Must-Have Travel Toys for Toddlers: Top Picks for 2024

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Are you planning on traveling with toddlers this year or next year? Keep scrolling for the best travel toys for toddlers on airplanes or road trips!

This post about the best travel toys for toddlers was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.

As we head into the holiday travel season, I’ve been doing a lot of research on the newest travel toys for toddlers that will keep them entertained and occupied.

As much as we want to bring all the toys they have to keep your toddler busy, we can only choose a few ones, especially when we’re flying. It’s best to find the most entertaining toys or sensory toys they have for longer hours of fun.

Plus, most of these are really durable. Some of these travel toys we have from our preschooler are still in good condition. 

However, we’re always looking for the best toddler travel toys to bring on our family vacations.

Here are some of our favorite toddler travel toys for 2024:

Road Trip Toys for Toddlers

Road trip travel toys are one of my favorites to shop for because it’s a personal preference. If loud toys don’t bother you, go for it! If you don’t mind a bit of mess, knock yourself out.

These toys for long car rides can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like. Your only constraint is room in your car. Oh, and something your child can do while sitting in a car seat.

Lunii Storyteller

One of the coolest toys we’ve discovered this year is the Lunii storyteller. It’s a screen-free device that will read stories to your kids.

It’s super easy for kids to use it all on their own. You can do it with or without headphones, too.

My preschooler has so much fun with it. His favorite stories are guided meditations, which are quite calming.

It’s geared for kids ages 3-10. It’s pre-loaded with a bunch of stories, and you can download more.

Fat Brain Toys MiniSpinny

When I was at MommyCon Vancouver a few years ago, I picked up this Fat Brain Toys MiniSpinny in their MommyCon shop. We already had the full-sized version, and I wasn’t sure we needed both. Until I tried it.

My kids LOVE playing with this simple toy, and my husband and I do, too.

It’s almost like an oversized fidget spinner. It’s perfect for road trips because little hands can grasp it, and it’s pretty durable. It’s also a great teething toy.

It’s one of the top toys we own.

Fat Brain Toys Pop and Slide Shelly

This is another one I picked up at MommyCon that’s also great for younger toddlers. There’s something a bit addictive about playing with the Fat Brain Toys Pop and Slide Shelly.

It’s great for car rides because it doesn’t make noise and is perfect for little hands.

Plus, you can easily tether it to the car seat. It’s another one of those toys I find myself playing with absentmindedly.

If you’re looking for portable travel toys for a 1-year-old, this one is my top pick!

Aquadoodle

The Aquadoodle is a great car toy for toddlers because it’s lightweight and mess-free. It’s perfect for road trips because kids can hold it on their laps while they color.

And it’s durable enough that kids can bend it or toss it around the car, and it will still work. Plus, it encourages imaginative play!

This is an awesome travel toy for kids that will last even into elementary school!

Magnetic Character Set

Magnetic toys are always popular toys for toddlers. This one is great fun!

Toddlers can create silly faces and stories to go with them.

I like that the magnets usually stay on the metal container, so they’re not messy. You can also use the magnets on metal surfaces at your hotel.

Plus, these toddler road trip toys are pretty quiet!

Travel LEGO Kit

If your toddler is into LEGOs, this is a great way to let them play with it on the road. This Travel LEGO Kit is an easy way to store LEGOs, plus it comes with a building surface.

You can also make something similar using a plastic diaper wipes container and this LEGO tape.

Airplane Travel Toys for Toddlers

The most important thing about finding the right airplane toys for toddlers is that they don’t make a lot of noise.

If they play music, rattle, or squeak, don’t bring them on the airplane. That’s for everyone’s sake. These are the toys that will drive you crazy after a few hours, and they will annoy your fellow passengers.

My advice is usually to leave anything with a battery out of your carry-on bag. Unless it’s something that your child can play with wearing headphones.

BUCKLE TOY “Boomer”

When I brought my youngest to Hawaii when he was 1 year old, he spent most of the flight trying to unbuckle and then buckle his seat belt.

He was going through that stage of wanting to learn how to buckle. Four months later, he’s still going through that stage.

That’s why this BUCKLE TOY “Boomer” would be so helpful on an airplane with toddlers. They can sit and work on 6 different child-friendly buckles during the flight.

And it’s small enough to stash in your diaper bag or carry-on luggage.

This is definitely one of the best travel toys for a 1-year-old that works on fine motor skills.

Lacing Beads Busy Bag

If you want a ready-made activity that can help develop fine motor skills, this Lacing Beads Busy Bag comes with beads and string. Now, some of the beads will probably get lost on the plane, but if you are okay with that, this is an amazing activity!

It’s perfect for toddlers and preschoolers because it works on their fine motor skills,

Plus, you can get cups from the flight attendant, and toddlers can sort the beads by color. Or simply put them in a cup and take them out again.

Also read: Simple Preschool Busy Bag Ideas for Long Airplane Flights

Fat Brain Toys Squigz Starter Set

Suction cup toys are so much fun on airplanes! This Fat Brain Toys Squigz Starter Set has mini toys that can be stacked into a tower or stuck on a window. Kids love sticking them together and popping them apart.

And the small size makes them super portable.

I suggest bringing just a few on the airplane and sticking the rest in your checked luggage to play with at the hotel.

These are super fun travel toys for kids of all ages!

Melissa & Doug Water Wow!

If you’re looking for an activity that has been a hit for years, try the Melissa & Doug Water Wow! You fill the brush up with water, and then your kid can “paint” the pages to reveal a colorful picture.

It’s also one of the best travel toys for toddlers in the car because it’s not messy!

We always have a water bottle when we fly, so it’s easy to refill the brush. The pages dry fairly quickly, so kids can repaint the same picture over and over again.

Wikki Stix

One of our favorite things to give friends who are taking their toddlers on long flights are these Wikki Stix. They are bendable, colorful wax sticks; kids can make endless creations.

We give them as gifts a lot because they are made of knitting yarn and food-grade wax. So, if one ends up in a kid’s mouth, it’s not the end of the world.

And when you are looking for the best travel toys for a 2-year-old, being non-toxic is always a bonus!

As kids get older, they can use them to learn their letters and numbers. Parents can be as hands-on (or hands-off) as they’d like.

Hotel Room Travel Toys for Toddlers

So, something a lot of families don’t think about is travel toys for toddlers to use in the hotel room. These can be great distractions while parents get ready for the day.

It’s also a great way to get kids to have some quiet time in between adventures or to quiet down before bedtime.

Children’s Play Rug

My good friend made us a Children’s Play Rug like this, and it’s been a lifesaver in hotel rooms. Our kids know where the play area is, and I like that they can play on the rug as opposed to the hotel carpet.

This one is a nice, soft toy because it folds up pretty compactly. It would also be good in an airport if you have a long layover.

Fat Brain Toys Kids Spinagain Toy

We first discovered this Fat Brain Toys Kids Spinagain Toy at Kidsquest Museum in Bellevue, WA. It was the most sought-after toy there; my kids couldn’t get enough of it. So, we bought one, and it’s a HUGE hit!

It’s a simple enough toy, but kids of all ages love to see the gears spin down the pole. Because it’s lightweight and durable, it’s great for packing in a suitcase.

Plus, the pieces are large enough that you probably won’t lose any in a hotel room.

Wooden Ramp Parking Garage Play Set

If you are driving to a hotel from your home, this Wooden Ramp Parking Garage Play Set is an awesome travel toy for toddlers to bring in your car.

My kids can spend hours sending the little cars down the ramp, and they think it’s hilarious!

It’s bulky enough that you wouldn’t want to pack it in a suitcase. But it’s also small enough to take you to a hotel room. It’s a great distraction for them while you unpack and get organized.

I recommend bringing a bag to put the cars in so they don’t get lost. This ramp works with most small cars, so you can change it up.

Remote Control Cars

If you have two kids, this Remote-Controlled Car set is for you! The cars run on different frequencies, so your kids can race them.

Someone gave my son a remote-controlled car for his birthday when we were in Vancouver, BC, and I was hesitant to open it in the hotel room. But it ended up being such a fun activity!

These are meant for little kids, so the remotes are simple, and the cars are made of plastic.

LEGO DUPLO My First Number Train

Really, any LEGO DUPLO set would be good for a hotel room. We like this LEGO DUPLO My First Number Train because my kids can’t get enough of trains.

I like that we can talk about the numbers and colors of the DUPLO bricks.

Plus, kids can push the individual train cars around or connect them to form one long train. And they can take them apart and put them back together.

This set is pretty lightweight and packs easily in a suitcase.

Melissa & Doug Reusable Sticker Pad

The Melissa & Doug Reusable Sticker Pad is great for hotel rooms because it’s quite large. It’s helpful if your child can sit at a desk or do them on the floor.

I like to separate the pages and just take them out one at a time with some of the reusable stickers. You may need to help your child peel the stickers off the first time.

If you want to take it on an airplane, I suggest just bringing one of the pages rolled up and a bunch of stickers. Your child can put the stickers on the airplane window or screen for hours of entertainment!

Original Gertie Ball

Does your toddler like to play catch but usually drops the ball? We first discovered the Original Gertie Ball at a Kindermusik class in Issaquah, WA.

It’s touted as the must-catchable ball for kids! It has a sticky surface that makes it easy for toddlers to catch and throw successfully. And it’s pliable so that toddlers can pick it up with one hand.

Plus, it’s inflatable, which makes it easy to pack up. It’s fun to play a game in the hotel room to burn off energy.

Transport Car Carrier Truck

As the Mom of two boys, we always have little cars with us wherever we go. Oftentimes, I fill up a gallon Ziploc bag with them.

But this Transport Car Carrier Truck is a fun way to store those metal cars when you take them to a hotel. Plus, the car carrier truck is fun to play with on its own!

Car Tape

If you are staying at a hotel or Airbnb that has a hard floor, bring along a roll of Car Tape. You can lay down some roads, and kids can race cars up and down.

Plus, when it’s time to head home, just pull up the tape for easy cleanup. It also works well on tables or walls. It’s an easy way to create a play area for your kids while traveling.

This is actually one of my favorite travel toys for a 2-year-old because it can keep them occupied for hours!

Hope you found some new travel toddler toys and plane toys to keep your kids busy! Best of luck on a safe and healthy trip!

Looking for more Toddler Travel Resources? Get my top tips for Cruising with Toddlers, Flying with a Toddler, KonMari Packing Tips, Disney Gift Ideas for Toddlers, and Toddler Travel Books! If you have younger kids, I also have tips for Baby Gear Items for Travel, Baby Travel Essentials, and Tips and Tricks for Flying with a Baby.

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