Best Travel Systems for Parents Who Want a Car Seat + Stroller Combo

Most parents choose a travel system for two reasons: convenience and value. Chicco’s Corso Travel System checks both of those boxes—and more.

This travel system includes the KeyFit 35 infant seat, a popular parent and expert favorite and our top pick for best infant car seat. It’s “remarkably easy to install,” according to CPST Taylor, and fits babies of all sizes well. It also has high rear-facing height and weight limits, meaning you’ll be able to rear-face your little one longer than in many other car seats. (This is called “extended rear-facing,” and it’s a term you’ll likely come across as you research car seats.)

“According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it’s safest for infants and toddlers to ride rear-facing in a car seat for as long as possible,” explains Colella. “This recommendation is based on data showing that rear-facing seats offer better protection in crashes for children from birth through 23 months of age.”

The included stroller is just as praiseworthy. Every time I push it, I forget I’m not maneuvering a stroller that’s double the cost. That’s because of the many premium features like large, foam-filled tires and rear-wheel suspension for a smooth ride, a multi-position reclining seat, an adjustable canopy and footrest and leatherette trim. The seat is modular so you can face your baby toward you or out into the world. And the stroller seat is fully removable, turning it from a full-featured toddler stroller into a lightweight, skeleton frame that’s much easier to manage when you’re using it with just the infant car seat.

There aren’t many downsides to this travel system, especially considering the price. The few I’d note include that the car seat is on the heavier side (just over 10 pounds), which can make a difference when you’re getting it in and out of a car, and is a longer seat front-to-back, so fit could be an issue in more compact cars and/or if your front seat driver or passenger are tall. Speaking of tall folks (I’m 5’10”), the stroller doesn’t have an adjustable handlebar. And the storage basket has a 10-pound weight limit, which is lighter than most and isn’t ideal if you use your stroller for heavier items like groceries.

Additional Specs

• Car Seat Weight: 10.1 lbs

• Car Seat Child Weight/Height Guidelines: 4-35 lbs, up to 32"

• Stroller Weight: 24.8 lbs

• Stroller Usage Guidelines: 6-60 mos, up to 50 lbs; can be used from birth with infant car seat

Affordability can be a roadblock with some travel systems. Even mid-priced systems average about $500, and many creep well over that mark. The Graco Modes Nest is an excellent affordable pick, coming in at under $400.

Like the Chicco system above, the car seat included with this travel system is a parent favorite from the brand’s SnugFit line, a line of seats known for their ease of install. “The SnugLock arm on the base makes installation in any vehicle an absolute breeze,” says Taylor. The seat weighs under 10 pounds and features an anti-rebound bar (a bar that reduces the movement of the car seat in the event of a crash, adding a layer of safety) and five recline positions for proper installation and a comfortable fit. It also has a high rear-facing weight and height limit.

The standout feature of the Modes Nest stroller is optionality. It’s three strollers in one, working as an infant car seat carrier (you can click the car seat directly onto the stroller frame), a bassinet (called a pram in this case) and a toddler stroller with the ability to flip the seat parent- or forward-facing. The bassinet is a noteworthy addition here. While babies sometimes fall asleep in an infant car seat, AAP safe sleep recommendations say you need to transfer them to a firm, flat sleep space as soon as possible. The bassinet mode in this stroller allows you to stroll safely while your baby snoozes and not worry about moving them from a car seat. The toddler seat also has three different height positions, a nice perk when your baby is parent-facing so you can keep them close. Especially considering the price, these are all impressive (and convenient) features.

"Of all the items purchased on my registry, this is what I use most," one parent told us. "The stroller is very easy to set up and take down. The car seat and stroller seat are very easy to take off and on. The bassinet is very useful to use during the newborn stage."

The biggest downside of this travel system lies in the stroller. Like many lower-priced options, there isn’t much suspension and the stroller’s wheels are plastic, making for a bumpy ride over anything other than smooth pavement. (More expensive strollers will have foam or air-filled tires.) This wouldn’t be my pick if I lived in a more rural area with dirt or gravel paths or if I was in a big city with uneven sidewalks. Many parents also note that this travel system is a pain to put together. But for the right family, the Modes is a solid choice and a great value.

