Best Gifts for Kids that Travel

Finding good travel gifts for kids can feel a bit overwhelming. You want something fun, but also something they’ll actually use on trips — not just another toy that gets left behind at home.

Over the years, I’ve learned that the best gifts are the ones that make travel easier or more enjoyable. Things that keep kids busy on long flights, add a bit of comfort on the road, or spark their curiosity about the world.

So whether you’re shopping for Christmas, a birthday, or getting ready for an upcoming trip, here are my favourite gift ideas for kids who love to travel. These are things we’ve packed, tested, and used again and again.

Take a look, I’m sure you’ll find something perfect for the little traveller on your list.

Books as Gifts for Kids that Travel

Books are always high on our list. As an elementary teacher, and with a mom who was a librarian, it’s pretty much guaranteed that I’m going to recommend books whenever I can. These ideas work for different ages — from toddlers who love pictures to older kids who like flipping through an atlas on their own. And honestly, they’re one of the best travel gifts — they spark curiosity, keep kids busy, and are easy to pack.

Here are a few of our favourites.

World Atlas

An atlas is a must-have for any kid who loves learning about new places.
We’ve used two different ones:

• Basher Geography Atlas — small, colourful, and packed with fun facts. It’s our go-to before we travel somewhere new.
• National Geographic Kids Atlas — more photos and great for kids who like to flip through on their own.
• Lonely Planet Kids Atlas — full of fun facts, maps, and illustrations. This one’s great for kids who like learning about countries in a more playful, visually engaging way.

All three have been well-loved in our house, and they’re perfect for sparking curiosity before a trip.

5-Minute Stories

These books are great for travel days. They’re a bit bulky, but worth the space.

There are tons of themes — Disney, Pixar, Berenstain Bears, Daniel Tiger — and the short stories are perfect for bedtime in a hotel room or during downtime on busy days.

Most books have 12–18 stories, so you get lots of variety in one book.

I Spy / Look & Find Books

The boys started with the Look and Find books when they were toddlers and the I Spy books were also favourites.

They’re perfect for flights, road trips, hotel downtime, or anywhere you need something quiet and screen-free. We usually throw one into a carry-on.

👉 If you’re looking for more ideas, here’s our full list of the best travel books for kids.

Yoto Mini

This isn’t something we used when my kids were younger — it wasn’t around yet — but I bought one for a friend’s kids to use on a road trip to visit us, and they loved it.

The Yoto Mini lets kids listen to stories, music, and podcasts using simple audio cards, all without a screen. It’s perfect for long drives, flights, hotel downtime, or winding down at the end of the day. Kids love choosing their own cards, and it’s sturdy enough to toss in a backpack.

If your kids enjoy audiobooks or podcasts, this is such a great travel-friendly option.

Activity Books for Kids that Travel

Activity books are such an easy win when you’re travelling with kids. They don’t take up much space, they’re screen-free, and they’re perfect activities for road trips, flights, hotel downtime, or long waits at restaurants.

Here are the ones my kids loved over the years.

Water Wow

These were a staple on our early trips. You only need water, and the colours appear as kids “paint” the pages.

The Water Wow books dry quickly, can be reused, and are basically mess-free. We used them everywhere — planes, hotel rooms, even tiled bathroom floors when the boys were toddlers, and especially on our first trip to Italy.

The boys would pull them out as soon as we arrived at an accommodation, paint every page, and then leave them to dry while we went out exploring. By the time we got back, they were ready to use again. Easy, light, and worth every penny.

My First Paint

My First Paint books are a small step up from Water Wow, but still just water and zero mess.

Kids “paint” the pictures, let them dry, and you can even hang them up in your hotel room as a little travel art gallery.

These make fun little keepsakes to bring home or send to family.

Scholastic Sticker Workbooks

When the boys were in early elementary school, these sticker books were one of my go-tos for travel days. The boys loved the sticker activities and I loved that everything stayed in one book.

They’re great for practicing early skills, and anything with stickers is always a hit. No markers rolling around the car, nothing to spill, and everything is in one book. Perfect for planes and long drives.

Wikki Stix

Not technically an activity book, but they deserve a spot here.

Wikki Stix are bendable, reusable sticks that kids can use to make letters, shapes, pictures , really whatever they can think of. They’re mess-free, easy to pack, and last forever. We’ve taken them on so many trips because they keep kids busy for ages.

