Best Camping Pellet Grills: Four Grills That Travel Well

Camping with a pellet grill sounds like a contradiction. Pellet grills need power, and campsites often do not have it. But a growing number of campers carry one anyway, because a pellet grill cooks food gently, avoids the flare-ups of an open flame and gives you smoky flavor without a campfire.

The first question is not which grill. It is how you will power it. Then pick a grill that fits your vehicle, your group and your campground's rules. Prices vary, so the table shows typical ranges. Confirm the current price on Amazon.

Power comes first

A pellet grill runs a fan, an auger and a controller on electricity. If your campsite has a hookup, you are set. If not, you have three options.

A portable power station. A battery pack with an AC outlet can run a small pellet grill for a cook or more, depending on its capacity. Check the grill's power draw and the station's capacity before you go.

A generator. A small inverter generator works, but it adds noise, fuel and campground rules to deal with.

A vehicle inverter. Some inverters can power a grill from your vehicle, but startup draw can be high, so check the numbers.

Do not guess. The startup phase, when the igniter heats, draws more than steady cooking. Look up the specifications in your manual, and test the setup at home before the trip.

Check the campground rules

Fire rules vary. Some campgrounds and parks ban all open flames or restrict grills during dry seasons. Pellet grills burn real fire, even though the flame is contained. Check the rules for your campground and the current fire restrictions before you pack. Use the grill on a stable, non-flammable surface, away from tents, trees and dry grass, and keep a fire extinguisher or water source nearby.

What to look for in a camping grill

Weight and size. You will lift it into the vehicle, so check the weight and the folded size.

Folding legs and handles. These make transport and setup easy.

Hopper size. A 7 pound hopper is enough for a few hours of cooking. For long smoking sessions, bring extra pellets.

Cooking area. 250 to 300 square inches feeds a small group. Larger groups need more.

WiFi. Useful if you want to monitor the grill while you do other things, though it needs a signal.

Cover. A cover protects the grill in transit and in damp weather.

Our four picks

Pit Boss 150: best low-cost camping grill

A small pellet grill with 256 square inches, a 7 pound hopper and a flame broiler for direct searing. It is priced low, and well over a thousand buyers have rated it.

The cooking area is small, and it needs power.

Buy it if you want a cheap, proven camping grill. Skip it if you cook for a crowd.

Traeger Tailgater: best known camping grill

About 300 square inches with folding legs for easy transport. You get Traeger's support and help network. Hundreds of buyers have rated it.

It costs more than the Pit Boss 150, and the cooking area is still small.

Buy it if you want a portable grill from a trusted brand. Skip it if price matters more than the name.

Green Mountain Grills Trek Prime 2.0: best camping grill with WiFi

A portable pellet grill with WiFi app control from an established brand. It is built for campsites and tailgates, and the app lets you step away to set up or play with the kids.

It is priced like a premium small grill. Check the listing for the cooking area, hopper size and power needs.

Buy it if you want app control in a travel-ready grill. Skip it if your campground has no cell or WiFi signal, since the app depends on a connection.

Pit Boss 440 Mahogany: best for car camping and RVs

A 518 square inch grill with a flame broiler. It is bigger and heavier than the portable models, so it suits campers who drive up to the site and have room for it. Well over a thousand buyers have rated it.

The 5 pound hopper needs refills on long cooks, and it is not made for backpacking.

Buy it if you have the room and cook for a group. Skip it if you need to carry it far.

Packing list

Pack the grill with its cover. Bring a sealed container of pellets and a spare bag, since damp pellets jam the auger. Bring a power source and an outdoor-rated extension cord. Add a separate thermometer, a grill brush, foil for the grease tray and a small fire extinguisher. A heat-resistant mat protects the surface under the grill.

Cooking at camp

Keep the menu simple. Burgers, sausages, chicken thighs, kebabs, vegetables and foil dinners all work well on a small grill. Preheat the grill while you set up camp. Cook in batches if the grate is small. Avoid long smokes unless you have the pellets and the power for them.

Wind is a common problem at campsites. Place the grill in a sheltered spot, with the clearances your manual requires. Our guide to pellet grills for cold weather has more tips for wind and chill.

Safety

Keep the grill away from tents, trees and dry grass. Never leave it running unattended. Let it cool fully before you pack it. Dispose of ash and grease properly, and follow campground rules. Check the manual for the clearances and for cleanup after the trip.

When to bring a different grill

If you cook for a large group, or your campsite has no power, a gas or charcoal camp grill may be a better fit. Our guide to pellet, charcoal and gas grills compares them. For more compact grills, see our small and portable guide.

Common mistakes

Forgetting the power source, ignoring campground rules, packing damp pellets and buying a grill that is too heavy to lift. Another mistake is skipping a test run at home.

Campsite setup, step by step

Arrive with a plan. Pick a spot for the grill before you unpack, on level, non-flammable ground, well away from tents, trees, low branches and dry grass. Check the wind direction so smoke drifts away from the camp. Lay a heat-resistant mat under the grill if the ground is grass or wood.

Set up the power next. Run the cord or place the power station where nobody will trip over it, and keep connections off wet ground. Plug in, load pellets and run through the startup. Give the grill time to preheat while you set up the rest of camp, and keep an eye on it.

Cooking ideas that suit a small grill

Camp meals should be simple. Foil packets of potatoes, sausage and peppers cook well and need almost no cleanup. Burgers and chicken thighs work in batches. Sausages and hot dogs are easy for kids. Skewers of vegetables and shrimp cook fast. For breakfast, a cast iron pan on the grate handles bacon, eggs and pancakes if the grill reaches a suitable temperature.

Because the cooking area is small, plan to cook in rounds and keep finished food warm in foil. Avoid long smokes unless you have extra pellets and power. If you want smoke flavor, start the cook low for the first part and finish hotter.

After the trip

Let the grill cool completely before you pack it. Empty the grease tray, scrape the grates and vacuum the fire pot as soon as you can, since grease and ash can attract animals at a campsite. Empty the hopper if the grill will sit for weeks, and store pellets in a sealed bin. Our guide to cleaning and maintaining a pellet grill covers the routine.

For more on outlets, cords and power stations, see our best electric pellet grills guide.

Bottom line

Plan your power first, then pick the grill. The Pit Boss 150 is the best low-cost camping grill, the Traeger Tailgater is the best known and the GMG Trek Prime adds WiFi. Check campground rules, pack dry pellets and test everything at home. For a first grill on a budget, see our under $500 guide.