Best Camping Tables of 2024

the best foldable tables: sturdy camp dining tables, camp kitchen cook stations, small ultralight tables

May 15th, 2024
Home > Gear Reviews > Camping

What’s the most underrated equipment in your campsite kitchen? The mighty camp table. Nothing can make or break your camping meals, keep you sane through a rainy night of playing cards under a tent, or help keep you comfortable after a long day on the trail like a camping table.

We researched and tested the most popular, most durable, and most versatile camping tables on the market – and we think you’ll love the support just as much as we did. Our table review evaluates the top 14 contenders for best camping tables to find the 8 best camp tables for picnics, beach day, backpacking, or your next road trip or camping trip.

Related: Ultimate Camping Gear Checklist

Read more: Best Camping Chairs 


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Comparison Table

CAMPING TABLE TREELINE AWARD SURFACE AREA & HEIGHT (D x W x H) PACKED DIMENSIONS WEIGHT WEIGHT LIMIT SIZES AVAILABLE MATERIALS
REI Co-op Camp Prep Table Best Overall
Read why
24 x 49 x 22-31" 24 x 24.5 x 4.25" 19.7 lbs 100 lbs One Aluminum frame; steel
GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Cook Station Review Best Cook Station
Read why
‎52 x 21 x 32" 27.2 x 24.2 x 3.5" 18.9 lbs 48 lbs (top rack), 35 lbs (bottom rack) One 1-piece powder coated steel frame
Helinox Table One Best Lightweight Portable
Read why
16 x 23.5 x 15.5" 4.3 x 4.3 x 16" 1.5 lbs 110 lbs One Aluminum, durable mesh and rip-stop polyester
Lifetime Height Adjustable Folding Utility Table Best Under $75
Read why
48 x 28 heights: 24, 29, 36" 48 x 24 x 2.3" 19.2 lbs 200 lbs One Steel frame, HDPE Top
Goplus Folding Fishing and Hunting Cleaning Table with Faucet and Sprayer Best for Table with Sink
Read why
23 x 45 x 37" 45 x 23 x 3" 22 lbs 220 lbs One Styrene, high density polyethylene, iron
ALPS Mountaineering Dining Table (Regular) Best Roll-Top for Grills
Read why
28 x 43 x 28" 43 x 7.5 x 5" 12 lbs Not stated Regular, square, XL Aluminum
Camp Chef Sherpa Table Best Storage
Read why
27 x 17 X 28" 15.75 x 27 x 18.25" 13 lbs 66 lbs Aluminum legs and roll-top table
Rock Cloud Portable Camping Table Best Side Table
Read why
21 x 16.5 x 15" 17.3 x 5.1 x 4.3" 3.5 lbs 120 lbs One Aluminum alloy
Nemo Moonlander Table 19 x 15 x 16" 14.5 x 9.5 x 1.5" 4.9 lbs 100 lbs One Aluminum legs
Coleman Compact Table 27.6 x 27.6 x 27.6" 14 x 11.5 x 29.5" 10 lbs 50 lbs One Steel frame; aluminum table
TailGater Tire Table Original Steel Table 1.5 x 29 x 23" 29 x 24 x 3" 13 lbs 50 lbs One Steel and aluminum options
GCI Outdoor Compact Camp 20 20 x 18 x 24" 18 x 18 x 2" 4.8 lbs 60 lbs One Aluminum frame construction
Mountain Summit Gear Heavy-Duty Roll-Top Table 37 x 28 x 28" 31 x 9 x 6" 14 lbs 70 lbs Small, medium, large Steel frame; aluminum table
GCI Outdoor Master Cook Portable Folding Camp Kitchen 22.2 x 70.1 x 68.3" 5.9 x 21.7 x 34.5" 22 lbs 48 lbs One size Aluminum frame construction
Dometic Go Compact Table 39.37 x 27.36 x 25.59" 26.77 x 4.92 x 21.26" 20.64 lbs Unavailable One Bamboo, aluminum
SOURCE: Manufacturers


The 8 Best Camping Tables

Best overall camping table: REI Co-op Camp Prep Table

REI Coop Camp Prep table with adjustable locking legs, slats on table surface, and orange locking supports

Surface area and Height: 24 x 49 x 22-31 (L x W x H)  inches
Folded Dimensions 24 x 24.5 x 4.25 (L x W x H)  inches
Weight: 19 lbs 11 oz 
Material: Aluminum tabletop; steel frame
What we liked: Adjustable individual legs, aluminum slat top, foldable, durable, big enough for 4 people, cookstove compatible 
What we didn't like: Tendency to bow upward (bridge) in the middle, larger to store when packed up, heavier than most of our picks 

When it came down to which table would be the overall best camping table, I knew there was one folding table that I could take almost anywhere I wanted to go — the REI Camp Prep Table. With easy portability on a car camping road trip or a weekend rafting trip, four individually adjustable legs to compensate for any kind of terrain variables, a tough aluminum table top, and a handy carrying case, it was a no-brainer.

View The Rei Co-Op Camp Prep Table

The REI Camp Prep table on the porch of a New England cabin with a laptop on it and part of the author’s legs visible.

The author used the REI Camp Prep table as a surface to write this article. It is set up on the porch of her parents’s house in Maine.

The REI Camp Prep Table isn’t the lightest table on our list, nor is it the biggest. But did it hit the perfect middle ground for all of our criteria for best camping tables? It sure did. The durable materials were what drove home the win first — the aluminum tabletop allowed us to use our Coleman cook stove without worry about damaging or melting through the table, while the steel legs could handle the dinner for four that we cooked on it, easily. (It’s rated for up to 100 pounds, and although our testers tried to push that in s’more supplies, we fell short of that lofty goal.) 

REI Camp Prep Table in low mode. The legs are adjustable to a short mode for sitting at low camp chairs around a fire or a high mode for camp prep or dining.

