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The 10 Best Portable Camping Grills [2024]

Amar Hussain's image
Amar Hussain
Amar Hussain's image

Amar Hussain

Senior Content Contributor

823 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 63U.S. States Visited: 9

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications incl...
Edited by: Keri Stooksbury
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Keri Stooksbury

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With years of experience in corporate marketing and as the executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar, Keri is now editor-in-chief at UP, overseeing daily content operations and r...

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Practical and highly portable, a camping grill lets you cook your own food out in the open. A good camping grill will offer the capacity, reliability, and energy efficiency you need for backyard barbecues to backcountry adventures and everything in between.

Things To Consider With Camping Grills

Camping grills offer a variety of different designs and features. Before you buy, consider the following:

Heat

Camping Grill Heat
Your grill should provide enough heat for safe and even cooking. Image Credit: Amar Hussain

The power output of your camping grill will be measured in BTU (British Thermal Units), and the higher the output, the better the grill.

You should look for a grill that offers between 60 to 100 BTUs per square inch while being wary of grills that offer a much higher figure than this, as they will be too hot to handle and unable to offer safe and even cooking.

Style and Design

Camping Grill Style
Freestanding grills can have foldable legs. Image Credit: Amar Hussain

Depending on your individual needs, you can choose from freestanding camping grills that have foldable legs for easy transportation and storage or tabletop designs that are lightweight and easy to carry.

While freestanding models can be heavier and less portable, they generally offer larger cooking areas, may have 2 or 3 burners, and can be set up just about anywhere.

Hot Tip: On the other hand, tabletop models are more compact, easy to use, and a great choice for just the 2 of you.

Burners

If the grill you choose comes with burners, they will usually offer 2 separate burners that have individual temperature controls. Perfect for use with smaller pans, the addition of burners offers you increased versatility in the way you cook.

Cooking Space

Camping Grill Cooking Space
The size of your camping grill will depend on how many people you need to fee. Image Credit: Amar Hussain

Always opt for a camping grill that has enough space to feed everyone extra portions — for example, space for 4 burgers would be enough food for 2 people, and so forth.

Extra side shelves are super handy for storing utensils and condiments, but they can add extra bulk to the camping grill, making them heavier and more cumbersome to carry around with you.

Fuel

Most camping stoves use propane cylinders that are lightweight and easy to carry around with you. Butane is a slightly less common alternative and one that struggles in colder temperatures.

Propane models allow you to choose the size of the tank depending on how long you are planning to use the grill and how far you need to travel. Larger canisters can be kept on the floor to free up cooking space and attach a hose to the grill.

Hot Tip: For your next adventure, check out our guides to the best camping kitchens, the best camping stoves, and the best travel coolers and ice packs.

The 10 Best Camping Grills

Whether you are cooking for one or feeding the whole family, there are some awesome camping grills out there to suit every kind of camper.

1. Great for Grill for Cookouts and Camping Trips

Check on Walmart

With independently adjustable burners, this superb camping grill makes it easy to cook like a pro. Offering up to 20,000 BTUs of grilling power, this awesome camping grill comes complete with 285 square inches of cooking space, making it an excellent choice for family barbecues and camping trips.

Offering 3 separate burners, you can enjoy enhanced temperature control for thorough and efficient heating, and the easy-to-use, push-button ignition system ensures that the flame catches quickly and has the power to stay alight, even in breezy weather.

This design features a water pan to catch cooking oil and grease, making it easy to clean between uses, and with 2 super-useful side tables, you can prepare and store food or cooking utensils, transforming your outdoor cooking experience into something awesome.

What We Like

  • Comes with fold-up legs for easy storage and transportation

What We Don’t Like

  • The lid locking mechanism is a bit hit and miss

2. Mobile Camping Grill With Wheels

Weber 9010001 Traveler Portable Gas Grill

With a super easy-to-use, one-handed setup and collapse, this camping grill is attached to its own cart, offering quick and reliable transportation. With enough grilling space to cook a family meal, this model is surprisingly compact when folded, making it easy to store in your garage or the trunk of your car.

With a larger than average grilling area, you can cook up to 10 to 15 burgers or 20 sausages at a time, and the highly efficient burner helps to ensure even heat distribution throughout.

Designed to offer maximum efficiency when it comes to burning gas, this camping stove runs on a 16-ounce gas canister or can be used with an adaptor hose to connect to a larger tank.

