The Best Portable Gas Grills and Travel Propane Barbecues for 2024

Napoleon is a relatively new manufacturer of portable gas grills, but have fast become known for their high-end, high-quality grills in all shapes and sizes. This TravelQ Pro 285 is no exception. It’s a great product, with good features and high build quality…though this does make it come in at a higher price than most on this list!

This portable grill has 285 square inches of cooking space, which is fairly large for a portable but still easily in the right range. It is ample space to cook for 4 to 6 people, depending on what you’re grilling.

When it comes to output power and controllability, this Napoleon is highly capable. Two 6,000 BTU burners combine to offer 12,000 BTUs output. The burners are independently controllable offering infinite heat control from low to searing high, and from even across the whole grilling surface area, or you can set two separate heat zones one above each burner, allowing you to cook foods at different temperatures simultaneously.

There’s also a thermometer incorporated into the grill lid for approximate monitoring. As discussed numerous times on this site, you cannot rely on built-in thermometers for precise accuracy, but they are good enough for a ballpark figure. And that’s acceptable.

The grill grates themselves are porcelain coated cast iron, with a proprietary Z-Wave pattern. These soak up and then emit heat evenly, helping for a more consistent cook. The grate is in two halves, making them easier to remove for cleaning, and to gain access to the stainless steel burners if required.

Napoleon also make a cast iron griddle specifically for the Pro285 (purchases separately) that offers the chance to grill eggs, pancakes, smash burgers, or anything that requires a solid surface to cook on.

This portable grill has heavy-duty cast aluminum ‘weather guard’ lid. When open, if the grill is positioned appropriately it acts as a wind break. And when closed it offers the ability to roast with convection heat like your kitchen oven, and not just high heat direct grill like you do on a hob.

Overall, this grill measures 14.75 × 18.5 × 29 inches, weighs 28.5 lbs, and has two carry handles for transportation.

This model is a tabletop version, but there is a version of this same grill available on a folding scissor stand with two wheels. You must buy one configuration or the other, you can purchase the stand separately. This is a shame as it would have meant scoring more points.

Overall, this is an excellent grill, made of high quality materials, and is highly capable while remaining portable.

It is one of the most expensive portable gas grills on this list, and you must decide to either buy with or without cart and cannot swap between the two configurations. If not for these facts, it would have been our number one pick.

You can learn more about this grill in our far more detailed review of the Napoleon TravelQ Pro 285.

If you dig deep and research grills, you will come across the Weber brand again and again. It’s one of the best-known brands on the market, and they’ve earned a reputation for quality since inventing the charcoal kettle grill back in 1952.

The Q1200 is one of four portable gas grills they offer, and is the second from four in terms of price from Weber. As with all the Weber portables, it has a single burner looped around the bottom of the cooking area.

It’s fueled by either a 14.1 or 16.4 oz. disposable liquid propane cylinder — though a hook up for 20 lb tanks is available separately — and it generates 8,500 BTU per hour.

An electronic ignition should light you up with a single push of a button, and you can adjust the heat with an infinitely variable control knob.

The porcelain-coated cast iron grate (actually ‘grates’ — it divides into two sections) provides 189 sq. In. of cooking surface, which is about average for a portable barbecue. You should be able to comfortably cook 6 strip steaks simultaneously.

The lid has a handy thermometer built-in to measure temps, a feature not found on all portable grills.

Stability is very important with a portable barbecue, and the design of the nylon (think solid plastic, not windbreaker jacket) legs should keep the center of gravity low and the whole thing stable. For additional stability, and height, you can purchase an optional cart.

Speaking of options, you can add a griddle section for cooking non-grill friendly foods like pancakes, or you can use it for searing.

The lid and the body are made from cast-aluminum, proven to aid heat-retention, and keep corrosion minimal for longevity.

It measures 15.5″H x 40.9″W x 16.5″D inches with the lid closed and tables out, and is a manageable weight of 28.8 pounds. I’d say that’s an easily manageable weight for a “portable,” and the convenient side tables do fold up and under the lid for easy storage and transport.

It’s hard to argue with the quality of this grill, with middling cooking space and two side tables for working with.

If you’re only cooking for yourself or as a couple, this may be more than you need. On the other hand, you’ll love the space and power this model gives you to cook for more than just 2. We happily award this runner-up spot in our search for the best portable gas grills.

