The Best Travel Cribs for a Road Trip 🚗, Plane Trip ✈️ + Other Adventures

The Babybjörn Travel Crib easily earns the top spot on our list. The biggest point in its favor is its weight—at just 13 pounds, it’s about 10 pounds lighter than many travel cribs on the market. When tucked into its carrying case, it fits nicely in most airline overhead compartments, and you won’t need a second person to help you get it up there. “We love the compact design,” one parent told us. “It was perfect for a recent Colorado trip.”

It’s also incredibly easy to use. The first time I used it, I was able to set it up in about 30 seconds without reading the instructions, something I can’t say for other travel cribs I’ve owned. (“It practically assembles itself,” another parent said.) Collapsing it is *slightly* less intuitive—you’ll likely need to look at the instructions for that one—but still fairly simple.

Parents rave about the ultra-comfortable mattress. “Our daughter, who gets quite fussy about sleeping anywhere but her crib, fell right asleep the first and each subsequent night we used this,” said one user. Parents also love that both the crib’s fabric frame and mattress are machine-washable, so the whole thing is easy to clean.

This crib is expensive, but it does include sheets. This is one less thing for you to think about, but is important from a safety perspective, too. “You really want a well-fitted mattress and well-fitted sheets designed for the specific crib you have,” says Dr. Playforth. And unlike most travel cribs and playards, the Travel Crib Light doesn’t have a weight limit since the mattress sits flush to the ground. My youngest child is in the 95th percentile for weight at two years old, so it’s nice to know we can keep using it as long as he’s in a crib at home and not climbing out.

In addition to price, the depth of this travel crib is another downside. Because the mattress sits on the floor (and there’s no bassinet option), you’ll be bending quite a bit if you’re putting down an infant. And the lack of backpack straps for the carrying case is a big miss. If you’re not a frequent flier, it might not bother you too much, but for those who do a lot of air travel, it’s noticeably lacking.

Additional Specs

• Weight: 13 lbs

• Measurements: 32" x 44" x 24"

• Recommended use: 0 to 3 yrs

If you’ve ever traveled with kids, especially via plane, you know the value of having one less thing to tote around. Meet the Lotus: the travel-crib-turned-backpack that no frequent-flying family should leave home without. This ultra-lightweight crib (like the Babybjörn, it is also 13 pounds) folds seamlessly into a compact, backpack-style carrying case, leaving your hands free to deal with the other 142 things they’ll be tasked with for attempting to leave the house with your littles in tow. “I love how compact this folds up. We bought it for an upcoming trip, and love the backpack feature,” one parent told us.

Like the Babybjorn, the mattress fabric frame on the Lotus are machine washable, making it easy to clean, and the mattress rests on the floor, meaning there’s no weight limit. But the other key differentiator that we love about this crib is its unique zip-down mesh “door.” It makes getting down on baby’s level for cuddles, feeding or play super easy. (“I love that I don't have to bend over the crib to pat his back,” one grandparent told us.) It also means you don’t have to lower the baby into the crib if it’s too deep for you—you can place them in from the side. This can also be great for play. “[Our son] wanted to play inside the crib in the morning when we opened the bottom flap,” one parent said.

Having a travel crib that can double as a safe play space is great in a hotel, too. “I personally liked using a playard because it also served a dual purpose of being a safe place to put the baby in when we were in hotel rooms that weren't necessarily baby-proofed,” says Dr. Playforth.

Parents do note that the zipper on mesh door can be surprisingly loud. And some find it difficult to get the crib back into the carrying case after use.

Additional Specs

• Weight: 13 lbs

• Measurements: 46" x 31" x 25.5"

• Recommended use: 0 to 3 yrs or until child tries to climb out

If you love the idea of a lightweight travel crib but the Lotus and Babybjörn aren’t in your budget, the Chicco Alfa Lite is an amazing alternative. At $170, it’s more than $100 less than the Babybjörn, while still offering many of the same features. It’s 13 pounds and has a side-zip door that allows you to take your baby in and out without bending over. Parents also say it “took seconds to set up and take down” and put in the zippered carrying bag, and love the large shoulder strap the bag comes with. (Just note that it isn’t as compact as some of its competitors when it’s broken down.) It’s also GREENGUARD Gold Certified. “The travel playard makes your life so much easier while traveling and doesn’t take up much of any space in the car,” one parent said.

Parents do say that the mattress is thin and on the hard side—while a firm, flat surface is how a baby’s mattress should be, this one might be firmer than your little one is used to.

Additional Specs

• Weight:13 lbs

• Measurements: 43” x 29” x 29"

• Recommended use: 0 to 3 yrs, up to 30 lbs

As your baby grows into a toddler, many parents still need the safety that the confines of a crib provide—especially while traveling. But what happens when your toddler is too big for their travel crib but too little for a bed? Enter the Newton. The mattress is about two times larger than most travel cribs, making it ideal for an older toddler who may be sized out of a smaller playard. It has no weight limit, and the mattress is constructed from the brand’s much-loved, ultra-breathable Wovenaire technology. (Wovenaire is made from 90% air and 10% food-grade polymer and is 100% breathable.) Nearly 30% of respondents in our Best Baby Gear survey said the Newton mattress was their favorite—more than any other mattress brand—so having a travel crib mattress in the same family is a game-changer. “I love the breathable Newton crib mattresses,” says Harvey. “It’s great to have a travel option from them.”

