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The Spruce Eats / Lecia Landis
Before you pack up for your next trip into the great outdoors, you definitely want to make sure you’ve got a portable grill that can handle the elements and help you churn out a delicious, camping-friendly meal. Whether you’re car or RV camping, tailgating, or backpacking, you want a lightweight, space-efficient, and easily transportable grill to bring along for easy cooking.
The fuel type, size, and portability features of the grill will help determine which model is right for you and your lifestyle. Remember, camping grills are not the same as camping stoves. Camping stoves are propane burners, whereas camping grills are still a means to cook over an open fire.
Here, the best grills for camping.
Best Overall
Coleman 225 Portable Tabletop Propane Grill
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Amazon
Comes with grates, griddle, and stove grates
Easy to transport
Large cooking space
Expensive
This portable tabletop grill comes ready to use right out of the box with no assembly necessary. The easy knob ignition allows for a quick flame and a temperature that’s easy to control (there are two heat zones). The grill is also equipped with cast iron grates, a griddle, and stove grates if you want to swap out your surfaces depending on what you’re cooking. With 225 square inches of cooking space, you’ve got plenty of room to whip up a hearty meal for four or more people.
The grease management system also makes it super safe and easy to clean up. Reviewers love how easy it is to maintain and clean as well as the durable cast-iron grates.
Price at time of publish: $210 for black
Dimensions: 21.1 x 18.31 x 16.8 inches | Weight: 30 pounds | Fuel Type: Propane
“When looking for a camping grill, I look at portability and power. I want it small enough to easily move, but also capable of cooking over high heat. In third place is the clean factor. At some point the trip will come to an end. Ensuring the grill is easy to clean means it's a grill you will want to take back on the road.” — Mike Lang, Founder of Another Pint Please
Best Propane
Weber Q 1200 Portable Gas Grill
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Amazon
No assembly required
Porcelain-enameled cast iron grates are durable
Folding side tables
Expensive
With a wide range of color options, this grill not only looks good, but it can churn out some seriously delicious food on the go. The cooking grates are made of porcelain-enameled cast iron and the lid and body are made of cast aluminum for highly durable construction. No need to worry about assembling the grill because it comes assembled right out of the box.
It also boasts a handful of convenient design features such as a built-in lid thermometer, folding side tables, a glass-reinforced nylon frame, and a removable drip pan for easy, effortless cleanup. There are 189 square inches of available cooking space, which makes this a great middle-of-the-road size for camping trips. Designed for tabletop use, you’ll love this grill for camping trips, picnics, and tailgating. Keep in mind, though, that it's not the lightest portable grill you'll find at around 30 pounds—you won't want to trek too far with it.
Price at time of publish: $287 for titanium
Dimensions: 24.6 x 20.5 x 40.9 inches | Weight: 31 pounds | Fuel Type: Propane
Best Compact
Cuisinart CGG-180T Petite Gourmet Tabletop Gas Grill
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Amazon
Large cooking area
Porcelain-coated steel grates
Turn-style igniter
Small drip tray
The Cuisinart CGG-180T Petit Gourmet Portable Tabletop Gas Grill is an easy-to-use compact grill. The lightweight grill includes a large handle and a locking lid for easy transport. Though small in size, it has a 145-square-inch cooking area that can fit eight hamburgers.
Before use, extend the legs to keep it sturdy on a picnic table and attach the propane tank. This grill includes a turn-style igniter and a small 1-pound propane tank will last for multiple grilling sessions, though it is possible to purchase an attachment to hook the grill up to a larger tank. You’ll find that the grill distributes its 5500 BTU heat evenly and the lid can close while cooking, unlike other compact grills. The porcelain-coated steel grates are nonstick, easy to clean, and cool down quickly. The grill contains a drip tray but it can get full quickly and lead to messier clean-up.
