Sharing a tent with your mates can be good fun, but you don’t necessarily want to share everything with them in the process. For instance, you probably don’t want to share the view of you changing clothes inside your tent, the sight of you drooling on your pillow in the morning, or the spectacle of you headed for the door in the middle of the night in your underwear… Just to name a few.
And that’s where the best two room come into play. By simply splitting the interior of the tent with a wall or privacy divider, you get to have your cake and eat it too. Whether that means your friends or kids get their own room to sleep in, or you get a second room to your self for lounging away from buzzing insects!
After testing and analyzing all the most popular two room models currently available, we found the REI Co-op Wonderland 6 to be the best two room tent overall. We were smitten with the Wonderland’s outstanding interior space and top-notch material quality during our recent field test, which made it an easy winner for this roundup.
The Wonderland won’t be everyone’s first choice though, and that’s ok. Some campers don’t need room for six, some need as much space as possible, and some just want to add a second room to their outdoor experience without shelling out too much cash.
Whatever you’re looking for, rest assured there’s a tent in the list below that will get the job done. We’ll also note that if you’re new to two room tents, we’ve included a handy buyer’s guide down at the bottom of the article to help explain what makes these shelters special and what to look for in any tent you’re considering.
Alright, let’s talk tents!
| Tent | Benefits |
|---|---|
| REI Co-op Wonderland 6: Best Two Room Tent Overall | A spacious camping tent made from high quality materials. Smart two door layout with outstanding ventilation. See Review |
| The North Face Wawona 8: Highest Overall Quality | A plus-sized shelter with outstanding livability and weather protection. Massive pole supported front vestibule provides tons of protected exterior storage. See Review |
| Core 9 Person Instant Cabin: Best Two Room Tent On A Budget | A budget-friendly and spacious cabin tent with room to spare. Instant tent design goes up easy and can be pitched solo. See Review |
| Eureka Copper Canyon | A smart compromise between reliability and affordability. Quality materials and design make for a solid all-around package with great livability. See Review |
| Big Agnes Wyoming Trail 4 | A unique shelter with two separate bedrooms/ canopies under a single rainfly. Versatile fly packs plenty of covered storage and converts into a shady hangout in clear weather. See Review |
| Bushnell Shield 9 | Extra spacious instant cabin with elevated weather protection. Unique reflective fabric keeps interior darker and cooler during the day. See Review |
Best Two Room Tents
REI Co-op Wonderland 6: Best Two-Room Tent Overall
Specs:
– Weight: 22.9 lbs (10.4 kg)
– Packed size: 32” x 13” x 13” (81cm x 33cm x 33cm)
– Floor size: 120” x 100” (305cm x 254cm)
– Peak height: 75” (191cm)
– Number of compartments: 2
– Modulable compartments: Yes
– Occupancy: 6 person
– Shape: Tunnel
– Best for: Three season car camping
– Price: $$
We brought REI’s new flagship shelter along for the ride on our recent camping tent field test, and came away thoroughly impressed with just about every aspect of the new tent. Livability and quality are both top notch here, so if you’re looking for a two-room option, this is the one to beat.
Our favorite part of our time with the REI Wonderland 6 was its abundance of interior space. REI gave the Wonderland 6 a “tunnel style” layout, which translates to stand-up height ceilings and a ton of shoulder room throughout the shelter. We also love that the Wonderland converts from its “one big room” layout into a two room cabin using a zippable privacy divider. Each room gets its own door on either end of the tent, so you don’t have to step over your friends to get out if you end up in the back room.
The other major highlight here is outright material quality, which goes toe-to-toe with the best in the business. The poles are all lightweight and sturdy aluminum, and have been triangulated around the ground vents for added strength in windy conditions. Ventilation is outstanding as well, and we found the new ground level windows did a great job of keeping air circulating through the tent overnight.
