If your rig doesn’t have a dedicated place for you to relieve yourself inside, you’ll need to add a portable toilet for camping to your set up.
These toilets make it easier to go to the bathroom while you’re camping without having to dig a cathole and squat.
Camping toilets are popular choices for folks with slide-in truck toppers or popup truck bed campers.
You might also consider adding one to your camping kit if you have a truck bed tent or you tow a popup camping trailer behind your main vehicle.
Basically, anyone who camps in a rig that doesn’t have its own toilet should consider getting one of these portable toilets.
And they’re also incredibly useful if you like camping off-grid where there isn’t a communal bathroom to use.
Surprisingly, there are quite a few different designs for these camping toilets and they are available at a wide range of prices.
Fortunately for you, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to portable camping toilets!
In this guide, we’ll highlight everything you need to know to choose the perfect toilet for your specific needs.
We’ll also provide in-depth reviews of 10 different camping toilet designs to give you plenty of options to choose from.
Keep in mind that each of these latrines is best for a specific purpose.
And, finally, we’ll provide some extra tips to help you use and maintain your new portable toilet in the most hygienic manner possible because, let’s be honest: not all of our you-know-what smells like roses.
But with one of these portable camping toilets, all of your camping bathroom needs will be met without having to dig and bury your waste every time the need arises.
What is a Portable Camping Toilet?
A portable camping toilet is a collection container for your solid and liquid waste.
These toilets are made for campers that don’t have an RV or trailer with a dedicated bathroom inside.
They can be set up anytime, anywhere and they can be emptied right into the dump station inlet any RV park or campground.
Benefits of Portable Toilets for Camping
For those that prefer popup trailers, truck campers, or any sort of recreational vehicle that doesn’t have a toilet, there are a lot of benefits of the best portable toilets for camping.
Let’s highlight a few quickly here:
Use It Anywhere
Seriously! I once embarked on a cross-country road trip with one of these toilets and one of our crew members had to use it several times right on the side of the road.
While we had a portable Pop-Up-Pod to provide a certain degree of privacy, we could absolutely set our portable toilet up within seconds when needed.
Be Environmentally-Friendly
If you like to camp in remote places, odds are you’re accustomed to digging cat holes and burying your excrement.
While this is the preferred method of waste disposal for backcountry camping, it does have a negative impact on the environment if a lot of people are doing the same thing in a relatively small area.
If you add a portable camping toilet to your setup, you’ll be able to reduce your waste impact on the beautiful environments to which you travel.
And you’ll be able to dispose of your waste in a location where it can be properly sanitized once you leave your remote camping destinations.
Gives You A Backup Option
Even if you have an RV, travel trailer, or 5th wheel that has its own restroom facility, a portable toilet can give you a great backup option.
Whether you need it when you’re hosting a gathering at your campsite or just in case your black water holding tank is full, a portable toilet provides some extra cushion for waste disposal when camping.
Makes Off-Grid Destinations More Accessible
If you’re an aspiring off-grid camper that’s having trouble convincing your partner to go along for your adventures, a portable toilet might be the answer you’re looking for.
I’ve heard the same question time and time again: “Oh, I’d love to go camping for the weekend at that remote spot, but where will I go to the bathroom?”
If you choose to make it so, one of these camping toilets can be your perfect answer to this question.
Sometimes, all it takes is to remove the idea of having to dig a cat hole from the equation to convince your significant other to explore the backcountry with you.
Types of Camping Toilets
If you’re new to the world of camping toilets that you can bring anywhere, you need to know that there are several different types you can choose from.
As you might imagine, those types have their pros and cons. So we’re going to define each type and highlight some of their advantages and disadvantages.
Bucket Toilets
This style of portable toilet really isn’t much more than what it sounds like.
Some of them don’t resemble much more than a five-gallon bucket with a toilet seat on top and a lid to keep the scent contained. Others have a more fancy exterior but function in a similar fashion.
This type of portable toilet tends to be reasonably affordable and very easy to use.
Some of them, however, don’t hold scents in all that well and they will require a more extensive cleaning process when it’s time to empty them.
Folding Toilets
This is the lightest and most compact type of portable toilet for camping. They usually resembled a toilet seat with folding legs that can be unfolded and locked into place when it’s time to do your business.
This type of camping toilet relies on bags that catch your excrement and make disposing of it relatively simply.
In all honesty, you’ll wind up with your own excrement in a bag that’s not too different from the plastic bags that many of us use to dispose of our dog’s excrement.
