Search Cool of the Wild Start typing...

12 Best Camping Grills for Family Feasts

Man cooking sausages on the best camping grill

There’s nothing like cooking your favourite food on the grill. But what about when you are camping or on the road? Portable grills give you the flavour you love with the convenience of a grill you can take along in an RV, to a tailgate or when car camping. The best camping grills are truly portable. Look for something light enough to carry, unless you plan to use it exclusively on a tailgate. Even then, loading in and out of the truck is easier with a grill you can move easily. If you want to use your portable grill at table height without a separate table or stand, Coleman’s Road Trip Propane Portable Grill LXE has its own folding legs and wheels for easy setup and use.

Alternatively, you may need something portable enough to carry to the beach, for a wilderness picnic or even backpacking. If so, then we’ve got you covered.

If fire pits that you can also cook on are more your thing, then read our review and comparison of our favourite portable fire pits.

Summary of the best portable grills for camping in 2024

Here’s a quick summary of your options with more info on each grill in the best camping grills section.

Disclaimer: We use affiliate links and may receive a small commission on purchases.

ProductFuel typeBTU'sFeaturesCost
Eureka SPRK Camp GrillButane7250Highly portable and lightweight$
Cuisinart Petit Gourmet Portable Tabletop Gas GrillPropane5,500Extendable legs$$
Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane GrillPropane20,000Built-in table and wheels$$$
Coleman Fold N Go Portable GrillPropane6,000Highly portable$
Otzi Flame Portable 4-6 Person GrillCharcoal or wood/Flatpack and super portable$$$
BioLite FirePit Cooking KitWood + Charcoal/Built-in fan and doubles as fire pit$$$$
Solo Stove GrillCharcoal or wood/360 airflow system$$$$
Bitty Big Q Compact Retractable GrillCharcoal or wood/Folds up mega small and is super lightweight$
Primus Kamoto OpenFire PitCharcoal/Highly portable and doubles as a fire pit$$$
Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal GrillCharcoal/Highly portable$
Char-Griller Table Top Charcoal Grill and Side Fire BoxCharcoal/Doubles as a side fire or smoker$
Camp Chef Professional Barbecue BoxUse with camp stove/Doubles as a smoker$$
Backyard camping banner

FAQs when choosing camping grills

What is the best portable propane grill?
It may not be as portable as the other grills on our list, but in terms of power output, useability and size, the Coleman Road Trip Propane Portable Grill LXE is an excellent option.
What is the best tabletop gas grill?

If you’re after a tabletop grill that is cable of putting out serious heat quickly, then the Cuisinart Petit Gourmet Portable Tabletop Gas Grill is tough to beat.

What is the best small grill?
The smallest propane grill on our list is the Coleman Fold N Go Portable Grill. It’s super lightweight, easy to use and carry and puts out a very respectable 6,000 BTU’s. However, if you are happy cooking with coals or wood then the best small grill is the Bitty Big Q Compact Retractable Grill.
What is the best inexpensive BBQ grill?
The Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill is an excellent option that won’t break the bank, and is one of the best portable charcoal grills on our list. If you are looking for an inexpensive gas BBQ then your best option is the Coleman Fold N Go Propane Grill.
How much is a good grill?
You can expect to pay anything between $50 to $200 for a good camping grill. Propane-fueled grills tend to be more expensive than charcoal grills.
What is the best portable charcoal grill?
The best portable charcoal grill is one that is highly packable, relatively lightweight, easy to store and offers a good sized area to cook on. Of the more traditional grills on our list we, think this is the Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill. But if you’re looking for a truly portable grill, then the Bitty Big Q Compact Retractable Grill is hard to beat, closely followed by the Otzi Flame Portable 4-6 Person Grill and the Primus Kamoto OpenFire Pit.
How many BTU’s do I need for a grill?
In most cases, the higher the number of BTU’s the hotted and more powerful your grill will be. As a guide, the grills on our list offer between 5,500 BTU’s for the Cuisinart Petit Gourmet Portable Tabletop Gas Grill, and 20,000 BTU’s for the Coleman Roadtrip Propane Portable Grill.

