The Best Camping Grill: Greatest Buying Guide In 2024

Sarah Combs By, Sarah Combs
Updated
Cuisinart CCG-216 Portable Charcoal Grill, 16", Black
Image credit: Amazon.com

Our Top Picks

1. Best Overall: Cuisinart CCG-216 Portable Charcoal Grill, 16", Black

The Cuisinart CCG-216 Portable Charcoal Grill is a 200-square-inch steel cooking grate that is ideal for feeding a small crowd. The removable cooking grates are easy to clean and the locking lid design makes the grill easy to transport when going to your next tailgate, camping trip, or backyard BBQ. Read Review

2. Runner Up: Cuisinart CGG-180T Petit Gourmet Portable Tabletop Propane Gas Grill

The Cuisinart CGG-180T Petit Gourmet Portable Tabletop Propane Gas Grill has a powerful 5,500 BTU stainless-steel burner and even-heating porcelain-enameled grate. These aluminum legs and stabilizing feet are set up in seconds; an integrated lid lock keeps the lid secure. It's a versatile grill perfect for tailgating, camping, or picnics. Read Review

3. Best Powerful: Coleman Gas Camping Grill/Stove | Tabletop Propane

Coleman Gas Camping Grill/Stove is a versatile cooking and heat source, a tabletop propane stove that delivers up to 20,000 total BTUs. This powerful portable stove provides even cooking and heat output in all weather conditions. The pressure regulator ensures consistent performance and the durable steel construction can handle any outdoor adventure. Read Review

4. Best Propane: Weber Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill, Titanium

The Weber Q1200 high-performance liquid propane grill is perfect for the backyard or beach. This 3-burner grill heats 189 square-inch total cooking area, and offers a cast aluminum lid and body, porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grates, and an easy start electronic ignition. You can also choose from infinite control burner valve settings to create your ideal BBQ experience. Read Review

Camping is the perfect time to break free from the confines of your typical home, get outside and reconnect with nature. You’ll need to prepare some food while you’re out there, so pack a few snacks, some water, and some dinner. A camping grill will be the perfect addition to your outdoor adventure.

If you’re looking for the best camping grill that won’t break the bank, we have you covered! Whether you are heading off to a family campout or taking a romantic trip to an isolated cabin in the woods, this article will help you find what you’re looking for. In this article, we will take a look at everything from how do grills work to our top picks of affordable camping grills for any budget.

Our team had to focus on researching for 17 hours to get such results for readers. This type of study uses customer star ratings and customer interviews on their product experiences. In addition, Cuisinart CCG-216 Portable Charcoal Grill, 16", Black is one of the most wonderful models available, and it comes highly recommended by us. We also show the other fantastic alternatives with a complete guide which is worth your consideration below.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 Cuisinart CCG-216 Portable Charcoal Grill, 16", Black
Our Score:
9.7
Cuisinart
  • 200 SQUARE-INCH COOKING GRATE: The grill features a 200 square-inch steel cooking grate that is ideal for feeding a small crowd
  • DUAL VENTING SYSTEM: The dual vent system allows for precise temperature control while cooking
  • Powerful 5,500 BTU stainless-steel burner and even-heating porcelain-enameled grate
  • Pronounced briefcase-style carrying handle; weighs 13.5 pounds
TOP Choice #3 Coleman Gas Camping Grill/Stove | Tabletop Propane
Our Score:
9.3
Coleman
  • 2 ADJUSTABLE BURNERS: For precise temperature control
  • 2-IN-1 DESIGN: Use grill and stove at the same time; 130 sq. in. grilling area; stove fits a 10 in. pan
  • PERFECTHEAT TECHNOLOGY: Offers more efficient cooking with less fuel
  • Easy-start electronic ignition and infinite control burner valve settings
  • Fully assembled out of box. Battery type: AAA
5 Weber Traveler Portable Gas Grill
Our Score:
9.0
Weber
  • Compact fold takes up minimal space in the garage and fits perfectly in the trunk of your car.
  • Purposely designed to optimize gas usage.
  • 3 adjustable levels – choose perfect grill rack height above your fire
  • Unique PATENTED design - Fully open to a grill rack, grilling surface 16 x 10 inches. Easily serves 3-5 people. Fold it up after use, folded dimensions 6.70" x 3.46" x 3.43". Easy for transport.
  • True one-piece design – No assembly required. Easy and fast setup
  • EASY SETUP: Arrives fully assembled
  • PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION: For matchless lighting
  • ✅ HEAVY DUTY & COMPACT - Made from high quality coated steel with sturdy legs, this portable folding camping grill has been carefully designed with space in mind. Our unique and simple folding design makes this barbecue ultra compact and won't take up too much space in your already loaded vehicles.
  • ✅ GUARANTEE - We're an Australian brand and we love our camping. Therefore we know you'll love our products because we sure do! If you are not happy with your product, please reach out to us because we will do what we can to make things right!
  • ✅ EASY TO USE - The foldable design of this barbecue not only makes it compact to store, it is super simple to set up when you arrive. No tools required, you can simply unfold the legs, stand it up, and it is ready to use! It's that easy! It also features handy carry handles to make the barbecue portable to move easily.
  • Ideal for car camping, tailgating, backyard grilling, picnics. and emergency use.
  • 7,250 BTU burner offers a 90-minute burn time.
  • Auto-ignition for fast, easy starts. Spacious, non-stick ceramic grate and adjustable flame makes the perfect sear while the removable dishwasher safe drip tray makes cleanup easy.
  • PerfectFlow technology provides consistent performance, even in extreme conditions
  • Wind block panels help shield burners from wind or fold down for use as side tables
  • 2-in-1 design so you can use the grill and stove at the same time

