Best Portable Griddle: Camping, Tailgating, and Beyond
Portable griddles for camping and tailgating? We found models that pack easy and cook even, but watch out for wind issues and tiny grease traps. Your cookout won't be ruined.
I’ve cooked on a lot of flat tops, and the portable ones take the most abuse. They get thrown in truck beds, shoved under camp chairs, and left out in the dew. I tested nine of them over three months, 100 smash burgers, and a family reunion where my brother-in-law still brings up the wind. The Blackstone 2363 camping griddle is the best overall, but at 14.5 pounds it’s not the lightest thing you’ll lug to a trailhead. Here’s what survived.
| Product | Price | Why it won | Why it lost |
|---|---|---|---|
 Blackstone 2363 Camping Griddle (B0DT5P3KGD) |
Check price | 20" x 14" surface, latches shut, leveling feet work | Not backpackable, needs a table |
 Blackstone 1814 17-inch Tabletop (B07ZS5HWCC) |
Check price | Lightest Blackstone, stainless faceplate | Smaller cooking area, grease trap is shallow |
 Royal Gourmet PD1301 3-Burner (B083THZC1T) |
Check price | Huge 3-burner surface, comes with cover | Heavy, bulky for camping |
 Presto 07061 Electric (B005FYF3OY) |
Check price | Indoor/outdoor, no propane needed | Electric cord limits tailgate use |
 Blackstone 1666 22-inch Tabletop (B076MFM8LX) |
Check price | Classic 22" size, hood traps heat | Paint flakes on frame after a year |
 Blackstone 1813 22-inch with Hood (B07ZS5RQZ4) |
Check price | Stainless face, hood is solid | Pricey for the size |
 bella Fold and Store (B0CZPFPHDY) |
Check price | Ceramic coating, folds flat | Coating isn't as tough as steel |
 bella Fold and Store Surf (B0CZPFF918) |
Check price | Same as above, different color | Same as above |
 Blackstone 2364 with Side Burner (B0DT4Z5DHL) |
Check price | Side burner boils coffee while cooking | Narrow 12" depth, awkward for smash |
How I tested
I packed these in and out of my truck for six weeks. I cooked smash burgers at a tailgate where the wind was gusting 15 mph. I ran a full breakfast service on the 22" models: 12 eggs, a pound of bacon, and a stack of pancakes, all without a cold spot. I left each one outside overnight with the cover off to see what rusted. I used my dog Colby as the quality control officer. He camped out exactly three feet from each cooking surface, and he knows when a burger hits a cold spot before I do.
The seasoning test was brutal. I re-oiled after every cook, but I also skipped a few nights to see which surfaces flaked. The cheap ones rusted in days. The good ones held their polymerized oil like a memory.
Analysis and test results
Heat distribution
Even heat is the whole ballgame. The Blackstone 2363 and the 1666 both have cold spots in the back left corner if you crowd them. The Royal Gourmet's three burners give you the most even surface of the group, but it takes 10 minutes to get hot enough for a sear. The Presto electric has no cold spots at all, but it maxes out at 400 degrees, which means you're not getting the crust you want on a smash burger.
The bella ceramic coating heats fast and even, but it's not steel. It doesn't hold heat the same way. A smash burger needs thermal mass. The ceramic just doesn't have the weight behind it.
Grease management
The Blackstone 1814 has a grease trap that is a joke. It's shallow, it overflows if you cook a pound of bacon, and the grease ends up on the frame. I scraped it mid-cook more times than I can count. The 2363 has a deeper trap that actually works, but you still have to empty it halfway through a big cook. The Royal Gourmet has the best grease management of the group, with a wide channel that catches everything.
Wind resistance
Wind is the silent killer of outdoor cookouts. The 2363 with its latches and low profile did the best in a breeze. The 22" models with hoods are better, but they're not portable. The bella fold and store is the worst. It's flat, it's thin, and a gust of wind kills the flame in seconds. I rigged a cardboard wind guard for the 1814 and it helped, but it shouldn't be my job.
