Shop The Story
When you’re traveling with little kids, you’ll want to bring their own car seat along for their comfort, and the best way to keep it safe and ensure that it arrives in perfect condition is to use a car seat travel bag! A flimsy, disposable plastic bag just isn’t going to do the trick, but a proper bag will help protect the seat against not just dirt and damage but also germs.
Best Overall Car Seat Travel Bags: Jeep Car Seat Travel Bag
Best Overall Car Seat Travel Bags: J Is For Jeep Car Seat Travel Bag
Best Car Seat Travel Bags For Gate Check:Reper Kid Car Seat Travel Bag
Best Car Seat Travel Bags For Gate Check: JL Childress Gate Check Bag For Car Seats
Best Compact Car Seat Travel Bags: VolkGo Durable Car Seat Travel Bag
Best Compact Car Seat Travel Bags: JL Childress Universal Gate Check Bag
Best Car Seat Travel Bags With Wheels: JL Childress Wheelie Car Seat Travel Bag
Best Car Seat Travel Bags With Wheels: Wheelie Car Seat Travel Bag
What Is a Car Seat Travel Bag?
You might think that a bag’s a bag but there’s so much more to it than that when it comes to safe, convenient travel. Car seat travel bags come in a range of styles, with a range of price ranges to reflect their features. Some bags have straps that make them a breeze to wear as a backpack when your arms are full of tiny travelers, while others bags have wheels, which come in really handy when you have to sprint your entire family and luggage to the connecting flight all the way across the airport. It’s important to find the right bag to fit your family’s travel needs.
What to Consider When Choosing a Car Seat Travel Bag
There are a few things to think about when deciding on a car seat travel bag. First, you’ll want to know if your specific car seat travel bag can be checked at the gate or if it needs to be checked before security. If your car seat is FAA-approved, it can be used onboard during the flight, which means you’ll want a travel bag that folds up and can be tucked into a purse or overhead bin. But most airlines (all US and many international) allow car seats to be checked free of charge.
To help you find the right travel bag for your needs, we’ve broken them down into specific categories. Happy travels!
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
1 of 8 Image Credits: Amazon
Best Overall Car Seat Travel Bags
Jeep Car Seat Travel Bag
The J is for Jeep car seat travel bag is perfect for protecting your child’s seat on a flight. It fits most car, booster and infant carrier seats. The sturdy, waterproof nylon fabric of this airline-approved gate-check bag will help ensure your baby’s favorite seat stays, clean, dry and free from tears. Seasoned travelers love that it’s got extra pockets and adjustable straps.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
The bag is well-made and sturdy. It opens nice and wide so it was easy to fit the car seat inside and remove. It has a handle built-in, and a detachable strap. The bag nicely survived the flight there and back, and will live to see another journey.
2 of 8 Image Credits: Amazon
Best Overall Car Seat Travel Bags
J Is For Jeep Car Seat Travel Bag
TThis lightweight bag fits all major brands of car seats. It has an adjustable shoulder strap and a convenient storage pocket. It’s perfect because it folds down small enough to be packed away discreetly.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
This bag is made from very thick material and has a handle on the back or a shoulder strap you can use. My main concern was the material and whether or not it would live up to the luggage abuse, but it was great.
3 of 8 Image Credits:
Best Car Seat Travel Bags for Gate Check
Reper Kid Car Seat Travel Bag
The bright purple durable nylon fabric on this Reper Kid bag will make spotting it a cinch at baggage claim. It’s got two comfortable padded straps and the oversize ID tag on the top takes the chore out of labeling your luggage. I’s perfect for gate checking and clearly states, “Handle Me With Care,” on the front of the bag. Plus, when not in use, this one folds up small enough to stuff into your carry-on bag.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
Our car seat had plenty of room in the bag. The material held up incredibly well and hardly looks used, even though it went on 6 different airplanes and multiple cars during our trip. The shoulder carrying straps were very helpful too.
4 of 8 Image Credits: Amazon
Best Car Seat Travel Bags for Gate Check
JL Childress Gate Check Bag for Car Seats
Red alert! This handy carrier is constructed of lightweight yet sturdy water-resistant material that’s been double-stitched for added strength. And we love that the fiery hue is especially eye-catching when it comes around on the luggage carousel. We’re also fans of the drawstring closure with adjustable lock, because it’s easy to use in the middle of a crowded concourse.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
The drawstring top allows a luggage tag to stick out should the gate agent insist on tagging the seat/stroller itself, It's been all over the world with us, and the dirt's on the bag, not the seat/stroller!
5 of 8 Image Credits: Amazon
Best Compact Car Seat Travel Bags
VolkGo Durable Car Seat Travel Bag
This bag packs a big punch in a tiny package. The generously sized nylon carrier fits most brands like Graco car seats and Chicco car seats but folds flat for easy storage and even transforms into a small folding carry pouch. It can also be gate checked and provides excellent protection against germs, dirt and damage.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
Backpack style was easy to carry, it was a great size! It held our full size car seat plus booster seat. Clear labeling was wonderful! And the drawstring plus the flap over it made it super easy to use and kept everything protected!
6 of 8 Image Credits: Amazon
Best Compact Car Seat Travel Bags
JL Childress Universal Gate Check Bag
The bright blue side-carry bag is a blessing when it comes to traveling with babies and kids. It’s colorful enough to stand out on the baggage carousel and has a large graphic ID box, but what we adore the most about this small wonder is that it can be stuffed into the attached, compact stretch pouch when not in use.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
The bag held up great even though the car seat was with checked baggage - no tears in the material, no issues with the draw strings, and no problems with the handles. The bag is incredibly large so you could probably sneak a little more than just the car seat in the bag.
7 of 8 Image Credits: Target
Best Car Seat Travel Bags with Wheels
JL Childress Wheelie Car Seat Travel Bag
Traveling with tots just got a whole lot easier! This durable, water-resistant bag folds flat for easy storage and is easy enough to check at the desk, gate or bring on the aircraft. It’s got an adjustable interior strap to securely hold the car seat into place, but we especially love that the dual rubber wheels, resting pegs and solid platform work perfectly together to prevent dragging.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
The Wheelie bag folds up perfectly and fits in the overhead bin while we're flying. I couldn't imagine NOT having a bag like this for our infant seat.
8 of 8 Image Credits: Walmart
Best Car Seat Travel Bags with Wheels
Wheelie Car Seat Travel Bag
This one is perfect for bringing your car seat onto a plane. The reinforced bottom seam makes it especially durable, while the high-quality rubber wheels provide a smooth, rolling experience. But it’s also easy to carry, thanks to the adjustable, detachable shoulder strap. When not in use, this one folds flat to quickly stash in an overhead bin.
What Reviewers Are Saying:
It fit my seat perfectly (suspect it would fit a Britax seat too since they are similar size). The material is lightweight but sturdy enough to protect the material. There is an inside bag strap to help the seat stay in place in the bag.
