Picture this: You roll into camp late Friday night after a long work week. Your car headlights illuminate your chosen patch of dirt at the campsite as the last of the sunlight dips below the trees. It’s a full-on race to unload the car, wrangle the tent poles, wrestle with the rainfly, and stake everything down before darkness swallows the site. Sound familiar?

As enjoyable as car camping is, there’s no denying that setting everything up can be a hassle, especially with kids and a dog (or two) thrown into the mix. The more you pack, the more you have to unpack, organize, and assemble. It’s a ritual every car camper knows too well: the delicate dance between convenience and chaos.

That’s why I’ve started looking for gear that takes the headache out of setup without sacrificing comfort. And I think I might’ve found the ultimate car camping luxury: the Thule Outset.

Meet the Thule Outset—a Pop-up, Hitch-Mounted Car Tent

The Thule Outset takes everything you thought you knew about car camping and makes it simpler, faster, and smarter. Reminiscent of an old-school pop-up camper but on a much smaller scale, Thule’s design removes the hassle of loose poles and confusing assembly by streamlining setup into a quick five-minute process. Mounted directly to your vehicle’s hitch, it unfolds smoothly from the back of your car. No roof racks, heavy lifting, or guessing which pole goes where.

The Thule Outset is also designed with a detail-oriented approach and high-quality performance: water-resistant ripstop fabric, panoramic windows, and a sturdy aluminum frame that holds its shape even in the wind. The Outset comfortably sleeps up to three people (or two campers and a dog) and comes equipped with small details that make a big difference: built-in LED tail lights, interior gear pocket storage, and massive mesh windows with optional flaps you can zip closed on all sides.

At 162 pounds, it’s heavy. But it’s thoughtfully designed with wheels that make solo installation surprisingly manageable. Thule’s clever engineering means you can detach the tent and drive off to explore. At $4,700, this car camping tent is pricey, for sure, but the convenience and craftsmanship make it a standout option for campers who want the speed of a roof-top setup with the accessibility of ground camping.

Field Testing the Thule Outset

To see what the Thule Outset could really do, I brought it along for a weekend camping trip outside Carbondale, Colorado. My campsite was tucked along Prince Creek, surrounded by aspens and sandstone cliffs. This beautiful—but far from flat—spot quickly revealed just how handy a hitch-mounted tent can be when you want an easy setup and a level (and comfortable) place to sleep.

Hitch Mount Design & Fold-Open Setup

I’d heard the Outset was easy to set up, but I didn’t realize how easy until I tried it myself. Setup starts by attaching the tent to your vehicle’s hitch. You simply back your car up to the connector and use the tent’s built-in wheels to roll it into place before locking it onto the hitch.

From there, two extendable bars pop off the frame to clip in and lock securely to the tent’s base. Each foot is individually adjustable for a perfectly level setup, even on uneven ground. After that, it’s just a matter of unfolding the tent platform and extending the integrated frame, which pops open the sides and roof in one smooth motion. No need to wrestle with poles or even inflate a sleeping pad. The mattress is built right in.

A clever bonus: even when the Thule Outset is attached, you can still access your trunk. Just press the foot lever at the base and tilt the entire tent forward. You’ll have full access to your gear without having to detach a thing.

I’ll admit, my first setup took about 18 minutes, with help from a friend, as we figured out how the platform frame clips, extends, and locks into place. But by the second and third time, that process dropped to just five minutes flat—solo—from arrival at the site to laying down inside.

Off-the-Ground Comfort & Accessibility

When it comes to comfort and accessibility, the Thule Outset shines. A rooftop tent can be just as quick to set up but requires climbing up and down a ladder. The Outset, however, sits just over a foot off the ground, making it very accessible for campers of all abilities, including young children and older campers. It’s a small detail, but it makes a big difference, especially for groggy early starts or middle-of-the-night bathroom runs. I loved being able to swing my legs out in the morning and step right onto solid ground without worrying about slipping down a rooftop ladder or crawling on my hands and knees out of a tent.

The built-in mattress adds another layer of comfort. While it’s not as plush as my go-to HEST mattress pad, Thule’s standard 2.75-inch foam pad offers a solid balance between softness and support. It’s firm enough to feel stable yet cushy enough to sleep soundly through the night. And because the mattress can stay inside the tent when packed up, it saves a ton of setup time and cargo space.

Downsides to Consider

Convenience comes at a cost. With a $4,700 price tag, the Thule Outset is a serious investment. That’s more than most campers spend on their entire car camping setup or several nights at a glamping campground with all the creature comforts included.

Another consideration is that while the Thule is very spacious, it can only comfortably sleep two to three people. Larger families or groups will still need to pack an extra tent or two. For solo travelers, couples, or small families, though, the ease and efficiency are hard to beat.

Final Verdict: Thule Outset vs. Traditional Tents

Overall, the Outset feels more like sleeping in a minimalist camper than a traditional tent. It’s a blend of convenience and comfort that makes weekend camping feel a little more civilized.

It’s perfect for campers like me who crave easy setup and a taste of luxury outdoors. This hitch-mounted tent is ideal for weekend getaways and road trips. It takes minutes to pull up to camp and open up your tent, and then get straight to what you came for: enjoying the outdoors.

It’s definitely not the cheapest or most spacious car camping option out there. And I certainly won’t be ditching my traditional camping tents for most camping trips. But for anyone with an expendable budget and who values high-quality design, easy setup, and a touch of luxury under the stars, the Thule Outset knocks it out of the park.

3 More Car Camping Tents to Consider

Rhino-Rack Soft-Shell Roof Tent

Big Agnes Bunk House 4

REI Base Camp 4 Tent