Best Air Mattress for Camping 2023: Sleep With Comfort in The Great Outdoors

Looking For A Great Air Bed Or Inflatable Mattress For Camping In The Great Outdoors?

You've Come To The Right Place.

Intex Classic best air mattress

Shopping for the right outdoor air mattress can take a lot of time and efforts.

There are dozens of brands to choose from.

You also have to know which exact type of air mattress you need and the best place to shop for it.  Most outdoor retail outlets only carry a few brands, not to mention the fact that prices are all over the place - some air mattresses are $15 and others cost $1,000+.

And outdoor/sports stores mark them up - a lot.

For camping or outdoor use, you need a high-quality air mattress that is waterproof, durable, lightweight and compact enough to carry around and a breeze to use.


What’s In This Buying Guide?

We created this in-depth shopping guide to help you find the best camping air mattress.

Based on our research of verified customer feedback and by comparing features of different brands, we’ve selected the top camping airbeds that meet the needs of most campers.

All of the mattresses reviewed here have been sold for months and are highly rated on sites like Amazon, Walmart and other retail sites. 

Read through the brief reviews of each air mattress below until you find the best one for your needs.

To learn more about a mattress, click the LEARN MORE button.


Best Air Beds and Inflatable Mattresses for Camping

Mattress

Our Rating

Best Pick For

Coleman Airbed Cot Review

Coleman Airbed Cot

Best Air Mattress for Camping Outdoors

Camping & Outdoor Use

SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress Review

SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress

Best Air Mattress for Camping Indoors

Camping In Your Home

Air Mattress for Camping

FBSport Car Travel Inflatable Mattress Air Bed

Best Air Mattress for Sleeping in Your Car or Truck

Sleeping in Your Car or Truck

Best Air Beds

SoundAsleep Camping Series

Best Air Mattress With Rechargeable Pump for Camping

Off-Grid Campers

Best Air Mattress for Camping

AeroBed Air Mattress

Best Camping Air Mattress for Kids

Kids

The Shrunks Best Air Mattress

Shrunks Toddler Travel Bed

Best Camping Air Bed for Toddlers & Babies

Toddlers & Babies

Best Air Mattress for Camping

Intex Pull-out Sofa Inflatable Bed

Best Inflatable Sofa Bed for Campers

Solo campers

Best Air Mattress for Camping

Intex Classic Downy Airbed  w/ 2 Pillows & Hand Pump
Best Low-Priced Air Mattress for Camping Outdoors

Budget Hunters

Best Air Mattress for Camping

Air Chair Inflatable Lounger

Best Inflatable Sofa for Camping

Campers Who Lounge


Best Overall for Camping Outdoors: 
Coleman Airbed Cot

One reason for selecting this Coleman cot as the best outdoor camping air mattress is the included elevated support frame. It provides more protection from critters on the ground and cold compared to placing a camping air pad directly on the ground.

The Coleman Airbed also includes two side tables and cup holders, providing a convenient surface to place your drinks and personal items.

Coleman Airbed Cot Review

The Coleman Airbed can comfortably support up to 600 pounds, so couples can safely sleep on it. A ComfortStrong coil construction system provides additional support and prevents bulging at the sides.

The Coleman Airbed comes with a battery-operated pump that fills the mattress with air in just a few minutes. It uses four D batteries. So make sure you stock up on several pairs before you hit the road.

The air mattress itself has an airtight system that guarantees that the mattress will not leak during the night. The system consists of dual valves, one to prevent leakage as you remove the pump and the second to keep air in as you sleep.

In the morning, it takes just a couple of minutes to deflate the Coleman Airbed. You can fold it up into a compact roll and stuff it into the provided carry bag. This makes it easy to carry the mattress either by hand or in your car.


Best Air Mattress for Camping Indoors:
SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress

You don’t always have to go to the great outdoors to enjoy camping.

Sometimes, especially with kids, it’s more fun to camp indoors.

Getting the right air mattresses for everyone makes it even more fun and ensures everyone is comfortable away from their usual cozy beds.

soundasleep best air mattress

We recommend the SoundAsleep Dream Series Air Mattress for indoor camping. It is a self-inflating air mattress, so you don’t have to bother about a manual pump.

Just connect it to an outlet, click a switch and your mattress will be ready in less than four minutes.

This Dream Series mattress uses ComfortCoil technology to provide adequate support and ensure the mattress lasts long. ComfortCoil consists of 40 air coils inside the mattress to hold up your weight. The coils keep the mattress flat, ensuring your back has proper support.

