Traveling with kids is always a bit of an adventure on its own! I have traveled a lot with my three girls over the years. And one thing I’ve learned is that no matter how long your road trip or flight is, it helps to plan and prepare as much as you can. While you can let kids take in their surroundings first, you’ll eventually need ways to keep them entertained. That’s why my packing list for trips always includes travel games and travel activities for kids.
Personally, I love a mix of both new activities and tried and true favorites to keep my crew occupied when traveling. Plus all of these activities can be used once you get to your destination! I love a practical find.
While we're all tempted by screens, I like to start with interactive games and travel activities for kids that spark creativity and curiosity. This list includes mess-free arts and crafts, sticker books, activity books, toys, games and more. I also created a fun road trip scavenger hunt for you to download!
When in doubt, I always have extra snacks on me! Scroll further down to see a list of my favorite food containers for traveling with kids.
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Travel Activities for Kids
- For Littlest Ones: I love these suction cup spinner toys and window clings. The shape sorting dinosaur sensory toys are always a hit too.
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Toddlers & Preschoolers: Keep little hands busy with this tape activity book or a water reveal pad. We also like to play many games of I-Spy!
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LCD Writing Tablets: If you are looking for something a little different, reusable drawing boards are a longtime favorite. These are great for little ones to doodle on.
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Boogie Boards: These reusable LCD drawing pads come with 4 fun styluses and templates for sketching, practicing letters, or playing games. (Better for kids 6 and up.)
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Sticker Activity Books: My kids love Paint by Sticker books. These come with us when we travel, when we dine out, and are just as fun at home. Reusable puffy sticker books are fantastic too.
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Activity Books: My kids love any book that helps us learn about where we are headed! The 50 States Activity Book is a favorite. My kids love Dot-To-Dot and puzzle books too.
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Travel Journal: A fun and easy way to get your kids more involved with planning the trip and it will keep them busy observing their surroundings.
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Mad Libs: Mad Libs comes in the Junior & Regular editions, so depending on if you have a 5th grader or a 1st grader, there is a game to create the silliest of stories for all ages. It's a fun way to encourage creativity and language skills.
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Question Cards: We love conversation starters! Playing cards that ask thought-provoking or wild and hilarious questions. These are perfect for the car or the dinner table.
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Podcasts or Audio Books: Download a few stories or educational content to help pass the time
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Electronic Entertainment: Once I have tried everything else to keep my kids busy and beat the long flight or road-trip boredom, I whip out a tablet loaded with favorite tv shows and movies.
Travel Games
While this post focuses on activities like crafts and books, I'd be remiss not to mention a few of our go-to travel games! These are absolute lifesavers for keeping kids entertained and engaged.
Our Most-Reached-For Games:
- Spot It!: Quick matching game, perfect for all ages 6+
- Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza: Hilarious and surprisingly addictive
- Monopoly Deal: All the fun of Monopoly in 15 minutes
- Magnetic Travel Games: Hangman, Battleship, Bingo
Want the Complete List?
I have an entire post dedicated to the Best Travel Games for kids with detailed recommendations organized by type:
- Card games for families
- Magnetic games for airplane trays
- Waterproof games for pool/beach trips
- Free games that require no materials
Mess-Free Travel Arts & Crafts
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Watercolor Painting:- My kids can’t get enough of these travel-friendly watercolor books. You simply dip the enclosed paint brush in water and get painting.
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Wikki Stix: Made from waxed yarn, this set includes 24 brightly colored 6-inch sticks that are reusable for some serious molding and sculpting action.
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Triangle Crayons: These are ingenious as they won’t roll off that tray table!
- Dot It Sticker Art: No mess sticker art. Need I say more?!?
Food and Snack Containers for Traveling with Kids
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Waterproof zip-top tote: The perfect bag for everyday use or travel! It is water and tear-resistant, has many pockets and is oh so cute!
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Freezable Lunch Box: Simply throw this lunch box in the freezer the night before you need it, and the built-in ice packs will keep food cold for hours.
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Bento-style Lunch Box: This easy-to-pack, leak-proof lunch box keeps food separate and mess-free—because kids love variety, but not when their apples taste like cheese crackers.
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Stackable Bento Box: This stackable, three-compartment lunch box makes packing meals easy, keeps food separate, and even comes with built-in utensils—my kids love it for school too!
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Freezable Snack Bag: This compact, freezable snack bag keeps food cold for hours, making it perfect for school, road trips, and those days when kids suddenly need a snack every five minutes. Oh wait, that's everyday!
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Reusable food storage bag: These bags are perfect for traveling with kids—easy to pack, simple to clean, and a lifesaver for keeping snacks fresh on the go.
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Reusable ice pack: These slim, kid-friendly ice packs keep snacks and meals cold without taking up too much space, making them a must-have for travel and lunch on the go.
Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Activities for Kids
What are the best travel activities for toddlers?
The best travel activities for toddlers are simple, sensory-focused options that keep little hands busy without creating a mess. I love suction cup spinner toys, window clings, water reveal pads, and reusable sticker books. These are all easy to pack, won't make a mess, and can be used over and over. For more toddler-friendly ideas, check out our Gifts for 1-2 Year Olds collection—many of these double as perfect travel toys!
Should I let my kids use screens while traveling?
This is totally personal, but here's my approach: I save screens for when we really need them. The last difficult hour of a long drive, unexpected delays, or after we've exhausted other activities. Start screen-free with books, crafts, and games, then bring out tablets strategically. Download shows and movies ahead for offline viewing, use volume-limiting headphones to protect ears, and don't stress about it.
What are mess-free travel crafts for kids?
My go-to mess-free travel crafts are watercolor painting books (you just add water!), Wikki Stix (wax-coated yarn that sticks to itself), Paint by Sticker books, Dot It sticker art, and LCD writing tablets. These keep kids creatively engaged without the stress of markers on car seats or glitter everywhere.
What travel activities work for both car trips and flights?
Most activities in this post work for both! I tend to bring the same activities on road trip as on flights. Just avoid items with lots of small pieces that can get lost on planes. All of these items can be used at your travel destination too.
Are travel activities worth the investment or should I just use screens?
Both have their place! Screen-free activities encourage creativity, interaction, and skill development. They also give variety throughout a trip. I find that screens can lose their magic if overused. That said, screens are brilliant for difficult moments. I invest in quality reusable activities (books, magnetic games, quality crafts) that work for multiple trips and even at home. The activities in this guide pay for themselves in peace and sanity!
How do I entertain kids on a plane without disturbing other passengers?
Choose quiet, compact activities: sticker books, magnetic games, watercolor books, activity books like the 50 States activity book and tablets with headphones. Avoid toys with lots of small pieces, noisy electronics, or anything requiring lots of space. Bring brand-new activities they haven't seen—novelty helps! Also pack plenty of snacks to keep mouths busy during takeoff and landing. Most passengers understand kids will be kids, so don't stress too much.
How many activities should I pack for a long road trip?
I pack about 3 activities per child for every 2-3 hours of travel, plus screens as backup. For a 6-hour drive, that's just under 10 activities per child.
More Tips for Traveling with Kids
Traveling with babies or toddlers? Make sure to check out these travel stroller recommendations. To make traveling with kids even easier, I’ve also put together a list of my favorite travel gear for kids.
While this post is meant to help you prepare for road trips and flights with kids, remember to stay flexible too! Going with the flow and easing up on rules and expectations will make traveling much easier —and more fun — for you and your kids.
If you have any family traveling tips for me or other travel activities for kids that you’d recommend, please share them in the comments below.
Safe & happy travels!