All things considered, we love the Wonderland (especially when REI puts it on sale), but we can’t help being disappointed that they designed it with partial-coverage awnings rather than a full-length fly and at least one storage vestibule. Don’t get us wrong here, the Wonderland is completely watertight (including those windows down by the floor) and the open awning helps boost ventilation, but rainproof exterior storage is a great feature to have when the weather doesn’t want to cooperate.
| Pros: | Cons: |
| – Spacious floor plan with extra headroom – Separate doors for each room – High quality materials and reliable waterproofing | – Storage vestibule sold separately – Would prefer a full coverage rainfly – Bit expensive when not on sale |
The North Face Wawona 8: Highest Overall Quality
Specs:
– Weight: 24.2 lbs (11 kg)
– Packed size: 37” x 10” x 10” (94cm x 25cm x 25cm)
– Floor size: 168” x 96” (427cm x 244cm)
– Peak height: 78” (109cm)
– Number of compartments: 2+
– Modulable compartments: Yes
– Occupancy: 8 person
– Shape: Dome
– Best for: Three season car camping
– Price: $$$
If you’ve been keeping up with The Wise Adventurer, you’ll know we’re huge fans of The North Face’s Wawona line of tents. Their outstanding Wawona 6 took top honors in our recent camping tent field test, so naturally we were beyond stoked when TNF rolled out a two-room version, the North Face Wawona 8.
We’re loving the Wawona 8 because it retains all the high quality materials of the smaller versions including tough fabrics, upgraded DAC MX poles, and reliable weatherproofing, but adds in another 26 square feet of floor space for an incredibly luxurious car camping experience.
The layout of the Wawona 8 is another highlight for us. Each room gets its own private side exit, while a shared third door at the front of the shelter leads out into a covered vestibule. Speaking of the vestibule, just like the Wawona 6 before it, The North Face built a massive amount of exterior storage into the Wawona 8’s pole-supported vestibule, which allows you to store large/bulky items like bicycles or furniture, while maximizing rainy-day ventilation via the mesh panels on the front door.
We don’t really have any complaints with the Wawona 8. This is a well-priced tent for its size and quality that’s loaded with premium features and boasts outstanding weather protection. Our only gripe here is that because the pole-supported vestibule is an integral part of the tent’s rainfly, setup can take a bit longer than traditional camping tents.
| Pros: | Cons: |
| – Massive floor plan with a smart three-door layout – Outstanding rainfly/vestibule design packs tons of exterior storage space – High quality materials and reliable protection from wind and rain | – Pole supported vestibule requires a little extra effort to setup |
Core 9 Person Instant Cabin: Best On A Budget
Specs:
– Weight: 27.6 lbs (12.5 kg)
– Packed size: 48” x 11” x 12” (122cm x 28cm x 30cm)
– Floor size: 168” x 108” (427cm x 274cm)
– Peak height: 78” (198cm)
– Number of compartments: 2
– Modulable compartments: Yes
– Occupancy: 9 person
– Shape: Cabin
– Best for: Three season car camping
– Price: $
Looking to add a second room without doubling your costs? The Core 9 Person Instant Cabin is the two room tent to beat on a shoestring budget.
Cost effective? Absolutely. Cheap? Absolutely not.
Thanks to pre-attached poles and locking hubs, the Core 9 Person goes from packed to pitched in about five minutes. This translates to a massive cabin tent that can be easily pitched solo, and we love that Core added this feature without adding on to the price tag.
The Instant Cabin also boasts above-average ventilation at any price, thanks in part to its dual ground-level vents on either end of the shelter. This creates the same “chimney effect” that we love on our best overall tent, but does it for about half the cost.
As is often the case with budget-focused tents, our main gripe with the Instant Cabin is its material quality. Core uses a comparatively simple 68D polyester throughout this tent, which is common for lightweight backpacking tents, but leaves something to be desired on a large family camping tent like this one. We’ll also note that while Core’s “H2O Block” treatment punches well above its price point in terms of weather protection, the Instant Cabin is relegated to a 600mm hydrostatic head rating, which means you’ll likely want to add a coat of Nikwax to the fabric before taking it into anything gnarlier than light rain.
| Pros: | Cons: |
| – Tons of space for the money – Surprising number of livability features – Instant tent designs goes up in minutes | – Thinner materials than we’d like – Not ideal for heavy rains or strong winds |
Eureka Copper Canyon LX 8
Specs:
– Weight: 34 lbs (15.4 kg)
– Packed size: 29” x 11” x 11” (74cm x 28cm x 28cm)
– Floor size: 156” x 120” (396cm x 305cm)
– Peak height: 84” (213cm)
– Number of compartments: 2
– Modulable compartments: Yes
– Occupancy: 8 person
– Shape: Cabin
– Best for: Three season car camping
– Price: $$
Eureka gave their much-loved Copper Canyon line of camping tents a full refresh last year, and the latest version of the Eureka Copper Canyon LX 8 features new 84” ceilings, even more interior storage, and (most importantly) a two-room layout with a modular privacy divider running right down the center.
