11 Best Small Coolers For Road Trips

Road trips are some of the best ways to see a new place. In California, especially in the summer, coolers come in handy more often than not on road trips. We’ve compiled a list of the 11 best small coolers for road trips.

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Yeti Roadie 24 Cooler

Strong cooler with thick walls with 2-inch insulation
Flexible
Built for one-handed cooler access

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We live in California and we can’t go on an overnight road trip without a cooler. Whether we’re road tripping to Yosemite, Redwoods or Joshua Tree, we brought our cooler along too.

Whether you’re on a day trip or going across state lines, your small cooler is with you every step of the way; we like to think of it as our cooler friend ;).

Need a rental car for your road trip? Here are the best car rental deals!

Best Small Coolers For Road Trips

The best small coolers for your road trip are those that are portable, don’t take up a lot of space, and keep your perishable items cool.

When selecting a cooler, it’s important to consider the size and type of food you want to carry. If you’re not going to travel too far then you can get away with buying an inexpensive cooler that doesn’t have the best insulation.

However, if your trip spans several hours it’s a good idea to invest in a quality cooler that has thicker walls and higher levels of insulation.

This will ensure your food stays fresh for the duration of your trip — no one wants to eat warm hot dogs! Here are the best small coolers for road trips:

1. Yeti Roadie 24 Cooler – Perfect For Camping

The Yeti Roadie 24 Cooler is the ultimate outdoor companion. It performs 30% better thermally than its little brother, the Roadie 20.

It also holds 20% more and is 10% lighter to carry so it’s a no-brainer that this cooler is a must-buy! It’s a strong cooler with thick walls with 2-inch insulation that ensures that ice doesn’t melt.

And it’s flexible and built for one-handed cooler access — no matter where you go or what you’re doing. It holds up to 24 pounds of ice or up to 18 cans and ice.

It weighs 12 pounds and comes in various colors. The exterior is made out of plastic and the interior is made out of polyurethane foam.

Buy this Yeti Roadie 24 Cooler.

2. Yeti Tundra 35 Cooler – Perfect For Fishing

Yeti’s Tundra 35 Cooler is a game-changer. It holds up to 20 cans and ice but is also light enough to be carried by one person. The Yeti Tundra 45 cooler is ideal for all your gear, from food and drinks to fishing gear and camping supplies.

With its extra-thick walls that are certified bear-resistant, it holds up to 3 inches of permafrost insulation for unmatched ice retention so that you can enjoy cold drinks longer.

It’s also got a hinged lid with a dry goods basket that makes loading and unloading fast and easy. The Tundra 45 can be used as a seat or stand alone as an elevated table, making it perfect for tailgating or outdoor picnics!

It weighs 20 pounds and comes in various colors. The exterior is made out of polyester and the interior is made out of polyurethane foam.

Buy this Yeti Tundra 35 Cooler.

3. CAMP-ZERO 10 Cooler – Perfect For A Tailgate Party

CAMP-ZERO 10 Cooler has a strong locking system and is bear-resistant if you choose to get and use locks. The lid is textured with 2 cup holders.

It can hold up to 10 liters or 2.64 gallons and up to 12 cans. This cooler also comes with a 5-year warranty.

The grip handles are comfortable and there’s an interior gasket that can retain ice. This cooler can withstand extreme conditions. It weighs 9 pounds and comes in various colors.

Buy this CAMP-ZERO 10 Cooler.

Best Soft Cooler Bag For Road Trips

Getting a cooler bag is essential if you’re laying out by the pool or on the beach. We’ve searched far and wide to find the top cooler bags out there today so you don’t have to start your own search.

4. TOURIT Soft Cooler – Perfect For Carrying Throughout the Day

The TOURIT Soft Cooler is known for its superb cooling with its thick insulation layers that are water-proof and leakproof. It can keep food cool for up to 3 days!

It’s also BPA-free so you don’t have to worry about those toxins. The cooler is lined with high-quality BPA-free material.

It can hold 20 cans and ice and can be carried easily with its padded shoulder strap or handles. If you feel like the Yeti hard coolers are too heavy for you, this is a great alternative.

You don’t have to struggle to carry out a huge hard cooler. Instead, grab this lightweight soft cooler; it’s a great solo traveler essential.

Buy this TOURIT Soft Cooler.

5. RTIC Soft Cooler – Perfect For Floating In A Lake

RTIC Soft Cooler is one of the best travel cooler bags and it’s known to be the best floating cooler! Take this cooler when you want to spend a day relaxing at a lake or a pool.

While it doesn’t keep cans cool for days like the hard coolers, it does keep them cool for up to 24 hours. It’s durable, lightweight, and leakproof with 2-inch closed-cell foam.

It also has a strong zipper that prevents leaks or spills. This cooler is to be used for day trips, picnics, and beach days. Or if you’re looking for a lunch cooler for your long 12-hour work days, then grab this one!

Buy this RTIC Soft Cooler.

Best Electric Cooler For Car Travel

What’s the best electric cooler for car travel and road trips? If you have ever taken a long car drive, then you’ll know that it can get pretty warm inside.

They are great for keeping your food and drinks chilled while on the move. An electric cooler is like a mini freezer you can take anywhere. Here’s the best one:

6. K-box Electric Cooler – Perfect For RVs Or Vans

Looking for an electric cooler that you can heat up or cool so you don’t have to worry if it’s the right temperature? Then get this K-box Electric Cooler.