Price at time of publish: $140 for Petit Gourmet Tabletop Gas Grill in black
Dimensions: 18 x 12 x 13 inches | Weight: 13.5 pounds | Fuel Type: Propane
"While some grills are fueled by butane, most use propane, which is the better solution. Propane can power through outdoor temperature swings and elevation. Better yet, most camping grills which take portable propane tanks can use adapters to connect to larger propane tanks making your camping grill also a backyard powerhouse when not on the trail." — Mike Lang, Founder of Another Pint Please
Best Budget
Cuisinart CCG-190 14-Inch Portable Charcoal Grill
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Amazon
Lightweight and easy to store
Dual vents for controlling heat
Lid has 3 locks for securing
Takes a while to heat up
Not a ton of cooking surface
This ultra-lightweight charcoal grill is a great option for someone who’s not looking to break the bank on their camping grill. At just 2 pounds, this grill is super lightweight making it a great option for transporting. With 150 square inches of cooking space, you still have plenty of room to create a delicious meal for two to four people. The short legs make it easy to pack and fit into tiny spaces. The dual vents on the lid allow you to cook low and slow or crank out high heat for searing burgers, steaks, and veggies.
Charcoal requires more time to light than a propane ignition, but the food will be much more flavorful and smokier than what you cook over a propane grill. Reviewers note that this grill is not as durable and tough as other models, so if you’re looking for a camping grill to last you for years and years of outdoor cooking, you may want to invest in something of higher quality.
Price at time of publish: $40 for red
Dimensions: 14.5 x 14.5 x 15 inches | Weight: 2 pounds | Fuel Type: Charcoal
Best High-End
Napoleon TQ285XBL1 Propane Gas Grill
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Amazon
Easy to cart on wheels
Two zones of cooking
Easy and quick to ignite
Expensive
With 285 square inches of cooking space, this transportable, stand-up grill is great for a crowd, and the grill is high-powered enough to churn out tons of heavily seared foods. At just 40 pounds, this grill still has a huge output of power. Because of its larger size and heavier weight, this camping grill is ideal for RVs, tailgating, or backyard cooking. Dual burners allow for two-zone cooking and starting up the grill is super easy with a 10-second, flame-throwing ignition. Reviewers love how well the paint on the outside has stayed intact through the elements and heavy use, as well as the fact the grill requires no assembly.
Price at time of publish: $419 for blue, 285 square inch Scissor Cart
Dimensions: 20.25 x 44.25 x 38.75 inches | Weight: 43 pounds | Fuel Type: Propane
Best Over Fire
Rome 128 Pioneer Camp Grill
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Amazon
Adjustable height
Made of durable steel
Compact and easy to store
No carrying case
The Rome 128 Pioneer Camp Grill is a compact chrome-plated steel grate that is placed over a campfire for easy grilling. Though most campsites have grates available for cooking, they are not always clean or the right height for quick grilling, so many campers prefer to bring their own.
The grate is made of food-safe alloy steel, which allows for grilling hotdogs and hamburgers directly on the grate, something that's not the case for all grates sold. The height of the grate can be adjusted depending on the placement of the legs. Spread the legs further apart to be closer to the fire or stand the legs up straighter to add height. The legs also fold up for easy storage. Compact and lightweight, this grate is easy to take along for backpacking, car camping, or in an RV. Just keep in mind that this grate doesn’t come with a carrying case.
Price at time of publish: $25
Dimensions: 17 x 10.5 x 12 inches | Weight: 1.7 pounds
Best for a Group
Weber Traveler Portable Gas Grill
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Amazon
Easy to set up and transport
Large capacity
Has a built-in side table
Pricey
The Weber Traveler Portable Gas Grill is a portable grill with a large cooking area needed for feeding a big group. The ingenious design resembles a dolly when collapsed, which allows for easy transporting and can be set up using only one hand!
A push-button igniter starts the single burner and pumps out a staggering 13,000 BTUs, efficiently using a small propane tank. The high-powered burner heats the spacious 320-square-inch cooking surface, which is enough space to grill 15 burgers at a time. As an added bonus, this grill includes a side table to hold condiments or serving ware. The porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cooking grates are easy to clean and the drip guard handles the grease. The Traveler is compact and can fit in car trunks and can also be stored upright when not in use.
