Looking for the best travel games and road trip activities for kids to keep everyone happy (and off screens!) on your next adventure? Whether you're gearing up for a road trip, heading to grandma’s, or just braving a long dinner out, a stash of compact, mess-free, and actually fun games is a total lifesaver.
This post is all about games—the compact, mess-free, and actually fun kind. Whether you're gearing up for a road trip, heading to grandma’s, or just braving a long dinner out, having a stash of go-to road trip essentials for kids (like these travel-friendly games) is a total lifesaver.
👉 Psst! If you're looking for kids road trip essentials like coloring books, arts & crafts, snack containers, or sensory toys, check out my Travel Activities for Kids post for even more ideas.
As a mom of three, I never travel without a few go-to games in my bag. Some are perfect for solo time, others are great for sibling rivalry (in a good way), and all are kid- and parent-approved.
From magnetic games to waterproof cards, here’s a curated list of kid-friendly travel games that are easy to pack, quick to play, and guaranteed to cut down the “Are we there yet?” requests.
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The Best Travel Activity Pads for Kids
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Reusable Wipe-Off Travel Game Pad with Markers: Includes word, number, and picture games. Comes with dry-erase markers, so kids can use it over and over.
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On-The-Go Game Pad: All my kids favorite travel games! Sudoku, Super Tic-Tac-Toe, Hangman, Bingo, Word Search and Categories.
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On-The-Go Travel Game Pad: More fun travel games for your kids. Hangman, Fortune Teller, Tic-Tac-Toe, Categories and Dots & Boxes
The Best Magnetic Travel Games
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Magnetic Battlefleet: A portable, magnetic, travel size board game! Battlefleet is a magnetic take on the classic game.
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Magnetic Hangman: Classic game in a magnetic format = no lost letters, no mess, and tons of fun.
- Magnetic Bingo: A classic game in a compact magnetic tin! Great for car rides, especially with younger kids who love to mark off what they spot.
Classic Travel Games that Never Get Old
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Simon: The classic fun and fast-paced memory travel game. It is great for one or two players.
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Card games are great for on-the-go because they are compact, screen free and one of the best kids road trip essentials to pull out at restaurants, airports, or at the pool.
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A Deck of Playing Cards: Endless possibilities: Go Fish, Crazy 8s, War, Memory, and more.
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Spot It!: Simply match the pictures on each card—super simple and surprisingly competitive for all ages
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Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza: My kids love this game! It is simple, fast-paced, funny, and totally chaotic in the best way.
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Monopoly Deal: A travel-friendly, 15-minute version of the classic. No game board, no fighting—just fast fun.
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UNO: You can’t go wrong with a classic—easy for all ages and always entertaining.
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Rock Paper Scissors Card Game: A fun twist on the classic hand game, but with a card deck
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I Spy Travel Card Game: A seek-and-find adventure game that keeps eyes off screens and on the world around them.
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Travel Scavenger Hunt Card Game: Keeps kids scanning the world outside instead of zoning out on screens.
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Apples to Apples - On The Go: A travel-sized version of the laugh-out-loud word game kids can actually play.
- Basecamp Cards: Kids Edition: We love these conversation starter cards. These are perfect for vacation dinners, road trip laughs, or connecting without screens.
Waterproof Travel Games
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UNO Flip! Splash: A favorite on family game night! Water-resistant cards make this game perfect for poolside or at the beach.
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Waterproof Playing Cards: Standard playing cards, but water-resistant. No more soggy cards at the beach or lake!
Free Travel Games for Kids
Don’t forget the best kind of road trip activities for kids: the free ones! No packing required—just a little imagination and a lot of laughs.
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I Spy: A simple “I spy with my little eye…” game keeps eyes on the road and minds engaged.
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The Alphabet Game: Look out the window to spot things that start with each letter of the alphabet, A to Z.
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Animal Chain Game: One person names an animal (e.g., “elephant”), and the next person has to name an animal that starts with the last letter (e.g., “tiger”). Keep it going as long as you can!
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License Plate Game: Try to spot as many different state license plates as possible. Bonus points if they’re far from home!
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Would You Rather?: Players ask far-fetched questions like “Would you rather eat only chocolate or only pizza for a whole day?” Hilarious for all ages!
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20 Questions: One player thinks of something, and the others have 20 questions to figure it out. Yes/no answers only!
Travel Game Tips for Parents
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Rotate a few new games into your stash for extra excitement.
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Pack a mix of solo and group options.
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Keep one game in your purse for emergencies (you know the ones).
More Family Travel Favorites
Getting ready for a trip with kids? From kids road trip essentials to genius road trip activities for kids, these posts are packed with practical tips, smart gear, and screen-free fun to help you stay (somewhat) sane on the go:
✈️ Travel Activities for Kids: Easy, mess-free ideas to keep boredom at bay—perfect for road trips, flights, and even long dinners out.
🛞 Best Travel Strollers for Real-Life Moms: Lightweight, compact, and actually mom-approved for travel days with little ones.
💊 DIY Travel First Aid Kit: Everything I pack so I’m not frantically digging for a Band-Aid in the glove box.
🎒 Top Travel Gear for Kids: My must-haves for packing light but still being totally prepared.
Because when you’re traveling with kids, the right prep (and a few clever finds) can make all the difference. Have a favorite travel game or genius road trip essential for kids I should know about? Drop it in the comments—I love a good mom hack!
