Fun games for traveling


25 best travel games for kids and adults (2022)

Content is created by CNN Underscored’s team of editors who work independently from the CNN newsroom. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Learn more

Travel / Travel Gear

Getty Images/iStockphoto

The best travel games can be entertaining at any point of your vacation, whether you need to pass time during a road trip or you’re stuck in your hotel room while it rains. That said, travel games come in many different forms, with some better suited for larger groups and others aimed to entertain one person at a time.

Whether you or your kids are prone to boredom or you’re on the lookout for the best travel gifts, the travel games that made our list could easily fit the bill. Before you pack up your suitcase, car or head to the airport for your next getaway, consider adding one of our favorite travel games to your travel arsenal.

Carpool Karaoke The Mic 2.0

$59.99 at Amazon

Carpool Karaoke The Mic 2.0

Amazon

Music lovers who are on the hunt for road trip essentials should absolutely consider this carpool karaoke mic for their next trip. This microphone instantly connects to your car using Bluetooth or an aux cord, and it comes with a rechargeable battery that lasts up to six hours. Your family can sing along to your favorite songs, plus six voice-changing effects and three sound effects to make it more fun. Fun lighting effects also sync with your music to make the experience even more unique. This is sure to make any long car journey more exciting.

Rubberneckers: Everyone's Favorite Travel Game

$14.99 at Amazon

Rubberneckers: Everyone's Favorite Travel Game

Amazon

Rubberneckers is one of the most dynamic road trip travel games available today, and it's the perfect travel gift for families that are always on the road. This game includes a combination of games and activities that are popular for road trips, including "I Spy"-type activities that keep kids — and adults — engaged for hours at a time. This game is also entirely technology-free, so it's perfect for parents that are trying to limit phone time.

'Shotgun!' — The Road Trip Game

$14.99 at Amazon

'Shotgun!' — The Road Trip Game

Amazon

Brought to you by the creators of What Do You Meme?, "Shotgun!" is perfect for players aged 12 and older who need something fun to do during a road trip. While one player typically reads the cards (as the name suggests, that's usually the person sitting shotgun), everyone else is tasked with playing based on the prompt. The game itself is made up of 200 cards and includes a drawstring pouch that makes it ideal for travel.

Gentlemen's Hardware Road Trip Trivia

$14.95 at Duluth Trading Company

Gentlemen's Hardware Road Trip Trivia

Duluth Trading Company

This road trip trivia game includes 100 cards and comes in a retro metal case perfect for road-trip travel. Trivia questions run the gamut from the nation's most famous sites to popular roadside attractions. Players will also learn a ton of new — and potentially useless — facts, such as which state is home to the world's largest ball of twine. Road Trip Trivia is perfect for adults and kids, but it's an especially good fit for the self-described know-it-alls in your crew.

Sorry! Road Trip Series

$20.99 at Walmart

Sorry! Road Trip Series

Walmart

Geared toward adults and children aged 6 and older, Sorry! Road Trip Series offers a twist on the classic Sorry! game. It comes in a sleek and portable case that lets you pause the game with the option to pick back up exactly where you left off — similar to what you can expect with magnetic games. Like with the traditional Sorry! game, the first player to get all four of their pawns from the start position to home wins.

Little Passports Subscription

From $23.
95 at Little Passports

Little Passports Subscription

Little Passports

Little Passports is a STEM- and geography-driven subscription kit geared toward children aged 3 to 10. These kits are perfect for parents seeking activities and experiences that don't require a mobile device or Wi-Fi, and they can be customized to suit your child's interests. For example, the Early Explorers kit helps children explore new monthly themes like music, dinosaurs and oceans, and the Science Junior kit introduces children to the world of science, technology, engineering and math.

Pass the Pigs

$14.93 at Amazon

Pass the Pigs

Amazon

Pass the Pigs is the ultimate game for kids and adults who want a fast-moving activity that can accommodate two to four players at a time. This "dice" game asks players to roll the pair of pigs until they get a Pig-Out or an Oinker, in which case they pass to the next player. Not only is this travel game a boatload of fun, but it comes in a small plastic carrying case that makes it easy to pack and transport.

Bright Littles Convo Cards

$25 at Bright Littles

Bright Littles Convo Cards

Bright Littles

If you're looking for travel-sized games that help kids become more responsible, look no further than Bright Little Convo Cards. This set includes 100 question cards and 25 activity cards that help kids aged 4 and older learn about the environment and self-care, as well as various religions and cultures of the world. The cards and conversations not only help pass the time, but they help parents discuss taboo topics and keep communication lines open.

