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The Best Portable Camping Toilet

Last Updated on July 22, 2020

The Best Portable Camping Toilets: Quick Picks


Access to a toilet while camping is something that should not be overlooked. While many campgrounds offer full toilet facilities or outhouses, the convenience of having a camping toilet is important to your overall camping experience.  A portable camping toilet that is comfortable, portable, and durable is of utmost importance. Many campers choose to travel with a portable toilet so that they have a personal toilet that they can ensure is clean and well maintained.  Others use a camping toilet so that they don’t have to take dangerous trips in the dark if they need to use a toilet at night.  Whatever your reason, we have identified the Thetford Porta Potti 565E as our top pick for an overall portable camping toilet for the value.

Sale
Top Pick: Porta Potti 565E
Top Pick: Porta Potti 565E
Fit type: Universal Fit
$245.46 −$48.70 $196.76

Last update on 2023-09-25 / Source: Amazon Associates

In addition to our best camping toilet pick, we have identified some other camping toilets for specific preferences.  At the end of this article, you’ll also find a list of accessories we recommend to make your camping trip even more enjoyable.

The Best Portable Camping Toilet

Thetford Porta Potti 565E

There are more expensive composting toilets that we recommend for certain situations like an RV or extended camping trips, but for an actual portable toilet that can be taken anywhere, this is the top pick.  The Porta Potti 565E is a freshwater flush toilet that uses a battery-powered electric flush rather than a manual pump. The flushing camp toilets are the most similar to the toilet you would use at home and are therefore the best transitional toilet to take camping.  They are great if you are looking to introduce your entire family to camping and the outdoors. Along with the flush action, the seat height on the flush camping toilets are most similar to a home toilet.

Key Features: Holds 4.2 Gallons of Fresh Water for flushing – Averages 56 Flushes.  Holds 5.5 Gallons of Total Waste Water. 17-5/8 Inch Seat Height.

Additional features we like best for this portable toilet are the electric flush, the carry handles for easy carrying, the top and bottom split design, the bottom half design with a rotating no-splash spout, and the sealed slide valve which prevents odors. Additional features of this portable toilet include: Sleek, modern and homelike design, Comfortable seat height, elongated seat for comfort, Increased bowl size, Hidden controls, Improved water tank carrying handle, Optional hold down kit, Integrated toilet paper holder, Holding tank level indicator for fresh water and waste tanks, 1-year warranty.

We recommend using Thetford’s Aqua-Kem products which help breakdown not only toilet tissue but also any solids and keep the tank clean, free of odor, and easy to empty. Read All Customer Reviews on Amazon

The Best Portable Camping Toilet with Manual Flush

Camco Premium Portable Camping Toilet

Some campers prefer a manual flush as opposed to a battery powered flushing mechanism.  This is certainly a personal preference, but if you are concerned about running out of battery power, or the electric motor ever breaking on the battery-powered models, the Camco Premium Portable Camping Toilet is your best option. As we mentioned above, the flushing camp toilets are the most similar to the toilet you would use at home and are therefore the best transitional toilet to take camping.  They are great if you are looking to introduce your entire family to camping and the outdoors. Along with the flush action, the seat height on the flush camping toilets are most similar to a home toilet.

Key Features: Holds 5.5 Gallons of Total Waste Water. 16.4 Inch Seat Height.

Additional features we like best for this portable toilet are larger seat size than most competitors, with an increased bowl size. The fresh water holding tank utilizes a pump flush action to effectively rinse the bowl of the toilet. The 5.3 gallon detachable holding tank seals firmly to prevent escaping leaks and odors. The interior of the holding tank has a slick surface to make waste removal easier and more efficient. Remove the flush tank one handed by toggling a single locking latch. The latch is spring-loaded for automatic re-attachment. The Camco Camping Toilet features a lid that can be latched closed for easier transport or completely removed for cleaning. It is made of durable ABS resin and will seal in unpleasant odors for an overall better camping toilet experience

We recommend using Thetford’s Aqua-Kem products which help breakdown not only toilet tissue but also any solids and keep the tank clean, free of odor, and easy to empty. Read All Customer Reviews on Amazon

The Best Portable Camping Toilet for Children

Camco 2.6 Gallon Portable Toilet

At just 12.5 Inches high, the Camco 2.6 Gallon Portable Toilet is a perfect choice for camping families who have children with them.  The portable toilet prevents the need to roam far from the tent for night time bathroom trips.  Like the Camco Premium Camping Toilet, the 2.6 gallon model features a pump action flush method.  Camco makes an extremely durable, portable, and comfortable toilet option for camping and if you camp with kids, this should be the toilet you bring along for them to use.

