35+ Best Travel Games for Kids (Toddlers to Teens!)

Whether your family is flying in an airplane, taking a train, or embarking on a road trip, you need to keep your offspring occupied during your travels! Thankfully, many games and activities come in travel sizes to entertain kids on the go. Card games and travel board games keep minds active not only during the journey but also at restaurants and back in the hotel room. Take a look at the 35+ best travel games for kids of all ages, from toddlers, preschoolers, and grade schoolers to tweens and teenagers.

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Travel Games for Toddlers (Ages 1-4+)

Roll and Play Game for Toddlers

ThinkFun’s Roll and Play Game provides a distraction with mindful activities. Young kids will learn counting, colors, and searching for objects. There are also cues for fun movements like waving arms or doing a dance in their car seats. (Ages 18+ months.)

Toddler Scavenger Hunt

Keep young children busy with a fun scavenger hunt while traveling. Although these Toddler Scavenger Hunt Cards are supposedly for the home, many of the items can easily be found while on the go. Search for simple things like a button, something blue, or a door. The ring makes it easy to keep the cards together while traveling, too. (Ages 2+.)

Montessori Sensory Board

This Montessori Sensory Board provides a fun way for younger children to learn through play. It comes with an adorable, soft carrying case to keep everything organized. (Ages 1-6.)

Sesame Street On the Go Letters

Toddlers will learn all the letters of the alphabet with the Sesame Street Elmo’s On the Go Letters. This alphabet game comes with a plastic take-along case, making it a great choice for travel. (Ages 2-4.)

Travel Games for Preschoolers (Ages 2-5+)

Junior Memory Game

When traveling with preschoolers matching card games are a great way to go! These fun travel games for kids come in many themes and are portable. They are easily played on a flat surface like an airplane tray table.

Junior Memory Game is a simple game that comes with durable wooden cards and a convenient travel bag. (Ages 2-4.)

Disney Mini Memory Game

If your family is embarking on a Disney vacation, then buy this Disney Mini Memory Game to get children excited to meet their favorite characters. (Ages 3+.)

Flip to Win Memory Game

This Flip to Win Memory Game by Melissa & Doug will keep memories sharp for little kids and parents. It comes with seven different themed cards like fruit, farm, and colors. (Ages 5-7.)

My First Bananagrams

Preschoolers can learn letters and words on the go with My First Bananagrams, a junior version of the popular Bananagrams word game. (Choking hazard. Ages 4+.)

Single Player Games Book

Little ones will love The Amazing Kids Activity Book. It’s packed with games of all sorts for single players like mazes, easy crossword puzzles, dot-to-dots, and more. (Ages 3-6.)

Wipe Clean Activity Book

This Giant Activity Work Book uses a dry-erase marker and can be wiped clean for use on multiple family trips. Learn early skills while traveling, like letters of the alphabet, colors, numbers, and beyond. (Ages 2-4.)

Be sure to buy additional erasable markers since they dry out quickly. (Ages 3-6.)

Guess Who Card Game

Play the Guess Who Card Game with young children to make travel time fly by. Take turns asking yes or no questions to determine your opponent’s mystery person. (Ages 5+.)

I Spy

This hunt-and-seek game keeps kids engaged with the scenery during car trips. I Spy game cards ask children to find items along the route, like stop signs or something round. (Ages 4+.)

Pocket Tic Tac Toe

You don’t even need a pen or piece of paper for this pocket-version of Tic Tac Toe. It provides a handy diversion while waiting in line at theme parks or museums. (Ages 4+.)

Travel Games for Grade School Kids (Ages 5-12+)

Checkers Take ‘N’ Play Anywhere

I was obsessed with playing Checkers as a child. Now, so are my kids. Checkers Take ‘N’ Play Anywhere includes magnetic pieces that stay put. This classic game allows children to jump opponents and say, “King me!” while traveling. (Ages 6+.)

Classic Children’s Card Games for Kids

Purchase this darling pack of four children’s card games that includes old-fashioned favorites like Crazy Eights, Hearts, Old Maid, and Animal Rummy. Each comes with its own set of directions. The colorful pictures make learning a new card game easier and more fun for kids. (Ages 4+)

Themed Deck of Cards

A simple deck of cards makes a great travel game for the whole family. I always keep a deck in my purse to keep my family content and communicating at restaurants, on airplanes, and beyond. Choose a themed deck to up the fun factor on your next family vacation. (Ages 4+.)

Themed Card Options for Families

• Harry Potter Playing Cards (my family’s favorite!)
• The Office Playing Cards
• Star Wars The Mandalorian Playing Cards
• Dog Lover’s Playing Cards (with travel tin)
• Frozen II Jumbo Playing Cards

UNO with Travel Tin

UNO is an enjoyable and easy classic card game for all ages. Get this UNO deck with travel tin for the entire family. (Ages 7+.)

Waterproof UNO

Headed to the beach or pool? Buy UNO Splash for a waterproof way to play! (Ages 7+.)

Pop-O-Matic Trouble Travel Game

With stay-put game pieces and its own handy travel case, the Pop-O-Matic Trouble Travel Game makes a good choice for travel. Although kids love to pop the game die roller, this easy game can be noisy so it’s probably best for car trips and family time at your vacation rental home or hotel. (Ages 8+.)

Hasbro’s Grab & Go Board Games

For even more fun, get four family travel games in one easy-to-pack case. Hasbro’s Family Grab & Go Variety Pack Bundle contains popular portable games including Clue, Monopoly, Hungry Hungry Hippos, and Connect 4. (Ages 8+.)

