A good camping table provides a comfortable and convenient place to cook, eat, and play games when there’s no picnic table in sight. We researched 30 models and then hit up our favorite car camping sites to test the top contenders side by side. Over 100 nights of cooking and camping, we looked at durability and weight capacity, ease of setup, portability, and other features to figure out which ones are the best of the best.
Need a place to sit? We’ve also tested and reviewed the best camping chairs to round out your portable outdoor dining setup. If you want to impress your friends and family with your culinary prowess, we have plenty of recommendations for top-tier camping stoves and we even have coolers covered so you can store your leftovers.
Quick Picks for Camping Tables
Check out this quick version of our list or keep scrolling to see the in-depth reviews.
Best camping table overall: REI Camp Prep ($149)
Best budget table: Lifetime 4 ft. Folding Table ($55)
Most portable large table: ALPS Mountaineering Dining ($130)
Best full-featured cook station: GCI Master Cook Station ($145)
Compact cook station with storage: Mountain Summit Gear Deluxe Roll Top Kitchen ($150)
Lightweight table with adjustable legs: Portal Wide-N-Compact ($68)
Best side table: GCI Compact Camp 20 ($40)
Great side table for cooking accessories or drinks: Trekology Talu ($45)
Strong, lightweight & compact table: Helinox Table One Hard Top ($150)
What’s new
After another season of cooking, eating, and hanging, we have some changes to our list:
- In the top spot, the REI Camp Prep is a great value for its stability, size, and high weight capacity.
- If you need a solid surface but don’t want to spend big bucks, the Lifetime 4 ft. Folding Table has a large top and is easy to clean.
- For the outdoor culinary prep area of your dreams, the GCI Master Cook Station is the full-featured table you’ve been looking for.
REI Camp Prep Table
Best camping table overall
Price: $149
Dimensions (LxWxH): 49 x 24 x 22-31 in.
Weight: 19 lb. 11 oz.
Pros
- Great value
- Lartge surface area
- High weight capacity (100lbs.)
- Individual leg adjustments for uneven terrain
Cons
- Heavy/Bulky
There’s a lot to love about the REI Camp Prep Table: it’s sturdy, stable, and has a slatted aluminum tabletop that’s heat resistant and a breeze to clean. What really sets it apart, though, are the individual leg adjustments that make it easy to level no matter how uneven the ground is. The legs are controlled with lever locks (similar to those on a trekking pole), which are easier and more adjustable than push-button locks. The Camp Prep Table is a bit on the heavy and bulky side, but it folds in half and slips into a convenient carry bag with a handle. If you aren’t venturing far from your vehicle, the Camp Prep table is an excellent value for the money and one of the most versatile camping tables on the market.
Lifetime 4 ft. Folding Table
Affordable camp table that’s strong & easy to clean
Price: $55
Dimensions (LxWxH): 48 x 24 x 24-36 in.
Weight: 19 lb. 3.2 oz.
Pros
- Affordable
- Large Surface area
- Easy to clean
- High weight capacity (200 lbs.)
- Adjustable height
Cons
- Heavy/Bulky
- Not heat-resistant
- A bit tough to adjust solo
If the words, “strong” and “affordable” describe your dream camp table, the Lifetime 4 ft. Folding Table might be your best bet. It lists for about half the price of some of the other heavy-duty options on the market, and it’s one of the biggest and strongest tables on our list. If you plan to do a lot of “dirty work” like cleaning fish or game, the Lifetime Table is the way to go. The high-density polyurethane tabletop can be sanitized with a quick scrub and rinse, and it stands up better than most to being left out in the elements. When utilitarianism trumps sleek looks and low weight, the Lifetime Table is a clear winner for practicality and price.
ALPS Mountaineering Dining Table
Most portable large table
Price: $120
Dimensions (LxWxH): 43 x 28 x 28 in.
Weight: 12 lb.
Pros
- Excellent value
- Large surface area
- Lightweight/compact for its size
Cons
- Legs aren't adjustable
- Lower weight capacity (50 lb.)
The ALPS Mountaineering Dining Table is the perfect height to sit at with chairs, and it’s spacious enough to comfortably seat four to six adults. The tabletop may be big, but this table is still pretty lightweight and folds up into a compact bag for hassle-free transport. The Dining Table isn’t built to handle heavy loads (no cases of water), so it’s best for activities like eating or a round of cards. With sleek style, great portability, and full-size dimensions, the Dining Table is bound to get a lot of use whether you’re camping, having a backyard BBQ, or needing a sleek and collapsible extra table for around the house.
