Travel Games for Kids – Toddler Approved

Traveling soon? Inside this post we’re sharing 15+ awesome travel games for kids! These games are compact and easy to carry along on any adventure! Stick one in your bag if you’re traveling soon or just need something to pull out while you’re waiting at a restaurant!

I have so many great memories sitting around playing games while we’re on vacation together or waiting for a flight. They help everyone have a little more fun traveling!

Games are great for traveling

Why are games great for traveling?

• They’re a fun way to connect with family and friends when you’re traveling
• Games are a fun way to pass time while you’re waiting or sitting at the airport.
• They are excellent for when you want to sit down at the end of a long day on vacation, but still want to interact in some way.
• Games are awesome to bring to the beach or to pull out at a restaurant when you’re sitting around with friends.
• They are a good screen free way to have fun!

What makes a game great for travel?

Here is some of the criteria I look at when I picked games to bring along when we travel. Sometimes not all of these fit (*not every game works on the airplane or in a car), but several of them usually do!

1. Compact and easy to carry.
2. Work for a range of ages of kids.
3. Great for family game time.
4. Fun to play on the airplane or in the car.*

15+ Awesome Travel Games for Kids

The best travel games are compact and easy to carry along with you! This list of 15+ travel games will help kids stay busy and having fun on the go.

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Spot It

This card game works for 2-8 players! Kids try and find the images that match on each card. The game says it’s for kids 6+, but I’ve played it with kids younger than that. You can also grab Spot It Junior which is an animal version for preschoolers.

Pizza Party

In this game, you roll the die to build your pizza pie! This game is for 2 players, but you can purchase another set to play with four. Kids think this game is so much fun!

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza is super fun! Your goal is to have no cards by the end. It’s fast moving and involves slapping, which my kids love. This game is quick to learn! You can play with 3-8 players.

Sleeping Queens

This my 7-year old’s current favorite game. It is so creative! I’m not a huge game fan and this is one that I love too! Our whole family (adults and kids ages 7-15) likes playing this one together. It says it’s for kids ages 8 and up, but we’ve played it with 5+.

UNO (and UNO Flip)

UNO is one of our family’s favorite games. Kids 4 and under usually play on a team with an adult. Uno Flip is a cool variation on the classic UNO game. The best part about UNO is that you can play with 2-10 players, so it’s great for a larger group or just 2 people.

UNO Go (this version is SO small)

My 10 year old thinks this version of UNO is hysterical because it’s so tiny. It’s perfect to slip in your pocket. The rules are a tiny bit different because it’s so small, but it’s mostly the same as the traditional UNO. This one is perfect for when you’re really trying to save space.

Blink

This is a super fast 2 player card game and it’s easy to learn. The goal is to get rid of your cards!

Exploding Kittens

I recently started playing this with my kids. They’ve loved it for years. It’s pretty funny and super simple to understand. I loved that it had an instructional video linked so I could watch a simple video and learn all the rules fast.

Crazy 8s

This classic game is so fun! Kids learn about numbers, pairs, counting, and more. The pictures in this version are cute and the numbers are easy to read.

Go Fish

This game is always a hit! The goal is to ask your friends for different cards that they might be holding in order to get yourself a match. You practice taking turns and making matches until someone runs out of cards and has all their cards matched. If your friend doesn’t have a card you need, they say, “go fish” and you draw a card from the deck. The game is simple, which is why this classic game has been a favorite for decades.

Eye Found It

We got this game a few months ago and it is great for kids ages 3+! The Disney characters in the game make it extra fun. It’s a hidden picture card game that kids will enjoy!

Old Maid

Have you introduced your kids to Old Maid yet? The goal of this classic game is to avoid getting the Old Maid card as you take turns pulling cards from each other’s hands and making matches. The cards say ages 5+ but younger kids could always give it a try, or work on a team with a grown up.

Spoons

Spoons is easy to learn, which means it’s great for younger kids. It’s also fast paced, which means older kids and adults like it too. The best part is when everyone is trying to grab the spoons.

Tenzi

We played this game over the holidays with lots of kids and adults. You roll the dice that you’re given and do different challenges. It’s pretty easy to learn but is listed for ages 7+ because it requires quick thinking and strong number recognition skills. Some younger kids can still enjoy it. The best part? There are a dozen different ways to play the game. Several versions are listed in the instructions.

Found It

We love scavenger hunts! This is a great one to take with you on the go when you’re outdoors. The cards list prompts to encourage kids to start hunting around. Once you’ve found the item, you yell “FOUND IT” and you earn the card. The first person to win 7 cards, wins the game.

Avocado Smash

The goal of this game is to get rid of all of your cards. You can play with 2+ players. The box says that the game is best for kids ages 6+. The fun part of this game is all the slapping!

Cookie Swap

The goal of this game is to collect four cards with the same character on them. Kids love seeing their favorite Disney characters. This game is fun at holiday time, but can also be played all year long.

Bananagrams

This classic word game is fun for kids 7+ (or for those who love to spell at any age).

Five Crowns

This is a rummy style card game for kids ages 8+. It works for up to 7 players and is great for kids and adults to play together.

More game ideas?

Do you have any other favorite travel games that we missed? Tell us about them in the comments.