Word-a-Melon

$9.99 at Amazon

Word-a-Melon

Amazon

Word-a-Melon is a fun word search game that pits family members against one another. Players take turns rolling dice with the goal of creating words from the letters they receive. Players must also hide unused letters and remember where they are in order to use them later in the game. The game is a great mix of both memory-testing skills and word-building thinking. Word-a-Melon is small enough to pack in most suitcases and is ideal for those aged 6 and older.

Exploding Kittens

$19.99 at Amazon

Exploding Kittens

Amazon

This card game is perfect for adults and kids who love combining kittens, explosions, laser beams and sometimes goats for hours of entertainment and comedic value. With more than 10 million copies sold, Exploding Kittens takes only a few minutes to learn, and winning requires you to pull any card from the deck other than one. All the other cards help you avoid running into the death knell of this game, the exploding kitten itself.

Connect 4 Board Game

$11.99 at Target

Connect 4 Board Game

Target

Connect 4 is a classic board game for kids and adults alike that works similarly to tic-tac-toe. Players work diligently to connect four colored discs in a row while preventing others from doing the same — all while plotting and planning their next move. This game is not only a blast for all ages, but it's small and compact enough to bring almost anywhere.

Yahtzee to Go Travel Game

$16.20 at Walmart

Yahtzee to Go Travel Game

Walmart

Yahtzee to Go is a smaller version of the classic game. With a sleek shaker, five dice and a traditional scoring pad, players take turns rolling with the goal of scoring the right combinations at the right time. Made for two or more players (it can even be great for solo players!), this classic game can entertain even the most boredom-prone members of your family for hours. Note that the Yahtzee shaker also doubles as a storage case, so this game is easy to pack in your bag or in the car.

Bananagrams

$17.02 $14.99 at Amazon

Bananagrams

Amazon

Bananagrams is a simple word game that's easy to play on the go and small enough to take almost anywhere. Players and their opponents are tasked with using all their letters to build words in a grid, and there are no supplies required other than a small pouch with tile letters and a space large enough — and flat enough — to build out your wordy masterpiece. The first player to use all their tiles wins. This game is ideal for adults and children aged 7 and older.

Battleship Grab and Go

$4.99 at Walmart

Battleship Grab and Go

Walmart

This take on the original Battleship game asks players to lead their fleet to victory by sinking their opponent's ships. The game itself flips open with its own ocean grid that sets the stage for an overwater battle of epic proportions. The game also has storage inside so users can save their pegs and avoid losing small parts. Battleship Grab and Go is for two players and it's perfect for those aged 7 and older.

Monopoly

$19.92 at Walmart

Monopoly

Walmart

If it's raining outside and you're stuck in your vacation home rental, what could be better than spending hours playing this classic game? Players work toward bankrupting their opponents while also trying to build their own real estate empire. It's fast-moving and exciting enough to keep everyone in the crew engaged. Monopoly is perfect for families with kids aged 8 and older.

Actually Curious Icebreaker Cards: Happy Hour Edition

$24.99 at Amazon

Actually Curious Icebreaker Cards: Happy Hour Edition

Amazon

Actually Curious is a card game that's designed to build bonds and bring people together. This Happy Hour edition contains 52 cards that ask questions, prompting players to answer and listen to people as they explain their unique points of view. The travel game helps players explore their dreams and ambitions while gaining a better understanding of those around them. If you're looking for a card game for adults that builds empathy and trust, Actually Curious may be exactly what you're looking for.

Queensell Mexican Train Dominoes

$29.99 at Amazon

Queensell Mexican Train Dominoes

Amazon

While kids and teenagers can definitely learn the ins and outs of Mexican Train Dominoes, this game was made for adults who want to compete. Incredibly fast-paced, this game is ideal for those with a short attention span or groups who don't want to commit to several hours of play. Each tier of dominoes can last as few as 20 minutes, yet a full sheet of gameplay can last several hours, too. However long you play, whoever ditches all their dominoes first wins.

Solid Wood Cribbage

$7.97 at Walmart

Solid Wood Cribbage

Walmart

Cribbage is an oldie but a goodie when it comes to games that are easy to pack up for your next vacation. This game requires nothing more than a wooden cribbage board and a set of colored pegs, which you use alongside playing cards to group cards into "runs" as you try to build combinations that total 15. While suitable for adults and older children, Cribbage is one of those games that is easy to learn but takes time to master.

