We’ve been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.
Keep cozy no matter where you're headed.
When traveling, a cozy travel blanket is a great way to bring one comfort of home with you. Whether you're flying across the country on an airplane, headed out on a camping excursion or headed on a road trip in the car, a blanket can make sleeping on the go a lot easier.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we evaluate the best blankets on the market from the best comforters to cozy throw blankets and cooling blankets in Lab and with consumer testers. In our tests, we analyze blanket material and construction and also look into properties like washability and shrinkage before sending the blankets to consumer testers who provide real user feedback about comfort, warmth, feel and more. We distilled these test findings to find the best travel blankets on the market, and used our expertise to select additional picks from popular brands we know and trust or brands with rave online reviews.
Keep reading to learn more about the best travel blankets and learn more about how we evaluate blankets, along with a shopping guide with helpful tips.
We're always impressed by Away's luggage, and the popular travel blanket is no exception. There's no need for a carrying case because the blanket is designed with a built-in carrying strap and folds compactly into itself for easy transport; however, folding it back up after use can be a little difficult. The blanket features three pockets to keep your belongings secure and your feet warm while you wear it (Note — if you're taller, you may not find using the foot pockets to be practical because it will pull the blanket down). One Textiles analyst who has tried this blanket says the material feels smooth and loves that it's made using 37.5 technology, which provides temperature regulation for a super comfortable feel. Plus, it's compatible with the brand's comfy neck pillow — a snap system connects the two together, allowing the blanket to hang from the pillow for hands-free use.
This lightweight travel blanket is a favorite on Amazon with thousands of five-star reviews. And at only $8, it's a total steal! We appreciate how airy the blanket is and how easily it can be rolled into a compact size for packing. Reviewers say it's the perfect size lap blanket to keep in the car or take on a plane, and although it's thin, they love how "warm and toasty" it still is. Because the blanket is so thin, it may not hold up well in the wash; some reviewers experienced fraying hems and pilling.
This plush fleece blanket folds down into a small size for easy travel, and it comes with a carrying pouch made of the same soft material. Plus, when you put the blanket into the carrying case, it doubles as a pillow! Our Lab experts are impressed by the great value of the blanket because, along with being convertible, it's also designed with a strap across the back to slide onto your luggage handle, making it simple to transport around the airport. You have the option to use the carrying strap and included carabiner to connect it to your bag, as well. It's important to note that some reviewers have had issues with the zipper breaking after repeated use.
Rumpl's NanoLoft blankets are made of performance materials that feel silky smooth and warm like a sleeping bag. The brand's latest version, the NanoLoft Flame, is designed with a clip to wear around your neck for hands-free use and flame resistant material on one side, so you won't have to worry about your blanket getting in the way while you're gathered around the campfire. A Lab analyst said she loves the water repellent abilities of the blanket; when she spilled water on the fabric, it rolled right off the surface. She also said the blanket is ultra light and loves how compact it is — it fits perfectly into a carry-on bag but can be difficult to pack back into its carrying pouch after using.
Hopping into a cold car and waiting for it to warm up is miserable, but thanks to Stalwart's heated car blanket, you'll never have to freeze in the car again. This pick warms when plugged into a cigarette lighter, and it has 10,000 five-star reviews on Amazon and is loved by users who say it's great for everything from camping trips to running errands to emergency situations when the heat stops working in your car. The 96-inch cord is long enough for you to move the blanket around the car comfortably, but may not be long enough to extend outside of the car. Even still, the fuzzy fleece material will keep you warm regardless. Textiles analysts recommend using with caution because some reviewers have experienced issues with the blanket wiring overheating and melting the fabric.
If you're looking for a luxurious travel experience from the airport to the resort, Parachute's Merino wool set complete with matching eye mask, carrying case and blanket is the perfect pick to help you achieve just that. The online brand is a favorite of GH analysts who love the brand's percale sheets. Lab pros say that although the set is made of wool, it's not itchy. Merino is a fine wool fiber that actually feels smooth and soft and keeps you extra warm. It is dry clean only, so it's more high maintenance than our other picks, and it's on the pricier end, but the brand offers free returns for up to 60 days so you can send it back if you don't love it.
Bedsure offers quality bedding for an awesome value, including this fleece throw blanket, which our analysts fell in love with after testing it out in Lab, enough so that it won a 2022 Best Bedding Award. The synthetic microfiber fleece material feels so silky and smooth and, according to testers, it's just as soft after being washed. However, some users have experienced shedding with repeated use and after washing. Although it's meant to be a throw blanket, it's thin enough that you can pack it up to take anywhere. And it looks good enough to drape over your couch or bed at home or at your travel destination. You can choose from 26 fashion and neutral colors to match your luggage, and if you want to share the blanket with a travel partner, there are larger sizes available.
For less than $40, you can have everything you need to stay comfortable on your next trip, including a neck pillow, an eye mask, ear plugs and a travel blanket. Our experts love the thoughtful design of each piece — the travel blanket folds into a carrying case for easy transport, the eye mask is contoured to keep pressure off of the eyes and the neck pillow is made of squishy memory foam and has a washable cover. Reviewers love this set for long flights but warn that the dense memory foam pillow takes a while to decompress to its intended shape, so be sure to give it some time to expand before you travel.
If you're planning on a beach trip but aren't planning on splashing around, this beach blanket is great for lounging. We love that it's dual-sided with a soft fleece upper fabric that's comfortable to sit or lie on and a durable waterproof bottom to keep you from getting wet. It rolls into a compact size and fits into a carrying case that you can pack in your beach tote or a carry-on bag. Just note, the fleece is not absorbent, so it won't be helpful with drying off after a swim like a standard beach towel would.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, our Textiles Lab experts test blankets of all kinds, from duvet inserts to weighted blankets. In our most recent evaluation, we tested over 30 blankets in Lab and with over 75 consumer testers, collecting hundreds of data points for analysis. We used our experiences and expertise from testing blankets to help us choose the best travel blankets specifically, especially considering the materials to make sure we’re recommending comfortable and durable options, along with size and weight to make sure they’re easy to tote.
With so many travel blankets to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you. Here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for one:
✔️ Material: A comfortable material makes for a comfortable blanket. If you're looking for an affordable travel blanket that's lightweight and warm, try fleece or a synthetic microfiber made of polyester. Nylon fabrics are lightweight, durable and smooth, which makes them good for outdoor activities. Merino fibers are warm and soft, not scratchy, but they are on the pricier end. Natural fibers like cotton and linen aren't typically quite as warm but are breathable.
✔️ Size: When it comes to travel blankets, it's important to review listed product dimensions before making a purchase. You want something that's large enough to cover you for warmth but also something that's small enough to pack in your bag (and meet airline weight restrictions if you're flying). Most of our picks are around 50 inches wide and 1 pound.
✔️ Features: Many blankets are designed with extra features. A case or pouch keeps your blanket compact for travel; an attached loop is helpful for carrying the blanket on your trip; snaps or clips at the neck allow you to use the blanket hands-free and added pockets provide space to store your belongings while you're on the go.
✔️ Care: Some luxurious fabrics and performance materials require more intensive cleaning, and some are even dry clean only. However, if you're planning to use your travel blanket often or get it dirty outdoors, it's good to look for one that's easy to clean and machine washable.
Amanda Constantine, Home & Apparel Reviews Analyst, has tested bedding and blankets, including sheets and duvet covers, in Lab using standardized equipment. For this article, she analyzed product hands-on and used her categorical expertise to evaluate travel blankets from popular brands online.