Tips for Traveling with Kids: Fun and Easy Games for the Car or Plane

by Sarah Baker July 12, 2023

Traveling with kids can be one of life’s greatest adventures—and also one of the biggest challenges. Long car rides or plane trips can feel like a lifetime for little ones (and parents!), but with a little prep and a few creative ideas, your journey can be smooth, fun, and full of great memories.

Here are some tried-and-true travel tips and easy games to keep your kids entertained—and your sanity intact—on your next family trip.

✈️ 1. Plan Ahead Like a Pro

Organization is your best friend when it comes to traveling with children.
Start by giving each child their own backpack filled with:

Favorite toys
A few books
Healthy snacks
Headphones
Their own DIY activity kit (more on that below!)

Letting them have their own “fun bag” creates excitement and gives them a sense of control over their space and stuff.

📖 2. Interactive Storytelling

Bring stories to life by involving your kids in them!
Start a tale with “Once upon a time…” and then let them take turns adding twists. Maybe your family becomes superheroes saving the day, or you're all on a treasure hunt for chocolate chip cookies.

Interactive storytelling sparks imagination and makes time fly—no screen needed!

🎯 3. Travel Bingo

This one’s a classic—and for good reason!
Create (or print) a simple bingo card with things you might see along the way:

A red car
A farm animal
A stop sign
Someone wearing sunglasses

Use stickers or crayons to mark them off. First one to complete a row gets a prize or picks the next playlist!

🔍 4. Road Trip Scavenger Hunt

Take Bingo up a notch with a scavenger hunt.
Give your kids a list of things to find or hear:

Someone yawning
A cloud shaped like an animal
A plane in the sky
A license plate from a different state

You can even do this on a plane: look for a passenger with a hat, a snack cart, or a sleeping traveler.

🧠 5. Travel Trivia

Make learning fun by turning it into a game.
Create trivia questions about your destination or travel in general:

“What’s the capital of our state?”
“How many wheels does an airplane have?”
“Which animal lives in the Grand Canyon?”

Offer small treats or extra screen time for correct answers. It's fun and educational!

🎒 6. DIY Activity Kits

Create simple travel kits before your trip. Fill a small container or zip pouch with:

Crayons or colored pencils
Mini coloring books
Stickers
Magnetic puzzles
Scratch-off art
Small toys or figurines

Bonus: Let your child help pack their kit before the trip—it builds excitement and gives them something to look forward to.

🚗 Final Thoughts

Traveling with kids doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, with a little creativity, it can become one of your favorite family memories!
By planning and packing a few fun distractions, you’ll keep little hands and minds busy, reduce meltdowns, and turn travel time into quality time.

So the next time you hit the road or take to the skies, don’t forget your storytelling voice, some snacks, and your sense of humor. ✈️🚗