The best camping grills: propane fuelled

Eureka SPRK Camp Grill

Eureka SPRK Camp Grill

At only 3.8kg / 8.5oz, the Eureka SPRK Camp Grill is the most lightweight propane-fueled option on our list, closely following by the Coleman Fold N Go. It comes in a briefcase style box and its portable design makes it ideal for impromptu BBQ’s at the beach or even further afield. Plus, you won’t need to lug a heavy gas canister around with it; an 8oz butane canister (not included) is housed inside the grill.

Other features include an auto-ignition, temperature controller, a drip tray and adjustable legs. A truly portable camping grill designed with versatility in mind.

Pros

  • Lightweight and portable
  • Auto-ignition
  • Houses lightweight gas bottle
  • Drip tray

Cons

  • Not the easiest to clean

Find the latest price at:
REI | Amazon


Cuisinart Tabletop Gas Grill

Cuisinart Petit Gourmet Portable Tabletop Gas Grill

Cuisinart’s Petit Gourmet Portable Tabletop Gas Grill is large enough for eight burgers but light enough to carry in one hand at just over 13 pounds. Folding legs and a carrying handle make the Petit Gourmet an extremely portable option. Even with the legs folded, four corner feet stabilize the grill for storage or for cooking on a higher surface. The drip pan is much smaller than other grills this size, so be prepared with a disposable drip pan for especially greasy or juicy foods.

Pros

  • Adjustable height
  • Folding legs
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Small drip pan
  • Plastic components near high heat

Find the latest price on:
Amazon


Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill

Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill

For times when you need a camping grill that doesn’t take up valuable table or tailgate space, Coleman’s RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill comes with everything you need – the stand, slide-out side tables, and wheels are all attached. You won’t even need a lighter or matches thanks to the push button ignition. When it’s time to pack up and head home, the stand folds down, leaving you with a rolling grill about the size of a carryon suitcase.

Pros

  • Built-in table and wheels
  • Matchless lighting
  • Other cooktops available for purchase

Cons

  • Uneven heat on high
  • Takes up more storage space than a tabletop option

Find the latest price on:

Amazon


Coleman Fold N Go Portable Grill

Coleman Fold N Go Portable Grill

At just over 10 pounds, the Coleman Fold N Go Portable Grill is light enough to carry one-handed, even when your campsite is set back from your car. A separate carrying case is available from Coleman for even easier transport. The porcelain-coated grate is easy to clean, although the non-stick protection is lost if the porcelain ever chips or flakes off. If you are just starting out with a camping grill and not sure how often you will use it, the Fold N Go is a great starting point as one of the lightest and least expensive options on our list.

Pros

  • Price
  • Lightweight
  • Griddle cooktop available

Cons

  • Porcelain coating can chip
  • No ignition button – be sure to pack a lighter!

Find the latest price on:
Amazon


The best camping grills: non-propane fuelled

Otzi Gear Flame Grill

Otzi Flame Portable 4-6 Person Grill

Family-owned Otzi Adventure Gear are newcomers to the camping grill game and they have seriously upped the ante when it comes to innovation and portability. The Otzi Flame Portable 4-6 Person Grill is the largest of their fleet of flatpack high quality steel grills, making it ideal for family camping trips when space in the car is limited. It also weighs only 17 lbs (7.7 kg) which is lightweight enough to pack up and hike out to a remote location for a sunset supper with a view!

Made in California, the grill pack comes with 4 skewers that sit in small grooves on the frame to prevent spinning kebabs! There’s also a grill plate which provides 10 x 16 in (25.5 x 40.5 cm) of cooking space and can be positioned at 4 different heights for temperature control.

