For the parents who love to travel and want to take their children on as many adventures as possible, this post of the best travel gifts for kids is for you. There’s a variety in here, from kits for road trips to journals for keeping track of all the memories made.
Sometimes the focus is on all the things that need to be packed to make it through the travel weeks ahead, but we may forget about educational items and outdoor activities to keep them busy once you arrive. There’s a little for every age in this post and if you’re looking for baby and toddler items that are great to travel with, you can check out The Best Baby Gifts for Traveling Parents.
I consider myself a pretty good gift giver; I hope you find this gift guide of travel gifts for kids helpful and enjoy some of them as much as we do. And this guide works great if you are looking for travel gifts for tweens too.
Related: Best Travel Gifts For Moms
Travel Kits For Kids
Erasable Doodle Book– The Doodle book is the perfect travel gift for kids, especially toddlers because it makes very little mess. The reusable board is easy to wipe clean with a wet cloth and comes with 10 washable markers.
Kids Travel Tray- Road trip anyone? The kids’ travel tray makes the best gifts for kids for Christmas or birthday gifts for kids who travel. This travel tray comes with a lot of pouch areas for kids to stow all their items to keep them active on your next road trip.
You can see our travel tray in use for a road trip here.
- Dry erase board and it can be used as an eating tray.
- Tablet stand to watch their favorite shows.
- Detachable cup holder.
- Mesh storage pockets with pen holders.
- Also can be used with a car seat.
- Various colors available.
Related: The Ultimate Beach Vacation Packing List (For Mom, Dad, and the Kids)
Kids Travel Backpack
Fjallraven Kanken Mini- The Kanken Mini comes with a lot of storage to pack what our pint size little ones need while traveling. It’s dirt-resistant, water-resistant and wipes clean.
Adjustable traps, 2 side pockets and 1 zipper front pocket.
Heys Kids’ Travel Luggage- The Travel Tots is a 2 piece set which includes a kid’s backpack and travel luggage. It allows your little one to feel like a big kid as they stroll through the airport with their backpack and luggage. It’s glossy and adorable, so they will receive plenty of compliments.
Kane Kids Travel- Kane’s Kids Travel is the best toddler backpack because of its standout designs. It has a back luggage slip sleeve. When your child is tired of carrying the backpack, just slide it onto their luggage.
- Zippered front pocket.
- The backpack can fit standard size school supplies.
- Water bottle pockets.
- Adjustable straps.
What’s even better is that when you purchase a STATE item, they’ll support American children and families in need in a variety of ways!
If you’re looking for a complete set as an idea for kids’ gifts, the travel bundle includes a suitcase and a Dopp kit.
- Good for families traveling with children 6-10 years old.
- Two inside pockets with elastic strap and a zip closure.
- Front pocket.
- Wheels that spin 360 degrees.
- Side strap to hold an extra item like a water bottle.
- Mesh pockets to store dirty clothes.
Benson Dopp Kit– The Benson will take care of all their toiletry needs.
- 3 Compartments
- Hanger at the top
- A snap-off pouch
And if you are looking for kids’ personalized luggage, all 3 the Kane Kids Travel backpack, Logan suitcase and the Benson Dopp kit can all be personalized with your child’s initials in 2 fonts and multiple colors, symbols and/or a pin.
Related: Easy Travel Savings Tracker Printable
Kids Luggage Tag
You may not think about luggage tags as an option for travel gifts for kids, but they will make for a great stocking stuffer during Christmas time.
Custom Name Tag– When you think about everything your luggage goes through when you’re traveling, then you know how important it is to have sturdy and quality items. This luggage tag is not only beautiful, but it’s also made of wood.
They engrave the name and design of your choice on the wooden name tag and the colored string of your choosing.
- 2.75 inches in diameter and ⅛ inch wood.
- Faux suede leather string.
Silicone Luggage Tag- These silicone luggage tags come in a set of 5 and 7 different color options. The silicone makes it a durable option for surviving the wear and tear put on luggage when traveling.
Another small gift for kids is a passport holder. The Petit Collage is a colorful and animal themed passport holder. It comes as a set, so you get a luggage tag too. The passport holder is 4 inches x 5.75 inches x 0.25 inches and fits a standard size passport.
