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Best Travel Stroller for Road Trips: Trunk Space & Car Seat Combos
By Alex’s parents, StrollerSelect editors · Published · How we research
Flying and driving ask completely different things of a stroller. No airline is going to measure your fold on a road trip - but your trunk will, twice a day, next to the cooler, the pack ’n play and everyone’s bags.
What matters on a road trip
- Folded volume, not carry-on fit. The question is how much of the trunk it eats. Our size chart lists folded volume for every model we track.
- A fast one-hand fold. You will fold and unfold it at every gas station, diner and overlook.
- Car-seat compatibility. Clicking a sleeping baby’s infant seat straight onto the frame is the single biggest quality-of-life feature on a driving trip.
- Suspension. Rest stops, gravel lots and campground paths are rougher than an airport.
Our picks for road trips
| Stroller | Weight | Folded | Car-seat setup | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graco Ready2Jet | 13.2 lb | 23.9 × 19.5 × 11 in | Graco SnugRide compatible, automatic fold | ~$190 |
| Nuna TRVL lx | 17 lb | 14.3 × 21 × 27 in | Nuna PIPA clicks on with no adapters | ~$600 |
| Mountain Buggy Nano V3 | 13 lb | 20 × 12 × 21 in | Travel-system toggles, from birth with cocoon | ~$175 |
| UPPAbaby Minu V3 | 16.7 lb | 10 × 18 × 21.5 in | UPPAbaby Mesa and Aria with adapters | ~$500 |
| Silver Cross Clic | 13.9 lb | 21 × 18 × 9 in | Bumper bar adapts to select infant seats | ~$400 |
Graco Ready2Jet: the value pick
About $190, 13.2 lb, an automatic one-hand fold and compatibility with Graco SnugRide infant car seats - the combination most US families already own. Its 23.9 × 19.5 × 11 in fold (5,127 in³) is bulky for a plane but fine for a trunk.
Nuna TRVL lx: the easiest car routine
Nuna PIPA seats click onto the Nuna TRVL lx with no adapters, and the stroller folds one-handed and stands on its own. It’s the biggest fold here at 8,080 in³, which is exactly why it makes more sense in a car than on a plane. See why we don’t recommend it for flying.
Mountain Buggy Nano V3: small trunk, from birth
At 13 lb and about $175, the Mountain Buggy Nano V3 has built-in toggles for select infant car seats and a travel satchel included. Its child-weight limit is lower (44 lb).
UPPAbaby Minu V3: the everyday crossover
If the same stroller runs errands at home, the UPPAbaby Minu V3 works with UPPAbaby Mesa and Aria seats (adapters sold separately), has a 20 lb basket and carriage mode for newborns.
Silver Cross Clic: lie-flat and light
13.9 lb, lie-flat from birth, 55 lb limit, and its included bumper bar adapts to select infant seats such as the Nuna PIPA RX and Urbn. About $400.
Packing the trunk
- Fold the stroller first and load it last - it is the thing you take out most often.
- Keep a stroller organizer clipped on so snacks and bottles don’t migrate into the trunk.
- Quick-release wheels (the Nuna TRVL lx has them) shrink the package further in a packed car.
- Never leave a car seat or stroller strapped to a roof rack in the rain - fabric takes days to dry.
Driving now, flying later?
If some trips involve a plane, buy for the plane: a stroller that fits an airline carry-on box always fits a trunk, but not the other way round. Start with the strollers that fit in the overhead bin.