Cards Against Humanity

$25 at Amazon

Cards Against Humanity

Amazon

Most people have heard of Cards Against Humanity by now, and it's easy to see why. This highly inappropriate card game for adults will leave you stunned as you utter words and phrases you never thought you'd say. Not really for children, this card game is perfect for groups of adults having a few drinks on vacation. The Cards Against Humanity game itself is also small enough to pack and bring along with you in a carry-on bag or a travel backpack.

Uno Color & Number Matching Card Game

$5.44 at Walmart

Uno Color & Number Matching Card Game

Walmart

Uno is a tried and true card game that's small enough to take anywhere. Two to 10 players can take part at one time, so it's perfect for families or groups that want to do something fun together. Pretty much everyone knows how this classic game works, but if not, you can win by matching the cards in your hand to the previous card thrown on the pile. The first player to get rid of all their cards wins. While perfect for adults, Uno can also work well for teenagers and children aged 7 and older.

Shashibo Shape Shifting Box

$25 at Amazon

Shashibo Shape Shifting Box

Amazon

The Shashibo is an updated version of a fidget spinner. The best-selling fidget toy unlocks creativity while improving dexterity, and it can help relieve stress, too. The Shashibo toy has also proved to be the perfect “Are we there yet?” plaything for kids — and for parents who want a portable distraction that can keep their kids occupied while in-flight or in the car.

Mad Libs

$6.99 at Target

Mad Libs

Target

Mad Libs unfinished stories provide the perfect distraction when you have hours to kill but not a lot of space. You can fit a Mad Libs notebook in a purse or small bag, and all you need from there is a pen and your imagination. These funny stories task players with using their vocabulary with a lot of laughs along the way, and they're perfect for children, teenagers and adults.

Thinkfun Rush Hour Travel Board Game

$14.
99 at Target

Thinkfun Rush Hour Travel Board Game

Target

Thinkfun Rush Hour is a strategy game that takes one to two hours to complete in its entirety. Players who get involved in this sliding block logic game are asked to battle the gridlock as they make savvy moves to get the red car to the exit. There are 40 different challenges within this game, so users can decide on the level of difficulty ahead of time. Thinkfun Rush Hour is ideal for single players who want to avoid boredom en route to their destination.

Chuckle & Roar Mega Maze

$9.99 at Target

Chuckle & Roar Mega Maze

Target

If you're looking for a way to entertain your kid without a mobile device, the Chuckle & Roar Mega Maze is worth checking out. This one-person maze game is small enough to bring with you almost anywhere, and it keeps brains busy with 50 different dry-erase mazes across three levels of difficulty. This maze game, perfect for players aged 6 and older, also comes in a travel case with a handle for easy transport.

Jenga Game

$15.99 at Target

Jenga Game

Target

Jenga is the perfect travel distraction because everyone in your crew can play at their own pace. Small enough to fit in a backpack or small suitcase, the Jenga game is made up of 54 hardwood blocks expertly crafted to be made into a tower. Players remove blocks from the game one at a time and practice their stacking skills while trying to keep the tower intact. Ultimately, whoever causes the tower to tumble loses the game.

Looking for a travel credit card? Find out which cards CNN Underscored chose as our best travel credit cards of 2022.

Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed price at the time of publication.

Thanks for subscribing! Your welcome email is on its way.

Receive product recommendations, reviews & deals several times a week.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy

30 Best Travel Games for Kids on Planes, Road Trips & in Hotels (2022)

When it comes to staying entertained on road trips, in planes, and during downtime in hotel rooms, there are plenty of fun travel games for kids that parents will love just as much.

We own most of these best travel games but have played all of them. I’ve included travel board games, dice games, magnetic games, strategy games, tabletop games, and classic favorites in portable versions that are popular and favorably reviewed best-sellers.

Whether your kids are toddlers or teens (or both), there’s something on this list that they’ll love to play with you.

All of the portable games recommended here are fairly cheap and easy to find so that you can stock up before your next family vacation and keep everyone unplugged from their devices.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.


Car Travel Games

Minimize the “Are we there yet?” questions on repeat with some fun travel games for long family road trips.

Truthfully, many of the games on this list can be played in the car, but these have minimal pieces or road trip themes.

1. Rory’s Story Cubes

Recommended ages: 8+

Rory’s Story Cubes are one of the hottest games out there. They are, thankfully, very convenient to travel with and easy to learn how to play. The cubes for this dice game also fit neatly into a small pouch that you can tuck into a handbag or backpack.

Players roll the dice and tell a story based on the pictures facing upward on the dice after being rolled. While it’s fun with multiple players, I’ve seen kids play it independently, too. Since storytelling is the main feature, it can be one of the perfect travel games for the car, especially if you have a small tray to roll the dice on.

