Discover More Than 75 Of The Best Gift Ideas For The Traveler In Your Life
We all have someone special in our lives who is absolutely smitten with the magic of travel. From outdoor enthusiasts and budget travelers to road trippers, frequent flyers, and luxury travelers, finding memorable gifts for travelers can be both exciting and challenging.
Curated by our team of local travel experts with help from our readers, OnlyInYourState is excited to present our 2023 holiday gift guide for travelers. Featuring both budget selections and splurges, we hope to make your holiday gift-giving a breeze this year, bringing wanderlust to your loved ones with more than 75 unique gifts for travelers – many of which are easily considered the best gifts for frequent travelers under $50. Check out our favorite travel gifts for your Christmas and holiday gift-giving this year.
Gift Ideas For The Family Traveler
Traveling with a family can often feel like anything *but* a vacation. Luckily, with a little planning and some key must-haves hand-picked by OnlyInYourState family traveling pros, you can not only arrive at your destination sans headache, but even enjoy the journey with these travel necessities and gifts for families.

Car Trip Entertainment

For artistically inclined kiddos, a journal is a wonderful way to document the journey. We love Adventure Challenge, which has some of the most creative and engaging car ride activities around.
Staff Pick: Prefer to go screen-free on your trip? OnlyInYourState Editor Sarah McCosham loves the Guess In 10 games from Skillmatics. "The games come in a variety of topics -- marine life, US states, global cuisine -- and it's fun to pick a theme that works with where you're going!"
Gifts to Make Your Home Away From Home More Like Home


Staff Pick: Editorial Manager Megan Shute doesn't go anywhere without her white noise machine -- it's small, easy to pack, and incredibly comforting for kids (and grown-ups)! This is a favorite and one of the most useful gifts for travelers.
Road Trip Must Haves + Stocking Stuffers
- Packable Snacks: Keep the "hangries" at bay with fruit snacks by Bear Snacks, Annie's Cheddar Bunnies, and fun-sized granola clusters from Made Good.
- First Aid Kit: Don't leave home without a first aid kit -- we love this kit by Welly, which has all the essentials and a bevy of latex-free bandages in fun and funky prints.
- Nausea Bands: It's bound to happen to every family at least once -- car sickness. If your kids are carsick-prone, don't forget the Nausea Bands!
- Sanitizing Wipes: Between public bathrooms and general kid stickiness (why?), keep plenty of Honest Hand Sanitizer on (ahem) hand.
Gift Ideas For The Budget Traveler
The benefits of travel are well-known, but wanderlust can be quite pricey! Fortunately, some of the best travel products we’ve found are also the most budget-friendly — these are the kind of high-quality “musts” every traveler needs in their carry-on suitcase or minivan console!
For The Traveler With Champagne Tastes On A Beer Budget
Wondering where to stay while you're away? Book a vacation home or villa through Marriott. You'll enjoy the comforts and luxuries of a hotel with the charm – and price tag – of a homeaway rental. Win, win!
Looking to ditch the car and travel in style? A Rail Pass from Amtrak lets folks sit back and enjoy the ride while soaking up some of the country's best scenery.
Another one of our favorite travel gifts for practically anyone in your life with an Apple product is an Apple Adapter. This 2-pack magnetic wireless charger works with so many gadgets and would be ideal to have while traveling.
Budget Picks For The Thrill-Seeking Adventurer
Looking to be a tourist in your hometown? What a budget-friendly way to "staycation!" City Experience makes a perfect gift for local adventures; and with city cruises, tours, guide-led excursions, and more, you'll discover a whole new side to your city. (Traveling cross-country? Book a City Experience in a different town or city!)
Budget-Friendly Gear For The Globe Trotter

Another travel must-have is a portable water bottle or thermos; OIYS Editor Sarah McCosham loves Hydroflask for its durability and functionality.
Budget-Friendly Honorable Mentions And Stocking Stuffers
- Coffee cards: Make sure you arrive at your destination fully caffeinated with a Starbucks card. While we're all for finding a local coffee shop on vacation, Starbucks is a ubiquitous and reliable spot for "fueling up," no matter what city or airport you find yourself in.
- Laundry bag: You won't regret having a dedicated laundry bag; fill it up as you travel and – if you're feeling ambitious – haul it to the local laundromat for a quick load (sans suitcase)!
Gift Ideas For The Road Trip Enthusiast
From unique gifts for solo travelers to gifts for retirees who travel full-time, the road trip enthusiast in your life is sure to love these one-of-a-kind gifts for road trip lovers.
Essential Gifts For Road Trips

