Camping grill quick picks
Most recommended gas grill: Weber Q 1200 Gas Grill
Competition-level portable grill: PK Grills PKGO Hibachi
Most portable fire pit and grill: UCO Flatpack Small Portable Grill and Firepit
Whether your idea of a good meal is a simple, char-grilled hot dog or a perfectly-seared steak in the great outdoors, you’ll want the best camping grill to help you cook your proteins and toast your buns. These days, there are enough fancy cooking gadgets on the market to make your head spin, so we asked a few of our trusted outdoor and grilling experts what’s making their snacks sizzle this season.
But first, what’s the big difference between a standard-issue camp stove and a camping grill, anyway? Chef Corso, founder and head chef at Outdoor Eats, says the key difference is that a camp stove typically uses “alternative fuels, like propane or isobutane,” to power a heating element. A camp grill is set up for cooking over a live fire, similar to some of the best grills you might use at home.
Apart from the actual cooking mechanism, there are several benefits of cooking over a grill when tailgating stadium-side or chillaxing at base camp. “A camping grill can add flavor to your food, especially if you have a charcoal or wood pellet grill,” says Wes Wright, founder and CEO of CookOut News. “Plus, there’s less cleanup, because you don’t need pots and pans to cook with.”
Below, we’ll get into the best camping grills that our outdoor and cooking experts recommend.
Best camping grills
This take-anywhere propane grill from Weber was the most recommended of the bunch. Sporting a removable grease catch pan and porcelain-enameled, cast iron cooking grates, it’s easy to clean and evenly distributes heat across the entire cooking area. “Featuring a high-performance burner, this grill is compact and lightweight, making it easy to transport,” says James Ian, founder of Parks Collecting.
Designed with long-term use in mind, Snow Peak’s Takibi Fire & Grill offers a more modular and packable design than many of the grills on this list. Light up a wood fire — it doubles as a portable fire pit — in its stainless steel fireplace and cook over the flames, or modify it for charcoal with the Fireplace Coal Bed. “This grill is a super-fun option to have a safe, portable fire and grill up your favorites,” says Corso.
“The Coleman RoadTrip 285 offers a large cooking surface and the flexibility to switch between different cooking grates, such as a stove grate or griddle,” explains Tom Callahan, vice president of product development and customer experience at 4Patriots. Plus, with 285 square inches of grilling space, you can easily tackle a large-scale tailgate or family campout. Just don’t forget the propane tank (sold separately).
Though it’s not as well-known a brand as Weber, the PKGO has a passionate following, particularly in the competitive steak cooking circuit (yes, that’s a thing), says Wright. “I'd recommend this camping grill, because it heats up quickly, which is exactly what you want when camping. Also, because it uses heat more efficiently, it takes less charcoal to get it hot,” he says.
I’ve been a big fan of BioLite’s camping gear for years, and its FirePit+ is a great option because it acts as both a portable fire pit and a camp grill. You can plop on the included grill grate when the flames die, or purchase the optional griddle ($60) to whip up some pancakes and eggs. And don’t forget those ever-important grill tools and accessories.
If you’re an outdoor chef who likes to “set it and forget it,” this Masterbuilt marvel is for you. Built with a battery- or plug-powered SteadyTemp dial, this charcoal grill allows you to set your desired temperature between 250 to 550 degrees Fahrenheit, rather than fidgeting endlessly with individual coals. “An onboard fan controls how much oxygen is pushed into the fire, thereby controlling the temperature. It's easy to use, and frees you up from messing with a fire while cooking,” says Wright.
When trunk space is limited or you’re setting out on a backpacking trip, the two-pound, collapsible UCO Flatpack Small Portable Grill and Firepit makes it easy to set up a wood or coal fire and grilling surface in the backcountry. “It comes in three sizes (small, medium, large), but we stick to the small for backpacking,” says Joe Grant, founder and lead guide at Valiant Outfitters. “It’s large enough to grill two 8-ounce steaks.” Tack on the roasting forks set for perfect s’mores or upgrade to a large grill when a big crew is in tow.
With its built-in rollers, folding legs and locking lid, it’s easy to understand why Camp Chef’s Pursuit 20 is a bestselling premium pellet grill. Nicole Johnson, owner and writer at OrWhateverYouDo.com, went so far as to call it her favorite she’s tested. Not only does it come with an upper shelf, so you can char veggies while meats finish, but it also boasts a smoke controller for that just-right flavor. “It’s one of the most versatile pieces of cooking equipment for camping,” says Johnson.
Affordable and easy to use, the Petite Gourmet Tabletop Gas Grill from Cuisinart is large enough to cook six to 10 chicken breasts with ease, yet small enough to fold and carry like a traditional two-burner camp stove. “This grill is small yet mighty and perfect for smaller group[s] or people with limited space,” says Erika Pacini, head of marketing at Outdoorplay.