We like it because there are no wrong answers, it gets the creative juices flowing, and different (usually funny) tales are told every time.

BUY ON AMAZON


2. Melissa & Doug Flip-to-Win License Plate Game

Recommended ages: 8+

Keep the Melissa & Doug Flip-to-Win License Plate Game in the car for family road trips (it’s made of wood, so feels solid) so kids can log all of the different state license plates they see along the way.

The board not only helps kids spot each state’s license plate design but also showcases state capitals across the United States as a form of edutainment. Travel games for kids that teach are win-win.

BUY ON AMAZON


3. Travel Scavenger Hunt Card Game

Recommended ages: 7+

Scavenger Hunt is a perfect family road trip game for kids. They will love keeping an eye out for items on these cards ranging from stop signs to license plates with certain letters.

The deck of cards also includes some fun “feel it” style cards designed for road bumps and unexpected things one might experience during car rides. You can play these card games with two or more players.

BUY ON AMAZON


4. Pass the Pigs

Recommended ages: 7+

This travel game for kids crossed my radar recently. It’s wildly popular and happens to be very portable. Basically, you roll pigs instead of dice and score them by how the pigs land. It sounds crazy, but in this case, the stellar reviews also don’t lie.

Also, beware that there are lots of pig puns ahead in Pass the Pigs. Kids can play together in the backseat as long as they have a surface, like a backseat divider, to roll the pigs on.

BUY ON AMAZON


5. Travel Spirograph

Recommended ages: 5–12

Yes! Spirograph is now in travel form! This little device comes with six wheels, pens, and its own container for making cool geometric designs on the go. Love it.

BUY ON AMAZON


6. Travel Blurt

Recommended ages: 10+

If you like edutainment, this family travel card game is for you. It’s so fun that the kids will never know they’re learning as they play.

The cards have clues. After they’re read, other players literally blurt out the answer. The score is kept, and the person with the most points wins Travel Blurt. Ages 10+

BUY ON AMAZON


Magnetic Travel Games

The beauty of magnetic travel games is for kids, teens, and adults is that the pieces stay in place better than their traditional counterparts do. You’ll still need to be careful not to lose the pieces. Many of these games do not come with extras, so there goes your game if one goes missing.

7. Take N Play Bingo (and Other Games)

Recommended ages: 4-8

This two-player bingo magnetic travel game means that the pieces are tough to lose. The weight of the tin is just over six ounces and 7″ square in size. It stores the pieces, serves as the game board, and can easily slip into a handbag or travel gear.

We have many Take N Play games ranging from dominos to checkers and consider them one of the best travel games for kids.

BUY ON AMAZON


8. QuadPro Magnetic Chess

Recommended ages: 6+

Take chess on the road with you with this QuadPro Magnetic Chess set. The travel chess set folds up and stores the pieces inside for easy portability. The tabletop board game weighs less than 1 lb.

The magnetic pieces stick to the board so that they withstand car and plane movement. The board game folds out to 9.84 x 9.84 x 0.78 inches.

BUY ON AMAZON


9. The Purple Cow Magnetic Travel Games

Recommended ages: 5–15

We also own many magnetic travel games by The Purple Cow including dominoes, checkers, sudoku shapes, puzzles, and more. These travel games for kids are very, very lightweight. Items are stored inside of the tin.

BUY ON AMAZON


Travel Games for Toddlers

If you’re searching for fun options that entertain this age group and come with pieces big enough for them to manipulate, here are a few other ideas. (Also, The Purple Cow magnetic games mentioned above are very popular for supervised traveling toddlers who can handle the pieces.)

10. Travel Tangram

Recommended ages: 3+

A tangram is a puzzle with pieces in seven flat shapes that are called tans. The goal is to put the tans together, without overlapping, to form a specific shape. The book that comes in this set contains 360 different shape possibilities of varying difficulty so that adults are challenged just as much as toddlers.

These exercises are excellent STEM activities. A pocket inside of this Travel Tangrams book neatly stores the tans. The Purple Cow, mentioned above, offers a magnetic tangrams game.

BUY ON AMAZON


11.

Wikki Stix

Recommended ages: 3+ (My daughter started playing with them while supervised at age 2.)

If there’s a travel toy or game I could not have lived without during the toddler years, it’s Wikki Stix. I always kept a pack or two in my handbag to use spontaneously.

Kids can play with these bendable sticks anywhere — on airplane tray tables, in the car, at restaurants, and more.

The individual packs come with a puzzle or shape for the kids to make with the Wikki Stix. You can also buy kits, like the Wikki Stix Traveler playset that comes with even more activities.