Material quality is still the same high quality we’ve come to love from Eureka, and while the Copper Canyon is specced with lower-than-average 75D polyester, the LX8 has a well-documented reputation for lasting for years and years of frequent use. The frame is made of a hybrid steel/fiberglass design, with steel uprights and a fiberglass roof, but everything looks and feels high quality and built to last.
We also love that Eureka absolutely nailed the floor layout on this one. Each of the tent’s rooms is spacious with plenty of room for a queen mattress, and each one also has its own door for a private entry/exit in the middle of the night.
The biggest bummer for us here is that the Copper Canyon uses a partial-coverage rainfly, which does a great job of shielding the mesh ceiling, but offers no exterior storage for your boots, packs, or firewood. We’ll also note that while the LX8 is fairly priced for its size, features, and overall build quality, a full aluminum poleset and some sturdier stakes would really sweeten the deal.
| Pros: | Cons: |
| – Reliable material quality and weatherproofing – Smart layout gives each room its own door – Excellent interior storage | – Minimal rainfly coverage – Fiberglass roof poles |
Big Agnes Wyoming Trail 4
Specs:
– Weight: 22.4 lbs (10.2 kg)
– Packed size: 26” x 17” x 10” (66cm x 43cm x 25cm)
– Floor size: 175” x 90” (445cm x 229cm)
– Peak height: 70” (178cm)
– Number of compartments: 3
– Modular compartments: Yes
– Occupancy: 4
– Shape: Dome/Tunnel
– Best for: Three season car camping
– Price: $$$
The Big Agnes Wyoming Trail 4 is one of the more unique shelters we’ve ever seen. By combining two modular clip-in bedrooms under a single shared rainfly, the Wyoming opens up an array of versatile possibilities for campers.
Couples with two children have the option of keeping the kids close by without actually having to share a room with them. Motorcycle campers can park their bikes under the fly and sleep on the opposite side of the tent. Heck the fly itself actually functions independently of either canopy, which allows you to use it as a shady hangout spot with dual convertible awnings for ventilation.
We also love that in typical Big Agnes fashion, no corners were cut here in terms of material quality, design, or weatherproofing. The Wyoming uses beefy DAC aluminum poles throughout its construction, and the canopies, floors, and fly are all made from burly polyester taffeta fabric. Waterproofing is absolutely bombproof, the streamlined shape and triangulated guylines deliver great wind resistance, and Big Agnes even includes 14 of their excellent “Dirt Dagger” ultralight anchors in the bag.
The main drawback to the Wyoming Trail 4 is its price, as this is a pretty serious investment, especially for a shelter that only sleeps four campers. We’ll also note that the peak height of the vestibule isn’t quite standup level for taller campers (it tops out at 70”), and both of the sleeping areas stick to a conservative 57” height for packability purposes.
| Pros: | Cons: |
| – Outstanding material quality – Modular design creates two completely separate rooms – Versatile center space for storage or relaxation | – Expensive for a four-person shelter – Lacks the standup height ceilings of other options |
Bushnell Shield 9
Specs:
– Weight: 44 lbs (20 kg)
– Packed size: 42” x 24” x 24” (106cm x 61cm x 61cm)
– Floor size: 180” x 108” (457cm x 274cm)
– Peak height: 78” (198cm)
– Number of compartments: 2
– Modulable compartments: Yes
– Occupancy: 9 person
– Shape: Cabin
– Best for: Three season car camping
– Price: $$
If you’re digging the simplicity of an instant cabin design but want a little more durability and/or weather protection, we’ve become big fans of Bushnell’s Shield series of instant tents. The Shield 9 is our favorite option in their lineup for a two-room shelter due to its massive floor plan and extra-tall ceilings.
As far as the material quality goes, we appreciate Bushnell building the Shield’s canopy and fly entirely from 150D polyester, while the floor gets an even tougher 240D spec polyester weave. We’ll also give Bushnell props for using steel poles throughout the Shield series lineup, which makes for a study frame without adding too much cost to the overall package.
