My kids used to journal on almost every trip. Not because I forced them to, but because I handed them a notebook and some markers on the plane and let them figure it out.
My youngest filled his travel journal with drawings of things he ate. My older one wrote in bullet points. Neither of them did it “right,” and both journals are things I’d grab in a fire. I value them that much.
I’ve kept a travel journal off and on for years myself. Nothing fancy, just a physical notebook and a pen. The entries aren’t polished. They’re useful, as I jot down a smell, a conversation, or the name of a street I want to find again.
The point was never to produce something beautiful. It was to remember.
If you’re traveling with kids and wondering how to get them off their screens and into the actual trip, a travel journal is one of the few things that has consistently worked for us.
What Kind of Journal Do You Actually Need?
A travel journal doesn’t need to be a special purchase. I’ve watched my kids turn hotel stationery into a journal. A composition notebook works, and so does a blank sketchbook or a lined notebook from the dollar section.
That said, a structured journal can help kids who freeze up in front of a blank page. Prompted journals, like my Summer Camp Journal, give them a starting point so they’re not staring at a plain white page.
A few worth considering:
- My Travel Journal by Lonely Planet Kids — well-designed, scrapbook-style, great for ages 6 and up. Lots of room to write, draw, and collage.
- The Ultimate Travel Journal for Kids by Rob Taylor — ideal for ages 6-9, with games and activities alongside the prompts. Good for a single big trip, and written by a very good friend of mine.
- GO!: A Kids’ Interactive Travel Diary by Wee Society — more visual, works well for younger kids or reluctant writers.
For tweens and teens who don’t want something that looks like a “kids’ journal,” a classic leather travel notebook or a blank Leuchtturm1917 gives them room to do their own thing.
If you’re looking for adult travel journals(yes, parents deserve one too) check out the travel journals and notebooks section of our shop.
What to Pack for Journaling
Your supplies don’t need to take up much space. I use a pencil pouch that fits in my personal item, and it covers everything we need. Here’s what I’d suggest:
- Crayons or colored pencils for color without mess
- Washable markers if your kids are young enough to make a disaster
- A glue stick for ticket stubs, maps, and wrappers
- Photo corners — cleaner than tape for photos
- Washi tape in a few patterns (great for borders and collaging)
- Gel pens in multiple colors for older kids who like writing in something other than pencil
- A small watercolor set and travel brushes if your kid is artistically inclined
- Glitter pens or glue for the child who will never, ever be talked out of glitter
- Small Post-It notes for flagging pages or adding little asides
You don’t need all of it. Pick the things your kid will really use, and leave the rest at home.
How to Set Up the Journal Before You Leave
If your child tends to freeze in front of blank pages, do a little setup before the trip. It takes ten minutes and removes a lot of the frustration.
Use Post-It notes as tabbed dividers and label each section with a prompt category: “things I ate,” “places I went,” “people I met,” “drawings.”
Or write a prompt at the top of every few pages so they know what goes there.
You can also print out a few mad-lib style pages and glue them in, or just write the framework by hand: Today I went to ____ and the best part was ____ and the weirdest part was ____.
It sounds simple, but that structure is enough to get most kids writing.
The other option: say nothing, hand them the journal and supplies on the plane, and see what happens. My youngest produced some of his best work this way.
50+ Travel Journal Prompts for Kids
These prompts work for kids of most ages. Younger children can dictate to you or draw their answers; older kids can write as much as they want.
My boys helped come up with the original list, which I have since added too, always thinking about what they’d want to tell their friends when they got home.
About the trip itself:
- Where are you going, and how did you get there?
- What did you pack? What do you wish you’d packed?
- What are you looking forward to most?
- What does your daily schedule look like?
- Do you prefer road trips or flying? Why?
- What’s one thing you want to bring home from this trip?
- Write about the best and worst parts of today.
- What would you change about the day if you could?
- How could tomorrow be better than today?
About the place:
- What’s your favorite spot you’ve explored so far?
- What does this place smell like?
- Describe what the people around you are wearing.
- What does the food here taste like? Any surprises?
- What’s one weird thing you ate today?
- What’s the most interesting thing you’ve seen?
