9 Kids Travel Activities That’ll Save Your Sanity (and Maybe Your Snacks)

Traveling with little ones can feel like an Olympic sport, especially during long flights right? Traveling with a baby or toddler can be especially stressful and requires extra planning to keep everyone comfortable. We need more ideas to make this easier. We’re all just trying to keep the meltdowns to a minimum and survive those marathon plane rides or endless hours in the car.

That’s why finding fun, doable travel ideas and activities for kids is an absolute lifesaver for keeping our little ones happy (and us sane) on the road. Having activities packed and ready can make flights, car rides, and even holidays or summer trips with children much more manageable.

Every trip with kids comes with a good dose of chaos, but hey, we’ve got each other. These travel activities might just help us turn long rides into enjoyable memory-making adventures. They help children and parents relax and enjoy the journey, even if it lasts for hour after hour.

Let’s be real—sometimes we all need just five minutes without hearing, “Are we there yet?” Keeping kiddos excited and engaged during a plane ride or long car trip is key to surviving those stressful travel days.

1) Crazy Eights Card Game

We love Crazy Eights for road trips or rainy days in a hotel. It’s such a simple card game—just match the top card in the pile by number or suit. Crazy Eights is a classic that brings back memories of childhood and the simple fun that comes with timeless games.

If you play an eight, you get to choose the new suit. Talk about feeling powerful!

Our kids can’t get enough of it. The goal is to get rid of all your cards first, which makes the game fast-paced and exciting.

If you need a refresher on how to play, check out these Crazy Eights rules. For example, you can modify the game by removing face cards for younger children or add extra rules to make it more challenging for older kids.

2) Adult Coloring Books with Mandalas

When we’re traveling, we need activities for kids, including small toys, that are chill but still keeps our kids busy. Mandala coloring books totally do the trick!

The patterns are fun, relaxing, and kind of mesmerizing—even for us parents. These books come in handy sizes for on the go. While some families use an iPad for digital coloring, there’s something special about using real paper and colored pencils during travel.

We can easily stash one in our bag and whip it out during those long waits. There are even options that are perfect for both kids and adults, like this mandala coloring book for all ages.

Let’s get coloring together, no art skills required!

3) Sketchpad and Colored Pencils

Nothing keeps our young kids quieter than a fresh sketchpad and some colored pencils during a window seat adventure. It’s instant entertainment and peace for us in the car, on the plane, or even at a restaurant.

We love that whole “look what I can draw!” moment. Travel-friendly sketch and color art sets with their own carrying cases and sharpeners are a win. It’s always fun to watch your child create something new and see their creativity in action.

We’re big fans of the Crayola Sketch & Color Art Kit.

4) Reusable Puffy Bluey Stickers

Can we just take a moment to appreciate how awesome these Bluey puffy stickers are? They come with two play scenes and over 35 stickers you can use again and again.

They’re perfect for travel because our minis can stick, peel, and restick to their heart’s content—no mess, no stress. We can even chat about the little Bluey adventures as a group while we play.

Check them out here if you want to see the cuteness!

5) Magnetic Alphabet Maze

We love the Magnetic Alphabet Maze toy for travel days, especially when we can find it at the dollar store . It gives our kids a brain-boosting puzzle with way less mess than crayons rolling everywhere. This activity is great for children of different ages and supports learning and development in a fun, engaging way.

This activity keeps little hands busy as they move tiny magnetic letters around with a magic wand (okay, not magic, but close). Our kids learn letters, colors, and build fine motor skills.

We actually get five minutes to sip coffee. There are lots of styles, like this magnetic alphabet maze.

It’s screen-free, totally portable, and super mom-friendly.

6) Plastilina Clay Play

Forget the mess—Plastilina clay is our low-key hero on the road, especially for toddlers . It doesn’t dry out, which means we aren’t panic-wrapping tiny wads in plastic mid-drive.

We just hand over a few sticks and let the kids squish, roll, smash, and create. Check out this super chill Plastilina clay that won’t leave crumbly bits everywhere.

We get masterpieces and actual silence in the backseat.

7) Window Clings for Stickers

Window clings are our road trip heroes. These little stick-on wonders keep our kids busy and off their screens for at least a hot minute.

They’re reusable and don’t leave a mess. Little ones love pulling the clings off and sticking them back on during a plane ride or car trip. You can find cute ones with animals, dinosaurs, or even unicorns if your kid’s obsessed.

We can grab fun window clings for kids or pick some up from the store for last-minute adventures. Let’s be real, we love any activity that involves zero clean-up!

8) Audiobooks and Podcasts

We all know how fast “Are we there yet?” pops up in the car after a few hours . Cue audiobooks and podcasts—our favorite car ride lifesavers! You can easily download stories and podcasts onto an iPad, making it simple for kids to listen and stay entertained throughout the trip.

