The best road trip drawing kit is small, mess-free and ready to grab: a clipboard or lap tray, colored pencils or crayons in a zip pouch, a pencil with a cap eraser, and one activity book per child. Add a few car-friendly drawing games and you have hours of quiet, screen-free fun.
What to pack
- A clipboard or lap tray. A firm surface is a must.
- Colored pencils or twistable crayons. No sharpening, no melting, no rolling (pick triangular ones).
- A pencil with an eraser. Keep one in a pencil case.
- An activity book per child. Bound books don’t blow around like loose paper.
- A small sketchbook. For free drawing and games.
- A zip pouch. For everything to go back into.
- Skip: markers without caps, glitter, glue and paint.
More in art supplies by age.
Which books work in the car?
- Ages 3 to 5: Trace Then Color. Big, simple pages; a bumpy road doesn’t ruin anything.
- Ages 5 to 8: How to Draw. Short lessons with a gray guide of the finished drawing on every step.
- Ages 7 to 12: Draw by Grid. Absorbing and quiet; one square at a time is easy at rest stops.
Car drawing games
- I spy drawing. Draw something you see out the window; others guess.
- License plate monsters. Turn the letters on a plate into a creature.
- Draw the next town. Guess what it’ll look like, then compare.
- Pass-the-pad story. Each person adds one drawing to a story.
- Road trip bingo. Draw a 3 by 3 grid of things to spot.
- Blind drawing. Draw your seatmate without looking at the paper.
- Map it. Draw the route with landmarks as you pass them.
See drawing games for kids for more.
Tips for a calm drive
- Ration the books. A new one after lunch feels like a treat.
- Mix it up. Drawing, then music, then a game, then drawing again.
- Watch for car sickness. Some kids feel queasy looking down; take breaks and look out the window.
- Hang the art. Tape finished pages to the window or the seat back.
Flying or eating out?
The same kit works for planes and restaurants. For a whole list of quiet activities, see quiet time activities and screen-free activities.
The book that helps
One book per child keeps a car trip calm. Trace Then Color for little ones, Draw by Grid for older kids; both work on a lap.
Trace Then Color: Cute Cartoon Animals
Draw by Grid: Cute Cartoon Animals
How to Draw: Cute Cartoon AnimalsAs an Amazon Associate, FirstArtBooks earns from qualifying purchases.
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Questions
What should I pack for kids to draw in the car?
A clipboard, colored pencils or twistable crayons in a pouch, a capped pencil and one activity book per child.
What are good road trip activities for kids?
Activity books, car drawing games, I spy, audiobooks and music. Drawing games work well for all ages.
Are markers OK for car trips?
Only with good caps. Colored pencils and twistable crayons are less messy.