9 Portable Camping Grills That Will Level Up Your Outdoor Cooking (2024)

If you're looking for a solid, durable option to take wherever you go, this one from the legacy brand Weber will be the grill for you. With porcelain-coated cast-iron grill plates, your food is sure to cook to perfection—and you can't ignore how convenient the folding side tables will be for holding your grilling necessities.

You might be wondering why the price is so high on this grill, but the fact of the matter is it's made to last. Weber opted for a cast aluminum cook box, a porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grate, and a stainless steel frame. As mentioned earlier, the grill's tables fold into themselves for easy storage, and other design notes like the push start ignition and internal temperature thermometer all show the high attention to detail Weber put into the design. Simply put, this is a travel grill that's built to last you at least five years, and if you need any more selling we'll point you over to the 6,000+ five-star Amazon reviews on this workhorse.

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A traditional charcoal grill is a trusted choice to go with if you're wanting to keep your camping setup simple and affordable. This one from Cuisinart measures 14 x 14 x 15 inches and weighs only two pounds. It comes with features like an enamel-coated firebox, an ash catcher, and a dual venting system. The grill also has three lid locks to help keep your grill top sealed when traveling.

For under $40, this is a classic camping grill option that will get the job done and last for many years.

Those who want a no-nonsense grill to throw into the car before heading on a weekend getaway will love the Eureka SPRK. It's a simple, compact butane grill with nonstick ceramic plates to make your campsite cooking easier than ever. There are adjustable feet, so you won't have to worry about cooking on uneven ground. When it comes to power, the auto-ignition turns fast and the flames can be controlled on the dial to create your preferred sear. And when it comes to cleaning, all you have to do is remove the dishwasher-safe drip tray and pop it in for a cycle.

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Those who have yet to try a quality pellet grill are truly missing out. If you've had the opportunity to use a Traeger pellet grill, we have a couple of questions: how did that go? Pretty awesome, right? What Traeger has done with the Ranger is build a portable pellet grill you can take anywhere. This bad boy delivers mouth-watering smokey food thanks to its airtight build, its digital art controller, and its interior temperature probe.

The Ranger does have a hefty weight (60 pounds) but its compact dimensions (21 inches wide, 20 inches deep, and 13 inches high) and strong legs make it easy to set on a sturdy table, on a truck bed, or inside an RV. The price point is also high here, but if you value good smoked cooking then you'll find the Ranger a worthy investment that will last you for quite a long time.

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Snow Peak's sleek stainless steel Takibi Fit & Grill will undoubtedly elevate your gear setup, and putting it together and firing it up with wood or coal is easy too. The grill is more spacious than one might think (measuring 21 inches deep x 21 inches wide x 5 inches tall) making it suitable for small parties of around 4-6 people. The grill is also sturdy (weighs 32 pounds), so you don't have to worry about it tipping over in use. And perhaps best of all is the face it packs down into the small nylon carrying you get with the grill's purchase.

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Cast-iron cookware is never a bad idea—particularly when you're cooking over an open flame. And if you want to expand your cast-iron collection, Barebone's grill is the piece to add. Yes, like most cast-iron items, it's heavy. But don't let that keep you from getting it. The grill's 9-piece set, which nests into itself, comes with a grill plate, and a griddle surface, and the body serves as a wok, which you can also use to cook or steam other things. They meant it when they called this the All-in-One Grill.

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Naming the best grill for camping is a little bit subjective, but we have some notes on each fuel source that follow a general consensus of what most camping enthusiasts believe.

Propane

Propane is probably the easiest fuel type to use for camping, and most portable propane grills take the standard 1-pound liquid propane tank that's small and saves space. Propane grills also burn cleaner than charcoal, and propane is often regarded as being just a bit more environmentally friendly than using charcoal.

Pellet Grills

Pellet grills are another excellent resource to use for powering your camping grill. Some people say they're the most eco-friendly power source you can get, since the pellets are 100% renewable (wood) and typically made through compression of lumber scraps, sawdust, wood chips, and more. Pellets grill also burn clean and at a steady rate, making it much easier to cook your food as opposed to using just blocks of wood or charcoal.

Charcoal

We know it feels like we're going at charcoal here, but all things considered, this fuel source is still a classic you can choose for camping. Charcoal is affordable, easy to light, and easy to dispose of. The downsides have been noted above, but if you want to keep things simple and wallet-friendly, you can't go wrong with this fuel source.

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The best way to transport a grill is pretty much the same way we recommend transporting a tailgate grill: via a truck or SUV. Some camping grills are small enough to fit in a sedan, which will work as long as you have enough space in the trunk to safely pack everything. The proper steps to transporting your grill should involve having a grill mat and/or cover for it to take to and from wherever you're heading.

To transport your grill back home after using it, you're going to want to brush down your grill grates to get off any burnt food and then wait for your grill to cool down. For charcoal disposal, the most popular method most people use is dumping the used rocks on asphalt or gravel and then pouring water on them. Then, once completely cool to the touch, you can wrap the charcoal in aluminum foil and discard it in an outdoor trash can (something with a metal body).

For disposal of pellet ash, we recommend having some sort of metal bucket to put the ashes in after each use. The ash will cool pretty quickly, and you can either dump it at the site or take them home and put the used ashes in your garden. For propane, all you have to do is detach the tank from the grill and then place it upright in the front or back seat of your car. You can wrap the tank with bungie cords too to keep it more tightly in place. If your propane tank runs out, you can take it to a hardware store or a local location that refills or recycles propane tanks.

Once your fuel is disposed of or packed up, you can then use your grill mat and/or cover to put your tailgate grill back into your vehicle for traveling back home.