The 15 Best Spring Dresses for Travel | SmarterTravel (2024)

Unless you’re rocking a onesie, a dress is pretty much the only piece of clothing you can pack that can serve as an entire outfit. Spring travel dresses take up less room than pants and shirt combos, require less effort, and look great in travel photos. Discover 15 of the best travel dresses for spring to bring on your next trip.

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Of Mercer Park Place Dress

Made in New York City, Of Mercer’s Park Place dress won’t look out of place in any urban environment. The dress features a not-too-low v-neck collar that works for business meetings or dinners. An elasticized waistband adds some shape without restricting movement or comfort. Bonus: There are pockets!

Athleta Ryder Dress

This fit and flare dress from Athleta is made from ultra stretchy nylon spandex fabric that is moisture wicking and quick drying, making it comfortable for long travel days. The open back detail and ribbed textured top adds visual interest to an already strong staple piece. Available in three colors and in sizes XXS to 3X.

See Rose Go Go-To Dress

Truly a go-to for any occasion, The Go-To Dress from See Rose Go can be dressed up or down. The fabric is moisture-wicking, cooling, and anti-pilling, so you’ll still look your best even if your outfit is straight out of the suitcase. This hidden zipper pocket is a great place to stash items you don’t want to lose like hotel keys and wallets.

Reformation Weiss Linen Dress

Break out the spring linens with this dress from Reformation. Plucked straight out of your sunny picnic fantasies, this wrap midi dress features puff sleeves and cinches at the waist, giving definition and also the option to tighten or loosen the garment for maximum comfort. Also available in two patterns, Baguette Check and Cherry Pit.

Anthropologie Flat White Ruched Mini Dress

Made from a cotton-linen blend and a rayon lining, this lightweight ruched number is Anthropologie’s casual answer to the slip dress trend. With an asymmetrical hem, open back, and adjustable shoulder straps, this is a great basic to have in your travel wardrobe with enough visual interest to stand on its own.

Halara Everyday Cloudful® 2-in-1 Flare Activity Dress-Wannabe

The early-2000s called. They want to let you know that skorts are back and better than ever. The Halara Dress-Wannabe has all the style of a classic mini dress with all the comfort and security of a great pair of athletic shorts. Available in 33 springtime colors and in sizes XS to 4X. Pair it with a cropped sweatshirt for a sporty look and some extra warmth on a cooler morning.

August Sky Women’s Sleeveless Tiered Midi Dress

With a tiered skirt and mock-tie straps, the details of this dress elevate the otherwise basic (but classic!) silhouette. The fabric is lightweight and the stretchy band cinches in at the waist while also allowing freedom of movement.

PinkBlush Ruffle Sleeve Maternity Midi Dress

Finding travel-friendly clothes while pregnant can be a challenge, but PinkBlush’s line of post-bump friendly dresses makes finding something cute and comfortable a breeze. This dress, available in four pastel colors and a classic black, has an adjustable front tie and a stretchy elastic back. The best part: you can wear it during and after your pregnancy.

prAna Railay Dress

Everyone say it with me: it has pockets! The Railay Dress has two front pockets and a hidden zipper pocket. It also features an elastic waistband, four way stretch material, and UPF 50 sun protection. Made from 68% recycled polyester, produced in a Fair Trade Certified Factory, and designated a bluesign® product, this is an outfit you can feel good wearing and feel good about buying.

Title Nine Beach Tunic Speed Racer

Quick drying, moisture wicking, and featuring UPF 50 sun protection, the Title Nine Beach Tunic Speed Racer dress can do it all. Available in seven colors, this dress has adjustable ruching at the sides and two zippered pockets. The shirt-like design makes it perfect to throw over a pair of leggings if the weather hasn’t quite warmed up yet.

Torrid Tiered Maxi Dress

Celebrate the colors of the season with this pastel striped maxi dress from Torrid. This dress is another option that is easily dressed up or down, just check out Torrid’s ‘how to wear it’ page for inspiration. It has adjustable straps and was designed with softness and comfort in mind. Available in sizes medium (10) to 6X (30).

Athleta Presidio Dress

Another favorite from Athleta, this dress is a great option for the environmentally-conscious traveler. Made from Recycled Poly, a fabric sourced from recycled plastic bottles, it’s comfortable and eco-friendly. The Presidio is wrinkle-resistant, quick-drying, has two front pockets, and features UPF 50+ sun protection.

Elan Button-Down Maxi Cover-Up Dress

Versatility is the name of the game when packing a suitcase, so why not wear your cover-up as a dress? Button it up over a shorter dress, like the Halara Dress-Wannabe, to double your outfit options. Wear it unbuttoned over a pair of jeans and a button up shirt for a look that’s playful and chic. There are endless options, and all of them will save you valuable luggage space.

Tommy Hilfiger Belted Fit and Flare Midi Dress

If you’re traveling for business but still want to explore the area in your downtime, you’ll need to pack clothes that do double duty. This Belted Fit and Flare Midi Dress from Tommy Hilfiger fits the bill. Swap your dress shoes for a pair of white sneakers, take off the belt, and throw on a jean jacket for an instant casual look.

UNIQLO AIRism Cotton Short Sleeved Flare Dress

Spring is the sweet spot for wearing a classic t-shirt dress—when you’ve left leggings behind in the winter and the summer underarm sweat (hey, it happens to all of us) hasn’t quite set in. This dress from UNIQLO is crafted from their AIRism fabric which is odor neutralizing, moisture-wicking, and antimicrobial.

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Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2017. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.

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