Source of the article: The Best Camping Tables of 2025

By Jason Wanlass

If you're setting up camp somewhere off-grid or your weekend spot lacks a picnic table, a portable camping table can make a huge difference in providing a little luxury in the outdoors. But, where do you begin when it comes to finding the best model for what you like to do? A flooded outdoor-gear market makes the choices seem endless.

Your best option is to chill out and let us show you what to consider and why. We bought 20 of the most promising camping tables and took them on more road trips than we can count. We used these tables to set up camp in basic campgrounds and for hosting elaborate backyard BBQs.

It lacks a wow factor, but if you're looking for a basic, portable camping table, the Portal Outdoor Lightweight Aluminum is easy on the bank account and good enough to get the job done. This is your best option if you just need a basic table for light-duty work. “I've used my Portal Outdoor table for several years, and I feel it's lightweight and sturdy enough for general use in most outdoor environments if you treat it with care,” said one of our senior gear testers. This table doesn't rely on a bungee system to hold its folding tabletop design in place, giving this table a leg up on its peers in terms of durability.

For a decade, our experts have rigorously tested the best camping tables. Our review process always begins with thorough research into the market for whatever product category we're testing. We assessed the latest tables released over the past year, and after settling on the most intriguing models, we purchased them for side-by-side testing. Once the tables were in hand, our review team hit the road, winding through mountains and beautiful red rock country. On several occasions, we incorporated the assistance of other campground veterans in the tests and assessments. Along the way, we spent hours using and testing each table to determine its overall performance. To test each model's ability to support weight, we added unbalanced weights to their corners until the point of failure. We cooked several meals on all models that would support two-burner camping stoves and assessed the give and wobble in each table's legs. From specific tests to all-around use, we got to know these tables very well to provide in-depth performance assessments.

We use four rating metrics to judge these camping tables:

• Stability and Strength (30% of overall score weighting)
• Portability (30% weighting)
• Durability (20% weighting)
• Ease of Setup (20% weighting)

Our camp table connoisseur, Jason Wanlass, makes Utah his home, where he has year-round access to a variety of outdoor settings and activities. On any given day, he can be found wandering about in the nearby mountains. An avid hiker and backpacker, he also spends a significant amount of time on the road, enjoying the discovery of unique, off-the-beaten-path weekend campground spots in Utah and its neighboring states. When on foot, Jason enjoys wandering trails in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho, the Tetons of Wyoming, the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, or the Grand Canyon. Cruising up to campsites regularly, either in public campgrounds or BLM land, Jason has more than 20 years of camping experience. Having a vast working knowledge of camping gear, he applied it to this review of camping tables and cooking stations.