There’s just something about a good story or hilarious science fact that keeps everyone’s brain happy. We can swap between funny adventures, cool mysteries, and wild animal facts, all without fumbling for tiny game pieces.

Need a little inspo? We love checking lists like these family-friendly podcasts or top audiobooks for airplane seat entertainment.

9) Dry Erase Travel Boards

Let’s be real—dry erase travel boards have totally saved us on road trips and flights. We can doodle, play tic-tac-toe, or leave random love notes to each other.

No mess, just wipe and go—perfect for backseat picassos and little jokesters. Some boards are magnetic for even more options, like the Scribbledo magnetic kids whiteboard.

Super easy for tiny hands and our big imaginations!

Why Travel Activities Matter for Big Families

Traveling with a big family isn’t just about getting from point A to point B without someone losing a shoe (though, let’s be honest, that’s a win) but also about what to fill our time together. It’s about grabbing every tiny moment and making memories we’ll all laugh about for years. The journey itself is just as important as the destination, and keeping your kiddos engaged along the way makes the whole experience more meaningful.

Activities are our secret weapon—they turn chaos into connection and boredom into belly laughs.

Building Bonds on the Go

When we travel with all nine kids, activities help turn “Are we there yet?” into “Look what we did!” We love things that get us talking and working together.

Whether we’re playing travel bingo in the car or challenging each other to spot the weirdest roadside sign, these games naturally spark conversation.

Our favorite thing is splitting into teams for scavenger hunts. The littles get partnered up with the older ones, and suddenly they’re sharing inside jokes and cheering each other on. Simple toys like a small train can be passed around and shared among siblings, encouraging cooperative play and keeping everyone entertained during travel.

Sometimes we’ll set a goal—like who can find the strangest snack at a rest stop. It’s those silly moments that pull us closer.

Let’s face it, there’s magic in the little gremlins working together toward a prize (or snack). Those shared wins? They stick with us way longer than any souvenir keychain.

Keeping the Peace (and Your Sanity!)

Let’s be real: nine kids in a car or a hotel room can turn wild fast, especially before reaching our destination .

Good travel activities help redirect all that wild energy. Simple things like coloring books, audiobooks, or group games let everyone focus on something fun instead of poking each other (again).

We learned to rotate activities during long trips. Sometimes it’s a quiet story, sometimes it’s a full-on sing-along.

This keeps boredom and meltdowns at bay. Here’s a quick table of our go-tos:

Situation	Activity
Car rides	Mad libs, I Spy
Airports	Card games, Sketching
Hotel downtime	Charades, Movie night

And honestly, anything that cuts down on “Mom, he’s touching me!” complaints from the kids is a win in our parents’ book.

Creative Ways to Make Travel Activities Work with 9 Kids

Let’s be honest: keeping nine kids busy on a trip is not for the faint of heart, but we always hope for smooth travels .

We need to get creative, stay flexible, and find little wins wherever we can—especially in a confined space hello, tiny victories! Having a bag packed with a variety of activities makes it much easier to keep everyone entertained during the journey.

Customizing Activities for Different Ages

Not all nine kids come from the same universe (or, you know, grade or mood swing). We’ve got a wild mix to entertain!

The trick? Pick activities, like using pipe cleaners, we can easily tweak for each age group.

For older kids, stuff like reusable sticker books or simple scavenger hunts are a total hit. For example, you can adapt a scavenger hunt for younger children by using pictures instead of words, making it easier and more engaging for them.

Bring along a set of color cards and let them match objects they see out the window, or introduce some art activities .

Our tweens can level up to travel-size board games, word puzzles, or even help lead a group “Would You Rather?” game.

We totally recommend mix-and-match options, so everyone feels included.

Try using clipboards and clear storage bags to keep things organized for each kid.

Bonus: let the big kids “coach” the small ones, just like dad would ! It gives them purpose and saves us, well, some sanity.

Surviving and Thriving in Small Spaces

Nine kids in a car or van? We’re basically running a traveling circus.

But hey, we can rock it—if we plan ahead!

First, assign seats strategically. Try putting peacemakers between rival siblings.

Load up on back seat organizers so games, snacks, and water bottles stay within easy reach.

A cookie sheet works surprisingly well as a lap desk for magnet games or coloring, making it easy to carry in the car .

Take breaks—lots of them. Let the kids burn off steam at rest stops.

When it gets tight, hand out simple fidgets. Or just pass around a deck of cards for a quick group game.

No shame in bribing with a special treat if everyone uses their inside voices (well, most of the time).

Outdoor Fun: Exploring Nature and Cities on the Road

Let’s face it—sometimes the best way to keep kids entertained on a road trip is to get everyone out of the car and into the great outdoors. Taking breaks to explore nature or a new city isn’t just a sanity-saver for parents; it’s a chance for kids of all ages to burn off energy, learn something new, and make the trip way more fun.

