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Camping tents with AC ports allow you to easily hook up a window air conditioner or portable AC unit to your tent to keep it cool on those hot summer days.
But not only are camping tents with air conditioning ports hard to find, the quality of some of them can be lacking, as well.
So, we compared all of the camping tents with ac ports and narrowed them down to the three best options below (plus a few honorable mentions).
Here’s what we found!
Best Camping Tents With AC Ports
The three best camping tents with AC ports are the Bushnell Shield Series Instant Cabin Tent, Ozark Trail 3 Room L-Shaped Instant Cabin Tent, and the E-Z UP Camping Cube. There are also a few honorable mentions we’ll cover that have ports that could be used to vent a portable AC.
Tents With AC Ports Comparison Chart
*Buying through links in this chart may earn us a commission at no additional cost to you.
Bushnell Shield Series Instant Cabin Tent
I absolutely love everything about this tent! Even if it didn’t feature an AC port, I’d still use it.
Where to begin…
The Bushnell Shield Series Instant Cabin Tent features their instant 60-second setup technology. In other words, all of the poles are already attached – you simply lay the tent out, unfold and extend the poles, and voila, you have an (almost) instant shelter!
Since we are looking at tents with AC ports, we most likely plan to use the tent when it’s hot outside and want to keep cool. Well, the Shield Series tents take it a step further with their Heat Shield technology!
Bushnell Heat Shield technology is essentially a highly reflective coating applied to the underside of the tent’s rainfly designed to block the sun’s UV rays. This has been shown to significantly reduce the penetration of the sun’s rays and make the tent cooler.
The tent itself is made of an extremely tough 150-denier, water-repellent fabric that has fully taped and waterproof seams to keep the inside of your tent bone dry.
For those times you don’t need to run the AC, it features large mesh windows that allow for excellent ventilation and 360-degree views around the tent. And when a little privacy is needed, there are panels on the windows that can be zipped shut.
And, of course, it features an AC port under the side window. The port measures about 17 inches wide x 21 inches high, with a flap that extends roughly 17 inches. Perfect for most window AC units.
I could go on and on, but let’s take a look at the specs and some of the pros and cons.
Specifications
- Occupancy: 6, 9, or 12-person tent sizes available
- Size: Depends on the occupancy. The 9-person tent, which I reviewed, is 15 feet long x 9 feet wide x 78 inches high
- Setup Type: Instant
- Material: 150 Denier fabric
- Brand: Bushnell
- Includes: 1 Tent, tent cover, 8 tie-downs, 1 carry bag
Pros
- Sets up in less than 60 seconds (under 2 minutes for the 12 person tent)
- Heat Shield technology to help keep the tent cooler
- Weather Shield technology to protect you from inclement weather conditions
- Tons of internal and external gear organizers
- AC port, of course
- Utility Port which allows for connection to outside electrical access
- A room divider for privacy
- Water-repellent with sealed seams
- Large mesh windows with privacy panels
Cons
- I’ve used this tent extensively with no issues whatsoever but reading reviews from various websites, a common theme is that people have water issues in the corners of the tent. I, personally, haven’t experienced that, but something to keep in mind.
Bushnell Shield Series Instant Cabin Tent
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Ozark Trail 3 Room L-Shaped Instant Cabin Tent With AC Port
Next up is the Ozark Trail 3 Room Instant Cabin Tent. This is another great tent perfect for larger groups or families that want a little privacy while camping.
The Ozark Trail brand is a privately labeled company owned by Walmart. So, you’ll likely only find these tents on an online marketplace like Amazon or at Walmart. But they do make excellent quality tents that have made our “Best of” lists here at Tent Hacker several times now.
Also, Ozark Trails has a 12-person and 10-person instant cabin tent that features an AC port. We will focus on the 12-person L-Shaped tent since the two are inherently different in design.
As the name suggests, the Ozark Trail 3 Room L-Shaped Instant Cabin Tent sets up extremely quickly – in around 2 minutes. Like the Bushnell tent above, the poles come pre-attached, so you just have to lay the tent out and extend the poles.
This tent is very large when set up! It can hold up to 12 people comfortably, has 3 different rooms, and can fit 3 queen airbeds! I recommend using two rooms as sleeping quarters and using one of the end rooms as a gathering space.
It also comes with an awning, giving you a covered outdoor space to enjoy with your family and friends.
On those nice breezy days, ventilation shouldn’t be an issue with 7 windows throughout the tent, all of which can easily be zipped up when you want to run the AC.