Because the Dream Series air mattress has a flocked top, you can use it with or without sheets. It’s comfortable either way. The external material is waterproof and puncture-resistant, which adds to its durability.

The SoundAsleep Dream air mattress comes with a carry bag that makes it easy to store or transport the mattress. If you are going camping at a friend’s house, just throw the bag in your car trunk, and you are good to go.


Best Air Mattress for Sleeping in Your Car or Truck:
FBSport Car Travel Inflatable Mattress Air Bed

The FBSport Car Travel Inflatable air mattress is perfect for when you want or need to sleep in your car. It’s great for camping when you don’t want to sleep on the ground. You can also use it on long road trips and during festivals.

The FBSport travel mattress measures 56.3" by 34.25" by 17.72". So it should fit across the rear seats of most cars.

From customer feedback, the mattress can be used in Honda Civic Sedan, Ford F350, Chevrolet Equinox, Toyota Rav4, Toyota Tacoma, Ford F150 and Mazda3 sedan among other car models.

Air Mattress for Camping

There are two air pillows included.

For inflating, the mattress comes with a pump that can be connected to your car cigarette lighter. It takes a couple of minutes for the mattress to fill up. When you are done with it, just deflate it and roll it into the provided carry bag.

The mattress has a flocked top so you can just plop down on it without spreading a sheet. But for more comfort, carry a pair of sheets with you. Twin size sheets are perfect for its dimensions.


Best Air Mattress With Rechargeable Pump for Camping: SoundAsleep Camping Series Air Mattress

One of the most important things to consider when you select an air mattress is how you are going to inflate it. A manual pump may not always be the best for a larger air bed because inflating it is too tedious.

An inbuilt electric air pump will also not work. You are not going to plug it into a tree.

Another great option is a rechargeable external air pump. This SoundAsleep Camping Series Air Mattress comes with such a pump.

Best Air Beds

It has a rechargeable battery that can be charged at home using a standard power outlet or just plug it into your car’s 12V cigarette lighter. 

So you can charge it before leaving home or while on the road.

The mattress is made from a highly durable material designed specifically for outdoor use. It will not puncture easily and is of course waterproof.

A carry bag is also included for easy storage and transportation.

There are two sizes available: queen and twin. The queen size is perfect if you are planning to go camping as a couple. The twin is great for kids or solo adventurers.


Best Camping Air Mattress for Kids:  
AeroBed Air Mattress For Kids

The AeroBed air mattress for kids is one of the best choices for younger campers. With dimensions of 50 by 25 inches, it’s perfectly sized for kids up to around 6 or 7 years of age. They’ll snuggle up in it cozily through the night.

To keep your kid from rolling out of bed at night, the mattress has a 4-inch high cushion all around the edge.

For comfort, the Aerobed comes with a thick and soft fitted mattress pad. So you don’t even have to use sheets with this mattress. If the pad gets dirty or stained, you can take it off and wash it.

The external material is thick and durable to withstand the wear and tear of outdoor use.

Aerobed Air Mattress

The only downside of the Aerobed air mattress is the AC-powered pump.

It’s no problem when you're ready for some indoor camping fun. Just plug it into a standard outlet and it inflates to full capacity in less than a minute.

But what are you going to plug it into when you camp outside?

One solution is to inflate it at home and carry it like that. This could work but only if you have plenty of space at the back or trunk of the car. But it’s also risky in case the mattress deflates when you are far from home.

One way to solve the problem is buying an inverter for your car’s cigarette lighter. You can then inflate the mattress in the car.

You can also buy an external rechargeable or battery-powered pump.


Best Camping Air Bed for Toddlers & Babies:  
The Shrunks Toddler Travel Bed

You need to take even more care when camping with a toddler or a baby. You have to place a lot of emphasis on safety.

That’s why we recommend the Shrunks Toddler Travel Bed. You can use it for camping, sleepovers at home or when visiting other people.

You can even use this air bed in a hotel room.

The Shrunks Toddler Bed has a unique design. There is the inner sleeping pad surrounded by a protective guardrail.

You tuck in sheets in the inner mattress rather than around the entire airbed. This keeps the sheet from shifting or coming loose.

The Shrunks Best Air Mattress

The Toddler Bed mattress measures 60 x 37 x 9 inches. The sleeping surface itself is 47 by 24 inches, and the weight capacity is 100 pounds. So your child can use it until they are 5-6 years old.

The Shrunks Toddler Travel Bed's pump is electric, so you may want to invest in an inverter or battery pump if you are planning to go camping. But if you're just buying it for indoor sleep, the included electric air pump is perfect. It inflates the airbed in less than a minute.