Additional Specs

• Car Seat Weight: 9.8 lbs

• Car Seat Child Weight/Height Guidelines: 4-35 lbs, up to 32"

• Stroller Weight: 23 lbs

• Stroller Usage Guidelines: Birth up to 50 lbs

Coming in at just under $700, this travel system is on the pricier side of mid-range but I think worth the extra splurge. It combines a popular car seat and stroller into one beautiful, functional system. “Just stop stressing and get this one,” one Babylist parent commented. (And if you’re stacking it up against other Nuna travel systems, I agree. The urbn also comes paired with the MIXX stroller, but it’s almost double the cost and I don’t think the MIXX’s features warrant that price tag. You can also pair the urbn with the TRVL, the brand’s lightweight stroller, but that combo is better suited for travel—and you can read why later in this guide.)

The infant car seat that’s included in this duo, the urbn, captivates me every time I install it. (You can see the installation for yourself in Nuna’s video.) That’s because it’s completely baseless and doesn’t even require a seat belt; simply push a button on either side of the seat to reveal the built-in lower anchor connectors and then attach them to the anchors in your vehicle’s back seat. That’s it! It’s foolproof and takes just a few seconds. And more so, it’s safe, as a properly installed car seat is a safe car seat. It’s also one of the lightest infant seats on the market, weighing in at seven pounds.

These features mean the urbn is a great seat for any family, but especially if you plan to use your seat on the go in rideshares or taxis. “I love being able to move the car seat in and out of any car without worrying about a base,” one Babylist parent told us.

High points of the TAVO are things parents have come to love about Nuna strollers, including a huge storage basket, four-wheel suspension for a smooth, easy push, an adjustable handlebar and a fairly compact fold considering the stroller’s size. I’m always impressed with Nuna’s attention to the little details that make a big difference. I love the breathability of the all-season seat and the magnetic buckles that make the task of getting your baby in and out of the stroller a bit less arduous.

The urbn does have a lower height and weight limit than many infant car seats, which is something to keep in mind when you’re thinking about your infant seat’s longevity. And the stroller doesn’t have a modular seat, so you won’t be able to parent-face your child unless you’re using the infant car seat attachment.

Additional Specs

• Car Seat Weight: 7 lbs

• Car Seat Child Weight/Height Guidelines: 4-22 lbs, up to 29"

• Stroller Weight: 23.2 lbs

• Stroller Usage Guidelines: Birth up to 50 lbs

A newcomer to the US market, Joie's thoughtfully designed products are stylish, safe and affordable. This travel system checks all of those boxes and (many) more. It impressed me the moment I unboxed it and continued to stand out as I used and tested it with my toddler.

This car seat stroller combo looks and handles like a travel system twice the price, packed with features that make your life as a parent a little easier. Like Graco's Modes stroller, the Ginger stroller features a built-in, lie-flat bassinet (called a "pramette" here), so you can use it sans car seat right out of the box. There's also an adjustable handlebar for parents and caregivers of different heights, an adjustable leg rest for comfort and calf support, a large storage basket and an included cup holder. And one more noteworthy feature: the stroller seat has three different height positions so you can bring your baby closer to you (great for the newborn days) or farther away to see the world (for curious toddlers). The fold is quick and easy, and the stroller is really compact when it's broken down—I liked how it didn't take up the entire trunk of my SUV.

As for the Mint Latch infant car seat, it's one of my favorites. It's one of the few baseless infant seats on the market; just click it directly into your vehicle using the built-in LATCH connectors and you're good to go. (Start-to-finish, installing this seat took me about 30 seconds or less.) It's a great seat for all sorts of families, but especially for urban parents who don't own a car and rely on rideshares to get around or for families who need a seat that switches between cars quickly and easily. And at nine pounds, it's fairly lightweight.

The wheels on the Ginger stroller are plastic, so it doesn't provide as cushy of a ride as a stroller with rubber wheels would. But, it does feature all-wheel suspension—a feature that's not all that common at this price point—which makes a big difference. I found it above average when compared to most of the other plastic-wheeled strollers I've pushed. The Mint Latch infant car seat also has a lower height limit than many other car seats, at 30 inches, so your little one will grow out of it sooner than some other brands.

