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To find the Best Camping Grills, we recommend you look for a grill that’s lightweight and compact and will cook at temperatures of at least 350 degrees, feature a flare-up proof and smokeless or low-smoke design that keeps heating elements away from direct food contact, and have nonstick, BPA-free, dishwasher safe cooking surfaces and drip trays for fat and grease. Additional features like folding lockable legs, light indicators or alarms for the preheating stage, cool-touch handles and housing, and programmable cooking modes that cut down on cooking time are also good to look for.
After analyzing hundreds of reviews amongst a multitude of products with varying price points and features, we’ve determined that the Weber Q1200 is the best camping grill you can buy on the market today. Keep reading about this and our other top picks to learn more about the best grills on the market.
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: A lightweight but durable performer with precise heating controls, safety-minded design, and super easy-to-clean modularity at an excellent value for a great all-around choice.
The Weber Q1200 is a liquid propane camping grill that cooks with up to 8500 BTUs per hour for easy searing and higher temperature cooking. Its 189 square-inch cooking surface consists of porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates while its cast aluminum lid and body are lightweight and durable, with a glass-reinforced nylon frame that helps keep it cooler during use.
Related: Discover the best charcoal grills in the market today!
Other design features like fold-out side working surfaces, easy start ignition, and infinite control burner valve make it even easier to use and more convenient for preparing food and controlling heat, but its brass components aren’t BPA-free, which may be an issue for some. Regardless, it’s a top performer that’s easy to use, easy to fold up and store, and burns hot for excellent grilling and searing. It’s a great option for anyone looking for the best propane grills available.
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: Easy to store box-like shape, a large easy-clean nonstick grilling surface that’s also great as a griddle, and a powerful, precise burner in a simple but effective camping grill.
The Blackstone Table Top Grill features a large 260 square inch cooking area that’s nonstick, BPA-free, and can be cleaned easily by wiping with a damp cloth. Its box-like shape makes it easy to store and pack for travel, with a removable grease catcher and using small 1lb liquid propane tanks that fit discreetly in the back. It outputs an impressive 12,000 of heat for easy searing, and its large, single-surface grill also works very well as a griddle for pancakes and hash browns.
Its tank-like, heavy stainless steel construction makes it slightly heavier than some similar models, though it’s still easy enough to carry for most adults. Its high performance, high-heat burners, nonstick BPA-free large grilling surface, precise burner valve, and durable design make it a great go-to for people looking to make great food even if they’re out on the trail. For flat-top options for your home, check out our best flat-top grills guide.
Award: BEST VERSATILE DESIGN
WHY WE LIKE IT: Switchable two-piece grill and griddle for multiple different meals on one surface, a lightweight, easy to clean design, and good heat output make it a great option whether you’re doing burgers, steaks, or pancakes.
The Weber Q1000 is a portable 8500 BTU-per-hour grilling great for camping, beach days, and small backyards with a split grate design for its porcelain-coated cast iron grill and griddle, letting you cook pancakes and steaks simultaneously, or switchable to a single grill for larger food items. Its lightweight build, easy push-button ignition, and infinite burner valve make it easy to use and carry, and the 189 square inch total cooking surface is generous despite its overall small size.
Its lightweight aluminum and chrome build means it’s somewhat less robust and durable than some portable grills, but normal use shouldn’t present any danger of damage. Add to that its cleaver switchable cooking surfaces, ease of use, and a good amount of heat output in class, and it’s a versatile model that can make great food anywhere. For next-level heat output and steady heat cooking, you may also be interested in our best kamado grills buying guide.
Award: BEST ON A BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: A back-to-basics charcoal grill that’s lightweight and easy to pack for travel, with a rust-proof, burn-resistant grill surface that reduces cleaning headaches, at a very wallet-friendly price.
The Weber Smokey Joe is a back-to-basics 14” portable steel grill that comfortably fits up to five burgers at once while its aluminum vent controls smoke and heat. Its glass-reinforced nylon handle keeps cool during use for safe handling, while its porcelain-coated cooking surface is rustproof and keeps burnt food from sticking for easier cleaning.
Being charcoal fueled, it doesn’t burn quite as hot as many portable models on the market, and it lacks precise heat controls, but as a traditional BBQ-style grill it still is more than sufficient for cooking burgers and steaks alike. Moreover, it’s lightweight and fairly compact, making it easy to carry, store, and pack. It’s a great value for a simple but high-quality grill that’ll let you BBQ anywhere. If you prefer natural gas, you’ll need to consider one of the best natural gas grills.
Award: BEST PORTABILITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: A packing-friendly lunchbox design with a locking lid and folding legs for maximum portability with a generous rust-proof grill surface.