Related: What To Pack In Your Pool Bag With Kids
Unique Gifts For Kids
World Map Coloring Tablecloth- An excellent choice for the kids to learn about their next destination is a fun coloring tablecloth. The countries on the tablecloth are drawn by hand, with landmarks from around the world.
Comes with 10 washable markers and measures 50 inches x 33 inches wide.
The entire family can take part, so it makes for a fun Christmas family travel gift.
Scratch Off Map For Kids- Another neat gift for kids is a scratch off map designed for children.
- United States map.
- Comes with 50 cards for each state and an animal on each card to represent each state.
- Scratch off supplies.
A cloth to wipe the map clean and a carry bag.
Fun Gifts For Kids
Light Up Drawing Tees- Kids want to draw on the walls, the floor and any other space they can markup including their clothes. With the light up t-shirt, they can do just that. Draw on their clothes without hesitation and enjoy the fun of glowing in the dark.
Laser Tag- Laser tag is probably one of the best gifts for kids looking to have a blast and a fun, active gift for kids. This is an impressive set for all year round activity and even better for local vacations when you can simply put it in your vehicle instead of taking up luggage space.
The set includes 4 guns, 4 vests and a charging station. All items can be charged at the same time. This one is recommended for the older kids ages 8 and up.
Need that travel toy for 10-year-olds? This is it!
Related: Disney Cruise Packing List For Families
Travel Games For Kids
Travel board games are fantastic travel gifts for kids to keep them busy while trying to get to your next destination.
- Tic-Tac-Toe
- Connect 4
- Kid’s card games such as Go Fish and Crazy Eights.
- Disney matching game for children 3 to 5.
Nintendo Switch- The Nintendo Switch will keep everyone entertained in your next Airbnb (or at home) and on the go by changing the system to handheld mode.
- Can play via TV, tabletop or handheld.
- Joy-Con controllers are included.
- Comes with Nintendo Switch dock as well.
- Battery life is 4 to 9 hours depending on the game played.
The Nintendo Switch also makes for a pretty awesome Christmas gift for kids.
Related: The Ultimate Printable Family Bucket List: Teens, Kids & Couples
Beach Vacation Gift Ideas For Kids
Personalized Beach Sand Pail- These beach buckets come in a variety of colors along with a beach inspired design on the front. A few examples you can choose from are a seahorse, starfish, anchor and a crab, to name a few.
Not only can you personalize your bucket with the name of your choosing, but the shovel will have the name on it as well.
Waterproof Camera- Waterproof camera is a terrific option for travel gifts for kids, Christmas gifts or even a fun kid’s birthday gift idea. With a water camera, they will capture some of their greatest water tricks.
This one functions as a video and camera and can be taken underwater up to 98 feet. Good for kids 3-12 years of age.
- Rechargeable.
- Up to 3 hours of usage.
- 32 GB SD card.
- Comes with a bike mount, helmet mount and fastening strap.
For more travel gifts for kids who love the beach, you can check out Must Have Baby & Toddler Beach Essentials.
Related: Camping Worksheets For The Little Ones
Outdoor Gifts For Kids
Toy Rocket Launcher– This is one of my son’s favorite STEM outdoor activities. It’s incredibly easy to use and pack up to take on the go. It’s also pretty fascinating to see their eyes light up when they can launch it high and far.
Comes with 8 different color foam rockets, launcher stand and launch pad.
Smartphone-Controlled Paper Airplane- This cool gift idea for adventure kids is for kiddos 14 years old and up. Because of course they have a smartphone! This unique paper airplane makes the best kids gift for the tech-savvy.
There’s a bluetooth enabled device which needs to be attached, an app to download and off you go.
- Takes up to 30 minutes to charge.
- 10 Minute flight time.
- 230 Foot range.
- 2 High-speed motors.
- Comes with 4 airplane design templates.
Kids Climbing Shoes- If you have a climber in the family, climbing shoes are the ideal outdoor gear for kids.
Related: Printable Flags of the World Flash Cards
Camping Gifts For Kids
- Flashlight
- 3 Mile range
- 22 Channels
- Batteries needed
You can see ours here.
Compass- Another great camping gift for kids is a compass. Send them off into the woods during that camping trip and let them find their way back. With an adult present, of course. ;-). Perfect to add to your kids survival kit.