If you’re road tripping for days or weeks in your campervan or RV, this cooler is essential. The cooler’s cord is 2.6 feet long and you can also hide it in the cooler’s storage compartment when you’re not using it.

It holds up to 60 soda cans or 15 soda bottles. You don’t need to worry about buying ice to fill or if the ice is going to melt and leak.

This microwave + fridge combo can maintain a constant 40F with no ice. Plus, this cooler has wheels! You can pull it or carry it with its 2 handles. You can get this cooler in blue or gray.

Buy this K-box Electric Cooler.

Best Small Cooler For The Beach

We’re all guilty of wanting to go to the beach, but not really wanting to drag a bulky cooler full of meat, cheese, and drinks all the way down there, and then having to haul it back while all steamed and sloshed. Here’s the best small cooler for those beach days:

7. Foundry Dual-Compartment Insulated Cooler – Perfect for Beach Days

This Foundry insulated cooler bag is a must-have for your California beach days. It comes in two stylish colors: navy Newport stripe or gray Newport stripe.

It’s got 2 compartments that can fit up to 24 soda cans and 2 large wine bottles. Carry this lightweight cooler bag easily with an adjustable shoulder strap that’s also padded. The cooler bag is insulated with a non-toxic PEVA liner that’s easy to clean.

Buy this Foundry insulated cooler bag.

Best Foldable Travel Cooler

Isn’t it nice to have a cooler at the beach or at a picnic? But wouldn’t it be nice to have one that makes it easy to store in the trunk of your car or luggage for traveling? Check out these foldable travel coolers:

8. Camco Pop-Up Cooler – Perfect for Cruises

This Camco Pop-Up Cooler is only 1.35 pounds and can be folded to fit a small corner of your luggage. When you open up the cooler, it can stretch up to 13 inches and fit up to 12 cans.

This light blue cooler is made out of canvas and the material prevents spills and leaks. Plus this cooler also has a bottle opener!

It’s a great add-on if you’re planning on going on a cruise as cruise rooms don’t have refrigerators. Just ask for ice from the cruise staff and your drinks will stay cool for hours.

Buy this Camco Pop-Up Cooler.

9. Ascot Travel Cooler with Wheels – Perfect for Rolling Out To A Picnic

The Ascot Travel Cooler can keep your food and drinks cool for up to 24 hours. You can hold up to 32 cans in this leakproof and highly insulated cooler.

This navy-colored cooler is made of polyester material and only weighs 5 pounds. The cooler is lined with puncture-resistant material and it prevents leaks.

This cooler also folds into smaller areas and can fit into the overhead compartment on flights. This cooler is wheeled so there’s no need to carry a heavy cooler.

Buy this Ascot Travel Cooler.

Best Small Cooler Bag For Lunch

When you’re on the road or in the great outdoors, you want to make sure your food and drinks are cooled down. Try this small cooler bag:

10. Hydro Flask Tote – Perfect for Lunch & Grocery Shopping

The Hydro Flask Tote is waterproof and is best for lunches or to keep produce chilled after shopping. This stylish tote bag is BPA-free and free of toxins and comes in various colors.

Easy to carry while grocery shopping or carrying lunch, this tote bag is great for daily use or quick road trips.

Buy this Hydro Flask Tote.

Best Budget-Friendly Cooler

Searching for a budget-friendly option for a cooler? This is the perfect one:

11. GigaTent Soft Insulated Cooler – Perfect for Game Day

If you’re looking for a cheap cooler to take on a road trip, get the GigaTent Soft Insulated Cooler.

This cooler comes with a metallic bottle opener and a front pocket and can be folded to fit into a backpack. It also comes in 5 different colors.

The cooler is tear-resistant and holds up to 16 cans. It’s a great Game Day cooler so if you need to go out to a game on a road trip, get this one.

Buy this GigaTent Soft Insulated Cooler.

Frequently Asked Questions

When you go on trips, food and drinks are a necessity. When you’re road tripping for long distances, a cooler plays a big role in keeping all that food and drink fresh. Still wondering about which cooler to buy? These frequently asked questions might help you out:

Which small cooler is best?

So if you’re thinking about which small cooler is the best on this list, you can’t go wrong with the Yeti Roadie 20 Cooler. It’s one of the most durable hard coolers out there.

How do you keep food cold on a road trip?

You can keep food cold using a high-quality cooler and ice packs. Ice packs are a better option than ice. It’s lighter to carry, more efficient, and more sustainable.

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What are the best coolers to keep food cold?

These small coolers on this list are the best in the market. If you’re looking for a durable cooler, get the TOURIT Soft Cooler – it can keep food cold for up to 3 days.

What cooler is as good as a Yeti?

Roadtrippers love the Yeti coolers since they last an extremely long time. It’s a bigger investment upfront, but it’ll save you space in your car over and over again when compared to other coolers.

But it is expensive so a less pricey hard cooler alternative would be the CAMP-ZERO 10 Cooler.

Final Thoughts

It’s always a great time to get out and explore California. If your California travel plans include road tripping, you need a small cooler to keep all your essentials at the perfect temperature.

Hope this list of the best small coolers for road trips helps get your travel meals, snacks, and drinks all organized and ready to go.

Need a car to get around California? Here’s all you need to know about renting a car in California.