Best Travel Dresses for Moms Under $50

These unfussy frocks make travel dressing fast, effortless, and mega stylish.

Alesandra Dubin is an LA-based lifestyle writer and editor. As a veteran digital journalist, she's covered travel, food, parenting, and more for over 15 years. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, TripSavvy, and countless other online and print outlets. An avid traveler, she often trots the globe with her husband and their twins. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @alicedubin. Alesandra holds a master's degree in journalism with an emphasis on cultural reporting and criticism from NYU, and a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley.

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Travel + Leisure / Tyler Roeland

The key to successful packing is a pared-down wardrobe with pieces that are easy to care for, easy to wear, and go with just about everything in your suitcase. As parents, our suitcase space is already maxed out, so finding one-and-done outfits that take up less space than multiple pieces, is always a plus.

From shirt dresses to maxis, our list of the best includes pieces for all seasons, made for layering, and for dressing up or down as circumstances require. There's even a couple dresses that make breastfeeding on the go a breeze on this list. Best of all? They’re all under $50 — so you can fill your suitcase for your next trip without breaking the bank.

This ethically made belted linen dress is so chic and versatile with a midi length and a button front. It's a great year-round option in an array of climates because the fabrication is breathable and regulates heat. The buttons make it breastfeeding-friendly and it's made from 100-percent European flax, which requires less resources to grow and is a more sustainable option. Huge bonus: It has pockets to stash all your essentials (or your kids’ many collected "treasures") for travel.

Quince

To buy: quince.com, $50

Amazon

This affordable dress comes in 19 colors and patterns — so it wouldn't hurt to pick up a couple in, say, versatile black plus notice-me yellow or flirty floral. The stretchy empire waist makes this dress last from pregnancy to postpartum and beyond. And the flattering draping allows it to transition in a cinch from day to night.

To buy: amazon.com, $26 (originally $27)

This lightweight T-shirt dress from a Meghan Markle-approved brand is as classic as they come — it goes from the beach to the street in a snap. It has a soft, lived-in look and feel — a vibe like a favorite vintage T-shirt — and a relaxed fit throughout. It also has a front chest pocket for functionality and style. And it's made of 100-percent organic cotton. It's easy to dress up or dress down and most importantly, to toss in the washing machine.

Everlane

To buy: everlane.com, $50

This ribbed maxi is versatile, comfortable — and totally practical. The rayon and spandex construction is machine washable. The dress has a babydoll silhouette, hitting above the knee, and offers bra coverage, and the V-neck wrap style is nursing friendly. Plus, the navy and white striped look has a nautical — even downright French — vibe.

Maurices

To buy: maurices.com, $30

This dress goes everywhere you do on your journeys — from pregnancy through postpartum and nursing and beyond. It's super lightweight with a cut-out scoop neck for easy breastfeeding on the go. Side slits help ventilate the maxi length, and the viscose and polyester fabric wicks moisture away.

Nordstrom

To buy: nordstrom.com, $50

An easy knit T-shirt dress goes literally anywhere — from a long-haul flight to a beach day to a night out, paired with wedge sandals and chunky jewelry. This ultra budget-friendly version has a classic crew neck, short cap sleeves, and rolled trim done in 100-percent cotton. Choose from versatile black, brown, or light olive, or better yet, get all three because… well, kids.

Forever 21

To buy: Forever 21, $25

This cute, go-everywhere dress in rayon and polyester is machine washable and no-fuss with a bit of stretch. The lightweight sheath has a crew neck and tie belted waist breezy enough even for the beach, but dresses up nicely, too. And it has side pockets to boot. It's perfect for chasing kids around while still feeling put together.

Amazon

To buy: amazon.com, $30 (originally $40)

This budget-friendly dress looks so pulled together for all kinds of travel purposes — from business meetings to sightseeing in style. It has a spread collar with a five-button front, and a twist-front detailing that gives it an elevated look. It has a relaxed fit and is available in a size-inclusive range up to 4XL. It's also machine washable in rayon, nylon, and linen.

Old Navy

To buy: oldnavy.gap.com, $50

A denim dress goes with just about everything — and holds up ruggedly against real-world wear, with minimal wrinkling and easy care (it's machine washable). This shirt dress has a regular fit and tie waist. Wear it with trainers for a day of strolling around town, or dress it up with wedges or booties. It layers like a dream, too.

Asos

To buy: asos.com, $50

Everlane

This super breezy, lightweight dress has a long A-line silhouette and is made of 100-percent cotton, so it's guaranteed to move and breathe easily when you’re traveling in warm, sticky climates — and it's on MAJOR sale. It even has pockets to seal the deal. Note that this dress runs large; consider sizing down when you shop.

To buy: everlane.com, $38 (originally $128)

This midi dress made of super-soft gauze is easy dressing at its finest. It has a V-neckline and an open back for visual interest (plus a bit of skin in contrast to the otherwise full-coverage frock). It's machine washable and pleated all around. Basic black makes it a perfect match for, well, everything in your suitcase.

Madewell

To buy: madewell.com, $40 (originally $128)

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