- Did you hear any music? How did it make you feel?
- What did you see other kids doing?
- What would you tell a friend who was visiting this place?
About getting around:
- What kind of transportation did you ride today?
- Had you ever been on that type of transportation before? What did you think?
- What did you see from the window on the way there?
- Draw a map of somewhere you went today and mark your favorite spots.
About people:
- Did you make any new friends? How?
- If you could add one person from home to this trip, who would it be and why?
- Describe someone interesting you saw or met today.
- Sketch someone you met on your journey.
About animals:
- What animal did you see today? Describe it, then draw it.
- If that animal was your travel companion, what would it be like?
Creative and reflective:
- Write a poem about where you are right now.
- What’s the funniest moment of the trip so far?
- What’s one thing you learned today?
- What surprised you most about this place?
- What made you happy today? What made you uncomfortable?
- If you were writing a postcard to your best friend, what would it say?
- Write about your trip as if you’re a reporter covering a story.
- What’s one thing you’ll never forget about today?
- What are three words that describe this place?
- If you could live here for a month, would you? Why or why not?
The five senses:
- What did you see today that you’d never seen before?
- What did you hear that was different from home?
- What did you touch that was unexpected?
- What did you smell that you can’t quite describe?
- What did you taste for the first time?
Just for fun:
- What’s the weirdest thing that happened today?
- Do you have a stuffed animal or comfort item you always travel with? Describe it.
- Did you play any sports or games today? With who?
- What were you thinking about right before you fell asleep last night?
- Rate today out of 10. Explain your score.
- What do you want to do again before you leave?
- Write about something that didn’t go as planned. Was it actually okay?
28 Travel Drawing Ideas
Not every kid wants to write. Some kids process their trips through drawing, and there’s no reason to push them toward words if images are what come naturally. These sketching prompts work in any journal with blank pages.
- Draw the skyline (city buildings, mountains, flat plains, whatever is in front of you)
- Make a trail map of somewhere you hiked or walked, with your favorite spots marked
- Sketch the view from your table at a restaurant
- Draw what you see right now, in 30 seconds
- Illustrate a comic strip about something that happened today
- Find an interesting door, sign, or architectural detail and draw just that
- Sketch the scene at a crowded public space
- Draw what you ate for dinner
- Create a collage page using ticket stubs, wrappers, and found papers
- Put your own spin on a sign or poster you saw
- Draw the inside of your suitcase with everything still in it
- Sketch your outfit from today
- Draw an animal you saw as if it’s your travel companion
- Go out at night (if it’s safe) and sketch a street scene
- Draw something from the car or train window
- Find a leaf or flower and draw it larger than life
- Sketch the local market or grocery store
- Draw the view from your hotel room or campsite
- Doodle the icons or symbols that represent this destination
- Illustrate a random, weird thing that happened
- Draw the colors of today — just abstract shapes in the colors you noticed most
- Make a portrait of someone you saw
- Draw the transportation you rode today
- Sketch an architectural detail up close
- Draw what’s happening outside your window right now
- Create a “what I bought” page — draw every souvenir or small purchase
- Make a page of flags, road signs, or logos you spotted
- Draw the trail, waterfall, or landscape from a hike
A Note on Getting Kids to Do This
Don’t hover. Don’t correct spelling. Don’t tell them what to draw or how much to write.
The most important thing you can do is give your kids time, space, and supplies, and then leave them alone.
Quiet time after dinner or during the plane ride home tends to work better than in the middle of a busy day. Some of my kids’ best entries came from the plane home, as they recapped everything they’d already done.
If your kid is resistant, try journaling yourself in front of them. Kids are much more likely to do something they see their parents doing than something they’re told to do.
It’s also a good excuse to finally keep your own travel journal, which, speaking from experience, you will be glad you have in ten years.
For more on planning trips your whole family will really enjoy, the Twist Travel Mag travel shop has destination guides built for families who want real information, not generic itineraries.
And if you’re still in the planning stage, my free weekend trip planner and vacation planner checklist can help you get the logistics sorted before you even pack a bag.
Want to take it a step further? Learn how to create a watercolor travel journal on your next trip.