And finally, the whole grill packs down into a durable ballistic nylon carry case with a handle for convenient carrying. With the ability to be fuelled by charcoal or wood, it really is camping grill innovation at its best, combining performance with practicality in an incredibly simple little package.

Pros

  • Flatpack and highly portable
  • Lightweight
  • Versatile
  • Easy to set up and pack away

Cons

  • Pricey

Find the latest price on:
Otzi Adventure Gear


Biolite-FirePit-Cooking-KitClose ups of biolite fire pit

Biolite FirePit Cooking Kit

If you’re into innovative ways to set your sausages sizzling then you will LOVE the Biolite FirePit Cooking Kit. Yes, this is more than just a camping grill. It’s actually a fan-assisted fire pit disguised as a grill that can also be controlled from your phone via bluetooth! Crazy stuff. But it really works, keeping your charcoal burning optimally and relatively smoke-free without even having to get out of your camping chair. Now that’s living!

Unfortunately it doesn’t cook the food for you – you’ll have to do that yourself with the handy utensils included in the kit. It also comes with a removable grill, a griddle plate and a lid, ensuring that just about all your camp cooking and grilling needs are covered.

Pros

  • Fan-assisted
  • Doubles as a fire pit
  • Highly versatile
  • Easy to set up and pack away

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Doesn’t cook the food for you!

Find the latest price on:
Biolite | REI


Solo Stove Grill

Solo Stove Grill

The Solo Stove Grill is the most expensive camping grill on our list, but it does provide excellent cooking conditions. Its key feature is the grill’s 360 airflow system which circulates air whilst you cook – no need to fiddle with air vents or flap the fire. Just light up and the airflow system will feed the charcoal and keep it burning evenly across the grill for up to 45 minutes. It’s also elevated on a sturdy stand so you can comfortably sit while cooking.

With a 22-inch diameter, you’ll be able to grill plenty of food at the same time. An adjustable air vent in its removable lid gives you additional temperature control and will help to keep the food hot after the coals have burnt out. After using, the removable ash pan, cooking grate and charcoal grate, makes it easy to clean those (usually) hard to reach places.

Pros

  • Quality materials (304 stainless steel)
  • Heats up in 15 minutes
  • Easy to clean
  • Large grill
  • Excellent airflow

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Heavy (17.5 kg)

Find the latest price at:
Amazon


Bitty Big Q GrillClose ups of bity bigq grill

Bitty Big Q Compact Retractable Grill

The highly unique Bitty Big Q Compact Retractable Grill is hands down the best portable grill on our list. It weighs 1.77 lb (800g) and packs down to a tiny package that measures only 6.7 x 3.5 x 3.5 inches (17 x 9 x 9 cm). Yep, that’s about the size of a 1 litre Nalgene bottle. And yes, it will fit into the side pocket of your backpack! Of course, it lacks a place to burn coals or wood like the other options on our list. But its portable nature means that it can be used as a grill over any small fire or placed over an existing fire ring or pit. This is especially useful when you rock up to a campground expecting a grill over the fire ring, but none exists!

It’s made of stainless steel with fold out legs that can be set at three different heights to work with the size and heat of your fire or coals. It’s also incredibly easy to set up and fold away, and crucially, comes in a tough carry bag to protect your stuff from soot when carrying. It’s perfect for campfire cooking at the beach, backpacking BBQ’s, picnics and even car camping.

Pros

  • Mega portable
  • Super lightweight
  • Easy to fold away
  • Self-cleans as you fold it away!

Cons

  • Small grilling surface (160 square inches)
  • Grill only – doesn’t have area to burn coals or wood
  • A little wobbly compared with other grills

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | Bitty Big Q


Primus Kamoto Open Fire PitClose ups of primus fire pit

Primus Kamoto OpenFire Pit

If you’re looking for traditional charcoal grill that is truly portable then you can’t go wrong with the Primus Kamoto OpenFire Pit. Its clever folding design means that it can be comfortably carried to those hard to reach secret picnic spots. And weighing in at only 6kg makes this even more doable. But the best bit? Once you’ve done cooking up a storm, just fill it up with logs, stoke up a fire and enjoy fireside dining.

