Off-grid sanitation
Best Portable Camping Toilet
A portable toilet is one of those things you do not think about until you very much need it. The real choice is between a self-contained flush unit, which is the most comfortable but means you carry water in and waste out to a dump point, and a waterless bag system, which is simplest and leaves nothing behind. Below are our top picks for tents, vans, cabins, and trail use, plus how to size a tank, empty it the right way, and keep the whole thing odor-free.
Quick picks
Short on time? Start here
Thetford Porta Potti 565P
A strong piston flush and big tanks for vans and base camps.
Camco 5.3-Gallon
Almost all the function of the Thetford for far less.
Cleanwaste GO Anywhere
No water and no dumping, seal the bag and toss it.
At a glance
How the toilets compare
| Toilet | Best for | Type | Waste capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thetford Porta Potti 565P | Most people | Piston flush | 21 L (~5.5 gal) |
| Camco 5.3-Gallon | Best value flush | Bellows flush | 5.3 gal |
| SereneLife (5.3 Gal) | Budget flush with extras | Bellows + sprayer | 20 L (~5.3 gal) |
| Cleanwaste GO Anywhere | No water or dumping | Waterless bag | Per Wag Bag |
The picks in detail
Our top portable camping toilets
Thetford Porta Potti 565P Excellence
Waste tank: 21 L (~5.5 gal)Flush water: 15 L (~4 gal)Flush: Piston pump
Thetford is the name most RVers and van dwellers land on, and the 565P is the reason. It is the most comfortable and capable self-contained unit here, with a large 21 liter waste tank, a generous 15 liter flush-water tank, and a piston-pump flush that clears the bowl with real force rather than a weak squirt. Level indicators on both the waste and the fresh tanks tell you exactly when to refill or empty, so you are never guessing. It is the heaviest and largest unit on this list and it costs the most, but for a van, a cabin, or any base camp you live at for days, the comfort and the big tank capacity are worth it.
What we like
- Strong piston-pump flush, the best in this group
- Large 21 L waste and 15 L flush tanks for fewer empties
- Level indicators on both tanks so you are never caught out
Worth knowing
- Largest footprint and heaviest at about 12 lbs
- Highest price here
Camco 5.3-Gallon Portable Toilet
Waste tank: 5.3 gal, detachableFlush water: 2.5 galHolds: Up to 330 lbs
The Camco hits the sweet spot of price and capability for most campers. It pairs a detachable 5.3 gallon holding tank with a 2.5 gallon top tank and a bellows-pump flush, and the holding tank carries a sealing slide valve that locks in odors and lifts off cleanly for emptying. It supports users up to 330 pounds, weighs about 11 and a half pounds, and even ships with three toilet-treatment drop-ins to get you started. The bellows flush is not as forceful as the Thetford's piston pump, but for car camping, a tent, or a weekend in the van, this is the unit that gives you almost all the function for a lot less money.
What we like
- Detachable 5.3-gallon tank with an odor-sealing slide valve
- Supports up to 330 lbs, comes with treatment drops
- Great capability for the price
Worth knowing
- Bellows flush is gentler than a piston pump
- Smaller flush-water tank than the Thetford
SereneLife Portable Camping Toilet (5.3 Gal)
Waste tank: 20 L (~5.3 gal)Flush: Bellows + hand sprayerHolds: Up to 330 lbs
The SereneLife undercuts the Camco on price while throwing in extras, which makes it the budget pick when you still want a real flush. It has a 20 liter detachable waste tank with a double-sealed drain valve, a bellows pump backed by a built-in hand sprayer for rinsing the bowl, and an extra-large seat that is genuinely more comfortable than the small lids on cheaper units. It supports up to 330 pounds and is built from high-density polyethylene, and the kit even includes a funnel and a phone holder. The honest note is its lower review average and value-brand construction, so it is the right call when budget leads but you still want flush convenience.
What we like
- Lowest-cost true flush toilet here, with a hand sprayer
- Extra-large, more comfortable seat
- Double-sealed drain valve and 330 lb capacity
Worth knowing
- More mixed owner feedback, value-brand build
- Gimmick extras like the phone holder add little
Cleanwaste GO Anywhere Portable Folding Toilet
Type: Waterless, bag systemHolds: Up to 500 lbsPacked: 8 lbs, folds flat
Sometimes the best toilet is the one with no tank to carry and no station to dump at. The Cleanwaste GO Anywhere is a folding frame that uses sealable Wag Bag waste bags instead of water, so you use it, seal the bag, and drop it in a trash receptacle. It sets up in seconds on three locking legs, supports an impressive 500 pounds, sits at a standard 14-inch seat height, and folds flat to 8 pounds with a carry handle. It ships with a bonus Wag Bag kit to get started. There is no flush, no privacy, and an ongoing cost for bags, but for trucks, boats, trailheads, and emergencies where you cannot dump a tank, nothing is simpler.