Price at time of publish: $419 for black
The Coleman 225 Portable Tabletop Propane Grill is an all-around good choice for a tabletop grill that's perfect for camping, tailgating, and more. Looking for the great smoky flavor that comes from grilling over the fire? The Rome 128 Pioneer Camp Grill can expand up no matter how tall your flame is.
What to Look for in a Camping Grill
Fuel Type
It is most common to use a propane-fueled grill for camping, though there are plenty of charcoal grills out there, as well. Always make sure that if you’re going to be using a propane grill to pack a propane canister or tank (you’ll need an adapter hose for the tank). If you opt for charcoal, this may require a bit more hands-on work to get the flame going because it’s not as intuitive as pressing a button and igniting propane. That said, foods that are cooked over charcoal are generally tastier, smokier, and much more flavorful. If you are cooking with charcoal or pellets always make sure to pack those along with your grill.
Size
The size of your grill is a huge factor to take into consideration. The larger the grill, the more surface area you’ll have for cooking, which is ideal if you’re typically cooking for four or more people. That said, as the grill gets larger, the heavier it becomes and the bulkier it is. You still want a lightweight, compact grill that’s highly portable and easy to transport.
Grates
Understanding what the grates are made out of is something to note when you’re looking for a new camping grill. If the grates have a nonstick coating, this is going to make cleanup much easier, which is definitely an added bonus because no one wants to spend all of their time in the great outdoors scrubbing a grill grate. Stainless steel is another option that is sturdy and simple to clean, plus it's rust-resistant. Top-of-the-line portable grills sometimes feature porcelain-enameled or cast iron grates, which are as durable as they come, and they’re known for retaining heat and distributing heat evenly.
Portability
If this is a grill that you’re going to be packing up in your car or RV time and time again, then you want to make sure that it fits your storage needs and is easy to pack up and carry. Folding legs, built-in handles, or wheels can make the process of transporting a camping grill way easier. The heavier the grill, the more difficult it will be to transport, so always opt for something lightweight if you can.
Special Features
There are a handful of added features and design components that can set camping grills apart from one another. Grills with drip trays to catch the cooking fat and food debris are always ideal because it makes them much easier to clean. Folding shelves on the sides of the grill can add extra prep space without taking up too much room when the shelves are folded down. Some grills, tabletop or not, have adjustable legs that allow you to control how high the grill is positioned, making for convenient and comfortable cooking. Thermometers and built-in ignition are always ideal design features that allow you to have full control over temperature settings and maintaining your heat.
FAQs
Can you grill on a camping stove?
Using a camp stove is different that open fire, charcoal grilling. Most camp stoves have circular gas burners, which means they are fueled by propane. You can certainly cook over this open flame, but it’s not the same as having a grill grate set over an open flame. There are some camping stoves that come with a grill/griddle options, so if grilling in your camping stove is a priority, then make sure that the model you buy has this capability.
Is camping gas the same thing as propane?
Different areas and retailers have different ways to label certain gases, which can make differentiating these products somewhat confusing. Camping gas and propane are both parts of the “LPG” family of gases. LPG, which stands for liquefied petroleum gases, includes propane, butane, isobutane, or any combinations of the three. When you buy “propane," you’re buying solely propane, but camping gas can be a mix of the three.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ease of use, material, or price—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
Sara Tane has written nearly a dozen buying guides for The Spruce Eats, understanding what consumers and cooks need to consider before making a new purchase for their culinary adventures. She is a professionally trained chef in addition to a grilling and outdoor cooking enthusiast. With many weekends of outdoor cooking experience, she is no stranger to charcoal, propane, and wood-pellet-fired grills. After researching gas grills, charcoal grills, budget grills, and portable grills, she can help you find the best outdoor cooking setup for your home or next adventure. As an avid camper and lover of the outdoors, she knows exactly what makes a grill suited for your next big trip.
This article was updated by Rachel Knecht, a food writer located in Seattle. She spent many years camping with her family and thinks everything tastes better on the grill.
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