Whether it’s a road trip, a long flight, or an unexpected delay, the best travel games for kids help turn any journey into an adventure.
At Happy Puzzle, we believe the right game can make all the difference on holiday. That’s why our Travel Friendly Games collection is packed with compact, creative, and fun-filled options, perfect for keeping little ones (and not so little ones) entertained in cars, planes, airport lounges or even during the trip itself!
To make your next holiday even more exciting, we’ve handpicked 10 of the best travel games for kids. Each one is easy to learn, quick to play, and packed with replay value. From card games and brainteasers to creative challenges and guessing games, there’s something here for toddlers, tweens, and even adults who want in on the action!
10 Must‑Pack Travel Games for Fun‑Filled Family Trips
Travel season? Not quite complete without these 10 best kids’ travel games - they bring all the fun on every journey. Whether you're waiting in an airport lounge or passing time on a long car ride, these compact picks will have the whole family laughing!
1. IQ Minis
IQ Minis is a fun, clever game of spatial logic packed into a mini size. Kids love solving challenges using these portable puzzle cubes - perfect for quick thinking bursts during pit stops or post‑dinner downtime in your hotel room.
Age Range: 6+
Best When: Waiting at boarding gates in between flights, when you only have a few minutes to complete a puzzle.
2. IQ Jigsaw
Think of IQ Jigsaw as a travel version of a classic jigsaw, with mindbending pieces and patterns that exercise the brain. Great for older kids who enjoy using logic to create connections, and a refreshing way to stay entertained on long drives.
Age Range: 7+
Best When: Stuck in the car for long hours - no board, no mess, just puzzling joy.
3. Dice Deduction
A fun and challenging game that combines logic and deduction. In Dice Deduction, players use their reasoning skills to solve puzzles by figuring out which dice combination fits the given clues. With 60 different challenges, ranging from beginner to expert level, it's a perfect game for kids who love problem-solving. This compact puzzle is easy to pack and will keep kids (and adults!) engaged for hours.
Age Range: 10+
Best When: Chilling in the airport lobby or at a quiet spot by the pool, it’s the perfect non-digital distraction, challenging players to think critically while having so much fun.
4. Grecian Computer
A pattern‑matching brainteaser where you arrange symbolic tiles based on abstract rules, Grecian Computer challenges older players to use logic, connection, and deduction, all wrapped in compact packaging that will make your brains buzz.
Age Range: 10+
Best When: You’ve hit a mid-flight lull, you’re waiting to land, or the kids aren’t as thrilled with the “no talking” rule as you are - the perfect silent brain fuel!
5. Itchy Feet
This travel‑sized board game inspires a rush of giggles and is perfect when you have the travel bug. With Itchy Feet, travellers race to their destination, collecting cards by drawing, recycling, trading or stealing from other players, dodging pitfalls, and collecting quirky effects, especially fun for younger kids who thrive on silly outcomes.
Age Range: 8+
Best When: Waiting for the next adventure on the itinerary or needing a boost after a long journey - quick, unpredictable fun that lifts the mood instantly.
6. The Genius Collection: Genius Gems / Genius Square / Genius Star
A compact trio of our award-winning Genius Collection, if you’re looking for a competitive, fun game of grid-based puzzles, The Genius Gems, Genius Square and Genius Star are the perfect beginning, middle and end to a family holiday game night! Use logic, visual perception and clever placement strategies to outplay opponents across multiple variants.
Age Range:
Genius Gems: 8+
Genius Square: 6+
Genius Star: 8+
Best When: Everyone rallies together for family reunions, and teams of any size can dive into competitive puzzles that keep everyone hooked - and reveal who’ll emerge as the family genius! And don't worry, with hundreds of combinations and challenges, there’s no easy way to cheat your way through this collection!
7. Flip 7
Instantly addicting - players flip over cards in a race to get to 200 with Flip 7. It’s a great game that blends luck with light strategy and keeps everyone engaged - especially older kids who’ll love the fast-paced fun of this 20-minute card game before begging to hit the all-you-can-eat buffet!
Age Range: 8+
Best When: Stopping for meals during tours and sightseeing to get everyone pumped up for the next activity - quick rounds, big excitement.
8. One of Us
Ever wondered how your kids see you? One of Us is a hilarious twist on guessing games that keeps everyone entertained. Players pick who each card fits best - no questions, no discussion - and those who match the majority score the points. Perfect for older kids and adults who love the laughs that come from finding out who’s most likely to escape a desert island… or cause the shipwreck in the first place!
Age Range: 8+
Best When: Perfect for a day at the beach or cosy post-dinner vibes before bed. Interactive, social, and screen-free, it’s a game teenagers will absolutely love when they need to slow down and smell the roses.
