I love finding little ways to make family travel smoother and more fun, and travel games are one of my favorite tools for doing that. They’re a great chance to add something simple and engaging that keeps everyone entertained while also encouraging connection on the road. I especially love choosing games that are easy to pack, versatile for different ages, and that spark joy whether we’re waiting in an airport, riding a train, or winding down at a hotel.
Here are some of the best travel games for families on the go!
Organizing Travel Activities
We started using a travel toiletries case to organize the kids’ travel activities a few months ago and it’s been a game changer! Here’s the toiletries case we use and love (and here are lots more colors). The zippers are sturdy and smooth, it’s roomy, and I love that it has clear pockets to easily see what’s inside.
We often tuck a game or two in there, plus here’s a big list with a bunch of other things we love rotating to keep inside: Favorite Screen-Free Travel Activities
Family Travel Games
A small portable or card game is always welcomed when traveling – they’re perfect for long rides, waiting in airports, sitting at restaurants, and more. Here are a few inexpensive favorites:
Small Games For Travel
- Auto Bingo
- Fun little solo thinking game
- Magnetic Magic Word game
- Farkle – amazing deal on this one
- Left Center Right
- Travel Brain Game – this is a new game for us and it has been SO fun! Great for keeping older kids occupied while in transit.
- Bananagrams – perfect for taking on the go when we travel
- Qwixx
- Yahtzee
Card Games For Travel
- Skyjo
- Sleeping Queens – a perennial favorite
- Deck of Cards – the fave of my 14 year old right now
- Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza – One of our VERY favorite family games and perfect for travel (the waterproof version is also great)
- Cover Your Assets
- Dutch Blitz
- Gnoming Around
- Uno Flip – great for all ages
- Spot It – such a great one for younger kiddos
- Exploding Kittens
- Go Fish
- Uno Classic
- Phase 10
- Set
- Happy Salmon
- Guess in Ten
Community Favorites: Family Travel Games
I also asked my community on Instagram for their favorite recs – lots of the ones above came up repeatedly! Here were some others that we haven’t tried yet but that sound great.
More Small Games For Travel
- Kollide
- Pass the Pigs
- OK Play – similar to Connect 4 but no stand and comes on a carabiner
- Cribbage
- Six Second Scribbles
- Zombie Dice
- Snakes & Ladders
- Rubberneckers
- Tenzi
- Lost Cities dice game
- What Do You Meme? Family
- Pass the Panda
- Geistes Blitz
- Pizza Party
- Cahoots
- A Gentle Rain
- Ouch!
- Don’t Bust 100
- LCR (Left Center Right)
- Shut the Box
- Nine Tiles Extreme
- Oh My Pigeons!
- Don’t Bee Last
- Catan dice
- IQ Fit
- Tangoes
- Rush Hour
- Garden Rush
- Triangle Peg game
- Magnetic Hangman
- Mish Match
More Card Games For Kids
- Bohnanza
- 3 Up 3 Down
- P is for Pizza
- Herd Mentality
- Couch Kittens
- Trio
- Fluxx
- Moose Master
- Lava Lizards
- Deduckto
- Love Letter
- Taco vs Burrito
- Snappy Dressers
- Five Crowns
- Cockroach Poker
- Taro Gomi’s Funny Fish
- Push
- Sushi Go
- Rat a Tat Cat
- Piles
- Eatz-a-lotl
- Eye Found It
- Monopoly Deal
- Skull King
- Flip 7
- Trash Pandas
- Blink
- Think N’sync
- Ninja Cat Cucumber Attack
- Magic Dwarf
- Skip-bo
- Zeus on the Loose
- Uno No Mercy
- Smack It
- Mantis
Other Kid Activities For Plane Or Road Travel
Small Toys for Traveling
- Toy cars
- Plain LEGO bricks
- Mini toy animals
- Simple Building Toy – great for a huge variety of ages.
- Play foam
- Mini bubble wand
- Finger puppets
- Mini magnetic tiles – we love the regular version at home, and the minis are perfect for travel.
- Mini Frisbee – this little frisbee has been such a hit with multiple of my kiddos and their friends. This 3-pack is also terrific to split up.
- Kanoodle
Travel Books for Kids
- Yoto Mini – absolutely love this little audiobook player at home & especially when traveling. Comes with a starter pack of cards.
- Kids Kindle – An absolute MUST for us, both at home and while traveling.
Travel Crafts and Fidgets For Kids
- Mini markers in travel case with drawing board (perfect for travel with my kiddo who loves to draw)
- LCD Drawing Boards – this 2 pack is a smoking deal!
- Triangle crayons – perfect for travel since they don’t roll
- Painter’s tape – this is the best on flights. Kiddos love to stick it everywhere and it peels off easily
- Multi color pen, Glitter pens & felt pens
- Play foam
- Bendable fidget toy
- Finger puppets
- Wax sticks
- Colored pencils
- Pop it
Kids Activity Books For Travel
- Human body activity book
- FREE Lego Magazine
- Rainbow scratch art doodle pad
- How to Draw 101 Animals
- Water Wow books
- Mini travel journal – I love this brand of notebooks, and the small version is perfect for on the go
- Kid word search
- Sudoku for kids
- Paint by Sticker
- Easy Origami book
- Backyard bug book
- Riddle book
- Mad Libs
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