RS Recommends: The Best Camping Grills for Your Next Cookout
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There’s a lot to love about camping: sitting around the fire with friends, taking in the great outdoors, and finally being unreachable from email. One thing camping isn’t always known for is the food. However, upping your culinary game isn’t as hard as you would think. All you need is a good camping grill.
Not sure where to start? You’re not the only one. The best camping grills come in so many varieties that it can be hard to determine which one is the best for you. For this list, we selected propane grills, charcoal grills, and DIY-friendly campfire grills to meet all types of flavor preferences and camping styles. There’s something for everyone.
Camping Grill Buying Guide: Propane vs. Charcoal
Deciding between propane and charcoal is largely a personal preference that comes down to flavor and setup. Both types of grills are excellent options for camping. The most important thing to keep in mind when you’re shopping for the best camping grill is its portability. You want to make sure that the grill you choose is compatible with the way you camp.
For example, if your definition of camping is bringing your RV to the nearest campground site, then you have a little more room to work with when you choose your grill. If it’s a little heavier, that’s okay.
However, if you’re the type of camper who heads out for the trails with just your backpack and tent in tow, then you’ll want the most compact camping grill that you can find — perhaps a foldable option that also doubles as a fire pit. Of course, there are plenty of options that fall in between these two.
The Best Camping Grills
Here, we picked some of the top camping grills to test out this season.
1. Weber Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill
It’s no secret that Weber makes some of the most trusted and believed grills in the industry, and there’s no exception when it comes to camping grills. The Q1200 weighs 26 pounds and measures 24.6 x 20.5 x 40.9 inches.
It’s small enough to bring to your camping site but big enough that you can cook for the whole family. If you have an RV, you’ll probably want to make this your everyday grill. Its compact design lets it rest on almost any surface, but you can also buy an extra stand for it that has wheeled legs.
This is a propane grill and easy to use. Everything fires up in seconds and there’s more than enough room for burgers, steaks, and more.
2. Oklahoma Joe’s Rambler Charcoal Grill
This is one of our favorite charcoal grills for camping because it offers excellent quality at a great value. It’s a little on the heavy side at 48.5 pounds, but that keeps the unit firmly stable — no wobbling while your food is cooking.
This grill is durable enough to be your everyday grill at home if you don’t one already and while heavy, it’s still portable enough to transform your campsite into a proper backyard BBQ. With its heat-adjustable tray, you can cook low and slow or get a high-heat sear. Thick, cast-iron grates add to the delicious flavor. It measures 19.5 x 26.8 x 21.8 inches.
3. Odoland Folding Campfire Grill
If you need something that’s light and backpacking-friendly, then you’ll want this folding campfire fire pit and grill.
Made from stainless steel, the fold-up campfire pit makes it possible to have a cozy campfire no matter where your adventure takes you. With its included grill grate, you can try your hand at open-fire cooking over the flames.
You can use wood or charcoal, and the raised design keeps mess to a minimum. This camping grill is super lightweight, and when it’s folded up for transportation, it measures only 14 x 7.8 x 2 inches. It also comes with a handy carrying bag.
4. Cuisinart Portable Charcoal Grill
Looking for a happy medium somewhere in between heavy-duty and backpack-friendly? Then this is the best camping grill for you.
This portable charcoal grill weighs only 2 pounds and measures 14.5 x 14.5 x 15 inches. Setup and cleanup are easy, too. The grill has a dual venting system that lets you have temperature control, plus an enamel-coated firebox and ash catcher that supports safety and convenience.
Unlike some of the other models on our list, this camping grill comes with a giant lid that you can put over your food to help it cook faster — and to keep the flames from fanning out.