6 Best Portable Air Conditioners for Camping & Outdoors

Does the summer heat bother you while camping? Fast vanishing glucose levels and the profusely dripping sweat from your body wipe out the fun from your camping adventure. Therefore, the scorching summer heat is one reason outdoor enthusiasts avoid summer camping. As the temperatures soar every summer, camping tents, camping shades, and 12-volt fans cannot beat the heat. Portable air conditioners are suitable solutions for campers who despise the summer heat while camping.

You can also learn more by reading consumer reviews on other products from the Home and Kitchen category to make the right choice for your outdoor recreation.

Compact and portable ac for cars can be either battery-operated or generator-charged. Modern technology has developed high-quality and durable camping air conditioners that fulfill various needs of summer campers. Let’s look at some of the best portable air conditioners for camping with features that provide cooling solutions in the hottest climates while enjoying your trip. Their cooling capacities might range from 5000 BTUs (British Thermal Unit) to 10,000BTUs, offering a large cooling area at campsites.

List Of 7 Best Portable Air Conditioners For Camping

1.   Black & Decker BPACT14WT Portable Camping Air Conditioner

Specifications:

Dimensions 17.1L x 13.8W x 28.1H inches
Weight 68.3 lbs
Battery NA
Cooling Area 300 – 350 Sq. Ft.
Capacity 7,700 BTU

14,000 BTU ASHRAE

Additional Features Remote control. Sleep mode, 24-hour timer
Price $449.00

 

Black & Decker BPACT14WT tops our list of best portable air conditioners for camping as it is the most preferred cooling appliance during summers to provide cooling. Best suited for prolonged outdoor activities, this chargeable AC comes with an adjustable fan speed that offers powerful and silent cooling up to 65 degrees F. The on-floor AC cools small rooms and is perfect for offices, campers, cabins, or small living rooms.

Furthermore, the durable wheel casters help you move the AC to your desired location, plug it in a switchboard for constant energy supply, and enjoy cooling whenever you want while camping. You can check its LED display and set the sleeping mode or 24-hour timer with the remote control. Also, just slide out the removable filter and clean it under running water to have clean and fresh AC filters. Finally, with 3-in-1 functions, Black and Decker comprises cool, fan, and dehumidify modes to ventilate and cool down your room quickly at the touch of a button.

Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
Noise Levels below 53db Heavyweight and pricey
Auto fan-mode control air temperature while sleeping
Subtle control panel lights stay dim at night
Quickly cools smaller rooms and camping tents

2. SereneLife Portable Air Conditioner

Specifications:

Dimensions 14.2L x 17W x 28.7H inches
Weight 56.48 Pounds
Battery NA
Cooling Area 400 Square Feet
Capacity 12000 BTU
Additional Features 56-59 dBa noise level, Freestanding, dehumidifier
Price $329.99

 

SereneLife Portable Air Conditioner is easily movable with wheels. Its lightweight design is suitable for small rooms, garages, camping tents, etc. The AC has 4-level operation cooling, heating, dehumidifier, and fan with a built-in dehumidifier that reduces humidity levels. Its automatic swing vent circulates air evenly, cooling the area quickly.

Furthermore, digital controls and remote control offer specific features like unit selector, sleep mode, and timer settings. Serenelife offers 10000BTU (ASHRAE) cooling and 9000 BTU heating power throughout the year, so you can use it while camping in both summers and winters.

Pros and Cons

Pros Cons:
Lightweight cooler and heater Shorter power cable
Celcius and Fahrenheit unit selector
Easy to move wheels
Digital controls

 

3. TCL Window Portable Air Conditioner

Specifications:

Dimensions 17.32W x 27.36D x 12.79H inches
Weight 54 lbs
Noise Level NA
Cooling Area 300 square feet
Capacity 12000 BTU
Additional Features App and Voice Controls, 3-in-1 functions, and LED display
Price $368.00

 

The highly versatile TCL Window Portable Air Conditioner offers 12000 BTU smart cooling with multiple fan speeds. The 3-in-1 fan, dehumidifier, and AC adjust and manage room temperature while circulating air up to 300 square feet, reducing moisture level. In addition, the app-controlled features help you regulate your camping tent temperature, cooling schedules, and fan modes remotely on your smartphone or voice commands on Alexa.