GCI Master Cook Station
Best full-featured cook station
Price: $160
Dimensions (LxWxH): 56 x 22 x 32 in.
Weight: 22 lb. 11.2 oz.
Pros
- Shelves keep kitchen organized
- Erognomic height for standing
- Large surface area
- Lantern/speaker hanger
- Sink for washing dishes
Cons
- Heavy/Bulky
- Expensive
- Lower weight capacity than some (40 lbs.)
- Not as versatile
If cooking is a main event on your camping trips, you’ll love the GCI Master Cook Station. It’s chock-full of handy features that help keep your kitchen well organized and operational. There’s enough counter space to use a two-burner stove and do food prep simultaneously, plus plenty of shelves so you can work your culinary magic without competing with the clutter for workspace. The Master Cook Station has all the details worked out for a smoother camping experience: a paper towel holder, cupholders, and overhead hanger for a lantern or speaker. There’s even a softshell sink with a drain to streamline the dishwashing process. When it comes to the camp kitchen, the functionality of the Master Cook Station can’t be beat.
Mountain Summit Gear Deluxe Roll Top Kitchen
Compact cook station with storage
Price: $150
Dimensions (LxWxH): 56 x 19 x 31.5 in.
Weight: 13 lb. 8 oz.
Pros
- Shelves and removable storage compartment keep kitchen organized
- Large surface areas
- Ergomonic height for standing
- Resonably lightweight
Cons
- Expensive
- Bulky
- Not as versatile as some
- Not as sturdy as some
If you’re the camp cook, you know how essential it is to have some counter space to work with. That’s one of the reasons we like the Mountain Summit Gear Deluxe Roll Top Kitchen. In addition to having a large surface for your two-burner stove, it also has a prep area for a cutting board and a side table to hold utensils and a drink while you cook. The shelves help keep your kitchen organized and the detachable, hanging storage compartment keeps your stuff out of sight from the critters. We recommend the Roll Top Deluxe to camp cooks who prefer lower weight and simplicity over lots of bells and whistles like those on the GCI Master Cook Station.
Portal Wide-N-Compact
Lightweight table with adjustable legs
Price: $68
Dimensions (LxWxH): 35.4 x 20.9 x 17.5-27.5 in. (large)
Weight: 9 lb.
Pros
- Good value
- Adjustable height
- Lightweight/compact
- Mesh organizer under table
Cons
- Less spacious than some
- A littl eon the short side for standing
- Less durable
If you like the idea of having a table in camp, but you want to keep the bulk and cost to a minimum, the Portal Wide-N-Compact Table is an excellent option. We like having the ability to adjust the height for standing or sitting, and this is one of the few tables that has independently-adjustable legs so you can level it on uneven terrain. The Portal’s medium size works well as a low side table between chairs for coffee or a game of dice. It’s also good for cooking if you don’t mind waiting to set up your stove until you’re done with food prep. We choose the Portal for trips where portability is important and we want a single table that can adapt to serve multiple purposes.
GCI Compact Camp 20
Best side table
Price: $40
Dimensions (LxWxH): 20 x 18 x 24 in.
Weight: 4 lb. 13 oz.
Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Compact
- Strong for its size (60 lbs.)
- Adjustable height
Cons
- Small surface area
If your trip goals are about relaxation rather than doing a lot of gourmet cooking, a small side table like the GCI Compact Camp 20 Folding Table might be more your style. A side table next to a comfy chair brings a touch of luxury to camp and saves you the hassle of lugging a big, clunky table. The Camp 20 will hold your drink, book, phone, and snacks at arm’s reach so you can have your creature comforts while you kick back and enjoy the view. We’ve found this table especially handy in sandy locations, where it’s important to keep electronics safely off the ground. It also makes a great small dining table for two, or a bedside table in a large camping tent. The Camp 20 is perfect for those who need an affordable and sturdy small table with adjustable height to suit a range of needs.
Trekology Talu Side Table
Great side table for cooking accessories or drinks
Price: $45
Dimensions (LxWxH): 27 x 18 x 16 in. (large)
Weight: 4 lb.
Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Compact
Cons
- Very low
- Small surface area
- Not as durable as some
If all you need is a small table and portability is important, you can’t beat the price of the Trekology Talu Side Table. While it’s the lowest and one of the smallest tables on our list, we find ourselves reaching for it often since it’s so convenient to grab and move around camp for various activities. The Talu is a bit small to support the average car camping stove, but it’s a great size to stick between a few chairs for a round of cocktails, playing a game, or morning coffee. On multiday trips, we like to bring it along in addition to a larger table for cooking if space allows. We’re impressed with the stability and quality of the Talu for the price, and we love that it packs down small enough to take just about anywhere.
Helinox Table One Hard Top
Strong, lightweight, compact camping table
Price: $150
Dimensions (LxWxH): 24 x 16 x 15.4 in.
Weight: 2 lb. 1.6 oz.
Pros
- Very lightweight/compact
- Strong for it size (110 lbs.)
- Durable
Cons
- Expensive
- Too low and unstable for stoves
- Small surface area
- Fabric tabeltop is harder to clean
The Helinox Table One Hard Top takes the cake for being the lightest and most compact, yet it’s still incredibly strong. It’s weighs weighs about the same amount as a liter of water and packs down small enough to fit in a large backpack or bag, so you can take it just about anywhere for a meal or cocktails surrounded by nature. The DAC aluminum alloy poles (the same materials used for backpacking tents) snap together quickly and give the One Table impressive strength for its stature. While the Table One’s price is a bit steep for a small table, the quality is worth the cost if you’re looking for something compact that will last for many years. We love that we can take the Table One practically anywhere, and we highly recommend it to anyone who’s willing to pay a bit more for top quality and maximum portability.
What’s Most Important to You in a Camping Table?
PRICE
Camping table prices vary widely depending on their size, build quality, and brand. We’ve found that many budget-friendly tables perform just as well as high-end tables, and we recommend options that’re a great value at a variety of price points.
Best value camp tables
Best budget camp tables
Best high-end camp tables
WEIGHT, PACKABILITY & SIZE
Weight and folded size aren’t as big a concern for car camping as they are for backpacking, but it’s still good to consider portability when you’re choosing a table. If you’ll be carrying your table any significant distance to reach your destination, you’ll be much happier with one that’s lightweight and packable. If you’ll be camping in car-accessible sites, you may want a table that’s larger and more heavy-duty.
Best lightweight & compact camp tables
Best large & heavy-duty camp tables
HEIGHT
Any table is helpful to keep your stuff up out of the dirt and sand, but a table that’s 30 inches or higher will be much more ergonomic to stand at if you’ll be doing any serious food prep. Shorter tables are typically better if you’ll be sitting around them with chairs; the average dining table height is 28-30 inches. Tables 19 inches high or less will feel more like a coffee table.
Best camptables with adjustable height
Best tall fixed-height camp tables
Best short fixed-height camp tables
DURABILITY/WEIGHT CAPACITY
Generally, the sturdier the table, the heavier and bulkier it will be. Heavy-duty tables can be worth the tradeoff in portability if you care more about long-term durability and stability than having a lightweight, compact package.
Light-duty camp tables with weight capacities under 50 lbs.
Medium-strength camp tables with weight capacities between 50-100 lbs.
Strongest camp tables with weight capacities over 100 lbs.
THE ALPS MOUNTAINEERING DINING TABLE IS A LITTLE PRICEY, BUT IT’S A GREAT VALUE FOR THE SIZE & VERSATILITY IT PROVIDES
THE TREKOLOGY TALU SIDE TABLE IS AFFORDABLE & HIGHLY-PORTABLE, SO WE FIND OURSELVES USING IT A LOT
THE PORTAL WIDE-N-COMPACT TABLE HAS BECOME ONE OF OUR GO-TOS SINCE IT’S SO COMPACT & HAS ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT
THE GCI Compact Camp 20 is extremely convenient when you just need a small table
THE LIFETIME 4 FT. FOLDING TABLE WORKS GREAT FOR COOKING, WASHING DISHES, DINING, AND MORE
THE LIFETIME 4 FT. FOLDING TABLE IS STRONG, BUDGET-FRIENDLY & IT HAS ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT
Honorable Mentions
The following tables didn’t make our final list, but they’ve still got a lot of good things going for them. You never know, one of these tables might be perfect for you:
Coleman Pack-Away – A 4-in-1 (square table, buffet table, bi-level table, or 2 separate tables) with adjustable leg height
Camp Chef Sherpa Table – Nice organization features, but large packed size and not as versatile as some
Coleman Aluminum Folding Table – Budget-friendly, medium-size table with low weight limit and low durability
