What Is The Best Portable Toilet For Camping?

When you are going camping you want to be as comfortable as possible, and due to innovations in camping equipment, replicating at home amenities while camping is getting easier and more accessible.

One of the main reasons you will hear when asking people why they do not like camping is the lack of a proper bathroom and the other options which are taken instead.

There are the Leave No Trace guidelines and these make it so using any of nature can technically be your bathroom, but just because you are allowed to use all of nature, does not mean that most people want to.

This is why there is now quite a growing market for portable toilets which can be used to make your camping trip far less uncomfortable and a much less harrowing experience for some people.

These are often designed to be easy to pack up into a car so they are not just good for camping but also for road trips.

Most of the toilets we are covering in this guide are focused on a more simple camping toilet design. They will have a holding tank for fresh as well as black water and work with a simple flush.

We have chosen to not include any cassette or composting toilets, just simple portable toilets.

So, if you are looking for a portable toilet which will make your next camping trip much more comfortable, we have narrowed down the choices to just a few to make choosing which one will be best for you easy!

If you have finished reading the list and you are still not sure which of the toilet will suit you best, after the list we have included a buyer’s guide so you can get all the insight you need on how to make an informed decision on choosing the right portable toilet for you!

Best Portable Toilets For Camping

While all of these are categorized as portable toilets, they all have their own advantages and disadvantages which will make them more or less suitable for you to use, so make sure to read through our product descriptions so you get an accurate perception of the product.

Thetford Porta Potti 135

Portable Camping Toilet Features

• This is the best portable toilet we have chosen for fitting into smaller spaces
• It features a simple and clean design which is both compact and affordable as well as easy to store
• There is a 2.6 gallon fresh water tank as well as a 2.6 gallon holding talk

Portable Camping Toilet Description

Out of all the choices we have chosen, the Thetford is great for how lightweight it is, as well as how compact it is. This makes it something which is easy to keep in your car or van, even without going on the camping trip making it a very multifunctional piece of equipment.

It weighs a little less than 8 pounds making it super easy to carry around as well.

The top part of this device connects onto the base which holds the holding tank and there is just a one touch lever which is also able to detach if you want it to.

The holding tank itself also has a pullout valve which is sealed, and this means that when it is not being used, you are able to simply lock in any odor. There is also the option to use the vent button which will let out just a bit of the air pressure from within the tank. 

Both of the intake and outtake caps have a gasket meaning that they have a super secure fit so you do not have to worry about anything coming loose.

Another feature of this toilet is that you can make it, so the toilet lid will latch and then snap shut making sure it is all properly compact.

As you can imagine, the footprint of the toilet itself is both smaller in its height leaving it at only 12 inches off of the ground which for some is a bit low and uncomfortable, especially if you are taller.

The base of the device also contains an area for storage which is perfect for either storing some toilet paper, or perhaps toilet products to stop the smell getting too much.

Thetford also make a carrying case for this design which costs around $20, but this is not a necessity.

Portable Camping Toilet Advantages

• Very lightweight
• Simple one button release which is used on the holding tank
• Both the lid and the seat can be removed to make them easier to clean
• Uses a hand pump system to flush
• Easy to move with the inclusion of the carry handle
• Simple sleek look

Portable Camping Toilet Disadvantages

• Does not have a level indicator
• Lower height compared to a standard toilet

Reliance Flush-N-Go 1020T Portable Toilet

Portable Camping Toilet Features

• Has a simple design with a 5 gallon holding tank which makes it perfect for use on a longer trip
• There is a 2.5 gallon fresh water tank
• Sits at the height of a normal toilet
• Has a weight capacity of 325 pounds

Portable Camping Toilet Description

The Reliance has an impressive 17 inches of height making it a lot more comfortable to use than some of the other choices which makes it feel a lot closer to a normal toilet.

This comes with the drawback of it being a lot more bulky than some of the other options which makes it a less than ideal choice if you are working with limited space when packing.

It is around 12 pounds when it is empty so it is not too heavy, but definitely not light. But with its bigger size and extra level of comfort, it is a great choice if you are on a longer trip, or camping with a larger group.

If you have a bigger car which can store this, this is going to be one of the best choices available.

Setting up the device is also not too difficult, and with the two handles which make it easy to carry, they are also used as a way to remove the top and the bottom sections of the toilet.

The toilet as well as the holding tank then have their own handle which makes it very easy to move when separately.

The tank which holds the freshwater for this toilet can hold up to 2.6 gallons, and then it uses the (sometimes stiff) push pump to flush the toilet into the 5 gallon holding tank.

This toilet is advertised as being able to hold up to 325 pounds, and after testing, you only need to empty the toilet about every 3 to 4 days if you want to test its limits.

The main issue with this is that there is no level indicator to let you know when it is full, but after frequent use you will know how often it will need emptying, but it is best to empty early rather than late.

It also uses the secure locks to ensure that no odors will escape when the toilet is not being used.

