An important aspect of an enjoyable camping experience is having the right family tent. Camping is one of the most fun outdoor activities, but using the wrong tent can dampen the whole experience.

There are some questions that you should ask yourself in order to ensure that you choose the perfect tent for both you and your family.

First of all, a basic but important question to answer is how many people will be using the tent? This will determine the right style and size that you need.

You might even want to consider buying a tent slightly bigger than what you need. For example, if you need a tent for 5, consider buying a 6 person tent. That way you should have plenty of room for everyone.

What kind of conditions should the tent be able to handle? Will you be camping in the summer? Spring and summer? Or will you camp year round? You want to purchase a tent that can handle the various conditions you're likely to encounter.

There are family camping tents made mostly for fair weather and there are 3 or 4 season family tents.

How often will the tent be used? You want a durable family tent if you're planning on camping frequently. If you're camping with very active children, you definitely want a durable tent!

How much interior space do you want or need? If you want to be comfortable, you need to take sleeping space and storage into account. Do you want standing room? Consider buying a family dome tent.

Will you be hiking or backpacking? You should look for a lightweight tent that you can easily transport.

Shapes And Styles

Family camping tents are available in different shapes and can be small enough for 3 and large enough to hold 10+.

Family Cabin Tents

Cabin tents can be sectioned off to create two or more rooms and usually allow multiple entry and exit points.

Dome Style Family Tents

The rounded shape of a family dome tent adds strength, good wind resistance and good interior space.

A-Frame Style Tents

A-frame tents have a simple, lightweight design. They're usually freestanding and easy to set up. There's good room at the floor but less room up top for standing.

Umbrella Style Tents

Umbrella style tents have spacious head and floor space, can hold many people, and have good ventilation.

Different Season Tents

There are 2, 3 and 4 season family camping tents.

Two season tents are fair weather tents that are usually very inexpensive.

Three season tents are the most popular and are able to handle rain. Family Cabin Tents

Four season tents have heavier construction to fight off wind stress and snow loads. They're made of higher grade fabrics and contain more poles for added strength.

Four season tents can possibly feel hot and heavy if used in moderate weather.