The good part about these toilets is that they are relatively inexpensive and require the least amount of storage space of any of the portable camping toilets.
But they don’t necessarily make disposing of your excrement super enjoyable and they will require that you spend a lot of money on plastic bags, which isn’t the most environmentally-friendly way to go.
Porta Potti Toilets
This is my personal favorite type of camping toilet. While most of them are slightly more expensive than folding or bucket-style toilets, they have a dedicated (and sealed) storage container for your human waste at the bottom part of the toilet.
This style of toilet has two parts. The upper part features the toilet seat and the lid. The lower part is essentially a container that seals off when you’re not using it.
The two parts can be separated and there’s usually a disposal spout that makes it easy to empty the container without getting your hands anywhere near the waste inside.
Some of the fancier Porta Potti camping toilet models can even hook up to the water supply in your camping trailer to make it easier to flush things clean after you do your business.
And these camping toilets also offer a reasonably large capacity that allows you to go several days before you have to find a place to empty them in a sanitary fashion.
Composting Toilets
This is the most expensive type of portable toilet for camping. But if you’re interested in humanure, none of the other types of portable camping toilets will suffice.
Composting toilets don’t require any water and, instead, they utilize natural processes to break down human waste so that it’s safe to add back to the natural environment.
However, there is quite a lot to consider if you want to add human waste back into the natural environment safely.
That’s because most of us are eating diets that include a lot of artificial ingredients and preservatives that aren’t necessarily safe and healthy to put back into our soil if we want our soil to be healthy.
That is why portable composting toilets are usually best for RVs, travel trailers, or 5th wheels that are more permanently parked in a location that’s dedicated to organic farming and sustainable living practices.
That being said, this style of portable camping toilet is certainly an option for traveling campers or location-independent nomads as well.
You’ll just need to be well aware of your diet and you may need to travel longer distances to find places that are willing to accept your waste when it’s time to empty your portable composting camping toilet.
How To Use a Portable Camping Toilet
The good news is you don’t need to learn a whole new bathroom routine in order to use these portable camping toilets.
For example, it’s not like learning how to use a bidet on your first visit to Europe if you’ve grown up in the U.S. without this style of toilet.
That being said, there are a few important rules for using a portable camping toilet.
First, you don’t dispose of any paper materials in this style of camping toilet. While some might say that you can put your toilet paper into them, we don’t recommend it.
It’s just going to increase your risk of having to deal with a clog or rough clean-out.
So just dispose of your paper waste in a trash can or plastic waste bag instead of putting it into your camping toilet.
Just to be clear, nothing but the liquid or solid waste that comes directly out of your body should go into your portable camping toilet.
But if you have a folding toilet that relies on bags for waste disposal, there’s no reason you can’t throw your toilet paper into the bag along with your human waste.
For any other type of camping toilet, it’s probably best that you get some sort of small waste basket to go alongside your camping toilet.
Of course, you can always use plastic bags for your paper waste, but we advocate reducing plastic waste as much as possible.
How To Dump a Portable Camping Toilet
Once you’ve used your portable camping toilet, we know it’s going to feel a little weird getting rid of your human waste.
Not to worry. Let’s talk about disposal methods for safely getting rid of the human waste you’ve accumulated in your portable toilet for camping.
Bucket Toilets
For bucket-style camping toilets, the typical disposal method is to put a large plastic waste bag inside the bucket.
This bag secures around the top edges of the bucket when you snap or set the lid in place. When the bag is full, you remove it, tie it up, and dispose of it in a waste basket or dumpster.
Most bucket toilets come with a pre-packaged waste kit that includes bags and some sort of chemical solution that you can add after each use to neutralize odors.
However, they don’t tend to seal as thoroughly and completely as Porta Potti toilets.
And while you could simply get in the habit of disposing of your plastic waste bag after each use, you’ll wind up generating a ton of single-use plastics that way.
That being said, the big advantage of this style of toilet is that you don’t have to worry about making a mess when you try to pour your waste out of the holding tank and into the hole at a dump station or city waste management facility.
Still, it’s a good idea to find a freshwater source every now and then to thoroughly rinse out the inside of the bucket and clean off the toilet seat.
You can use a mild detergent or bleach solution to help you kill any leftover bacteria on your bucket toilet seat.
Folding Toilets
This style of portable camping toilet is the easiest to dump. The toilets themselves require you to collect your human waste in a plastic bag.
