We’ve been using the best camping mattresses, rolling them out, inflating them, and sleeping on them for over five years. After reviewing over 100 mattresses and testing them in the field and on the bench, we’ve narrowed it down to 15 mattresses that will handle any camping situation, from a casual weekend away from civilization to an organized camping trip.
Our camping mattress needs vary, so while there’s no one-size-fits-all option, we’ve broken them down into categories to help you find the right one. Our picks aren’t superficial — our team has spent more than 350 hours of sleep over the past few seasons testing the best camping mattresses and sleeping pads on the market.
Whether you’re looking for the perfect camping mattress (we highly recommend our top pick, the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D) or you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option for your family, like the $179 REI Co-op Camp Dreamer XL, we think there’s something for everyone here. Keep reading to see our top picks, plus other options worth considering.
Editor’s note: This article is about larger sleeping pads for car camping or home use. If you’re looking for lightweight options, check out our guide to the best sleeping pads for backpacking. On March 10, 2025, we updated our guide to camping mattresses to include the EXPED MegaMat Auto Sleeping Pad, the perfect sleeping pad for car campers that fits most SUVs and hatchbacks.
When you first lie down on the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D ($250), you’ll know what you’ve been missing. It has enough room to stretch out, provides the warmth you need, and has plenty of foam padding. The vertical sidewalls increase the sleeping space by 20%, so you can roll over without falling over. This mattress has topped our list for five years in a row, and we’re still not sure there’s a better option for most people.
First: The Therm-a-Rest’s valve design is pretty clever. The dual valves make it easier to inflate than the flap valves on most other pillows. We like that it opens all the way, allowing for quicker air release. We had to roll it up tightly enough to fit in our bag a few times, which was one of our only issues.
We also mention the vertical sidewalls a lot in our test notes, as they maximize the sleeping space of this 25-inch (or 30-inch) wide mattress. The 4.25-inch thickness seems a bit thick, as most other mattresses in this space max out at 4 inches, but hey, we won’t turn down an extra quarter inch when it’s offered. It keeps us comfortable while sleeping, and it has an R-value of 7, keeping us warm even in the off-season.
In addition to being comfortable and warm, this sleeping pad is durable. We’ve used it for over 250 nights, put it through numerous tests, and it’s still in great condition. It’s held up to the constant weight of noisy, jumping toddlers, laying right on gravel and other uneven surfaces, and adults all night long. In all of these situations, it’s remained perfectly inflated and comfortable.
This large mat costs $240, which puts it in between the Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap and NEMO Roamer, but it’s just as comfortable and superior in warmth and durability. So you’ll have to decide which factor is most important to you.
With the MondoKing 3D, you can be sure that you will feel incredibly comfortable all night long and will be able to enjoy unparalleled comfort on future trips. Overall, it is still the best camping mattress. Available in Large and XXL sizes.
Updated for 2023, the REI Co-op Camp Dreamer XL ($179) is back with a vengeance, still packing all the same big, beefy camping pad energy we loved in the previous version. This budget mattress is 4 inches thick and offers an exceptional comfort-to-price ratio, earning it a spot on our list of camping mattresses not only because it’s incredibly comfortable, but also because it’s affordable. With an R-value of 6.6, it’s insulated enough to last through the off-season.
Gone is the foam-filled pump pad that used to serve as a pillow, replaced by a new pump bag that we found in testing to improve speed and compactness. The high-flow reversible valve is easy to use, as is the pad’s end-of-ride deflation system. If you want something as comfortable as the MondoKing 3D or NEMO Roamer XL but a few dollars less, this is the pad for you.
All these luxurious amenities come at a price, and they are quite bulky when folded. While this is certainly not a big issue for car campers, you should keep in mind when packing that you need to leave room for the mattress so that everything can fit inside. If you want a cheaper mattress that takes up less space (but isn’t as comfortable), check out the REI Co-op Campwell Mattress.
Unfortunately, our stay at Camp Dreamer was cut short when one of our cats (who is, I assure you, a good kid in every other way) decided to test the pillows and made a hole in the mattress. At that point, we discovered that the pad didn’t come with a repair kit, so we had to make do with Tenacious Tape. It wasn’t a long-term solution, and it was difficult to get it to adhere perfectly to the stretchy polyester top layer, but it got us through the rest of our trip.
The Camp Dreamer XL is perfect for those looking for a comfortable sleeping pad but don’t want to spend a lot of money. It combines all the comforts of a camper but costs a fraction of the price. Just remember to place your camping buddies elsewhere for the night.
