Dresses: They’re easy to pack, they’re a fashion no-brainer, and they can go from casual to fancy even more easily than pants. That’s why they’re my absolute favorite type of clothing for travel. But you have to pack the right dresses for summer travel—versatile, wrinkle-free, and odor-resistant pieces that rock a travel wardrobe. Here are the best travel dresses for everyone.
Travel Sundresses
Stay cool with these sleeveless travel dresses for summer.
prAna Grace Trail Dress
prAna
prAna has a great reputation for sustainable threads that embody comfort and style in your day-to-day life. Right now we’re loving this fairly priced sundress, which can be a staple on both a summer day at home or a sunny day abroad. With functional pockets and a design that’s made to move with you, this comfortable dress is a must-buy.
Everlane’s tank wrap dress is the ultimate all-in-one vacation dress. The below-the-knee wrap design creates a classic look that can be worn all the way from an early-morning city tour to that night’s candlelit dinner. The wrinkle-resistant and lightweight fabric makes it super easy to pack, so you’ll never have to break out that dusty hotel iron.
Ideal for a day on the beach, this swingy dress falls on and off with ease. The light material adds a breezy comfort to a steamy day and keeps you covered from the boardwalk to the oceanfront.
Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, Betabrand’s top-notch dress is built to be the easiest dress you’ll ever take on the road. With no buttons, zippers, or fasteners, this baby effortlessly slips on like your favorite comfy tee. The wrinkle-free material means it’ll come out of your suitcase looking good.
Amazon has a slew of awesome summer travel dresses for all kinds of women. This sleeveless, striped number is a casual, everyday jersey dress that works well for layering, and it’s so comfortable that it would make for a great plane outfit even on a long flight.
Lightweight, water-repellent, and has pockets? Say no more. Look cute and stay comfy on the go with this sleeveless dress from Topo Designs. Paired with your favorite walking shoe for the streets or your go-to slip-on sandals for the beach, this dress can fit any occasion.
VIISHOW’s summer swing dress is made from a very cool rayon/spandex knit fabric that’s colorful and easy. Wear this, and you can easily go from the plane to dinner without changing.
Able to squeeze its way into even the most crammed of carry-ons, the lightweight Santorini High Neck Dress from Athleta is the perfect last-minute packing option for any warm-weather trip. Not only is this stylish piece made of sustainable fabric, but it’s also fully reversible into a just-as-chic solid gray side—so it’s like you’re packing two dresses in one.
Maxi dresses’ longer length protects you from the sun and offers an elegant look, without making you overheat.
SUNDRESS Lotus Dress
Shopbop
You won’t believe how unbelievably breezy and cool the Lotus Dress is until you try it on. Made with a trendy thigh-high front slit and an easy pullover design, you can throw this on and be at the beach in seconds.
This maxi dress is so perfect for travel that you’ll want to buy one in each of the six colors that it comes in. The jersey fabric is cool, lightweight, and easy to pack—and extremely comfortable.
Crafted with an imperfect blend of organic cotton, recycled polyester, and naturally occurring rayon, this sleeveless maxi is an eco-friendly alternative to any casual black dress. Shaping numerous body types the most flattering way possible, this one’s hard to resist.
These short-sleeve travel dresses for summer can go from casual to elegant with the right shoes and accessories.
prAna Foundation Dress
prAna
The softness of a T-shirt mixed with the shapely hug of a pencil skirt come together to create this sleek T-shirt dress from prAna. Though it’s adorable worn as is, the addition of your coziest cardigan completes this look for your next plane ride.
Backcountry’s Basin and Range Sunnyside Dress feels like a lightweight version of your favorite sweatshirt, thanks to its cozy French terry fabric blend. The relaxed fit of this versatile dress makes it easy to pair with leggings, bare legs, or skinny pants.
Orvis’ Go2 Travel Tee Dress has an easy to wear, casual silhouette that works with sneakers or sandals. The organic cotton, Tencel, and spandex blend fabric keeps its shape and offers UPF 50 protection—plus wicks away moisture and odor.
Don’t you hate it when you find a dress off the rack that’s great—except it fits weird? That will never be the case at online retailer eShakti, where you can customize clothing to your specifications. Best of all, it’s shockingly cheap—check out the Cotton Knit Midi Wrap Dress, which is perfect for travel thanks to its cotton/spandex jersey knit fabric.
These modest travel dresses for summer are ideal for visiting destinations where you want to be covered up, but still cool.
H&M Airy Shirt Dress
H&M
H&M’s shirt dress is among those summer travel dresses ideal for when you need to look pulled together without overheating. The button-front collared neckline dresses up this look, but the loose A-line silhouette and stretchy fabric are super easy to wear, even on the hottest days.
A quintessential midi with elbow-length sleeves is a classic that will never go out of style. Choosing to keep it modest without the extra lengthy bulkiness is a true plus—you will stay cool all day and won’t have to worry about making much room in your carry-on.
This long-sleeve dress is the epitome of a modest summer dress. The floral pattern adds a pop of brightness while the sleeves reach the wrists for a look that is both stylish and comfortable.
This maxi dress has long sleeves, a modest neckline, and pockets—what more do you need? It’s also extremely affordable, so go ahead and get one in every color and print available.
These travel dresses are specifically designed for plus sizes.
Karen Kane Floral Print Chloe Dress
Zappos
The palm blossom print on this Karen Kane dress screams summer vacation. The polyester/spandex blend fabric will keep you cool on hot days and won’t wrinkle, and the A-line shape works for a variety of occasions.
The no-fuss tailoring of this V-neck dress gracefully shapes and lengthens your look. Because you can dress it up and down, this one can be worn at any time of the day.
Looking for a simple black dress you feel like yourself in? Anthropologie’s flattering Gwendolyn Maxi Dress is it. It’s the ideal outfit for evenings out or other dressier occasions during your trip.
It doesn’t get more casual than a striped dress and a well-worn pair of Converse. Join the two with a denim jacket and you’ll be ready to face the day in no time.
Whether you’re heading out on a business trip or a beach vacation, you’ll want to pack this dress by Lark & Ro. This classic style pairs cap sleeves with a tulip hem and faux-wrap style (so you don’t have to worry about wardrobe malfunctions on a windy day).
Calvin Klein’s airy cold shoulder dress shows off your shoulders and legs but still leaves a little mystery. This dress comes in a gorgeous sea foam green color, overlain with a fun floral print.
Caroline Morse Teel loves travel dresses for summer trips. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline for style and travel photos from around the world.
This story was originally published in 2019. It has been updated to reflect the most current information. Some review products are sent to us free of charge and with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions, positive and negative, and will never accept compensation to review a product. Tyler Schoeber contributed to this story.
We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
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