Key Features: Holds 2.6 Gallons of Total Waste Water. 12.5 Inch Seat Height.  Additional features we like best for this portable toilet are Sturdy polyethylene construction is compact and lightweight. The holding tank is detachable and includes a sealing slide valve to lock in odors and protect against leakage. It includes two side latches to secure the tank to the toilet and a carrying handle for easy transport. The toilet employs an easy-to-use bellowtype flush and pull slide valve for easy flushing. Includes a packet of Camco’s TST biodegradable toilet chemical.

We recommend using Thetford’s Aqua-Kem products which help breakdown not only toilet tissue but also any solids and keep the tank clean, free of odor, and easy to empty. Read All Customer Reviews on Amazon

Portable Camping Toilets with No Flush

Reliance Luggable Loo

If you are looking simplicity in a camping toilet, the Reliance Luggable Loo is a great option.

This camping toilet is exactly what it looks like; a sturdy bucket with a snap on toilet seat.  However, don’t judge a book by it’s cover. This is one of the best selling camping toilets for sale and the main reasons are price, simplicity and reliability.

There’s not much that can go wrong with a bucket with snap on toilet seat if you follow some simple instructions:

  1. Use good bags inside the bucket and dispose of as often as you fell necessary.  We recommend Reliance Product’s own Double Doodie Waste Bags.   These bags are sturdy, don’t break and include a Bio-Gel inside the bag that solidifies waste and deodorizes.
  2. We recommend using a milk crate to help prevent the bucket from ever tipping over.  The milk crate also can hold additional supplies such as toilet paper, extra bags, and extra chemicals.  We recommend the Delight Milk Crate because it is wide enough to fit the bucket and accessories.  If you do not buy this crate, make sure you check the measurements so the bucket can fit.

If you are looking for a reliable, durable camping toilet, the simple bucket style design and traditional snap-on lid of the Luggable Loo make it a great option. Read All Customer Reviews on Amazon

Stansport Portable Camp Toilet

The Stansport Portable Camp Toilet is another great option for a non-flushing portable camping toilet.

This toilet offers the following: Full size seat for comfort. Lid features sturdy thick wall construction. Built-in handles let you carry the unit with ease. Supports a maximum weight of up to 350 lbs. Comes with one disposable sanitary bag.

We recommend using according to the following simple instructions:

  1. The bowl for this toilet is much more shallow then the Reliance Luggable Loo. Because of that, you’re going to need to empty more often.  If you will empty less frequently because there is a lower number of people using it, we recommend Reliance Product’s own Double Doodie Waste Bags.   These bags are sturdy, don’t break and include a Bio-Gel inside the bag that solidifies waste and deodorizes.  If there are going to be more people using it and the bags will need to be emptied more frequently, we recommend using Green Elephant Portable Toilet Replacement Bags.  These are cheaper bags that come in rolls of 15.  They are biodegradable which make them great for camping.  If you use the Green Elephant Bags, make sure to use Reliance Bio-Gel.  This is a gel additive that deodorizes and solidifies waste in the bag, it’s a must-have!

If you are looking for a reliable, durable camping toilet, the size and design of the Stansport Eazy-Go portable toilet make it a great option.  Read All Customer Reviews on Amazon

The Best Portable Composting Toilet for Camping

Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet

A composting toilet maybe a great option for a camping toilet in the right situations.  Composting toilets are rather large to be considered a portable toilet, however, they can be used in certain camping situations.  What makes the Nature’s Head toilet an option as a camping toilet is both the waterless operation and the unique two part storage of liquid and solid waste.  When they are separated, they tend not to smell as bad.  It is the mixing of the two that usually causing terrible toilet smells.  If you are considering a composting camping toilet, the best option is the Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet.

The first situation for a camping composting toilet would be obviously if you camp in an RV.  If you’re looking to move away from a typical black water waste water tank, the composting toilet has been proven to work extremely well in an RV.  The toilet can be mounted to the floor, the vent fan can be connected to batteries in the RV, and then the toilet can be vented to outside of the RV rather easily.  If you are an RV owner looking for an alternative to the typical RV toilet, the Nature’s Head composting toilet could be a great camping composting toilet option.

The next situation a camping composting toilet is perfect for is for use within a camping trailer, tramper, or other camper type of towed trailers.  What many tramper owners are finding out is that Nature’s Head has stated that as long as the toilet is vented, you don’t necessarily need to run the fan all the time.  So if you are looking for a toilet to be used in a camper without having to run electricity to the toilet, this could be a great option.  Just follow the instructions carefully and you will avoid having issues with smell and other issues.

The last situation this camping composting toilet can be used for are extended tent camping trips. The toilet is large so you wouldn’t want to necessarily take on a short car or family camping outing.  However, if you’re tent camping for longer than a weekend in a large tent like a canvas tent, the camping composting toilet could be an option.

