By: Blaze Aldrich | August 13th, 2025

12 Small Board Games Perfect for Travel

Traveling is the perfect excuse to pack light, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave fun behind. Whether you’re on a plane, in a hotel, or waiting at a café, these 12 compact board games are easy to carry, quick to play, and packed with strategy and excitement. From clever card games to dice-rolling gems, here’s an amazing list of travel friendly games that’ll keep you entertained on the go.

1. Azul Mini

Players: 2-4 | Playtime: 20-30 minutes

Why It’s Great for Travel: Azul Mini shrinks the gorgeous tile-laying game into a portable package. Players draft vibrant tiles to create stunning mosaic patterns, balancing strategy and aesthetics. The compact board and travel-friendly bag make it a breeze to pack.

Travel Tip: The cloth board rolls up, so it fits in a backpack pocket. Perfect for a quick game at a coffee shop.

2. 5 Towers

(B. Wereld, 2024)

Players: 2-5 | Playtime: 15-30 minutes

Why It’s Great for Travel: This fast-paced card game challenges players to build towers by stacking cards in ascending order while sabotaging opponents. The small deck and minimal setup mean it’s ready to play anywhere.

Travel Tip: Play on any flat surface, tray tables included! The quick rounds keep everyone engaged.

3. Arboretum

Players: 2-4 | Playtime: 25-40 minutes

Why It’s Great for Travel: Arboretum is a card game of tree-planting strategy, where players create paths of cards to score points while blocking opponents. The deck is tiny, but the decisions are deep and satisfying.

Travel Tip: Use the box as a discard pile holder to keep things tidy in tight spaces.

4. Codenames

Players: 2-8+ | Playtime: 15-20 minutes

Why It’s Great for Travel: This word-based party game pits teams against each other to guess their secret agents’ codenames based on one-word clues. The travel version’s small card deck is perfect for groups on the move.

Travel Tip: Play in teams at an airport gate for a lively group experience.

5. Lost Cities

Players: 2 | Playtime: 20-30 minutes

Why It’s Great for Travel: This two-player card game has you embarking on expeditions by playing cards in ascending order. Its small deck and simple rules make it ideal for couples or travel buddies.

Travel Tip: The compact box fits in a purse, and games are quick enough for a layover.

6. Just One

Players: 3-7 | Playtime: 20 minutes

Why It’s Great for Travel: A cooperative word game where players give one-word clues to help a teammate guess a mystery word. The small box of cards and dry-erase boards packs easily and sparks laughter.

Travel Tip: Play in a hotel room or train car, its cooperative nature keeps things friendly.

7. Mountain Goats

Players: 2-4 | Playtime: 20 minutes

Why It’s Great for Travel: Roll dice to move goats up mountains, knocking opponents back in this light, competitive game. The small board and handful of components make it a great travel pick.

Travel Tip: Use the box lid as a dice rolling tray to avoid losing pieces.

8. Love Letter

Players: 2-6 | Playtime: 15-20 minutes

Why It’s Great for Travel: A game of deduction and risk, Love Letter uses just 16 cards (in some editions) to create a courtly intrigue where players vie to win the princess’s favor. It’s tiny but mighty.

Travel Tip: Slip the deck into a pocket for a quick game anywhere.

9. Sea Salt & Paper

Players: 2-4 | Playtime: 20-30 minutes

Why It’s Great for Travel: This charming card game has players collecting sets of ocean-themed cards to score points. Its small box and simple rules make it a delightful travel companion.

Travel Tip: The origami inspired art is a conversation starter at hotel game nights.

10. Skull

Players: 3-6 | Playtime: 15-45 minutes

Why It’s Great for Travel: A bluffing game where players place coasters (flowers or skulls) and bid to avoid flipping skulls. The minimal components (just coasters and a mat) make it ultra-portable.

Travel Tip: Play on a small table or even a book for a tense, quick game.

11. The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine

Players: 2-5 | Playtime: 20 minutes

Why It’s Great for Travel: This cooperative trick taking game has players working as astronauts to complete missions. The compact deck and mini-tokens fit easily in a carry-on.

Travel Tip: Play a few missions during a long flight for a shared challenge.

12. That’s Pretty Clever (Ganz Schön Clever)

(Meeple Mountain, 2018)

Players: 1-4 | Playtime: 20-30 minutes

Why It’s Great for Travel: A roll-and-write game where players mark scores on sheets based on dice rolls. The small dice and paper pads make it perfect for travel, and it’s great solo or with friends.

Travel Tip: Bring a clipboard for stability when playing on the go.

Bonus: Flip 7

Players: 2-4 | Playtime: 10-15 minutes

Why It’s Great for Travel: This fast paced card game has players flipping cards to reach a total of 7 without busting. The tiny deck and quick rounds make it an ideal filler game for travel.

Travel Tip: Perfect for killing time at a train station or airport lounge.

Why These Games Shine for Travel

These games were chosen for their small footprints, quick setup, and engaging gameplay that suits a variety of group sizes and settings. Most fit in a pocket or small bag, and their rules are simple enough to teach new players on the road. Whether you’re traveling solo, with a partner, or in a group, these titles offer endless replayability without weighing down your luggage.

Pro Packing Tip: Use a small organizer bag or ziplock to keep components secure, and consider downloading digital rulebooks to save space. Happy gaming, and safe travels!