What Are the Key Factors for Customers to Follow to Pick best camping grill?

A range of influences contributes to the best camping grill. Depending on the product, there are several ways to study it. As a result, we've come to lend a hand, offer advice, and offer answers to these issues.

A thorough search of trustworthy websites should be conducted using as many resources as feasible. Our experts use high-tech tools and a well-tuned product listing system to provide a sort of service.

It'd also be fascinating to go more into the development and analysis of these aspects. Consider the following tips in mind:

Weight And Packed Size

The biggest difference between stoves in this category is their weight. These stoves can be carried around in your car, but they are designed for camping. Weight might not be as important if you are looking for a strong and reliable two-burner.
Packing size is what matters more. You have a limited amount of space at your campsite or in your vehicle. You should check to make sure the stove can fit into a bag, is covered, and where the grill and fuel lines are stored. Are all the pieces stored in one place? Are accessories taking up more space than the main item? All these factors should be considered for your individual preferences and needs.

Time To Boil

Camping is a great way to get out and enjoy nature. Yes, camping also involves enjoying the outdoors and good food. A camp stove must be able to boil water.
While some stoves boil in three minutes, others can take up to 10 minutes. A stove with the highest boiling time is considered a good stove. However, it doesn't always mean that the stove will be the most efficient. You may need to give up some boiling time if you want certain features like a lighter stove or an igniter.
The stoves that we tested were all able to light/start and heat the water in less than 8 minutes.

BTUs

BTU is the British Thermal Unit. It's basically a measure of heat and energy. On average, a gas stove that you would find in your home uses 6,000 to 8,000 BTUs.
Lower BTUs are good for light and simmering cooking. Higher BTUs, which are above 10,000, indicate high heat cooking. This is great for longer cook times as well as for quick boiling of large quantities of water.

Ignition: Strikers Vs. Matches

Sometimes called piezo incendiers, or auto-igniters, strikers are buttons that use electricity to excite a spark and ignite a stove. It's similar to the button that lights up the pilot light in your home stove.
Metal and flint are other options for sparking. A camp stove with an integrated igniter is my preference. As long as it works well, I will always use this option.
A match is your last choice for lighting your camp stove. Matches can prove to be wasteful and fragile. They also don't all hold up well in harsh weather. As an alternative, you can always take flint and some matches.

Performance In Wind

Consider how frequently and in what circumstances (such as cold weather) your stove will be used. You will have more chances to experience wind and harsh weather if you travel further.
It's not something that you should learn while on a 10 day camping trip along the New England coast. You can check the specifications, find out if your stove offers windscreens, and review customer experiences.
You can make your stove more efficient in colder areas by purchasing extra BTUs if you live in windy regions.

