Best camping griddles for car camping
Blackstone 1814 Propane Gas Griddle
$159.99Blackstone is the name most car campers already associate with griddle cooking, and the 1814 packs a 268 square inch, 17 inch surface rated to cook up to 9 burgers, 9 pancakes or 12 eggs at once, enough for a family of four. It folds to 17.5 by 8.5 by 18 inches for the trunk, runs on standard propane with a built-in igniter, and its steel surface seasons like cast iron over repeated trips rather than needing replacement.
Check price on AmazonSpecsNot sure what size you need? Run the How long will my propane last on a griddle first, then come back to the picks.
Beginner, intermediate and expert picks
Beginner: Budget multi-burner
For campers who want a flat-top option without committing to a dedicated griddle brand yet.- Beginner pick
Royal Gourmet PD1301S Portable 3-Burner Tabletop Gas Griddle$86.96Check priceSpec sheet
Royal Gourmet's 3-burner tabletop griddle runs 25,500 BTU across three independently controlled burners and a 304 square inch surface that can cook up to 12 burgers at once, all for less money than the Blackstone above. It's a lighter 3.5mm steel surface than premium cast options, and Piezo ignition means no lighter needed, but it needs more careful seasoning and cleanup to avoid rust between trips.
Skip it if: Campers who want a griddle to season and improve over years of use; the thinner steel doesn't hold up as long as heavier surfaces.
Intermediate: Buy once
For families who want a full breakfast surface sized and priced for regular trips.- Intermediate pickBlackstone 1814 Propane Gas Griddle$159.99Check priceSpec sheet
This is the topPick and the right buy-once choice for most families: a 268 square inch surface rated for a family of four, a built-in igniter, and a folded size that fits most car trunks alongside the rest of the camp kitchen.
Skip it if: Larger groups who need to cook more than one meal's worth at a time; step up to a 22 inch or dual-zone model instead.
Expert: Dual zone with hood
For families who cook full breakfast-through-dinner spreads and want independent heat zones plus wind protection.- Expert pick
Blackstone 2350 OTG 22" Omnivore Griddle with Hood$261.49Check priceSpec sheet
The Blackstone 2350 Omnivore steps up to a 22 inch surface with two independently controlled burners and 361 square inches of cooking space, enough to cook for a small group without swapping food on and off the surface. It folds down onto locking wheels for easier portability despite the larger size, and the hood cuts wind interference an open griddle struggles with. At $261.49 it's priced well above the entry Blackstone, and the larger frame adds real weight and footprint to pack.
Skip it if: Solo or couple campers, or anyone tight on trunk space; the dual zone and hood only pay off cooking for a full group.
| Product | Price | Key spec | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Gourmet 3-Burner Tabletop | $86.96 | 25,500 BTU, 304 sq in, 3 burners | Budget multi-burner cooking |
| SKOK 2-Burner with Hood | $99.99 | 30,000 BTU, includes hood | Wind protection on a budget |
| Blackstone 1814 17in | $159.99 | 268 sq in, family of 4, built-in igniter | Best all-around family griddle |
| Blackstone 1666 22in Tabletop | $178.99 | 22 in surface, stainless faceplate | More surface area, still tabletop |
| Blackstone OTG Dual Zone Hard Cover | $199.99 | 22 in, dual heat zones, hard cover, Piezo ignition | Cooking multiple foods at once |
| Blackstone 2350 Omnivore with Hood | $261.49 | 22 in, 361 sq in, 2 independent burners, hood | Full group cooking, wind protection |
Griddle or camp stove: which do I actually need?
A stove cooks in pots and pans and handles anything with liquid: soup, pasta, coffee. A griddle is a flat, wide cooking surface built for foods that go directly on heat: pancakes, eggs, burgers, quesadillas, bacon. Most families end up wanting both eventually, but a griddle alone covers more breakfast-and-dinner camp cooking than people expect.
For the full comparison, see camp stove vs griddle. If choosing just one for a first trip, a griddle covers more crowd-pleasing camp meals; a stove covers more variety.
Propane or electric griddle for camping?
Propane griddles, every option above, work anywhere a propane cylinder does, which is most drive-up campsites. Electric griddles need a wall outlet or a generator, which limits them to sites with power hookups or RV camping rather than a basic tent site.
See propane vs butane stove for the broader fuel tradeoffs that also apply to griddles running on the same cylinders.
How much propane does a griddle use?
Griddle burners run at similar BTU output to camp stove burners, so the same math applies: a 1 lb cylinder holds about 21,600 BTU, and higher-output griddles like the 30,000 BTU SKOK burn through cylinders faster than a basic 2-burner stove at full heat.
Check the propane burn time calculator against a specific griddle's BTU rating, and see the propane burn time chart for reference burn times across common outputs.
Do I need a hood on a camp griddle?