Additional Specs

• Car Seat Weight: 9.2 lbs

• Car Seat Child Weight/Height Guidelines: 4-30 lbs, up to 30"

• Stroller Weight: 22 lbs

• Stroller Usage Guidelines: From birth up to 50 lbs

If you have the budget and this stroller and car seat fit your lifestyle, this is my favorite travel system to recommend to parents-to-be who are up for a splurge. It’s similar to the car seat stroller combo I used (and loved) for years with my first son, although at that time the system came with the brand’s first infant car seat, the Mesa—and now that it includes the Aria instead, I love it even more. (But more on that later.)

UPPAbaby’s Vista V3 stroller consistently makes it into our best strollers guide. Almost 30% of the thousands of Babylist users who completed our favorite baby products survey voted it as their favorite stroller—the highest percentage for any stroller on the list—saying it’s “worth every penny” and calling out the stroller’s quality as “amazing.”

The Vista is a pleasure to push. It steers easily with one hand, turns on a dime and takes on rougher surfaces like cracked sidewalks and gravel effortlessly thanks to its FlexRide suspension system. It also grows along with your family, accommodating two infant car seats, two bassinets and countless other combinations. Other features parents love include the modular seat (so baby can face you or the world), the magnetic harness system for easy ins and outs, the huge storage basket (with a 30-pound weight limit to hold all the things) and the adjustable handlebar.

The Aria is just as great. It weighs just six pounds minus the canopy and inserts, the lightest infant car seat on the market and four pounds lighter than the brand’s other infant seat, the Mesa V2. Even I was surprised at how light it was when I picked it up—and I’ve tested a lot of car seats. (You can see it in action in our in-depth Aria review.) Safety features include an anti-rebound panel and a load leg as well as an easy-to-install LATCH system complete with visual indicators that turn red if something’s not right with installation.

Minus the price—this travel system’s obvious downside—know that the Vista V3 is a large stroller that’s not for everyone. (Need something to travel with or a stroller that you can pop in and out of your trunk a few times a day? The Vista probably isn’t for you.) The Aria takes up a bit more room front-to-back than some other seats, a concern if you drive a compact car or need more room in the front seat.

For a slightly more affordable option, check out the UPPAbaby Cruz V2 & Aria car seat stroller combo. The Cruz is more compact than the Vista and doesn’t convert to hold two+ kids, but you’ll save almost $400.

Additional Specs

• Car Seat Weight: 6 lbs (minus canopy and inserts)

• Car Seat Child Weight/Height Guidelines: 4-30 lbs, up to 30"

• Stroller Weight: 27.6 lbs

• Stroller Usage Guidelines: From birth (with infant car seat or SnugSeat) up to 50 lbs; with toddler seat only, from three months up to 50 lbs

If you plan on traveling frequently while your baby is an infant, or simply prefer a more lightweight stroller for everyday use, this is my travel system of choice. It includes the urbn, the baseless infant car seat reviewed above, and the TRVL stroller, Nuna’s lightest and most compact stroller. Standout stroller features include a quick, one-handed fold, a compact size (it stands on its own and weighs just over 13 pounds) and a smaller but easily accessed storage basket.

Additional Specs

• Car Seat Weight: 7 lbs (minus canopy and inserts)

• Car Seat Child Weight/Height Guidelines: 4-22 lbs, up to 29"

• Stroller Weight: 16.4 lbs

• Stroller Usage Guidelines: 6 mos up to 50 lbs; from birth with infant car seat

While you can’t jog with your baby until they have strong head and neck control, usually around six to nine months, you can use this stroller with the infant seat attachment to walk with your little one from day one. This is the best choice for an out-of-the-box travel system from the same brand. (There are other jogging-friendly travel systems out there, but most you’ll need to DIY by mixing and matching brands.)

Babylist parents call this car seat stroller combo “amazing” and “in a league of its own.” It includes the easy-to-install KeyFit 30 car seat and the Activ30 jogging stroller. The jogger has something called a Control Console, a unique area near the handlebar that includes a hand-operated parking brake (to keep the foot area clear), a front swivel wheel lock (to keep the stroller steady when you jog with it) and a height-adjustable handlebar. It also folds more compactly than most jogging strollers.

Additional Specs

• Car Seat Weight: 9.6 lbs

• Car Seat Child Weight/Height Guidelines: 4-30 lbs, up to 32"

• Stroller Weight: 27.5 lbs

• Stroller Usage Guidelines: 6 mos up to 50 lbs; from birth with infant car seat