What Size Camping Towel Should I Get?
The best camping towel size depends on how you actually use it: backpacking, car camping, swimming, hiking, showering, beach days, or drying off gear after nature does what nature does best and gets everything weirdly damp.
Small: 40" x 20"
Best for: backpacking, gym bags, face/hair drying, pets, kids, and quick gear wipe-downs.
Medium: 60" x 30"
Best for: most campers, hikers, swimmers, road trips, travel, and everyday outdoor use.
Large: 72" x 36"
Best for: full-body drying, beach days, car camping, van life, lounging, and people who refuse tiny towel sadness.
Start with medium if you are overthinking it.
Small is for ultralight utility. Large is for beach-level comfort. Medium is the reliable all-around camping towel that handles showers, hikes, swims, road trips, and damp surprises without making your bag hate you.
Our Happy Faced Camping Towel Sizes
About to pull the trigger on your first camping towel? Good for you. We are stoked you have come over to the colorful side.
Before you start loading up your cart, guns blazing and quick dry towels flying everywhere, it is worth taking one second to choose the size that actually matches your trip.
Happy Faced rectangular quick dry camping towels come in three useful sizes:
- Small: 40" x 20"
- Medium: 60" x 30"
- Large: 72" x 36"
We make camping towels for backpacking, hiking, beach days, road trips, travel, and general “I need something that dries fast and does not become a swamp brick in my bag” situations.
Camping Towel Size Chart
Here is the simple version. Because nobody wants to perform towel calculus before a camping trip.
| Size | Dimensions | Best For | Skip If |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 40" x 20" | Backpacking, gym bags, hand/face towel, hair towel, kids, pets, and gear wipe-downs | You want full-body coverage after swimming or showering |
| Medium | 60" x 30" | The best all-around camping towel size for most people | You want a beach blanket feel or maximum coverage |
| Large | 72" x 36" | Beach days, car camping, van life, swimming, lounging, and full-body drying | You are counting every ounce in a backpacking pack |
Best overall pick: If you are unsure, get the medium 60" x 30". It is the Goldilocks camping towel: big enough to dry off, small enough to pack without ruining your day.
How to Choose by Purpose
Buying your first, second, or third camping towel should be a moment of rapturous joy. Anything less than towel-based bliss and we have not done our job.
That said, not all soft, convenient, super absorbent towels are created equal.
Backpacking
Go small or medium. If you are counting ounces, small wins. If you still want to dry your whole body without doing the sad little towel shuffle, medium is the move.
Car Camping
Go medium or large. You have room. Treat yourself. The forest is not handing out awards for suffering with a tiny towel.
Swimming, Lakes, Rivers, and Beach Days
Go large if you want full-body coverage, lounging space, or a towel that can handle actual water activity. Medium works if you want something more compact.
General Travel
Go medium. It is the safest all-around size for hotels, hostels, road trips, camp showers, spontaneous swims, and questionable roadside decisions.
Pack Size and Gear Weight
If you are going on a multi-day camping or hiking trip, space and weight matter. A few ounces can feel like betrayal by mile eight.
For backpacking, a small or medium quick dry towel usually makes the most sense. You get utility without sacrificing half your pack to a wet cotton monster.
For car camping, van life, or family camping, size up. Comfort matters more when your pack is not personally trying to destroy your spine.
→ Choose the perfect camping towel here
Camping Towel Budget
Buy a second towel for added versatility. There. We said it.
Jokes aside, if you have the budget, having two sizes is genuinely useful. A small towel can handle gear, hands, pets, hair, or quick wipe-downs. A medium or large towel can handle showers, swimming, lounging, and the more dignified parts of being dry.
It is also easier to buy two different camping towel sizes than to stare at your screen like you are choosing a name for your firstborn.
Plus, you can choose two designs from our talented artists. What is not to love?
Quick Dry Camping Towel vs Cotton Towel
When choosing a camping towel, you will usually run into two main fabric options: quick dry microfiber and cotton.
Quick dry towels are lightweight, compact, absorbent, and fast drying. Cotton towels are heavier, bulkier, and take longer to dry, though they do usually have a plushier feel.
For camping, hiking, backpacking, and travel, microfiber usually wins because it packs smaller and dries faster. Cotton is great at home. In a damp tent, it becomes a cold emotional support rug.
Weather and Climate
If you are camping somewhere wet, humid, cold, or generally moist in a threatening way, a packable quick dry camping towel becomes much more important.
For alpine trips, kayaking, river camping, surf trips, or rainy weekends, drying speed matters. A towel that stays wet all day is basically just luggage with mildew ambitions.
In damp climates, consider sizing up to a medium or large quick dry towel so you can dry your body, hair, gear, or dog without immediately running out of towel.
Personal Preference Also Counts
At the end of the day, when you are staring at a range of avant-garde towels with cool designs and artwork, size might not be the only thing that matters.
You should not feel guilty about choosing based on looks. It is how my wife chose me. Actually, she chose me because I am tall and rarely late, but let us not ruin a decent line with facts.
If we are sold out of the size you wanted in a design you love, order another size. You will still end up with a fast-drying, packable, art-covered towel that makes your old towel look like it gave up in 2009.
Wrapping Up
So, what size camping towel should you get?
Get the small 40" x 20" if you want ultralight utility. Get the medium 60" x 30" if you want the best all-around camping towel size. Get the large 72" x 36" if you want full-body coverage, beach comfort, or a towel that can double as a lightweight outdoor blanket.
From camp showers to beach days, from hiking trails to road trips, Happy Faced camping and travel towels are lightweight, quick drying, packable, and designed to look a lot less boring than whatever sad beige towel is currently living in your trunk.
Still unsure? Start with medium. It is the safest all-around choice for most campers, travelers, hikers, swimmers, and towel overthinkers.
FAQs About Camping Towel Sizes
What is the best camping towel size?
For most people, the best camping towel size is medium, around 60" x 30". It gives you enough coverage for drying off after a swim or shower while still packing smaller than a traditional cotton towel.
What size towel is best for backpacking?
A small camping towel, around 40" x 20", is best for ultralight backpacking. If you want more body coverage without going too bulky, choose a medium quick dry towel.
Is a large camping towel worth it?
Yes, especially for car camping, beach days, van life, swimming, and lounging. A large 72" x 36" towel gives you the most comfort and coverage, but it takes up more space than small or medium sizes.
Should I bring one camping towel or two?
If you have room, two towels can be useful. Bring one small towel for gear, hands, hair, pets, or quick wipe-downs, and one medium or large towel for drying off after swimming or showering.
Are quick dry towels better than cotton towels for camping?
Usually, yes. Quick dry microfiber towels are lighter, more compact, and dry faster than cotton towels, making them better for camping, backpacking, hiking, travel, and wet outdoor conditions.