Hitting the road this summer? Pack top travel toys to engage kids!
For families with young children embarking on summer travel plans, we recommend having a selection of hands-on, screen-free toys from Melissa & Doug to make sure your kids are entertained and engaged while in transit.
If this summer will be your first time ever traveling with little ones, it’s critical to have a few thoughtful, engaging toys on hand to help younger kids manage their big feelings, avoid meltdowns, and help make lasting family memories.
But with so many toys to choose from, what are the best items to consider? The best travel toys share the following qualities:
✅ Smaller, self-contained items without a lot of pieces that can go missing.
✅ Something that fits your child’s lap while in their seat.
✅ Screen-free, hands-on toys that will encourage skill-building, purposeful play.
Scroll on to get the lowdown on a specially curated selection of Melissa & Doug’s top toys for kids to have THE most summer travel fun ever!
10 Top Toy Favorites for Summer Travel Fun
1. Water WOW! Take-Along Multi-Activity Drawing Set
Why It's a Great Travel Toy for Kids: This all-in-one, mess-free activity book is the perfect travel companion. Kids will love using the chunky, easy-to-fill water pen to reveal colorful pictures, then watching them magically disappear as the pages dry, providing endless entertainment.
Why It's a Great Travel Toy for Kids: Sticker WOW! is a whole new way to play with stickers! This innovative sticker stamper comes with a 24-page activity pad and 300-themed stickers for hours of creative fun. For a splash of summer excitement, check out the Shark theme, or go on an adventure with the new Disney Buzz Lightyear, Ariel, or classic unicorn designs.
3. Peek-a-Boo Berry Take-Along Toy
Why It's a Great Travel Toy for Kids: This adorable, plush strawberry is perfect for the littlest travelers. With its attached tether, it easily clips onto a stroller or car seat, and the hidden peek-a-boo mirror provides delightful sensory engagement for babies and toddlers on the go.
Why It's a Great Travel Toy for Kids: These reusable puffy stickers and themed backgrounds offer endless storytelling possibilities. The compact, take-along format makes them ideal for travel. Dive into an undersea adventure with the Mermaid set or enjoy some barnyard fun with the Farm theme.
Why It's a Great Travel Toy for Kids: Let your little one be the hero of their own adventure with this wearable backpack and mission-ready tools. It’s a great way to encourage imaginative play and keep PAW Patrol fans engaged during any journey.
6. Play to Go Ice Cream Play Set
Why It's a Great Travel Toy for Kids: What's summer without ice cream? This sweet, take-along play set lets kids scoop, stack, and serve their own ice cream cones. All the pieces fit neatly inside the sturdy container, making it a perfect treat for travel.
Why It's a Great Travel Toy for Kids: The original and still a travel-toy champion, Water WOW! pads are a mess-free, reusable coloring activity that kids love. Just add water to the pen and watch vibrant colors appear like magic. With a wide variety of themes to choose from, there's a Water WOW! for every interest.
8. Flip Fish
Why It's a Great Travel Toy for Kids: This cuddly fish friend is full of surprises! With multiple textures, a squeaker, and crinkly scales, it provides multi-sensory engagement for babies. Its soft, compact size makes it an easy and comforting companion for any trip.
Why It's a Great Travel Toy for Kids: These oversized sticker activity pads feature glossy, full-color scenes and a huge collection of reusable cling-style stickers. The Dress-Up and Vehicles themes are particularly popular and provide hours of imaginative, storytelling fun.
Why It's a Great Travel Toy for Kids: Spark creativity on the go with this all-inclusive jewelry-making kit. With four double-sided bracelets and over 100 sparkle-gem and glitter stickers, kids can design their own wearable art, making it a perfect activity for quiet travel time.
More travel games & activities available:
✅ Game On! On-the-Go Write-On Wipe-Off Activity Pad
✅ On the Go Secret Decoder Deluxe Activity Set
# # # # # # # # # #
For more great toy content from Melissa & Doug, follow the links below:
Shop Melissa & Doug Toys by Age
Shop All Melissa & Doug Pretend Play Toys