9. Exit – Catan
A cooperative brain‑teaser escape room in a box - Exit-Catan has numerous challenges and mysteries that await you. Perhaps trade with the residents is possible to build out the island as you discover more resources but things may not be as simple as they appear. This one is perfect to bring a little intrigue to the quiet hours. Perfect for two players while the little ones dive into Unlock Kids - Stories from the Past and Mum and Dad escape for a romantic night out!
Age Range: 10+
Best When: The weather keeps everyone indoors, or the grownups are out for the night and the kids need a break from holiday itineraries. Deep, engaging, and immersive - escape room games bring all the fun straight into your hotel room.
10. Pick & Mix Quiz Cube
A trivia game built for teams on the go, with the Pick & Mix Quiz Cube, you pick your strongest categories, and the quiz master sees which team reigns supreme! Perfect for quick-play fun that keeps everyone’s brains ticking and laughter rolling.
Age Range: 14+
Best When: The food’s been “on its way” for over an hour and the kids are getting hangry. This is a game they’ll absolutely love - no setup, no dice to forget when packing up, just jump right in and play!
Tips for Choosing & Packing Travel Games
Picking the right travel games can turn a long journey into the best part of the adventure. Whether it’s a family road trip, a plane ride, or downtime by the pool, the right mix of games keeps kids happy and the whole trip running smoothly.
Picking the right travel games can turn a long journey into the best part of the adventure. Whether it’s a family road trip, a plane ride, or downtime by the pool, the right mix of games keeps kids happy and the whole trip running smoothly.
Match Games To Age
For younger players, simple challenges like matching games or collecting sets work best - Try Search and Find and Pear Shaped for quick wins that keep little hands and minds busy. Older kids and teens, on the other hand, tend to enjoy more depth, so pack a few strategy games, clever word games, like Word Snap XL or dice-rolling fun where a mix of skill and luck keeps everyone guessing.
Mix It Up
A good balance of fast-paced card games for short bursts and longer, more engaging word games for when you’ve got time to spare makes all the difference. Don’t forget to bring along one or two new games too - learning something together can be just as fun as the play itself, especially on your next trip when everyone’s ready for fresh ideas! Our Travel Games collection has exciting new creative and educational games like Deface Race and the Einstein Card Game.
Think Practical
Compact and portable is the golden rule. A travel version or magnetic set is ideal for the car or plane, where pieces can “mysteriously” vanish under seats or tables. Slim packs slide easily into a day bag, making them handy for quick play during meal waits, at travel services, or while you’re winding down after dinner.
Keep Variety Handy
Kids will tire quickly of the same routine and may become worn out from all of the excitement, so having different options is key to keeping them smiling. From classic guessing card games that need no setup, to playful challenges, and educational maths or word-based games, the variety ensures no one gets bored. Even better, rotating the options makes every round feel new.
Making Every Journey Memorable
With the right mix of fun travel games, keeping kids entertained is no longer just about passing the time - it’s about turning every trip into a chance to laugh, play, and connect. One clever guess, a roll of the dice, and a few rounds of a quirky card game, and suddenly little moments of a holiday turn into the best memories from a family adventure.
We know a child’s attention span won’t last forever counting red cars or watching the plane window. That’s why our kids travel games are designed not just to keep them engaged for hours, but to bring the whole family together. From quickfire road trip challenges to travel-sized puzzles you can unpack by the pool or in a hotel room, everyone gets a turn to shine. So pack light, pack smart, and don’t forget to pack a little fun with Happy Puzzle’s travel games!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some engaging travel games suitable for 10-year-olds during long journeys?
Logic puzzles and escape rooms such as Unlock Short Stories - In the Head of Sherlock, strategy card games, and fast dice challenges keep 10-year-olds hooked, turning every “are we there yet?” into wishful thinking for the next round.
Which travel games can effectively entertain 5-year-olds on the go?
The Smart Ball is a lifesaver for active 5-year-olds and it fits in your pocket for accessiblity and convenience, while the Memory Master has four captivating games in one. Kids love creative and curious toys and collecting quick wins along the way!
Can you recommend educational travel games for 4-year-old children?
Look for playful counting, shape, or memory matching games like Dobble Kids, where every correct match feels like a victory and even a wrong guess helps little ones learn.
What are the best travel games to keep children occupied on a long flight?
Compact puzzles like IQ Minis and Magnetic Math Rings, trivia, and card games fit perfectly on a tray table, keeping kids quietly engaged while you all hope the flight feels shorter for them than it does for you!
Are there compact arts and crafts games I can easily pack in my luggage?
Absolutely. Travel-friendly art and crafts kits and mini creative challenges like Search & Find - Disney Princess, Write & Wipe - Space Explorers and I Love Writing - The Adventures of Paddington slip into any bag, giving kids screen-free fun wherever your family adventures take you.