Additional features include cord access, so you can easily hook up to electricity, factory-sealed seams, and, of course, an oversized ground vent to fit an air conditioner.
Specifications
- Occupancy: 12 people
- Size: 16 feet long x 16 feet wide x 6.9 feet (roughly) high
- Setup Type: Instant
- Material: Polyester
- Brand: Ozark Trail
- Includes: 1 tent, 1 rainfly, 25 tent stakes, carry bag
Pros
- Huge tent that should provide plenty of room for up to 12 campers
- Quick 2-minute set up
- 3 separate rooms
- Factory-sealed seams with leak protection
- Electrical cord access
- AC port
- Covered awning
- Plenty of storage pockets
Cons
- This thing is BIG! Even when it’s folded down. So, you’ll need to prepare for that when taking it on a camping trip.
Ozark Trail 3 Room L-Shaped Instant Cabin Tent With AC Port
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E-Z UP Camping Cube
The E-Z UP Camping Cube is a little different than the other tents we featured above. Essentially, it turns a straight-legged shelter or frame into a camping tent with an air conditioner port.
So, don’t buy this thinking you’re getting a full camping tent out of the box! You need to have a compatible 10×10 ft frame. The shell connects to the frame with heavy-duty connectors.
This quick video will demonstrate exactly what the Camping Cube is and how it works.
When set up, this tent will hold, according to them, 6.4 people (the .4 is your dog). It measures 111 inches long x 111 inches wide x 76 inches tall.
On those days when you don’t want to run an AC unit, the large screened windows, oversized screened door, and vented roof will give you maximum airflow. And the shell itself is designed to block 99% of harmful UV rays.
Now, I know what you’re probably thinking – what about a floor? Well, the camping cube comes with a water and bug-proof tub-style floor that will protect you from the elements.
The AC port can double as a pet portal, so your little furry friend can enter and exit the tent as they wish (when you don’t have an AC unit hooked up).
Additional features include O-ring attachments in the tent to handle gear, lanterns, etc., an electrical cord access point, a carry bag, and a solid 3-year warranty.
Specifications
- Occupancy: 6.4 people (the 0.4 is a dog)
- Size: 111 inches long x 111 inches wide x 76 inches tall
- Setup Type: Hanging
- Material: I couldn’t find a definitive answer, but the fabric is fire-resistant treated to meet fire code CPAI-84, water-resistant, UV-resistant, and mildew-resistant
- Brand: E-Z Up
- Includes: Camping cube, accessory gear bag, front mat, stakes, instructions
Pros
- Provides the ability to turn a straight-legged canopy frame into a camping tent
- AC hole that doubles as a pet portal
- Allows for plenty of ventilation
- Fire, water, UV, and mildew resistant
- 3-year warranty
Cons
- What might be a pro for some (those with an existing frame) is definitely a con for others as you need a 10×10 straight-legged frame, which is just an added cost. However, depending on the frame, the total might be cheaper than the other two tents on this list.
E-Z UP Camping Cube
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What Other Tents Have AC Ports? (Honorable Mentions)
Wenzel and Core both have tent models with ports that could be used for a portable air conditioning unit. Essentially, you would place the portable AC unit in your tent and run the vent hose out the port.
I didn’t want to include these in the main list since the ventilation ports weren’t technically designed to use an air conditioner or fit a window AC, but for those who would rather use a portable AC, these tents will work!
- Wenzel Klondike 8 Person Water Resistant Tent
- Core 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent
- Core 11 Person Family Cabin Tent
How Do You Cool a Tent With AC?
You can cool a tent with either a window air conditioning unit or a portable AC unit. A window AC unit requires a stand and an AC port on your tent, while a portable unit does not (though you will need to run the vent hose out of a tent door if no vent is available).
There are pros and cons to using each type of air conditioning method, which we cover in our guide on how to air condition a tent.
Will a Portable AC Work in a Tent?
A portable AC unit will work in a tent as long as you have access to a power source. Portable units are often preferred over window AC units as they can be easier to carry, don’t require an AC port, and don’t need a stand to sit on.
How Can I Keep My Tent Cool in the Summer?
Running an AC unit, whether it’s a window AC or a portable AC unit, is arguably the most effective way to keep your tent cool in the summer. An air-conditioned tent is hard to beat.
But a few additional tips to help keep your tent cool include pitching your tent in a shaded area and waiting until the sun goes down to pitch it, using a well-ventilated tent, and even using the right tent material.
Check out our guide on how to keep a tent cool without electricity for more details and effective tips!