Pack These Stylish Travel Dresses Without Sacrificing Precious Luggage Room (2024)

Our top picks:

• 1

  

  Best Everyday

  KORSIS Casual T-Shirt Dress with Pockets

  $32 at Amazon

  $32 at Amazon

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• 2

  

  Best for Rainy Weather

  UNIQLO Ultra Stretch AIRism Sleeveless Dress

  $40 at Uniqlo

  $40 at Uniqlo

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• 3

  

  Best Formal

  OUGES V-Neck Pattern Knee Length Dress with Pockets

  $29 at Amazon

  $29 at Amazon

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• 4

  

  Best Maxi

  GRECERELLE Loose Maxi Dress with Pockets

  $34 at Amazon

  $34 at Amazon

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• 5

  

  Softest

  Spanx AirEssentials Maxi T-Shirt Dress

  $138 at Spanx

  $138 at Spanx

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• 6

  

  Best Sleeveless Maxi

  ANRABESS Sleeveless Maxi Dress

  $30 at Amazon

  $30 at Amazon

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• 7

  

  Best Formal Maxi

  Milumia Button-Up Floral Print Maxi Dress

  $43 at Amazon

  $43 at Amazon

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• 8

  

  Most Versatile

  Amazon Essentials Short-Sleeve Maxi Dress

  $23 at Amazon

  $23 at Amazon

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• 9

  

  Best Lightweight

  Amazon Essentials Relaxed Fit Half-Sleeve Waisted Midi A-Line Dress

  $20 at Amazon

  $20 at Amazon

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• 10

  

  Best Midi

  Quince Tencel Jersey Side Tie Dress

  $50 at quince.com

  $50 at quince.com

  Read more

A basic short-sleeved dress is a versatile travel must-buy. This travel dress on Amazon boasts more than 40,000 ratings, with reviewers saying it's "soft and not too thin" and "perfect for traveling." Flowy by design, the dress offers a casual fit, plus hidden pockets. We love that it's available in more than 50 colors and patterns — you'll want to fill your whole wardrobe with these affordable, comfy dresses. Note this style is hand-wash only.

Heading somewhere that's extra humid or heavy on the rain? Textiles Product Analyst Grace Wu calls on Uniqlo's AIRism dress for everyday wear in the summer. "[This dress] is lightweight without feeling flimsy and quick-drying for any surprise rain," she says. Fairly versatile, the long silhouette can be styled with a belt for a bit more form. A bonus: It has pockets. The size range is pretty limited, though, only running from XXS to XL.

Leave the steamer behind for your next formal event. This wrinkle-resistant Amazon travel dress rises to the occasion with thousands of glowing reviews. Online shoppers appreciate the vast choices of styles, from florals to velvets, and we appreciate that it means you can wear it everywhere, from beaches to weddings.

Touting more than 31,000 five-star Amazon ratings, this maxi dress is a reviewer and an editor favorite. Made of mostly rayon with a bit of spandex, our textiles pros appreciate that this affordable pick should stretch and fight off wrinkles, even on a busy day. Plus, it has two side slits, so it can be styled up or down. Choose from 45 color options — neutrals and patterns included — to mix and match your ensembles.

Obsessed is an understatement when it comes to our Textiles Lab fashion experts' opinions of the Spanx AirEssentials line. Described as "cloud-like" and "light as air," this maxi dress is made from the brand's famed fabric. Home & Apparel Reviews Analyst Amanda Constantine considers it her go-to airport outfit because of its soft, smooth feel. "I'm always impressed by how great it looks straight out of my suitcase without wrinkles or dents," she says. Constantine just notes some pilling issues and color fading with time.

Tapping into boho fashion, this sleeveless maxi dress on Amazon makes a great everyday piece. Thanks to its simple, loose silhouette, it's easy to dress up and down with accessories like a wide-brim hat, a belt (for a more cinched look) and a pair of platform sandals. Propelling it to a best-seller on Amazon, reviewers praised its breezy, flattering fit.

Got a garden party or a brunch soiree on the itinerary? This flowy maxi dress comes in an array of multi-colored florals that will match the occasion. Pair the airy dress with open-toed heels or platform sandals for a casual, yet elevated ensemble. Reviewers note that the elastic middle allows for extra stretch while still looking fitted.