Portable Camping Toilet Advantages

• Very easy to set up and use
• Features two carrying handles making it easy to move around
• Includes sealed valves to help stop any odor spreading

Has plenty of waste storage

Portable Camping Toilet Disadvantages

• Does not have a level indicator
• Very bulky design is quite hard to store
• The water pump it uses can be quite stiff when in use

Reliance Luggable Loo Portable Toilet

Portable Camping Toilet Features

• Easy to use simple design
• Lid is lockable
• Easy carrying handle
• Also has a pouring handle
• Standard 5 gallon bucket with some simple upgrades to make it a useable toilet

Portable Camping Toilet Description

This is perhaps the most simple design on the list, and this is what makes it so affordable and one of the easiest to work with. It is essentially a bucket for going to the toilet in.

However, it is a great choice if you are going somewhere where you are unable to dig a hole, and it does have some extra features to make it more comfortable than just a standard bucket.

For example, there is a toilet seat attached to the top of the bucket so you are not just sitting on an uncomfortable rim. And this attaches to the locking lid mechanism making it easy to transport.

In spite of this, it is not recommended to turn the bucket upside down when it is filled as the lid will likely not be able to hold the waste. The lid itself is removable for the sake of both cleaning as well as dumping contents.

The bucket has a top handle to make it easy to carry, as well as a bottom handle to make it easy to pour out when you are emptying it.

The lid of this bucket is not designed with the purpose of sealing out any smells, so it is recommended to not store waste in there for long and to empty it out as soon as possible to make it easier to clean.

Also, in the effort of making it clean, it is also recommended to use a liner bag so nothing sticks inside and your job of emptying the bucket also becomes significantly easier.

This is actually a relatively comfortable bucket to sit at since it sits at 15 and a half inches off the ground making it similar to a standard toilet.

It is also a perfect choice if you are travelling light since because of the basic design it only weighs about 3 pounds when it is empty, so you do not have to worry about carrying it around being heavy.

If you want a simple option which has some extra practical features, this is going to be one of the best options.

Portable Camping Toilet Advantages

• Very affordable
• Simple to use
• Very portable
• Super lightweight

Portable Camping Toilet Disadvantages

• Does not flush with any running water
• Will be difficult to clean if you are not using a liner bag

Dometic 972 Portable Toilet

Portable Camping Toilet Features

• Great simple camp toilet but has a bunch of features built in like the level indicator to make it feel sophisticated
• Holds both 2.6 gallons of fresh water and 2.6 gallons in the holding tank
• Uses a simple button for flushing

Portable Camping Toilet Description

This toilet stands above some of the other choices by not needing you to do any pumping to make the water move into the bowl. The simple push button makes flushing simple but also does the job with an efficient amount of water.

The level indicator provided is also incredibly useful and makes it so you never have to worry about the toilet overfilling.

This device also has some very robust construction with the plastic being very durable. It weighs 12 pounds when it is empty as well.

Portable Camping Toilet Advantages

• Very easy to use
• Does not require any pumping
• Level indicator is a good practical feature
• Push button to flush is useful

Portable Camping Toilet Disadvantages

• One of the more expensive choices

Buyer’s Guide

When it comes to buying a portable toilet for camping, there are a few factors you should consider when making your choice. The best way to choose a product is to decide which factors you want to prioritize, which is especially important if you are working with a budget!

Also, you will want to consider the priorities of the other people who could be using the toilet as well when you are camping in a group, there is little reason to buy a device for a group if you are the only person who is comfortable using it.

Comfort

This is of course one of the most important factors to consider as it is the main reason people are buying this instead of just using nature’s facilities.

Of course the more comfortable toilets will tend to be more expensive, so make sure to try and find the most comfortable portable toilet which is still within your budget.

Cleaning

When buying a portable toilet, of course knowing how to clean it is going to be a priority and you want to know if there are multiple components which will need to be cleaned separately, or if cleaning it is going to be simple.

You will also need to consider how likely the toilet is to splash or spill during cleaning

Construction

If you are making an investment with a device like this, you will want to consider how durable it is.

You can just check the product description to see what it is made out of if you are familiar with different types of plastic, but if you are not, the best thing to do is look up reviews since people are most likely to post them when the toilet breaks, so if this is likely you should be able to find this information there!

Transporting

Portability is of course half of the appeal of these toilets, so you will want to ensure that this device is portable enough to be able to live up to it’s title.

You will want to consider how far you will be able to travel with this toilet on foot to be able to do your business with it. You also want to consider how simple it will be to fit the device into your car or van while camping with since you will usually be working with limited space.

Flushing

Most of these toilets will come with a pump which will let you control just how much water is used to flush. While some of these can be simple to use, others can be stiff. You may also want to look out for a system which uses a button as these are often easier to use.

Smells

Of course with a toilet, it is likely they will not be smelling too fresh most of the time, so make sure there are measures in the design to ensure this is not an issue, for example, a lid which locks or a valve to seal it.

Or sometimes you will need to add chemicals to make the smell less of an issue.

Summary

Hopefully this guide has given you all the information you need to choose the best portable toilet for your needs!

These devices can make camping a lot more fun for a lot of people, as well as making it more accessible, so getting a good portable toilet is starting to be seen more and more as a necessity!

If you are still struggling to make a decision on which of these toilets will be best for you, go back through the list after consulting the buyer’s guide as this will ensure that you know which factors are most important to you, and which to look out for when choosing the best product for you!