Camping is a blast, but one thing we don’t love: when the rising sun forces you to wake up before you’re ready or the lights in the busy campground keep you up at night.
Blackout tents help to resolve those problems by keeping light out so you can enjoy the dark. They also tend to reduce heat, making them great for summer camping.
Want more ideas for your next summer camping trip, click here for our tips and ideas!
To help you pick out a blackout tent for you, here’s our list of the best blackout tents for camping. This buyer’s guide will help you to pick the top blackout tent for your needs.
Best Dark Rest Tents for Camping
- Coleman Dark Rest Dome Tent (Best Blackout Dome Tent)
- Quechua Waterproof Pop Up Camping Tent (Best Blackout Instant Tent)
- Ozark Trail 6-Person Dark Rest Instant Cabin Tent (Best Family Blackout Tent)
- Coleman The Blackout Festival Camping Tent (Best Festival Blackout Tent)
- Coleman Oak Canyon 4 Person Tent (Best Large Blackout Tent)
Best Blackout Dome Tent: Coleman Dark Rest
Coleman Dark Rest Dome Tent
This first tent is essentially a blackout version of the Coleman Sundome, which has popped up on several of our other tent recommendation lists and gotten its own standalone review.
Coleman claims that their Dark Room technology blocks out 90% of sunlight and reduces heat for a more comfortable temperature for sleeping or just hanging out.
The WeatherTec System incorporates a waterproof tub-style floor, patented corner welds, and covered seams to keep moisture out along with light.
The tent also has snag-free pole sleeves and insta-clip suspension for fast, easy setup in only about 10 minutes. An E-Port allows you to run an electrical line into the tent, great for powering camping fridges, tent air conditioners, or tent fans.
This Coleman tent is available in 4-person and 6-person sizes. It’s also available with a screen room for enjoying the outdoors without the bugs or for storing extra gear.
The 4-person size is 9 feet by 7 feet and has enough room for a queen-size air mattress. The 6-person size is 10 feet by 10 feet, enough room for two queen-size air mattresses.
- DARK ROOM TECHNOLOGY: Blocks 90% of...
- REDUCES HEAT: For a more...
- WEATHERPROOF: Welded corners and...
- STAY CONNECTED: E-Port makes it...
- CONVENTIONAL PITCH: Sets up in 10...
Best Instant Blackout Tent: Quechua Pop Up
Quechua Waterproof Pop Up Camping Tent
You couldn’t ask for easier set up than this pop up tent provides. This instant tent sets up in just 2 seconds.
According to the manufacturer, the Quechua Waterproof Pop Up Camping Tent achieves 99% darkness. At the same time, it also reduces heat. The tent fabric has four layers that allow it to achieve this.
The white exterior and the titanium dioxide second layer reflect the sun’s rays. The lampblack third layer absorbs light. The final aluminum layer provides additional heat protection. All these layers also mean this tent has a UPF of 50+, so it also provides sun protection.
The integrated rainfly protects campers from water without adding steps for assembly. It has two side panels that can be extended to allow air circulation while minimizing the amount of light that can make its way into the tent. Even better, these panels use a clever guy line system that allows campers to open and close the panels while they stay comfortable inside the tent.
The Quechua Waterproof Pop Up Camping Tent comes in two and three-person sizes, so it’s better for a single person or pair rather than family camping.
Best Family Blackout Tent: Ozark Trail 6-Person
Ozark Trail 6-Person Dark Rest Instant Cabin Tent
With a set-up time of just 60 seconds, only the Quechua tent beats this one for quick assembly: This fastpitch tent’s poles are pre-attached to the tent, meaning users simply have to unfold and extend. And this tent is a comparatively large tent, so we think the extra 58 seconds of setup is only fair.
With a six-person capacity, this blackout tent is a good option for those in need of a family tent. It has a 10 foot by 9-foot footprint with room for up to six people. Of course, tent capacity estimations don’t usually account for gear, so it’s a more comfortable fit for about four people. The cabin-style tent will fit two queen-size airbeds or six sleeping bags.
Ozark Trail also makes a 12 person version that offers plenty of space for larger groups.
Ozark’s Dark Rest Technology blocks sunlight, allowing for better and longer sleep. When you do want to let in some light, simply zip open the skylights inside the tent
The included gear loft and gear organizer allow you to store small items. Despite the tents larger size, it’s easy to take to and from your campsite thanks to the included carry bag.
