If curling up in Pima cotton hotel sheets, stretching out on an inflatable sleeping pad, and falling asleep to a medley of chirps and ribbets is an option, I will almost always choose the cold, hard ground. There’s something about the night sounds and waking up to dewdrops on the grass that really just scratches a primal itch. 

But in my 10-plus years of camping as an adult, in well over a dozen U.S. national parks and half a dozen countries, I’ve only once described the experience as “comfortable,” and it was all thanks to a rooftop tent. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that snoozing in a car tent in the Australian bush was the best sleep I’ve ever had. I couldn’t say what brand my little nylon oasis was, but I wish I could — I’ve been dreaming of that comfy rooftop tent ever since. 

Perfect for everything from national park campgrounds to music festivals like Coachella, which made headlines this year for its car camping fiasco (festivalgoers faced massive waits to enter the car camping grounds, being left without access to food, water, or bathrooms for hours in the Indio, Calif. desert due to the nightmare-level traffic jam), rooftop tents boast easier setups than their traditional camping tent alternatives while also offering protection from the elements and wildlife and the ability to camp in a wider range of terrains. 

BamaCar Naturnest Rooftop Tent

When it’s my time to finally live out my overlanding dreams stateside, I might be inclined to try this highly rated Naturnest option from BamaCar. The Los Angeles-based brand debuted the Naturnest on Amazon in 2023, and despite its newness, it’s already winning over outdoorsy shoppers (so much so that it’s on the verge of selling out). 

The tent mounts onto roof racks, which come factory-installed on some SUVs but can be installed on just about any vehicle, including trucks and small cars. The BamaCar Naturnest’s built-in mattress is 2 inches thick and fits up to three people (even a person over 6 feet tall can sleep comfortably in it). “I’ve never slept so well while camping,” one reviewer said after trying it. “No roots or rocks jamming into my back or anything.” See? Switching to an off-the-ground sleeping situation elevates the whole camping experience.

People say it’s relatively easy to set up initially — at least given that it weighs almost 200 pounds and will probably take you several hours to mount it onto your vehicle using paper instructions — and quick to fold out when you arrive at your campsite. But with practice, reviewers noted that it can take one single minute once you get the hang of it. 

The tent pops open clamshell-style so that the lid of the flattened pack becomes an angled, hardshell roof. It has three entrances, one on the back and two on the sides, with one accessed via the retractable aluminum ladder that comes included. If you’re big on tent specs and want to get into the nitty gritty, then read up on the Naturnest’s 5,000-millimeter rainproof certification, its 99 percent UV-blocking polyester fabric, and the durability it showed in Level 6 wind tests. All to say that it’s designed to stand up to all sorts of inclement weather, which will almost certainly hit the moment you fire up the barbecue for dinner.

BamaCar Naturnrest Rooftop Tent

Extras include attached shoe bags, built-in chargers, LED lighting, condensation protection, and cross bars that you can use to mount items on top of the tent lid. “This is my fourth rooftop tent and I have to say I am impressed with the quality,” another reviewer said, adding that it’s especially good for the $1,039 price (note: similar models cost upwards of $2,000). It isn’t uncommon for tents like it to cost up to four times as much.

Feeling inspired to book your next camping trip? A rooftop tent is just one of the many car camping accessories you’ll need for a successful night under the stars. Keep scrolling to see what else should be on your camping packing list. 

More Car Camping Essentials at Amazon:

Fanttik NB8 Nano Portable Cordless Electric Sprayer Portable Camping Shower

GigaTent Pop-up Pod Changing Room Privacy Shower Tent

Letsenjoy Adjustable Folding Car Bed

Gaialoop Memory Foam Camping Sleeping Pad

Amacool Portable Tripod Fan

Augola Car Window Shades

Ann Katy XL Portable Toilet

At the time of publishing, the price started at $1,039.

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