Are you getting ready to go on a road trip? Have you started making your packing lists and checking them twice? Do you have all the self-regulation tips saved on your phone to cope with the all-too-frequent “how much longer?” and “are we there yet?” inquiries on your journey? Well, this list is for you! After a few road-trip getaways with my kids, and frequent two-hour drives to visit family, I feel confident in telling you that these are the best road trip toys for kids.
1. Mini Magnetic Tiles
We all already love magnetic tiles and blocks at home, so why not grab some travel-sized ones? They’re small enough to use in the car, and even at restaurants while waiting for a table or food. You can also find sets that come in a handy magnetic tin, so you’ll always have a great surface for building! (For more magnetic fun, check out Clixo sets! They’re lightweight and don’t need a building surface.)
2. Foldology
This one is fun for adults, too! It’s not origami, but it is paper-folding. You get a sheet of paper with a broken-apart photo on it, but you have to figure out how to fold the paper correctly to get each piece of the picture in the correct spot. Each pack is numbered in order of difficulty, so don’t jump to the back unless you want to be frustrated. (Trust me!) This one is also for the slightly older crowd.
3. Audiobooks
Audiobooks truly are the best, and nowadays there are so many ways to listen to them! My favorite is with a Yoto player, but you don’t need a special device to listen to stories. Many of our local libraries have Playaway audiobooks, which are preloaded devices that only require a battery and headphones. If you’d like to listen as a family, pick out a timeless, crowd-pleasing story like The Hobbit, and have some family bonding time during your car-ride! (You can also check-out audiobooks from your library on the Libby and Hoopla apps for playing through your phone.)
4. Clipboard
One of my proudest, most-prepared road trips moments happened because of a clipboard with storage. I bought them for each kid, then filled them each with a new pack of markers, some favorite character stickers, and some free printable coloring sheets. Sometimes the simplest things can be the best things. For older kids, you can switch the markers out with colored pencils and find printable word games or mazes, instead. Either way, keep it a surprise so it’s extra exciting!
5. Activity Books
I keep a stash of these at all times. Here are some of my favorite activity books we’ve used for travel, coffee dates, doctor visits, read-aloud time, etc. Make this extra fun by letting them pick out some colorful pens, too!
- Wordle Puzzles for Kids– This is the classic Wordle game that took the world by storm during 2020, but in book form and for kids.
- Cluedle– This is a series of activity books for kids where they have to solve a mystery by solving riddles. There’s also the Murdle series, including Murdle, Jr., but since they involve more nefarious crimes, they may not be the best for more sensitive kids.
- Maze books- There is no shortage of these, and you can pretty easily find options for all skill levels!
- Sticker books- These sticker-by-number books are great, and my girls love these dress-up sticker books. Really, you can’t go wrong with stickers for virtually any age. (Seriously, I even have this one!)
- If you don’t know what your kids prefers, you can grab a book that has a little bit of everything, like this one.
What are your favorite ways to occupy kids on road trips without screens? Share them in the comments!