The Weber Traveler looks much like most other grills on a cart, but this one is different! The cart here is a big part of what makes this grill so good and portable.

In its folded state, although it weighs over 60 lbs., it’s incredibly easy to two this grill behind you on the large, rugged wheels. So easy, in fact, you can do it with one hand.

And when you’re ready to grill, you simply lay the handle on the floor, put your foot on it and lift.

The scissor-style folded stand then opens up, unfolding and locking into place, ready for you to grill.

To fold the grill down, simply put your foot back on the handle, release the catch under the grill, and watch it slowly fall back into its folded position, where it locks itself into a flat state, and locks the lid and grates inside ready for you to wheel it about.

I think it’s best you watch the folding and unfolding in action:

The stand aside, this is a competent grill that is worthy of the Weber name.

The lid and body are made from porcelain-enameled steel and the burner is from stainless steel. These materials will last for many years.

And the cooking grate is made from porcelain-enameled cast iron, the same materials used in Webers more high-end grills. Cast-iron is great for heat retention and a more even heat distribution, making cooking on it a pleasure.

Measuring 37.2” H x 43.6” W x 23” D, it has a 320 square inch cooking grate, which can fit up to 15 burgers. The lid is somewhat shallow, so you cannot hope to fit in large, tall cuts of meat, but this grill is excellent for pumping out burgers, hot dogs, steaks, chops, shrimp, vegetables, and most quick-grilling items.

Unfortunately, it does only have a single burner, so you aren’t able to set up different heat zones or indirect roast items. But at 13,000 BTUs, the one burner it has can reach high searing temperatures, making this a great out-and-out grill. But yes, it cannot be used for roasting or smoking.

For a portable gas grill on a cart, this is right up there with the best. It looks great, is easy to wheel around, performs great, and should be one to consider.

For more details, you can check out our more detailed testing and review of the Weber Traveler.

If you’re an avid camper then Coleman is a name you know and trust. So the traditionalists in the crowd may want a closer look at this offering from the outdoor-living industry stalwart.

Your first thought when you look at this portable grill will be that it looks built to travel. Instead of being a tabletop, this clever number is one of few portables that come standard with its own full-height stand. Even better, it’s integrated into the BBQ. Even better, it’s got wheels and a handle for towing.

The whole design of the unit is remarkable, and it speaks to Coleman’s decades of experience making gear for outdoor enthusiasts.

It’s a pretty large unit at 32 × 35 × 19 inches, weighing 44 pounds, and with 285 square inch cooking surface. You can take full advantage of all that space with a variety of optional, interchangeable cooking surfaces, and handy built-in hooks are there for you to hang your tools on while you work. There are small side tables that fold in, as well.

Ok, so it’s a smart design. But, can you actually grill on it? You bet! Fire it up with the push button ignition and then turn on the burners. Yes, burners. Plural. Each burner delivers 10,000 BTU for a total of 20,000 BTU. Not only can you cook thoroughly and quickly, you can also set up separate temperature zones with just a single LP tank.

The grates are porcelain-coated cast iron, and will provide even heat and long-life. Know up front, however, that the low-profile lid won’t allow for cooking anything much taller than a hamburger or some chicken legs.

This is a ruggedly built grill that’s meant to travel. Having said that, it’s pretty hefty, tipping the scales at over 50 pounds. So while you won’t be taking it backpacking, the built-in wheels and handle will allow you to roll it out to the picnic spot, parking lot, cottage dock, or wherever you’re planning to cook.

If you plan on cooking anything larger than the usual tailgate fare, or you want more of a combo home and away grill, this one isn’t a winner.

However, if you’re likely to do a lot of game day grilling, camp cooking, or beach barbequing, and you want a dedicated portable barbecue, this ingenious Coleman Roadtrip grill might be the right choice for you.

When you’re grilling on the go, whether pregame, pre-swim, or pre-campfire sing-along (if that’s your thing), time is of the essence. All you want is to grill some good food and get back to the fun! So how about a high-speed portable grill, so you don’t miss your turn on “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”?

Char-Broil claims to have you covered with this cool (and hot) little number that reaches cooking temperatures in super quick time!

So why did we choose to look at this one? Two words: infrared cooking.

