you can enter or exit this Ozark Trail tent from any room.

And with nine closable windows and mesh panels, it has a lot of ventilation for a 3-room tent.

But what really makes this Ozark Trail tent stand out is that it’s a 3-room tent with a screened porch.

It has one of the largest screen rooms on this list that can also function as a sleeping space, making it more flexible if you have a big family. 

The screen room is so big that this is easily the best 3-bedroom tent with a full living room area. You can lounge all evening, safely protected from annoying mosquitoes.

Otherwise, if you don’t need that big of a 3-room tent, the Ozark Trail 10-Person Family Tent is the next best thing.

#3 L-Shaped Ozark Trail 12-Person Instant Cabin Tent

Best Cabin Tent

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Floor area: 256 ft²
Weight: 55.2 lbs
Height: 82 inches
Capacity: 12 people
Waterproof: Yes
Doors: 2
Features: Instant setup, awning over both entrances, and each bedroom fits a queen mattress

If you’re looking for a 3-room tent for camping with a unique layout, the Ozark Trail L-Shaped Instant Cabin Tent is a clever option.

As the name suggests, the layout of this tent is L-shaped, but it has an awning stretching from either end so the total footprint of the tent and awning is still a square shape.

This Ozark Trail tent has one massive rectangular door and one double D-shaped door, which both open under the awning. 

Having two doors is super nice when you don’t want to step over everyone else’s sleeping bags to get in and out of the tent.

And as a 3-room instant cabin tent, the interior is wide and spacious. Each room has a rectangular floor plan big enough for a queen-size mattress. 

Plus, with so much space and an intelligent layout, it’s a versatile tent no matter your group size. 

If you’re camping with a group of four and only need two rooms, the center room can be used for interior storage so that the two bedrooms are on opposite sides of the tent. 

This Ozark Trail tent also features instant pitch technology, proving that having a giant 3-room, 12-person instant tent doesn’t have to equal a stressful setup. 

Lastly, the floor vents are AC compatible and can be opened while the rain fly is on to enjoy fresh air even during light rain.

With all of these unique features at a reasonable price, this tent offers you the ultimate bang for your buck.

#4 Ozark Trail 16-Person Cabin Tent for Camping

Best Tent With a Living Room Area

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Floor area: 240 ft²
Weight: 48.9 lbs
Height: 83 inches
Capacity: 16 people
Waterproof: No, but weather-resistant
Doors: 3
Features: Unique Y floor pattern, foyer, technology pocket, and electrical cord port

If you’re looking for the biggest of big multi-room tents, look no further than this tent.

The Ozark Trail 16-Person Tent has enough room for everyone and can be divided to create up to three individual and spacious rooms.

Unlike traditional tunnel tents and dome tents where everyone sleeps in rows, this tent has three wings, each with its own door for easy entry. 

And it can hold up to four air mattresses, meaning that no one has to sleep on the ground on your next big camping trip.

The main room and foyer make up the communal living space. 

You can relax in the living room during the day and easily crawl into bed once the marshmallows are gone, all without having to deal with bugs or too much sun exposure.

There are also six windows and a full mesh ceiling for excellent ventilation (essential for a large group of friends or family).

In addition, there are special gear storage pockets designed to keep your tablet or phone safe from morning dew or someone stepping on it. 

Unfortunately, this isn’t a pop-up tent–the average setup time is about 20 minutes. However, if you have adults or older children willing to help set it up, this shouldn’t be a problem.

Although there’s a rain fly for this tent, it’s definitely a summer tent. It only has 600mm waterproofing, which is well below being waterproof.

If there’s any chance of rain, I’d recommend applying a waterproof spray before heading out.

#5 Bushnell Shield Series Tent

Best Instant Tent

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Floor area: 198 ft²
Weight: 58 lbs
Height: 80 inches
Capacity: 12 people
Waterproof: No, but water-resistant
Doors: 2
Features: Large front awning, floor vents, and electrical cord port

If a lightning-fast setup is your priority, the Bushnell Shield Series Tent will be your best friend.

This 12-person, 3-room instant camping tent sets up easily and provides indoor-like comfort with high-quality materials.

The tent comes with pre-attached poles, so setup is a breeze and even possible to do by yourself (although it’ll take longer).