Staff Pick: Staying hydrated on the road is crucial. Operations Manager Andrea Limke loves her Stanley Stainless Steel Tumbler. This leakproof, BPA-free cup has a straw and keeps liquids chilled for 12 hours or iced for up to two days.
No matter what type of vehicle is being driven, these practical gifts for road trips are must-haves most people wouldn't want to buy for themselves, like this car trash can or this seat-back organizer.
Stocking Stuffers For Road Trip Enthusiasts

- Travel Journal: Documenting your travels is key, and a travel journal like this leather refillable one from Amazon is a perfect gift idea for road trip lovers.
- Road Map: Anyone traveling in a remote area needs a paper map like this classic one that’s less than $10.
- Air Freshener: Little Words Project is known for its adorable jewelry with positive messages, but these car air fresheners are ultra-cute and affordable with uplifting messages.
Gift Ideas For The Beach Lover

Beach Chair: This beach chair has it all. Easily carry it on your back, hang your towel on the bar, or even set your phone in the designated pocket. And it comes in several fun colors.
Backpack Cooler: A backpack cooler is an easy way to take your favorite drinks and snacks to the beach. Gift this version from REI, and you'll have a happy beach-goer.
Beach Towel: If you're going to give a loved one a beach towel as a gift, you'll want it to be the best of the best. The Sand Cloud Beach Towels are, indeed, the best. OnlyInYourState Editor, Sarah McCosham, has these towels and shares, "I LOVE these beach towels. They pack well, are a breeze to wash, and perform as advertised – they repel sand while also being incredibly soft. They also work well as car blankets or makeshift sarongs!" We also love the cool colors and patterns; it's the perfect gift for beach lovers.
Beach Wagon: A beach wagon is an extremely useful gift for any beach traveler, especially those with children. This particular wagon is another staff favorite and has held up after dozens of trips across the soft sand. It folds up easily and would make a great gift for family travel.
Clip-On Bluetooth Speaker: The sound of the waves may be all the soundtrack you need at the beach, but some people also enjoy a little music. A wireless, Bluetooth speaker is an excellent gift for a multitude of reasons, but add a clip to it, and it's perfect for the beach. This JBL speaker is more of an investment, but it is a trusted, highly-rated brand. This budget-friendly speaker is also worthy of being wrapped up as a holiday gift this season. Clip either option on the top of a chair, umbrella, or shade, and keep the music sand-free!
Gift Ideas For The Outdoor Adventurer
Here at OnlyInYourState, we love little more than exploring the great outdoors. Whether your close friend is planning a bucket-list camping trip to a national park or you have a family member who enjoys weekly hiking excursions close to home, your favorite Outdoor Adventurer is sure to love these unique gifts for outdoor lovers.
Gift Ideas For National Park Enthusiasts

Providing access to national parks across America is truly the gift that keeps on giving, especially if you purchase from REI, as the company donates 10% of pass proceeds to organizations devoted to the outdoors. The pass is valid for one year from the month of purchase, so purchase the pass within the month you plan to gift it.
Does the outdoor adventurer already have an annual national park pass? For more gift ideas for hikers and campers, consider state park passes or a parks-themed gift from Parks Project, from apparel and accessories to outdoor gear, books, and more. Use the Gift Finder tool to filter gifts by type of outdoor lover and price range.
Gift Ideas For Hikers
Looking for small gifts for hikers? An annual membership to AllTrails+ is an excellent small gift for hikers. Whether your sister is new to hiking or you have a cousin looking to tackle one of America’s most iconic hiking trails, AllTrails+ features more than 400,000 hiking trails and is sure to help along the way, with real user reviews, downloadable offline maps, and more.
Gift Ideas For Campers
Staff Pick: OnlyInYourState editor Sarah McCosham swears by this Luno gear and shoe storage bag; “This is awesome for camping trips – it keeps the funk out of the car!”
Experience-Based Gifts For Outdoors People
Stocking Stuffers For Outdoor Enthusiasts

- Portable Fan: Every outdoor adventurer should have a portable fan, like this stroller-friendly version or this heavy-duty option from Ryobi perfect for camping trips.
- Travel Umbrella: This umbrella from The Container Store is lightweight and easy to pack.
- Headlamp: For an inexpensive gift for hikers and campers, consider this headlamp from REI with three light settings to choose from.

