Best Generator for Camping [2024 Update]

The Honda EU2200i is a portable inverter designed for high-energy demands and the best camping generator out there for fuel efficiency.

If you need to use big camping appliances like AC units, fancy grills, or electrical power tools, this Honda generator has you covered thanks to 2,200 surge watts and 1,800 running watts.

Despite its generous output and fuel-efficient engine, the Honda is surprisingly quiet and portable. In fact, it offers one of the lowest noise levels of any inverter on our list.

Other user-friendly features include a fuel shut-off valve, a thick carrying handle, and parallel capability.

The Yamaha EF2000iSv2 is a highly portable inverter generator that’s perfect for campers looking for a lightweight yet potent power supply.

Weighing in at just 44lbs, it’s one of the lightest, non-solar generators we tested. Despite its small size, its running power output registers at 1600 watts, giving you more than enough juice to power your stuff.

Our testers loved how quiet this generator is. It’s so quiet, in fact, that the US Forest Service has approved it for use at all their sites. Its rated noise level is only 61dB and scales down to 51dB at a quarter load, making it one of the quietest generators out there.

They also loved the ‘economy’ mode setting. This new feature in Yamaha generators regulates engine speed to match the connected load so no energy is wasted.

The only drawback to the Yamaha EF is the price. But if you’re looking for a reliable, quiet camping generator to get you through years of camping trips, the Yamaha’s compact size and ultra-quiet energy output is worth the investment.

The Goal Zero Yeti 400 is the best generator available if value for money is your top priority.

This all-in-one power station charges your camping gadgets with clean and rechargeable power. You won’t have to deal with the usual nasty fumes or noise pollution of gas-powered portable generators.

On top of charging the unit with solar energy, you can also power it up through a carport, making it the ultimate car camping solution.

The Goal Zero offers less power capacity than a conventional or portable inverter generator, but it packs more than enough energy to power small appliances.

If your power demands are minimal, consider choosing the Jackery Power Station instead. You’ll sacrifice half the energy output, but you’ll save on half the weight and half the price when compared to the Goal Zero.

The Jackery Portable Power Station is the perfect portable generator if you’re in the market for a budget-friendly and environmentally-friendly power source.

The Jackery is a solar generator that has no running costs and requires no maintenance other than occasionally replacing the battery. One of its best features is that this model is chainable, so you can keep your gadgets going for longer.

Our testers agreed that this unit is the ideal solution for solo trips due to its small dimensions and light weight. It weighs just 6.6 lbs, measures 9.1 x 5.2 x 7.9 inches, and yet packs 240W of power. That’s enough to charge your phone 24 times!

If you want to power up high-energy appliances at your campsite, the Jackery isn’t a good fit. But if you’re looking for a small and compact solution for powering sensitive electronics or small gadgets like your smartphone and laptop, the Jackery is the best camping generator available.

The Champion Power 2000 is a great portable generator for buyers working on a tighter budget.

This inverter offers up to 11 hours of continuous power. Its stackable, space-saving design is parallel-ready and can be hooked up to another device to double input.

What we love about the Champion generator is that, despite its modest price tag, you’ll still enjoy a number of impressive features. Cold start technology means you won’t find yourself without power in the cold, while a smart economy mode allows you to reduce the electrical load, allowing for quieter operation.

If you’re only looking to charge a few gadgets at your campsite, consider the Champion Power 2000 over other inverters on our list. Both the Honda EU2200i and the Yamaha EF2000iSv2 offer more output, but that extra power comes at more than double the price!

The Renogy Phoenix portable generator is a solar power system that’s ideal for campers looking for a lightweight, off-grid, and clean power solution for their camping energy needs.

The Renogy Phoneix’s standout feature is the flexibility of its 3-power-source design: the unit can be charged by solar power, AC power, or car power. A replaceable 16Ah lithium-ion power bank offers up to 20 watts of power and is expandable to 120 watts through the use of additional solar panels.

Our testers loved the Renogy’s ultra-portable briefcase design and sturdy handle (although it’s still twice as heavy as the Jackery Power Station) and quietness – it’s the quietest generator on our list.

The Rockpals Power station is one of the most affordable portable generators on our list. And thanks to a 280-watt rechargeable lithium battery, it’ll still pump out enough power to charge your small gadgets and appliances.

Despite its compact size and light weight (only slightly heavier than the Jackery Power Station), this small generator features a 12-volt port, your typical AC outlet, and 4 USB ports, two of which are fast charging. No more fighting over who gets to charge their phone first at your campsite!

The Champion 3800-Watt RV generator is one of the best dual-fuel generators available, and ideal for longer trips or campers with power-hungry appliances.

This unit allows users to choose the fuel they prefer. Thanks to a hefty 3.4-gallon fuel tank, you’ll get about 9 hours of running time from one fuel tank and a bit more from propane.

Our testers also found this generator easy to use. A handy toggle switch powers the device and the push-button power with cold start technology means you’ll have no trouble running it in cold weather.

The Champion 3800-watt is a heavy device (119lbs), but remains portable thanks to thoughtful features like never-flat tires and fold-away, easy-grip handles.

Other useful perks like a low-oil shut-off sensor and 4 surge-protected outlets just seal the deal and make this the best generator for RV and tents alike.

The Yamaha EF6300iSDE is a great choice of generator for car campers who need a powerful generator capable of powering devices of all sizes.

Yamaha wasn’t kidding when they called this their “most powerful inverter ever”! Many inverter generators only produce enough power to run one low-demand appliance at a time. Thanks to its four-stroke engine, which can produce a whopping 6,300 surge (starting) and 5,500 rated (running) watts of power, this beast can power multiple devices at once.

This 6,000-watt device is bulky and heavy, but our testers found that its never-flat rolling casters make moving this 200lbs behemoth manageable.

One downside is that the Yamaha EF6300iSDE isn’t parallel compatible. But with all the power surging through this one, it’s unlikely you’d need a second model for camping anyway.

The Ryobi RYi2322VNM is one of the top inverter generators for camping available if you need something lightweight that still packs a ton of features.

This inverter weighs just 51.9 lbs and has a pair of all-terrain tires to ease transportation. It also measures just 22 x 12.5 x 19 inches, so it doesn’t take up too much space.

The Ryobi boasts a quiet, OHV 4-stroke engine, and has a 1800W running wattage and 2,300W peak wattage. It’s also parallel capable, so can be linked to other units for more power. It can run for up to 10.3 hours and can safely operate sensitive electronics through 120V and USB outlets. It also has auto-idle technology to save power and bluetooth connectivity to let you keep track of power usage.

The DeWalt DXGNI2200 is a great little generator for campers looking for something basic, reliable, and powerful enough for weekend trips with small to mid-sized appliances.

This inverter weighs just 49 lbs, so is more manageable than many others in its power class. Our testers, however, weren’t impressed by the lack of wheels. If portability is an issue, the Ryobi RYi2322VNM is a better option.

This generator runs on a 80cc OHV 4-stroke gas engine. It has an 120V ouput, and 1,700W running wattage and 2,200W peak wattage. It has 2 AC and 2 DC outlets, and can run for up to 11 hours on its one-gallon tank.

Rated to 60 dBA, this device was a litte noisier in testing than similarly sized models like the Ryobi RYi2322VNM.