Lastly, what really sets this tent apart from the rest is Bushnell’s unique rainfly, which uses a metallic silver backing to help reflect the sun’s rays during the day. This makes for a much cooler and much darker tent than you’re likely used to, which is great for sleeping in past sunrise after a late night. It’s also fully seam taped and impressively water repellant, so it handles light to moderate rain reliably as well.
You’ll have to pay a few dollars more than our top budget pick to call the Shield 9 your own, but the upgrade in material quality is worth every penny. We’d prefer to see at least one full-sized storage vestibule for the money here, but the Shield does feature an extended awning over the main door which works well enough for keeping boots dry in a light rain. Word to the wise: There have been a few owners reporting receiving tents with small holes in the floor, although the issue appears to have been resolved after 2021. For this reason we highly recommend setting your tent up in the backyard before taking it into the wild, and giving it a thorough inspection for peace of mind.
| Pros: | Cons: |
| – Elevated weather protection – Instant tent design for easy set-up – Above average interior space for a 9 person model | – Costs a bit more than our budget pick – No storage vestibule |
Buyer’s Guide For Two Room Tents
Clearly you’ve got no shortage of options to choose from out there when it comes to two room tents, and while we believe our top picks are the cream of the crop, they’re also just the tip of the iceberg. Whether you’re considering one of our favorites or another tent that didn’t make the cut, here are the criteria we use to evaluate any two room tent.
Space and Layout
Because two room tents use divided floorplans to create separate compartments, both the size and shape of the floor as well as the way it’s divided up will impact the usefulness and livability of your tent. We recommend taking two main considerations into account when evaluating your floor plan: Total space, and individual room size.
Your total space is important because it determines how many campers you’ll be able to sleep comfortably inside your shelter. Remember that tent sizes are determined by how many people can fit on the floor when using sleeping bags and standard-sized sleeping pads. If you’re wanting to sleep four people but want to split them up on two queen sized air mattresses, you’ll need a much larger tent.
As for individual room sizes, most two room tents split the floor straight down the middle, but there are a few that use asymmetrical room sizes for different purposes. Both have their pros and cons, but again, keep your ideal sleeping and/or living arrangement in mind when selecting a layout.
We’ll also note that while most two person tents use stowable/removable room dividers, others actually use two separate rooms that can’t be directly connected. Both designs have their place, but if you prefer the appeal of one large bug-protected space to hang out in, you’ll want to stick to modular designs with simple fabric room dividers.
Ventilation
Ventilation refers to your tent’s ability to circulate fresh air into the canopy and warm moist air out. The better a tent is ventilated, the more comfortable it will be, and the less condensation it will allow to build up on its walls.
When we evaluate the ventilation of a two room tent, we’re looking for as much mesh as possible inside the canopy (doors, windows, etc.) and as many covered vents as possible on the outer fly. Because most two room tents are mesh-heavy three-season designs, we put particular stress on the layout of the rainfly for this metric.
The best two person tents will have rainflys that incorporate pairs of pass-through vents near the top of the ceiling, as well as a few lower-level vents around the floor. This creates a natural path for cooler air to be pulled in from the bottom, and naturally rising hot air to escape from the top of the tent.
We’ll also note that tents with numerous well-placed guylines tend to ventilate better than those with fewer/more basic attachment points.That’s because in addition to adding stability to your shelter, taut guylines pull your tent’s fly out and away from the canopy, which maximizes ventilation by creating more airspace between the two layers.
Weather Resistance
As is the case with any good camping tent, reliable weather protection is a must in two room tents. Sleeping in a tent that leaks when it rains or collapses under heavy winds is a great way to damage your gear and/or sensitive electronics, and is also a surefire way to bring an early and unexpected conclusion to your camping trip.
To that end, we look for a few specific things when evaluating these shelters.
The first is highly waterproof fabric, as this is your first line of defense against the pouring rain. The water resistance of tent fabric is typically measured using a hydrostatic head test, which results in a rating expressed in millimeters. All you really need to know here is that the higher the number, the better protected your tent is, and we generally look for fabrics rated at 1,200mm or higher for peace of mind.
While we’re on the topic of fabrics, you’ll also want to ensure that all the exposed seams of your tent (those that will be vulnerable to direct rainfall) are fully seam taped. Seam tape is a plastic-like strip that’s woven into the seams of your rainfly, canopy, and tent floor, and it’s important because it effectively “seals off” all the little needle holes created when the panels are sewn together.