REI Camp Prep Table in low mode. The legs are adjustable to a short mode for sitting at low camp chairs around a fire or a high mode for camp prep or dining.

We really appreciated the slat-design to the table top, which allowed rainwater to drip through and not collect during rainstorms. (Simultaneously, the slat design does allow crumbs to fall through easily, so if you’re a hardcore LNT-er, make sure you put a tarp down to collect the micro-remnants before you start cooking!) 

The adjustable height was also great to switch between kitchen mode and dining mode, allowing the table to drop to a comfortable height to match our camping chairs while we ate and played cards. The flip-latch holding the legs is easy to use, but held up to the challenge when we tossed a hard-sided cooler full of ice and drinks on the table top. 

Related: Best Camping Coolers

The REI Camp Prep table folds down into its sturdy carry bag.

The REI Camp Prep table folds down into its sturdy carry bag.

The setup was easy to figure out and simple to break down, while the carrying sleeve not only protected the table during storage (aka being thrown into the bed of a truck with the rest of the camping gear and dragged over a beach by an enthusiastic 6-year-old), but made transport one-handed easy. So easy, in fact, that the author’s younger brother could easily carry the table across the yard with his other arm in a sling. 

The materials REI chose and the construction of this table point towards a long and sturdy life for the Camp Prep Table. We loved its versatility, its ease of use, its sturdy and well-crafted design, and most of all — its capacity to seat up to four people comfortably. This all stacked up to make the REI Camp Table the Best Overall Camp Table for most outdoor activities.

Related: Best Camping Chairs



Best Cook Station Camping Table: GCI Outdoor Outdoor Slim-Fold Cook Station

GCI Outdoor Cook Station with 4 folding side tables, wire basket for storage under main metal top and folding legs

Surface area and Height: 52 x 21 x 32" 
Folded Dimensions: 27.2 x 24.2 x 3.5" 
Weight:
18.9 lbs
Material: 1-piece powder coated steel frame
What we liked: three levels of storage racks, cookstove/grill compatible aluminum table top, cup holders and hooks, good value price, easy folding and portability
What we didn't like: we wish the side tables were also aluminum, lack of table height adjustability, requires securing legs 

You want options? The GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Cook Station gives you plenty of ‘em. GCI thought of just about everything when it comes to this kitchen cook station table — it sports three levels of storage racks or table tops, has a cookstove/grill-compatible aluminum tabletop at the top, utilizes cup holders and hooks built into the side tables for extra pizazz, sits just under the $100 mark, and folds down to the size of a collapsed beach chair, all in one foldable piece. (You read that right — all of those side tables are already attached, so no losing a wing to the depths of your closet between now and next camping season!) 

Compare Prices Of The Gci Outdoor Outdoor Slim-Fold Cook Station

Woman standing in front of the GCI outdoor slium fold camping station camp table with a red camp chair to the right, grey cooler in front, and forest and mountains in background

The GCI Outdoor Slim Fold Camping Station during a 5-day fly fishing campout in the Bitterroot Valley in Montana. The camper liked this table so much that when it was stolen from her campsite last year, she bought the same exact one to replace it.

The GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Camping Station’s side tables alone are a camp kitchen master’s dream. The cupholders can house marinade and ketchup bottles (or your beverage), while the “hooks” serve a myriad of purposes. Did you bring your camping-couture stemmed wine glass with you? Rest the stem in the hook to hold your glass in place. Need a place to keep the paper towels from blowing away? Put a string through the roll and attach each end to the hooks. Need a place to hang your tongs, or a tableside garbage bag? Each side table sports these inward-curving hooks so you can have every option at your stove side. 

Related: Best Camping Tents

The 4 side tables make it easy to prep for cooking or store a beverage and storage basket underneath is ideal for ingredients. The paper towel holder makes it easy to access essential clean-up material during camping trips.

The metal grate on the bottom level served us well holding the dish bin and keeping our soft cooler full of meats and veggies handy, and held up well despite several bumps from curious dog noses.

The aluminum countertop withstood a camp stove easily, although we would have liked the side tables to be made of the same material at times. (Juggling several hot pans and pots when cooking for 6+ people would have been easier with a place to put the pans that wasn’t plastic.) However, when taking on an ambitious meal like steak and risotto or biscuits and gravy for 6 folks, the four plastic side tables were nothing short of miraculously helpful. 

All in all, it’s the considerate design that won us over with the GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Cook Station — the extra space that can be folded up or tucked away as needed, the cookstove-safe top, the durable steel braces, the clever cut-out hooks to hold all of our accessories elevated our camp cooking experience to a new level. 

Our testers’ minor complaints were about the lack of adjustability (one taller tester felt like he had to stoop down to use the camp table) and that the table could be tippy if not “dug in” or set on a flat surface properly, which adjustable legs would have helped. However, with forethought and good planning (bury the two legs in the rocks, if your campsite has gravel!), the GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold table will rock your camping world. 


Best lightweight portable camping table: Helinox Table One

Helinox table one with black mesh surface and cupholders and blue folding locking legs

Surface area and height: 16 x 23.5 x 15.5 inches (length x width x height)
Packed dimensions: 4.3 x 4.3 x 16"
Weight:
1 lb 8 oz
Material: Aluminum, durable mesh and rip-stop polyester
What we liked: Less than 2 lbs, sunken cup holders mid-table, holds over 100 lbs of weight, super fast set-up, 5 year warranty 
What we didn't like: Low height

We were nearly convinced that the Helinox Table One should take the Overall Best Camping Table Winner slot thanks to its mere 1.5 pounds, its great packability, its 110-pound weight rating, its strong weather-resistant mesh top, and its snap-in-place easy setup. The only reason it didn’t? The lower height profile works well between two camp chairs or next to the campfire but isn’t the best for bigger groups or standing up to cook. However, when it comes to out-on-the-trail camping, no table made a better impression on us than the Helinox Table One, making it the winner for best camping table for those who value weight over height.

