Pellet stoves may dominate backyard cooking, but they’re not terribly camping-friendly. Thankfully, griddles are not just for eggs, bacon, and pancakes. A seasoned camping chef can use a griddle to whip up stir-fries, sauté veg, and prepare a killer juicy steak. Thus, we’ve rounded up the best of the best to meet your various needs.
The best camping griddles are:
- Blackstone Flat Top Gas Griddle – Best Overall
- Blackstone Tabletop Griddle – Best Tabletop
- Royal Gourmet PD1301S Portable 3-Burner Gas Griddle – Best Value Tabletop
- Lodge LSRG3 Cast Iron Single-Burner Reversible Griddle – Best Single Burner
- Cuisinart CGG-501 Gourmet Gas Griddle, Two-Burner – Easiest To Pack
- Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill – Best Design
- LITTLE GRIDDLE Sizzle-Q SQ180 – Largest Single Burner
- Weber Smokey Joe 14-Inch Portable Grill – Most Affordable
- Pit Boss Grill – Most Compact Gas Grill
Best Camping Griddles Compared
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Best Overall | Best Tabletop | Best Value Tabletop | Best Single Burner | Easiest To Pack | Best Design | Largest Single Burner | Most Affordable | Most Compact Gas Grill | |
Ranking | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th |
Rating /5 | |||||||||
Cooking Surface | 5/5 | 4.8/5 | 4.7/5 | 4/5 | 4.4/5 | 4.4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4.1/5 |
Heat | 5/5 | 4.8/5 | 4.9/5 | 4.8/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
Ease of Clean Up | 4.3/5 | 4.4/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 | 4.4/5 | 4.7/5 | 4.9/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
Weight/Portability | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 | 4.8/5 | 5/5 | 4.9/5 | 4.6/5 | 4.9/5 | 4.9/5 | 4.7/5 |
Durability | 4.7/5 | 4.9/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.9/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.7/5 | 4.5/4 |
Value for money | 4.8/5 | 4.8/5 | 4.8/5 | 4.8/5 | 4.6/5 | 4.4/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.9/5 | 4/5 |
Review | Blackstone Flat Top Gas Griddle: Best Overall is like bringing restraint quality appliances to the campground and is big enough to cook for everyone, too. | Blackstone Tabletop Griddle and its 17-inch cousin are smaller alternatives to the massive gas griddle. At 32 lbs, the 22-inch weighs about half as much and doesn't have a stand. | Royal Gourmet PD1301S Portable 3-Burner Gas Griddle is the more affordable alternative to the Blackstone Tabletop, making it excellent value. | Lodge LSRG3 Cast Iron Single-Burner Reversible Griddle is a classic cast iron buy. Flat on one side and ribbed on the other, | Cuisinart CGG-501 Gourmet Gas Griddle, Two-Burner is a compact, easy-to-pack buy. Its two-burner system cooks quite well, although not as evenly as the three listed above. | Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill is cleverly designed, folding up like wheeled luggage for an airplane ride. | LITTLE GRIDDLE Sizzle-Q SQ180 is the largest single burner on our list. It is straightforward to use, heats quickly, and distributes the heat well. In addition, it's easy to clean. | Weber Smokey Joe 14-Inch Portable Grill is an affordable alternative to a portable griddle. | |
Blackstone Flat Top Gas Griddle
Pros
- 470 square inches of cooking surface
- High heat
- Durable
- Transports well despite size
- Pushbutton ignition
Cons
- It’s massive
- It’s heavy
Blackstone Flat Top Gas Griddle: Best Overall is like bringing restraint quality appliances to the campground and is big enough to cook for everyone, too.
The gas griddle has excellent heat distribution, different heat zones for versatile cooking, and a fantastic no-mess grease system. It’s a chef’s delight. People buy this for camping and love it so much that they end up using it as an everyday cooker at home.
It’s the biggest one on the list, with the most cooking surface (470 square inches), best BTU of 30,000 (that’s the heat), heaviest, and largest. However, it’s not the most expensive despite the industrial quality.
Nor does it feel as massive as it is thanks to its ingenious foldable legs, compacting itself as if auditioning to be a Transformer. In addition, the heavy-duty caster wheels make moving it from spot to spot a breeze when standing in full glory.
