Pop up campers can sometimes be a hassle depending on where you are going, how long you’ll be gone, and sometimes won’t be the right fit for you if you’re on a tighter budget (or don’t have a proper vehicle to haul one around). That’s where family tents come in to the picture.

Getting out and into the wilderness with the family is one of the best ways to connect and become closer with each other. Getting away from the television, mobile devices, the internet, social media and connecting on a real level can be one of the most meaningful and remembered things for young ones, and you. It’s hard to do, yet one of the best things to do as a family.

Whether you’re going on a road trip with your family or sleeping outside in the backyard you’ll need a tent, and there are plenty of family tents for sale to choose from. Why get a family tent? There are plenty of reasons, but here are a few:

1. So you can keep an eye on your kids.

If you have a few young ones it would be smart to keep them close at night, whether at home or in the wild. I’m not a proponent of living in fear, but knowing that if something were to happen you’re there to resolve it. It’s more about the comfort for the kids. If they wake up in the middle of the night they might forget where they are. And with no convenient light switch to flip on they might very easily become startled or scared of the unknown environment they are in and old enough to be ok in their own tent.

2. One tent to haul around, setup and teardown.

I think this one is pretty self explanatory. The less time you can spend setting up and tearing down the more time you have to enjoy other activities with your loved ones. But you might as well make the most of your time with setup/teardown and have them help (teach them). Also, more money saved. Camping gear in general can become spendy if you don’t look around for prices. But family tents in general are less expensive because they’re made for car camping, not backpacking, and thus aren’t made with the lightest/strongest materials.

3. Activities

Most family camping tents have ample room for simple inside activities. If it’s raining, bad weather in general, or you’re done for the day but don’t want to go to sleep yet (and the fire is out) you can bring a game to play, play an instrument together and sing songs, or just tell scary stories all in the same space. The size of your tent is a huge bonus, some of the best family tents can hold 8 people, and if you have inflatable camp beds you’ll have some cush for your tush! A small camping table would be nice to have as a center of your game so be sure to consider a larger tent size. You can almost always be assured that you’ll have enough room to be comfortable while sleeping after your late night activities.

From cheap family tents to large family tents there are plenty to choose from on Amazon. Here are a few to consider, each with their own special something.