Highlights Activity Books

As the boys got older, they moved past the simple sticker books and wanted something a bit more challenging. The Highlights activity books were perfect at that stage.

They’re lightweight, easy to pack, and full of puzzles, mazes, word games, and those classic Hidden Pictures pages. Great for flights, restaurants, and quiet time in a hotel.

Games: Fun Gifts Kids Can Take Anywhere

Games make great travel gifts — they’re fun, practical, and perfect for keeping kids busy on long travel days. Whether you’re in a hotel room, camping, or waiting out a rainstorm, having a few go-to games on hand always helps.

Scrabble Junior

This one has been a long-time favourite in our house. We’ve had a few versions over the years, and this one actually folds up small enough to fit in the boys’ suitcase.

It’s held up through several month-long trips and still comes out on family game nights at home.

Chutes and Ladders

This was a huge hit when the boys were younger. They played it a lot, and it came with us on every trip for a few years. We took it out of the box to save space, and the fold-up board fit perfectly in a suitcase.

Chutes and Ladders is a great option for early primary ages, and even after playing it over and over again, they somehow never got tired of it. We’ve moved on from it now, but it was a favourite for a long time.

Story Cubes

I love these story cubes. They’re tiny, easy to pack, and perfect for downtime anywhere — airports, trains, restaurants, even the campfire.

Roll the cubes and create a story from the pictures. It’s simple but always fun.

Here’s some more great travel games for families.

Deck of Cards

We always travel with a deck of cards. It’s small, light, and you can play so many games depending on your kids’ ages.

When the boys were younger, Go Fish and Crazy 8s were our go-tos. As they got older, they moved on to Snap and Kings & Cabbages. And now they’re into rummy and crib, which makes cards even more fun to bring along.

And of course, there’s always a deck of Uno in our bag too.

Puzzles

Puzzles are a great gift for travel-loving kids, whether you’re packing one for a trip or choosing a puzzle that reminds them of a place they’ve visited.

We’ve travelled with puzzles before — we just take them out of the box, pop the pieces into a Ziploc bag, and they’re perfect for hotel rooms when you’re staying more than a night or two. It’s a nice quiet activity after a busy day of sightseeing.

Map puzzles are especially fun and add a little learning to the mix. Melissa & Doug has larger-piece versions for younger kids, and there are plenty of more detailed options, like this one, that’s perfect for older kids too.

Toy Gifts for Kids that Travel

These are the fun gifts — the ones kids get excited about — but they’re still practical enough to take on the road. All of these have travelled well for us over the years.

Magformers

I can’t say enough good things about Magformers. The boys got a basic set when they were four, right before a six-week trip through Eastern Europe, and they used them every single day.

They pack flat, they’re light, and they’re great for hotel downtime or long travel days.

Alternate option:
If you prefer something similar, PicassoTiles are another great choice, especially for younger kids who like open-ended building.

Lego

LEGO is always a hit with kids. And while it might not seem like the easiest thing to travel with, a small set work really well — especially if you pop the pieces into a little case or bag.

A basic set gives kids tons of building options without bringing a whole bin of bricks. Just avoid anything with tiny accessories unless you want to go searching under hotel beds!

Playmobil Travel Sets

These little Playmobil sets come in small cases that fold up with all the pieces inside — perfect for ages 4–8.

They’re great for imaginative play in restaurants, hotels, and flights, and the compact size makes them easy to pack.

Mini Figurines (Animals, Dinosaurs, People)

Mini figures are great to travel with, especially when your kids are in that imaginative-play stage. My guys always had dinosaurs and hot wheels (they came everywhere with us), but any small animals or people figures work the same way.

They’re tiny, easy to pack, and kids can play with them literally anywhere: hotel rooms, back seats, restaurant tables, sandy spots at the beach… you name it. And if one gets lost along the way, it’s not the end of the world.

If you’re shopping for younger kids, I’ve also rounded up the best travel toys for 2–3 year olds and for 4–5 year olds — both lists are packed with ideas that have worked really well for us on trips.

Gear for Kids that Travel

These are the practical presents, the presents that tick off the ‘something you need’ box, so you might as well wrap them up and make them fun. All of these have come with us on multiple trips and have actually been useful.

Flashlight

A flashlight might not seem like a travel item, but it’s one of those little things that’s surprisingly handy.