With infrared, the food is almost entirely separated from the open flame by a special shield built-into the grill. Air and heat pass through, but the flame doesn’t. The result is high heat that’s evenly distributed, with claims of flare-ups being a thing of the past.

The Grill2Go is built rugged for travel, no doubt about it. Twin latches hold the lid closed, and the cast aluminum box and lid are rough and tough. The stubby legs look sturdy, as do the twin handles for carrying.

It measures 23.7 × 15 × 13.6 in, weighs a tote-friendly 20 pounds, and offers 200 square inches of cooking space.

A push-button electric igniter brings the burner to life, which provides 9,500 BTUs. That doesn’t seem like a lot, but the infrared technology more than makes up for it by generating a ton of heat.

According to some folks, it might even make too much heat. Some reviewers report burning their food on more than one occasion because they left it just a bit too long. Evidently, it’s not always easy to control the temperature, and some customers reported hitting temps of 600 °F and higher.

Still, if speed is what you want, you shouldn’t be shutting the lid and walking away. The whole point is to grill it and go ASAP.

All in all, the number of satisfied customers outweighs those with issues by a sizable margin.

One of the most rugged products in this list, the Grill2Go Char Broil portable gas grill should stand up to anything you care to throw at it.

Not the right pick if you want to cook delicate dishes like fish or veg. But this is one of the best portable gas grills if you just want to cook your meals fast and then rejoin your friends.

Not every trip out involves a big trailer, and not every tailgater actually has a vehicle with a tailgate. There are times when a guy or gal really wants to do some grilling, but it’s not practical to carry a heavy grill.

So does anyone make a truly light-weight propane gas grill?

The masters of kitchen gadgetry, Cuisinart, have heard our pleas and responded with this diminutive, almost tiny portable and lightweight grill.

The CGG-180T is built for portability first. It is equipped with folding legs that tuck neatly underneath the body, and the oversized lid handle allows you to carry it like a briefcase.

Amazingly, this little cooker weighs just 13.5 pounds. Toting this one should be no problem. Actually, a fair percentage of the weight is the porcelain-coated cast iron grill. It’s nice to know they didn’t skimp on this important piece of the barbecue.

Naturally, there’s limited cooking space on a unit this small. It measures 16 × 16.5 × 13 in and gives you 145 square inches to work with. It’s not a lot, but it’s plenty to do up a few burgers, dogs, chops, steaks, or some vegetables. Cuisinart claims you can do up to 8 burgers at a time, but I think they’re talking about sliders, not big juicy patties.

It’s made out of stamped steel, so don’t expect great heat retention, but honestly, that’s not why you want to buy this grill, anyway.

Heat generation may be a challenge, too, with only 5,500 BTUs to cook with. Still, given the size of the grill, it should be enough for basic fare, and it’s great features also make it a contender in our search for the best tabletop grills.

Obviously there’s no way this little fellow can compete with the “big boys” of the portable grill market in terms of power or cooking space.

Still, it’s a quality product and the best travel grill for campers who travel VERY light, or picnickers who don’t want to lug a larger grill around.

For you stainless lovers out there, this may well be the portable grill for you!

Built from long-lasting stainless steel that is easy to clean, this grill not only looks the part but is long-lasting and easy to clean too.

With dimensions in inches of 32W × 19D × 33.5H, offering 288 sq. In. Of total cooking surface area (including the warming rack) and weighing 20.9 pounds, it’s one of the larger grills on this list, yes. But it has all the features you’d expect of a portable grill.

It has a locking lid, a large carry handle, folding legs, and is compact and a good shape for packing, yet sturdy and well constructed.

It’s quite powerful with a 10,000 BTU burner with a simple to use push-button ignition.

One standout feature not seen in many portable grills is a stainless steel removable drip tray, which makes cleaning all the easier.

My only gripes with this product are the materials used seem a bit on the thin side, so heat retention isn’t going to be the greatest when it’s cold and windy. But then, that’s a compromise made to keep weight and cost down.

One of the better looking grills in this list (in my opinion, though yours may differ!), this professional looking product is certainly desirable.

It has all the features needed for maximum portability, locking up tight and folding up small and square. It’s just a shame the build materials aren’t thicker, so it could hold heat more easily. But then it would have to cost much more!