Lastly, we also put a heavy emphasis on the material and quality of a tent’s poles. The best two room tents use frames made entirely from aluminum, as this metal provides the best mix of low weight, high strength, and high wind resistance.
It’s also common to see both steel and fiberglass poles in these tents, and while we highly prefer aluminum, neither alternative is a deal breaker. Steel poles are a solid compromise between cost and durability, and while they weigh a bit more than their aluminum counterparts, they’ll typically hold up to several years of regular use.
Fiberglass poles are our least favorite of the bunch as they’re almost always more prone to breaking under stress. If you’re considering a tent with fiberglass poles, just make sure to do your homework and ensure they’re nice and thick, as thinner fiberglass has a habit of failing when things get windy.
Ease of Set-up
Most modern tents are remarkably easy to pitch, especially after you’ve been through the process a time or two. For this reason we generally don’t put too much weight on this metric, but if convenience is high on your priority list, we have a few features we recommend looking for.
Instant tent designs, for instance, utilize pre-attached poles and locking hubs, which allow you to pitch even extra-large tents in a few short minutes by simply unfolding them and locking them into place. These designs are considerably more complex than traditional collapsible poles however, so if you’re considering an instant tent, we recommend pitching and taking them down with care to get the most life out of them.
If you opt to stick with a traditional collapsible pole design, features like color-coded poles and sleeves, reflective guylines, and clip-in canopies can all help simplify the set-up process. When in doubt, we recommend reading through as many owner reviews as possible, as you’ll often find information on set-up times and common problem areas when pitching.
Durability
We evaluate a tent’s durability on two main metrics: The quality of its fabric and construction, and the quality of its pole/frame design. The most durable tents excel in both areas, so if you’re looking to invest in a shelter that will serve you well for years, here’s what to look for.
When it comes to camping tent fabrics, our general rule of thumb is the thicker the fabric, the longer it’ll last. There are a few other factors that affect the lifespan of your tent’s material like UV resistance and reinforced stitching, but we’ve always found tough fabric to be a great indicator of overall toughness. The key to look out here for is the “denier rating” of your tent fabrics, which are always expressed with a number followed by the letter “D” (100D, 150D, 300D, etc.). The higher the number, the tougher the material.
As for your tent’s poles, the best two room tents are made using all aluminum poles. Aluminum offers the best of both worlds in terms of low weight and high strength, which bodes well for your shelter’s overall wind resistance and longevity.
You’ll also find tents sporting either steel or fiberglass poles, or some combination of the two. Both options help to keep costs down, but as we mentioned above, you should be particularly careful when considering a tent using fiberglass in its frame.
Weight and Packed Size
Pretty much all two room tents are car camping tents, which means neither weight nor packed size should be major concerns. If it’s light enough to carry to and from the car and compact enough to fit in your vehicle of choice, there’s really no need to give it a second thought.
With that being said, you will want to pay particularly close attention to your tent’s packed size if you’re utilizing a smaller car or SUV. Your tent needs to fit somewhere inside your trunk or cargo area with room left over for your other camping gear, so it’s best to get out and measure your storage space if you’re considering a larger tent like a 10-person model.
Value
Value means different things to different people, and as such, it can be tough to nail down a “hard and fast” measurement for a given tent’s inherent value. With that being said, a tent that isn’t built to last and doesn’t keep you dry in wet weather isn’t worth spending money on, whether it’s $100 or $1,000.
To that end, we highly recommend paying extra close attention to both your tent’s build quality (durability) and weather protection. Some tents out there are absolute bargains in terms of cost versus quality, but if something seems too good to be true, it almost always is.
Our Verdict On Two Room Tents…
Using all the metrics described above, we found the REI Wonderland 6 to be the best two room tent overall. We love the Wonderland’s combination of outstanding material quality, ample interior space, and reliable waterproofing.
If you want even more living space and the added bonus of tons of exterior storage, we believe the North Face Wawona 8 is the shelter to beat. This is a massive tent with tons of premium features baked in, and also happens to be a great deal for the money.
Of course both of those shelters require a sizeable investment, which is why campers shopping on a smaller budget should consider either the Core 9 Person Instant Cabin or the Bushnell Shield 9. Both are solid choices for fairweather campers, while the Bushnell ups the ante in terms of quality and weatherproofing for a few dollars more.