Compact and portable, this family-size grill is an excellent choice for use at parties, camping trips, and anywhere you want to enjoy eating alfresco.

What We Like

  • This is easy-to-use and super reliable

What We Don’t Like

  • It’s another weak lid latch

3. Camping Grill With a Piezo Ignition System

Char-Broil Portable 240 Liquid Propane Gas Grill

This portable gas grill features a single 9,500-BTU burner and 240 square inches of cooking space, making it just right for 6 to 8 burgers at a time. Easy to transport and reliable by design, this is an awesome choice for tailgating, beach parties, and camping trips.

The piezo ignition system ensures a fast and reliable startup with just the push of a button, and the lid-mounted temperature gauge allows for greater heat monitoring and control.

With sturdy legs, you can rest this grill on tabletops or directly on the ground, and the compact design makes it easy to store when not in use.

Highly efficient when it comes to burning fuel, this model works with a 1-pound propane tank that can be connected directly to the side of the grill, and the carry handles make it easy to lift or move around to find the optimal cooking position.

What We Like

  • Offers efficient and even heating

What We Don’t Like

  • It struggles to get above 300 degrees

4. Small Camping Grill for Precise Cooking

Check on Walmart

Coleman Fold N Go + Propane Grill

This supercute, little grill is lightweight and super easy to move and use. With a built-in handle and compact design, you can take this grill virtually anywhere, and the InstaStart ignition means you can fire it up without the need for matches or a lighter.

Delivering an impressive 6,000 BTUs of heat, you can enjoy even distribution across 105 square inches of grilling surface, and the adjustable horseshoe burner allows for precise temperature control for more accurate cooking.

In addition, the easy-to-clean design makes light work of greasy cookouts, and the removable tray can be popped in the dishwasher between uses.

Made with PerfectFlow technology, this little grill delivers a steady heat and offers up to 3.5 hours on the high setting with a 16.4-ounce propane cylinder. It’s a great choice for outdoor eating.

What We Like

  • Efficient little travel grill for 2

What We Don’t Like

  • It doesn’t feel very sturdy

5. 2-in-1 Grill With Built-in Burners

Coleman Gas Camping Grill and Stove

This 2-in-1 tabletop grill and stove comes with 130 square inches of grill space and 2 burners. Easy to set up and compact to carry, this is a great way to cook up family meals at tailgate parties, picnics, and camping trips.

Adjustable burners with a rotating dial let you find the perfect temperature, and the pressure control technology ensures consistent heat performance, even in cold weather, at high altitudes, or when the fuel is running low.

With a removable tray, you can easily collect and clean drippings from cooking, and the fold-down wind block side panels and self-sealing lid make it easy to carry around with you when not in use.

What We Like

  • The Coleman quality

What We Don’t Like

  • It doesn’t have a low setting

6. Ready To Use Camping Grill, Right Out of the Box

Coleman Gas Grill | Portable Propane Grill

Offering up to 11,000 total BTUs, this awesome tabletop camping grill is easy to use, super-efficient, and compact enough to carry around with you. With a 225-square-inch grilling area, you will have plenty of space to cook up a storm away from home.

You can enjoy greater control when grilling with 2 independently adjustable temperature zones, and the swappable cooktops let you interchange between cast-iron grates with griddles or stove grates that you can buy separately.

Easy to use and highly efficient, this grill has a push-button ignition system for reliable matchless lighting and is powered by a single 16.4-ounce propane cylinder. It allows maximum cooking power for minimal output. Ready to go right out of the box, this beauty arrives fully assembled for your added convenience.

What We Like

  • Easy to clean and completely reliable

What We Don’t Like

  • The lid doesn’t lock

7. Heavy-duty and Robust Camping Grill

MARTIN Portable Propane BBQ Gas Grill

This is an excellent, heavy-duty camping grill that offers plenty of versatility to let you cook like a pro. Featuring a distinctive U-shaped burner, it offers 14,000 BTUs of even and reliable heat, and the porcelain cooking grill is easy to clean between uses.

The folding support legs can be quickly deployed to turn a regular table into a grill station, and the lightweight design makes it suitable for use at tailgate parties, camping trips, and so much more.

The adjustable temperature control lets you perfectly cook all types of meat, and the gentle heat distribution of the porcelain grill even lets you cook veggies and fish without burning.

