The Best Portable BBQ for Camping, Travel and Tailgating
Weber Make the Best Portable grills
If you are in a hurry with limited time to do research, go with one of the weber portable grills. The toughest decision to make is charcoal or natural gas.
This is what I recommend as the Best All-Around Portable Grill: Portable Weber and Cart Q 100 Gas Grill (Propane)
 | The Weber Q 100 is a portable gas that connects to a standard propane tank. The Grill is 189 sq inch cooking surface which is small, but that's the trade off for portability.
Other features include:
* Cast-aluminum lid and body with glass-reinforced nylon frame
* 8,500-BTU stainless-steel burner; push-button ignition; adjustable burner valve
* Porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates; drip pan; weather-resistant handle
* Measures 16 by 27 by 23-1/2 inches with lid open; 5-year limited warranty
The Q 100 doesn't come with a stand, but it will fit in one which makes this grill very versatile.
Amazon Price: Too low to display List Price: $159.00 |
 | The weber rolling cart stand for the Q 100 is light weight, folds up to fit in your trunk and is sturdy enough to hold the grill. I think this stand in combination of the weber Q 100 is the ideal portable gas grill for travel and tailgating. Amazon Price: $71.61 List Price: $59.99 |
 | This is a 6 ft adapter hose to hook up a 20lbs propane tank the to the Q series bbq by Weber. Amazon Price: $20.23 List Price: $27.99 |
The best portable charcoal gill for tailgating or camping
 | This is an inexpensive portable bbq option that takes charcoal. It will smell great, but be messy. Just be sure to tighten it up really well when you assemble it. I wish the stand was a little taller, but it will do. This grill isn't as durable as the Q series, but it's one fifth the price. Amazon Price: $20.99 List Price: $34.70 |
Portable Grill Cooking Tips
- Small grills flare up more since the meat is so close to the fire. Use small fires and bbq meats that are lean for best results like hotdogs, flank steak, pork tenderloin. Cooking ribs and hamburgers tend to get burnt on small grills
- Do the prep cooking a head of time. Marinate meats, season the food and do all the extra work so all you have to do is start the fire, heat the grill up and start cooking
- After grilling, let the grill cool down before putting back in the car. Charcoal will still be hot if you grill while tailgating and return after a football game. Dump water on the charcoal and throw it out before putting back in the car.
- Keep a large plastic bag to transport the grill. Ashes get all over the car if you just set the grill down.
- Pack matches and extra fuel for the fire.
- It's easy to roast marshmallows over small grills with sticks.
The ideal portable barbecue is lightweight, stands up and is durable
As someone that loves to eat barbecue, I like to make sure I have access to a suitable grill when I travel with my family camping or when we tailgate at football games. With most portable grills you have to make some tradeoffs.
There is nothing like a large tailgating party, but portable grills are small by definition which makes it difficult to cook for a large group. On a very small webber, I was able to place three slabs of baby back ribs on it, but that was fully loaded and made it challenging to cook.
There are two other things to consider when selecting a grill to travel with. First, how do you feel about charcoal. It's messy and every one I've had has gotten ashes all over my car at some point. However, if you don't want charcoal, you have to bring propane. My wife doesn't like it when I stick a big tank of propane in the back of the car. She's afraid we are going to get hit. My recommendation is to go with the propane over the charcoal mess, but I prefer the charcoal taste on bbq. The propane also has the advantage of being easy to light so you don't need to know how to light a fire (this technique works for lighting charcoal as well).
The last thing to consider is how you will cook on your barbecue. Do you want it on the ground? Or do you want it standing up. I've found the portable grills with legs tend to get loose, so you'll want a tool set to tighten it up. There are also grills that attach to motor homes as another option. I prefer to cook standing up and one other thing I consider crucial is a lid. Otherwise you might as well just go with a coleman camping stove and cook over a burner.
Avoid cheap portable bbqs
I've had two or three inexpensive portable bbqs for my old apartment that I'd lug to football games. Each time they broke down quickly and fell apart. I've been tempted to get a $20 grill from walmart, but my wife is quick to remind me how much I complain about them in the past.
Propane or Charcoal
For a portable grill do you prefer propane or charcoal?
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I like it. I think it would be ideal for camping and picnicing too. Thanks for some good ideas here.
i use an infrared grill by solaire. They make 2 one called the anywhere and a newer less expensive model called the everywhere. I have the anywhere which is slightly larger and comes with a heavy bag for the grill with pockets for 1 lb lp tanks. it is a small grill and you cant cook ribs on it because it is infrared.
The infrared burner will be over 1000 degrees in a minute and it is amazing for steaks, fish, burgers, hot dogs and anything that can be grilled, as opposed to barbecued. I think i paid around $400. and it has been worth every penny.
After using it for 2 years I bought - and built in - a full sized solaire infrared grill and it was $1500. but worth every penny, I absolutely love grilling on infrared!
Interesting. "Grilling" always perks my ears up and I pay attention. Thank you!
Great list of portable BBQ tools. Sure will make camping a lot more fun. Thanks for sharing
dags the drover 21 months ago
Well Paul... great bit of info here on the tools required to have a good barby... The phrase "to tailgate" is new to me, but don't worry I get the idea. WE actually bought a portable cooker at a caravan and camping show here in our home town last weekend. I think we'll have to go camping this weekend to try it out!
Cheers Dags the Drover