Compare Prices Of The Helinox Table One

The author camping with the Helinox Table One camping table.

The Helinox Table One packs down to a mere 4.5 by 4.5 by 16 inches, making it easy to store in a pack while you’re trekking to the campsite or to tuck into a tote bag for the day at the beach. When you’re ready for set up, shake out the spider-legged aluminum frame to line up the rods, attach the two runner rods that run lengthwise for support, and clip the weather-resistant, durable tabletop fabric into place at each corner.

Once set up, this folding camp table measures 23.5 by 16-inches on top and can hold over 100 pounds. Each side has an in-set cup holder that's handy for beverages standing steady, but the crescent-moon fabric design on each side (which helps steady your drinks) also makes it easier to balance other objects over top without losing them into the cupholders’ depths.  

Two campers sitting on camp chairs with assorted food and plates on top of a cooler andhe Helinox Table One is a lightweight and portable low height table idea for using with camp chairs or next to a cooler.

The Helinox Table One is a lightweight and portable low height table ideal for using with camp chairs or next to a cooler. Here the testers are using it on a multi-day rafting trip in Colorado and Utah.

Our testers have taken an older model of the Helinox Table One on road trips, camping trips, living out of an old Tacoma, and on backpacking trails from the Adirondack Mountains of New York to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado to the Coastal Mountains of Alaska and British Columbia.

One tester has kept it in that Tacoma for at least the last five years, where it comes in handy for apres ski parking lot feasts and for dinnertime prep on a weekend rafting trip. He loves the pack-away case that has kept the Helinox Table One in good, durable shape through all of his travels but loves how versatile it’s proven — from playing cards in the sand while dinner finishes after a rafting trip to a prep station for pancakes in Colorado’s high country. 

The mesh has survived campfire embers, rocks, mud, silt, and dogs knocking it over at camp (with the cups still staying in the cupholders, mind you), as well as being kept in the bottom of a raft for days on end. While the grime can make the table more difficult to connect, one quick rinse has cured any difficulties over the years. 

Not one piece of the Helinox One has failed him in over 200 days of use — “I’d like to never buy another camping table again,” he says, “and I don’t think I’ll have to.” If that doesn’t convince you of the Helinox Table One’s worthiness as our Best Lightweight Portable Table Pick, we don’t know what will.



Lifetime adjustable folding table in white with locking metal legs

Surface area and height: 48 x 28 heights: 24, 29, 36"
Folded dimensions: 48 x 24 x 2.3"
Weight: 19.2 lbs
Material: Table Top Material Injection molded plastic, Legs are powder-coated stainless steel
What we liked: Ample space, simple set-up/breakdown, sturdy, affordable, adjustable height, carrying handle
What we didn't like: Weight

Simple, spacious, durable, and affordable. One look at this folding table and you know its value — you’ve seen it at every camp craft corner, every picnic, every school fundraiser, every sports game, any event you could think of utilizes this table. But what makes the Lifetime Adjustable Folding Camping Table stand out from every other camp table you’ve carried and set up at every family reunion? Three characteristics: the adjustable legs, the carrying handle, and the middle-fold design. Why else did we love this table? Because of its affordability. 

Compare Prices Of The Lifetime Adjustable Height 24”X48” Folding Table

The Lifetime Adjustable Folding Camping Table is certainly not our lightest table pick, nor is it our most decked-out. However, its price for its capacity swept the board for any of our other options. 

Eight square feet of tabletop gives you plenty of surface area for the whole family to gather around and eat, ample space to cook and serve, or tons of real estate for games. Four adjustable height settings make it easy to fit this table to whatever chair height (or standing height) you may need. Plus, it holds one of our top weight capacity titles at 200 pounds — bring on the potato salad competition. 

The powder-coated stainless steel legs and frame, plus the high-density polyethylene plastic hard top, give this folding camping table a sturdy, durable, waterproof edge. It can not only handle heat and cold but will withstand rain, snow, hail, sand, rocks, mud, and enthusiastic canines with ease, thanks to impact-resistant corners and a wide leg stance which helps with balance. For a solid, sturdy folding camping table that won’t break your budget and will last you through several camping seasons to come, the Lifetime Adjustable Folding Table is a great pick.

Related: Gear we like for Backyard Camping


GoPlus folding cleaning table with integrated sink, faucet, and sprayer for cleaning fish and hunting

Surface area and height: 23 x 45  x 37 inches (length x width x height)
Packed dimensions: 45 x 23 x 3"
Weight:
22 lbs
Material: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, High Density Polyethylene, Iron
What we liked: Included sprayer, faucet, and drainage hose, sink on the side, prep surface area, lots of table space
What we didn't like: No adjustable height, weight, easy storage size  

Cook like you’re at home while you’re camping in the woods or on the coast. The Goplus Folding Table with Faucet and Sprayer allows you to connect a garden hose to both a sink and a sprayer for directed water flow and allows you to collect your wastewater in a bucket or gray water tank. No more dumping gallon jugs over your vegetables or fileting a fish next to the stream — your workspace awaits you right at your campsite with as much ease as if you were standing in your own kitchen. 

Compare Prices Of The Goplus Folding Fishing And Hunting Cleaning Table With Faucet And Sprayer

The GoPlus Folding table with Faucet comes with a good amount of workspace for chopping or holding up a camp stove.

The GoPlus Folding table with Faucet comes with a good amount of workspace for chopping or holding up a camp stove.

The sloped sink on the GoPlus folding fishing and hunting camping table

The sloped sink on the GoPlus folding fishing and hunting camping table

This somewhat unconventional folding camping table is a great middle-ground for kitchen prep — it’s spacious with a flat prep surface area next to the sink — and even has knife storage on the opposite end to keep you safe from blades.

