Earlier this year I posted an Instagram photo of us playing Monopoly Game Star Wars
We find that having a variety of games in the trailer entertains the kids on rainy or quiet days, provides another option besides movies/TV, requires no extra power or electricity (great for boondocking!) and can be a great way for our kids to connect with other kids on the road when outside play isn’t an option. Shop travel-size games on Amazon.
Even if you don’t plan to travel full-time this list is great for spring break or summer road trips, camping, plane rides and just life-on-the-go!
Our TOP picks for family-friendly travel-size games ::
Travel Sequence
Probably our FAVORITE game!
Checkers – Take ‘N’ Play Anywhere Game
Toysmith Marbles in a Tin Box (160-Count)
Our kids love to play old-school marbles. It’s a great way to test out how level you are after you set up camp, ha!
Minecraft Card Game
We just got this one for Christmas and it’s been a great addition! Both our kids love Minecraft but we try to limit screen time – this card game is a wonderful alternative.
Monopoly Game Star Wars
The only not-travel-size game that we lug around. We found a vintage version at Goodwill last year and we really enjoy it.
Old Maid card game
Find this at your local Dollar store or Target store for under a few dollars
Games for older kids/adults
These are games we travel with but our kids aren’t quite old enough to play.
These are some of our favorite games that pack a LOT of fun into a small package – great for traveling families. We’d love to know – what are your favorite travel-friendly (read: small and compact) games!?!
And although some of these games would work well on long car rides we primarily entertain ourselves in the car with audiobooks thanks to our Audible membership! We listened to the whole Ramona Quimby series, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and the first THREE books in the Harry Potter series. Our kids love listening to the stories on long car rides.
As an Amazon Prime member you get your first THREE months of Audible FREE (with a FREE download each month) and then it’s $16ish a month and you continue to get a FREE download credit each month. We use our download credits for full series and I feel like we get a great value! Do you have favorite kid-friendly audiobook series? Please share!
The links in this post are Amazon affiliate links – when you shop through these links you support our family and ultimately keep us on the road! Shop travel-size games here.
Love this post! Introduced to some new games. We have the travel sequence and of course, Uno (always a fave here).
Just wanted to add, small travel sized games are also beneficial if you live in a small space (i.e. apartment) too!
Tracy – Good point! These would definitely be useful for those who live in an apartment or small house. Anything that takes up less space but still provides the fun is worth it, in my opinion. Thanks for commenting!
Oh, when you are checking at thrift stores keep your eyes open for the game Whoonu. This is one of our family favorites. It is mainly cards and chips so you could definitely get rid of the original box or tin and store it in a much smaller container.
It is about picking another person’s favorites and is a barrel of laughs. (Think, Grandpa is the person we are choosing favorites for and all I have left in my cards is pink cotton candy or princess tiaras, which one do I pick?)
It is also a conversation starter. One time we played with my young nephew and found out that he really liked playing mini golf more than we knew. We were sure to add more mini golf games over the following summers.
DH and I love all things Ramona Quimby. When we lived in Portland, our friends lived on Klickitat Street, which is where Ramona lives. We have a Ramona rag doll too. What device do you all use to listen to those books in the trailer? Just bought a motor home and are deciding what things to add to it.
Try sushi go! It’s a card game thst we love!!
This a game called Cathedral that’s amazing. You’ve got two colors of wooden “buildings” and you have to try and fit all your buildings in a square before your opponent. It’s a strategy game with problem solving skills, special recognition, thinking ahead, frustration, and glee when you block out your adversary! I have the travel version and it’s so worth it!
Hi Cassandra – Thanks for leaving a comment, I’ll look for that game!
Gosh, no Yahtzee? That is a family favorite and good for your age kids.