Anyone who has ever considered their car their home will love the NEMO Roamer XL ($250). This is a true adventure mattress for the road. It’s thick, warm, and super comfortable. With 4 inches of cellular foam, you’ll be able to sleep soundly no matter where you are. If you plan to set up camp at a remote base camp for a long time, the Roamer XL is the one for you.
Like most self-inflating pads, you’ll need to fill it with air to get maximum comfort. However, the precisely adjustable valve makes it easy to add air without worrying about leaks. We like that the one-way valve allows you to quickly deflate the pad completely when packing up camp.
Traditional air mattresses are thin and more prone to tearing, but the Roamer XL has a foam construction and 75-denier polyester bottom that’s truly made for outdoor camping. An added bonus are the loops and pegs on the sides, allowing you to connect two Roamers together to create a double mattress.
While it’s not exactly ultralight, it packs down to a fairly small size for added comfort (about the size of a winter sleeping bag, or 10 x 16 inches).
We used this camping mattress extensively and after over 150 nights it finally stopped holding air. The valve slowly started leaking, forcing us to top it up every night. This may not be ideal for those who live in a van or car for long periods of time. However, we highly recommend it for those who are camping in a car.
If comfort is your top priority, the EXPED MegaMat Duo 10 ($350-$500) is the one for you. What it lacks in bulk and price, it makes up for in size and comfort: 4 inches of foam and air will help you and your partner sleep soundly. While some two-person camping mattresses or sleeping pads always startle the other person when one person moves, the MegaMat Duo is stable and quiet.
Like all self-inflating pillows, it needs to be filled with air after heavy use. But instead of blowing it up with air, you can use the included mini pump, which makes the inflation process easy and minimizes your effort. It also comes with a repair kit in case anything breaks (though we found it to be pretty durable).
What we like most about this mat is that it’s very flat. Some camping mattresses pop out of the middle when inflated, but thanks to its 3D construction, this mattress stays flat while you sleep, even when inflated. At 77.6 inches long and 52 inches wide, the MegaMat is large enough to comfortably fit two adults or comfortably sleep one person. For reference, a twin-size fitted sheet will fit almost perfectly.
The sturdy sidewalls provide support, and as we said, “The vertical sidewalls increase the usable sleeping surface. This small increase is noticeable compared to other mattresses and pillows.” In addition to adding comfort and space, these impressive sidewalls can also help you stay dry in inclement weather. “At one point, Mother Nature sent us a heavy rain that lasted three days. The height and large surface area allowed me to stay dry and warm even on the wet ground.”
The MegaMat isn’t lightweight, and you’ll definitely feel its weight in your camping gear—it’s one of the heaviest non-all-foam mattresses we’ve ever tested. Plus, it folds up to a hefty size, making it the best camping mattress to keep next to your car.
Durable, comfortable and stable, this is the perfect camping mattress for two people. Also available in one size. If you don’t mind the weight, this is one of the best camping mattresses you can buy.
Therm-a-Rest has taken the successful formula of its NeoAir XLite and XTherm mats and created the most luxurious NeoAir mat to date: the NeoAir Topo Luxe ($180–$230). At 4 inches thick, this mat is also the most comfortable and better suited for camping and backpacking than any other mat we’ve slept on so far.
When we first tested the Topo Luxe, we had some concerns. Typically, when air mattresses reach a certain thickness, water mattress syndrome sets in—any movement causes the mattress to sag.
Fortunately, our concerns were unfounded, thanks in large part to Therm-a-Rest’s use of the Triangle Core Matrix: a dual-layer baffle layer that stabilizes the entire length of the mat. After 3 years of testing, we can confidently say that the Topo Luxe is strong enough to support the weight. Fortunately, our concerns were unfounded, thanks in large part to Therm-a-Rest’s use of the Triangle Core Matrix: a dual-layer baffle layer that stabilizes the entire length of the mat.
Since the mattress formula is the same as other NeoAir pillows, there are no vertical sides to reduce the available sleeping space. This pad also uses 50-denier polyester on the top and bottom, which is thinner than some pads on our list and requires appropriate care.
The Topo Luxe isn’t the only moisture pad that moves between the front and back lines. You might also want to consider the NEMO Quasar 3D. This pad doesn’t perform as well as the Topo Luxe (it’s half an inch thinner and a little less warm), but it uses a different design that creates a soft support over the surface you sleep on. Some people may find this pad worth replacing, though we’d caution that its valve is a little finicky.
This pad does more than just one thing, it can even be stowed in a backpack for short overnight trips when we can afford the luxury. A true master of both worlds, the NeoAir Topo Luxe is a great pad for those who split their time between the front and back lines or want to simplify gear storage.
