The Best Portable Freezers For Camping & Road Trips Of 2023

You might not think you really need a smart portable freezer, but the Hebron 21QT Portable Refrigerator/Freezer will make you put all of those thoughts to the side immediately and realize that, actually, you can’t go another second without one in your life. Just like our smart refrigerators and freezers at home, this model allows you to adjust settings straight from your phone, meaning you never need to get up or look away from the stunning landscapes ever again.

These smart features are more than just a gimmick, though, this is also a highly dependable unit. It will cool to -4°F, ensuring reliably frozen food and drink that you will need at the end of a mammoth hike through the countryside. And unlike many other portable freezers, it’s also lightweight and highly portable. Weighing in at just 22 pounds, it’s one of the most convenient options available, saving the extra weight in the car and making it a little easier to get up those tricky mountain hills. It is also insulated to guarantee consistent performance, while the durable construction will protect the precious cargo and delicate components from damage should the worst happen. You also have three-level car battery protection so you can still rev up the engine and get out of there when your trip is over.

The Dometic CFX3 Portable Refrigerator and Freezer comes in a variety of possible capacities to appeal to all group sizes to guarantee a successful trip. It features VMSO3 compressor cooling technology that can freeze down to –7 °F. Best of all, it can be plugged into AC or DC power, or powered by solar, while its convenient mobile app puts the control of the freezer right at your fingertips.

This premium portable refrigerator and freezer comes with a stylish and user-friendly interface that displays its operating status while its soft-touch buttons allow seamless temperature control and monitoring. You can also monitor and control your freezer remotely thanks to the CFX3 app that enables temperature control via WiFi or Bluetooth and displays performance history. The 25-liter model can fit 40 cans, but if you generally like bringing more food and drinks on your trips, there are 35L, 45L, 55L, 75L and 100L models available too. Of course, these are even more expensive than the 25L capacity unit. Overall, you can’t go wrong with the Dometic’s CFX line of portable fridges – they’re some of the best on the market.

For more great products for your adventures, check out our guide to the top-rated coolers for camping.

The Alpicool C15 Portable Refrigerator is one of the best portable freezers you can get in this price range and is excellent value for anyone who doesn’t need a big, bulky box for their next trip. With a 16-quart (15 liters) capacity, it can fit plenty of food or 20 cans and cool them to -4°F (-20°C) even without ice.

This model is great for road trips, but not the best for cars, RVs, or trucks where the outlets switch off when you kill the ignition. However, the high-density insulation will still keep your food fresh and at the optimal temperature without spoiling. Keep in mind that this model has only one compartment so it’s best to use it for one type of food (and not meat and beer, for example). The good news is that you can adjust the temperature and make the unit either a fridge or a freezer, depending on your needs. For a little over $200, it’s a great choice for short trips or even as a backup freezer. You may also want to check out our guide to the best soft-sided coolers for more practical and versatile products like this.

Tough, durable, and large, the Whynter FM-85G 85 Quart Portable Fridge is perfect for backyard family barbecues or times when you and your buddies disappear into the wilderness for some good old-fashioned bonding sessions. It can contain 85 quarts or 120 cans at 12 fluid ounces. If you want to eat as well as drink, you can fit plenty of foods in there, too.

The Whynter FM-85G makes storage easier thanks to the two removable wire baskets that can help keep food and drink separate, but you can also take them out to free up a little extra room if you need to maximize your refreshments and keep everybody happy. If you realize you’ve slacked on your refrigeration duties, the Fast Freeze function drops the temperature to a chilling -8°F, and all will be good in the world once more. This model is compatible with both AC and DC sockets, and it is the best portable freezer for car, RV, or even to use at home if you just need a little extra storage. It will function even when tilted, and to make cleanup a breeze, there’s a handy drainage pipe at the bottom to wash the water out so you can get on your way as soon as possible.

If you’re looking for an affordable, quality portable fridge, the Koolatron 29 Quart Voyager Cooler is a great option. Its large capacity is perfect for longer road trips and the durable design ensures longevity to keep you and your friends or family refreshed and full for many adventures yet.