BUY ON AMAZON


Travel Board Games

You favorite classics come in smaller sizes easy packing to play on laps or tabletops.

12. Hasbro Family Travel Board Games Bundle

Recommended ages: 8+

Clue, Monopoly, Connect 4, and Hungry Hungry Hippo Board Grab and Go Games come in all-in-one travel versions that also store pieces for you to play as a family when on the road.

Buy this Hasbro set of four for a constant supply of games for the whole family to play.

BUY ON AMAZON


13. Travel Scrabble

Recommended ages: 6+

Travel Scrabble is the must-have word game that earns its recommendations on best travel games lists like this one.

Parents, grandparents, teens, tweens, and elementary school kids can earn points for creating creative words from whatever alphabet letters they pull randomly from a pouch.

There are several portable versions to choose from, but this one comes in a handy zip-up carrying case (ours is in a snap case and much less convenient — get the zippered one).

BUY ON AMAZON


Travel Games for Hotels and Airport Lounges — Best Played on Tables

Table games can be played anywhere you can secure a flat surface, be it in an airport lounge, a hotel room, a vacation rental, or a camping table.

14. Bananagrams

Recommended ages: 7+

Bananagrams is an awesome word game and comes in a small banana-shaped pouch for easy transport. It’s similar to Scrabble but played without a board. We play it as a family and even my 95-year-old grandma enjoys it.

Gather 1–8 players around a table to make a word grid with the tiles that grows until someone runs out of tiles.

I promise it’s awesome for family game night on the road, and even teens enjoy it. Thousands of positive customer reviews can’t be wrong.

BUY ON AMAZON


15. Spot It!

Recommended ages: 7+

Spot It! comes in various themes, and its 55 cards store well in a small circular tin. This fast-paced travel card game is best for hotels and airplane lounges as the playing cards would be easy to lose between airplane seats.

It’s a memory game with a race aspect that is a great motor skill builder. Between any two cards, there is always one and only one matching symbol. Spot it fast to win and play with 1–8 players.

BUY ON AMAZON


16. Rummikub On the Go

Recommended ages: 8+

You’ll create sets and runs, rummy-meets-mahjong style, on the table with the goal to be the first person to use all of your tiles. The addition of jokers puts an extra spin on the fun.

Rummikub on the Go is a popular game for 2-4 players and multiple generations of family members or friends who want to play together.

You’ll definitely exercise STEM skills when it comes to recognizing patterns and strategies. This is one of the best travel games for teens and older kids.

BUY ON AMAZON


17. Iota the Great Big Game in a Teeny Weeny Tin

Recommended ages: 8+

Add cards to a grid, making sure that color, shape, and number are either all the same or all different across the line. It sounds easy but as the grid expands, so do the possibilities. The player who sees the opportunities will seize the win during a game of Iota.

BUY ON AMAZON


18. Kanoodle

Recommended ages: 8+ (There is also a Kanoodle Junior for ages 4+)

From 12 puzzle pieces come over 200 Kanoodle challenges of varying levels. You’ll choose a design from the included book and position the connecting beads to create 2D and 3D puzzles.

The pocket-sized carrying case makes it easy to slip into a handbag or backpack. The company is so convinced you’ll love its best-selling product that they offer a 365-day guarantee or your money back.

BUY ON AMAZON


19. Scattergories

Recommended ages: 8+

The classic 1980s favorite comes in a card version that makes it one of the easy travel games to carry around. You’ll play Scattergories with two decks of cards: a category deck and a letter deck.

The first player to slap the “I Know” card and give an appropriate answer to the displayed category and letter gets the cards (like “dog” for the letter “d” and category “pets”). The player with the most cards wins.

BUY ON AMAZON


20. Travel Boggle

Recommended ages: 8+

The classic game of Boggle comes in a compact travel version with a timer that snaps into the case, making it one of my favorite portable games. You can play solo or with others.

All you need to do is grab a pen and paper (or LCD writing tablet like the Boogie Board Jot mentioned above), shake up the letters, let them fall into each slot, set the timer, and then find as many words as you can.

BUY ON AMAZON


Printable Travel Games

Etsy is a fantastic place to source professionally-designed printable travel games that you can purchase once for a small fee and use it again in future travels. The quality also feels more solid if you can print on cardstock paper.

21. Printable Travel Bingo Cards

I love the design of these printable travel bingo cards where passengers can look for certain road signs, cows, motorcycles, and more until the winner gets five across for bingo. You’ll receive five different bingo cards to play on a long road trip.


