Portable shelter, convenience, safe space for sleeping, comfort. These are the purpose behind using a tent while camping. One more purpose that the inventors didn’t have in mind but it turned out to be the most important one.
That is ‘ it is so much fun camping in a tent’, and you will agree with me that this fun doubles when we go camping with family and friends.
Do you know what they say? “ The family/friends who camp together stays together”
- A sidenote here: Backcountry.com's chart to camping tents is GOOOLLLDDD. I'd highly recommend you to check it out before you buy one.
The problem with camping in a big group is the space in a tent is limited. And that is when you need to connect your multiple tents. Connecting tents?
Sounds a bit tricky right, because you have to take care of that you do not leave any gaps to let your rodent friends inside your tent. Even if you do leave some gaps, you don’t have to worry about it, here is how to get rid of rats while camping.
I think you get the point of connecting tents. So let’s get started, shall we?
Ways To Connect Tents: 5 Easy Ways!
There are some tents available in the market that can be connected, or also can be used separately. But it’s not easy to get your hands on one of these and also, why pay more money on something you have a smart hack for?

1. Get The Tents That Can Be Connected
Starting with the easiest of all methods. You just have to take pains of setting the tent and zipping it together.
Get your hands on one of these readymade connecting tents. These are specially designed with a connecting mechanism like zipper or clips to be connected and also designed to be used separately if not in use. We all love a multipurpose tent.
You will have to take care of the brands of tents. The tents from the same brand can be connected.
If you are planning this trip then contact your friends/family to buy the same model and same brand of tent.
Otherwise, miscommunication can cause you trouble on the trip. Or you can just be in charge of the tents and ask them to be in charge of something else like food or a generator.
PodTents is a company that manufactures only connected tents and you can find a variety of connecting tents here. A more affordable place to shop connecting tents is Coleman connectable tent bundle.
The only drawback it has is it is a bit expensive than the regular tents, and therefore we have all the other hacks to save your money.
2. Clip The Doors Together
This is an alternative to getting connectable tents. Imagine how difficult it is to go store to store and find a similar zip pattern to sip the tents together, if it is not for connectable tents, and it even gets worst online.
So, whoever came up with this genius idea only applied some common sense and used the clips lying around on the campsite to him/her advantage.
It is very easy to execute. Just clip your tents with the same size doors with big size clips. Ensure at least one tent has multiple doors. Otherwise, how would you enter or exit your tent? This technique does not work with a tent with one door.
Also, look forward to sealing the doors property. Your insect friends can invade your space very easily. Use good quality clippers, and also make sure that these clippers are not ripping or damaging your tents.
3. Cover Over Smaller Tent Door
This method requires more specific requirements for connecting tents. This is a more reliable method.
You require one larger tent, or a canopy would work best. Now place the smaller tent inside the large tent and cover the entrance of the larger tent with a tarp. It will give you childhood flashbacks when you used to build tents from blankets. I will count this as a bonus.
The tarp will protect you from rain and make space a little safer. You can bring as many small tents as you want and create separate rooms out of them.
You can use clips to keep the trap in place.
4. Tarp Hallway Sounds Fun
This is such a fun way to connect tents, especially when you are camping with kids of any age group. This method is also a very practical way to connect tents when the tent does not have the same door size.
You would require a tarp and a chord, you might also need some tent stakes. Place your tents at least 1.5 m away from each other. Make sure the door of the tents faces each other.
If possible tie the chord from one tent door to the other, you can use stakes to support the tarp. Make sure the chord runs between the two tent doors, and also make sure the chord is tight and can handle the weight of the tarp.
You can hang the tarp on the chord and voila, your tent is connected. You can hang them on a single chord and spread them from the sides and press them with stones, or if you have an ample amount of supplies, then lay two chords parallel to each other and then lay the tarp over it.
This will create a small hallway between the tents. Just tie the chords tight enough that it can hold the tarp and do not slag down.
5. Pole Marquee Tents
This comes in handy when you are camping with your family. You can just build large a marquee tent and it can also be used as a socializing area for your family. This method completely fulfills the motive of connecting tents, that is making extra space.
Firstly, set a marquee tent. Next, pitch the smaller tent in a way that it faces one size of your pole marquee tent. This tent keeps your sleeping area rainproof. This type of tent can be expanded further.
Tips On How To Connect Two Tents

If you want to save yourself from all the efforts of connecting tents, and still manage to get the space that comes with it, then these tips will come in handy to you.
- Get a multi-room tent. This will have enough space and for everyone in the family.
- This gives you a few bedrooms and your privacy with all the fun of eating outside and shaded area.
- You won’t have to change your sleep schedule for your other family members.
- Always carry a large tarp along with you. A tarp is a multi-purpose hack for a couple of camping hunt. Like it can be used to DIY tents.
- When connecting tents, don’t leave any gaps or entrance for insects and rodents. Even the tiniest of the gaps give rodents an easy way to ruin your belongings.
FAQs
Conclusion
I hope this article solved your tent connecting problems. I would prefer you the tarp hallway method if you have tents with different door sizes. If you do have the same tents and go on with the clipping method.
Why miss out on all the fun that you can have with your family/friends outside, just because you don’t have enough tent space.
If you have any new ideas on how we can connect our tents, then do comment below. We would love to hear those.
Check other camping related guides on our website.
Until then happy camping!