Best Travel Pillows for Road Trips (We Have a Clear Winner)

If you’ve ever glanced in the rearview mirror to see your kids’ heads flopping around like bobbleheads while they try to sleep, you know the struggle. Or maybe it’s your partner slumped against the window at an angle that’s going to mean complaints for the next three days.

I’m the driver in our family, so I don’t personally use a travel pillow — but after watching my crew suffer through countless road trips, I dove deep into the research to find what actually works. Not the fluffy marketing claims, but real solutions for real families with cars packed to the roof with coolers, beach carts, and enough snorkel gear for a small expedition.

Here’s what I found: most travel pillows are designed for airplanes, and they fail miserably in cars. But a few get it right. Let me save you the trial and error.

🏆 Best Travel Pillow for Road Trips:: BCOZZY Travel Pillow

After comparing dozens of options, the BCOZZY Travel Pillow is the clear winner for road trips — and it’s not even close.

Here’s why it beats everything else for car travel:

• Flat back design — This is the game-changer. Most U-shaped pillows are bulky in the back, which pushes your head forward when you’re leaning against a car headrest. The BCOZZY has a flat back that actually works WITH your car seat instead of fighting it.
• Chin support — The patented overlapping arms wrap around and support your chin, so your head doesn’t flop forward when you fall asleep. This is what prevents the bobblehead situation.
• Fully machine washable — If you travel with kids, you know why this matters. Throw the whole thing in the wash, not just a removable cover.
• Packs down small — Comes with a carry bag and compresses way smaller than memory foam pillows. When your car is already stuffed, every inch counts.
• Sizes for the whole family — Adults get Large or X-Large options, and there are dedicated kids sizes (more on those below).

Over 1.7 million people have bought this pillow for a reason. It actually solves the problem instead of just looking like it should.

BCOZZY Travel Pillow – Adult Large

BCOZZY Travel Pillow – Adult X-Large

More Top Travel Pillows for Road Trips

The BCOZZY is our top pick, but depending on your specific situation, one of these might work better for you.

👶 Best Travel Pillow For Kids: BCOZZY Kids Travel Pillow

Same great design as the adult version, sized specifically for little necks. BCOZZY makes two kids sizes:

• Small — Ages 3-7
• Medium — Ages 8-12

The flat back works perfectly with car seats and boosters, and the snap strap lets kids clip it to their backpack so they don’t lose it at every rest stop. Plus, again — fully machine washable. Because kids.

BCOZZY Kids Travel Pillow – Small (3-7)

BCOZZY Kids Travel Pillow – Medium (8-12)

💰 Best Budget Travel Pillow: MLVOC Memory Foam Travel Pillow

If you’re not ready to invest in the BCOZZY, the MLVOC Memory Foam Travel Pillow is a solid budget pick. It’s a more traditional U-shaped memory foam design, but with a few upgrades that make it worth considering:

• Adjustable drawstring lets you tighten the fit around your neck
• Comes with an eye mask, earplugs, and carry bag (great value)
• Removable, washable cover
• Compresses to about half its size for packing

The catch? It doesn’t have that flat back design, so it won’t work as well against a car headrest. It’s better suited for passengers who sleep leaning to the side against the window. But for the price, it’s hard to complain.

MLVOC Memory Foam Travel Pillow

🧳 Best Travel Pillow for Packability: Trtl Travel Pillow

The Trtl Travel Pillow looks nothing like a traditional travel pillow — it’s more like a scarf with a hidden internal support system. And that’s exactly why it packs so small.

• Weighs just 4.5 oz (lighter than your phone)
• Packs completely flat
• Machine washable
• Internal brace holds your head in an ergonomic position

The Trtl is especially good for side sleepers who lean against the window. You wrap it around your neck like a scarf, position the internal support where you need it, and it holds your head without the bulk.

Heads up: Trtl now comes in different sizes. If you’re under 5’6″, look for the “Petite” option — the regular size may feel too bulky on a shorter frame.

Trtl Travel Pillow

Trtl Travel Pillow – Petite

🚗 Best Travel Pillow That Attaches to Car Headrest: Travelrest Ultimate Inflatable

If you want something that straps directly to your car’s headrest so passengers can lean into it, the Travelrest Ultimate Inflatable Pillow is worth a look.

• Attaches to headrest or can be worn messenger-bag style
• Inflates in a few breaths, deflates in seconds
• Rolls up tiny when not in use
• Provides lateral support for side sleepers

This one’s great for passengers who want to lean to the side without ending up on their seatmate’s shoulder. The inflatable design means you can adjust firmness and it takes up almost no space when packed.

Travelrest Ultimate Inflatable Travel Pillow

How to Wear a Travel Pillow (Yes, There’s a Right Way)

Here’s something most people get wrong: the opening of a U-shaped travel pillow usually goes in the front, not the back. This lets the sides support your head when it falls to either side.

That said, there’s no single “correct” position — it depends on how you sleep:

• If your head falls forward: Position the pillow with the thickest part under your chin for support.
• If you lean to one side: Rotate the pillow so the bulk is on your leaning side, or fold it in half and tuck it between your head and the window.
• If you sleep upright: Center the pillow with equal support on both sides.

With the BCOZZY specifically, you can adjust the overlapping arms to provide chin support, side support, or both — it’s one of the reasons it’s so versatile for different sleepers.

Travel Pillow FAQ

How do I wash my travel pillow?

It depends on the pillow. The BCOZZY and Trtl are fully machine washable — just toss them in on a gentle cycle and air dry. Memory foam pillows like the MLVOC usually have a removable cover you can wash, but the foam itself should only be spot cleaned. Always check the care label.

What size travel pillow do I need?

Most travel pillows are one-size-fits-all, which is part of the problem — they don’t fit everyone well. BCOZZY solves this with multiple adult sizes (Large for necks up to 16″, X-Large for 16″+) and two kids sizes (Small for ages 3-7, Medium for 8-12). Trtl also now offers a Petite size for adults under 5’6″.

Do travel pillows work in car seats?

Many don’t — and that’s the problem. Most travel pillows are designed for airplane seats and have bulky backs that push your head forward when you’re against a car headrest. Look for pillows with a flat back design (like the BCOZZY) or ones you can position to the side (like the Trtl or Travelrest).

Can I use a travel pillow with headphones?

Over-ear headphones can be tricky with bulky travel pillows. The Trtl works well with headphones since it wraps like a scarf and doesn’t have bulk around the ears. The BCOZZY can also work depending on how you position it. Memory foam U-shaped pillows tend to be the most problematic with over-ear headphones.

The Bottom Line

For family road trips, the BCOZZY Travel Pillow is the clear winner. The flat back design actually works with car seats, the chin support prevents the dreaded head flop, it’s fully machine washable, and there are sizes for everyone in the family. It’s not the cheapest option, but it’s the one that actually solves the problem.

If budget is tight, grab the MLVOC. If packability is your priority, go with the Trtl. But if you want the best travel pillow for road trips, the BCOZZY is it.

Happy travels! 🦉

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More Road Trip Planning

You’ve got the pillow — now plan the trip! Here are a few of our favorite guides for families hitting the road: