Planning a summer holiday or a road trip with kids? Finding enough screen-free travel activities for can feel like a daunting task, but it’s totally possible! Whether you’re going on a long drive, flying with a window seat, or settling into a hotel room after a family vacation, there are plenty of screen-free activities to keep kids of all ages engaged
I’ve spent a lot of time figuring out the best way to make long trips enjoyable for my own family. Over the years, I’ve discovered fun activities that work for both younger kids and older children, and I’m excited to share my best tips with you.
Here are some great ideas for screen-free road trip activities to make your next car trip a great opportunity for fun and family bonding.
Affiliate Link Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All product recommendations and product opinions remain my own.
1. Sticker Books & Activity Books
If there’s one thing that’s always a big hit with young children, it’s sticker books! They’re a fun way to encourage creativity and fine motor skills while keeping those little hands busy. Activity books with puzzles, mazes, and colouring pages are also a great way to pass the time on long car rides. Reusable sticker books are a great open-ended activity as they can be re-used again and again.
Melissa & Doug Reusable Sticker Pads:
Habitats and Nature: https://amzn.to/41dd6i9
Make a Meal: https://amzn.to/4kaeD17
Adventure: https://amzn.to/3ERAZEu
Princess: https://amzn.to/4h7nNsA
2. Colouring Books & Water Colouring
Colouring is one of the best travel games for younger children, and mess-free water colouring books are perfect for travel. They only require a water-filled pen, so there’s no extra cost for markers or crayons, and they can be reused.
GALT Toys Water Magic:
Farm: https://amzn.to/43ddek4
Safari: https://amzn.to/4h54Arg
Under the Sea: https://amzn.to/3ETcrux
Monsters and Aliens: https://amzn.to/3EX5g4D
Unicorns: https://amzn.to/3XjAWaB
Water Doodle mats are also a great activity to throw in the back of a car or suitcase to entertain young kids while they’re away from home.
Ocean-themed water doodle mat: https://amzn.to/4hPkFCC
Aquadoodle Super Rainbow Deluxe Large Water Doodle Mat: https://amzn.to/3CZeNaW
3. Travel Board Games & Magnetic Travel Games
For older kids, travel board games and magnetic travel games are a great idea. They’re compact, fun, and easy to play on a flat surface like a travel tray or even a front seat pull-down table.
Hasbro Grab & Go Battleship: https://amzn.to/3QDc6Pw
Hasbro Grab & Go Monopoly: https://amzn.to/41ky26K
Abeec 3 in 1 Travel Games: https://amzn.to/4gY5Zju
The Purple Cow Magnetic Travel Chess: https://amzn.to/4ij2s0i
The Purple Cow Magnetic Snakes and Ladders: https://amzn.to/41Iycqd
The Purple Cow Magnetic Monster Factory: https://amzn.to/3XdMcVV
The Purple Cow Magnetic Car Race: https://amzn.to/3DcGDAr
4. Audio Books & the Libby App
One of my favourite ways to entertain the entire family on hour road trips is by listening to audio books. If you don’t want to buy them, check out your local library or use the Libby app for free downloads.
For children who don’t have their own device to listen to stories on and the adults don’t want to listen, I would highly recommend investing in a pair of these brilliant J-Lab wireless headphones for them. They’re really lightweight and easy to charge/use and very durable and you can play anything on your phone through them. They also have a maximum volume setting to ensure they will never damage delicate ears. We’ve been been very happy with the ones we got for our kids: https://amzn.to/43daxPN
5. Scavenger Hunt – A Fun Way to Keep Kids Engaged
A scavenger hunt is a great opportunity to turn your summer road trip into an adventure. Give your kids a list of things to find (like a flight attendant on a plane or a blue truck on the highway). Bonus points if they spot something unexpected! Scavenger hunts (or treasure hunts) can also be played indoors or outdoors during the holiday itself. Take the effort out of the planning with these great card sets from QUOKKA:
Quokka Scavenger Hunt Cards (INDOORS): https://amzn.to/43f8Npg
Quokka Scavenger Hunt Cards (OUTDOORS): https://amzn.to/3F84FwX
INDOORS & OUTDOORS: https://amzn.to/4hTh3Qd
6. Pipe Cleaners & Small Toys for Creative Play
For younger kids, pipe cleaners are a great idea—they can twist them into various shapes, make bracelets, or even create little animals. Small toys like figurines or cars also work well for a long drive.
Caydo 20 Pieces Extra Thick Pipe Cleaners: https://amzn.to/41vGHVl
Why not animate their creations with some goggly eyes or goggly-eye stickers?! These eyes will lead to hours of fun in any situation!
Eye stickers roll – 2000 pcs per roll: https://amzn.to/43x9YAz
Self Adhesive Googly Eyes: https://amzn.to/4hV5Rm7
7. Fidget Toys & Magna Doodle for Easy Access Fun
For younger kids who need to keep their little hands busy, fidget toys are perfect for travel. A Magna Doodle is also an excellent mess-free option that allows kids to draw and erase easily on a flat surface like a car seat tray.
Peppa Pig Travel Magnetic Scribbler pad with pen and 3 stamps: https://amzn.to/3D4D2EB
KandyToys Kreative Kids Magic Writer Magnetic Drawing Board with pen and shapes stamps: https://amzn.to/3Xj3OzW
8. Card Games – The Best Thing for Older Kids
If your family enjoys games, a deck of card games is one of the best travel games to pack. Older children will love classics like Uno or Go Fish, and they’re a good idea for entertaining family members of all ages.
Uno Card Game: https://amzn.to/3D6kzYg
Uno Card Game – Junior Version: https://amzn.to/3XhIbA1
9. Travel Trays & Flat Surface Play Areas
If your child loves to color or play with small objects, a travel tray is the best way to provide a flat surface for activities. It also helps keep everything within easy access.
COOLJOY Kids Travel Tray: https://amzn.to/4hWqz4V
10. Free Travel Activities – Good Behaviour Rewards
Sometimes the best thing about travel is making up your own free travel activities! Try these ideas:
Play “I Spy” or the scavenger hunt game.
Have a storytelling contest (who can come up with the funniest story?).
Use dot stickers to create sticker patterns.
Give out small rewards for good behaviour during the trip.
Final Thoughts: The Best Way to Enjoy a Screen-Free Road Trip
Whether you’re on a long car ride, a summer road trip, or a quick hour drive, these screen-free road trip activities will help keep the whole family entertained.
Remember, you don’t need DVD players or MP3 players to have a lot of fun on your trip. With a mix of activity books, small toys, fidget toys, magnetic travel games, and sticker books, you’ll create lasting memories without relying on screens.
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