The faucet rotates 360 degrees, so you can fill up a water bottle just as easily as you can wash a dish. The drainage hole and plug make it easy for you to catch bigger pieces from going down the drain or fill up your sink to soak a dish. 

The sloped sink on the GoPlus folding fishing and hunting camping table

The GoPlus Folding table comes with a hose so you can hook up the drain to a greywater tap. It acts as the pipe from the bottom of the sink down to your grey water storage. Since we didn’t have a grey water tank with us, we improvised with a bucket.

However, it’s the sprayer that we really loved — not only was it helpful for washing dirt off of fruits and veggies that spilled from a bag, it was great for rinsing out dishes, hosing down dirty feet, and spraying off tough burned pieces from a dinner left too long on the stove. 

There were a few things we didn’t love about the Goplus Folding Table with Faucet and Sprayer, but they were to be expected — the lack of adjustable height was one issue, as the camp table stands on the taller side.

While the sturdy plastic hard top is great for meal prep and cleaning, it didn’t give us the ability to cook on top of the space with a grill or stove.

Last but not least, this is not a very “packable” table in terms of size — unless you have a space tall enough or wide enough to hold this table, it can be difficult to tuck it away when not in use since it’s a whopping 45-inches by 23-inches. 

However, for its intended use — a big prep area with a functioning sink — the GoPlus Folding Table with Faucet and Sprayer knocks it out of the park.

Just make sure you have a water source and a garden hose handy, and you’re good to go!

Related: Best Beginner Fly Fishing Combos


Best roll-top camping table for grills: ALPS Mountaineering Dining Table (Regular)

Alps mountaineering folding dining table with adjustable legs and slat surface

Surface area and height: 28 x 43 x 28 inches (length x width x height)
Packed dimensions: 43 x 7.5 x 5"
Weight:
12 lbs
Material: Aluminum
What we liked: Entire tabletop is able to handle hot pans/cook stoves/grills, spacious, easy to set up
What we didn't like: Can unhook roll top with one good bump 

We love an entire camp table that can take on the chaos of cooking for a group of people — especially one that can handle hot pots, pans, stoves, and grills sitting atop it. The ALPS Mountaineering Dining Table won our top pick for grilling for exactly that reason: we had plenty of space to utilize, and none of it was off-limits to hot items. 

View The Alps Mountaineering Dining Table (Regular)

Image of black carry bag with handle. The bag is long and narrow.

The Alps Mountaineering Dining table is a portable table that fits into in carry bag with handle.

At just over 8 square feet of tabletop, we had no problem with space to use while cooking up pancakes for 6 people using multiple pans (because no one should wait on fresh blueberry pancakes on a beautiful summer morning in Maine).

We rotated through 3-4 pans from our two-burner stove to the tabletop to keep breakfast rolling and were able to put the hot-off-the-stove pans directly onto the tabletop for hungry campers to scavenge from.

Cleanup was easy with one good wipe from a damp paper towel, and we could pack up the table and head out for a hike. For dinner, we pulled out a small grill and cooked up kebabs with ease — just beware that the table underneath will stay hot for a while after you turn the grill off! 

While we wouldn’t recommend leaving this camp table out in direct sunlight (the aluminum heats up quickly, and you might burn a finger if you’re not careful), it held up beautifully to the elements when left in the sun and rain for 5+ days. 

The metal latch locks the Alps Mountaineering Dining table into place.

It took a good look at the directions for our testers to intuit how to set up and fold up the base correctly, but after one good try, everyone could do so with ease. The slat-design roll top was easy to fold like a paper fan, and an included rubber band keeps the whole top together easily. (The storage bag didn’t hurt, either.) 

The ALPS Mountaineering Dining Table is available in three sizes — square (31" W x 31" L x 28" H), regular (28" W x 43" L x 28" H, which we tested), and XL (28" W x 55" L x 28" H). While none of these options is on the cheaper end, ALPS used quality aluminum to build a sturdy, durable roll-top table for all of your grilling needs. Fire up the coals and get cooking!

Related: Best Camping Sleeping Bags

Read More: Best Camping Mattresses


Best camping table with storage: Camp Chef Sherpa Table

Camp chef sherpa table unzipped on side with pods that open on the side for storage

Surface area and height: 28 x 43W x 28 inches (length x width x height)
Packed dimensions: 15.75 x 27 x 18.25"
Weight: 12 lbs
Material: Aluminum
What we liked: Entire tabletop is able to handle hot pans/cook stoves/grills, spacious, easy to set up
What we didn't like: Can unhook roll top with one good bump 

Outdoor Gear Lab called this table set “an organizer’s dream,” and we have to concur — the Camp Chef Sherpa Table is the ultimate organization for your camping kitchen set up, despite its lack of height and tabletop space. (In full disclosure, we were not able to test this table ourselves, but gathering the meta-review material for the Camp Chef Sherpa Table left us with no doubt that the reviews were right, and it is the best camping table with storage )

Compare Prices Of The Camp Chef Sherpa Table

The Camp Chef Sherpa Table comes with one table that utilizes a zippered storage pouch underneath the tabletop to hold the four included storage cubes and telescoping legs for a maximum height of 28 inches. Certainly not our tallest table option by any means, and this being one of the reviewers’ biggest gripes, there were other advantages to the lack of height — the Camp Chef Sherpa Table was easy to throw on a tailgate or a campsite’s picnic table to provide both a little extra height and a lot of extra storage. The camp table was also great for cooking at a Crazy Creek chair height or from a picnic table.

However, the magic lies within both the storage cubes and the zippered bin below the tabletop. Each primary-colored storage cube is crafted from 600-denier fabric, which does well with the wear and tear that comes from tossing these cubes on the ground, in the sand, and over rocks and splintered wooden tables. The blue cube is even rubber-lined, designed to be used as a wash bin or even a cooler.

