13 Tips for Keeping Kids Entertained on Long Flights and Road Trips

Traveling with children can transform from stressful to enjoyable with the right preparation. Long flights and extended road trips often lead to the dreaded “Are we there yet?” questions when boredom strikes. Having a variety of entertainment options ready can make the journey part of the adventure rather than just the means to reach your destination.

1. Pack a Surprise Bag

Nothing sparks excitement like the element of surprise!

Create a special bag filled with small, inexpensive toys, coloring books, or puzzles your children haven’t seen before. Wrap each item individually and label them with specific times or milestones during your journey when they can be opened. The anticipation of unwrapping a new gift helps break up long stretches of travel.

Dollar stores are perfect for gathering these treasures without breaking the bank. Consider including items that match your destination theme—like toy animals for a zoo trip or character figurines for a theme park adventure.

2. Download Kid-Friendly Movies & Shows

Smart travelers know connectivity isn’t guaranteed at 30,000 feet or on remote highways. Load a tablet or device with your child’s favorite shows and movies before departure day—not the morning of your trip when you’re already rushing.

Many streaming services offer download options for offline viewing. Choose a mix of familiar favorites and new content to maintain interest throughout the journey.

Remember to pack headphones (preferably volume-limited ones for little ears) and a portable charger or power bank. Nothing causes more disappointment than a dead device halfway through your travels!

3. Bring Audiobooks & Podcasts

Give eyes a screen-time break while keeping minds engaged with captivating stories. Audiobooks and kid-focused podcasts create a shared listening experience the whole family can enjoy together.

Adventure series like “Magic Tree House” or educational podcasts such as “Wow in the World” transport listeners to different worlds without anyone needing to stare at a device. Many libraries offer free digital audiobook borrowing through apps like Libby or Hoopla.

For younger children, look for interactive story podcasts where they can participate by answering questions or making sound effects. These active listening experiences make miles disappear!

4. Plan Snack Breaks

Hungry kids become cranky kids faster than you can say “rest stop.”

Pack a variety of healthy, non-messy snacks in individual containers that children can open independently. Fresh fruit, cheese sticks, trail mix, and granola bars provide energy without sugar crashes. Try freezing yogurt tubes or grapes (for kids over 4) for a refreshing treat that doubles as an ice pack for your cooler.

Turn snacking into an activity by creating a snack schedule with specific treats available at certain hours or milestones. This strategy prevents the entire snack supply from disappearing in the first hour and gives kids something to look forward to throughout the journey.

5. Create a Travel Bingo Game

Transform the passing scenery into an exciting scavenger hunt with personalized travel bingo cards. Create grids featuring items you’ll likely encounter on your specific route—farm animals for rural drives or skyscrapers for city flights. Laminate the cards so kids can use dry-erase markers to check off findings, making them reusable for future trips.

For competitive families, offer small prizes to the first player who completes a row or the entire card.

Beyond traditional bingo, challenge older children to spot license plates from different states or countries, keeping a running tally throughout your journey. This simple game encourages observation and turns mundane travel time into an adventure.

6. Use Magnetic or Sticker Play Sets

Magnetic play sets are travel miracles—entertaining without the frustration of dropped pieces disappearing into seat crevices. Magnetic dress-up dolls, building sets, or story boards provide creative play without making a mess.

Reusable sticker books offer similar benefits with scenes that can be created and recreated countless times. Look for themed sets matching your child’s interests or travel destination to boost engagement.

For airplane travel, cookie sheets from the dollar store make perfect magnetic play surfaces that double as lap desks. Their raised edges prevent pieces from sliding off during turbulence or sudden stops, keeping both children and flight attendants happy!

7. Pack a Mini Craft Kit

Creativity knows no boundaries—even in confined travel spaces! Assemble a compact craft kit with pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, washi tape, and pre-cut paper shapes that require minimal supervision. String beads onto pipe cleaners to make colorful creatures or bracelets. Origami paper offers endless folding possibilities from simple fortune tellers to animals.

