12 Best Camping Tables (Review) In 2021

Features To Look For In Camping Tables

Type - There are several different types of camp tables and we’ll get into the details of each below. They are cooking tables, dining tables, utility tables and small backpacking tables. Be aware too that different manufacturers categorize their tables differently. So what is a “dining table” to one company may be a “picnic table” to another manufacturer. The key to getting the camping kitchen table you want is to focus on the function, rather than just the category the manufacturer decides a given table may belong in.

Size - The best camping tables run the size gamut from ultra-compact to large enough to use in your outdoor kitchen. Obviously, if you’re heading up-mountain size is a major consideration because the table is going to have to compete for space in your backpack with the tent, the stove, additional clothes, food and more. If you’re able to pull the car right into the campsite however, the sky is the limit as far as your camping table size is concerned.

Weight - Camping tables can weigh anywhere from a couple of pounds to 30 or 40 pounds. Weight will be determined almost entirely by intended function. Small backpacking tables are made from lightweight materials because you need to carry them all day up hill and over dale. However, there’s a tradeoff with the lightweight camping table and that is the load the table will be able to bear. Don’t expect to get more than your meal, your tactical flashlight, your phone and a drink on a backpacking table. Whereas certain dining and utility tables will be able to handle your pots and pans along with plates, drinking cups, water bottles and more. The tradeoff being that all that strength requires a heavy frame and a stout tabletop.

Quality - Quality is an elusive, well, quality. It’s hard to quantify but most people know it when they see it. Camping tables - whether they’re camping cooking tables or a small folding camping table - are going to be exposed to the elements so they need to be able to hold their own. The best camping tables will be well-engineered, well-built and won’t rust or become moldy. At least not right out of the gate. They’ll set up easily, clean up easily, break down just as easily and be easy to transport. Some, (especially the larger utility and cooking tables) will have a limited lifetime warranty.

Materials - In a very real sense the material your camping table is made from will make or break it. The small folding camping table will typically have lightweight aluminum legs and a ripstop nylon or polyester top. While larger utility and cooking tables will be (or at least should be) fashioned from high quality steel and/or aluminum. The bulkier steel or aluminum frame and top will make the table heavier but will also enable it to easily accommodate all your cooking gear.

Portability - The level of portability you need will depend on how you intend to use the camping table. If you just want something to set up in roadside campgrounds and state and national parks then chances are the car will never be too far away and you can get away with a larger, heavier camping table. Maybe even a camping table with storage. However, if you plan to transport your camping table into the deep woods or up a mountain then weight and size will be the primary considerations.

Durability - Camping tables are going to take a beating. It’s the nature of camping. You’re outside, the sun is beating down, maybe it’s cold and windy, or you get taken by surprise by sudden downpours. You get the picture. The folding camping table you choose needs to be able to bear the brunt of nature’s indignities. So build quality, materials and the like are important. A given table might look good but if it’s poorly built from cheap materials you’ll need to replace it the first time it gets knocked over by the wind.

Types Of Camping Tables:

Cooking Tables - Cooking tables are large, typically steel or aluminum folding tables that you often see in roadside campgrounds. Tailgaters are also fond of this type of camping table because it’s big and sturdy and will hold lots of burgers and brews. If you’re taking a serious road trip in the RV you’ll probably want to have a cooking table along so you can take full advantage of the great outdoors wherever you go. Keep in mind if you drive a subcompact you’ll have a hard time wedging a cooking table into the back.

Dining Tables - Dining tables are ideal for family camping excursions because they prioritize tabletop real estate. They’re like a portable picnic table (and some companies will market them as such). The dining table is used for sit down meals and is in some ways interchangeable with a simple utility table. They can weigh 10-15 pounds, though most hover around the low end of that range. Again, you’ll probably have difficulty fitting one in the back of a subcompact car.

Utility Tables - Utility tables can be ultra-simple (4 legs and a tabletop) or they can be pretty complex with multiple levels, foldout shelves, a built in sink and perhaps even a pole to hang a camp light on. While a few unadorned utility tables can be used for dining, most are intended for food prep and cleanup with minimal space for holding food once it’s cooked. In short, the utility table is a way-station between the camp stove and the diners and is most often used by families on long stays in the campground or large groups on day outings to the park.

Small Backpacking Tables - The small camping table used by hikers is another matter altogether. For the most part serious mountaineering is a reductionist activity. The goal is to pare away as much weight and bulk as possible. As such, the first things to go are usually things like camping chairs, big heavy stoves and camping tables.

In recent years however, clever designers have found ways to break the weight and size barriers that stood between mountaineering and comfort. Today’s best folding camping tables are a good example. Some weigh less than 2 pounds and can be lashed to the webbing on your pack. When unfolded on the mountainside they add juuust a touch more comfort than previous generations of climbers had any right to expect.

Camping Table FAQ

Q: Why do I need a Camping Table?

A: A camping table is a luxury but if you can afford it why not? The best camping tables add a bit more to the comfort side of the camping equation which, for most people, ramps up their ability to relax and fully appreciate the great outdoors. They make the vital business of food prep and service easier and you would have to be a serious Scrooge to find fault with that.

Q: Should I choose a roll up or folding Camping Table?

A: Which one you choose will depend in large part on how much room you have to store and transport the camping table. Both do an outstanding job of providing a strong, stable platform to cook and/or eat on but the roll up camping table will take up less space in your car and is typically easier to carry from car to campsite. That might be a consideration if you have to park a ways from where you’re camping. Keep in mind that “roll up” refers to the table top. The frame itself is usually some type of accordion design that you pull at the sides to expand.

Q: How to store a Camping Table?

A: Storing your aluminum camping table is largely a matter of common sense. If it’s made with metal and/or fabric then you want to store it in a dry place to avoid corrosion and mold. Make sure you clean it off before putting it away as well, which in some cases will likely mean hand washing the fabric tabletop or running it through the washing machine on gentle. Before you do either however, check with the care instructions on the label.

Q: Can I place my grill on the top of the table?

A: Unless the table was designed specifically for that purpose like the Camco reviewed above, then no. Even the best folding camping tables will wither under the intense heat generated by a gas or charcoal grill unless they’re engineered to deal with it. While it may be tempting to place your gas grill on top of your camping picnic table you should resist that temptation if there is even a tiny bit of doubt about whether your camping table is built to host a grill. Because if it’s not, and you place the grill on it anyway, the tabletop is likely to warp which could lead to a serious accident.