Camping lighting & portable power
When the sun goes down, your campsite needs light, for cooking, reading, midnight bathroom trips, and making shadow puppets with the kids. And in 2026, you also need power for phones, cameras, and the occasional emergency. We cover both.
The 7 Best Camping Lanterns for Family Trips in 2026
LED lanterns that light up your whole campsite. Rechargeable, battery-powered, and solar options compared. BioLite, Goal Zero, Black Diamond, and Coleman.
- Lanterns
- String Lights
- Headlamps
- Power Stations
- Solar
- Batteries
Lighting
See where you’re going. Set the mood. Both matter.
Power
Keep phones charged and devices running off the grid.
Best tents by family size
What's the best camping lantern for families?
The BioLite AlpenGlow for ambiance and features, or the Goal Zero Lighthouse for pure brightness and phone charging. Coleman battery lanterns are great budget options.
Do I need a portable power station for camping?
If you camp for 2+ nights and need to charge phones, tablets, or run a CPAP machine, yes. For single-night trips, a good power bank is usually enough.
How long do camping lanterns last on one charge?
Most rechargeable lanterns last 4-8 hours on high, 20-100+ hours on low. For a weekend trip, one full charge is usually enough if you use low mode most of the time.
Are solar chargers worth it for camping?
For multi-day trips without car access, absolutely. For weekend car camping, a power station or car charger is faster and more reliable. Solar works best as a backup or supplement.
What's the best headlamp for kids?
Look for under 200 lumens (bright enough, not blinding), comfortable elastic band, and simple on/off switch. Black Diamond Wiz and Petzl Tikkid are made specifically for kids.
Get your free family camping checklist
Planning your first camping trip? Get our free 75-item family camping checklist. Printable PDF, straight to your inbox.
No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. Join 1,000+ camping families.
