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The best portable gas grills for camping depend on whether you value low weight, maximum cooking area, strong wind performance, or easy cleanup: choose the Weber Go-Anywhere for compact car camping, the Camp Chef Everest 2X for the best carry-friendly burner performance, the Weber Traveler for family-sized meals, and the Blackstone 17-inch tabletop griddle when breakfast food matters more than grill marks.
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Our Top Picks
Charbroil Portable Convective 1-Burner Propane Gas GrillStandard24 x 12 x 15 Inches11 poundsCheck on Amazon
Megamaster Tabletop 1 Burner Gas Grill1-Burner28.43 x 19.69 x 12.91 inches14.42 poundsCheck on Amazon
Best portable gas grills compared
| Model | Cooking area | Burner output | Fuel | Weight | Approx. packed size | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weber Go-Anywhere Gas | 160 sq. in. | 6,500 BTU | 1 lb propane cylinder; adapter for larger tank | 15.5 lb | 19.5 × 11.5 × 15 in. | Minimalist camping and small vehicles |
| Camp Chef Everest 2X | 215 sq. in. | 20,000 BTU | 1 lb propane; bulk propane with hose | About 12 lb | 23.5 × 13.5 × 7.75 in. | High heat in a compact stove-grill format |
| Blackstone 17-Inch Tabletop Griddle | 267 sq. in. | 12,500 BTU | 1 lb propane; larger tank with approved hose | About 19.5 lb | 21.7 × 19 × 9 in. | Pancakes, eggs, bacon, burgers and fajitas |
| Coleman RoadTrip 285 | 285 sq. in. | 20,000 BTU | 1 lb propane; larger tank with compatible adapter | About 46.7 lb with stand | About 30.25 × 19.19 × 16.13 in. | Family cooking with a freestanding stand |
| Weber Traveler | 320 sq. in. | 13,000 BTU | Disposable 1 lb propane; compatible larger-tank setups vary by configuration | About 49.5 lb | About 37.2 × 43.6 × 23.7 in. in use; folds for transport | Large meals and organized car camping |
Manufacturer dimensions and weights can vary slightly by generation, stand, regulator and accessories. Check the specification sheet for the exact version before packing it into a vehicle or storage box.
Our picks by camping situation
Best overall for family car camping: Weber Traveler
The Weber Traveler offers the largest cooking surface in this group, with 320 square inches of usable area and a long, narrow layout that can hold several burgers, chicken pieces or vegetables at once. Its single burner is rated at about 13,000 BTU, so the advantage is not extreme peak heat; it is consistent, broad heat across a substantial grate.
The folding cart and large wheels make it much easier to move from the vehicle to the campsite than its nearly 50-pound weight suggests. It is a poor match for backpacking, canoe portage or a crowded sedan, but an excellent choice when the grill will remain at a campsite or tailgate. The cast-iron cooking grate retains heat well, although it adds weight and requires regular scraping and seasoning-style care.
Best lightweight high-heat option: Camp Chef Everest 2X
The Everest 2X is closer to a powerful two-burner camp stove with a grill accessory than to a traditional backyard grill. Its 20,000-BTU output is substantial for a unit weighing about 12 pounds, and the two burners allow one side to run hotter than the other. That is useful for searing meat on one side while keeping cooked food warm.
Its 215-square-inch cooking area is enough for roughly six to eight burgers, depending on spacing. The compact case fits more easily in a trunk than wheeled models. Wind remains the main weakness: the burners are powerful, but exposed burner openings and the lightweight body benefit from a three-sided windbreak. Never enclose the appliance or block its ventilation.
Best for the smallest load: Weber Go-Anywhere Gas
At about 15.5 pounds, the Go-Anywhere is one of the easiest conventional gas grills to carry. Its 160-square-inch grate is suitable for two people or a small family cooking in batches. The rectangular shape packs efficiently, and the hinged legs lock the lid during transport.
The single 6,500-BTU burner is adequate for burgers, sausages and vegetables, but recovery after opening the lid is slower than on the higher-output models. Its porcelain-enameled steel cooking grate is durable and relatively easy to brush clean. Pick it when packed volume matters more than serving a group quickly.
Best for breakfast and flat-top cooking: Blackstone 17-Inch Tabletop Griddle
The Blackstone 17-inch model replaces grill grates with a 267-square-inch steel griddle. It excels at food that falls through grates or needs a continuous surface: eggs, pancakes, bacon, grilled cheese, chopped meat and stir-fry-style vegetables. It is less suitable if the defining goal is traditional searing over open grates.