For more info read our full review of the Primus Kamoto OpenFire Pit.

Pros

  • Folable and highly portable
  • Lightweight
  • Doubles as a fire pit

Cons

  • The heat doesn’t spread across the whole grill

Find the latest price on:
Primus | Amazon | Backcountry


Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill

Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill

Another option from Weber if you prefer to grill with charcoal is the Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill. Rounded legs give the grill stability in grass or sand as well as on a table or tailgate, but they are not the strongest grill legs on our list. If you plan to use your camping grill with heavy cast iron cookware, this might not be the best pick for you. If you want something you can take anywhere, however, the name is not a misnomer – at the size of a portable toolbox, the Go-Anywhere makes a great traveling grill. The rectangular shape makes it convenient to pack with other gear as well.

Pros

  • Portable
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to pack and store

Cons

  • Not for heavy cookware
  • Cannot adjust grate height

Find the latest price on:
Amazon


Char-Griller Table Top Charcoal Grill and Side Fire Box

Char-Griller Table Top Charcoal Grill and Side Fire Box

Char-Griller’s Table Top Charcoal Grill and Side Fire Box is the least expensive option on our list. By itself, it works as a charcoal grill. Used with other Char-Griller barrel grills, the Table Top Charcoal Grill can also be used as a fire box or smoke box. This is a great feature if you plan to expand your tailgating or camping grill in the future but want to start with something portable now. Two access doors and a removable ash pan give you total control over airflow and simplify clean up when you are done.

Pros

  • Cast iron
  • Doubles as a side fire box or smoker
  • Price

Cons

  • Once converted to a side fire box, it cannot be used as a grill

Find the latest price on:
Amazon


Camp Chef Professional Barbecue Box

Camp Chef Professional Barbecue Box

If you want to get more out of an existing camp stove, take a look at Camp Chef’s Professional Barbecue Box. The Barbecue Box does not have its own heat source; it must be used with another camp stove and fits on a single burner of a 14-inch camp stove. What it does give you is the ability to make professional-quality barbecued and smoked foods in an RV, on a camping trip, or at a tailgate. The interior diffuser plate heats up quickly and cooks up to six burgers with radiant heat. Place wood pellets or chips under the grate to impart smoke flavor while you cook as well.

Pros

  • Cast iron grate
  • Built-in thermometer
  • Doubles as a smoker

Cons

  • No heat source

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | Backcountry


What to look for when choosing the best camping grills

If you are choosing a new portable camping grill, or upgrading an old one, there are a few things you need to consider before you go for the most powerful, lightweight one available.

Ask yourself the following questions about how, where and what you like to grill:

  • Where do you intend using your grill the most?
    Backyard? Car camping? Picnics? RVing? Tailgating?
  • What sort of food do you like to cook on your portable camping grill?
    Simple burgers and sausages? Or steaks, smoked chicken, steamed veggies and more?
  • How many people do you intend cooking for on your portable grill?
    Just a couple of you or big groups?
  • Do you prefer the convenience of grilling on gas or the extra flavour that comes with grilling on charcoal grill?

Once you have a clear idea of how you intend using your portable grill you can start to narrow down what features are important to you.

Technical features of the best portable camping grills

In theory, the higher the number of BTU’s (British Thermal Units) a grill has, the greater potential there is for high heat output and retention. However, the design, number of burners and construction of the entire grill will, to a degree, also affect the overall efficiency.

To keep it simple, if you want a super hot and powerful grill look one with a high BTU output.

Fuel type

Propane

Most camping grills use liquid propane canisters. These canisters can be purchased in many locations and are easy to store and transport. If you want to connect a full-sized propane tank to your portable grill, all you need is an adaptor hose.