What we like
- No water and no dump station, just seal the bag and toss it
- Folds flat to 8 lbs yet supports up to 500 lbs
- Sets up in seconds, standard toilet seat height
Worth knowing
- Ongoing cost for Wag Bag refills
- No flush, tank, or privacy of its own
How to choose a portable camping toilet
First decide between a flush unit and a waterless bag system, because that choice drives everything else. A self-contained flush toilet like the Thetford or Camco is the most comfortable and the closest thing to home, but it means carrying clean water in and a heavy waste tank out to an approved dump point. A waterless system like the Cleanwaste GO Anywhere needs no water and no dump station, since the sealed bag goes in the trash, at the cost of comfort and an ongoing bag expense. Match the system to how and where you camp before you compare individual models.
If you go flush, size the waste tank to your group and your trip length. A larger 5 to 5.5 gallon tank, like the Thetford and Camco, means fewer trips to empty, which is what you want for two people in a van or a family at a base camp for several days. A solo weekend camper can run a smaller tank happily. Also weigh the flush mechanism: a piston pump, as on the Thetford, clears the bowl with noticeably more force than the bellows pumps on the value units, which matters more than people expect when the tank fills up.
Weigh comfort and footprint against your space. The Thetford is the roomiest and most comfortable to actually sit on, and it is also the biggest and heaviest, so it suits a van or cabin more than a packed car. The SereneLife answers with an extra-large seat at a budget price, and the folding Cleanwaste collapses to almost nothing for a truck or a trailhead. Be honest about where the toilet will live and travel, because a unit that is too bulky for your rig ends up left at home, which helps no one.
Budget for the running costs, not just the purchase. Flush toilets need holding-tank treatment to control odor and break down waste, and if you will dump into a septic or home system, choose an enzyme treatment rather than a harsh formaldehyde one. Waterless systems need a steady supply of Wag Bags. Neither cost is large, but factoring it in helps you pick the system you will actually maintain. A toilet you keep clean and treated is pleasant to use for years; a neglected one becomes the worst part of the trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a portable flush camping toilet work?
A self-contained flush toilet has two stacked tanks. The top tank holds clean water, and a pump, either a piston or a bellows, sends a small flush into the bowl to clear it. The waste drops into a sealed holding tank below, which you detach and carry to a proper dump point when it is full. A sliding valve between the bowl and the holding tank keeps odors sealed away between uses, and a chemical or enzyme treatment drop in the waste tank breaks down solids and controls smell. Units like the Thetford and Camco add level indicators so you know when to refill the fresh tank or empty the waste tank. It is essentially a miniature, self-contained version of a household toilet.
How do I empty a portable toilet, and where?
Detach the lower holding tank, carry it to an approved dump point, and pour it out through the tank's spout, then rinse. Approved points include RV dump stations, a regular flush toilet connected to a sewer or a properly permitted septic system, and dedicated dump stations at campgrounds. Never empty a toilet's holding tank into the ground, a storm drain, or a natural water source. A waterless system like the Cleanwaste GO Anywhere sidesteps the dumping question entirely: the sealed Wag Bag goes in a regular trash receptacle, which is why it shines for trucks, boats, and trailheads where no dump station exists.
What is a Wag Bag, and is a waterless toilet sanitary?
A Wag Bag is a sealable waste bag that lines a frame-style toilet like the Cleanwaste GO Anywhere. It contains a gelling and deodorizing powder that solidifies liquid waste and neutralizes odor, then seals shut for disposal in a normal trash can. Used as directed it is clean and odor-controlled, and it is the system many search-and-rescue teams, boaters, and overlanders rely on precisely because it needs no water and leaves nothing behind. The trade-off versus a flush unit is comfort and the running cost of bags, but for leave-no-trace use and places you cannot dump a tank, a bag system is both sanitary and the most practical option.
What chemicals do I need for a portable toilet?
For any flush-style unit you want a holding-tank treatment, which is a drop-in packet or a measured liquid that goes in the waste tank to break down solids and control odor. The Camco here includes three treatment drop-ins to start. Many people also add a small amount of bowl-side treatment to the fresh-water tank to keep the bowl rinsing clean. Choose a treatment that matches where you will dump: if you will empty into a septic or home system, use an enzyme or SeptiClean-style formula rather than a harsh formaldehyde one. Waterless bag systems need no tank chemicals at all, since the deodorizing powder is built into each Wag Bag.
What size portable toilet should I get?
Match the waste-tank size to how many people use it and how long between dumps. A bigger 5 to 5.5 gallon waste tank, like the Thetford or Camco, means fewer trips to empty, which matters for a couple living in a van or a family at a base camp for several days. A solo weekend camper can get away with a smaller tank, and someone who moves constantly or wants leave-no-trace simplicity may prefer the waterless Cleanwaste system with no tank to size at all. Also weigh the footprint and weight against your space: the Thetford is the roomiest and heaviest, while the folding Cleanwaste packs down to almost nothing. Buy for your real trips, not the worst case you imagine.