A plastic label shield on the foot of each cube lets you mark precisely what belongs in which cube, so (in theory) you should never have to go digging for the spatula ever again. (The handle helps with the grabbing of a pair of tongs right before the kebabs burn, too.) Each cube is 12 inches by 11 inches by 6.5 inches, for a total of 3.7 gallons of storage space. All four cubes stack within the zippered compartment for easy transport or storage post-meal. 

Overall, professional testers, as well as everyday Amazon users, remarked on the organizational genius and stability of this table, even with unevenly distributed weight on the tabletop. While the height was a definite bummer, the Camp Chef Sherpa Table was hands-down everyone’s favorite when it came to camp kitchen storage.

Related: Best Portable Solar Panels


BEST CAMPING SIDE TABLE: Rock Cloud Portable Camping Table

Rock Cloud portable camping table set up with basket for storage underneath

Surface area and height: 21 x 16.5 x 15 inches (length x width x height) 
Folded dimensions:
17.3 x 5.1 x 4.3 inches
Weight: 3.5 lbs
Material: aluminum alloy, mesh net 

If the Nemo Moonlander hadn’t wowed the crowd with its raving reviews, the Rock Cloud Portable Camping Table would have been our #1 pick for camping side tables. This table was not only one of the most budget-friendly picks on our list, it was easy to set up, packs down small, and weighs just 3.5 pounds. The aluminum slats settle on top of the aluminum frame, much like a roll-top — minus the bungee cords of a roll-top that could fray or lose elasticity with time.

COMPARE PRICES OF THE ROCK CLOUD PORTABLE CAMPING TABLE

The Rock Cloud Portable camping table on a picnic in Maine. Its storage basket underneath has room for a book.

The Rock Cloud Portable camping table on a picnic in Maine. Its storage basket underneath has room for a book.

The tabletop held up well to hot drinks, hot summer sun, and even hot foil-wrapped ears of corn at a BBQ. For picnics, the mesh net underneath worked wonders for keeping electronics out of the sun and holding sunscreen or a book underneath. Despite the Nemo Moonlander’s two height options, stellar reviews, and overall popularity, we couldn’t justify its lofty price tag for a side table. Thus, the Rock Cloud Portable Camping Table has earned our top spot — it’s affordable, easy to use, packable, and lightweight.

This is a table that looked promising as an affordable budget camp table.


Other camping tables we tested

Nemo Moonlander Table

Nemo moonlander folding camp table with adjustable legs

Surface area and height: 19 x 15 x 16 inches (length x width x height)
Folded Dimensions: 14.5 x 9.5 x 1.5 inches (length x width x height)
Weight: 4 lbs. 14 oz.
Surface area:
Material:
Tabletop Material(s) Nylon Frame Construction Aluminum
What we liked: Picnic table height and side-table height options, twist-in legs for stability, carrying case, high-quality materials, simple setup  
What we didn't like: price 

Our editor-in-chief has tested this camp table to its limits and sings its praises from the summits.

The Nemo Moonlander Table packs away to the size of a laptop, sets up in a snap, sports two heights, and weighs little enough to easily pack for all but the lightest of backpacking trips. She and her partner used it on ​​a 2,300-mile National and State Park road trip when no other portable camping table would have fit with the other gear (and an extra friend plus full backpack mid-trip) along the way.

Thanks to its light weight, stability on uneven terrain, and compactability — plus the double height options — the Nemo Moonlander made the trip exponentially more enjoyable.

Overall, the price can be a hindrance. At nearly three times the price of similar side tables, we think most people will be better served by our winner for best side table. Still, if you need extra portability or compactness (for road trips or van life), the Moonlander is an excellent option.

Compare Prices Of The Nemo Moonlander Table

Having a portable camping side table like the Nemo Moonlander is a handy when the picnic table and campfire pit are far away from one another. Here, first time campers prepare kebabs over a campfire in Joshua Tree.

Having a portable camping side table like the Nemo Moonlander is a handy when the picnic table and campfire pit are far away from one another. Here, first time campers prepare kebabs over a campfire in Joshua Tree.

What she — and other testers and user reviews — appreciated the most about the Nemo Moonlander was its stability at either height. Black wings unfold on aluminum hinges and snap into place for the picnic table height option, which gives you both a stable surface and a raised platform from dirt and insects. When you’re ready for a side table for your camp chair, Crazy Creek, or fireside log, twist-lock in the aluminum/carbon fiber legs for a 16-inch lift and stabilize your snacks and beverages wherever you camp — whether it's a developed or undeveloped campsite. (Read: uneven ground like desert sand, half-buried boulders, shrubs, and soft dirt — all which aren’t an issue when your apres hike beverages are perched on top.) Our testers were impressed by the low-effort setup (not having to read the instructions is a major plus), although the twist-lock legs can take a moment to get used to. 

Image of camp chairs around a fire in a folding metal campfire grate. A camper occupies one of the chairs next to the Nemo Moonlander set up as a side table. On top of the table are camp mug, a can drink, a guidebook, and a small camping lantern

The Nemo Moonlander was a handy side table at this dispersed campground in Anza Borrego desert in California that has no infrastructure or built-in picnic table. We were able to gather around a folding metal campfire grate we brought and set up camp chairs and our camp tables around it. The Nemo Moonlander side table is holding drinks, the guidebook we’re consulting, and a camping lantern.

Tuck this table between camp chairs, beside the fire pit, or on top of the picnic blanket for easy use in any scenario. When you’re ready to pack up, zip the whole table back into its carrying case and pop it in the trunk or your pack. This is the kind of carrying case you’ll want to hold onto, too, says our editor-in-chief tester: “I often have the worst time getting gear back into its stuff sack, and the Moonlander is the one piece of gear where that isn’t a struggle.” 