The Bushnell Shield Series 3-room instant cabin tent also has large closable windows, a gear loft, and an awning over the main door when the rainfly is on.

I especially like that the windows zip up from the bottom to the top, so you can easily gauge the amount of privacy and airflow you want. 

And if you’re camping in the heat of summer, you’ll appreciate this tent’s Heat Shield Technology. 

This is a special silver coating on the inside of the rainfly, which helps reflect sun rays and keeps the tent cool. 

You can keep this tent even cooler by setting up AC units in the ground-level vents. Or if it’s dry out, you can take off the rainfly for optimal ventilation.

Overall, the variety of features on this tent makes it one of the best multi-room tents around. It’ll truly make you feel like you’re living the sweet life while camping.

#6 Coleman Rocky Mountain Tunnel Tent

Best Tent for Rain

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Floor area: 119.5 ft²
Weight: 37 lbs
Height: 72.4 inches
Capacity: 5 people
Waterproof: Yes
Doors: 1 (plus 2 internal bedroom doors)
Features: 4500mm HH waterproofing, dark room material, and fully divided bedrooms

If you’re like me, the camping season isn’t restricted to June through September. And the rainy season is when the Coleman Rocky Mountain Tunnel Tent shines. 

In California, we spend most of the year worrying about drought. But if you like camping in neighboring states (cough, cough, Oregon), you’ll stay bone dry in this tent. 

If you haven’t been caught in an unexpected rainstorm before, let’s just say that weather resistance is key to avoiding arguments between tent mates and heading home early.

The waterproof rating for this tent is 4500mm HH, which is double the standard for waterproof tents. 

One small downside is that the rainfly is built in. Usually, I recommend a tent with a full coverage rainfly because the double layer helps prevent condensation on the inner tent walls. 

But in this case, the high-quality materials and trustworthy weather resistance are more than enough.

Aside from not feeling raindrops on your head, you’ll also be able to sleep in thanks to the black-out material. 

And don’t worry if your friends in the other room wake up first. Unlike in most three-room tents, the room dividers are floor-to-ceiling with individual doors. 

I also really like that you have an actual living space to store food and supplies out of the elements without taking up sleeping space. 

If you need something larger than this 3-room Coleman tent, the CAMPROS CP Tent can also stand up to inclement weather.

#7 Ozark Trail 12-Person Hazel Creek Tent

Best Luxury Tent

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Floor area: 180 ft²
Weight: 65.2 lbs
Height: 84 inches
Capacity: 12 people
Waterproof: Yes
Doors: 1
Features: Two closets, mud mat, rolling carry bag, cabin appearance, and LED string lights included

The Ozark Trail 12-Person Hazel Creek Tent is so luxurious you’ll basically feel like you’re indoors. 

It’s a behemoth of a tent, looking more like a cabin than a tent with a pitched roof, straight walls, and cabin-style doors and windows.

And it’s not just the shape that makes it luxurious.

This Ozark Trail 3-room tent comes packed with features including LED lights, a mud mat, and closets.

There are also hanging organizers, corner organizers, mesh storage pockets, and even a phone/tablet pocket for charging electronics.

One room divider is even coated in silver on one side so it can be used as a movie screen.

This Ozark Trail tent also features heavy-duty steel poles that can withstand wind and freezing temperatures. And thanks to the wheeled carry bag, it’s still pretty portable.

Overall, the Ozark Trail 12-Person Hazel Creek Tent blows the other family tents with rooms out of the water in terms of glamping. It feels like you’re in a real cabin, not just a tent.

Not to mention, how cool does it look to set up your own “private cabin” at camp?

#8 Ozark Trail 10-Person Family Tent

Best Tent Under $200

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Floor area: 137 ft²
Weight: 25.6 lbs
Height: 80 inches
Capacity: 10 people
Waterproof: No, but water-resistant
Doors: 1 (enter through the screened porch)
Features: Gear loft, media sleeve, front screen room, and modified dome tent shape

If you want some luxuries but you’re on a budget, the Ozark Trail 10-Person Family Tent is one of the best multi-room tents you can buy.

While it’s under $200, it still has premium features like a mud mat, a screen room, and a lot of gear storage.

