Road trips, airplanes, and even trains can be great fun (for a little while), but odds are you’re going to be on your trip for longer than you care to be, and things can get a little boring. If you find yourself in this position, or preparing to fend off the drudgery of boredom, here are 8 travel board games you can take with you when you travel
Checkers
There are tons of tiny little chess sets out there, and even a few that are magnetic. While you might need slightly smaller hands to play this game, it’s still just as fun as the regular size. I highly recommend the magnetic travel board, though, especially if you’re traveling by car or rail. Bumps do not help you win at checkers!
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Boggle
While this isn’t exactly a board game, it’s the perfect travel companion for people who love Scrabble but don’t want to mess with all the pieces and long board. Simply shake up the letters, set a timer, and try to create as many diagonal words as possible. You’ll be amazed at how much fun it is, and you’ll take up barely any room in your pack.
Mancala
This Chinese marble game is tons of fun, and is a great travel game since many of the boards fold up on their own to contain the pieces with no hassle. If you want a simple game that you can pick up whenever and leave if needed, mancala is the right game for you.
Cards
You really can’t go wrong with a pack of cards, and you’d be hard pressed to find something that fits better in carryon luggage. You can stick to solitaire, or play a round of Go Fish, or gamble with your deck and play Blackjack. Whatever floats your boat and kills the time.
Trouble
I only recommend this game if the people around you don’t mind a little noise. Trouble is a board game that requires you to roll the dice by popping the centerpiece loudly, and moving pieces around a board. There is a great travel size, and it’s a great way to entertain children on a long road trip – just don’t drive your travel neighbors crazy if you’re on an airplane, bus, or train!
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Battleship
This awesome classic also comes in a great travel size with a case for easy storage, set up, and tear down. Because the pieces clip in like Legos, you don’t have to worry about bumps knocking over all your hard work.
Chess
If you can find a magnetic travel chess board, you’re in luck. Chess is both time and attention consuming to teach, and it appeals to people of all ages. The only problem is that there are so many pieces, so make sure you get a magnetic one so you’re not trying to find the Queen under your seat! Kids can spend hours learning strategy, and you won’t be bored!
