The 10 Best Travel Journals And Activity Books For Kids

From left to right: The Ultimate Travel Journal for kids, And So...The Adventure Begins, On The Plane activity book.

Family vacations are some of the happiest experiences that a child can have, but that doesn’t mean that executing a trip with children in tow is easy. Whether you’re flying, taking a road trip or simply exploring a neighboring city, keeping a little one entertained and engaged while in transit can be a challenge.

Luckily, there is one simple, affordable and screen-free way to keep kids interested in their surroundings and busy during travel time: a travel journal or activity book.

I was definitely an enthusiastic diarist on my childhood trips — I loved recording my family’s comings and goings, and what we’d seen, eaten and talked about. (I also made sure to note every time my siblings annoyed me.) I always used plain notebooks, but there are now plenty of travel-specific workbooks that are full of creative prompts and projects to stimulate the imagination and enhance the overall experience for a child.

Below, I’ve rounded up some of the best travel journals and activity books for kids from Amazon and Maisonette. Pick up a few for your smallest travel companions and keep them happy and busy as you embark on summer journeys.

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Amazon

"The Ultimate Travel Journal for Kids!" by Rob Taylor

Help your kids record some of their favorite travel memories with this book filled with activities and prompts. Suited for 6- to 9-year-olds, the journal is filled with tons of games and activities, from scavenger hunts and crossword puzzles to travel writing prompts and DIY souvenirs for them to enjoy long after their trip has finished.

$7.59 at Amazon

Amazon

"Kids' Travel Journal" by Mudpuppy and Sarah Hollander

This journal contains 128 pages to help your kid track every aspect of their trip, including blank space to fill with their own individual creativity. It's broken up into guided sections to help your kids document their trip, and is made with strong, flexible spiral binding that can withstand the rigors of travel. It's also full of Hollander’s beautiful illustrations. It's appropriate for kids ages 5 to 13 — in other words, suitable for your whole squad.

$9.99 at Amazon

Amazon

"Road Trip Activities and Travel Journal for Kids" by Kristy Alpert

Forget the iPad — this activity book and travel journal will keep your kids entertained for the entire length of a road trip. It’s jam-packed with over 100 games, puzzles, mazes, words games, journal prompts, scavenger hunts and more to keep children ages 7 to 12 engaged.

$7.99 at Amazon

Amazon

"And So The... Adventure Begins!" by Cherry & Pickle Publishing

This journal makes it easy for kids to keep track of their entire vacation. Each book has a cute two-page template with space for the date, weather and their mood. It also has room to doodle or write about the day, including a memory, what they've learned and much more. It has over 100 pages for kids to enjoy.

$6.99 at Amazon

Maisonette

"Summer Camp Journal" by Cheree Berry Paper

This pocket-sized volume is the perfect way for kids to quickly jot down what they've just seen and experienced. It also provides plenty of opportunities for longer journaling or drawing. It is filled with prompts, lists, stickers and more to keep kids entertained during travel or to record their camp experience.

$18 at Maisonette

Amazon

"Really Fun Travel Activity Book" by Mickey MacIntyre

This diary has a carefully curated roundup of fun coloring pages, mazes, jokes, riddles, quizzes and puzzles to keep your child busy and having fun. The brain teasers and prompts help to give them age-appropriate challenges that help to develop concentration, imagination and problem-solving skills. It's ideal for kids ages 9 to 11.

$6.99 at Amazon

Amazon

"On The Plane Activity Book" by Heather Alexander

If you're flying to your destination, you can help keep the adventure exciting for your kids with this activity book. It has a wide range of games and prompts to help keep little ones entertained both at the airport and on the plane. It includes planes to decorate, matching games, fill-in-the-face drawing tasks, behind-the-scenes, diagrams and true-or-false airplane and flying facts to explore.

$11.69 at Amazon

Maisonette

"On-The-Go Vacation Journal" by Kid Made Modern

This travel journal from Kid Made Modern is so much more than your everyday activity book — it’s actually a kit that’s chock-full of innovative interactive activities. It has guided prompts for recounting adventures, space to stash souvenirs and a coloring kit and journal. The whole set includes an accordion book with 20 pages, 12 markers and a fabric carrying case with zipper closure and handle. It’s intended for kids ages 5 and up.

$10.99 at Maisonette

Amazon

"Kids' Travel Journal" by Peter Pauper Press

Perfect for kids age 6 and older, this travel journal will get young travelers excited before they even set foot outside the home thanks to a trip planning section and packing list. It includes puzzles, games, maps and plenty of space to record everything kids see and experience. It's full of fun world facts, photos and illustrations that are as educational as they are entertaining.

$12.99 at Amazon

Amazon

"Activity Book for Kids 6-8" by Blue Wave Press

This colorful workbook includes mazes, tracing, coloring and much more to keep kids busy and entertained while sneakily teaching them a thing or two along the way. All these activities stimulate and inspire creativity while developing fine motor skills thanks to features like puzzles, practicing cutting skills, tracing and more.

$8.95 at Amazon