The Best Kids Travel Journal for 7-10-year-olds
1. Introduction
Last year, when we went on a road trip, my Daughter announced from the backseat, “This is the best thing ever!” (She was talking about a gas station donut, but hey, it’s all part of the travel adventure. 😅) That’s the magic of traveling with kids—their favorite things are often the little moments we adults overlook.
A kids travel journal is a great way to hold onto those wonderful experiences. Instead of letting them vanish into the haze of “remember when,” a travel diary becomes a treasured keepsake. Whether it’s a family vacation overseas, shorter trips to see grandparents, or long journeys across the country, kids’ travel journals help capture vacation memories in real time.
In this guide, we’ll talk about:
- Why every child should have their own travel journal.
- What features make the ultimate travel journal.
- Reviews of the best journals available today (including Lonely Planet Kids).
- Fun activities and DIY travel journal ideas to keep young readers engaged.
By the end, you’ll know exactly how to pick a vacation journal that turns your child into a little storyteller—with journal entries they’ll smile at for years.
2. Why a Travel Journal is a Must-Have for Kids
A child’s travel journal isn’t just a notebook—it’s a time capsule. Here’s why you’ll want to pack one on your next family trip:
- Builds writing skills: Journaling is an easy way to sneak in creative writing practice without the “homework” groans. Simple prompts and creative prompts make it fun, not a chore.
- Critical thinking & reflection: Writing prompts encourage kids to think about what they liked, learned, and even what they’d do differently.
- Encourages creativity: With colored pencils, stickers, or a glue stick for ticket stubs, kids can create a scrapbook-style vacation journal.
- Reduces screen time: Long travel days often mean endless requests for social media or games. Journals are a calm, screen-free alternative.
- Treasured keepsake for parents: Someday, that child’s travel journal filled with journal entries, drawings, and business cards from quirky cafés will be your favorite souvenir.
The added bonus? It gives kids something to do during long journeys, rainy afternoons, or while waiting at the airport or a train station.
3. What to Look for in a Kids Travel Journal
Not all kids’ travel journals are created equal. Before buying (or creating your own), here’s what to consider:
- Durability: A sturdy cover and spiral binding are best for road trips. The white version of some journals allows kids to decorate the cover themselves. You can also buy printable journal pages and use a binder to keep them together.
- Age-appropriate design: Younger kids need big spaces to draw and simple prompts like “What was your favorite thing today?” Older children may prefer more space for writing and reflection.
- Number of pages: Shorter trips may only need a slim journal, while longer journeys might require extra pages.
- Guided vs. open-ended: Some journals have structured writing prompts, while others are free-form for creative tools like doodles, maps, or bucket lists.
- Fun extras: A tab page to separate sections, packing list templates, or space for city guides can keep kids organized.
- Flexibility: The ultimate travel journal should have room for both writing and pasting in ticket stubs, gift cards, or even scavenger hunt checklists.
Think about your child’s personality—do they thrive on structure, or do they need the freedom to create their own travel diary?
4. The Best Kids Travel Journals
Here’s a roundup of some highly recommended kids’ travel journals:
- Best Overall: Lonely Planet Kids Travel Journal
- Fun, colorful, and packed with creative prompts.
- Great for young readers who want structure but also space to doodle.
- Perfect balance between guided sections and blank pages.
- Best for Younger Kids (ages 4–7):
- Look for journals with simple prompts and lots of drawing space.
- Many include fun activities like a travel scavenger hunt or coloring pages.
- They double as activity books during long travel days.
- Best for Older Kids & Tweens:
- Options that encourage creative writing, critical thinking, and reflection.
- Journals with city guides or space for bucket lists appeal to older children.
- A vacation journal with extra pages for their own drawings and ticket stubs keeps it flexible.
- Best Budget-Friendly (DIY Travel Journal):
- A plain notebook can transform into a child’s travel journal with a few supplies: washi tape, a glue stick, and printables.
- You can even add a packing list or tab page to make it feel more polished.
- A DIY travel journal is the best thing for families who want customization.
- Best Digital Option:
- Some apps mimic travel diary layouts and let kids add photos and short journal entries.
- Good for older kids who enjoy social media but still want a private, screen-based journal.
- Best for Creative Kids:
- Journals with built-in creative tools like stickers, maps, or white space for sketches.
- Encourage mixing in gift cards, postcards, or even business cards collected along the way.
5. Fun Ways to Encourage Kids to Use Their Travel Journal
Even the ultimate travel journal won’t do much good if it stays buried in the backpack. Here are some easy ways to encourage use:
- Set a daily routine: Journal together at dinner or bedtime. Capture one highlight from the day of the trip.
- Make it interactive: Add a scavenger hunt, bucket list, or tab page for “favorite things.”
- Parent participation: Keep your own travel journal alongside your child. Kids love to copy grown-up habits. On one evening of our last Interrail trip I asked my Daughter what was the best thing so far in our trip… “When we had to run and nearly missed our connecting train!” 😅 I defintely wrote this in my travel journal to remember!
- Creative freedom: Let them glue in ticket stubs, add doodles, or decorate with stickers. The best thing is to let them make it their own.
- Celebrate completion: At the end of the trip, let them share their vacation memories with grandparents. It’s an added bonus when kids get proud of their journal entries.
6. DIY Kids Travel Journal Ideas
Not ready to buy? Try these fun DIY travel journal ideas:
- Use a blank notebook and personalize it with washi tape, stickers, and a packing list printed from home.
- Add a glue stick, crayons, and extra pages for ticket stubs or gift cards.
- Slip in simple prompts like “Best thing I ate today” or “Favorite things I saw” for younger kids.
- For older children, include more reflective writing prompts and space for bucket lists or city guides.
The great thing about a DIY travel journal is that it grows with your child—you can adjust it for shorter trips or long journeys.
Takeaway
A vacation journal is more than paper and ink—it’s a memory-maker. For kids, it’s an easy way to capture wonderful experiences, and for parents, it’s a treasured keepsake you’ll look back on long after the trip.
Whether you go with the Lonely Planet Kids version, a DIY travel journal, or something in between, the best kids travel journal is the one that fits your child’s personality and sparks their excitement.
At the end of the trip, flipping through their journal entries will remind you that the best thing about traveling as a family isn’t just the destination—it’s the little vacation memories along the way.