Furthermore, the washable filters prevent damage to your AC from dust and pet hair. Also, its handles and wheels help you effortlessly glide the AC in your camping tent, providing cool air on the go. This versatile functioning AC is easy to install and operate and is perfect for outdoor camping.

Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
Customized cooling with 8-way airflow Air Filter are not easy to remove
Low Noise Level
Lightweight and portable wheels
Auto-restart option after a power cut

4. MIDEA DUO Portable Air Conditioner

Specifications:

Dimensions 19.53W x 16.73D x 34.48H inches
Weight 72.75 lbs
Battery NA
Cooling Area 175 Square feet
Capacity 12,000 BTU (ASHRAE)
Additional Features Dehumidifier, Fan, Remote Control and Window Kit
Price $599.00

 

MIDEA DUO Portable Air Conditioners with the duo hose design locks inside cool air and forces out hot air, providing two times faster and more robust cooling. With a 26 feet airflow, the cool air swiftly spreads t all corners of your room or camping tent. Its variable speed inverter technology saves 40% energy compared to U.S. Federal Standards.

Moreover, you can control its operation through a smartphone app using voice assistance. Its ultra-quiet motors make minimum noise while functioning, offering a peaceful cooling solution in heated weather.

MIDEA’s 3-in-1 operation modes provide high-power cooling, dehumidification, and various air-circulation levels. Also, the intelligent design helps in easy installation and storage of the device when not in use.

Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
Light and compact AC fit in all tent sizes No remote controls.
Affordable
Energy Efficient AC model
Voice controls and smartphone app monitoring

5. COSTWAY Portable Air Conditioner

Specifications:

Dimensions 12W x 13D x 30H inches
Weight 54.5 lbs
Noise Level 56dB
Cooling Area 230 plus square feet
Capacity 8000 BTU
Additional Features Multi-functional modes, Washable filter and timer
Price $349.00

 

COSTWAY Portable Air Conditioner offers multi-functional modes and a special fan mode with two fan speeds for personalized cooling comfort. The Sleep mode quietly cools your room while you are sleeping, and the 24-hour timer switches off automatically when the room temperature comes down to your desired level.

Moreover, you can change the temperature settings from Celcius to Fahrenheit using the remote controls. This compact device effectively cools tent rooms, cabins, or camping rooms up to 230 square feet in less time, saving energy consumption. Its multiple safety protection features like a 24-hour timer, water-light indicator, and self-evaporation function help save energy and water pouring efforts, saving time.

Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
Lightweight and portable caster wheels Slightly loud in the sleep mode
Low and High fan modes
Lowers temperature up to 64 degrees F
Water indicator light and self-evaporation function

6.EcoFlow Wave Portable Air Conditioner + Add-on Battery

Specifications:

Dimensions 20.39L x 12.2W x 16.38H inches
Weight 38.58 lbs

Battery 17.4lbs

Noise Level 55dB
Cooling Area NA
Capacity 4000 BTU
Additional Features Add-on battery, solar, car, and AC charging inputs, and auto shutdown option
Price $1799.00

 

The premium quality cooling offered by the EcoFlow Wave Portable battery operated air conditioner for camping is the most suitable one for outdoor travelers. It provides fast cooling in tents, cars, RVs, etc., within 8 minutes for 3 hours. An add-on battery offers an extended run time of 8 hours for night cooling. You can use the 1008Wh Add-On Battery, DELTA Max, or DELTA Pro for 12 hours of additional runtime without charging while camping or on outdoor trips.

Moreover, You can charge the battery anywhere at charging stations, car batteries, solar chargers, etc., and keep your tent during camping. Its compact battery is detachable for easy portability and storage while traveling. It can also act as a power generator for other appliances during a blackout.

Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
Easily cools medium size tents, RVs, and rooms. Highly Expensive
Solar, power bank, or electric rechargeable battery
Add-on battery offers extended cooling period
Wifi and Bluetooth enabled operations.

 

To Summarize

The best portable air conditioners for camping provide faster cooling in a minimum time. They can cover a medium to a bigger size camping tent, providing cooling to you and your camping friends in minutes. Some ACs are expensive, while others offer a budget price for the high-quality cooling solutions they provide. Therefore, while purchasing, the user needs to check their BTU ratings, water tank capacity, and cooling range before selecting the best one.


Interesting Related Article: “A Guide to Your First Solo Camping Trip