So the best way to dispose of that waste is to add it to the nearest trash can you can find.
Please, don’t put any plastic materials into the hole at an RV dump station or municipal wastewater treatment facility!
Porta Potti Toilets
Porta potti toilets are some of the easiest and safest to dispose of. Many of these camping toilets have a disposal nozzle that opens and allows you to pour the contents of the container directly into the hole at an RV dump station or your city’s closest wastewater treatment facility.
Some regional facilities and RV parks will charge a fee for using their disposal services, and others will allow you to dump there for free.
That being said, the enclosed nature of this style of portable toilet can make them a bit more difficult to clean out after dumping the majority of their contents.
You may need to run a hose through them while propping them up so that their nozzle is emptying into the dump station’s waste inlet.
In most cases, this shouldn’t be too difficult. Most RV parks and wastewater treatment facilities provide a freshwater hose to assist with clean-out duties.
But if there’s no clean-out hose present, you may need to use your own supply of freshwater to clean out your portable Porta Potti-style camping toilet.
Composting Toilets
Composting toilets are arguably the hardest to dump out of all the different types of portable toilets for camping.
Because they don’t rely on water, the human waste they catch is beginning to biodegrade while it’s still contained in the toilet’s catchment area.
This means that you can’t just pull up to an RV dump station or municipal wastewater treatment facility and dump the contents of your camping toilet into their holding tanks.
You’ll need to do a little more research to find sustainable farms or industrial composting facilities that are willing to accept your slightly-degraded human waste.
Most composting toilets also must be vented to allow gasses and odors to escape as a natural part of the decomposition process.
That’s why many of them are permanently installed in tiny homes or RV conversions with a vent out the roof or side of the structure.
Air flow also helps the natural moisture evaporation process that is necessary to the composting process.
That’s why many of these portable toilets come with small fans that stimulate air flow and help the liquid collected in the toilet’s holding tank evaporate.
All of these additional features mean that composting toilets are the most expensive type of portable camping toilet on the market.
But they are also the only type of camping latrine that will allow you to safely convert human waste into fertilizer for your garden or the gardens of farmers you visit on your road trip travels.
Best Portable Toilet For Camping reviews in 2023
Now it’s time to get to the meat and potatoes of this guide. Here are our comprehensive reviews of ten selections that are all competing for the title of the best portable toilet for camping on the market today.
Here are our 9 best portable toilet list for you while in boondocking:
1: Best Overall Portable Toilet: SereneLife Outdoor Portable Toilet with Level indicator
This SereneLife toilet is our best overall portable camping toilet choice because it’s a great value at its price point and it comes with everything you need to make it a complete toilet solution.
It also sits high enough to make it comfortable for larger folks and it’s super easy to use.
This toilet’s dimensions measure 16.5” by 14.6” by 16.9” (length x width x height) and it weighs a total of 11.3 pounds when empty.
This Porta Potti-style toilet actually includes two parts. The bottom part is the catchment container and holding tank for your human waste.
The top part is the toilet bowl itself and it includes a built-in water tank to make it easier to flush the bowl clean.
The three-way flush nozzle is located on the back right side of the toilet bowl and it provides complete 360-degree cleaning for the entire bowl.
The water tank on this toilet holds a maximum capacity of 3.2 gallons of freshwater and, while we’re talking about different capacities, the holding tank capacity of this toilet is 5.3 gallons in total.
When it’s time to empty the holding tank, it detaches from the toilet bowl.
There’s a rotating emptying spout at the back of the tank that makes it easy to pour the contents into the disposal inlet at an RV dump station without making a mess.
This toilet also features a level indicator that signals when it’s time to empty it.
So it takes any guesswork out of the equation when it comes to making sure you don’t overfill your toilet.
It also comes with its own carry bag that keeps the toilet contained and makes it easy to move around when you’re finding a place to set it up.
This toilet also features a user’s guide on the underside of the toilet seat.
This makes the preferred way to operate the toilet clear to anyone that’s new to portable camping toilets.
And it’s also made with odor-resistant materials so that it doesn’t develop a lingering scent after just a few uses.
Things We Like
Things We Don’t Like
2: Best For RV Use: Thetford 92859 Portable Toilet for RV
If you’re in the midst of a bus conversion or you simply want to upgrade the existing toilet in your RV, the best portable option for RV use is the Thetford Porta Potti 260B.
