Solar vs Gas Generators for Glamping

Two Ways to Power a Tent

Once you have a tent set up, the next question is almost always power. Lights, phone charging, a fan in July, a coffee maker in November, maybe a sound system under the canopy for an event. Something has to run it.

For most glamping setups, that something is one of two machines: a solar power station (a big lithium battery with a built-in inverter that you recharge from solar panels or a wall outlet) or a gas inverter generator. People tend to pick one based on a gut feeling. Solar sounds clean and modern. Gas sounds loud and old-school. The reality is that each one is the right answer for a different job, and plenty of serious sites end up running both.

We carry both, so this isn't a pitch for one side. Here's how they actually compare and how to choose.

The Short Answer

Choose solar if your loads are modest (lights, charging, fans, short bursts from a small appliance), you want silence, and you camp where generators are restricted or unwelcome.

Choose a gas inverter generator if you need to run high-draw loads for hours (air conditioning, catering equipment, power tools, a full event setup), you camp through short winter days, or you need power you can count on regardless of weather.

Run both if you operate a rental site, host events, or want the most reliable setup. The battery runs quietly all night, and the generator tops it off in a short daytime run. That pairing covers almost everything.

How Solar Power Stations Work for Glamping

A solar power station stores energy in a battery and delivers it through standard outlets and USB ports. You recharge it from portable solar panels during the day, from a wall outlet before you leave home, or from your vehicle on the drive in. Our solar generator collection includes units like the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 (1,070Wh, 1,500W output), the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus (1,264Wh, 2,000W output, expandable with add-on batteries), the Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 (2,042Wh, 2,200W output), and the AFERIY P210 (2,048Wh, 2,400W output).

Where solar wins:

Silence. A power station makes no engine noise at all. You can run it inside the tent next to the bed, and nobody at the next site knows it exists. For a couples retreat, a stargazing night, or a rental guest who booked for the quiet, that matters more than any spec.

No fumes, no fuel. There's no exhaust, so a power station can sit inside the tent. There's no gas to haul, store, or spill, and no oil changes.

Low effort. Plug things in and use them. Point the panels at the sun and the battery refills. The LiFePO4 batteries in these units are rated for thousands of charge cycles.

Where solar struggles:

Big continuous loads. A battery holds a fixed amount of energy. A 2,000Wh unit running a 1,000-watt load is empty in about two hours. That rules out running air conditioning overnight or an electric heater for long on most portable setups.

Short, cloudy days. Solar harvest depends on sun. In late fall and winter the days are short and the sun sits low, so the same panels bring in noticeably less energy than they do in June. A string of overcast days can leave a battery-only site running on empty.

Cold. Lithium batteries give up some usable capacity in the cold, and many power stations limit or block charging below freezing. Check the manual for your unit's temperature range. The Jackery 2000 v2 Extreme Kit includes an insulated guard bag rated for very cold conditions, which is worth a look if you camp in real winter.

Our solar power guide covers how to size a solar system in detail. The short version: a typical comfortable tent uses roughly 500 to 1,000 watt-hours a day, which a 1,000 to 2,000Wh power station with 200 to 400 watts of panels handles well.

How Gas Inverter Generators Work for Glamping

An inverter generator burns fuel to make electricity on demand, and its inverter cleans that power up so it's safe for phones, laptops, and other sensitive electronics. That clean output is the difference between an inverter generator and the loud, rough-running construction generators most people picture.

We carry Tomahawk generators because they hit the right balance for glamping: inverter power, quiet operation, and a 2-year warranty backed by Tomahawk's nationwide service centers.

Where gas wins:

It doesn't run out while you have fuel. As long as there's gas in the tank, you have full power, day or night, sun or clouds. Refill and keep going.

It handles big loads. Air conditioning, catering warmers, a coffee urn for 40 people, power tools while you build a platform, a full sound and lighting setup under a canopy. A generator runs these for hours without draining anything except the tank.

Winter doesn't slow it down. Short days and overcast skies have no effect on a generator. That makes it the dependable choice for late-season hunting camps and winter rental sites.

