What is the best travel car seat for flying and road trips?

Best overall: Cosco Scenera NEXT. It’s usually the most practical travel car seat for flying and road trips because it is lightweight, inexpensive, FAA-approved when used with the harness, and works rear-facing or forward-facing for many toddlers.

If your child is older and forward-facing only, the WAYB Pico is the easiest premium travel pick because it folds compactly and is designed specifically for travel. If you want more road-trip comfort and a higher harness limit than the Cosco, look at the Evenflo Sonus 65. For an infant, the best travel choice is usually the infant seat you already use with a stroller or a lightweight infant seat, rather than buying a toddler convertible seat too early.