Best 4 Person Dome Tents for Camping

What to look for when buying a tent

Here is a quick and dirty list of things to consider as you shop for your tent. If you want an in-depth review of tent features you should know, you can read our article 12 Things to Look for When Buying a Tent.

• Car camping tents vs backpacking tents: Dome tents are versatile enough for both car camping and backpacking. Cabin tents are best for those camping near your car. 
• Tent material: Look for nylon or polyester with some netting for ventilation. Aluminum poles are lighter and stronger than fiberglass poles but are more expensive, too.
• Doors: Most campers like 2 doors, especially if you have 3 or more people in your group. If you have small kids who may slip out the back when mom and dad aren’t looking, you may want to look for a tent with one door.
• Floor dimensions: Does a 4 person tent really fit 4 people? It depends on the size of the people. If you are camping with 3 of your college buddies, it’ll be a tight squeeze.  Many 4 person tents are a better fit for 3 adults. If you are a family with two small kids, you’ll fit no problem. 
• Weather resistance: No one wants to wake up to a soggy sleeping bag. Check out whether your tent of choice is water proof or water resistant. 
• Set up and take down: “Easy” is the way to go.

Dome tent pros and cons

Dome tents have less head room than square-sided cabin tents. Backpacking tents are often domed to save in weight by reducing the amount of material needed. The trouble is that you’ll have to crawl in and out, and may not even be able to sit up straight while inside.

If you are car camping, opting for a vertical-sided tent is a way to increase head room, but you will give up the versatility to take your tent backpacking. You can read up on the differences between dome tents and cabin tents in our article by clicking here.

Best 4 person dome tents

1. Coleman Sundome – Best budget dome tent

If you are on a tight budget and want a short term solution, then the Coleman Sundome may be your perfect tent. It sets up quickly and easily, and includes some nice features like a couple of interior pockets and a lantern hook for an LED lantern. 

This tent feels roomy due to the vaulted ceiling; it’s almost 5 feet in height. That belies what may be a drawback in the floor dimensions. While the manufacturer calls it a 4 person tent, it is better suited to 4 children or 3 adults. Given that they offer you only 7 feet to stretch out, and the sides of the tent angle in due to the dome design, a full-sized adult may find it cramped sleeping. Add in that each camper gets 2 ¼ feet in width, it will be a tight fit for 4 adults laying shoulder to shoulder.

This is a great tent for those who want to experiment with camping without spending too much, but don’t expect it to last for more than a season or two. The tent body material, poles, and zippers are all places where less expensive tents cut corners to bring the cost down so treat it gently to prolong the life of your tent.

Pros

• Easy, quick set up & take down
• Roomy inside
• Great for hot weather camping
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Not ideal for heavy rain or winds
• Quality control is inconsistent
• Material may not hold up over time
• No storage under rainfly outside tent body

Additional features

• Included rainfly
• E-port to bring electricity into tent
• Center height 4 ft 11 inches
• Floor dimensions 9 ft x 7 ft
• Weight 12 lbs 3 oz

Check price on Amazon

2. ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4 person tent – Best budget backpacking tent

The ALPS Lynx is a great mix of light and inexpensive for budget backpacking and car camping enthusiasts. Two doors make getting in and out easy and two small vestibules under the rainfly increase the usable space, especially in the rain or overnight. With a center height of just over 4 feet, you’ll be able to sit comfortably inside the tent. 

This tent is good for taller campers (or, ya know, real actual adults) at 7 ft 6 inches in length, but the width of 8 ft 6 inches is a little cramped for 4 people lying shoulder to shoulder. Again, this is more of a “family with 2 small kids or group of 3 adults” size tent rather than “4 man.” 

With mesh on the doors and mesh windows on the walls, ventilation is great when the rain fly is off. With the rain fly on, you may find it too hot for summer camping. Windows on the rain fly let you peek out the doors to see what’s outside without opening the doors.

Pros

• Light for a budget tent
• Easy set up and take down
• Gear loft and 2 stash pockets inside
• 2 doors with vestibules for storage under rainfly outside tent body

Cons

• Polyester walls and full rain fly can be hot for summer camping
• Height can make it unstable in high winds
• Windows in rain fly a con for those with privacy concerns

Additional features

• Floor dimensions 8 ½ ft x 7 ½ ft
• Center height 4 ft 4 inches
• Weight 8 lbs 7 oz
• Aluminum poles

Check price on Amazon

3. Marmot Limestone 4 person tent – Best car camping/backpacking hybrid tent

If you need a crossover tent for both backpacking and car camping, this is a great option. It’s light enough to take into the back country, especially if you split the poles, fly and tent body between backpacks. It’s also roomy enough to fit 3 real-sized adults with room to move. Four 6 foot tall men would need to be really close (we’re talking really close) to spend the night in this tent.