22. Printable Scavenger Hunt

Here’s another inexpensive printable travel game with colorful illustrations that appeal to all ages. The first person to find all of the scavenger hunt items wins.


23. Printable Camping Scavenger Hunt

What is neat about this printable camping scavenger hunt is that some fonts, text, and colors can be customized. So, if you wanted to title it “The Jones Family Scavenger Hunt” or “Mike’s Birthday Scavenger Hunt” you can.

You’ll receive a printable scavenger hunt bag cover, a clues sheet with directions, and a sheet where participants can mark off what they’ve found.


Travel Games for Airplanes

The one thing we try to avoid on airplanes is dropping things on the floor and in between the seats. No one, especially in today’s world, wants to dig into these crevices. And, we all know what happens when a child finds out that something is irretrievable — the friendly skies become a little less so.

So, travel games for airplanes need most pieces attached, large pieces that are easy to find, or use of something replaceable, like a pen. Fun games that kids love help time fly and keep the whole family sane during flight delays

24.

Mad Libs

Recommended ages: 5+ (depending on the version)

So many Mad Libs, so little time! Make sure the ones you buy for younger kids are Mad Libs Junior because the stories are more relatable to little ones.

Regular Mad Libs (Dog Ate My Mad Libs, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Mad Libs, and more) are geared to the 8–12 years old range.

Just be mindful that there are adult Mad Libs versions that you will want to stay clear of for kids. Mad Libs for kids are a great way to kill time on the tarmac, while waiting for food in a restaurant, and in many more family vacation scenarios.

BUY ON AMAZON


25. Boogie Board

Recommended ages: Basically, if you can hold a pen, you’re good.

This isn’t really an organized game, but I’m such a fan of using LCD writing tablets for travel games that I have to mention it. The newest version, Boogie Board Jot, comes with a stylus that you write on the LCD screen with. The stylus is kept secured on the bottom of the tablet. The entire screen clears with the touch of a button.

We play hangman, and tic-tac-toe, and even use it as scratch paper for math homework. Like other game pieces, keep an eye on the stylus, which can be easy to drop. Or, pack extra styluses. Tuck it in a handbag or backpack for play anywhere.

BUY ON AMAZON


26. The Cube

Recommended ages: 6+

Here’s a fun solo travel game to entertain while waiting for a plane to take off or to arrive at your road trip destination.

If you’re thinking of that cube, this one is different because it’s FAST. And there’s a Cube solver app for you to track and share your progress. The Cube wants you to win.

BUY ON AMAZON


27. IQ Fit

Recommended ages: 6+

IQ Fit is a puzzle strategy game where players have to figure out how to fit the 3-D pieces flat on the game board and without holes exposed. Believe it or not, there are over 100 different challenges in this highly-rated game.

BUY ON AMAZON


28. Melissa and Doug Flip to Win Travel Hangman

Recommended ages: 6–10

It is a wooden travel game with a dry erase board and 37 flip letters. The pen self-stores in the wood board. The fact that it has no loose pieces makes Flip to Win Travel Hangman a great travel game for kids.

The wood does make it a tad bit heavier than magnetic travel games. At least you don’t have to worry about the game pieces falling into cracks.

BUY ON AMAZON


Free Travel Games for Kids and Adults

Fun on a family vacation doesn’t have to cost money, and this also goes for family travel games that are very easy to learn. Aside from being fun road trip games that don’t involve pieces to juggle in the car, you can play them at home or at your next party.

29. I Spy

I Spy can be played with two or more people anywhere. The game’s premise is that one person looks spies something that everyone can see and keeps it a secret for the other players to guess based on little revealed close or tips.

The player holding the secret gives clues by saying, “I spy with my little eye something that is [insert clue which could be color, shape, size, etc.].” The other players try to guess what the secret object is. The player holding the secret responds only with yes or no. He or she will give another hint starting with, “I spy with my little eye something that is [clue].”

The cycle repeats until someone guesses correctly. That winner can then choose a secret object, and the game starts again.


30. 20 Questions

You can play 20 Questions with two or more players, but it’s best in a small group. The person who is “It” thinks of a person, place, or thing that is familiar to all players.

The rest of the players ask the “It” person up to 20 yes or no questions to figure out what the secret object is. If someone guesses the secret object correctly prior to 20 questions being asked, that person is the next “It.” Then, the game repeats itself.


31. Would You Rather

Would You Rather can also be played with two or more people and is a fun way to get to know someone. One player thinks of a question that has two possible outcomes.

It could be as simple as, “Would you rather eat ice cream or potato salad?” The person being asked the question provides the answer and asks another player a similar question.

