100 Mess-Free, Stress-Free Travel Activities for Kids

What kid doesn't love tape? This activity book will keep your little ones occupied as they finish and embellish each drawing in the 20 page book with colorful tape strips. The pages leave empty white spaces so kids know where to place the tape. Not only does this help kids learn creativity, fine motor skills and coordination, but the pages are re-usable. Just peel the tape off and start again, trip after trip!

Stickers have always been a big hit with the kids in our family, so what's better than a reusable sticker book? This is great for little ones just learning to use stickers all the way up to those who have mastered the skill. Create fun cupcakes over and over - no two will be the same!

This is another great reusable sticker book option, especially if you have insect lovers. Little minds will get a chance to be creative as they use the stickers to decorate the butterfly's wings.

These sticker books use puffy stickers instead of the flat stickers and are suggested for ages 4-8 though I've found smaller hands can handle these well. There are other themes in this line of books so you can choose what fits your kids best.

These books are great for kids that are a little older and looking for a fun challenge. Each book comes with special tools to help solve the puzzles and has a mixture of different activities inside.

Make road travel less mundane with this scavenger hunt card game designed for 2 or more players. Searching for the objects listed on the cards will have the time spend on the road whiz by in no time!

Keep your next adventure full of fast-paced fun with the game Spot It. Great for players of all ages (including adults!), this game is a battle of who can spot the symbols first, and there are 5 variations of rules to keep it challenging. It's small enough to fit in a purse, so pack it along for a day at the beach, an evening at the restaurant or that long train ride. This version is also waterproof!

Mad Libs will keep your whole family laughing - even your teenagers! Grab a pen or pencil, fill in a few verbs and nouns, and get ready for a highly amusing story. My boys love these, and there's nothing better than hearing them laugh and joining in on the fun!

Driving games don't get much better than this! Fun for the whole family can be found on these glossy cards. Enjoy your children's laughter as they learn all of the road trip games you most likely played as a child - looking for all the state license plates, getting truckers to honk their horns, etc.

This is one of our favorite card games. My kids have enjoyed playing from the time they were about 7 years old. It does have some strategy involved but the cards don't take up a lot of space and it's ideal for playing anywhere you might be; plane, car or once at your destination.

Scrubbing marker off of tables, faces and clothes isn't my idea of fun, especially when on the go. Color Wonder is a great option for little ones just learning the skill of coloring, and the markers make a wonderful, mess-free option for parents. Color Wonder markers only work on the provided coloring book - no mess anywhere else! Pack it all up in this travel case, and you've got hours of entertainment ahead.

I love color by numbers, and this version offers thick, sturdy boards to color on, which is perfect for travel. At around $5, this is a great option for any budget!

If you have little artists in the family, Crayola's Dry Erase Travel Pack is a bargain you can't pass up. Filled with 16 dry erase crayons, reusable activity sheets, and both a crayon sharpener and eraser, you've got everything you need to keep little hands creating. Snap everything up in the pouch when done for easy transport and storage.

Melissa & Doug's version of water colors doesn't get much easier, cleaner or cheaper! A great budget activity, this book features fun illustrations for your child to color using a very chunky pen filled with water. Little hands will find the pen easy to use on the go.

We didn't want you to think Melissa & Doug only had a fairy-tale option of their popular water color books on the go. If your little one is more interested in animals than princesses, here's the version to buy!

A mess free way to still be creative. Wikki Stix allow kids to build and create whether you're on a plane, train or in a car. This is a smaller set that makes carrying and storing the toy easy.

If you like the idea of Wikki Stix featured above, you might also find the Wikki Stix Book of Wiggles, Squiggles and Curlicues to be of interest. Each page of the book features something that missing, and your child will be there with Wikki Stix to design that missing piece and add it to the illustration. It's a great way to introduce youngsters to this art option.

This Spirograph takes me back to my childhood! I remember hours spend doodling away on these handy toys, and now my kids (and yours!) can do the same. This travel version is designed to keep all tools inside the compact case for easy transport and play.

This magnetic tin is great for ages 3+ and brings to life the popular children's story The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Kids can set up their own play scenes with a variety of backgrounds and characters. All elements are magnetic making it easier to play on the go.

Some might argue Play Doh isn't mess free- you might be right however my kids LOVE play doh and are good about not making a mess. You'll have to decide based on your child. I like this set because it's relatively inexpensive and if we lose a few pieces or the dough gets used up on the trip it's ok not to bring home.