Camping cots are great for getting your kids and yourself off the hard ground and avoiding any dreaded tent puddles. They’re also easier on everyone’s body and back and make for a much more pleasant tomorrow.
Doesn’t it sound nice to wake up on the right side of the bed, even in a tent?
Together, let’s explore the best camping cots for kids (and maybe for you as well).
In a Hurry? Here's My Top 3 Picks
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Best Overall
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Best Value
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My Choice
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13 Best Camping Cots for Kids
Coleman Folding Camp Cot and Air Bed
This cot takes the top of my list because of the level of comfort it provides. Right away, you can see the luxury of this bed and how it’ll provide a good night’s sleep.
Coleman is a trusted brand that has been making camping cots for a long time. The company knows what it’s doing.
The Coleman Camp Cot sports a standard-style cot underneath an air mattress that you can easily blow up. Or, you can remove the air mattress and let your child use just their sleeping bag.
It comes in twin or queen, which is great for choosing a size that your child can grow into.
When packed up, the storage bag is about the size of a small tent bag and weighs 22 lbs. So, this bed is ideal only for car or RV camping.
Pros:
- Battery-operated air pump (no extra cost)
- Comfortable and large to grow with your kids
- Can hold up to 350 Ibs
Cons:
- Heavy on weight at 22 Ibs, making this ideal only for car camping
- A bit pricy
ARAER Camping Cot
This cot offers excellent value for a couple of reasons. One, it’s an ideal size for your child to grow into, and it has an extremely high weight limit of 450 Ibs!
The ARAER cot is only 15 lbs and sports a nice storage bag for your phone, flashlight, or headphones.
The head of the cot angles up, giving you almost an extra pillow for added comfort.
With all of this, ARAER is affordable, leaving room in your budget to purchase a cot pad for this bed.
Cot pads are great for adding just a bit of extra padding and will fit perfectly onto this cot.
Above all, the ARAER cot is sturdy, durable, easy to set up, and long-lasting.
Pros:
- Large sleeping area to grow with your kids
- Well-supported
- Can hold up to 450 lbs
Cons:
- Not suitable for hiking
- Still large when folded up
OSAGE River Camping Cot
The OSAGE cot makes the top of my list of the best camping cot for kids.
It offers everything: It’s lightweight, comfortable, durable, and easy to set up/break down, and also comes highly recommended.
The OSAGE cot sports the same features as the ARAER cot, such as an elevated headrest and a gear pocket on the side.
However, the OSAGE one-ups other cots with its comfort. The fact that the poles click together and lay underneath the cot fabric makes it exceptionally comfortable for sleeping.
The OSAGE cot weighs only 13 lbs overall and is carbon steel, making it ideal for lightweight gear.
It takes the cake for me because this cot is designed extra wide and for back, side, and stomach sleepers.
The extra width is perfect for a rowdy sleeper who seems to do log rolls all night long.
Pros:
- Can be used for camping, traveling, beach days, etc
- Weighs only 12 Ibs
- Comfortable with an elevated headrest
- Large enough for a child to grow into
- Easily portable
Cons:
- Reviewers say the locking mechanism can be challenging and sticky
Regalo My Cot Portable Toddler Bed
The Regalo My Cot is my go-to cot for toddlers and young kids.
The cot will hold up to 75 lbs but is also smaller and more compact than other cots we’ve covered, weighing just 7 lbs.
This cot has a simple fold-and-go system that is easy for any child or adult to operate. This is excellent if you ask your child to pack up their own gear.
I also love that this cot comes with a fitted sheet.
Sometimes, it’s too hot to sleep in your sleeping bag, and it’s nice to have the option of sleeping directly on the cot to cool down.
Pros:
- Easy to set up and take down
- Easy to clean and waterproof
- Comes with a fitted sheet
- Budget-friendly
Cons:
- Does not have a locking mechanism
Baby Delight Go with Me Bungalow
The Baby Delight Go is an excellent cot offering a removable UV-blocking canopy for outdoor use.