32. The Alphabet Game

Younger kids, older kids, and adults can all play the alphabet game together on car trips. All players need to do is look out the window to spot things that start with each alphabet letter in sequence from A to Z.


Finally, don’t forget to arm yourself with a huge arsenal of knock-knock jokes for kids and car games for kids that are also very handy for lightening the mood on the go. I also now have a list of road trip activities and gear for kids.

What are your favorite fun travel games?

90,000 11 best games on the road - as much as you can in Cities! - magazine Behind the wheel

I put in my backpack, Forbidden words, The best day of life, Numbers with meaning and other non-banal entertainment.

Related materials

3 mistakes when transporting children - we all make them (at first)

Anyone who loves to travel with the whole family knows that five minutes after the start, the children begin to languish. Of course, for a while they can be distracted by a phone or tablet, put on a selection of songs, turn on Children's Radio or an audiobook. You can stock up on children's crossword puzzles in advance and guess them together. But after some time, this will get boring, the children will want more active entertainment, and then you will need to turn on your imagination.

Fun games on the go are uplifting, and it's great if the whole family is involved.

I see what you don't see

The rules are simple. The host marks (for himself) an object in the field of view of travelers, and the task of the players is to guess it by asking a minimum of questions. Moreover, only “yes” or “no” answers are allowed. Warning: the game is addictive.

Guess people or animals

Begins: "I think you know him." And then, for example: "This animal can fly." And with the help of leading questions, you need to guess what kind of animal it is. Alternatively, you can guess someone from your family or friends. For example, this person wears glasses. The question is when do you read? Yes. The next question is is it old? No. Does he have children? Yes. That is, in this case, the answers can also be only “yes” or “no”.

Guess the song

The players alternately hum or whistle the song. Others guess its name or artist. Whoever recognizes the song first wins. Children's songs, famous pop singles, whatever musical memory has to offer will do. At the end, the guessed song can be sung together - this will cheer everyone up.

Hit Parade

Together you are looking for a song that everyone knows. For example, "Let the pedestrians run clumsily through the puddles." The parent assigns in what mood you should perform it. For example, sad or cheerful, in the style of a march or hip-hop. Who won? Yes, who will come out funnier, although here is the case when the process is more important than victory.

I'm putting in my backpack...

The first player starts with "I'm putting in my backpack..." and comes up with something, like a hairbrush. The next player repeats the item of the first player and adds his own - a comb and a bottle of water. The one who forgets at least one of the previous items will lose. True, it is advisable for the host to keep a list so as not to make a mistake.

Forbidden words

"Don't take white and black, don't say 'yes' and 'no'. " There is a leader and there is a player. The task of the presenter is to force the player to say forbidden words, and it is important for the player not to let it slip for as long as possible. Questions should be asked tricky, for example, it can be difficult to evasively answer the question: "What color is sugar?" or “Tell me, do you really like ice cream?” Alas, sooner or later the player lets slip, the main thing is to deftly lull his vigilance! If a word is accidentally said, the players switch roles. For reference, the first question can be answered: "The same as printer paper."

In the classic version of the game, it always started with the question: "Will you go to the ball?", but today's children may not know about balls, so you can ask any questions.

The best day of their lives

The children are asked one by one to describe how they see the best day of their lives. A serving of chocolate ice cream for breakfast instead of porridge, and then jumping on the bed to exhaustion. Then dress up and go to an amusement park, ride a ferris wheel there, go to an upside down house, eat your fill of french fries, ride a pony, and end the day in a cafe where you can get three cream cakes and a big vanilla cocktail. Or is your child's ideal day completely different? The long journey is a great opportunity to learn about it. You may be very surprised by its history, and some dreams can be realized already on vacation - at least about ice cream.

Your color

Here each player names their favorite color and then looks for it in things around. The first one to find ten objects of this color is the winner.

"Scary" stories

In the "black-black room sat a black-black man" - do you remember? Let's create stories together. The host tells the end of the story, others guess how it happened. Example: there are red shoes in the meadow, they are stained with mud, but their hostess is not around. What happened to her? This is more suitable for children 5-7 years old and older, the kids will not understand and may be scared.

Vehicle signs

Related materials

10 ways to entertain your child (and yourself) on the road

And this is a game for schoolchildren: all participants receive a piece of paper and a pencil. Now they have about 10 minutes to look at the license plates of cars passing along the road. Everyone writes down five numbers of their choice without telling the other players. Then one of the adults tells the children the numbers of the cars that he sees himself. If the child already has such letters and numbers, he crosses them out of his piece of paper. Whoever crosses everything out first wins!