This table is time-tested, easy to use, a breeze to pack, and a compact option that can serve you in any context.


Dometic Go Compact Table

Dimensions: 39.37 x 27.36 x 25.59"
Packed dimensions: 26.77 x 4.92 x 21.26"
Weight: 20.64
Material: Bamboo, aluminum

The Dometic Go Compact table is our recommended camp table in our Ultimate Camping Gear Checklist. Treeline Review writer Erica Zazo likes the Go Compact Table for its durable build, stylish design, and portable and collapsible features. It has excellent attention to detail and is great for doubling as a backyard table. That kind of versatility is something we appreciate in camp gear. We think it's great when your camping gear can be your home gear and then you only have to buy one. We're further testing this table and will report back our findings.

Compare prices of the Dometic Go Compact Table


Coleman outdoor compact table set up with folding legs

Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 28.5 inches (length x width x height)
Packed dimensions: 18 x 18 x 2"
Weight: 10 lbs
Material: Aluminum slat top and strong steel frame

Another good runner-up to our Best Roll Top/Grilling Table, the Coleman Outdoor Compact Table is a smaller, lighter, and cheaper table but just as effective.

Ultimately, it didn’t make it to our list of best camping tables because of the smaller table space, but for a space-saving option with a strong steel frame, grill- or stove-proof aluminum top, and easy set-up table, you can rest assured that the Coleman Compact Table earned our stamp of approval. The snap-held design keeps the table secure while the non-slip legs steady the contents on the tabletop. (Note, the legs don’t adjust in height, so choose your table site appropriately.)

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Dimensions: 1.5 x 29 x 23 inches (length x width x height)
Packed dimensions: 29 x 24 x 3"
Weight: 13 lbs
Material: steel or aluminum options

While we didn’t quite know how to categorize this table, it was easily one of our favorites, if only for the novelty of it.

A car camper’s dream, this table fits over truck tires and the spare tire on the back of a Jeep for a little extra space when the tailgate filled up.

The screw-down clamps make it easy to adjust and maneuver for different tire sizes, while the adjustable stabilizing leg gives you added security and stability. Available in both a steel and an aluminum option (we tested the steel version), both options are durable with a few key differences — the weight and price.

The steel version weighs 13 pounds, supports up to 70 pounds, and costs $140, while the aluminum version weighs only 5.5 pounds, holds up to 50 pounds, and costs $175. Ultimately this table was a little too niche for us to grant it a full winner’s spot, but we never want to take this out of the Jeep just in case an adventure arises. (Just make sure you take it off the tire before driving away, or you won’t get too far.)

View The Tailgater Tire Table Original Steel Table


GCI Outdoor Compact Camp 2.0 portable camping table set up with folding legs

Surface area and height: 20 x 18 x 24 inches (length x width x height) 
Folded Dimensions:
18 x 18 x 2 inches 
Weight: 4 lbs.13 oz.
Material: Aluminum Frame Construction Steel 

The GCI Outdoor Compact Camp 2.0 was one of our most affordable and easiest setup options that we love for a camper, keeping in the truck for the campsite or afternoon by the lake, or having around the back yard. We tested this table on a long weekend at York Beach in Maine, and it worked perfectly for lunch, snacks, beverages, and sunscreen in between jaunts through the waves. 

As one whole piece, the GCI Compact Table slides down into a slim, easy-to-carry unit and sets up just as quickly. It settled in well in the sand and kept everything stable and secure throughout the weekend, no matter how many kids ran past it or sand got into the crevices. The height is perfect for camp chair usage but worked well to keep devices and books out of the sand from towel-on-the-beach level, as well. 

Compare Prices Of The Gci Outdoor Compact Camp 2.0

Overall, we loved the durability, bigger tabletop, and lighter weight of the Nemo Moonlander more for our Best Side Table pick, and the even lighter set up of the Helinox Table One for our Best Lightweight Portable Table pick. However, for the car camper, road tripper, backyard barbecuer, and beachgoer, the GCI Compact is a great (and affordable) camping table option.


Surface area and height: 37 x 28 x 28 inches (length x width x height) 
Packed Dimensions:
31 x 9 x 6 inches
Weight: 14 lbs
Material: Steel frame, aluminum tabletop 

While we really appreciated the easy setup, the durable materials, and the price for what you get, we couldn’t justify the Mountain Summit Gear Heavy-Duty Roll-Top Table over the ALPS Mountaineering Dining Table. In the end, we (and the reviewers) liked the ALPS Mountaineering Dining Table just a bit more for its ease of setup and lighter weight. However, the Mountain Summit Gear Heavy-Duty Roll-Top Table has some major perks — it’s more table space, it’s cheaper, and is designed to be sturdy. If that sounds up your alley, this roll-top table is a great addition to your camping kitchen gear — especially for grilling!

Compare Prices Of The Mountain Summit Gear Heavy-Duty Roll-Top Table


he Nemo Moonlander was a handy portable side table for a dispersed campsite with no infrastructure. A guidebook is visible on the table as well as a spindrift can and a large camping lantern. We see the back of a camper sitting in a camp chair

The type of camping table you need will be dictated by what type of campgrounds you frequent or whether you plan to use your camp table at home as well. Here, the Nemo Moonlander was a handy portable side table for a dispersed campsite in the Anza Borrego desert of California with no infrastructure. The Lifetime Folding Table is a good option if you also plan to use your folding table at festivals, outdoor backyard parties, or events in a city.

How to choose a camping table

Types of Camping Tables

A table is a table is a table, right? Technically, you are correct, but several nuances distinguish the best camping tables that are suitable for different activities and camping situations.