Portable gas grills are by far the most quick and convenient way to barbeque your food. However, grills fueled by propane tend to be a little heavier and less portable than other options.

Non-propane

Non-propane fueled camping grills are ideal if you would like to avoid using gas for ecological reasons. Some people also prefer the taste of charcoal grilled food to food cooked over gas.

Of course, even the best portable charcoal grill will take considerably longer to get hot enough to cook over than a gas grill. But they are usually more lightweight and portable, and in most cases are less expensive.

Temperature control

The ability to control temperature of your camping grill is a really important feature — especially if you’re cooking for folk who won’t abide by singed sangers! The best portable gas grills will have temperature controls and there are some that also have built-in thermometers to keep check on what’s going on underneath the hood without lifting it up!

Ignition

Most of the best portable gas grills will have a built-in ignition. In theory, this makes one less thing to remember to bring. However, it’s always a good idea to bring back-up lighter or matches anyway.

Design features of the best portable camping grills

Although the performance of camping grills is super important, the way they are designed is also a key thing to consider. The best portable grills should suit your needs from a cooking, usability, portability and versatility point of view.

Consider the following:

Grate size and construction

The size of the cooking area on your camping grill is a big consideration. There’s no use opting for a super small portable grill if you hope to feed your group of 10! Equally, if you just want to use it to cook a couple of burgers and some veggies you won’t want anything huge.

It’s also worth looking at what the grate is made of. Does it have a non-stick coating? Does it have two sides that have different uses: a griddle on one side and a flat iron on the other, for example? Stainless steel grates are easy to clean and will resist rust. Heavier, high-end portable grills feature porcelain-enameled and/or cast-iron grates which are highly durable and excellent at heat retention.

Portability

If you are short on space in your car or campervan, or intend using your grill for picnics, beach BBQs or out on the boat, then portability is a major factor to consider. The best portable grills will pack up into a secure suitcase-style container with good carry handles. Any legs or extra components should be contained within the grill. This makes it easy to pack in the car and even easier to carry short distances.

With this in mind, the weight of a portable camping grills should also be considered. Low weight doesn’t matter at all if you are looking for a grill for tailgating or backyard barbecuing. Otherwise, the lighter the grill, the further you can carry it.

Ease of construction

The best portable grills should only take a minute or two to set up. This is especially important if you only want to use your grill for an evening before packing it up and moving on. If, however, you are setting up camp for a week it doesn’t matter if it takes 10 minutes to put the components of your grill together.

Drip tray

The best portable gas grills have a drip tray to catch cooking fat in. These are usually removable making the post-feast clean-up much easier and quicker. This in turn makes the grill more appealing from a portability point of view.

Shelving

The most portable camping grills have very limited ‘extra’ space for food preparation. No side tables or shelves to store food or grilling accessories on. Some larger tabletop gas grills tend to have side tables that fold away or extend for a little more convenience when cooking.

Adjustable legs

Some of the best camping grills are those whose height can be adjusted. Some options have fold-out legs that stabilise the grill and raise it off the ground or tabletop for easier access. And some camping grills have legs that extend to different heights.

Versatility

The final thing to consider when choosing a grill for camping is how versatile it is. Some gas grills are suitable for use with pots and pans making them an excellent option for cooking normal camping meals. If you like to experiment with smoking and using your grill as an oven then this is also an option with some grills. The best portable charcoal grills are those that can also double as a firepit for a post-BBQ campfire.


You don’t need to stay home to cook on the grill with one of the best camping grills of 2024. Whether you are traveling in an RV, tailgating with friends, or heading out for a camping trip, one of our portable grills is what you need to grill on your next excursion.

About the author

author-kimberley

Kimberly Mays is a writer and editor living in Western North Carolina, where she spends weekends in the garden and hiking with her husband and children.

Open Menu