For young kids, a stop at a local park, petting zoo, or farm with farm animals can turn a few hours on the road into a mini-adventure. Little ones love feeding goats, watching chickens, or just running around a playground. If you’re near a children’s museum, that’s another go-to for hands-on fun and learning.

Older kids might get a kick out of hiking a scenic trail, biking through a new city, or checking out historical landmarks. Many cities have awesome kid-friendly attractions like splash pads, trampoline parks, or even quirky local markets and festivals—perfect for stretching legs and soaking up some local culture.

Parents, don’t forget to pack snacks, water, and comfy clothes for everyone. A little planning goes a long way in making these outdoor adventures enjoyable for the whole family. And of course, snap plenty of pictures! Creating a scrapbook or digital album of your outdoor fun is a great way to relive those memories long after the trip is over.

Best of all, these outdoor breaks help cut down on screen time and keep everyone entertained and active. So next trip, search for a local park, farm, or festival—you might just discover your new favorite family tradition.

Recording Memories: Documenting Your Family Adventures

One of the best parts of any family road trip is looking back on all the fun you had together. Documenting your adventures isn’t just about snapping a few pictures—it’s about capturing the stories, laughter, and little moments that make each trip special.

Parents can start a travel journal or scrapbook to record highlights from the trip. Let your kids get involved by drawing pictures of their favorite stops, writing short stories about what they saw, or collecting souvenirs like ticket stubs and postcards. Even little kids can contribute with their own artwork or by helping to pick out photos for a family album.

Don’t forget to take plenty of pictures and videos—whether you’re exploring a city, hiking a trail, or just goofing off at a rest stop. These snapshots are perfect for sharing with family and friends, or for creating a slideshow or photo book when you get home.

Another fun idea: make a road trip playlist together! The songs you listen to will bring back memories every time you hear them. If you’re feeling techy, start a family travel blog or share updates on social media to keep everyone in the loop.

Encourage your kids to use their stories and drawings to create a presentation for school or a family gathering. Not only does this help them reflect on what they’ve learned, but it also builds a sense of gratitude and appreciation for all the adventures you’ve shared.

Recording memories isn’t just about the trip you’re on—it’s about building excitement for the next one, and creating a family tradition that will last for years to come.

Staying Comfortable: Managing Carsickness and Discomfort

Let’s be honest—carsickness can turn a dream road trip into a not-so-fun adventure real fast. But with a few smart tips, parents can help keep kids comfortable, entertained, and (hopefully) free from queasy tummies.

First, try to keep screen time and heavy reading to a minimum if your child is prone to carsickness. Instead, go for activities like coloring books, audiobooks, or simple games that keep little ones occupied without making them dizzy. Packing snacks and water is a must—small, frequent bites are easier on the stomach than big meals.

Dress your kids in comfy clothes and bring along a favorite blanket or pillow for extra coziness. If you’re in for a long car ride, plan to take breaks every couple of hours. Let everyone stretch their legs, get some fresh air, and reset before hitting the road again.

Some parents swear by over-the-counter remedies or natural solutions like ginger chews—just check with your pediatrician first. And don’t forget to keep the car at a comfortable temperature; a too-warm or stuffy car can make anyone feel worse.

A car seat or booster seat that fits well can also help kids feel secure and supported. And of course, keeping the mood light with fun entertainment—like coloring, stories, or music—can distract from any discomfort and make the trip more enjoyable for everyone.

With a little planning and these tips, you can help your kids stay comfortable and happy, making your next road trip a lot more enjoyable for the whole family.

Safety First: Road Trip Safety Precautions for Families

Before you hit the road for your next family adventure, it’s worth taking a few extra steps to make sure everyone stays safe and sound. Safety is always the top priority, especially when you’ve got kids along for the ride.

Start by checking the weather forecast and road conditions before you leave. Make sure your car is in tip-top shape—check the tire pressure, oil, brakes, and fill up the gas tank. A quick once-over can save you a lot of stress down the road.

For little kids, always use the right car seat or booster seat for their age and size. Make sure everyone is buckled up before you start moving, and remind kids to stay in their seats during the trip. It’s a good idea to go over basic road safety rules with your kids, so they know what to expect.

Pack a first aid kit and keep emergency supplies handy—think snacks, water, a flashlight, and a phone charger. It’s also smart to have important phone numbers saved, like roadside assistance and emergency services, just in case.

When you stop at rest areas or attractions, keep a close eye on your kids and be aware of your surroundings. Use a GPS or map to help you navigate unfamiliar areas, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

By taking these simple precautions, parents can help ensure that every road trip is not just fun and memorable, but safe and enjoyable for the whole family.