Or another option: you keep looking at license plates of passing cars and trying to make sentences out of them. It often turns out funny, even the baby "gets infected" and laughs along with the older children. For example: N *** TV - "You must be lying!" or M *** SK - “Misha is a super pump!” The winner is the one who quickly comes up with a coherent and funny phrase.

Who will be the first to see

And this is fun for very, very little ones. It is unpretentious - "whoever sees it first" on the road or along it. For example, a red car or a dog, a grandmother with a wand or a mother with a stroller. And believe me, this is also very exciting, especially if you say the terms funny and show them with facial expressions and gestures.

In general, it is important to choose the game that suits the age and character of your child. Good mood and fun tireless journey!

If you enjoy other games on the road, tell us about them in the comments. Let's make the second part of the publication!

Photo: Depositphotos

10 games to turn the road with your child into a fun trip Here are the games that will help you with this:

  1. Backwards game. When you are driving in a car or flying in an airplane, play this game with your child. Take a word and ask the child to say it backwards. For example, "CLOUD" would sound like "OKALBO". Children will find this game very funny. If you are not too lazy, then you can encrypt, in this way, the whole message! “Ym mitel an erom!”, for example. The child will have to strain his brain very actively in order to read such mirror words and phrases.
  2. Game "One letter - many words". Name nouns in turn starting with one of any chosen letter. Whoever runs out of words loses.
  3. Game "Bukvoed". In this game, you need to match descriptions to objects that begin with the same letter. For example, you saw a cat. We are looking for a description with the letter K - "The cat is sneaking towards the box." Or you saw a fly, so we are looking for a description with the letter M - "Masha's mother washes the car." This game is great for playing in the car and stimulates the mental processes.
  4. The game "Encrypted word". The game consists in the fact that you choose a word, for example "table", and come up with a sentence with the child, the words of which begin with letters from the invented word. So: "Trunk of the Poplar Very Brittle" or "Blue Fog Enveloped Leningrad". It turns out very funny.
  5. Game - "Spy message". Each word of the alphabet is assigned a number: A - 1, B - 2, C - 3, D - 4, D - 5, E - 6, E - 7, F - 8, W - 9, I - 10, Y - 11 , K - 12, L - 13, M - 14, N - 15, O - 16, P - 17, R - 18, C - 19, T - 20, Y - 21, F - 22, X - 23, C - 24, H - 25, W - 26, W - 27, b - 28, S - 29, b - 30, E - 31, Yu - 32, I - 33. You think of a word or phrase, and your child guesses. For example, the word BOOK will look like this: 12 + 15 + 10 + 4 + 1. You can write encrypted messages to each other (for example, "17 + 16 + 18 + 1" "19 + 17 + 1 + 20 + 30"), do numbers in your secret language. This game is fantastic for developing math skills. To play this game on a plane or train, you can prepare a card with letters and corresponding numbers in advance.
  6. Game "6 words". Talk to each other in such a way that the sentence contains 6 words, and they must make sense: “Today we will finally go to the circus! ".
  7. Game "Lost letter". Imagine that some letter is missing, just disappeared. For example, K . You need to talk to each other, avoiding the letter K in words. So: “Come on, let's go to the theater or the museum? - With pleasure. I suggest the Moscow Art Theater. “Great idea, let’s run for tickets!” And so on. Firstly, the game makes you think hard, and secondly, it develops vocabulary, because. the child sorts through the words in memory, looks for synonyms, selects different solutions.
  8. Exercise "The best day". Remember yesterday in detail. You will be surprised how mechanically we live. It is very difficult to remember the day in detail from morning to evening. Questions can be: what did you eat for breakfast, what did you drink, what color socks did you wear, what color was your father's shirt, what was your mother's hairstyle, how many children were absent from school, what fairy tale did you read in the garden, etc. All these questions stimulate memory and increase awareness of life.
  9. Game "Minute". This game requires 2 or 3 players and is suitable for the whole family to play. One sets the topic, for example, "Nature", and the second must tell everything he knows about nature in a minute. There are no restrictions, you can say whatever comes to mind, the main thing is not to stop for exactly 1 minute. For example, “Nature is everything that surrounds us. However, we are accustomed to call nature some special place, away from the city and next to the forest and water. Once we went to nature with the whole class. The PE teacher helped us make fishing rods and we fished…”, etc., etc. Time is recorded on a stopwatch. This game can be played by children from 5 years old. She perfectly trains the speech apparatus, the ability to quickly find a solution, to speak on given topics. Teach your child to smoothly move from one topic to another if he suddenly does not know what to tell him.

    Learn more