The Weber Go-Anywhere is a compact and lightweight 12.2 x 21 x 14.5” charcoal grill whose lunchbox-style design with folding steel legs, a locking lid, and a large, glass-reinforced nylon carrying handle make it easy to pack and highly portable. Its porcelain-coated grilling surface can hold up to 6 hamburgers and its quality dampers help control internal heat better than some charcoal grills.
Being charcoal, it does burn at lower temperatures and lacks the precise controls of many gas and propane grills. But it begs the question: is charcoal better than propane? It’s been a classic barbeque fuel since forever! However, its stay-cool large handle, secure, durable, and lightweight build, and rust-proof grilling surface that reduces burnt food buildup for easier cleaning, along with a very modest price point make one of the most travel-friendly camping grills available still capable of good performance. If you have limited outdoor space at home, we also suggest checking out the best electric grills guide.
Award: BEST PERFORMANCE
WHY WE LIKE IT: Improved burner tech for more precise heat control, super hot grilling power for great sears on steaks, and a reliable push-button ignition for restaurant-quality food anywhere the trail takes you.
The Coleman Roadtrip is a high-performance camping grill that uses 1lb propane cartridges and has 3 adjustable burners that produce 20,000 total BTUs of cooking power. Each burner features a dedicated precision valve for an impressive level of control for a compact portable grill. Fold-up legs with built-in heavy-duty wheels make it easy to pack in cars and add mobility when in use. Read our Weber Q2400 review for another great portable grill.
At 56lbs, it’s considerably heavier than many in its class, and it comes at a higher price point than many other portable camping grills. However, its mobility and storage features, its high-heat, high-performance design, and a high degree of control it offers over your grilling, along with ease of use features like push-button ignition and a generous 285 square inch grilling area more than justifies it. If you’re looking for a high-performing option for the home, check out the best infrared grills.
Award: BEST MODERN FEATURES
WHY WE LIKE IT: With the mobility and portability-minded design of its cousin and boasting safety and quality of life features like an innovative flare-up resistant grease pan and several available switchable cooking surface types, it’s a fully modern entry into the travel-friendly grill market.
The Coleman Roadtrip X-Cursion is a high-performance camping grill that uses 1lb propane cartridges and has mobility features such as oversized wheels on foldable steel legs. Its two precision-control burners are designed to distribute heat evenly across its rust-proof cooking surface, which is swappable with several separately-sold modular cooking surfaces such as a griddle and stove grate.
Other advanced features like a water-trap grease catch with “null flare” technology to prevent dangerous flare-ups and an Instar push-button starter for reliable, matchless ignition, and sturdy, large fold-out side panels for food prep make it a thoroughly modern camping grill option. At 43 lbs, it’s relatively heavy compared to some in its class, but for a precise, feature-rich, high-performance portable grill, it’s a top choice. Have an outdoor kitchen at home? Check out our best built-in grills guide.
Award: BEST FOR STEAKS
WHY WE LIKE IT: Excellent mobility, cast iron grills for great searing, precise high-heat burner control, and easy-clean features for a powerhouse camping and travel option.
The Coleman RoadTrip LXE cooks with rust-proof porcelain-coated cast iron grills, providing 285 square inches of cooking surface- more than enough for at least two large steaks and easy to get great sears with thanks to the ultra-hot cast iron build. Both its grill and its grease trap are removable and easy to clean with a damp cloth, and large pull-out side tables add a generous amount of prep area.
Although its oversized wheels on its foldable legs add mobility and portability, even when compacted, it’s somewhat bulkier than many similar models- although still easily packed into car trunks and backseats for camping and day trips. But its cast-iron grills offer easy-sear high heat that makes it a go-to option for cooking great steaks while outdooring, and its convenience and safety features make it a good value at its medium price point. For great steaks at home, you might also want to consider the best indoor grills for your kitchen.
Award: BEST AESTHETICS
WHY WE LIKE IT: A high-performance, compact, lightweight grill great for tabletop backyard grilling as well as camping and beach days, with plenty of modern features and a great look to compliment any dining layout.
The Cuisinart CGG-180T is a super light, compact, easy to use tabletop propane grill with an attractive, modern, but colorful look and porcelain enamel grates for even heating across the entire cooking area. It features a generous-for-its-size 145-square-inch cooking area that’s capable of grilling up to 8 burgers or small steaks simultaneously, handy, sturdy foldout legs, and a large, comfortable carrying handle that stays cool during use.