A folding table (like our Lifetime pick) is generally sturdy but on the heavier side. A roll-top table can be great for car camping and rafting trips but holds less weight than a traditional folding table. A lightweight portable camping table, like the Helinox One, can be a great addition to a backpacking trip but won’t cut it if you’re out at the lake grilling for a half-dozen people. There are side tables, kitchen tables, grilling tables, large tables, small tables — any kind of table you can imagine. So what’s best for you? The questions (and answers) below should give you a good idea! 

Close up of the metal slats that make up the Alps Mountaineering Dining Table. The metal slats have a negligible gap between them with plastic spacers.

The Alps Mountaineering Dining Table has durable aluminum slats that can withstand a hot camping stove or hot pots and pans. The gaps between the slats allow rain to fall between so water doesn’t puddle on your table when you leave it out after a storm.

How often do you go camping?

No shame here — not all of us can disappear for 6 months to hike the AT! If you’re a solid weekend warrior, you might be willing to drop some dough on a super-tough table that will hold up to your every-weekend excursions. However, if your camping plans look more like a handful of times a year, you might not want to break the bank on a camping table. 

If you’re the former, you might be interested in a burly option like the Go Plus Slim Fold or Master Kitchen Table. If you’re the latter, you might want a great budget option like the Coleman Compact or Lifetime Folding Table. When in doubt, we’d argue for quality that will last you over a cheap option, but we leave that to your own prerogatives.  

How many people do you camp with?

More people, larger table! If you’re looking to host a multi-family affair or want ample space for your good friends, we would recommend camping tables like the Lifetime Folding Table, the REI Camp Prep Table, or even the ALPS Mountaineering Dining Table in XL.

If it’s just yourself or you and your partner, then space might not be as much of an issue (without sacrificing room for all the fixings or enough space to win at cards, of course). A camping table like the Nemo Moonlander, the Coleman Compact, or the Rock Cloud Portable Table might be just the ticket for this sized crew.  

The GCI Outdoor Slum Fold Camping Station during a 5-day fly fishing campout in the Bitterroot Valley in Montana. The 4 side tables make it easy to prep for cooking or store a beverage and storage basket underneath is ideal for ingredients.

The GCI Outdoor Slim Fold Camping Cook Station during a 5-day fly fishing campout in the Bitterroot Valley in Montana. A cook station style table has a metal surface for hot pans and camp stoves on top as well as side tables and storage. The 4 side tables make it easy to prep for cooking or store a beverage and storage basket underneath is ideal for ingredients.

How much do you want to spend?

Arguably one of the most important points when shopping for a camping table is your budget. You might be very budget conscious and cautious about spending money on a camping “accessory,” or you might be willing to spend a little extra if it means you won’t be replacing your table in the next 10 years of use. Whatever your budget, we made sure to find durable options for every price range. 

Do you want a dining table or a cooking station — or a multi-functional table?

While you can absolutely pull double duty with either style of camping table, they really are designed with one purpose (or the other) in mind.

For example, the GoPlus Slimfold Cook Station is our pick for the best kitchen table, with its many fold-out table expanders and multi-level storage options.

Once you’re done cooking, you could fold it up and use just the top as a dining table — however, the height and the easy storage-minded design might make that a little more difficult. The REI Camp Prep Table, on the other hand, won our Best Overall pick because of its versatility — it can be raised up high enough to serve as a great prep table, with ample space for your cooking endeavors, and the aluminum top allows you to set up a stove or grill and cook right from the tabletop.

However, when you’re ready to eat, you can clean up and adjust the table legs to the height of your chairs, with plenty of space for folks to fit around the table.


Buying advice

Materials

Plastic table tops can be extremely useful (and sometimes, lighter weight) — easy to clean, don’t get as hot in the sun, and hold up well in wet weather. However, if you plan to cook on your table, we strongly suggest a metal-topped table, as a cook stove or grill will melt right through the plastic. 

Look for camping tables with durable materials like aluminum, steel, reinforced canvas, or rotomolded plastic that will hold up against the elements and stay sturdy for years to come. 

The GCI Outdoor Slim folding cook station was one of the bigger tables we tested, but breaks down to a little more than the size of a standard metal folding chair.

The GCI Outdoor Slim folding cook station was one of the bigger tables we tested, but breaks down to a little more than the size of a standard metal folding chair.

Size & Packability 

You want your table to be big enough for your crew of fellow campers or give you enough space to cook your campsite cuisine. However, make sure you pick a camping table that will pack down easily to transport and won’t take up your entire storage closet when you’re not using it. All of our camping table picks fold or break down to a smaller storage size, but some (like the REI Camp Prep table or the Lifetime Utility Table) are still relatively large (especially compared to the Nemo Moonlander or the Rock Cloud Table). Find one that works not only for your campsite but for your storage capacity, too! 

Weight & Portability

We chose the Helinox One Table as our Best Lightweight pick for a reason — weight matters when bringing a portable table with you on a hiking trip! We made sure to include several different weight options with our camping table picks, from lighter weight tables like the Nemo Moonlander and the Rock Cloud Portable to heftier tables for car camping like the REI Camp Prep or the GoPlus Camp Sink Table. Keep in mind what each table weighs as you “weigh” your decision — you wouldn’t want to pack an 18-pound table for a hiking trip, but a 1.4-pound table might not cut it for car camping at a windy campsite. 

The Nemo Lander side table (above and upside down) has adjustable dual length legs so you can set it up to be a low table or a higher table. It’s on top of the GCI Outdoor Slim Cook station, which only has one height.

The Nemo Lander side table (above and upside down) has adjustable dual length legs so you can set it up to be a low table or a higher table. It’s on top of the GCI Outdoor Slim Cook station, which only has one height.

Height

Before we started testing our camping tables, our testers didn’t realize how much of a difference a table height could truly make. Once we began testing, however, it became clear just how important this aspect is. 

Adjustable height tables make a significant difference between cooking (where you’re generally standing) and eating (where you’re generally sitting). Some of our options, like the Nemo Moonlander, also give you options for picnic table height or using chairs like a Crazy Creek, where you are much lower to the ground than a traditional table.

