These Clever Car Camping Accessories Let You Hang A Hammock Without Relying On Trees

For avid car campers, a quality setup is key to a relaxing weekend in the wilderness. Whether you're looking to go solo car camping or adventuring with some friends, seating somehow always seems to be in short supply. So maybe you did what every camper does at some point, and invested in a nice hammock, a must-have for comfortable campsite lounging.

This was a great idea until you realized you can't always park somewhere with quality hammock trees. This may make you want to abandon the idea entirely, but luckily, all you need to set up a hammock these days is a car and a high-quality hammock mount to get the relaxation going.

We've compiled a list of some of the best car camping hammock stands on the market and evaluated each for price, functionality, and accessibility. Keep reading to find out which hammock is right for your car, and will improve your camping experience.

The Adventure Hammock Systems OG Hammock Mount is set up with a car's trailer hitch. No need to take the entire stand off the car every time you use it; the mount can be collapsed while still attached to the hitch for easy storage on the road. It can accommodate most standard hammocks (11 feet or shorter) and hold up to 300 pounds.

While the compact style and durability of this hammock are great features, it's one of the most expensive models on the list at $549. It's also only compatible with cars with trailer hitches, which is a major disadvantage for many car campers. There are hammocks on this list that are more affordable and come with more versatility than the Adventure Hammock.

Similar to the Adventure Hammock Systems model, the Hammaka Hammock Hitch Stand attaches to your car's trailer hitch for setup. This stand actually has two modes, one that holds a standard hammock and another that holds two hammock chairs. This way, you can seat more than one person comfortably.

This model is one of the more affordable options on this list, coming in at $249.99 on their website. This does not include the price of the hammock or hammock chairs; however, you can buy a package deal with both included for $399.99.

One of the obvious cons of this hammock stand is that it's only compatible with cars with trailer hitches. However, it's a more affordable and versatile option than the Adventure Hammock, with more modes than one. If you own a car with a trailer hitch, this could be a great, affordable option for you.

The Dometic Hammock Holder is a unique model of a hammock stand, as campers can set this up on the roof of their car. This is a simple banana-shaped hammock stand that's compatible with a Front Runner Roof Rack, also sold through Dometic. This stand was made to accommodate several types of standard hammocks, and can hold a maximum weight of 242.5 pounds.

The high positioning of this hammock stand makes it the best for sunset views and feeling like you're on top of the world, or at least the top of your campsite. Because of its low-profile setup, users are able to leave the stand attached to the rack while not in use, great for lazy campers who don't want to set up and break down their hammock stand every time they use it.

Unfortunately, this Hammock Holder is only compatible with Dometic's Front Runner Roof Rack, which can be a bit on the pricier side. Depending on your car's model, a Front Runner Roof Rack could cost you between $1000 and $2500, not including the hammock stand. The price of the hammock stand is not readily available online, and buyers will need to consult with a local Dometic dealer to acquire that particular hardware.

The HAMMOK Outpost Overland Hammock Stand is one of the most versatile models on the list. The stand only requires a roof rack for setup, not a trailer hitch like other models. The hammock stand can be set up anywhere around the car, with adjustable swivel poles and telescope legs.

Being 12 feet long, this mount can accommodate pretty much any standard hammock. Outpost claims the hammock can be set up in under a minute with no tools required. You can also attach multiple hammock stands to one vehicle to accommodate groups.

This is one of the more expensive models on the list, coming in at $529.95. It also has limitations on the type of roof racks it can attach to. If you have anything other than a platform-style rack, basket-style rack, or truck bed cargo rack, the HAMMOK stand will not work on your vehicle. However, it can connect to almost any vehicle as long as it has a roof rack, and it doesn't require a trailer hitch like many of the previous options.

Each hammock stand was reviewed accordingly for price, functionality, and accessibility. Each section highlights the best features of each model, with a comparison of some of the downsides found in each model, so users can decide which one works best for their camp setup.