Number Of Burners

A two-burner camp stove is a good choice if you plan to spend at least 2-3 months camping each year, even if your household is small. You can cook with two burners, so you have both the option to use a pan and a pot, or make one main dish while cooking for a family of four.
Two-burner stoves remain the norm. There are many options for single-burner stoves, as well as a handful of three-burner models.

Simmer Control

Because boiling water doesn't always work, we did extensive testing on the simmer control. You need to not only be able boil water, but you also have to cook, bake, stir fry, stew, or grill in order to make a camp meal that is chef-worthy. To see the stacking of the burners/stoves, we measured their simmering temperatures.

Fuel Types And Capacities

As you can see, the majority of stoves in this article use propane canisters up to one-pound. Some stoves use butane as an alternative fuel. It all depends on the time it takes to cook meals, and on what temperature your burner is set. A one-pound canister usually lasts three to four meals.

FAQs

I’m Going To Travel. Which Type Of Stove Would Be Best?

It depends. A backpacking stove is the best option if you are traveling on foot with a backpack. Car? Get a camping stove for your car. Check with the airline to find out what they allow you to bring aboard, and what fuels will be available. Most airlines won't allow you to fly without fuel.

Can You Use A Camping Stove Inside A Tent?

No. No. Your tent may catch on fire, and your body could be engulfed in a molten nylon coating, leading to a terrible, unimaginable death.

Are Multi-Fuel Stoves Difficult To Use?

No. They do require more preparation and care than canister stoves. They are easy to learn once you have the necessary procedures.

What Stove Is Best For Cooking Actual Food?

A stove with enough BTU output and can heat is the best. It can be used to cook food in a pot. These stoves are generally used for car camping/basecamp cooking.

Which Is Better — A Butane Or Propane Camping Stove?

Butane as well as propane both have pros and cons. Both gases are compressed gases, which is gas stored in liquid form. Butane performs less in colder temperatures. There are many sizes of propane canisters. This makes it easier to find the right size for your needs.
You should consider the climate in which you will be using your camp stove most often. You can also find propane in large cities, rural areas, and general stores close to national parks or state lines.

What Burn Time Should I Look Out For?

Stoves are often advertised with their boil and burn times. This is especially important if your campsite is far from civilization. You should also consider your weight, especially if backpacking. It is also useful to transport and store your stove in its own containers or bag.

What Size Do I Need?

There are many sizes of stoves, from small ultra-light ones to large multi-hob models with grills. These can be used to prepare almost any meal you make at home. A simple, small camping stove is sufficient for camping solo or with your partner.
A lightweight backpacking stove that can work in all weather conditions is worth it if you are going on an extended expedition or wild camping trip. We recommend buying the largest camping stove possible if you plan to take your family on a camping trip. Having multiple burners allows you to cook in every field.

Backpacking Stove Vs. Camping Stove: What's The Difference?

The backpacking stoves can be small, single-burner units. They fit into a backpack or even your palm. They weigh in at a mere ounce. However, camping stoves are only used for "base camp", whether you're camping in a car, truck, National Parks or somewhere else.
The camp stove is larger and more heavy (8-14 lbs) and can be placed on top of a truck bed, tabletop, picnic table or camp table to convert your campsite into a kitchen.
You now have all of the information you need to camp, cook, and just enjoy the outdoors.

We decide facts since we are product consulting professionals with extensive expertise. Even so, we maintain and update the list of best camping grill so the information is correct and up to date.

After reading this article, you should discover that selecting a best camping grill that is both handy and economical to you is not difficult. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you require assistance.


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About Sarah Combs

Sarah Combs
Sarah Combs is a visual editor who loves to travel and hike. She enjoys taking photographs of her journeys, which help her to remember the beautiful places she's been to. Sarah is grateful for the opportunities that she has had to see the world and looks forward to continuing to explore new places in the future. Sarah is the editor of CampfireHQ since 2021 and has written on a variety of topics, from camping, and hiking to other outdoor guides.

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