All travel involves one thing most children simply cannot do, and that’s sitting quietly for a prolonged period of time. It’s the reason most people with children don’t travel far distances, and when they do, it results in extreme amounts of anxiety.
This list has the best roundup of travel toddler toys around. They’re mess-free, easy to pack, and age-appropriate. Shop them here.
If you have a long car trip or flight coming up, this backpack is a must-have for kids, packed with tons of mess-free activities they’ll love diving into during the trip. It includes tons of toys that are all in an easy to pack, clear backpack so they can see exactly what’s inside.
This is an awesome toy for kids to fidget with, made with super bright neon colors to catch their eye and keep them occupied. Each circle can be pushed and popped, creating a sensory experience that kids will love repeating over and over again.
This toy is super lightweight, mess-free, and involves kids learning a new skill, which makes it the perfect travel toy. The toy helps kids learn real-life skills like shoe tying, eating, zippering and buckling with the use of the Montessori learning method toy. It’s cheap and easy to pack too.
Cube sorting toys are great but typically not ideal for travel because the pieces can easily be lost. We love this option because each shape is attached to the base, allowing kids to practice fitting each shape into the appropriate hole without actually dropping or losing the pieces. It’s an awesome option that’s easy to travel with.
Instead of using real markers, kids can get the benefits of coloring and creating on the go with these Melissa & Doug coloring pads which use invisible ink to reveal the colors in each photo. Each book has 24 photos to keep children occupied for hours on end as they see the colors come to life.
This plush book is full of activities for little ones, with soft quiet pages that can’t be ripped or torn apart. Not only does is provide great interactive play, but the pieces are all secured to the book so you don’t have to worry about lost pieces over time. If it gets dirty it can easily be thrown in the wash and will come out looking as good as new.
Wikki Stix are an awesome travel companion for toddlers, giving them a mess-free way to create art. The waxy sticks can be bent into a variety of shapes and come in tons of colors for creative play. This travel set includes 144 Wikki Stix in addition to a 12-page activity book of ideas and illustrations.
Kids love to buckle, clasp, and zip, and this toy allows them to do it on repeat without disturbing those around them. It’s a quiet activity that not only keeps them entertained but also helps them develop their motor skills. Each buckle comes in a bright color to keep them even more engaged and excited.
Sometimes when traveling you need to pull out the big guns. Kids can access their favorite movies, tv shows, and music, all with easy to set up parental blocks. The best part is it includes a two-year worry-free guarantee: if it breaks, return it and they’ll replace it for free, no questions asked. This is huge.
This sensory toy is awesome for travel – with touch lights, songs, and mess-free doodling that can be used time and time again. If your kid’s don’t love their creation they can simply start from scratch. It’s safe and non-toxic, great for kids two years old and up.
When it comes to travel toddler toys, the best thing you can do is to pack quite a few. This product is 10 toys in one, giving you ample opportunities to switch things up when your inevitably kid gets bored.
Teach your kids the alphabet while you travel with this awesome toddler travel toy. It’s appropriate for children aged two to four years old with an easy to carry storage case.
Looking for a puzzle that will occupy your kids for hours on end? This magnetic puzzle is great, assuring that pieces won’t be lost along the way. It helps with development including spatial reasoning, hand-eye coordination and more. It’s easy to pack and a great price point for a travel toy.
This mess-free toy is great for kids of all ages and goes beyond some markers and paper. It includes one art desk, one ink pad, five color Wonder markers, 15-page paper pad, five themed stamps, and one stamper with interchangeable stamps. For the inexpensive price-tag, this toy is one you’ll definitely want to pack.
This is a classic toddler toy made specifically for taking on the go. Kids can sort and pop the shapes into the easy-to-zip bag, a great game to play again and again. It’s also lightweight and easy to keep the pieces together, a definite bonus.
This activity tray not only keeps toddlers occupied but also helps with the development of their fine motor skills. The soft felt wool board measures 11 x12.5 inches and weighs virtually nothing, making it an ideal activity for travel, including car and airplane trips.
Kids will feel like their sitting at a desk with this awesome travel tray. It’s perfect for long car rides, fitting easily over their lap. It’s sturdy and durable, with sides that keep everything from rolling off. Great for eating, coloring, and more.
Try to avoid hearing the phrase “Mom, I’m bored” with this awesome and inexpensive activity book. It has 22 games and activities inside and comes with a dry erase pen so you can use it again and again.
Just like adults, kids get bored easily during travel and need something to do with their hands. These toys are perfect toys for fidgeting in small spaces. With 22 pieces, they’ll keep a few children occupied even on long trips.
Toddlers love stickers. It’s a fact. This book is awesome because the stickers have a special adhesive material that allows them to stick to the pages of the book, but then be removed for additional uses, keeping this toy useable for more than one trip.
If you have a creative toddler, consider this magnetic drawing board which allows them to draw without the mess of crayons or markers. There’s no need to carry along paper either, as you can simply erase their creation and start fresh whenever they’re done.
This sensory toy is the perfect activity to bust out on a trip when kids are very bored. They’re they are hypoallergenic, non-toxic, and free of BPAs, phthalates, and latex. Our stretchy strings are strong, durable and safe for kids.
This is just like a fidget spinner, but for toddlers. Each side of the cube has something they can spin, push, move, tap or touch for endless play. The small size makes it easy to pack in a diaper bag or suitcase.
If you’re traveling by plane for the first time with your toddlers, they’re probably so excited by the whole experience and the idea of flying in the sky. These are the best toys for playing at the airport and on their airplane with three planes in each set.
My kids love these first 100 word books, and this one is made especially for travel. It comes with over 500 stickers for each page, helping kids to develop their vocabulary, even while traveling.
Headed on an adventure? Don't forget to pack some of these travel toys for toddlers to keep your little ones happy, entertained, and most importantly, quiet.
