Best Tarp Shelter Configurations for Large Groups

Setting up a tarp shelter for one or two people is fairly easy. However, things get complicated when you have a large group of people.

For example, the classic A-frame shelter is terrible for 5+ people. The people at the sides of the shelter have almost no headroom. Their bodies can end up hitting the sides of the wall, which can result in condensation problems. You could try to solve this by having everyone sleep with their heads and feet towards the walls, but then people will have to crawl over each other to get in/out of the shelter.

Instead, the following tarp shelter setups work better for large groups because they have taller walls and maximize interior space. You’ll still need a very large tarp—at least 20 feet on one side—but will be comfortable and protected. You can check out our large-sized military tarps here.

1. Adirondack

This is my all-time favorite tarp shelter setup because it is roomy, easy to set up, and you can have a fire in front of it. With a large group, everyone will sleep with your feet towards the opening. In bad weather, set the ridge line lower so the back wall is tilted at a lower angle.

2. Extended Adirondack

This shelter uses a custom tarp. You take a very large rectangular tarp, cut a square section out of the top right section, and attach it to the bottom-middle to make the shape below. This allows you to get a spacious Adirondack shelter that has a front wall for extra protection plus a very large awning. Ravenlore has more detailed instructions here.

3. Baker’s Lean-To

Also called the baker’s wind shed, this setup uses a rectangular tarp. The setup creates a decent amount of interior space. However, in rainy weather, you will need to set up an additional tarp in front to block water from entering.

4. Bunker Half Cone Fly

In rainy conditions, the bunker half cone fly setup provides good protection. The two extra guy lines on the side create walls for more interior space and headroom. Put gear in the back corner and have people sleep with their heads towards the opening.

5. Dining Fly

The dining fly is high and open on the sides, so isn’t ideal as a sleeping shelter. However, as the name implies, it is a great dining tarp shelter for large groups. You can even get a picnic table or a camp kitchen underneath. t’s also a good shelter to protect against the sun on hot days because you will still get a breeze coming through. You’ll need two very sturdy, long poles to make the shelter and a lot of rope for guylines. It’s takes a bit of practice to setup, but is worth knowing if you often go camping with large groups.