A hood, like on the SKOK, the Blackstone OTG Dual Zone, and the Blackstone 2350 Omnivore above, blocks wind that otherwise steals heat off an open flat top, and it doubles as a lid to keep food warm or speed melting cheese on burgers.
Open griddles without a hood, like the Royal Gourmet and the basic Blackstone 1814 and 1666, are lighter and simpler to clean but cook less evenly in wind, which matters more at exposed sites than in a tree-covered campground.
What size griddle does a family actually need?
A 17 inch, 268 square inch surface like the Blackstone 1814 cooks a full breakfast for a family of four in stages rather than all at once. Stepping up to 22 inches and 361 square inches, like the Blackstone 2350 Omnivore, gives enough room to cook eggs, meat and pancakes simultaneously, which matters more for larger families or groups.
Bigger griddles also take up more trunk space and camp table room, so weigh the extra surface against what the cargo fit calculator says is realistically left after the tent, cooler and cots.
Is it safe to cook on a camp griddle near a tent?
A gas griddle produces carbon monoxide just like a stove, and while the open flat cooking style feels less enclosed than a stove burner, the same rule applies: never run it inside a tent, screen room or closed car, since carbon monoxide builds up fast and is odorless.
Cook in open air, a reasonable distance from the tent door, and see carbon monoxide camping safety for more on safe placement at a campsite.
How we chose
These picks come from each listing's stated surface size, burner count and BTU output where the manufacturer provides it, plus patterns across verified owner reviews, not from cooking on these griddles ourselves.
We didn't state a BTU figure for any griddle whose listing didn't include one, and described those by surface size and features instead.
Buying tips
Cast iron seasoning or nonstick coating?
Traditional steel griddles like the Royal Gourmet and Blackstone season like cast iron and improve with use but need oiling after cleaning to prevent rust; nonstick electric griddles need no seasoning but the coating wears over years of use.
Do I need a griddle cover?
A fitted cover protects the seasoned surface from rust between trips, especially if the griddle gets stored in a garage or shed rather than fully dried and oiled after each use.
Tabletop or a cart with legs?
Tabletop griddles need a sturdy camp table underneath; a dedicated cart adds stability and storage but is one more bulky item to pack and unpack.
How do I clean a griddle at camp?
Scrape while still warm, wipe with a paper towel or a scraper, then add a thin layer of oil before it cools completely; avoid soap on a seasoned steel surface, which strips the seasoning built up over trips.
Also worth considering
SKOK 2 Burner Gas Griddle with Hood- 17 Inch Outdoor Propane$99.99Check priceSpec sheet
Flame King Flat Top Portable Propane Cast Iron Grill Griddle$110.50Check priceSpec sheet
Blackstone 1666 22" Tabletop Griddle with Stainless Steel Faceplate$178.99Check priceSpec sheet
Blackstone OTG Tabletop Griddle with Hard Cover$199.99Check priceSpec sheet
Blackstone 22-Inch Electric Griddle$281.16Check priceSpec sheet
Keep planning
Frequently asked questions
What's the best camp griddle for family camping?
The Blackstone 1814 ($159.99) is the size and price most families actually buy: a 17 inch, 268 square inch flat-top that runs on propane and cooks a full family-of-four breakfast in stages. Bigger groups or anyone wanting wind protection should look at a hooded, dual-zone option like the Blackstone 2350 Omnivore ($261.49).
Griddle or camp stove for camping?
A griddle covers flat-cooked foods like pancakes, eggs and burgers directly on a hot surface; a stove covers anything in a pot or pan, including soup and pasta. See camp stove vs griddle for which fits a specific trip's planned meals.
How much propane does a camp griddle use?
Griddle burners run similar BTU output to camp stoves, so a 1 lb propane cylinder, about 21,600 BTU, lasts roughly an hour at full output on a mid-size griddle, longer at typical cooking heat. Check the propane burn time calculator for a specific griddle's rating.
Do I need a hood on my camp griddle?
A hood helps in wind, which otherwise steals heat off an open flat top, and doubles as a lid for melting cheese or keeping food warm. It's not required for calm, tree-covered sites, but it's worth the extra size and cost at exposed or windy campgrounds.
Is a propane camp griddle safe to use near a tent?
Only in open air, a reasonable distance from the tent. Gas griddles produce carbon monoxide like any fuel-burning appliance, and it builds up fast and is odorless in an enclosed space, so never cook inside a tent, screen room or closed car.
How big a griddle do I need for camping?
A 17 inch, 268 square inch surface covers a family of four in stages; 22 inch and dual-zone models around 361 square inches cook eggs, meat and pancakes at the same time, which matters more for larger families or groups cooking a full spread at once.
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Used only to send the list. You can also read every setup free on this site.Researched guidance, not professional advice. Figures are published specifications or clearly labelled conventions; check your own gear's manual and your campground's rules.