The 7 Best Telescope For Camping Of 2025, Researched By Us

The Celestron 70mm Travel Scope is a great choice for campers who want a simple, effective way to explore the night sky. The 70mm aperture and fully coated glass optics offer sharp, bright views of celestial and terrestrial targets alike. Whether you're watching the Moon rise above the horizon or spotting birds at dawn, this telescope delivers surprisingly crisp images for its size.

Designed with ease-of-use in mind, it features an intuitive no-tool setup, allowing you to go from backpack to observing in just minutes. The included 20mm and 10mm eyepieces give you the flexibility to switch between wide views and detailed close-ups, while the finderscope and star diagonal make targeting and viewing easy.

Portability is where this scope really shines. It packs down neatly into the included padded backpack, which also has room for all the accessories. You even get free access to Starry Night software, which helps beginners identify constellations and plan observing sessions. The only drawback is the lightweight tripod, which can feel unstable on uneven ground. However, for the price and portability, the Celestron 70mm still punches well above its weight in quality and convenience.

The Pankoo 40X60 Monocular Telescope brings surprising optical performance in a palm-sized package. Featuring 40x magnification and a 60mm objective lens, it provides bright, detailed views of landscapes, birds, and even celestial objects. Thanks to the FMC (Fully Multi-Coated) lens and BAK-4 prism, the image quality is impressively sharp and clear for a monocular in this price range.

This scope is designed with versatility in mind—perfect for camping, hiking, bird watching, or even casual night sky viewing. It’s easy to operate one-handed, and the included smartphone adapter and mini tripod make it simple to take photos or videos of your observations. Whether you're spotting wildlife at dawn or snapping a zoomed-in shot of the Moon, this setup adds a layer of excitement to your camping trip.

While the monocular itself is lightweight and user-friendly, the phone bracket can be a bit tight, especially for larger Android devices. That said, it's a minor gripe for an otherwise solid and affordable monocular telescope.

The FEEMIC 8x42 Monocular offers a practical balance of portability and visual clarity. With 8x magnification and a 42mm objective lens, this monocular provides a 360ft/1000-yard field of view, ideal for bird watching, nature observation, or campsite surveillance. The optics are high-grade, featuring BAK-4 prisms and FMC (Fully Multi-Coated) lenses, ensuring high light transmission and impressive image brightness, even at dusk.

Durability is a strong point here. The body is nitrogen-filled for waterproofing, and the rubberized armor protects it from drops and tough trail conditions. Whether you're hiking through misty forests or watching wildlife near a lake, this scope is built to perform. It also features adjustable eye cups, making it glasses-friendly, and a tripod mount for steady viewing sessions. Nevertheless, the included carry case is handy but a bit tight. Still, these are minor downsides for such a durable and optically strong camping telescope.

The Gosky 12X50 combines 12x magnification, an 18mm eyepiece, and a 50mm objective lens to deliver sharp, colorful images at up to 289ft/1000 yards. Thanks to its BAK-4 prism and fully multi-coated lenses, it provides excellent light transmission and vivid color accuracy, which is especially appreciated during low-light or twilight viewing.

This monocular is rugged enough for rough outdoor use, with an IPX7 waterproof and fog-proof build, plus a rubberized armor for extra grip and shock resistance. It’s also lightweight and compact, making it a practical choice for day hikes or backpacking trips.

The universal smartphone adapter is a fun addition for snapping quick shots or recording video, but the included mounting hardware can be tricky to adjust, especially when you’re trying to align it on the go. But, once everything is set up, you’ll be amazed at how close you can bring the night sky—or a distant deer—right to your screen.

The PhysioPhyx 80x100 Monocular Telescope is built for campers and adventurers who want maximum magnification in a rugged, portable unit. Despite its compact size, this monocular features a true 80x zoom paired with a large 100mm objective lens—a rare combo in this category. This results in crisp, bright images whether you’re scanning the treetops, observing wildlife, or stargazing.

Optics are a high point here, thanks to fully multi-coated lenses and a BAK-4 prism system. Light transmission reaches up to 99.5%, helping provide high-contrast images even in low-light conditions like dusk or early morning. The twist-up eyecup design also makes it comfortable for glasses wearers.

This monocular is suitable for a wide range of outdoor uses—from hunting and hiking to concerts and casual sightseeing. It even comes with a smartphone holder to capture and share what you see. One minor drawback is that there are no instructions on how to set up the camera holder, but it's not too hard to figure out.

The MD.LIFE 80x100 Monocular Telescope is a lightweight, travel-friendly telescope designed for outdoor adventurers who want a convenient way to view distant scenery, wildlife, or even the night sky while camping. With 80x magnification and a 100mm objective lens, the MD.LIFE provides an impressively wide field of view.

Furthermore, this device uses a BAK-4 prism and fully multi-coated (FMC) lenses, which help improve image brightness and clarity by reducing light refraction and improving transmission. While you won't get professional-level zoom detail sometimes, the view is sharp enough for most recreational activities like birdwatching, landscape viewing, or moon gazing.

This monocular is also packed with convenience features: the rubber-armored body offers a non-slip grip, and the smooth focus wheel makes it easy to bring objects into view quickly. The package includes a tripod and smartphone holder, letting you easily capture and share moments, ideal for social media or creating memories with friends and family.

With 12x magnification and a 60mm objective lens, this scope delivers a wide 360ft/1000yd field of view—ideal for spotting distant wildlife, scenery, or celestial objects during your outdoor adventures. Optical performance is enhanced by multi-coated SMC green lenses and a BAK-4 prism, ensuring up to 99.8% light transmittance for crisp, high-contrast images. The built-in low-light night vision offers surprisingly decent visibility in dim settings, making it perfect for dusk and early evening observation, although not intended for full darkness.

A key highlight is its smartphone compatibility. The included universal phone holder and tripod let users easily capture stills or videos hands-free, which is perfect for nature journaling, social media sharing, or travel documentation. It's also designed for rugged use—waterproof and fog-resistant, with a durable rubberized exterior and a one-handed focus knob for convenience in the field.

Unfortunately, the carrying case is slightly too snug, making it a bit tricky to close, especially when packing up quickly. Still, that’s a minor downside compared to the telescope’s strong performance and feature set.