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Best Portable Gas Grills For Camping

Published on March 13th, 2019 by Camper Report
This post was updated on February 28th, 2024

An open grill with meat cooking.

If you are heading on a camping trip and are in need of a reliable portable gas grill, you are in luck. I have researched all the candidates to find the best for your camping needs.

The best rated portable gas grills for camping are as listed below:

  1. Weber Q2200 Grill
  2. Cuisinart All-Foods Tabletop Grill
  3. Coleman Road Trip Grill
  4. Aussie Tabletop Grill
  5. Camco Olympian Grill
  6. Napolean Travel Gas Grill

If you want to know why these grills are rated the top grills and what they can do for your camping trip experience, then read on. I will list the pros and cons of each portable gas grill.

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The Top Rated Portable Gas Grills:

For the top rated portable gas grills, there are some clear options.

1. Weber Q2200

The Weber Q2200 has 12,00 BTUs. It is a single, stainless bruner. It has cast iron grates, cast aluminum body and lid. This grills also features a simple push button electronic ignition. It has two folding side shelves and a removable grease tray.

Advantages

  • It has a solid construction.
  • It is very conveniently pre-assembled.
  • Heats fast.
  • Weber has high level of customer service for replacement parts.

Disadvantages

  • Requires holes to be clad in the burner, which is difficult.

2. Cuisinart All-Foods Tabletop

The Cuisinart All-Foods Tabletop is powered with 12,000 BTUs. This grills can reach 500 degrees easily. It has a simple twist start ignition. It has stainless steel lids and handles.

This grill also comes with stainless folding shelves, a temperature gauge, and a removable grease drip tray.

Advantages

  • It is well built for its size and price.
  • Heats well and holds the heat.
  • Has convenient folding shelves.
  • Transports easily for camping.

Disadvantages

  • Loses temperature when converting to a 20 lb tank.
  • Some difficulty reaching customer service.

3. Coleman Road Trip Grill

The Coleman road trip grill has 10,000 BTUs for each burner. It contains two controls for both grill sides. In total, there is a 285 sq in cooking surface.

These grills contain collapsible scissor legs and two wheels. It is easily folded down into tote mode. Some other features are its electronic ignition, removable greaset tray, and sliding shelves.

Advantages

  • Has a quick and easy set up.
  • Small Footprint.
  • Great for travelling.
  • Converts well to a 20 lb tank.
  • Great heat output.

Disadvantages

  • The lid size is too small for closed grilling.
  • Some customers report breaking after a year or so.

4. Aussie

The aussie table top grill contains 12,000 BTUs. It contains a 305 sq in surface. The lid locks easily for transportation. The legs also fold up.

Some other beneficial features are the removable grease tray and warming rack.

Advantages

  • It is convenient to move around.
  • Heats up quickly.
  • Achieves a high level of heat.

Disadvantages

  • There are some reports of problems with the regulator fitting loosely into the burner.
  • Occasional ignition problems.

5. Camco Olympian

The camco olympian grills contains 12,000 BTUs and has a surface for cooking of 180 sq in. It is constructed out of stainless stell and has a stainless stell burner and grate.

This grill also contains a cast iron smoker platem and elctronic ignition, and a removable grease tray.

Advantages

  • Well built and compact.
  • Adequate cooking space.
  • Lightweight,
  • Good heating.
  • No hot spots.

Disadvantages

  • Some report that the grill burns too hot with a thin grate.

6. Napolean Travel Grill

The napolean travel gas grill has two 6,000 BTU stainless steel burners. It has 285 sq in of cooking surface. It contains a simple ignition knob.

This grill also has folding legs and a locking lid for it to pack up easily. It is only 20 pounds all together.

Advantages

  • Very light.
  • Contains two independent burners.
  • Compact design.

Disadvantages

  • Stamped steel body.
  • High in price.

These six grills all contain the best bang for your buck. These grills contain high quality features for a good price. Each of these grills is also very easy to take camping with you.

The grills were designed to be able to pack up. They each have folding items to small the grill small and easily able to travel with.

Determining Factors for the Best Grills:

Although these are my top options for portable grills to take camping, there are many more options out there. If you want to look into it yourself, I will give you a guide for what to look into.