We first packed them for camping, but they’ve come in useful on trips too — especially for middle-of-the-night bathroom runs in hotel rooms when you don’t want to turn on every light. And kids love having their own.

Water Bottle

A water bottle might seem practical, but kids actually get pretty excited when it’s one that feels “theirs.” Bright colours, favourite characters, fun patterns — there are so many cute options now. My guys loved these Contigo ones that has a little snack compartment in the top.

We use them for flights, road trips, and long days exploring. Look for one with a loop or clip so it can attach to a backpack. That alone makes life easier.

Binoculars

This one is just fun. Kids will use binoculars anywhere, on hikes, at viewpoints, in hotel rooms, even on the plane looking out the window. It keeps them curious and entertained without a screen.

And honestly, kids love feeling a bit grown-up carrying their own pair. It gives them a “real explorer” moment every time they pull them out.

Camera

This has been one of the most-loved travel gifts in our house.

Kids’ cameras today are way better than they used to be — lighter, sturdier, and with real photo quality (not the grainy toy-camera images from years ago). Many come with built-in frames, filters, and a lanyard so they don’t get dropped.My kids loved having their own camera on trips, and it’s fun to see the world through their eyes when you look back at the photos.

Hooded Towel

This might seem like a bit of an odd present, but these are GREAT towels!

These microfiber hooded ponchos dry quickly, pack small, and come in a little carry bag. We’ve used ours on beach trips, pool days, and even as an extra towel in hotel rooms. They last forever and make a great practical gift.

Luggage Tag

A simple, fun stocking stuffer. You can find luggage tags in all kinds of themes — animals, sports, travel icons — and they make kids’ carry-ons easy to spot.

Kids’ Backpack

A backpack is one of those gifts kids genuinely love, especially if they’re getting a new one for an upcoming trip. It feels like a “big kid” moment.

My kids started with tiny backpacks for snacks and a blanket on the plane. Then moved up to 10L backpacks, and now they’re carrying larger ones with room for books, headphones, and all their travel treasures.

It’s a practical gift, but one they’ll use for years.

Subscription Gifts for Kids that Travel

Subscription boxes might not seem like traditional travel gifts, but they’re a fun way to keep kids curious about the world — even when you’re not travelling. They’re also great for building excitement before a trip or keeping travel vibes going at home.

Here are a few that we’ve tried or loved over the years.

Green Kids Crafts

This one isn’t specifically travel-themed, but it’s amazing for taking crafts on the road.

Each box comes with everything you need for several projects, which saves you from packing individual supplies. We used these a lot while travelling long-term — it was such an easy way to bring craft time with us without carrying a whole art cupboard.

Little Global Citizens

These boxes are based on different countries and come with hands-on crafts, activities, recipes, a storybook, and a guide for parents. You can purchase individual boxes or sign up for a subscription.

They only ship within the U.S., but if you’re there (or have family who can forward it), they’re fantastic for helping kids learn about other cultures in a really engaging way.

Little Passports

Little Passports is perfect for kids who love geography or are curious about the world.

They offer different subscription levels for various ages, and each box focuses on a new place with activities, maps, and small souvenirs. It’s a fun way to explore countries from home and keep that sense of adventure going between trips.

Shipping is available to the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand.

KiwiCo

While not specifically travel-themed, KiwiCo is one of those subscriptions that keeps kids curious and creative — which is perfect for families who love to explore. Each crate comes with hands-on projects based on science, art, or engineering, and they’re a great way to keep kids engaged between trips.

They’re a big hit in our house.

A quick tip: Subscription boxes make fantastic gifts from grandparents. They love giving something fun, educational, and a little different — and kids love getting a surprise in the mail every month.

Final Thoughts: Best Gifts for Kids Who Travel

I hope this list gives you some fresh ideas for travel gifts for kids. These are all things we’ve used and loved over the years — and they make great gifts for travelling families, too.

If you have any other favourites or gift ideas that have worked well for your family, feel free to share them in the comments — I’m always looking for new things to try.

Happy gift hunting, and happy travels!

For more family travel ideas and tips for travelling, be sure to check out these posts:

• Perfect Travel toys for 2 & 3 year Olds
• 10 Fantastic Toys for Travelling with 4-5 year olds
• Awesome Travel Gifts for Mom
• 10 Great Travel Games for Families
• Best Travel Books for Kids: Fun and Educational Books to Inspire Wanderlust