Car camping is more popular than ever, and the EXPED MegaMat Auto ($400) is easily the best solution for setting up camp in our SUVs and hatchbacks. Say goodbye to awkward gaps between seats, because the Auto version of our favorite MegaMat is 77 inches wide, then narrows to fit most backpacking gear.
It’s impossible to offer a one-size-fits-all solution for every vehicle, but the Auto will pretty much fit most modern vehicles. We found that it didn’t quite fit in our Tacoma’s 5-foot bed, so we recommend a truly dust-proof foam mat like the HEST Dually. But for the Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Outback, it should fit just fine (be sure to get out your tape measure before buying).
The Auto version is essentially identical to the MegaMat except for the shape, and it hits all the high marks we like, including an 8.1 insulation value (not a huge deal when you’re hiking in your gear, but it’s welcome) and an incredibly soft, four-way stretch knit gear surface that’s one of the most comfortable we’ve tested.
The latest update to the MegaMat Auto is the addition of a second set of inflation/deflation valves at the foot of the sleeping mat, meaning you can adjust it from either side of the car.
While we love these EXPED valves, we wish the storage bag also doubled as an inflatable bag, as the automatic inflation takes a long time and the included “top-up” pump is a bit weak for inflating the mattress. Since you’re going to be hiking with the Auto anyway, we recommend adding a battery-powered pump to the gearbox as well. The EXPED Mega Pump works great with the pads.
We think the MegaMat Auto is a good choice for most campers if you plan to stop overnight at the start of a mountain route.
The HEST Dually ($549–$599) is a very comfortable mattress that sleeps two people and folds in half for travel. But its unmatched comfort and durability justify its high price. Despite its price, the Dually is an excellent dedicated truck bed sleep system.
To achieve maximum comfort at just 3.9 inches thick (unfolded), the mattress uses two layers of high-performance polyurethane foam. It provides your body with a comfortable sleep while effectively insulating the cold truck bed beneath you. Editorial Director Sean McCoy had a great night’s sleep on this mattress and recommends it to anyone looking for a permanent portable truck mattress.
The Dually mattress is made of a heathered nylon fabric on the bottom and sides, with a polyurethane lining for durability. This fabric is stronger and can withstand the impact of the back of a pickup truck and other equipment. After folding, we placed a lot of stuff on the mattress and it showed no signs of wear.
The seamless design means there are no visible seams where the mattress folds. Other cool features include phone pockets on both sides and a convenient carry handle. This mat isn’t as good for throwing in the trunk of a car (the EXPED MegaMat Auto is a better choice for that), but it’s our top pick for truck beds.
In our opinion, the mattresses listed above are the best of the best and are a great choice for anyone looking to get a good night’s sleep outdoors. However, there are plenty of other great sleeping pads out there, and while they may not be as impressive as our award-winning products, we still think they are worth considering.
After testing this incredibly comfortable mattress in the fall, winter, and spring, we found the EXPED Luxe Mat ($350-$400) to be rippable with our warm, cozy fingers. For those packing a van, it’s the perfect mattress replacement we recommend.
It’s very similar to EXPED’s MegaMat 10, but the main difference is the knitted cover, insulated with a layer of fleece and covered with a stretchy organic cotton fabric that’s soft and comfortable to the touch. Seriously, this mattress is comfortable to sleep on, and the cover is completely removable and washable to keep it fresh.
This mattress pad also offers a completely new feature that we haven’t seen in a camping mattress before: organization. On top of the mattress are two elastic pockets (one zippered, one non-zippered) that will allow you to keep all your essentials within reach at night. We found them to be great for phones, keys, and headlights.
The Luxe Mat can also be combined with other Luxe Mats, using the zippers on the sides to attach them together. This connection system is our favorite of the mats we tested, providing a strong, crack-free connection. Stack two cushions together and you can even use them as a sofa, a feature that won many fans in our testing.
So why isn’t the Luxe Mat higher up our list? The extra comfort does increase the overall weight—6 pounds 12 ounces compared to 4 pounds 9 ounces for the MegaMat 10—but the volume doesn’t change much, and both options are about the same. It’s also a luxury that’s beyond what most campers are willing to spend, and is more suited to those investing in long-distance RV living.
However, for a more comfortable camping experience, we’d happily carry a few extra ounces of Luxe pad with us every time.
So comfy! The new Big Agnes Capitan Comfort Deluxe ($250–$350) is the brand’s warmest, most comfortable model to date, with an R-value of 8+ and a 5-inch layer of foam for comfort.