The top features to look at for a portable camping grill are:

  • BTUS. BTUs are the British thermal units that determine the output of gas to heat your grill up. The higher the number of BTUs your grill has, the higher the temperature of your grill should be able to get to. The BTU rating is able to indicate the maximum amount of heat for your burner.
  • The Temperature Control. The temperature control is where you can often turn up or lower the heat of your grill. If you are getting a grill that has two burners, it is the best option to find a grill that contains two temperature controls.
  • The Surface Cooking Area. Most of the time portable means tiny. However, some grills contain a large area for cooking. For reference, a 200 square inch cooking grate holds around 12 hamburger patties. Depending on your needs, you may want to get a larger space, especially if you are cooking many items.
  • Burners. The most high-quality material you can have for your burners is stainless steel or brass. Aluminium burns out and cast iron eventually rusts over. A beneficial feature of some burners is a metal deflector between the grate and burners. This gives an even heat to your burners.
  • Grates. The best grill holds heat in the cooking area and conducts heat into the food to cook it through. Some poor heaters are those made of chrome and nickel for the grates. Cast iron grates hold and conduct heat very well.
  • Ignition. Many gas grills have spark ignition systems. However, some use battery or friction. These easiest is a simple spark ignition system.
  • Quality of Construction. Because these grills are meant for transportation, they are often lightweight. However, sometimes lightweight means flimsy in construction. Test this by pushing against the grill from different angles. If it is prone to tipping, it is probably not a good option for you.

Note: If a grill is flimsy and tips over easily, it can become a safety hazard. The last thing you want to deal with on your camping trip is severe burns.

  • Transportation Features. Obviously, if you are going camping, you will not be able to bring a full sized grill. It is important that you can get it out and in your trunk or RV.
  • Fuel Tanks. Most of the portable grills will come with cylinders for you to put your propane in. It will only last a few meals. If you purchase a conversion kit for a 20lb propane tank, you will save money.
  • Shelves. Because the portable grills contain sliding shelves, it is important to check if they are sliding when you are not using it. They should also be able to hold a fair amount of weight.
  • Assembly. Some grills come with it pre-assembled. Other you will have to assemble. If you have to assemble it yourself, make sure it is something you can handle. Personally, I prefer to simply have a pre-assembled grill.

Other Portable Grill Options:

If gas grills do not seem to be the option for you, that’s okay. There are still other options for you.

There are some grills that are still portable, yet not gas sourced.

For portable grills not using gas, the best options are:

  1. Char-Broil Portable Tabletop Charcoal Grill. This grill is small and very simple in design. It requires either charcoal briquettes or lump charcoal. It contains a 187 square inch surface. The body is made of high-quality steel. The legs fold up securely on top of the grill. It is also an easy setup
  2. Cook-Air Wood Fired Grill. This grill can reach much higher temperatures than most portable grills. This grill can hit 1,000 degrees F. This grill has an internal fan that creates a cyclone of air moving over the burning wood to accelerate the combustion. With the smoke, this grill gives off a campfire taste to your foods.
  3. Weber Jumbo Joe 18 Portable Charcoal Grill. This grill contains a large enough cooking surface for a large cookout. It weighs 22 pounds with one holding handle. This grill is a good option for a large group of campers.
  4. Char-Griller Table Top Charcoal Grill and Side Fire Box. This grill is the perfect grill for tabletop grilling. It contains a removable ash pan to make easy cleanup. The surface cooking area is 250 square inches. It is made of heavy-duty steel.

These grills are also the best quality for your camping needs. They can get to very high heats and do a quality job.

Personally, I prefer gas grills because they seem to be faster and less of a hassle. You do not have to bring wood or charcoal and they are quick to warm up.

Essential Kitchen Equiptment for Camping:

With your portable grill, you are already set to have a great camping trip. Grills are able to do most of the cooking work for a camping trip.

However, grills are not the only thing you need to bring with you to complete your mini “camping kitchen.”

Camp Kitchen and Pantry Organizers

If you have ever gone on a long camping trip, you have probably realized that organization is requried.

I went camping for over a week and thought it would be a good idea to use my guitar case as my pantry. Everything was able to be seen laid out flat. This is a poor example of organization. It did not work for me and will not work for you.

Some ideas of things to pack with you to help organize are:

  • Collapsible Water Jug
  • Foldable Tables
  • Camp Cooking Station and Organizer
  • Egg Holders
  • Mini Spice Cabinet.

By having things to organize your food and pantry items, you will save time.

Coolers

If you are a lifelong camper, you most likely already have a nice cooler. A cooler is an essential item for any camper.

Rather than purchasing the cheap one-time-use coolers, just invest in a high-quality cooler. They will last through all your camping trips.