In addition to being used inside the tent, this cot can be placed outside as a play area during the day for your toddler.
This cot can hold up to 75 lbs and is 12.2 lbs overall. As for safety features, this cot has more than any other I’ve seen.
It has a locking mechanism, which reviewers rave about, as well as mesh walls that provide extra security.
Pros:
- Extremely sturdy
- Comes with a UV-blocking canopy for outdoor use
- Easy to set up and take down
Cons:
- Cannot add a mattress to the cot
Joovy Foocot Child Travel Cot
If you’re looking for something lightweight that your child will be able to pack up and move around quickly, the Joovy Foocot might be for you.
This cot folds up pretty small and is only 6.5 lbs overall.
Even being lightweight, this cot can support up to 75 lbs and is excellent for toddlers and small children.
Kids love the two side pockets, where they can store all their camping goodies at the end of the night.
Pros:
- Comes with storage pockets on the side
- Water-resistant
- Four different colors
Cons:
- On the shorter side, which might not be ideal for taller kids
REDCAMP Extra Long Kids Cot
REDCAMP offers this lovely cot option for children and teens. The cot is durable, weighs 11 lbs, and holds 220 lbs.
Parents love this cot because, at 53” long (or just over 4’), it’s extra long to accommodate their growing pre-teens.
The cot offers a side bag for cell phone, book, and flashlight storage and has durable fabric that is great for indoor and outdoor use.
Pros:
- Great for children from toddlers to preteens
- Straightforward setup and go
- Great for scouting trips
Cons:
- Cannot add a mattress to the cot because of its unique size
Kid-O-Bunk Children’s Portable Camping Bed
It’s a bunk bed! But seriously, the Kid-O-Bunk is a bunk bed hybrid that you can also use as a couch and two separate cots.
Each cot can hold up to 200 lbs and is excellent for small children ages 7-12.
However, with extreme cool come other extremes. For one, this cot weighs 45 lbs, so you’re less likely to have the kids help you carry on this one.
And it comes with an installation manual, so it’s not as easy as set-and-go. The Kid-O-Bunk can also be a budget buster and is a more luxury item to take into the woods.
However, reviewers say that this cot is highly durable, kids love it, and it comes with easy-to-follow instructions. Definitely a win in my book for multiple kids!
Side note: There’s an adult version, too!
Pros:
- Space saver—this cot is excellent at saving much-needed space in the tent
- Extremely sturdy
- Comes with an easy-to-carry tote
Cons:
- A bit bulky at 45 lbs
- Set up and take down will take longer
SUNBA YOUTH Baby Tent
While technically not a cot because this bed is not off the ground, I thought this baby tent was worth mentioning as an option for younger-than-toddler campers.
The SUNBA baby tent offers UV-protectant fabric and bug netting, so your baby can sleep outside while you move around the campsite.
The tent is nicely ventilated and has two tent poles, so it won’t blow away when the baby is out of it.
This tent is also great for babies to sit in and play, and it’s extremely easy to set up (it literally just pops up!).
When you aren’t using the baby tent, it can fold up and fit inside its small bag.
Pros:
- Can replace a bulky pack n play
- Easy to set and use
- Easy to pack
Cons:
- Don’t come with a mat or cushion, so place this tent only on soft surfaces like sand or on top of towels/blankets
Coleman Trailhead II Cot
Not surprisingly, another Coleman cot has made it onto my list.
If you’re looking for the classic standard cot, this is it. Great for kids to grow into, this cot can hold up to 300 lbs.
The Trailhead II cot can easily fit a cot pad to make sleeping that much nicer, and it weighs 20 lbs—perfect for car camping.
Pros:
- Only four feet that make contact with the tent floor
- Heavy duty and well made
- Long-lasting
Cons:
- Children are unable to set up this cot alone
Disney Frozen 2 Foldable Slumber Cot
This adorable cot is for the Disney-obsessed child. It comes in the following variations: Frozen, Frozen II, Minnie, Mickey, Cars, and Princesses.