Griddle ownership has an extra step. After scraping food residue, wipe on a thin film of cooking oil while the surface is warm and dry. Leaving water or acidic food residue on the steel encourages rust. A removable grease tray simplifies cleanup, but pack a scraper, paper towels and a container for cooled grease.
Best freestanding family alternative: Coleman RoadTrip 285
The RoadTrip 285 combines a 285-square-inch cooking area with 20,000 BTU and a folding stand. Its two burners give better zone control than most single-burner portable grills, and the optional interchangeable cooking surfaces make it more versatile for griddling or stove-style cooking.
The trade-off is bulk. At about 46.7 pounds with its stand, it is portable in the car-camping sense, not portable in the hiking sense. The stand is useful on sites without a suitable table, but it also adds hinges, latches and moving parts that should be kept clean and checked before every trip.
How much cooking area do you actually need?
A practical planning figure is about 40 to 50 square inches per burger when allowing room to turn food. On that basis, a 160-square-inch grate can cook approximately three to four burgers comfortably, while a 285-square-inch surface can handle roughly five to seven. You can fit more by packing food tightly, but crowded food steams, browns unevenly and makes turning difficult.
For two campers, a compact grill is usually more efficient than carrying a large model. For four or more people, the larger surface reduces batch time. Remember that the advertised area includes every part of the grate; warming racks, curved edges and unused space around the lid do not all function as primary cooking area.
Fuel compatibility and runtime
Most portable propane grills use disposable 1-pound cylinders, which are convenient but expensive per pound and create more waste. A compatible hose can connect some appliances to a 5- or 20-pound propane cylinder, but the regulator and connection must match the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not improvise fittings or connect a high-pressure fuel source to an appliance designed for regulated low-pressure propane.
As a rough planning calculation, a 1-pound propane cylinder contains about 21,600 BTU of energy. At a continuous 20,000-BTU input, the theoretical runtime is about 1.08 hours:
21,600 BTU ÷ 20,000 BTU per hour = 1.08 hours
Real cooking time is longer because burners cycle, are rarely operated at full output continuously, and preheating uses only part of the cylinder. Wind, cold temperatures and repeated lid opening can increase consumption. Bring a spare cylinder for a weekend trip rather than relying on a nearly empty one.
Wind performance: the overlooked buying criterion
Wind strips heat from the grate and can interrupt the flame, especially on lightweight tabletop units. Models with a deeper lid, protected burner ports and a close-fitting cooking chamber generally recover better. Two-burner appliances also let you keep one burner operating if wind affects the other.
- Place the grill on a stable, level surface with the lid opening away from the strongest wind.
- Use a commercially designed windscreen only if it leaves the required ventilation clear.
- Do not cook inside a tent, vehicle, enclosed shelter or tightly screened canopy.
- Allow extra preheating time rather than turning the gas pressure beyond the specified setting.
Cleanup, durability and ownership costs
For a grate grill, scrape while the surface is still warm, let the appliance cool, then empty the grease area. Avoid spraying cold water onto a hot porcelain-coated grate, since thermal shock can damage the finish. Stainless steel burners resist corrosion better than thin unprotected steel, but burner ports eventually clog with grease, spider webs or debris.
The parts most likely to wear first are igniters, regulator hoses, grease trays, cooking grates and folding hardware. Keep the grill dry, store it under a breathable cover, and inspect the hose for cracking before connecting propane. If the igniter fails, use the manufacturer’s approved manual-lighting procedure only; never lean over the grill while lighting it.
For a two-day trip with four people, a 285- to 320-square-inch grill may save substantial time because it cooks a full meal in fewer batches. For occasional two-person use, the lighter Go-Anywhere or Everest 2X usually has the better ownership balance. The most expensive grill is not the best portable choice if its packed weight means it stays at home.
Final buying decision
- Choose the Weber Go-Anywhere Gas for the smallest practical conventional grill and simple two-person meals.
- Choose the Camp Chef Everest 2X for low weight, two-zone control and strong burner output.
- Choose the Blackstone 17-Inch if a flat cooking surface is more useful than grill marks.
- Choose the Coleman RoadTrip 285 for a freestanding setup and family cooking without bringing a separate table.
- Choose the Weber Traveler for the largest useful grate and the smoothest car-camping workflow.