The Ozark Trail Family Tent is more of a dome tent than a cabin tent.

However, it’s still tall with a peak height of nearly seven feet to stand up inside. It’s also pretty lightweight for its size.

One thing to note if you’re specifically looking for tents with multiple rooms is that this Ozark Trail tent comes with privacy dividers instead of full walls.

It provides just enough privacy inside the tent for large group camping, but it doesn’t offer maximum separation between the rooms.

With that said, for a 10-person tent, the Ozark Trail Family Tent is exceptionally cheap, especially for a well-known and reliable brand.

Overall, this tent is the best 3-room camping tent for someone prioritizing low weight or trying to stick to a budget.

#9 Bushnell Sport Series

Best Tent With Standing Room

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Floor area: 200 ft²
Weight: 46 lbs
Height: 84 inches
Capacity: 12 people
Waterproof: Yes
Doors: 3
Features: Fits four queen-size mattresses, large storage pockets, and mesh ceiling

Most people prioritize floor area when picking out a spacious tent.

For taller campers or those looking to maximize space overall, ceiling height is another important concern.

With seven feet of standing height, the Bushnell Sport Series 12-Person Tent is one of the tallest tents you’ll find.

The Bushnell Sport Series 12-Person Tent is an all-around capable tent, with features like mesh ceiling panels, a removable waterproof rain fly, a massive gear organizer, and three doors.

The three doors are especially ideal for easy access to each room. 

When you have to pee in the middle of the night, it’s easy to sneak out without crossing through other rooms. With two doors, you might have to pass through someone else’s room.

Unlike the zippered room dividers in the Bushnell Shield Series tent, it’s a little harder to move between rooms inside the tent. This is because the Sport Series has solid divider walls.

This is a minor flaw if you think of the rooms as separate bedrooms though. 

Unlike some other 12-person cabin tents, this three-room tent comfortably sleeps 12 in sleeping bags with extra floor space to walk around and store gear. Or you can easily fit four queen air mattresses.

And unlike many other tents that reach their peak height in just one area, the Bushnell is seven feet high throughout the tent.

This means everyone can move around easily and stretch out.

Overall, if standing height is your primary concern, the Bushnell Sport Series is the best 3-room tent for your family.

#10 CAMPROS CP Tent

Best Tunnel Tent

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Floor area: 169 ft²
Weight: 24.3 lbs
Height: 72 inches
Capacity: 12 people
Waterproof: No, but water-resistant
Doors: 2
Features: Water-resistant rain fly, mesh roof, and lightweight compared to other 3-room tents of this size

The CAMPROS CP Tent is best for those trips where you want all of the basics taken care of without a complicated setup or the need to spend an arm and a leg.

This tent is made with 1000mm HH fabric, which is nearly twice as water-resistant as many of the other 3-room tents on this list. 

So, if your Girl Scout troop wants to earn their camping badges but the forecast calls for rain, everyone can cuddle up inside to watch a movie. The room dividers work great as projection screens.

And during the summer, they can learn the constellations through the mesh roof.

One thing to note is that it’s a bit cramped as a 12-person camping tent for adults, but the kids can pile in. 

It offers all of the water resistance, ventilation, and portability necessary for a fun weekend at a price that will allow you to actually relax. 

If you’re looking for something affordable and easy to set up, the CAMPROS is the best 3-room tent option.

#11 Coleman Connectable Tent

Best Connectable Tent

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Floor area: Variable
Weight: 43.3 lbs
Height: 73 inches
Capacity: 3-9 people (more with add-ons)
Waterproof: Yes
Doors: 4
Features: Connectable with up to three other tents and has an electrical cord port

Can’t decide between a 6-person or a 9-person tent? The Coleman Connectable Tent has you covered.

If you want a truly flexible 3-room tent system, this is the way to go.

The Coleman Connectable Tent comes with one large six-person main tent and one three-person connectable tent.

The main tent fits two queen-size mattresses and the three-person tent holds one.

Plus, you can connect up to three smaller tents to the main tent, which means you can have a 9, 12, or 15-person tent depending on your needs. 

Or go wild and make a village by connecting multiple 6-person tents with 3-person tent offshoots. Everyone can have their own camping pod!