Where gas struggles:

Noise. Even a quiet inverter generator makes engine noise. Tomahawk rates the TG2000i at 58 dBA and its larger inverters at 62 dBA, which is quiet for a generator, but it's still a running engine. Many campgrounds limit generator hours, and some ban them.

Exhaust. A generator produces carbon monoxide. It can never run inside a tent, a vestibule, or under a canopy, and it has to sit well away from where people sleep. More on that below.

Fuel and upkeep. You have to haul and store fuel, and the engine needs periodic oil changes. Gasoline also degrades in storage, so a generator that sits for months needs fuel stabilizer or a fresh tank.

The Tomahawk Lineup, Matched to the Job

Single tent, light loads: Tomahawk TG2000i ($899.99). 2,200 starting watts, rated at 58 dBA, about 8 hours of runtime at half load on a 1.1-gallon tank, and 52 pounds. It runs lights, fans, charging, and a coffee maker with room to spare, and it can be paired with a second unit for more output.

Single tent with bigger loads: Tomahawk TG3000i ($1,099.99). 3,000 rated watts in a 53-pound package, 62 dBA, about 8 hours at half load, and parallel capable. It's the step up when you want to run a portable AC unit or a small appliance and everything else at once. For hunting camps, the same generator comes in a camo edition (TG3000i-BRV) ($989.99). Our hunting basecamp guide covers the rest of that setup.

Cold starts and safety features: Tomahawk TG4500iEFI ($1,599.99). 4,500 starting watts and 3,800 rated, electronic fuel injection for easier starts in cold weather and better fuel economy, electric and remote start, and a CO alert that shuts the generator down if carbon monoxide builds up. At 58.4 pounds it stays portable. Remote start is a real convenience on a frosty morning when the generator is parked well away from the tent.

Events and multi-tent sites: Tomahawk TG5500i ($1,899.99). 5,500 starting watts, electric start, Eco Mode, a twist-lock outlet, and about 8 hours at half load on a 4-gallon tank. At 122 pounds it rides on a wheel kit. This is the size for running a catered event under a Twin Star Canopy or powering several tents at a rental site.

Whole-site backup on three fuels: Tomahawk 12,000W Tri-Fuel ($4,499.99). 12,000 peak watts, runs on gasoline, propane, or natural gas, with 120V and 240V outlets including 30A and 50A. It's a freight-shipped, 271-pound machine built for permanent sites, home backup, and operators who want one generator to carry the whole property. Propane is the practical advantage here: it stores for a long time without going stale the way gasoline does.

Why the Best Setup Is Often Both

The strongest setup for a rental site or a serious basecamp isn't solar or gas. It's a power station in the tent and a generator parked at a distance.

Here's how that plays out. The power station runs everything overnight in total silence: lights, charging, a fan, a CPAP, the phone by the bed. In the morning, when people are up anyway, you run the generator for a short stretch to recharge the battery from its AC input and handle any big loads like the coffee maker or a kettle. Many power stations recharge quickly from AC. Jackery rates the Explorer 2000 v2 at about 1.7 hours with its emergency super charge, and AFERIY rates the P210 at about 2 hours from empty to full.

The result is quiet nights, full batteries every morning even in December, and a fraction of the fuel you'd burn running a generator around the clock. Solar panels still fill in on sunny days, so on a good week the generator barely runs.

For a commercial site, this pairing also protects your reviews. One cloudy week with a solar-only setup can mean dead batteries and a bad stay. A generator on standby means that never happens. Our off-season planning guide covers more of the gear decisions operators make between busy seasons.

Generator Safety Around Tents

This part isn't optional. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, and a running generator produces a lot of it.

Never run a generator inside a tent, a vestibule, or under a canopy. Not for a minute, not with the door open, not to warm up the engine.

Keep it well away from sleeping areas. Federal safety guidance calls for at least 20 feet between a generator and any living space, with the exhaust pointed away. Farther is better, and keep it downwind of the tents when you can.

Run a CO detector inside every tent. If you run a wood stove, you should already have one. Our stove guide covers detector placement.