This toilet measures 12.13” by 13.54” by 15.12” and it weighs just nine pounds when empty.
The compact size of this unit makes it a great replacement for your conventional RV toilet.
But it’s also equipped with a convenient carry handle on the back of the unit that makes it easy to move around and relocate as needed.
This toilet is equipped with both a freshwater and a blackwater holding tank.
Both of these tanks have 2.6-gallon capacities and the bottom tank (blackwater) easily separates from the top when it’s time to empty its contents.
Speaking of that process, the holding tank includes a pour-out spout that pivots to 90-degrees for more hygienic waste disposal.
The top of this tank also features a sealed valve that prevents any odors from escaping while the tank is holding waste.
When it’s time to clean the top portion of this toilet, the seat and seat cover can be removed for easier cleaning.
This allows you to remove all dust, dirt, and other particulates from hard-to-reach areas without having to work around the seat and seat cover.
Things We Like
Things We Don’t Like
3: Best For Truck and Van Camping: Camco 41531 Designed for Camping Portable Toilet
For the van lifers and truck campers amongst us, the Camco Portable Travel Toilet is a great choice for your camping style.
It measures 11.5” by 14” by 16” (height x width x depth) and weighs just 9.4 pounds when it’s empty.
Like the other Porta Potti camping toilets above, this model also has two separate tanks that are connected in the middle.
The upper tank, which includes the toilet bowl, holds up to 2.5 gallons of freshwater.
The lower tank, which is the blackwater holding tank, offers a maximum waste capacity of 2.6 gallons.
On the top of the bottom tank, a sliding seal valve locks in odors and keeps your waste contained when it’s time to empty the tank.
And the tank includes a wide spout on the back with a twist-on cap that you’ll use to dispose of your waste when the tank is full.
This toilet boasts a 330-pound weight capacity and it features a bellows-style pump for cleaning the bowl after each use.
It also comes with TST Orange Drop-In cleaning samples to help you keep the holding tank clean and sanitized.
Things We Like
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4: Best 5-Gallon Capacity: Dometic 301097506 Stainless Steel Brackets Portable Toilet
If you’re looking for a portable camping toilet with a large capacity, the five-gallon holding tank in this Dometic Portable Toilet will allow you to go longer stints between dumping.
Plus, this is one of the few toilets on our list that comes with mounting brackets for a semi-permanent installation in your RV or camping trailer.
These stainless steel brackets make it easy to secure the toilet to the floor of your rig while you’re driving.
So you won’t have to worry about your portable toilet moving around at all once it’s slightly filled with waste.
The dimensions of this model measure 13.5” by 15.5” by 16.5” and it weighs 14 pounds when empty.
It’s another camping Porta Potti toilet design with a lower holding tank that latches to the upper toilet bowl when it’s being used.
And there’s a prismatic tank level indicator on the front of the toilet to help you easily monitor the level of the holding tank.
We also like the push-button flush operation of this toilet because it’s located right on the front of the toilet bowl as well.
While the freshwater tank does need to be pumped for the push-button to work properly, the efficient pump on the back corner of the toilet makes it easy to build pressure without an excessive number of pumps.
This toilet also features a full-sized seat for added comfort and the lid latches to provide an extra degree of security between uses.
You’ll also find the rotating spout on the bottom holding tank to be useful for easily emptying the tank’s contents with minimal mess and no contact with your waste.
Things We Like
Things We Don’t Like
5: Best For The Off-Grid Lifestyle: Thetford Corp 92306 Porta Potti
Our choice for the best portable toilet for off-grid camping is the Thetford Porta Potti because it features a battery-powered flushing mechanism and a large, 5.5-gallon wastewater tank capacity.
This toilet also features a four-gallon freshwater tank that will allow you to flush it up to 50 times on a single fill.
It measures 17.625” by 17.75” by 15.25” (height x depth x width) and weighs a total of 13.5 pounds when empty.
The increased bowl size on this toilet makes it more comfortable and hygienic. And the higher seat height makes it more comfortable for larger individuals.
It also features a convenient tank level indicator just behind the toilet seat so you can monitor the fill level of the holding tank and it also includes an integrated toilet paper holder.
When that tank is full and it’s time to empty its contents, the bottom tank separates from the toilet bowl and can easily be carried over to a dump station using its integrated carry handle.
It also features a rotating pour spout for a more hygienic emptying experience.