Outputting a maximum of 5500 BTUs, it’s slightly less powerful than the average portable propane grill on the market, though still capable of good steak sears and more than adequate for most grilling needs. The great look, compact and ultra-light design, even heating grill, and modest price point make it a great choice for most camping trips or tabletop BBQing. For some next-level BBQing in your backyard, you might also want to choose the best smoker pellets.
Award: BEST CONVENIENCE FEATURES
WHY WE LIKE IT: Removable, dishwasher-safe cooking surface and grease trap, an incredibly compact folding design, and an adjustable horseshoe burner with precise controls add up to a true go-anywhere grill that still offers good performance.
The Coleman Fold N Go Propane is an ultra-compact, sandwich board-style folding propane grill that offers several modern convenience features and still delivers 6,000 BTUs of cooking power in an impressively travel-friendly package. Its attractive coated porcelain housing stays relatively cool during use for safer cooking at its adjustable horseshoe-style burner offers control and even cooking for smaller food items.
Its 105 square inch cooking area is significantly smaller than many other portable camping grills, but adequate for several burgers or small steaks, and its 6000 BTU output is fairly powerful for its small size and portability. A built-in carrying handle adds to its assortment of convenience features, which all in all makes it a good performer at a modest price point with more portability and storability than most in its class. If you enjoy rotisserie-style BBQ, check out our best rotisserie grills buying guide.
We preferred compact, lightweight electric, propane, or infrared grills that cooked at temperatures no hotter than 485 degrees for safe use and handling in enclosed outdoor and wooded areas. We liked grills with safety features like cool-touch handles and housings well as durable steel, aluminum, or high test plastic housing.
We also preferred camping grills with removable grilling surfaces and grease traps that were dishwasher-safe and contact-free heating systems for decreased risk of flare-ups and consistent, even cooking. Also appreciated were nonstick cooking surfaces that were certified BPA-free.
Finally, we liked grills that were easy to store, pack for traveling, and otherwise built for portability, which wasn’t heavier than 15lbs, and cooking surfaces large enough for at least two hamburgers, or approximately 150 square inches. We also appreciate advanced features like automatic thickness detection, multiple cooking modes and programs, auto on/off, and indicator lights or alarms.
Generally speaking, camping grills are safe. Many either feature infrared heating tech that keeps food and thus hands away from direct contact to its heating element or have “cool-touch” features on handles and housing to protect skin from high heat. Many also don’t reach temperatures that are capable of producing serious burns, although caution is always advised. Secondarily, many such appliances that have non-stick cooking surfaces are now certified BPA-free. This means they’re not made using chemicals that in the past have been proven to have links with cancer after long-term use. BPA-free certification usually appears in product descriptions, but it’s often the case even if it’s not advertised. If you’re concerned, due diligence with research is recommended on specific products.
Things like outdoor grills and cast iron pans which are high-temperature and high-performance produce great results for restaurant-quality food, but they can be a real hassle to clean. This can lead to users often choosing not to use them more regularly, which means they’re missing out on the quality of food that can be made with them. Luckily, many portable and camping grills feature modular and removable plates and grill surfaces that are either easy to clean simply by wiping with a wet cloth or are fully dishwasher safe. Usually, if any parts of a product are dishwasher-safe, you’ll find it mentioned in product descriptions- it’s not recommended to throw anything into the dishwasher otherwise. But for the purposes of camping, it’s even better if grill parts are able to be cleaned simply by wiping them down with a damp cloth.
While both fuels work well for powering grills, they do perform differently. Moreover, there are fewer portable models that use standard gas as their fuel source. Standard gas grills are filled by pouring gasoline directly into their tanks- which can be a problem for convenience while camping. Propane grills, on the other hand, generally use a prefilled, high capacity tank that is swapped out for another and is refilled by a professional. More importantly, propane canisters can come in small, 1lb cartridge-style designs- which are the kind you’ll most commonly find in purpose-built camping grills. Performance-wise, standard “white gas” produces more heat than propane and burns more cleanly without leaving any odor, while propane burns slightly color and can occasionally leave an odor. The difference is lessened in the case of infrared grills, which burn much hotter and use less fuel in general. So while many overall prefer natural gas, far fewer camping grills offer this option, and the difference may not be worth seeking out regardless.
The best camping grill will be lightweight and compact and will cook at temperatures of at least 350 degrees, feature a flare-up proof and smokeless or low-smoke design that keeps heating elements away from direct food contact, and have nonstick, BPA-free, dishwasher safe cooking surfaces and drip trays for fat and grease. Additional features like folding lockable legs, light indicators or alarms for the preheating stage, cool-touch handles and housing, and programmable cooking modes that cut down on cooking time are also great.