The slumber cot also includes a Disney sleeping bag that fits it perfectly.
This is ideal for children to set up on their own and comes with a nice bag that kids can use to carry the cot by themselves.
While the manufacturer does not list a maximum weight, it suggests that children can use this cot until they are eight years old.
Pros:
- Kids love the familiar characters while out in the woods
- Easy to assemble
- Washable with dish soap and water
- Comes with a kid-friendly carry bag
Cons:
- Not as durable as other cots
TIMER RIDGE Folding Camping Cot
This excellent cot makes this list because of its assembly—in that there is none.
The Timber Ridge cot is a one-piece design that is as close to a pop-up as you can get. It folds up nicely and fits into a reasonably small storage bag.
The Timber Ridge cot holds up to 225 lbs while weighing only 11 Ibs itself. The unique design means that no feet touch the tent floor; instead, it has bars.
This is nice because you don’t have to worry as much about wear and tear on your tent floors.
Pros:
- No set up/easy for kids to do
- Great quality
- Lightweight and extremely portable
Cons:
- Lower to the ground than other cots
HITORHIKE Camping Cot
If you’re like me, you prefer to purchase one item that can last a long time and have multiple uses.
The HITORHIKE Camping Cot makes my list for these two reasons alone. Weighing in at only 4.85 lbs, this cot is perfect for backpacking trips, kayaking camping, and car camping.
The cot can easily fit a backpacking air mattress or a regular cot pad. It has side pockets and can hold 280 lbs.
Pros:
- Versatile
- Great for summer nights
- Extreme lightweight
Cons:
- Very low to the ground
- Might be difficult for a child to set up alone
How to Choose a Camping Cot for Your Kids
- Choose a cot that either fits your child now or will grow with your child. Children grow fast, and purchasing multiple cots down the road might not be within the budget.
- The more luxurious, sturdy cots are often heavy and challenging to bring camping.
- What kind of camping are you doing? If you are car or RV camping, the weight and size of the cot might not matter. However, if you have a walk-in campsite or are backpacking, you might want lighter options. Also, be aware of whether your child can carry the cot by themselves.
- Carbon fiber frame cots are lighter in weight.
- Fabric will play a role in your decision. Look for water-resistant cots and ones that are easy to clean; we all know that camping can get dirty!
- Take set-up and take-down into account. Do you want a cot that your child can set up by themselves, or do you want to set up a cot with their help (or “help”)?
- Price and warranty will play into your decision. Almost all the cots mentioned above have warranties and excellent customer service reviews.
FAQs
Are camping cots good for kids?
Cots can be great for camping with your child if you have the space and room for them!
For the average car camper, cots can be a nice luxury to help you and your child sleep even better in the woods.
A cot might also make a child feel more comfortable and like they have their own “bed” while experiencing the darkness and new sounds of nighttime outside.
Will my kids get cold sleeping on a cot?
Cots are not ideal for winter camping for either adults or children because they can make you very cold.
One positive aspect of sleeping on the ground is that the earth will help you stay warm. Having cold air under and above your bed will cause your child to be colder while they’re sleeping.
However, this is excellent news for summer and warm weather camping because a cot will help your child cool down in extreme heat.
This, hopefully, means less complaining about the lack of air conditioning!
Final Thoughts
If you like the idea of your kids growing into their tent cots as much as I do, check out my top choices—the Coleman Folding Camp Cot for luxury and comfort or the ARAER Camping Cot for the most bang for your buck.
Or get the best of both worlds with the OSAGE River Camping Cot. If you choose to get a cot that perfectly fits your child’s size, you’ll find plenty of options as well.
I hope you found this article on the best camping cot for kids helpful, and I wish you many happy camping adventures with your kids!
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Kendall Casey
Kendall is a freelance outdoor adventure writer passionate about educating those who wish to explore the outdoors. When Kendall isn’t writing, she is exploring the woods of the US Northeast on foot or kayak.