But the Newton isn’t just for older babies and toddlers: it comes with a bassinet insert, so infants can be higher up and easier to put in the crib, plus it extends the life of the product. “It’s both [a crib and a bassinet], and your kiddo will use it MUCH longer than a standard travel crib since it’s much bigger,” one parent told us. It’s easy to set up and break down. Parents also love that it is 100% breathable and washable, and is GREENGUARD Gold Certified.

The playard weighs in at about 17 pounds, so it’s not the lightest on the market, but the weight is for a good cause—it just may not be the right choice for your family if you frequently travel by plane. (It also won’t fit in an overhead bin.) Some parents have difficulty with opening and closing the crib. Another downside to note is that the included carrying case doesn’t have a shoulder strap, only a handle.

Additional Specs

• Weight: 17 lbs

• Measurements: 51” x 34.5” x 28.5”

• Recommended use: Bassinet up to approx. 5 mos, or when your little one begins to push up on their hands and knees; playard until child tries to climb out

If you’re looking for a portable crib to use both at home and away, look no further than the UPPAbaby Remi. The sturdy, smartly designed playard looks good enough to use every day. “The materials are so luxe. I have no problem keeping this out in my living space,” one parent said, and the removable bassinet attachment makes it a great option for a second safe sleep space. But if you want to travel with it, it’s good for that too: it features a one-handed fold that goes up “in seconds.” It's “truly the easiest playard set up I have ever used. I easily set this up with one hand while I had the baby in the other arm,” one parent told us.

Other things to love about it: the triple layer air mesh mattress is comfy and breathable for babies and toddlers, and the zip-down side panel lets you check in convert the crib into a play space on vacation. Another parent adds how easy it is to use at home or on the go: “We frequently use the playyard when we are trying to keep our daughter contained outside, or if she needs to take a nap while we are out visiting,” they said.

Another aspect we appreciate about it is how customizable it is. There are lots of optional accessories including a changing station, organizer and canopy, which contribute to this crib’s “most versatile” designation. “We looked for items where we were getting some major bang and longevity for our buck- this does it,” one parent noted in our survey. And it’s GREENGUARD Gold Certified.

The Remi is expensive, even though you get a lot of features for the money. And it’s heavy, at about 20 pounds. This isn’t a big deal if you’re planning to use it mostly at home and for the occasional overnight trip, but if your family travels frequently and you need to bring along a place for your baby to sleep, it may not be your best option.

Additional Specs

• Weight: 20 lbs

• Measurements: 42” L x 27” W

• Recommended use: Bassinet: birth to 20 lbs, stop using when baby can push up on hands and knees or roll over; playard: birth to 35” tall

This travel crib is a classic, and for good reason. (Fun fact: Pack ‘n Play is a name Graco came up with, and like Kleenex or Band-Aid, refers to their specific product. Over time it’s become a universal term many parents use to refer to a portable sleep space.) It does exactly what it sets out to do: provides a simple, safe, sturdy sleep space for your baby. “This playard does exactly what I need, keeps baby safe with the minimal bells and whistles. I didn't want all the little add ons for a playard whose function is going to grandma's house (a nine hour drive) with limited space. It is perfect,” one Babylist parent said.

While not as small or light as some other options on our list, it’s an excellent travel crib for adding to your trunk on road trips or other drives. It’s very affordable, and super easy to set up. And once it’s popped open, it has a big sleep space. “I still have it for my three year old for when we travel,” says one parent.“For my second child I was happy to just have the basics. This playard was affordable and did the job,” said another parent.

One feature this playard has that others don’t is wheels on one sides. While it is heavier than some other models, it’s also easier to move around once set up because you don’t have to lift it. “When setting up your baby to sleep on a trip, you want to position the crib in a cool, dark space, just like you would at home,” says Harvey. “And make sure you have a travel white noise machine!”

It is worth noting that with this model, you can’t attach any extras, like a bassinet or changing table. (Graco does make plenty of playards with bassinet attachments—the Close2Baby is a particular favorite—but they're bigger, bulkier and all of the extra add-ons make them less than ideal for travel.) And some parents complain that the mattress is on the thin side, so that may be something to consider if you’re planning on using it for more than just the occasional weekend away. It’s also fairly heavy, so you won’t want to use it if you’re traveling by plane or anywhere else where you’ll need to carry it around frequently.

Additional Specs

• Weight: 18.5 lbs

• Measurements: 39.5" x 28.25" x 29"

• Recommended use: Designed for children under 35" tall, unable to climb out

If you have twins (or more!) you’re already bringing twice as much stuff on every trip. With the Joovy Room2 travel crib, you can bring just one sleep space. There’s a whopping 10 square feet of surface space inside this playard, which is about 50% bigger than most of the other travel cribs on our list. “We bought this playard after our triplets were born and we have used it almost every day since then! It's the only one we've found that is big enough to comfortably accommodate all three of them,” one parent told us.

Parents also rave about the design—the modern, minimalist look is nice enough to keep out all the time. “Not only does this pack n play function perfectly but it also looks so good!” one parent said. Because of the chic design and large surface space, it works well as a playpen to keep babies safe during playtime, too.

There are a few downsides. A few parents report quality issues, including ripped seams and holes in the mesh, even after a few months. Parents say it can be hard to set up and take down. And because of its large size, it weighs quite a bit more than other models. While these are concerns, it’s less expensive than most travel cribs on our list, and given the size, if you have multiples, it’s still a great option.

Additional Specs

• Weight: 29.6 lbs

• Measurements: 39.75" x 39.75" x 31"

• Recommended use: Designed for children under 35” tall