Best Travel Games for Kids & Teens for Family Vacations
Some of my best memories from family vacations when I was a kid are playing cards and other games with my parents. It was just such a treat and so different from the things we used to do at home. One of my favorite games to play was Pit. I still love that game!
When planning a family vacation, it's so easy to focus on flights, hotels, passports, and packing lists. But with kids, you really need to plan for the downtime.
Maybe you've arrived at your hotel a few hours before check-in. Your flight landed early, your room isn't quite ready, and your first excursion doesn't start until later that afternoon. Or perhaps you're waiting at the airport, taking a scenic train through Europe, enjoying a road trip, or simply relaxing before dinner after a busy day of sightseeing.
These moments are a normal part of travel, but they can feel much longer when you're traveling with kids or teens who are ready to start the adventure.
If you arrive before your room is ready, don't feel like you have to stay in the lobby. Many hotels are happy to store your luggage so you can head out for lunch, explore the neighborhood, visit a nearby park or beach, or simply relax with a game while your room is being prepared. A little flexibility can help your vacation feel like it starts the moment you arrive.
At Antidote Travel, we spend a lot of time planning unforgettable vacations around the world. While beautiful hotels and incredible experiences are often the highlight, we've learned that it's the little details that make family travel feel effortless. One of our favorite recommendations is simple: pack a few compact, screen-free games and activities in your carry-on. They're easy to pull out during unexpected downtime and can quickly turn waiting into quality family time.
Our Favorite Travel Games for Families
The best travel games are lightweight, easy to pack, and fun for a variety of ages. Many are available on Amazon and at retailers like Target, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, or your local game store.
Ages 5–8
These games are easy to learn and perfect for younger travelers:
Spot It!
A fast-paced matching game that's fun to play almost anywhere.
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
Silly, energetic, and guaranteed to get everyone laughing.
Happy Salmon
A quick game that's perfect for burning off a little energy before a long flight or while waiting for your room.
Sleeping Queens
A favorite card game that mixes luck, memory, and strategy.
Melissa & Doug Water Wow
Mess-free coloring that's perfect for airplanes, restaurants, and hotel lounges.
Travel Bingo
Turn your surroundings into a game by spotting airplanes, luggage carts, fountains, animals, or famous landmarks.
Ages 9–12
This age group usually enjoys games with a little more strategy while still keeping things fun.
UNO
A travel classic that's easy for everyone to join.
Pit
My personal favorite! Corner the market!
UNO No Mercy
A newer version that's become especially popular with tweens and families.
Phase 10
One of our favorite games for longer waits or relaxing evenings at the hotel.
Left Right Center (LCR)
Simple to learn, quick to play, and great for the whole family.
Pass the Pigs
Tiny enough to fit in a backpack and almost always gets everyone laughing.
SKYJO
A fast-growing family card game that's simple to learn and surprisingly addictive.
Flip 7
A newer card game that's quickly becoming a favorite for family game nights.
Kanoodle
A compact brain teaser that's perfect for kids who enjoy puzzles.
Mad Libs
Still a road trip favorite and a fun way to get everyone laughing.
Ages 13–17
Teenagers can be harder to entertain, but these games don't feel "too young."
Monopoly Deal
Dutch Blitz
Five Crowns
The Game
SKYJO
A standard deck of playing cards
Sometimes the classics are still the best. One deck of cards can provide hours of entertainment with games like Speed, Rummy, Hearts, Spades, and Crazy Eights.
Screen-Free Activities That Don't Take Up Any Space
Not every travel activity has to come from a game box.
These ideas are perfect while waiting for hotel check-in, enjoying a long layover, riding a train, or relaxing between activities.
Vacation Photo Challenge (Ages 8+)
See who can capture:
The funniest sign
The most colorful door
The best local dessert
A unique flower
The coolest hotel lobby
The prettiest sunset
At the end of the day, everyone votes for their favorite photo.
If your child or teen enjoys photography, consider packing an Instax Mini camera, a disposable camera, or a small point-and-shoot digital camera. It's a fun way to document the trip from their perspective, and many kids and teens love looking back at their trip through photos they took themselves. It gives them a different perspective on the places they visited and creates memories that feel uniquely theirs. Sometimes the best vacation photos are the ones they choose to capture themselves.
Twenty Questions (All Ages)
Simple, classic, and easy to play anywhere.
Would You Rather? (Ages 6+)
Make the questions destination-themed.
Would you rather explore a castle or snorkel with sea turtles?
Would you rather ride in a gondola or a hot air balloon?
The Alphabet Game (Ages 5+)
Find every letter of the alphabet using signs, menus, storefronts, or license plates during your travels.
Travel Journal (Ages 8+)
Bring a small notebook and encourage kids and teens to write down one favorite memory, sketch something they saw, collect ticket stubs, or save postcards from each destination.
Small Travel Essentials Worth Packing
Besides travel games, these compact items can make travel days much smoother.
Cameras: Instax Mini camera (Ages 8+), Disposable camera (Ages 8+), Compact digital camera (Ages 10+)
Games & Puzzles: Rubik's Cube, Magnetic Chess, Magnetic Checkers, Playing Cards, Puzzle Books, Crossword or Sudoku Books
Creative Activities: Mini Journals, LCD Writing Tablets, Reusable Sticker Books
Travel Comfort: Fidget Cubes, Portable Phone Charger, Reusable Water Bottle, Healthy Snacks, Noise-Canceling Headphones
A Travel Advisor Tip
One thing we always remind our clients is that your vacation doesn't begin when you open your hotel room door.
There may be a few hours before check-in, a delayed transfer, or an afternoon with nothing scheduled. Instead of seeing that time as "waiting," think of it as an opportunity to slow down and enjoy the destination.
Many hotels are happy to store your luggage before check-in, giving you time to enjoy lunch, explore the grounds, relax by the pool (where permitted), visit a nearby café, or take a leisurely walk around the neighborhood. If you're working with a travel advisor, it's also worth asking ahead of time if early check-in can be requested. While it can never be guaranteed, we'll always do our best to arrange it whenever possible.
Sometimes the moments you didn't plan become the ones your family remembers most.
Whether you're exploring Europe, relaxing at a Caribbean resort, discovering Asia, or setting off on a national park adventure, packing a few travel-friendly games and activities is a small step that can make the journey smoother for everyone.
Because great family vacations aren't just about the destination, they're about enjoying every part of the journey.
Bonus Tip: Let Them Pack Their Own Fun
If you know you'll be arriving before hotel check-in or have a long travel day ahead, let each child choose one small item to pack in their own backpack. Whether it's a favorite card game, a camera, a puzzle, or a sketchbook, having something they picked themselves makes the first few hours of vacation feel like part of the adventure instead of simply waiting.
About Krista
I’m a Virtuoso travel advisor based in Palm Beach, Florida. I attended the University of Notre Dame for undergrad and I have my MBA from the University of Chicago. Before building my travel business, I spent 20 years in the investment management industry and over a decade living and working in London, England. I’ve personally traveled to 80 countries and now design thoughtful, highly customized trips for travelers who value expertise, access, and a seamless experience.
I offer a complimentary 30-minute consultation for travelers considering a custom itinerary or luxury cruise.c
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