Best Inflatable Sofa Bed for Campers:
Intex Pull-out Sofa Inflatable Bed

This air mattress is technically a sofa - and a bed. It’s the perfect addition to your camping gear whether you camp alone or with your family.

This Intex pull-out sofa can comfortably sleep two people and a seat just as many. The mattress is queen sized. It measures 76" X 87" X 26" when fully inflated.

Despite its complex-looking crossover design, the Intex inflatable bed is quite easy to use. It has valves for quick inflation and deflation. When inflated, it takes just a couple of seconds to turn it from a sofa to bed.

Best Air Mattress for Camping

An important thing to note is that this inflatable bed/sofa does not come with a pump.

But you can use any airbed pump. It can be an electric AC pump (for home use), a battery pump or a rechargeable pump for the outdoors.

The bed is made of high-quality vinyl and feels quite comfortable even without a sheet.

When deflated, it folds into a compact size that can be easily stuffed into a bag.

If you are planning to relax with a book on your next camping trip, definitely carry this inflatable bed along. 


Best Low-Priced Air Mattress for Camping Outdoors:
Intex Classic Downy Airbed with 2 Pillows

If you love camping but don’t want to spend large bucks on an air mattress, the Intex Classic Downy airbed is for you.

It’s a great bargain without compromising on quality or durability.

This Intex is a queen airbed so it will comfortably sleep two people. 

The Classic Downy includes two inflatable pillows for added comfort. The mattress dimensions are 60 x 8.75 x 80. It can hold weight of up to 600 pounds.

The waterproof flocked top makes the mattress more comfortable. It also helps keep your fitted sheets in place as you sleep.

You can easily wipe down the top when it gets dirty or stained.

Best Air Mattress for Camping

Perhaps what makes this mattress cheap is because it does not come with an electric pump. It uses a manual one, instead.

It takes a bit of time to fill this queen size mattress. Most customers say it takes around 10 minutes.

The valve is extra wide to make it easier to inflate the mattress. Inflating the pillows takes less than a minute for each.

In the morning, just open the valve to deflate the mattress quickly. You can then roll it up and stuff it into a bag for easy carrying.


Best Inflatable Sofa for Camping:  
Air Chair Inflatable Lounger

This one-person lounger is perfect if you want a place to relax other than your camping bed. The inflatable sofa looks like a hammock or a canoe when inflated and it’s comfortable.

The Air Chair lounger is made from lightweight materials that are also tough enough to withstand water, sunshine and your weight (capacity: 400lbs).

So don’t be afraid to take the Air Chair for camping or in the yard for backyard camping afternoon with your kids.

You can even use it as a pool float. It’s that versatile.

Best Air Mattress for Camping

And because the material is so light, carrying it around is not an issue.

There are convenient stitched pockets on the sides of the Air Chair where you can put your smartphone, Kindle or even a drink.

The best part about this inflatable lounger is that it doesn’t require an air pump.

You can literally fill it using the wind. So you can use it anywhere as long as there is some wind. It only takes a few seconds to fill up, and it stays full afterward.

If you are looking for a cool useful item to add to your camping kit, I recommend the Air Chair. It won’t take up much space and adds a lot of fun to your adventures.


How We Rate Air Beds and Inflatable Mattresses for Camping

Click on a feature below to learn more about how we factor it into our ratings and reviews.

Price

Warranty

Available Sizes

Pump

Waterproofing

Sleeping Surface/Topper

Sleeping Capacity

Ground Support

Portability

Aesthetics/Design

Sheets

Setting It Up and Taking It Down

Special Features

Customer Reviews and Comments


Why Buy an Inflatable Mattress for Camping?

There are many good reasons to consider an air mattress for camping beyond the comfort factor - click on an item below to learn more.

  • Spending Time With Your Kids/Teens
  • Overnight Camping Trips Outside
  • Overnight camping inside your home/sleepovers
  • Vacations with babies or toddlers

As long as they know they will be sleeping on a mattress that’s almost as comfortable as their home mattress, your kids will be more willing to accompany you on your camping trips.

With kids, you don’t need to get them an expensive air mattress. Something cheap with basic features will do. Make sure it’s easy to repair especially if you have young kids who might sometimes treat the mattress as a bouncy castle.


Other Great Camping Air Beds and Mattresses To Consider

Shelterin Multifunctional Car Inflatable Mattress

Intex Dura-Beam Deluxe Pillow Rest Airbed

Intex Pillow Rest Raised Airbed

Intex Prestige Downy Airbed With Battery Pump

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