This toilet is also leakproof and odorless. It has a sealed valve between the upper toilet bowl and lower holding tank.
This valve can be opened to fill the holding tank, but it closes and seals to keep odors and waste secure inside.
Things We Like
Things We Don’t Like
6: Best Bucket-Style Toilet: Reliance Products B08VV3PQ7P Luggable Loo Portable
If you know you want a bucket-style camp toilet that’s super easy to move around and doesn’t include any of the complex mechanisms of the Porta Potti toilets, check out the Reliance Products Luggable Loo.
This bucket-style camping toilet offers a five-gallon capacity and weighs less than three pounds when empty.
It features a simple, snap-on lid that resembles a traditional toilet seat for comfortable use.
And this toilet is compliant with Reliance’s Double Doodie Toilet Waste Bags for easy and sanitary waste disposal.
The dimensions of this bucket toilet measure 12.8” by 14.57” by 13.39” and it’s equipped with a metal handle for easy transport.
It’s also backed by Reliance’s five-year guarantee that goes into effect on the original date of purchase.
Things We Like
Things We Don’t Like
7: Best Budget-Friendly Toilet: PLAYBERG B08N8B314Y Camping and Hiking Travel Toilet
Reliance Products Luggable Loo is a bucket-style camping toilet which is super easy to move around and doesn’t include any of the complex mechanisms of the Porta Potti toilets.
This bucket-style camping toilet offers a five-gallon capacity and weighs less than three pounds when empty.
It features a simple, snap-on lid that resembles a traditional toilet seat for comfortable use.
And this toilet is compliant with Reliance’s Double Doodie Toilet Waste Bags for easy and sanitary waste disposal.
The dimensions of this bucket toilet measure 12.8” by 14.57” by 13.39” and it’s equipped with a metal handle for easy transport.
It’s also backed by Reliance’s five-year guarantee that goes into effect on the original date of purchase.
Things We Like
Things We Don’t Like
8: Best For Composting: Nature’s Head B009Z7EKIC Self Contained Composting Toilet
If you’re into boondocking, dry camping, or you’re looking for a portable composting toilet for a tiny home, you have to check out this Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet.
This is also a great choice for environmentally-conscious campers that aren’t stoked on the plastic usage required of bucket style toilets or the chemicals needed for Porta Potti toilets.
This toilet measures 22” by 20.5” by 21.7” (length x width x height) and weighs 28 pounds when empty.
These larger dimensions and extra weight are largely a product of the large lower holding tank required for the composting process to begin properly.
Speaking of beginning the composting process, this toilet does require a 12-volt power supply to operate the included fan.
This fan pulls about three watts and runs regularly to stimulate the air flow necessary for decomposition of your waste.
The maximum weight capacity of this toilet is 300 pounds and it’s designed for a semi-permanent installation mounted to the floor of your RV or travel trailer.
It also requires a vent out the roof or side of your rig for noxious fumes and odors to escape.
The tank’s large capacity, however, should only need to be emptied every 4-6 weeks when being used by two people.
It’s also important to know that this toilet requires the separation of your solid and liquid waste.
But it does come with a separate container in the front for your liquid waste.
Things We Like
Things We Don’t Like
9: Best For Composting: Nature’s Head B009Z7EKIC Self Contained Composting Toilet
If you’re most concerned about maintaining your privacy while using a portable camping toilet, look no further than the Cleanwaste Go Anywhere Total System.
As its name suggests, this product truly does come with everything you need to set up your camping toilet anywhere.
This system includes a small folding toilet, a pop up privacy shelter, fifteen waste kits, and a backpack that everything fits into for compact storage and easy carrying.
Those waste kits include single-use plastic waste bags and a dry kitty litter-style solution that minimizes odors from waste stored in bags.
The privacy shelter measures 64 inches tall and offers a 16 square foot base to give you plenty of room to set up the toilet and keep the backpack close by for when you’re done.
When you pack up the shelter, it breaks down to dimensions of just 28” by 6” and fits inside the backpack.
The folding toilet includes three legs that easily fold out and click into place to give the seat structure and stability.
When it’s set up, the toilet seat sits about 15 inches above the ground. And when everything is packed into the backpack, it weighs just eight pounds.
Things We Like
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Buying Guide of portable toilet in 2023
After reading through our camping toilet reviews, we hope you have at least two or three models that you’re interested in.
But this Buying Guide will help you consider every single detail you should account for in order to finally select the perfect portable toilet for camping.