Others, like the REI Camp Prep Table, were helpful for a slanted campsite — singularly adjustable table legs made it easy to level out the tabletop by putting the right two legs at the “4” setting and the left two legs on the “2” setting, for instance. This increased both the stability of the table, as well as its effectiveness by leveling out the tabletop. 

In general, look for a kitchen camping table that can either be adjusted or start off higher for easier cooking while standing. On the same token, look for a dining table that fits the height of your camping chairs better or can be adjusted to fit your chairs more easily. 

Weight Capacity

Check out our comparison chart for weight capacities for the tables we tested. Make sure your camping table can handle the amount of food (or drinks, or rocks, or arts and crafts supplies) that you intend to rest on the tabletop. Our burliest weight capacity from all the tables we tested was a whopping 220 pounds on the GoPlus Camping Sink Table, while our lowest weight capacity was 48 pounds on the top rack of the GCI Slim Fold Kitchen table.

The Alps Mountaineering Dining table uses sturdy aluminum to build a durable tool-top table suitable for holding hot pans and a camp stove.

Durability

Above all else, we wanted to test (and review) camping tables that could go the distance — hold every cooler, take on every family picnic’s pasta salad, survive every camping trip’s hot dog dinner. To make sure we brought you tables that would take on the elements, hold up against the record-breaking amount of s’mores, and work just as well five years in the future as it did the first time you set it up.

To do so, we tested tables made with durable, weather-proof materials (like rotomolded plastic and heavy-duty steel), and carefully engineered aspects like hinges and locks to keep the legs sturdy and secure. 

However, keep in mind the terrain that you plan to use your camping table in. If you’re looking for a good beach day table, remember that sand can wear down and affect the durability of your table. If you’re going for a damp, rainy camping area often, remember that metal can rust. Proper cleaning and storage of your equipment when it’s not in use is key to increasing the longevity of your gear’s life, and keeping its durability at top notch. 

The Tailgater Tire table sets up by attaching to the tire of your vehicle.

Setup Difficulty (Ease of Setup)

No one wants to be foiled by their table set up every time they get to camp. While a few of our tables required a look at the instructions (I won’t lie, I set up every table in my front yard before I took them on their first camping trip or to the beach to avoid such a scenario), each one of our picks was simple enough to set up and tear down — after the first time. 

Some camping tables may just take two moves — unfold and lock the legs. Other tables may require locking each prong of the support in place and rolling a table top over. Weigh your intended usage, size, weight, and budget against how little (or how much) set up and break down you’d like to do before you make your camping table purchase.


Image of 6 camp tables in a grassy area in front of green leafy trees. Four of the tables are standing on the ground. Two in the background are stack on top of the farthest table back.

Testing camp tables side-by-side. Here are some of the camping tables we tested and compared.

How we tested

We tested our contenders for best camping tables in the woods of Western Maine, along the Maine coast, around the White Mountains of New Hampshire, in backyards, on front porches, in the middle of New England farms and gardens, and by sandy riverbanks. From backyard grill-outs to beach weekends to late dinners by the river, from scorching sun to summer downpours, these tables withstood a lot in the few weeks we had to test them.

They were used to hold platters of food at a Downeast family reunion, keep drinks, books, and phones out of the sand at York Beach, and even served as the writing platform for this table review on the front porch of my family’s home. Every camping table was left outside for 5+ days in the hottest (and then rainiest) days of Western Maine’s summer to see how they handled temperature fluctuations, wind, and rain. Each proved its toughness in the backwoods and at the rocky coasts of New England’s best hangouts.


The author, Josette Deschambeault, is an outdoor writer and river and backpacking guide.

The author, Josette Deschambeault, is an outdoor writer and river and backpacking guide.

About the author / Why you should trust us

I spent nearly 8 years of my life as a river and backpacking guide, but nearly 20 years camping. I know firsthand how a table at your campsite has the ability to make or break your experience, whether that be cooking dinner on the banks of the Salmon River in an Idaho summer rainstorm after a full day of rafting or making breakfast for 6 in the red dirt of Utah while car camping for the weekend. Tables (and chairs) became a great way to encourage more people to join us in outdoor activities — those of us with bad shoulders, backs, hips, or knees felt more relief and more comfortable with a table to lean on or cook on rather than stooping to the ground or balancing on a rock. 

In my time as a backpacking, rock climbing, hiking, and rafting guide in Alaska and Colorado, using tables to plan the day, prep and serve meals, pack for the day’s adventures or just decompress and have somewhere to set your book and your coffee on made a huge difference. Multi-day rafting trips used tables to keep the silt and sand out of our food for every meal, even if the table was strapped down on a raft. Having a small camp table after a 6-mile hike to the basecamp felt like the height of luxury, but kept us sane under a tarp playing cards in a downpour. Even living out of the back of my ‘95 Tacoma on four cross-continent roadtrips from Maine to Colorado to Alaska and back again was drastically improved with the addition of a folding table, instead of just the tailgate (which functioned as both my doorway and my kitchen for far too long). 

My gear expertise stems from 6 years of gear reviews for Backpacker Magazine, 8 years of guiding, 20 years of camping adventures, and a plethora of gear-head friends. In addition, I’ve written outdoor lifestyle pieces for NRS’s Duct Tape Diaries, REI’s Uncommon Path Magazine, and Powder 7 Ski Shop’s Lift Line Blog. (For additional publications and upcoming articles, check out my website.)

Let it be known: no one in my family (including myself) is sponsored, an ambassador, or an employee of any of the companies mentioned here. Our reviews are unbiased, and we do this to help you find the best product for the price. Treeline Review doesn’t accept sponsored content, native advertising, or paid reviews.

You can see all of Josette's articles on her author page.