Best Festival Blackout Tent: Coleman Festival Tent
Coleman Blackout Festival Camping Tent
This Coleman Tent was designed with festival-goers in mind.
It has a single blackout bedroom and an enclosed front storage area. The front area has PVC windows with covers that can be closed for darkness and privacy or opened to provide a light area within the tent without letting light into the sleeping area.
The tent is completely waterproof and provides SPF 50 sun protection so you’re protected in a huge array of weather conditions. Even the front area has a tarp floor to keep water out. Ventilation flaps allow air to circulate without allowing light in.
The fiberglass frames ensure that this tent is lightweight and easy to set up for just one person. The included carry bag also helps with transportation.
The Blackout comes in 3 and 4 person sizes. The 3 person size has a roughly 12.5 square foot bedroom and an 18 square foot total area. The 4 person has 18 square-foot bedrooms and a 26 square foot total area.
- ONE XXL BLACK OUT BEDROOM: with 99...
- LIGHTWEIGHT, STURDY AND EASY TO...
- LARGE STORAGE AREA: spacious enough...
- 100 percent WATERPROOF and UV...
- PITCH INNER FIRST: set up size:...
Best Large Blackout Tent: Coleman Oak Canyon
Coleman Oak Canyon 4 Person Tent
Our last tent is a great option for people who want a bit more privacy.
The Coleman Oak Canyon has two blackout bedrooms that block up to 99% of light. Each bedroom can fit a double air mattress and up to two people. Blackout technology also helps with temperature regulation, keeping the bedrooms 9° colder during the day and 2° warmer at night.
The Coleman Oak Canyon tent also has a spacious living room with enough room for a camp table and chairs for the whole family. The living area has two large doors and a PVC window. All three have covers that can be used for privacy. The doors have mesh layers that can be zipped closed independently of the covers to allow airflow and keep bugs out while allowing campers to enjoy their surroundings.
The tunnel construction, along with the fiberglass and steel poles, make this tent sturdy, yet also lightweight and easy to set up. The tent features Coleman’s WeatherTec system to keep water out while also offering UV Guard SPF 50 sun protection.
- Two XXL Blackout Bedrooms: With 99...
- Lightweight, sturdy and easy to...
- Large XXL living area: Spacious...
- 100 percent waterproof and bug free...
- Pitch-in-one tent: Set up size: 4.7...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a blackout tent?
Are you sensitive to natural light, or are you a light sleeper? To some degree, we’ve all felt that disdain for the sunlight at least once in our lives. Whether in your bedroom or your outdoor home-away-from-home.
It’s the worst feeling when you’re fast asleep, and you’re suddenly awoken by a painstakingly bright glaring light shining into your room.
Also known as “darkroom” or “dark rest” tents, blackout tents help keep the daylight out. Their special fabrics are designed to diffuse and absorb light, leaving your tent as dark as possible.
Who are darkroom tents for?
A blackout or darkroom tent is perfect for anyone who’s light-sensitive or is camping with someone else who’s light-sensitive. Specifically small children.
Those early morning sunrises can be brutal when your kids are wide awake at the first crack of dawn. With a Coleman Blackout Tent, you’ll have 90% of daylight blocked out. For those extra hours of peace and quiet.
Are blackout tents worth it?
If you’re fed up with harsh daylight seeping through the windows of your tent early in the morning. Or if you’re someone who values the extra hours of sleep in the morning. I would highly recommend a blackout tent.
How to find the best blackout tent?
When shopping for your upcoming camping trip, you should consider your requirements. Certain tents offer advantages over other tents. For example, if you need to travel light, then you need the most portable dark rest tent. Perhaps you have a large family, so you require one of the largest dark rest tents. Before deciding on the best rated dark rest tent, we must look at the following factors:
Price – It goes without saying, but you want to get the best darkroom tent for the money. We all have different budgets when it comes to camping equipment. However, none of us want to waste money on overpriced items.
Weight – If you need to travel light, then you’ll want the best backpacking dark rest tent. On the other hand, if have the luxury of driving in a spacious vehicle, then you can focus on other factors like price and comfort.
Size – No one likes a tent that is too small for their use. By the same token, you don’t want to order a tent, for you to realize it’s too big for your pitch!
Final Thoughts on Blackout Tents
Each of the blackout tents in this review has been chosen because of their high quality. However, no one tent is good for all people, so we recommend weighing up the pros and cons of each tent based on your needs before you make your decision.
