30+ Travel Activities for Kids (Screen-Free Ideas by Age)

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Looking for the best screen-free travel activities for kids? Discover 30+ fun, low-cost travel ideas for babies through teens that are perfect for long road trips, flights and family vacations.

Planning your next family vacation or road trip with kids? Long car rides, airport waits, and plane rides can feel endless when you’re traveling with little ones, especially if you’re trying to limit screen time. But with a little creativity, travel with kids doesn’t have to be stressful or filled with complaints of “Are we there yet?”

Our family loves to travel, and we’ve always tried to prioritize screen-free options as much as possible. From cruising to Belize, long road trips to the beach and weekend getaway from Atlanta, over the years with my three kids I’ve tried dozens of travel activities for kids.

This guide is packed with easy, affordable, and mostly screen-free travel activities for kids, organized by age group, so your next trip feels like an adventure and not a struggle. Whether you’re headed on a long road trip or a short flight, these fun ideas will keep little hands busy and minds engaged.

From travel games and activity books to creative play and sensory fun, these are the best travel activities to entertain your crew—all without breaking the bank or cluttering your travel bag.

Note: Some links may be affiliate links. That means I may make a commission if you use my links to purchase, at no extra added cost to you! I only recommend products that I personally love and believe in. Full disclaimer here.

Travel Activities for Babies and Toddlers (Ages 6 months–3 years)

Traveling with babies and toddlers is all about short attention spans, messy snacks, and sensory fun. Here are developmentally appropriate activities for younger children that support fine motor skills and give you a break during long trips.

1. Soft fabric books
   These lightweight books with textures and crinkles are a great way to keep babies entertained on long flights or road trips.
2. Silicone stacking cups
   Use them for stacking, hiding snacks, or pouring water during rest stops. Easy to clean and fun for little hands.
3. Water Wow! coloring books
   These reusable coloring books from Melissa & Doug use only water and are a huge hit for toddlers. No mess, no markers to lose! This is one of our very favorite travel activities for kids.
4. Pipe cleaners and colanders
   Toddlers love poking pipe cleaners through small holes—great for fine motor development and quiet time during a flight.
5. Sensory board or busy board
   Bring a mini board with zippers, snaps, and velcro tabs to help your child explore different shapes and textures during long journeys.
6. Snack necklaces
   Let toddlers string their favorite snack (like O-shaped cereal or Cheerios) onto a piece of yarn for a fun activity they can also eat.

Travel Activities for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners (Ages 4–6)

This age group loves hands-on play and a bit more independence. These travel games are perfect for little kids with big imaginations.

7. Magnetic play sets
   Perfect for tray tables or travel trays. Many come in different themes like animals, vehicles, or dress-up characters.
8. Sticker books
   A great option for road trips, sticker books let preschoolers decorate scenes or create stories—without needing your help. Reusable sticker books are our favorite, because you can use them over and over again.
9. Wikki Stix
   These bendable, reusable wax sticks are amazing for little fingers. Use them to form letters, shapes or silly creatures.
10. Dot marker coloring pages (and coloring books in general)
    Print out free printable dot marker sheets from your local library or favorite blog (like ours!) and toss in a few washable markers. You can also snag cheap coloring books at lots of local retailers.
11. I Spy books or games
    Use I Spy books or call out colors, letters, or objects you see out the window—great for screen-free travel activities and building vocabulary.
12. Travel-sized board games
    Look for classic games like Memory, Go Fish or Connect Four in portable sizes that fit in your travel bag. While they might not be at the label to play the games fully, they still have a blast pretending.
13. Busy binder
    Create your own travel activity binder with blank pages, coloring sheets, matching games, and activity ideas using dollar store supplies. This one still occupies my 7 year old! I add an inexpensive LEGO set in a zipper pouch inside the binder, fresh markers and reusable stickers for hours of fun.

Travel Activities for Elementary School Kids (Ages 7–10)

Elementary-aged kids are more independent and can enjoy family-friendly games, storytelling and travel journals.

14. Mad Libs
    A classic road trip game! These fun travel activities are not only hilarious but help build grammar and storytelling skills. I have so many memories as a kid doing these on long roadtrips.
15. Alphabet game
    Spot something that starts with each letter of the alphabet (from A to Z) as you drive. Bonus points for creative answers. This visual road trip bingo is another great option, and also works for younger siblings.
16. Card games
    Bring small cards for Uno, Go Fishnor Old Maid. They’re compact and perfect for the car or waiting at the gate.
17. Create a travel journal
    Let kids document the trip with drawings, stories and stickers. Add photos when you get home!
18. Puzzle books and word searches
    Crossword puzzles, mazes and word searches are perfect for airplane rides and hotel downtime.
19. Window art with gel clings
    Reusable window gel clings are great for little kids who want to decorate their car window or plane ride space.
20. Dry erase lap board
    Pack a flat surface with a few dry-erase markers so kids can play tic-tac-toe, doodle, or practice writing.
21. Yoto Player
    Yoto Cards are perfect for quiet listening during long road trips or long flights.

Travel Activities for Tweens and Older Kids (Ages 11+)

Older kids and teens may prefer independent or slightly more structured fun. These options still keep screen time minimal.

21. Audiobooks
    Audiobooks are a great way to keep their brains working without a tablet.
22. Travel scavenger hunt
    Print a free travel scavenger hunt or bingo with common road signs, animals or objects to spot. Make it competitive for extra fun!
23. DIY trivia or “Would You Rather” game
    Create questions before the trip and store them in a zip bag or on slips of paper. It’s a fun way to get everyone talking.
24. Magnetic chess or checkers
    Pack a magnetic version of your favorite game for hours of quiet time. We found ours at our local dollar store.
25. Classic road trip bingo
    Print or laminate travel bingo cards. Use coins or stickers to mark off items spotted along the road.
26. Build-a-story challenge
    Each person adds one sentence at a time to create a silly story. Great for creative writing and laughs.
27. Travel-sized Jenga or blocks
    Use small pieces for a quick brain break during rest stops or hotel stays.
28. Make a time capsule
    Let kids fill a small container or travel journal with ticket stubs, doodles, or souvenirs from new places. Open it next year!
29. Word association games
    Start with one word, and each person says the next word that comes to mind. Great for giggles and a good idea during layovers.
30. Plan the next trip
    Let older kids research new places or build a bucket list of future destinations.

Tips for Travel Success with Kids

We take lots of trips with our 3 kids, and have learned a few things that help to make travel a little easier on all of us:

• Pack a small travel bag for each child with their own activities.
• Rotate new toys or save a surprise item for the middle of the trip.
• Use a travel tray for car seats to give kids a flat surface to play on.
• Don’t forget a refillable water bottle, wipes and healthy snacks.
• Build in time for rest stops, stretching and wiggle breaks to avoid motion sickness and meltdowns.

Travel with Kids Doesn’t Have to Mean Tablets

Whether you’re traveling across the state or across the country, keeping your kids entertained without relying solely on screens is possible. These screen-free travel activities for kids are simple, affordable and require little prep, making them the perfect way to keep your kids engaged during long car rides or plane trips.

The best part? These travel activities double as connection time, turning your next family adventure into a memory-making journey from the moment you hit the road.

If you enjoyed this family travel article, be sure to pin it on Pinterest using the image below to make it easier to find next time (and to help more families find this information, too)!

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