Blackstone Tabletop Griddle
Pros
- Good heat distribution
- Cook at two different temperatures
- Detachable grease cups
- Durable
- Easy start
Cons
- Proper seasoning is essential for non-stick
Blackstone Tabletop Griddle and its 17-inch cousin are smaller alternatives to the massive gas griddle. At 32 lbs, the 22-inch weighs about half as much and doesn’t have a stand. But it retains the ability to cook simultaneously on two different temperature settings and distribute heat beautifully.
The compact griddle still has a respectable amount of surface area (339 square inches) to keep a family fed. In addition, it’s a durable, quality build that can withstand daily use if you are looking for space-saving cooking solutions. Bonus: it collects the grease, so meal times don’t have to equal mess.
However, cooking and cleaning will be much more of a joy if you season this tabletop right.
Royal Gourmet PD1301S Portable 3-Burner Gas Griddle
Pros
- Three burners
- Grease drainage
- Easy cleanup
- Well priced
Cons
- Enamel can scratch
Royal Gourmet PD1301S Portable 3-Burner Gas Griddle is the more affordable alternative to the Blackstone Tabletop, making it excellent value. It has a slightly higher BTU rating, with only marginally less cooking space. The three burners work independently, allowing simultaneous cooking at different temperatures.
Weight-wise, the Royal Gourmet is only fractionally lighter. However, the quality is excellent, and cleaning it is faster than brushing your teeth.
It’s a sturdy design, and durability is high; setup takes seconds, and its “instant ignition” lives up to its name. So it’s an excellent buy so long as you don’t scratch the enamel coating. But as enamel goes, it is robust, mixed with PVC, to even add weatherproofing. Just keep knives away and utilize silicon spatulas and tongs.
Lodge LSRG3 Cast Iron Single-Burner Reversible Griddle
Pros
- Reversible
- Handy grip corners
- Durable
Cons
- Cast iron rusts without proper maintenance
- Cast iron is heavy
Lodge LSRG3 Cast Iron Single-Burner Reversible Griddle is a classic cast iron buy. Flat on one side and ribbed on the other, it is perfect for campers who just need a pan to put over a single burner, charcoal BBQ, campfire, or portable fire pit. However, it might be too heavy to use with your Jetboil, depending on your model.
Lodge pre-seasons their cast iron, so technically, you could use it straight out of the box. But cast-iron needs respect, so we advise caution and seasoning it again before use to ensure non-stick cooking.
Like any cast iron, keep it out of the dishwasher, avoid soap, and stick to a nylon brush, hot water, seasoning, and heat to keep it in top shape. Cast iron is fabulous stuff, but it is heavy and will rust if mistreated. But if you avoid the detergent, promptly dry it, and keep it seasoned, it will outlast you.
Cuisinart CGG-501 Gourmet Gas Griddle, Two-Burner
Pros
- Compact
- Twist and start ignition
- Hardy rolled steel cooking surface
Cons
- Doesn’t distribute heat as evenly as Blackstone or Royal Gourmet
- More challenging to keep level
Cuisinart CGG-501 Gourmet Gas Griddle, Two-Burner is a compact, easy-to-pack buy. Its two-burner system cooks quite well, although not as evenly as the three listed above. Also, its grease collection system, while helpful, has a knack to it. But this is the price for compact functionality.
You don’t lose much cooing surface, despite the more compact design. It offers a generous 285 square inches, which is plenty for most campers not throwing parties. Also, the cold rolled steel will not scratch like enamel, making it a more comfortable choice for many.
It is pretty picky about how it is balanced, which can be a struggle if you are using the campsite-provided picnic table that is often warped. But this won’t be an issue if you have a decent camping table or are using an RV countertop.
Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill
Pros
- Versatile
- Easy to haul
- Easy setup and take down
- Even cooking
- Matchless lighting
Cons
- Expensive
- Only 20,000 BTU
Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill is cleverly designed, folding up like wheeled luggage for an airplane ride. Its heating elements are arranged to ensure even cooking, and it has three temperature zones.
In addition, the plates are interchangeable, allowing it to bounce between a griddle, stove grate, or cast-iron grill. Then there are two sliding table tops on each side, so you can set down bowls and spices next to your work. It’s fantastic.
So why is something so brilliant low down on the list? For starters, this ingenuity doesn’t come cheap. It costs more than the Blackstone Flat Top, there are only 234 square inches of cooking space, and it is only capable of pumping out 20,000 BTU.