This Amazon Essentials travel maxi dress comes in all the staple colors. Its draping silhouette can be paired with nearly anything, from comfy sneakers to basic flip-flops. Satisfied shoppers left glowing feedback saying that it's easy to throw on quickly, passing as either dressy or casual.

For a light, breezy stroll along the waterfront or a tour around the city, this shirt dress suits nicely. Its adjustable tie at the waist lends the silhouette more shape. A shopper appreciated its non-see-through materials and modest length, with one adding that it was perfect on hot, summer days. "And it has pockets! They are large enough to fit a cellphone," they wrote.

A best-seller from the brand whose luxury items we adore, the Quince travel dress adds a sophisticated twist to the lowkey jersey dress silhouette. It's made with silky smooth-feeling Tencel and its knotted detailing drapes nicely at the waist. With dressy sandals or classic white sneakers in tow, wear the classy ensemble when a nice dinner is on the itinerary.

Available up to a size 6XL, this pick offers medium support with the brand's signature compressive fabric. In our exercise dress evaluation, curvy testers raved that it fit their hips perfectly without pulling on their stomach. Plus, GH analysts appreciate Girlfriend Collective's commitment to sustainability by using recycled materials in this dress.

Add sporty flair to travel looks. Athleta's traveler dress billows to the calves in a relaxed and roomy fashion. Made with a blend of spandex and recycled polyester similarly seen in the brand's activewear pieces, this maxi dress is designed to be wrinkle-resistant and quick-drying. Sizes include regular, petite and tall, and the brand notes that the dress runs slightly large by design.

Elevate vacation looks with this timeless satin midi dress. "I bring this lightweight dress from GAP on every trip!" says Constantine. "It folds down super compact and fits in even the smallest of carry-ons or personal bags." It's held up to countless washes with only minor pilling after two years of regular wear.

Wildly popular for its flattering yet comfy fit, this Halara travel dress is made from a nylon and elastane blend. Translation: It is moisture-wicking while retaining its shape and stretch. One GH textiles pro especially loves wearing this pick on vacation because of its built-in interior shelf bra and adjustable straps. Plus, the shorts liner has got you covered. Choose from an array of light pinks and yellows for summertime.

The Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress has a cult-like following for being a summer necessity. Complete with lightweight, moisture-wicking nylon, plus built-in shorts, pockets and a shelf bra, the workout dress is a go-to for biking, golfing, hiking or just running errands. Our pros love its versatility but note that its spandex shorts aren't as compressive as traditional bike shorts.

Hike? Theme park? Abercrombie's mini dress stashes phones, IDs or keys in its hidden pocket, so there's no need to lug a bag around. Its squared neckline and subtle slit lend this exercise dress a trendy leg up. "I feel secure when I'm wearing it thanks to the built-in bra and shorts," says Constantine. Most shoppers agree but add that the removable pads move around a lot.

Finding a bra that works with a plunge dress can be, well, a bust. This versatile maxi dress could be the solve when strapless bras clash with looks. Love Bonito's dress already builds in padding. While the straps are not adjustable, many reviewers had no qualms with the fit.

When visiting a new place, keep your valuables close to you. Avoid carrying a purse at all by wearing a dress that has a place for everything. SCOTTeVEST designs clothes with hidden pockets to conceal your phone, wallet, sunglasses, keys and more and to protect you from sneaky pickpockets. Stay safe while looking great in this cute, short-sleeved pick.

Universal Standard is known for having an impressive range of sizes in every style on the site. This popular dress is made from soft Peruvian cotton that's designed to be pill-resistant and colorfast. In addition to 11 sizes, there are v-neck, crew neck, long sleeve and sleeveless options, with newly added luxe velvet styles. Reviewers say it's the perfect dress to "wear to work or lounging around the house."

A well-known workout brand on Amazon, Colorfulkoala makes some of our experts' favorite budget-friendly athletic wear. Many GH testers even favor Colorfulkoala over pricier options. The exercise dress adopts a thick fabric seen in the brand's other offerings as well as a padded shelf bra and built-in romper liner. One caveat is that the straps aren't adjustable.