With a removable catch tray, you can tip away excess grease, and the retractable warming tray lets you keep your food fresh and ready to serve. With an easy-to-use piezo-ignition system, there is no need for any external power sources, and this little camping grill is compatible with both high- and low-pressure lines.

What We Like

  • Reliable heat for even cooking

What We Don’t Like

  • The fold-out legs feel a little flimsy

8. Compact Cookout Grill With Warming Rack

CUSIMAX Charcoal BBQ Grill

This portable charcoal grill has a compact and lightweight design. It comes with a handle on each side, making it easy to carry from your car to your camping spot. Perfect for picnics, parties, barbecues, and so much more, this little grill has enough space to feed between 2 to 4 people.

With a 17.5-inch cooking grill and rack and a 15-inch warming rack, you can serve up enough hot food to keep everyone feeling full, and the enamel-coated grill provides even heating to ensure safely cooked food every time.

The high-quality enamel design can reach extremely high temperatures, and the food-grade heat-resistant grills can produce perfect grill marks for an authentic outdoor taste.

With a high-quality enamel lid and bowl, this model offers incredible resistance to wear and tear on the go, and the compact size makes it just right for carrying in the trunk of your car.

What We Like

  • Gets hot really quickly

What We Don’t Like

  • It is surprisingly complicated to put together

9. Grill, Griddle, Steamer, and Side Shelf Combo

Check on Walmart

Razor Griddle GGC2030M 25 Inch Outdoor 2 Burner Grill and Griddle

Enjoy awesome cookouts with friends and family with this 2-burner outdoor grill and griddle. Offering a total of 20,000 BTUs of power, this portable burner can be attached to either a 1-pound cylinder or a 20-pound tank using your own choice of adaptor hose.

Offering enough space to cook up several food items at a time, this model comes complete with a side shelf that offers extra space to store your condiments and utensils.

For added versatility, it also comes with a rolled steam lid that can be used to steam or melt food, and the handy lid also offers extra protection in inclement weather.

The 2-wheel cart and folding design makes this super easy to transport from one place to another, and the well-thought-out design and high-quality grill make it easy to cook up a storm while you are away from home.

What We Like

  • Compact and easy to carry

What We Don’t Like

  • It doesn’t get as hot as some other camping grills

10. Small and Compact Camping Option

NOMADIQ Portable Propane Gas Grill

This super-handy mini-grill is perfect for keeping well-fed while you are on the go. With an electric push-start ignition switch, you can reliably fire it up wherever you are headed, and weighing in at just 12 pounds, it is lightweight enough to carry everywhere with you.

Offering 226 square inches of ceramic-coated, non-stick grates, it has lots of room for all your favorite food, and the even heat distribution ensures safe and reliable cooking every time.

Offering almost 10,000 BTUs of power with dual burners, it offers 2 separate grilling sides that come with independently controlled burners for increased flexibility while cooking.

With a smooth and superfast setup, this grill heats up straight away, and the stainless steel burners and cast iron grill plates ensure that this little beauty will last for many outdoor adventures to come. It is perfect for use as a tabletop grill, it comes with 2 dishwasher-safe drip trays, a gas hose and regulator, and a carrying strap for easy transportation.

What We Like

  • Super portable and easy to use

What We Don’t Like

  • Can be a little tricky to clean

Final Thoughts

Cook up a variety of delights on the move with a camping grill. From intimate dinners to feeding the whole crew, your camping grill and stove offers you the flexibility you need to enjoy alfresco dining while you are camping, partying, or just relaxing in your own backyard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a camping stove or grill better?

A camping stove is better for a couple or a solo camper as a stove will only allow you the cooking space of the pans you use on them. Camping grills tend to have a much larger surface for cooking and are perfect for making larger meals.

What is a griddle grill?

Griddle grills are completely flat surfaces and are usually made of cast iron or similar. Traditional grills will have bars or ridges.

Can you use charcoal grill when camping?

You can certainly use a charcoal grill while camping, but they are better suited to trips where space and weight aren’t an issue. Portable camping grills are usually smaller, use a liquid fuel that’s easier to carry and much quicker to ignite.

What are the different types of outdoor grills?

There are numerous types of outdoor grills, and some are more suited to camping, depending on your size and weight requirements. Gas and propane grills are the most popular for camping, but charcoal grills, pellet grills, and kamado grills are also options.

Amar Hussain's image

About Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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