Thus, as fantastic as the Coleman RoadTrip is, and all gifts of it are welcomed, it is difficult to justify the cost when more affordable options perform so well. But its versatility and ease of transport will make the price worth it for some. It just depends on what cooking gear you already own.
LITTLE GRIDDLE Sizzle-Q SQ180
Pros
- 234 square inches of cooking space
- Easy to clean
- Heats quickly
- Even heat
Cons
- Stains
LITTLE GRIDDLE Sizzle-Q SQ180 is the largest single burner on our list. It is straightforward to use, heats quickly, and distributes the heat well. In addition, it’s easy to clean.
However, it is prone to staining, which bothers some folks. So if you need your griddle to double as a mirror, pass this one over. But if you just want functionality, Little Griddle will get the job done.
Weber Smokey Joe 14-Inch Portable Grill
Pros
- Small
- Lightweight
- Fun to cook on
- Affordable
Cons
- Not really a griddle
Weber Smokey Joe 14-Inch Portable Grill is an affordable alternative to a portable griddle. The petite charcoal BBQ cooks well, is durable, lightweight, and can serve as a portable fire pit if desired. It will happily cook up a couple of burgers and allow you to roast marshmallows.
Perfect for anyone on a budget or lacking space.
Pit Boss Grills 75275 Stainless Steel Two-Burner Portable Grill
Pros
- Compact
- Push button ignition
- Thermometer
Cons
- Not really a griddle
Pit Boss Grills are durable, stainless steel, and pack up and go cookers. It offers 274 square inches of cooking surface and can handle a griddle pan on top of it. However, its burners only deliver 10,000 BTU which is enough to grill but will impact a griddle pan’s performance.
But it is an excellent, portable gas grill alternative to the charcoal Weber. It only weighs under 25 pounds, which is fantastic. Its folding legs and latch hood make it incredibly compact. Of course, you have to haul the gas too. But it’s less messy than a bag of charcoal.
Camping Oven Rating Criteria
Our criteria for rating camping griddles
Cooking Surface
Cooking surface matters when trying to feed a crowd. The Blackstone Flat Top has the most, making it perfect for chronic entertainers. But if you don’t want the fuss of a stand, the Blackstone Tabletop gives the next largest.
Heat
Griddles must get hot and distribute the heat evenly. It may sound straightforward, but many griddles on the market fail at least one of these primary objectives. The Blackstone Flat Top with a 30,000 BTU rating does both like a professional.
Ease Of Clean Up
Cleanup is the worst part of any job. But we looked at how simple it was to clean a product in relation to what it was offering.
Thus, the Royal Gourmet’s enamel makes it the easiest tabletop griddle to clean. But the Coleman RoadTrip is easy to wash for a griddle attached to its stand. However, Little Griddle Sizzle is as straightforward as cleaning a large plate.
Weight And Portability
Weight and portability are relative to the product’s objective. The Weber is handy, petite, and lasts. Of course, the Lodge can fit in a crack of space and, despite being cast iron, is smaller and lighter than the Little Griddle Sizzle.
But if you are looking for a camping griddle with its own stand, the Coleman RoadTrip is fantastic. Just a pity about its steep price. If you want sandless, the Blackstone Tabletop will give you the most surface space for the relative weight.
Durability
Griddles are meant to last. Thankfully, the griddles on this list are all pretty robust. But the Blackstone Tabletop is exceptionally hardy. Unlike the enamel models, the cooking surface won’t easily scratch while still being easier to care for than cast iron.
However, the low-tech Lodge LSRG3 will survive the apocalypse if you take care of it right. Rust only happens from neglect. Treat cast iron with the respect it deserves, and you’ll own it for life.
Value For Money
Everyone wants to get the best bang for their buck. The Royal Gourmet is the best value for a gas griddle. It’s more affordable than the Blackstone version while performing well and being easy to clean. Just don’t scratch that enamel.
Final Verdict
The Blackstone Flat Top Gas Griddle is an excellent build. The quality and functionality will serve its owners beyond camping and in their everyday life. But it is too big for many people’s camping needs.
Thus, most folks will do best with a Blackstone Tabletop Griddle or the Royal Gourmet, depending on budget and if one of them is on sale. But the Lodge is excellent if you already have a cooker and are just looking for a griddle to put on top.