Mad Libs

A round of Mad Libs spurs creativity and lots of giggles. Review grammar basics while creating silly stories from family members’ picks of adjectives, nouns, adverbs, and more. Even the driver can play along during family road trips! (Ages 8+.)

Mad Libs Vacation Versions

• You can’t go wrong with Vacation Fun Mad Libs.
• Mad Libs on the Road is perfect for a family road trip.
• Science fiction fans will get a kick out of Star Wars Mad Libs. 
• Mickey Mouse Mad Libs makes a great choice for a Disney vacation.
• Younger kids can play along with Mad Libs Junior.

Travel Bingo

Great for a long car ride, Auto Bingo keeps kids engaged while they search for common road trip items. Flip the shutter-slide windows shut when your family finds fun things like a horse, fire truck, or road signs. (Ages 5+.)

License Plate Game

The License Plate Game has long been one of the best road trip games. Keep track of licenses spotted during long trips with a License Plate Travel Bingo Set. (Ages 5+.)

Keep track of license plates spotted from every state in the USA during a long drive with Melissa & Doug’s License Plate Game.

Travel Blurt

With Travel Blurt, each family member (besides the driver!) takes turns reading clues aloud. All players blurt out answers (including the driver!). Track answers on a magnetic scoreboard. The first person to reach the top of the scoreboard wins. It’s a great way to pass the time on a long road trip. (Ages 10+.)

You Gotta Be Kidding

Everyone can get in on the hilarity with You Gotta Be Kidding. This game of “would you rather” poses all sorts of silly questions. Example: Would you rather drink liquid found leaking from a garbage can -OR- chew on a hairy clump found between the cushions of an old couch? All ages can’t help but laugh while playing this travel game for kids. (Ages 7+.)

Rubik’s Cube

Scramble the colors of a Rubik’s Cube before giving it to your children. If they solve the puzzle, then they earn a prize (like choosing where to stop for lunch). (Ages 8+.)

A classic cube works fine for newbies but kids seeking a bigger challenge will want a speed cube. These are easier to manipulate quickly for timed play.

Travel Games for Tweens and Teens (Ages 8-19+)

Magnetic Chess Set

Strategy games like chess keep minds sharp while traveling. Magnetic travel games are fabulous because game pieces stay in place, even at a windy beach or on a bumpy car ride. This inexpensive magnetic travel chess game comes with blingy gold and silver pieces.

What’s the appropriate age for chess? Bobby Fischer learned to play chess at age 6 from his big sister. Kids can learn even earlier if they show interest!

Backgammon Set with Leatherette Case

When I was 15, I spent two weeks in Greece with one of my best friends and her big Greek family. My teen friend and I spent every single day at the beach swimming, talking, flirting with boys, and playing round after round of Backgammon.

As a parent, I’d rather my teenagers spend time playing backgammon than flirting! This Backgammon Set with Leatherette Case is a great way to keep teens occupied while traveling. (Ages 14+.)

3-in-1 Chess Checkers Backgammon Set

Get more bang for your travel buck with a 3-in-1 Chess Checkers Backgammon Set. It includes three of the best games for teens. Plus, all the pieces are magnetic for travel. The best part? Everything is easily carried within one convenient case.

Loaded Questions On The Go

Get older kids talking (and laughing!) during a long journey with this Loaded Questions On the Go travel game. It’s full of fun queries like, “What super power is not very super?” and, “Whose voice can you best imitate?” There are no right or wrong answers! (Ages 8+.)

Purchase the Loaded Questions Junior On the Go game to play with younger siblings. (Ages 6+.)

Bananagrams

Competitive wordsmiths will dig Bananagrams. During this timed game, players must make words by rearranging tiled letters. It’s like Scrabble on speed. I love the compact cloth banana-shaped carrying case.

Since it requires a flat playing surface and involves lots of jostling that might not be appreciated on airplanes, I recommend playing Bananagrams for family fun at the dinner table while on vacation.

The manufacturer recommends this great game for ages 7+, but I’d go with 9+. Or, get My First Bananagrams, included under the Preschoolers section.

Apples To Apples On The Go

My triplet niece and nephews loved playing Apples to Apples board game when they were tweens. Similar to the original, the travel version encourages creativity and conversation for adults and kids of all ages. Apples to Apples On The Go is a portable version of the popular board game. (Ages 12+.)

Scrabble to Go

Keep teens off electronic devices with an engaging game like Scrabble to Go. This set comes with a game board, letter tiles, no-spill letter trays, and even a scorepad. It’s all contained within a small zippered case. (Ages 8+.)

Yahtzee

This loud but fun dice game provides a fun way to gather as a family for competitive play in the hotel room or vacation home after a day of touring. Yahtzee is easy enough for younger siblings but still engaging for teenagers. (Ages 8+.)

20 Questions

Stump your travel mates with this game of mystery, mind, and logic. Players must guess the person, place, or thing within 20 Questions. (Ages 8+.)

Learn More Tips for Traveling with Kids

Hitting the road? Read about these unplugged road trip activities.

From lacing boards to bead kits, check out the best toddler travel toys or travel toys for kids and teens.

Take a peek at the best travel snacks for your journey.

Never again forget your toothbrush or that beloved stuffed bunny with our printable family travel packing lists.

Save this List of Travel Games

For future reference, be sure to keep this curated collection of travel games for kids of all ages. Simply pin the image above to Pinterest. We hope you’ll follow Travel Mamas on Pinterest while you’re at it!

Which of these family travel games have you played? Do you recommend any additional travel games for kids? Let us know in the comments below!

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