Some of the top cooler options:

  • Yeti Tundra 35. This cooler is very well insulated and can hold the cool temperatures for a long time. It is a great size for a weekend getaway.
  • Yeti Hopper Cooler. This cooler is smaller. However, it can be used for smaller items such as drinks. Using a seperate drink cooler keeps the main cooler colder for longer.
  • Cooler Shock Reusable Ice Paks. These ice packs save you from having to buy ice each time you go camping. You simply freeze them before you go camping, and use them instead of ice.

Cooking Tools and Accessories

These are often the most forgotten things for camping trips. However, you will find that camping without your kitchen tools is very difficult.

Tip: Simply buy dedicated camp kitchen utensils. If you set aside a box of items to use just for camping, it will save you the hassle of searching for all the tools you need. You will also lose the risk of forgetting an essential tool.

Some items that you will not want to forget are:

  • Tongs
  • Can Opener
  • Wooden Spoons
  • Spatula
  • Metal Skewers
  • Collapsible Measuring Cups
  • Heat Resistant Gloves
  • Bottle Opener

Tableware

If you are going to be camping a lot, it is worth it to go out and buy tableware for camping.

For those who will not camp too often, plastic or paper tableware does work. However, it is sometimes flimsy and seems to be a waste.

If you are going to buy tableware, remember to get plates, bowls and silverware. A durable brand is GSI Enamel.

Sink and Cleanup

If your campsite does not offer a dish cleaning area, it is important to have your own sink and cleanup station avaliable.

Especially if you are camping in bear country, you do not want to leave any leftover scent of your food. They will smell it and make a special visit to your campsite.

Some items to get if you are going to have your own sink and cleanup station:

  • Collapsible sink. This is easy to bring with you camping because it is collapsible. There will be plenty of space for it in your trunk.
  • Dish Washing Gloves. Especially if you are camping in the cold, weather, these gloves will help you out. Keeping your hands dry is nice for any weather, however.
  • Dish Soap. This is an essential item to keep your dishes squeaky clean.
  • Sponge. Any sponge will do the trick. Whichever sponge you like best in your kitchen is probably your best option.

These are the essential items to take with you for your sink. You just need what will get the job done.

Easy Camping Meals:

I don’t know about you, but when I am camping I want the easiest meals to cook. I would rather only spend a few minutes cooking.

A few food options that are quick and easy to cook for you to enjoy the rest of your camping trip are:

  • Scrambled Eggs
  • Cinnamon rolls
  • Bacan and cheese pull-aparts
  • Potato and egg scramble
  • Hot dogs
  • Baked Potato
  • Fried Fish Fillets
  • Quesadillas
  • Corn fritters

Although these are great ideas, there are many more meals out there. If you are looking for other easy camping meals, there are a few things to look for.

The meal should have few ingredients. Especially with the packing issue, you won’t want too many ingredients. If you can find a meal with 3 ingredients, you are sure to have a good cooking experience.

Also, a meal with a small amount of prep time is a good option. The cooking time is not as significant. However, the prep time will be what takes up your time away from the camping experience.

Planning out your days is also an important part of your camping experience. If you are planning a long day of activities where you will be away from your campsite, plan your fastest meals for that day.

If your day looks more free, plan your meals that take the longest time. This will help your overall camping experience.

What is the best portable grill for tailgating?

The best portable grills for tailgating are:

  • Coleman Roadtrop Grill.
  • Weber Q Portable Tailgating Grill.
  • Picnic Time Tailgating Grill Set.
  • Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill
  • Smokey Joe Tailgating Grill.
  • Pre-Seasoned Sportsman’s Charcoal Grill.
  • Cuisinart GrateLifter Portable Charcoal Grill.

What brand gas grill is the best?

The best grills are defined and categorized below:

  • Best Overall: Broil King Regal S590 Pro 5 Burner Natural Gas Grill.
  • Best Value: Weber Spirit II E-310 LP Gas Grill.
  • Best Portable Grill: Coleman Road Trip Propane Portable Grill LXE.
  • Best Compact Grill: Dyna-Glo Smart Space Living 3 Burner LP Gas Grill.

What Indoor Grills are the best?

The best rated indoor grills are:

  • Cuisinart GR-4N 5 in 1 Griddler Indoor Grill
  • Hamilton Beach 25361 Indoor Grill
  • Cuisinart GR 300WS Elite Indoor Grill
  • George Foreman GGR50B Indoor Grill
  • T-Fal GC702 OptiGrill
  • Delonghi BG24 Perfecto
  • Hamilton Beach 38546

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