Portability and build
The Presto weighs 11 pounds and has a cord. It's fine for a campsite with power, but it's not a tailgate tool. The 2363 latches shut and has leveling feet, which are a real upgrade on uneven picnic tables. The 1814 is the lightest Blackstone at 12 pounds, but it feels less sturdy. The Royal Gourmet is a beast at 30 pounds. It's not portable, it's just movable.
Winner: Blackstone 2363 Camping Griddle (B0DT5P3KGD)
This is the one I grabbed every time. It's 14.5 pounds, which is light enough to carry one-handed, and the latches keep the top secure in the truck bed. The leveling feet are a small thing, but when you're on a picnic table that rocks, it's everything. The cooking surface is 20" x 14", which is enough for eight smash burgers at once, and the heat distribution is surprisingly even for a portable. The back left corner is slightly cooler, but it's not a dead zone.
The grease trap is deeper than the 1814's, and I only had to empty it once during a full breakfast service. The seasoning held up over six weeks of regular use, including a few nights where I left it dirty. It's not perfect. The frame is thin, and the paint will flake if you're rough with it. But for the money, it's the best portable griddle I've tested.
I cooked 40 smash burgers on this at my brother-in-law's place. He didn't mention the wind once. That's a win.
Best Value: Blackstone 1814 17" Tabletop (B07ZS5HWCC)
At ~$90, this is the budget play. It's 12 pounds, it's got a stainless steel faceplate, and it heats up in five minutes. The cooking surface is 17" x 13", which is tight for a family of four, but fine for two people or a solo camp cook. The grease trap is the weak point. It's shallow, it overflows, and you'll be scraping mid-cook. But if you're on a budget and you want a Blackstone, this is the one.
The crust on smash burgers is decent, but the thin steel doesn't hold heat as well as the heavier models. You'll get a good sear, but you have to work the surface in batches. For the price, it's hard to argue with.
Best for Big Groups: Royal Gourmet PD1301 3-Burner (B083THZC1T)
This thing is a monster. Three burners, a 30-pound frame, and a cooking surface that handles a full breakfast service without breaking a sweat. The heat distribution is the most even of the group, and the grease management is the best. It comes with a cover, which is a rare thing at this price point.
But it's not portable. It's movable. You're not carrying this to a campsite. It's a tailgate tool for people who drive a truck and don't mind the weight. It takes 10 minutes to heat up, which is slower than the Blackstone models, but once it's hot, it's steady.
Best Indoor Option: Presto 07061 Electric (B005FYF3OY)
Electric griddles get a bad rap, but the Presto is a solid choice for apartment dwellers or anyone who wants to cook indoors without the smoke. It's 11 pounds, it's got a ceramic coating that's easy to clean, and it heats up fast. The downside is the 400-degree max, which means you won't get the crust you want on a smash burger. But for eggs, pancakes, and grilled cheese, it's perfect.
The cord is a limitation for tailgating, but if you've got a campsite with power, it's a solid backup. It's not a workhorse, but it's a reliable weekday cooker.
What else to consider
Blackstone 1666 22" Tabletop (B076MFM8LX): The classic 22" size. The hood traps heat and keeps grease from splattering, but the frame paint flakes off after a year. I've had one and I've re-seasoned it twice.
Blackstone 1813 22" with Hood (B07ZS5RQZ4): The stainless faceplate is nice, and the hood is solid. But at ~$170, you're paying for the name. The cooking surface is the same as the 1666.
bella Fold and Store (B0CZPFPHDY and B0CZPFF918): These fold flat for storage, which is a great idea, but the ceramic coating isn't as tough as steel. It heats fast, but it doesn't hold heat. Fine for eggs, not for smash burgers.
Blackstone 2364 with Side Burner (B0DT4Z5DHL): The side burner is a nice touch for boiling coffee or heating a pan of beans. But the cooking surface is only 12" x 14", which is too narrow for a real cook. It's a niche tool.
Should you buy the Blackstone 2363?
If you're looking for a portable griddle that packs easy, cooks even, and won't fall apart after a season, yes. It's not the lightest, and the grease trap isn't perfect, but it's the best balance of portability, performance, and price. If you're cooking for two, the 1814 is a better value. If you're feeding a crowd, the Royal Gourmet is the way to go. But for most people, most weekends, the 2363 is the one.
Colby gives it two paws up. That's the highest rating I give.