Use outdoor-rated extension cords. Run power into the tent through the built-in electrical cord port that all of our tents include, not under a door or wall. Use a cord rated for the load and the distance.

Refuel cold. Shut the generator off and let it cool before refueling. Store fuel in approved containers away from the tents and any stove.

A Note on Heat

People often ask whether a generator lets them heat a tent with an electric heater. Technically yes, since a space heater pulls about 1,500 watts, which is well within a larger inverter's output. But it's an expensive way to make heat, and a wood stove does the job far better with no electricity at all. For cold-weather glamping we still recommend a Winnerwell stove as the primary heat source. Our guide to staying warm in a tent covers the full approach. If you do use an electric heater, choose one with tip-over and overheat shutoff, and keep it clear of bedding and fabric walls.

How to Decide

Weekend glamper with a single tent: a 1,000 to 2,000Wh power station and a couple of solar panels covers it. Add a TG2000i later if you start camping in winter or want to run a fan or AC through hot nights.

Hunting camp or late-season basecamp: start with a generator. The TG3000i or TG3000i-BRV handles the camp, and a small power station keeps electronics charged overnight without running the engine.

Rental site or Airbnb tent: run both. A power station in each tent for silent overnight use, and a TG4500iEFI or TG5500i to keep them charged. Our Airbnb hosting guide covers what guests expect.

Events under a canopy: a generator, sized to the event. The TG5500i is a good starting point for catering and sound at a Twin Star event seating 30 to 40, and two parallel units cover bigger loads. Our event canopy guide and outdoor Thanksgiving guide cover the rest of the setup.

Permanent site or home backup: the Tri-Fuel 12,000W running on propane or natural gas, plus power stations in the tents.

Get Started

Browse our solar generators and Tomahawk gas generators, and pair them with any of our glamping tents, all of which include a built-in electrical cord port. Not sure what size you need? Contact our team with a list of what you want to run and we'll help you size it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a solar generator or gas generator better for glamping?

It depends on your loads and the season. A solar power station is better for modest loads like lights, charging, and fans, and it's completely silent with no exhaust. A gas inverter generator is better for high-draw loads like air conditioning or event equipment, for short winter days, and for power that doesn't depend on weather. Many rental sites and basecamps run both: the battery overnight, the generator for a short daily recharge.

Can you run a generator inside a tent?

No. A generator produces carbon monoxide, which is colorless, odorless, and deadly in an enclosed space. Never run one inside a tent, vestibule, or under a canopy. Keep it at least 20 feet from any tent with the exhaust pointed away, and keep a CO detector inside every tent. A solar power station, which has no exhaust, is the safe option for power inside the tent.

How quiet is an inverter generator?

Much quieter than a traditional generator. Tomahawk rates the TG2000i at 58 dBA and its larger inverter models at 62 dBA. It's still an engine running, though, so check campground rules, since many limit generator hours. For true silence overnight, use a power station.

What size generator do I need for a glamping tent?

For one tent running lights, charging, fans, and a coffee maker, a 2,000 to 3,000 watt inverter like the TG2000i or TG3000i is plenty. For portable AC plus other loads, lean toward 3,000 watts or more. For events, several tents, or catering, step up to the TG5500i. Add up the watts of everything you'd run at the same time and leave some headroom.

Does solar work for winter glamping?

It works, but with less margin. Short days and a low sun angle mean less solar harvest, and lithium batteries lose some capacity in the cold. Many power stations also limit charging below freezing. For winter, size the battery larger, keep it inside the heated tent (well clear of the stove), and consider a generator as backup. Heat the tent with a wood stove rather than electricity.

Can I charge a solar power station with a gas generator?

Yes. Plug the power station's AC charger into the generator just like a wall outlet. This is a practical way to run a site through winter or cloudy stretches: a short generator run in the morning refills the battery, and the battery runs silently through the night.

Which Tomahawk generators run on propane or natural gas?

The Tomahawk 12,000W Tri-Fuel runs on gasoline, propane, or natural gas. It's built for permanent sites and home backup. The smaller portable Tomahawk inverters we carry run on gasoline.