The vestibule outside the (one) door is large enough to stash your packs in the backcountry or some essentials like your shoes, lantern, etc at the tent site in the local state park campsite. 

Speaking of the one door, this is a downside on a 4 person tent. Easy access in and out is one reason to look for 2 doors; cross ventilation is another. If you are a family with small kids, though, this may be a great perk. You can sleep between the kids and the door to keep them from slipping out the back.

Pros 

• Color coded poles, sleeves and clips for easy set up
• Durable (I’ve had mine 2-person version for going on 15 years)
• Sturdy, high-quality, no-snag zipper 
• Good protection in wind and rain
• One door is more secure for families with small kids

Cons

• One door is inconvenient for groups
• Lacks ventilation with rain fly on
• Poles are thin and likely to bend with use
• Needs footprint to be truly waterproof from the ground

Additional features

• Floor dimensions 7 ft 2 inches x 8 ft 4 inches
• Center height of 5 ft 1 inch
• Weight 11 lbs 11 oz
• Aluminum poles

Check price on Amazon

4. REI Half Dome 4 plus person tent – Best tall person backpacking tent

As one of the leaders in the outdoor industry, REI has a long track record of making quality products. The Half Dome tent is one of their best sellers with good reason. Sturdy, well-made, and durable, this is a tent to use year after year. 

While it has some of the same issues as our other dome tents – 4 people laying shoulder to shoulder will be extremely cramped – this is a great option for 3 tall people. With over 7 ½ feet of room head to toe, you won’t have to cram your toes against the bottom or brush your head on the top tent wall all night long. Shorter people will even be able to stash some gear at their feet.

It’s also well thought out to maximize ventilation and rain protection. The edges of the rain fly roll up to take advantage of the mesh walls for a clear view in all directions. If a storm rolls in (or for more privacy) they quickly roll down and secure to keep the rain out.

At only 7 lbs 10 oz, it’s amazingly light for a 4 person tent. This is one of those instances where the price is where you’ll sacrifice by choosing durable and light. If you choose the REI Half Dome 4 Plus, then you pay a premium for a long term investment in your camping adventures.

Pros

• 7 ft 8 inches of room head to toe
• Color coded poles for easy set up
• 2 doors with vestibules for gear storage

Cons

• Expensive
• Narrow for a 4 person tent
• Bungie-connected poles can be confusing

Additional features

• Floor dimensions 7 ft 8 inches x 7 ft 8 inches
• 2 doors for ease of access and cross ventilation
• Center height 4 feet
• Aluminum poles
• Weight 7 lbs 10 oz

Check price at REI

5. Core Instant Dome 4 person tent – Best instant dome tent

With the pre-attached poles and an included water resistant rainfly the Core Instant Dome 4 is a real time saver in the campsite. It’s also light enough to take into the backcountry occasionally, although serious backpackers will want something lighter.

With the convenience of set up, you also get design features like a gear loft, stow pockets, and adjustable vents. Pay close attention to the pole hinges to avoid pinching the tent body to make sure this tent lasts multiple seasons.

Pros

• As fast as 30 second set up
• Electrical cord access
• Stash pockets and lantern hook
• Good ventilation

Cons

• Water resistant, not waterproof
• One door
• Care needed to avoid pinching tent material with poles.

Additional features

• Floor dimensions 9 feet by 7 feet
• Center height 4 feet 6 inches
• Weight 12 lbs 2 oz

Check price on Amazon

Wrap up

When the outdoors call, you want it to be easy to grab your gear and go. Finding the perfect tent for you and your family or friends doesn’t have to make you crazy. Look for the perfect balance of price, durability, and convenience to make sure you have the camping trip of a lifetime. 

For a roomy camping adventure with every convenience, opt for the REI Half Dome Plus. When your adventures sometimes take you off the beaten track and into the uncharted wilderness, then the Marmot Limestone is the perfect hybrid option for car camping and backpacking. If you are testing the waters and want to keep things inexpensive and simple, then you can’t go wrong with the Core 4 person instant dome tent.