Size
The first thing you should consider when shopping for a camping toilet is the overall size of the unit.
If you plan on using it inside a camping trailer or popup truck camper, you’ll need to make sure you have enough space to set it up properly and use it functionally once it’s set up.
Fortunately, the dimensions of most of these toilets are easy to find on Amazon or directly on the manufacturer’s website.
And you should also keep in mind that size may not matter as much if you know you’ll always be setting up your portable toilet outside with some sort of popup shelter or privacy shade.
Capacity
The next specification to note is the total capacity of the toilet’s holding tank.
Depending on the style of toilet you choose, you may be disposing of your waste in single-use plastic bags or you may have a large tank that will hold waste from up to 50 uses before you need to empty it.
Among the toilets we’ve chosen to review above, the largest capacity you’ll find is five gallons.
As you might imagine, a toilet with a higher holding tank capacity will require you to empty and clean it less frequently.
This also means that those of you that are interested in off-grid camping should look for a toilet with a minimum capacity of five gallons.
But you should also be aware that the frequency with which you’ll need to dump your toilet’s contents will also depend on how much water you use per flush.
Being more conscientious about your water usage will allow you to dump your portable camping toilet less frequently.
Additionally, you should consider how many people will be using your toilet on your regular camping trips. And it’s also smart to think about the average length of your trips.
If you take longer trips and your whole family will be using your portable camping toilet while you’re away, you’ll need something with a much larger capacity than, say, a couple that needs a toilet for weekend getaways.
Comfort
While some of our ancestors might scoff at the idea of us considering our comfort during the process of relieving our bladders, our technological advancements allow us to consider such luxuries these days.
And a more comfortable toilet allows us to do our business with less stress on our bladders and other internal organs.
We don’t need to get into the anatomy of it all, but there are definitely studies that support the benefits of having your hips below your knees when you go number two.
These studies have led to the invention of things like the Squatty-Potty and other bathroom aids.
Now, we are definitely not here to tell you there’s one right way to do your bathroom business.
But we do want to remind you to consider your comfort and anatomical preferences when choosing a portable toilet for camping purposes.
What’s comfortable for a person that’s 6’5” tall, for example, may not quite be comfortable for another person that’s only 5’6”.
So just consider your body type and personal restroom preferences when you’re looking at the height and style of the camping toilet that’s right for you.
Ease of Use
One of the big things that dictate the ease of using a portable camping toilet is its weight.
If your toilet is too heavy, it’s going to be a pain in the you-know-what every time you need to lug it out of your trailer to set it up.
But you’ll also need to look at the specific process for dumping and cleaning the toilet you’re interested in.
While toilets of the same style utilize the same basic dumping process, there are nuances that make some easier to use than others.
For example, a toilet with a capped spout that you use to empty its contents will be easier (and cleaner) to dump than a toilet without one.
And it also makes it easier to cap the spout, fill the tank with freshwater, and then flush any remaining waste contents with less risk of getting waste on your hands or spilling it on the ground.
Design Elements
When you compare and contrast the design of different toilet models, there are a few important elements to look at.
Working from the bottom up, note whether or not the toilet has a floor or relies on standing legs. If the toilet you’re interested in does have a floor, note whether that floor is flat or curved.
We recommend a flat floor because it provides much more stability when you set up your toilet inside an RV, truck camper, or popup camping trailer.
But curved floors are sometimes useful if you know you’ll always be setting your toilet up outside.
The curved nature makes it easier for you to dig your toilet slightly into the ground so that it remains stable while you use it.
The next design element to note is the depth of the toilet bowl. In general, we’ve found that toilets with deeper bowls provide a cleaner and more hygienic user experience.
Plus, they can also accommodate the larger bowel movements that some of us experience when we eat the kinds of camping foods that our bodies aren’t necessarily used to.
In addition, you should look at the design of the toilet’s flushing mechanism if you choose a model that’s equipped with one.
Some units boast unidirectional flush mechanisms and others have multi-directional units.
From our experience, a multi-directional flushing unit is always more effective at removing as much waste as possible from the toilet bowl.
This also makes your toilet more hygienic (especially if multiple people are using it) and easier to clean when it’s time to do so.
And, finally, you should also look for a toilet design that has taken odor reduction into account.
Some of the best toilets for camping include some sort of chemical or organic solution that helps to minimize the odors that the toilet emits when it’s holding waste.
Some models will come with waste kits that include a solution that will need to be added to the toilet after each use.