Bear in mind, though, that this is not a freezer – it’s a cooler and warmer in one. This unique model has a varied refrigerator temperature design (40°F to 140°F) so it can both cool and heat your food, although it takes much longer to warm up than it does to cool. This versatility provides something other freezers do not, and you can enjoy the best of both worlds on your next family camping trip. It’s fantastic for keeping refreshments cool, but it’s not the best at cooling down things that are already warm. It comes with molded side handles for easy portability and a reliable seal lid to keep everything fresh.

With a large 52-liter capacity, the COSTWAY Portable Car Refrigerator is an excellent choice for anyone planning on leaving the everyday world behind and embarking on an exciting road trip that would make Jack Kerouac envious. It’s sturdy, with a shockproof design to guarantee protection on poorly maintained roads while the easy-grab handles make it super portable.

This unit has two separate compartments – refrigeration and freezer compartment – allowing you to store all your food, snacks and beverages the right way. The LCD display shows the current temperature clearly, even in low light, but you’ll need to reset this every time you switch the unit off and back on again. However, this is simple enough to do and shouldn’t cause any problems. This might just be the best portable freezer for cars as it boasts fast cooling technology and offers both ECO and MAX modes for better efficiency and greater power, whichever you prefer, while the 3 battery protection levels prevent overcharging and potential parts damage.

Our guide to the most popular floating coolers features some excellent products for summer days on the water, so check them out.

There’s no two ways about it – the ICECO VL60 is the king of portable freezers. If you’ve got a bigger budget, this (along with Dometic CFX) should be at the top of your list of considerations. First of all, it has a huge 63.4-quart capacity. Split into two sections, there’s enough space to store a week of food and drink, or enough space for 89 cans (355ml) if you’re planning the ultimate tailgating party.

You might think that this huge amount of space would make it too big to fit in the back of your pick-up truck, but they’ve thought of that. At 18.8-inches tall, it fits perfectly. It’s also relatively easy to pick up, with a steel-spring handle on each side. You’ll probably need some help when it’s fully loaded though. In terms of temperature, you can use the control panel to set it anywhere between 0º and 50ºF. You can also set one side to be cooler than the other or turn one side off completely, which makes it perfect for keeping food and drink separate. With the help of the SECOP compressor, this is one powerful and durable portable freezer.

If you’re looking for a portable fridge/freezer that can handle the rough stuff, look no further. The Engel MR040 is built for durability. Whether you’re going off-roading, sailing, or just camping, this amazing portable freezer will keep your refreshments at the perfect temperature. It offers the same performance as the popular Engel MT35 and MT45 models but has a super-durable, corrosion-resistant ABS case. 

The freezer has a 40-quart capacity, enough for multiple days in the wilderness or out at sea. This model is favored by fishermen because the housing can get wet without getting damaged. Thanks to the Engel Swing Motor Compressor, it’s also really efficient. It draws less than two amps an hour (around 40% less than a traditional compressor). The temperature range allows you to use it as a freezer or a refrigerator, depending on what you’re trying to store. Back to the durability, seeing as that’s the Engel MR040’s biggest selling point. The internal components are protected by a vibration-resistance system. Even if your boat or land-vehicle is getting shaken about, it will continue to work. Plus, it will also work on inclines up to 30º.

If you’re looking for a more affordable portable freezer, the SetPower TC20 is a great option. It doesn’t have all of the premium features that we’ve seen on the $500+ freezers but it does the basic things well, which is all you really need for an awesome outdoor adventure. First off, the temperature range is -4º to 64º, so it works as both a fridge and a freezer. With a capacity of 20 liters and a detachable two-way door, you can fit just enough food in for a day trip. If you’re looking for a freezer for a week-long camping trip, this one might not have the space. 

The two-way door is actually one of its best features – it makes it easy to access from the trunk of your car without having to swivel it around. It’s also surprisingly durable, thanks to thick ABS plastic housing and incline-operation up to 30º. Other features include detachable wheels, a digital control panel, and built-in handles.