Choose crafts that don’t require scissors, glue, or tiny pieces that could become choking hazards. Small metal tins (like mint containers) make perfect organizers for craft supplies and provide a hard surface for working.

The beauty of travel crafts? Children proudly create vacation souvenirs along the way, documenting their journey through their own artistic expression.

8. Rotate Toys

Less is actually more when it comes to travel entertainment! Rather than overwhelming children with all options at once, introduce just one or two items at a time. When interest wanes, swap them out for something new.

This rotation system creates the illusion of having an endless supply of entertainment while actually packing quite efficiently. Small toys like finger puppets, miniature cars, or collapsible toys maximize play value while minimizing luggage space.

Create mystery by wrapping some items in tissue paper or placing them in numbered bags to be opened at specific intervals. The anticipation of what comes next helps children develop patience—a valuable travel skill—while making each new toy reveal feel special.

9. Encourage Journaling or Drawing

Capture vacation memories through your child’s eyes with a special travel journal. Spiral-bound sketchbooks with blank pages offer versatility for both writing and drawing, while pre-formatted travel journals with prompts help guide reluctant writers. Pack colorful pencils rather than markers (which can dry out) or crayons (which melt in hot cars).

Encourage children to document daily highlights, collect ticket stubs or pressed flowers, and sketch landmarks they’ve visited. For younger travelers, create a simple template with prompts like “Today I saw…” or “The best thing I ate was…”

These journals become treasured keepsakes that preserve childhood vacation memories far better than souvenir t-shirts ever could!

10. Schedule Stretch & Movement Breaks

Bottled-up energy leads to restlessness and crankiness in travelers of all ages. Plan regular movement breaks every 1-2 hours during road trips, stopping at playgrounds or rest areas where kids can run, jump, and climb.

For air travel, walk the aisle when the seatbelt sign is off or practice airplane yoga with simple seated stretches. Create a movement challenge with tasks like “touch your toes 10 times” or “do arm circles until I count to 20.”

Movement breaks aren’t just for physical health—they improve mood and concentration for the next activity. Bring a small, packable ball to toss at rest stops or an inflatable beach ball for hotel hallway games when outdoor options aren’t available.

11. Play Audio-Based Games

No equipment needed—just voices and imagination! Classic games like “I Spy,” “20 Questions,” and “Would You Rather” build language skills while passing time enjoyably for the whole family.

Create collaborative stories where each person adds one sentence, building a tale that often takes hilariously unexpected turns. For musical families, singing games like “Name That Tune” or making up silly travel songs about what you’re seeing outside keeps everyone engaged. Alphabet games work well too—find objects beginning with each letter or play “Going on a Picnic” where each person adds an item in alphabetical order.

These simple verbal games strengthen memory, develop vocabulary, and most importantly, create shared family experiences that become part of your travel traditions.

12. Let Them Take Photos

Hand over a simple camera or old smartphone and watch your child’s perspective of the journey unfold!

Children naturally notice details adults overlook, capturing unexpected moments that often become favorite vacation memories. For younger photographers, durable kid-friendly cameras with wrist straps prevent accidental drops. Older children might enjoy themed photo challenges like “find something red” or “capture something that makes you happy” to guide their artistic exploration.

Set aside time each evening to review the day’s photos together. This ritual creates natural conversation about favorite experiences while reinforcing memory-making. After returning home, create a simple photo book featuring their best shots alongside their descriptions of the adventure.

13. Bring Travel-Sized Board Games

Magnetic, miniature versions of classic board games create screen-free entertainment perfect for airplane tray tables or hotel rooms. Many favorites like chess, checkers, and backgammon come in compact travel editions with pieces that stay put during turbulence.

Card games require minimal space yet provide maximum entertainment value. Teach classics like War, Go Fish, or Crazy Eights, or invest in specialized travel card games like Spot It or UNO that pack easily in carry-ons. For older children, logic puzzles like Rush Hour or compact brainteasers offer engaging challenges that develop problem-solving skills.

The social interaction of games creates family bonding opportunities while making wait times and long journeys fly by.