Others come with containment modules that are lined with a chemical solution for stench prevention.
Ultimately, the design of a toilet’s odor prevention solution will impact how you use the toilet.
Extra Accessories
When you compare the toilet models above, you’ll notice that some of them come with just the toilet while others include various accessories.
Some examples of these accessories include popup privacy shelters, biodegradable toilet paper, urine diverters, deodorizers, wag bags, and toilet chemicals.
Depending on the type of toilet you buy, some of these accessories might be absolutely essential to the hygienic use of your toilet.
So if you choose a model that requires these accessories but doesn’t come with them, you’ll need to spend the extra time and money to finalize your camping waste collection and disposal system.
You’ll need to keep the possibility of added expenses in mind when you’re comparing the cost of different toilet models.
While the base price for one model might appear more affordable than the base price for another, your final costs will differ if the cheaper model doesn’t come with any accessories and the slightly more expensive model does.
In our opinion, it’s worth investing slightly more into a complete toilet system because you won’t have to spend additional time researching and comparing price points for all of those other accessories that you need to be comfortable using your portable toilet when you’re camping.
Warranty
Not all of these toilets come with a warranty that covers damages or improperly manufactured products.
But some do! And if you don’t quite trust the idea of a portable camping toilet, we suggest finding a unit with the longest and most beginner-friendly warranty possible.
Just be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully before you begin using your new camping toilet.
In many cases, the fine print of these warranty policies will stipulate that the policy is null and void if the product owner uses it in a fashion that isn’t adherent to the manufacturer’s specific instructions for use, waste disposal, and sanitization.
Price
You’ll find that these portable latrines for camping come with a wide variety of price tags.
Some of the more budget-friendly models will be a good fit for folks with a budget of less than $100 for their portable waste disposal system.
The more expensive models, on the other end of the scale, will require you to budget up to $1,000 or more for your camping toilet.
From our experience with these toilets, we really do recommend buying the best possible camping toilet that fits in your budget.
But if you can narrow down your choices to a few toilets that are priced in the $90 to $300 range, we’ll be able to rest easy knowing you’re getting a quality product that’s going to help you do your business in the most hygienic manner possible when you’re camping.
That is, unless you’re absolutely certain that a composting toilet is the best portable option for your camping needs.
If that is the case, you should expect to spend upwards of at least $900 to find a quality portable composting toilet.
So, Which Is Best For You?
If you’re looking for a camping toilet that will be adaptable for a wide variety of camping styles, then look no further than our choice for the best overall portable toilet for camping.
The SereneLife Outdoor Portable Toilet with Carry Bag is a great value and it’s as close to a conventional RV toilet as you can get without having to worry about plumbing and holding tanks.
It also comes with a convenient fill-level indicator that helps you avoid overfilling it.
And it includes a built-in water tank that allows you to flush waste more completely and minimize clean up efforts over the life of the toilet.
And if you’re dedicated to sustainable living and healthy eating, the best portable toilet for your camping needs will be the Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet.
This style of camping latrine is best for custom-built vans and RV conversions that don’t necessarily have the built-in plumbing for a conventional RV toilet.
They are also a great choice for folks that use a network such as Harvest Hosts for finding campsites.
You can also provide a benefit to some of the farms or composting facilities you visit if you’re dedicated to healthy eating and your waste can safely be incorporated into a facility’s composting efforts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most of us are only used to doing our business in the comfort of our homes. So we get how the idea of a portable camping toilet may seem a little foreign at first.
That’s why we’re going to cover everything else you need to know about these latrines in our Frequently Asked Questions section.
Can you poop in a portable camping toilet?
Yes! That’s exactly what these camping toilets are designed for. And most of them have a containment unit that keeps your excrement enclosed until you can dump it at the closest RV dump station.
The sealed nature of these toilets means that you don’t have to worry about emptying them directly after each use.
Some, of course, have larger capacities than others, but most can handle several uses before they need to be emptied.
Do portable camping toilets smell?
No! To be quite honest, these toilets won’t smell unless you’re using them improperly.
The bucket, Porta Potti, and composting toilets have lids or caps that keep the smell of your human waste contained until you find a place to dump it.
And the folding toilets utilize single-use disposal bags that you simply get rid of after each use so that you’re not carrying around smelly waste bags.
That being said, if you use a folding toilet for a multi-day off-grid camping trip, you may not have a place to immediately dispose of your waste after using the toilet.