The dividers between the tents are full coverage and zip-closable (like the doors on a tent), which are better than a simple fabric divider. They offer maximum privacy between rooms.

Connection points between tents are also waterproof, which is the advantage of these connectable tents instead of setting two separate tents side-by-side.

There’s also Coleman’s Weathertec waterproofing system, welded floors, plenty of space for gear storage, and an extended awning that covers the doors. 

And on hot and dry trips, the abundance of mesh windows and mesh ceiling panels means plenty of fresh air for everyone.

Buying Guide: What to Look for in a 3-Person Tent

Size

When shopping for tents, it’s best to overestimate how much space you’ll need.

If you’re camping with four people, pick a five or six-person tent to make sure you’ll have enough room for everyone along with their gear.

I also recommend choosing a cabin tent because the near-vertical walls will create a more spacious feel than your old dome-shaped camping tent.

Standing Height

Most three-room tents are tall enough to stand inside. However, some have sloping sides, so there’s a limited area that’s full height.

If headspace is a priority or you’re camping with tall people, make sure to pick a tent with vertical walls so there’s adequate standing height throughout the entire tent.

Also, make sure your tent is at least 75 or 76 inches (6’3” or 6’4”) so people have room to move around under the gear loft or lantern that usually hangs from the ceiling.

Ventilation

Ventilation is key in a tent for camping with larger groups.

Look for models with vents on both the ceiling and ground level for the best airflow throughout the tent.

Also, be sure that each of the tent rooms has a vent or a window, even with all the dividers up.

Removable Room Dividers

The most flexible tents with 3 rooms have multiple dividers that can be added or removed as necessary.

While some room dividers zip into place, others simply tie in with hooks or just swing closed like a curtain.

In general, dividers with a zipper closure will offer the most reliable separation and privacy.

Number of Doors

Having more doors is always better!

Aim for at least two doors and preferably a door for every compartment of the tent. Trust me, a three-room camping tent with only one door will be a pain to enter and exit.

Weatherproofness

Not every tent needs to be weatherproof!

Don’t waste your money on a rugged tent if all you need is a simple family tent with rooms for fair-weather car camping.

If you need serious weather resistance, choose a model with a large rain fly that covers most of the tent (no zip-closed windows), and make sure the fabric is waterproof-treated.

While water is usually the most common weather problem, high winds are also a challenge for a large tent.

Choose a tunnel or a dome tent with a lot of guy out points to stand up best to the wind.

Durability

Most family tents with rooms just aren’t that tough. They’re designed for short, minimally demanding trips.

If you need a more durable 3-room shelter, make sure yours has seam-sealed, double-stitched seams and uses aluminum or steel poles instead of weaker fiberglass poles.

In general, tents made by well-known outdoor brands like Coleman will be the most durable.

Price

You can easily find a basic 3-room tent for around $250 from a brand like Ozark Trail or Coleman.

However, massive, ultra-luxurious cabin tents like the Ozark Trail 12-Person Hazel Creek can cost over $400.

The largest tents aren’t necessarily the most expensive. Those made with the most modern, high-quality materials, like ultralight nylon and aluminum, ring in at the highest price point.

How Easy it is to Set-Up

The easiest 3-room tents to set up are instant tents. This type of tent generally comes with pre-attached poles that simply move into place when they’re unfolded.

Most traditional tents are fairly easy to set up nowadays, but it’s still time-consuming to set up a large tent, so a 3-room instant cabin tent is nice for a quick and easy setup. 

Weight & Portability

A tent large enough to have three rooms is likely pretty heavy. Even the lightest three-room tents are usually over 20 pounds. Luckily, wheeled carry bags make them more portable. 

If weight and portability are important to you, a connectable tent is a good choice since you won’t have to lug the whole thing around in one piece.

Extra Features

As a bare minimum, almost all tents should have a rain fly and plenty of interior storage pockets. Extra things like having huge doors and an easy setup make life easier. 

If you’re investing in a three-room tent, don’t cut yourself short by not having enough space or only one door. Look for extra features that make camping more fun and comfortable.

These could include a screen room or awning for a central room to hang out away from the sun or bugs. 

Fancy bells and whistles like integrated LED lights and projector screens are also great, but they aren’t as important as a well-placed door, room divider, or key ventilation points.

