The 10 Best Travel Trays

Parents who want one tray for road trips and flights tend to land on the Lusso Gear Kids Tray. Its white top works as a dry-erase board, and a clear pocket holds a tablet upright so a child can watch without holding it. Mesh side pockets and a cup slot keep crayons and drinks close, and the strap doubles as a carry handle. It can slide on some seats, and the tablet pocket can sag over time.

The Kenley Kids Activity Tray is built for long hauls, with stiff sides that keep snacks and toys from spilling over on bumpy roads. Two cup holders sit at the back beside a tablet pouch, and a removable bin folds away when it isn't needed. Kenley covers manufacturing defects for the life of the tray. The pouch fits smaller tablets best, and how steady it sits depends on the car seat.

For kids who like to doodle while they ride, the Ecofantasy Lap Desk has a dry-erase top printed with a world map, so drawing time comes with a little geography. Firm raised edges hold their shape instead of folding in, and a see-through tablet holder detaches when it's time for crayons. The maker says it suits boosters as well as harnessed seats. Fit varies from seat to seat, so the strap can need retightening.

A clear cover shields the screen on the Menzoke Toddler Tray, keeping sticky fingers off a tablet during a show. A cup holder, two zip pockets, pen loops and a fold-down bin handle the rest. The strap unclips and works as a shoulder strap, so the tray carries like a bag through an airport. It comes in pink and black. Outside reviews are scarce, so long-term durability is harder to judge.

Families short on space can use the Coolmum 2-in-1 two ways: as a lap tray on long drives, or hung on the back of the front seat as an organizer on short ones. The fabric top lifts out and wipes clean, and a clear pocket holds a tablet. Foam sides keep crayons on board, and the whole thing folds flat for a carry-on. The sides are fairly low, so round toys can roll off.

The Pillani Lap Tray arrives ready for a road trip, with a set of activity cards and four dry-erase pens in the box. Its broad drawing surface doubles as a place for snacks, and a water bottle pocket and mesh side pockets hold the extras. Tall back walls keep a tablet upright. It suits bigger toddlers and preschoolers. On some car seats it doesn't line up well and tips forward.

Siblings each get a table of their own with the Coolbebe Tray 2-Pack, which pairs a dinosaur print with a pink unicorn print. Every tray has a wipe-clean drawing top, deep cup holders and a tablet pocket, and eight markers come in the set. The trays fold flat and carry on a padded shoulder strap. Light pens and snacks can slide around the smooth top during turns.

For snack runs rather than art projects, the Munchkin Car Seat Tray pushes into the car seat's own cup holder and puts a small dish and a cup well at a child's side. It's one piece of hard plastic, so it goes straight in the dishwasher. Munchkin rates it for children from 18 months up. It holds firm in some seats' cup holders but can pop out of others, so check the fit first.

Made in the U.S. from plastic free of BPA and PVC, the My Travel Tray Oval sits in a cup holder and adds a snack dish beside the drink. A cup adapter and a grip ring come with it to fit different holder sizes, and the maker offers a fit guarantee. It goes on the dishwasher's top rack. The dish is small, so it suits snacks and a toy or two, not coloring.

The Oneyus Organizer 2-Pack skips the lap entirely: each panel hangs from a front headrest, and a table folds down from it for snacks or a coloring book. A clear window above shows a tablet at eye level, and rows of pockets swallow bottles, wipes and toys. The fabric also keeps muddy shoes off the seat back. The fold-down table suits light loads only, and the straps can wear out.