In this case, it can be helpful to have a five-gallon bucket with a lid that you can use to contain the smell of your waste bags.
But some folding toilets do come with a solution that you add to your waste bags to neutralize any smells.
What’s the difference between a composting toilet and a conventional toilet?
Composting toilets are best for you if you’re interested in boondocking or dry camping.
And while they require a bit more intensive cleaning and preparation processes, they’re also best for you if you’re dedicated to finding the most environmentally-conscious camping waste disposal system possible.
Composting toilets are different from conventional trailer toilets because they use little to no water for flushing purposes.
They also require that you add some sort of organic material to the holding tank after each addition of human waste.
What kinds of organic materials can you put in a composting toilet?
Sawdust is a common material used with composting toilets, but other examples include peat moss, coconut pith, hemp stalks, and diatomaceous earth.
There are various benefits to these different materials, but they are all intended to accomplish the same purpose.
And that purpose is to begin the decomposition process in the holding tank of your composting toilet.
Eventually, your waste will turn into a fertilizer that’s safe to handle (as long as you’re eating healthy).
What is a wag bag for a camping toilet?
Wag bags are very popular for backpacking in heavily trafficked backcountry areas.
They get their name because they are typically attached to the outside of a pack and allowed to ‘wag’ behind you as you’re going down the trail.
In practice, a wag bag is a glorified plastic doggie bag that’s meant to collect human waste.
Instead of just being a plastic bag, however, most of these bags include some sort of dry or liquid chemical solution that helps to reduce odors and begin the decomposition process.
They are not commonly used with all portable camping toilets, but they are essential for many folding and bucket-style toilets.
How do I clean my portable toilet for camping?
The exact cleaning process for your commode will depend on the model you purchase and the manufacturer’s instructions.
Some models, for example, will be able to handle more harsh cleaning chemicals while others will require something milder and more eco-friendly.
Bucket and Folding Toilets
Bucket and folding camping toilets that use wag bags will have an easier cleaning process than Porta Potti or composting toilets.
For bucket-style and folding toilets, simply dispose of the wag bag and use cleaning wipes or an all-purpose cleaning solution to wipe the toilet seat (and inside of the bucket) clean.
Composting Toilets
Composting toilets have a different dumping and cleaning process that involves separating waste from your composting medium.
Depending on the style and effectiveness of the specific toilet model you buy, many users report that this can easily become a stinky and messy process.
But once the waste is separated, it is disposed of while the composting medium is placed back in the tank and rehydrated for future uses.
Composting toilets also call for separating liquid waste from solid waste.
So you’ll also have to empty the liquid waste catchment container into a RV dump station or in another sanitary location.
Porta Potti Toilets
That being said, here’s a basic cleaning process that you can follow if you choose a Porta Potti camping toilet:
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Open the cap and dump all solid and liquid waste from your toilet’s holding container
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Screw the cap in place and fill the container with one-gallon of water
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Add one-fifth cup of bleach or mild detergent (if your toilet came with a solution, use that. If it didn’t, please consult the owner’s manual for approved cleaning solutions for your toilet).
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Gently shake the container to disperse the cleaning solution and dislodge any stuck waste particles.
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Allow the cleaning solution to sit for 5-10 minutes.
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Give the holding tank another mild shake-and-swish
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Open the cap and dump the tank’s contents
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Screw the cap back in place
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Refill the tank with another half-gallon to full gallon of freshwater
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Gently shake-and-swish the tank again
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Remove cap and dump the tank’s remaining contents to remove any excess cleaning solution.
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Allow the tank to sit for 5-10 minutes with the cap off to dry slightly
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Replace the cap before connecting the tank back to the toilet bowl or storing it in your trailer.
Conclusion
While you can spend your time planning all of your camping adventures around campsites that have communal restrooms, opening up your possibilities sounds so much more enticing.
And when you have the ability to comfortably relieve your bladder almost anywhere, there’s no limit to where you can camp and how long you can stay on the road.
For those of you that own popup truck campers, slide-in truck toppers, popup camping trailers, and any other type of recreational vehicle that doesn’t have its own commode, a portable toilet is a must-have camping accessory.
It is our sincere hope that our camping toilet guide has helped you find the best model for your specific camping needs.
And we also hope you’ve learned how to use and care for your new portable camping toilet in the safest, most hygienic manner possible.
Best of luck on all of your upcoming camping adventures!