Gift Ideas For The Frequent Flyer
Whether you have a jet-setting friend or are searching for the best gifts for business travelers, frequent flyers require the right gear, organization, and comfort during those long hours in the air.
Luggage For Frequent Flyers
Comfort Gifts For Flying
A good neck pillow is essential for comfort on long flights, and this memory foam travel pillow has more than 13,000 reviews and provides chin, lumbar, and leg support thanks to its adjustable and bendable design.
Reader Pick: OnlyInYourState readers swear by Bose noise-cancelling headphones, which come in both earbud and over-ear varieties.
Stocking Stuffers For Frequent Flyers
- Luggage Tags: These luggage tags from Etsy come in more than 20 acrylic colors and are fully customizable with your name and address. We love a personalized gift for digital nomads – especially when it comes from a small business!
- Luggage Scale: Know someone who struggles with overpacking? This luggage scale is less than $10 at the time of publication and helps you maximize your luggage weight.
Gift Ideas For The Luxury Traveler
If you’re the type whose wanderlust leads to the world’s most exotic locales, who likes to travel in style, and who appreciates high-thread-count sheets and bespoke concierge services, the following luxury travel gifts for her and luxury travel gifts for him are sure to please – and just might inspire you to book your next trip!
Accommodations For The Luxury Traveler

Wellness Must-Haves For The Luxury Traveler

- Eye Masks: Puffy eyes aren't anybody's favorite look, and these Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Eye Masks are a cult favorite that feels like a mini spa treatment!
- Coop Travel Pillow: If, like Editor Sarah McCosham, you simply *must* bring your own pillow on vacation, make it the best pillow, which, according to Sarah, is the Coop Original Travel Pillow. Stuffed with firm memory foam and microfiber fill, it can compress to half its size, and, as a bonus: it's the perfect camp pillow! Because camping should be luxurious, too.
- Travel-Size Hydration Packs: Hydration is key when you're traveling, and if you're looking to upgrade your H2O with something a bit more fun, the Liquid I.V. Hydration Mocktails do just that! Cheers!
Luxury Accommodations... 24/7/365!
Luxury Stocking Stuffers: Whether you're on a plane or sleeping in the passenger seat, you're all but guaranteed restorative shut-eye with a Silk Eye Mask. Wearing an eye mask not only promotes deeper sleep, but silk fiber is great for the skin, hypo-allergenic, and naturally thermoregulating. We also love the products from Quince; they feel like butter on the skin! And in terms of skincare, the Chakra™ 3 Mist from Aveda will put you in the "vacation" mindset with just one spray!
Travel Luxuries Worth The Splurge
Best Tech Splurge: Take the jams wherever you go with the Sonos Roam. Portable, waterproof, and with the best sound quality money can buy, it's the perfect travel gift for pretty much anyone!
Luxury Travel Gift For Him: A high-quality leather dopp bag is a classic luxury that never goes out of style. We love the Logan Travel Dopp from Frye -- it's a handcrafted, heirloom-level accessory he'll have forever.
Travel Splurge For Her: Bedhead, begone! The Dyson Supersonic™ is, hands down, the best hair dryer money can buy, and comes with multiple attachments and a compact case that makes it all too easy to pack.
Honorable Mentions
Don’t see a gift suitable for the travel enthusiast in your life above? What about the weekend warrior? What about the best gifts for travel photographers, digital nomads, or solo travelers in your life? Read on for our gift selections for all of these travelers and more.
Gifts For Travel Photographers: Photographers of all ages would love to receive the INSTAX camera as a gift. In addition to being adorable and coming in so many fun colors, it's a great thing to stick in your bag while traveling – or stick in a stocking as a gift!
Gifts For Snow Lovers: Know someone traveling to a snowy destination? This affordable, packable puffer jacket should be on your list. It comes in eight beautiful colors and is perfectly made to keep you warm, while also being easy to pack in any size bag. This is bound to be a best-selling gift this holiday season.
Gifts For Solo Travelers: If you have a friend who tends to travel solo, safety is always something to keep in mind. This door-stop alarm is easy to take along on any trip for added security. It's wireless, works with any door, and is a truly thoughtful gift for a traveler.
Gifts For Pet Owners: More and more people are traveling with their pets, and there are so many great options for gifts for pet lovers. Have you heard of the Spleash? This is more than a leash attachment. It does attach to any leash, but it turns that leash into a water bottle for your dog. Take a closer look at this game changer for any dog owner who loves to experience the world with their furry friend.
So, tell us, who are you most excited to shop for this year? Do you need even more help finding the best travel gifts for everyone on your list, or do you have a few travel essentials you think everyone should own? Whether it’s for a quick trip to New York or an adventure in Europe, share your recommendations in the comments, and we might add your gift idea to our next gift guide!
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