MAIN PHOTOGRAPH BY JORDAN SIEMENS/GETTY IMAGES; PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHS CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: AMAZON, AMAZON, ZAPPOS, MYPILLYPAL, AMAZON

20 Mother’s Day gifts for moms who love to travel

Now is the perfect time to help her stock up on everything she needs for her next adventure.

ByAlexandra Frost
April 12, 2024
By clicking on the featured links, visitors will leave NationalGeographic.com and be directed to third-party e-commerce sites that operate under different terms and privacy policies. As a participant in multiple affiliate marketing programs, National Geographic will earn a commission for certain purchases. See full disclaimer below.*

Some moms want to skip the flowers and breakfast in bed. Instead, they’d rather jet off to an amazing destination. For moms who love to travel, Mother’s Day is the perfect time to help her stock up on everything she needs for her next adventure. Here are some of the best Mother’s Day gifts for travelers. 

The best mother's day gifts for moms who love to travel

Naot Castelo sandals

Buy it now at Zappos

The best gifts for moms who travel light serve more than one purpose. Recognized by the American Podiatric Medical Association, these sandals are comfortable enough for exploring during the day and just elevated enough to pair with a dress. We like that they have a leather lining and a removable cork footbed that molds to your foot.

Fire TV stick 

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

Buy it now on Amazon

If your mom’s idea of a perfect getaway involves relaxing in a plush bed and breakfast and catching up on her favorite television shows, consider giving her a Fire TV stick. This one has a WiFi 6 connection and access to over a million movies and TV episodes.

Small jewelry safe keeper

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

Buy it now on Amazon

This jewelry keeper is a great gift for moms who like to work out while traveling. It locks with a carabiner that then attaches to keychains, bags, and even water bottles.

Sunchill Ultimate Party-Proof Floaty

Buy it now at Sunchill

Moms who enjoy hanging out at the lake may appreciate this inflatable floaty. Deflated, it’s not much bigger than a sleeping bag and weighs about 18 pounds. It inflates in about 90 seconds and the poly-pro fabric netting can comfortably accommodate up to six adults. It may be a pricier gift idea, but friends could chip for a group getaway.

Ceres Chill OG Breastmilk Chiller

Buy it now at Ceres Chill

New moms who like to travel may find it difficult to keep fresh-pumped milk cool. You can pump directly into this TSA-approved chiller, which promises to keep milk cool for up to 20 hours. It also comes in a variety of colors.

HP Sprocket Portable 2x3 Instant Color Photo Printer

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

Buy it now on Amazon

In many families, mom is likely the memory keeper. As such, she probably has thousands of photos on her phone. One of the best Mother’s Day gifts is a portable printer that connects to cell phones like this one. According to HP, this one can print 35 photos on water-resistant sticker paper on a single charge.

TRX Pro4 System

The TRX Pro4 System is a great gift for moms who want to keep up with their fitness routine while traveling. The all-in-one system comes with bands that can be secured to doors and banisters or used on their own for a full body workout virtually anywhere. Everything stores in an included bag, which makes it easy to pack.

Kibou crossbody or fanny pack

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

Buy it now on Amazon

Small hands-free bags are great Mother’s Day gift ideas. The classic and mini options from Kibou are made of vegan leather. Plus, the company says that one percent of all sales goes toward helping mothers and children impacted by incarceration.   

Pluto Pod travel pillow

Buy it now at Pluto Pillow

One thoughtful gift for moms who like to travel is a travel pillow. The futuristic-looking Pluto Pod helps support the neck and block out noise and light for a more restful sleep. You can also attach it to luggage for easy access.

Ember Travel Smart Mug 2

Buy it now at Best Buy

This “smart” mug is likely an upgrade from your mom’s conventional travel mug. This mug has all kinds of features, including an ideal temperature setting and a timer for steeping tea. According to the company, the Ember will keep beverages at set temperatures for up to three hours. It also connects with an app for remote control and works with Apple Find My, so mom can keep tabs on it.

The PAK System 

Buy it now at PAK Rêve

Moms who like travel and adventure may appreciate this customizable bag. She can carry the whole thing like a backpack, or remove sections via snaps and straps to create smaller bags. One removable section could also work as a child’s backpack.

My Pilly Pal

Buy it now at My Pilly Pal

This pill box is a great Mother’s Day gift idea for travelers. It’s compact enough to fit in a purse or backpack and has enough room for everyone’s medications. Before purchasing a pill box as a gift, note that some airlines and destinations require travelers to pack original prescription bottles instead of loose pills. 

Bellroy Tech Kit

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

Buy it now on Amazon

This tech kit is a great gift idea for moms who travel with a lot of electronics. Made of recycled, woven fabric, it keeps pesky cables and chargers organized. We also like that it opens flat so she can see everything.

Anker 622 Magnetic Battery (MagGo)

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

Buy it now on Amazon

Pairing a tech kit with this Anker iPhone charger would make a nice Mother’s Day gift too. The Anker 622 is magnetic and comes with a foldable stand. The super slim design comes in a few pastel colors, as well as in white and black.

Out of the Woods Seagull Trunk Cooler

Buy it now at Out of the Woods

It’s a lunchbox. It’s a cooler. It’s a poolbag. This soft-sided cooler made from renewable materials is basically whatever mom needs it to be. The roomy size fits everything she needs for a picnic or camping. Plus a zippered pouch in the top keeps keys, phones, and other valuables tidy.

Splendid hooded draper thermal cardigan

A lovely gift for moms at any age or stage in life is a travel cardigan that’s long enough to pair with leggings, and cozy enough to throw on by a campfire. This one by Splendid is easy to wash and has pockets. The draped front adds versatility for dressing up or down while traveling.

Bombas Women’s Sunday Slipper

These comfortable rubber soled slippers are handy for flights or on road trips. The slippers have a memory foam footbed for extra comfort and come in two neutral colors that will go with any outfit.

Oak and Luna Engraved Compass Necklace

Buy it now at Oak and Luna

This beautiful compass necklace will remind mom of past and future travels or show her that she is the “true north” of her family. It comes in different metals (925 sterling silver, 14 karat gold, or 18 karat gold vermeil). Personalize it with her initials or that of a special travel companion.

Vuori joggers

Buy it now at Vuori

These moisture-wicking joggers make a comfortable and stylish gift for mom, plus the company says they’re sustainably made. They’re great for workouts, but also for staying comfortable on long flights. They also look good while exploring a destination.

GCI Outdoor camping chair

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

Buy it now on Amazon

Some moms want to travel somewhere to relax. This portable camping chair rocks for easy evenings by the campfire. The powder-coated steel frame supports a maximum of 250 pounds, according to the company.

Alexandra Frost is a freelance journalist based in Cincinnati, Ohio, covering product testing, health, travel, parenting, and education. She has written for the Washington Post, the Huffington Post, Popular Science, Forbes, and Consumer Reports, among others.
*Although we are sharing our personal opinions of these experiences or products with you, National Geographic is not endorsing these experiences or products on behalf of anyone. It has not performed product safety testing on any of these products, did not manufacture them, and is not selling, or distributing them and is not making any representations about the safety or caliber of these products or experiences for individual consumers. Prices and availability are subject to change from the date of publication.

Go Further