Scavenger Hunt-A scavenger hunt to take care of the senses. Great for kids 3 years old and up and comes as a deck of cards. Children can work on their colors by going on a hunt for items that are yellow or orange, for example. They will also look for items that are thin, crunchy, soft or round. Have fun.
Binoculars for kids- The Obuby binoculars are best for ages 3-12 years of age. These are great for a camping trip, outdoor event, hunting or time spent outside looking at the stars.
They have soft rubber eyepieces for protection, non-slip for those little fingers and high resolution magnification of 8X with the 7.2 degree viewing angle.
Related: Toddler And Baby Headphones For Flying
Educational Gifts For Kids
Sign Language Blocks- Some of us start early on teaching our babies baby sign language. It was always so much fun and a joy to watch him catch on and actually learn ourselves.
These American Sign Language blocks help your little one learn the ABCs. With these education blocks, each one has the sign for each letter of the alphabet. The entire family can join in and learn the ABCs of American Sign Language. These are a phenomenal educational gift for toddlers.
DIY Root Beer Science Kit- This Root Beer science kit is for the bigger kids, 8 years and older and involves adult supervision.
What’s Included:
- Root beer extract
- Brewing yeast
- Funnel
- Bottle labels
- Instructions to follow.
An easy and tasty, fun science experiment for kids!
Foreign Language Blocks- If you are wondering what gift do you get for a 2-year-old? These foreign language blocks are one of the best educational gifts for toddlers.
My son absolutely loves switching over ABC mouse from English to Spanish, so these language blocks were an absolute must-have to continue on with his love for language.
Spanish blocks:
- The set includes 28 blocks.
- The alphabet.
- Three sets of numbers.
- 28 different animal pictures.
Mandarin blocks:
- Includes 32 character blocks equivalent to its English translation.
- Map of China, the Chinese flag and a yellow dragon.
Tablets
How much screen time you give your child to include digital tablets is every bit of a personal choice so if you are purchasing a tablet as a kid’s gift my recommendation would be to check with the parents first to be sure it will actually be used and not stuffed in a closet for months.
I’m speaking from experience because it’s what I did when someone purchased my son a tablet without asking if it was ok. Lol
Below, I’m listing two of the best learning tablets for 2-year-olds.
Amazon Fire 7- Hands down the Amazon Fire 7 kids tablet is the best toddler tablet out there. The Amazon Fire comes with a one year subscription to Amazon Kids+ with the ability to stream via Wi-Fi or things you’ve downloaded. What’s really cool is that you can do a combination of games, videos and books in Spanish and English. So if you are working on the Spanish language with your child, this is perfect.
- Parent controls.
- 16 GB
- Protective case.
- 2 year warranty.
- Up to 7 hours of usage.
- Screen size 7 inches.
Contixo V8- The Contixo V8-2 is another toddler friendly tablet. It provides a 1 year warranty, allows for Bluetooth function and comes preloaded with games and learning apps.
- Parent controls.
- 16 GB
- Protective case.
- Up to 10 hours of usage.
Related: 3 Days In Rome With Kids
Montessori Travel Toys & Travel Theme Toys
Montessori Busy Board- The Montessori Busy Board for toddlers is a great travel gift for kids whether you’re traveling by plane, train or car it will keep them entertained. It makes the ideal gift for traveling. There’s 10 sensory activities from shoe laces to opening and locking a door latch.
Montessori Quiet Book- A super cool Montessori preschool educational book to help teach daily activities. We all know if you’re flying, the last thing you want to do is bring a noisy toy on the plane. LOL This quiet book makes an ideal travel gift for kids.
The quiet book will help your child:
- Tell time.
- Tie shoes.
- Use a zipper.
- How to work with buttons.
- Put shapes in their proper place.
- How to work with a buckle.
- Identify different textures.
Comes with a bag so you can throw it in the washer.
Topper Takes A Trip– Kids get to use their imagination to take a trip to 5 different destinations, a packing list for each and lots of packing pieces to add to the suitcase for their next journey.
Related: Cruising With A Toddler Or Preschooler On Disney
Travel Journal For Kids
Last, a few travel journals to help your little ones document their travel journeys for everlasting memories.
Enjoy!
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