Looking for other styles of tents? Check out our guides to the best 2-person tents, 4-person tents, 6-person tents, 8-person tents, 10-person tents, 12-person tents, large camping tents, instant tents, pop-up tents, inflatable tents, canvas tents, waterproof tents, insulated tents, winter tents, tents with stove jacks, tunnel tents, and cabin tents.

FAQs About 3-Room Tents

Why Buy a 3-Room Tent?

If you want to make sure everyone has enough space, camping tents with 3 rooms tend to be larger and more well-organized for large groups.

You should have space for both campers and gear in a tent with three rooms.

The way I see it, no matter how much space a camping tent has, it won’t feel large enough if you don’t have your own space to get a moment alone. 

The magic of 3-room tents is that you have the simplicity of pitching one tent and the privacy of three separate rooms. 

Three separate rooms mean campers can change, sleep, or just get some space without disturbing one another.

And if you’re camping with a smaller group, the third room can be used for organizing gear or set up as a living room, while the other two rooms are just for sleeping. 

That extra room is handy when you want to leave gear readily available without taking up sleeping space or leaving it outside.

The best multi-room tent will give you a palatial setup at camp, with space for hanging out inside in case of bad weather or too many mosquitoes.

How Big is a 3-Room Tent?

Most 3-room tents weigh at least 40 lbs and many come in over 50 lbs, although there are lighter three-room tents as well. 

Luckily, many of these camping tents have wheeled carry bags to make them easier to move around.

Once set up, most are about six feet high and have a floor area of around 150-200 square feet.

How Much Does a 3-Room Tent Cost?

Because they’re so large, three-room tents can get expensive. The average three-room tent will run $200-$400. 

If you want the absolute best 3-room tent for camping in serious weather or with luxury features, expect to spend over $400.

How Long Does a 3-Room Tent Last? 

As with all camping tents, the lifespan of your three-room tent depends on the materials it’s made from, the weather conditions you’re camping in, and how you care for it. 

If you’re going for longevity and you can afford to buy something a little nicer, look for aluminum or steel poles. Fiberglass poles are lighter weight, but more likely to snap.

Make sure the seams are sealed and the zippers are of good quality around the doors and mesh windows.

The weather that you’re camping in will also affect how long your tent lasts. A week of wind and torrential rain will put a strain on your tent differently from a week of mild sunshine. 

You can also extend the longevity of your tent by keeping it clean and making repairs promptly when they occur. Most notably, avoid trekking mud inside and don’t put it away wet. 

Re-waterproofing three-room tents inside and out is another sure way to help the tent fabric last longer.

We don’t usually think about the sun breaking down tent materials, but adding a coat of UV protection and waterproofing will help your tent withstand the elements for years to come.

Are Removable or Fixed Dividers Better?

In general, removable dividers offer more flexibility. Fixed dividers are always up and make it so you have permanently separated rooms. 

While you have more privacy with fixed dividers, you also have fewer options for how you want to configure the sleeping spaces. 

Removable dividers are usually a solid sheet that hooks or clips to the walls. 

They aren’t as convenient for passing from room to room, but they work well nonetheless for making multiple tent rooms.

If privacy is your main priority, go with fixed dividers. I suggest looking for room dividers that are sewn to the sides of a tent and then have a zipper down the center. 

That way you can fold the dividers back similar to how you would a curtain or zip them closed for floor-to-ceiling privacy. 

Conclusion: What is the Best 3-Room Tent?

The best 3-room tent is always going to be the best one for your needs.

However, for casual summer camping trips, I recommend the Core 12-Person Instant Cabin Tent.

The Core 12-Person Instant Cabin Tent has tons of floor space and near-vertical walls. No one will be cramped or need to hunch over to change in the morning. 

Most importantly, the instant setup makes camping easier. The less time you spend stressing about which pole goes where the more time you can spend toasting marshmallows. 

It’s also an excellent family camping tent for parents with little kids who aren’t quite ready to sleep in a fully separate tent. 

Plus, as far as instant cabin tents go, the Core 12-Person Instant Cabin Tent is very well-made and affordable. 

You can trust it to last season after season but not worry too much about spending an arm and a leg only to have the kids snap a pole. 

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