This composting toilet is self-contained, urine diverting and the waterless operation allows for ease of use for many applications. Also called a dry toilet, the Nature’s Head is lightweight, odorless and compact making it a perfect fit for camping. This eco friendly toilet with its stainless steel hardware, robust construction and user friendliness has been designed to withstand the harshest of conditions.  It is also manufactured in the United States.

Because this toilet is higher than usual, you may want a step stool.  Our favorite option is the Camco 43676 Adjustable Height Aluminum Platform StepThis stool is not only foldable, but has adjustable legs that allows you to adjust to the height needed.  We also recommend using Nature’s Footprint Coconut Coir as the key ingredient to the composting toilet to keep it composting without bad odors.  If you follow the instructions, you shouldn’t have any issues operating this toilet while camping. Read All Customer Reviews on Amazon

The Best Folding Camping Toilet with Tent

Cleanwaste Go Anywhere Complete Portable Toilet System

The Cleanwaste Portable Toilet System combines a rugged, stable, folding camping toilet with a camping toilet tent.  The folding camping toilet uses waste bags and when combined with the additives recommended, turns 32 oz of waste to solid in seconds; includes odor neutralizing agent and decay catalyst.

Each kits includes:

  • 1 GO anywhere portable toilet®.
  • 1 GO anywhere privacy shelter™.
  • 15 GO anywhere toilet kits™ (20 WAG BAGs® for military use).
  • 1 large transport bag for used kits.
  • 1 backpack that stores everything above.

We like the system for the comfort it provides, the overall value (you can use the camping toilet tent for changing and showering as well), and the fact that you get all the components for a total camping toilet solution that actually works in 1 easy to purchase kit. Read All Customer Reviews on Amazon

Additional Portable Camping Toilet Accessories

In order to make your camping experience extremely comfortable, we recommend the following camping toilet accessories.

The Best Portable Camping Toilet Tent

If you are buying a different toilet than the Cleanwaste Go Anywhere Toilet System, we recommend purchasing a Camping toilet tent.  Our top pick for a camping toilet tent is the Green Elephant Pop Up Utilitent.

This Camping Toilet Tent offers:

  • SUPERIOR QUALITY CONSTRUCTION – Made of quality water-repellant polyester, this portable toilet and changing room tent is made to last! Rugged reliable material, a heavy-duty door zipper that won’t break, stitches that hold, a strong build that stays in shape – all combine to bring you superb dependability in a shelter you can count on.
  • ERGONOMIC DESIGN – Measuring 6’ 10.7” high and 3’ 11” x 3’ 11” in length and width when open, the Utilitent affords free standing and comfortable movement within. Mosquito netting with shower opening at the top allows for air circulation and lighting while maintaining privacy. No-floor design keeps tent clean. Additional rain cover attaches to tent top, covering mesh netting in inclement weather.
  • PACKED WITH ACCESSORIES – This multipurpose pop-up tent is accessorized for your maximum convenience! You’ll find a shower opening, towel hanger, clothes hanger, toilet paper holder, personal belongings storage pouch, flashlight hanger, and tent carry bag.

The Best Portable Camping Toilet Paper

Thetford is a leader in portable toilets and they manufacture a rapid-dissolving portable toilet paper that can be used for camping and RV situations.

If you’ve come to this website looking strictly for a travel-type of camping toilet paper, we have a recommendation for you as well.  Coleman’s Camper’s Toilet Paper is a great solution if you’re looking for a solution specifically for camping or backpacking.

The Best Portable Camping Toilet Seat

If you’re searching for the best camping toilet seat, basically just maybe a seat without any of the other features of toilets we outline above, the Green Elephant Folding Commode Portable Toilet Seat is your best option.  We recommend purchasing a complete camping toilet, but if you just want the toilet seat for camping, choose the Green Elephant option.  It is stable and durable while providing comfort.

The Best Portable Camping Toilet Bags

While you can always buy 13 Gallon black Hefty Bags to use in your camping toilet, we recommend using products specific to the portable toilet if you choose to buy a non-flushing, bucket style camping toilet.

The 2 bags we always recommend are Reliance Product’s own Double Doodie Waste Bags.   These bags are sturdy, don’t break and include a Bio-Gel inside the bag that solidifies waste and deodorizes.  If there are going to be more people using the camping toilet and the bags will need to be emptied more frequently, we recommend using Green Elephant Portable Toilet Replacement Bags.  They’re excellent quality but a better overall value if you will be using a lot of camping toilet bags.

The Best Portable Camping Toilet Chemical

If you are using a bucket style camping toilet and use the Green Elephant Bags or a Hefty type of bag, make sure to use Reliance Bio-Gel.  This is a gel additive that deodorizes and solidifies waste in the bag, it’s a must-have!

If you are using a portable flush camping toilet, we recommend using Thetford’s Aqua-Kem products which help breakdown not only toilet tissue but also any solids and keep the tank clean, free of odor, and easy to empty.