7 Oddly Easy Fall Crafts to Keep Kids Entertained on the Road

Family travel in the fall is cozy, colorful, and... sometimes chaotic. Long car rides or flights can test even the most patient little travelers. The good news? A few low-mess, fall-themed crafts can turn travel time into creative time. Here are 7 oddly easy fall crafts that keep kids busy without leaving glitter and glue all over your rental car or airplane tray table.

1. Sticker Pumpkins

Pack a stack of orange paper circles or foam cutouts and a sheet of silly face stickers. Kids can design their own “pumpkins” without scissors, markers, or mess.

2. Leaf Rubbing on the Go

Before your trip, collect a few flat leaves and pack crayons plus a small notepad. Kids can place leaves under the paper and rub the crayon sideways to make colorful fall patterns. Easy, contained, and screen-free.

3. Pipe Cleaner Critters

A handful of pipe cleaners = endless entertainment. Kids can twist them into spiders, turkeys, or silly creatures. Bonus: they’re reusable and don’t roll away like crayons.

4. Fall-Themed Coloring Packs

Print mini coloring sheets with pumpkins, leaves, or acorns before you go. Clip them to a travel clipboard or tuck them into a zipper pouch with a few crayons. No sharpener required.

5. Bead-and-String Bracelets

Pack a small lidded container with chunky beads and elastic string. Kids can make “fall bracelets” in the car or on a flight tray table. (Tip: Choose larger beads so they’re easier to manage on the go.)

6. Paper Bag Puppets

Bring a few brown lunch bags and stickers, markers, or googly eyes. Kids can make friendly scarecrows, owls, or pumpkins, then put on a puppet show from the backseat.

7. Pico Travel Tip: Pack It Small

Craft kits don’t have to take up much space. If you’re flying with the WAYB Pico Car Seat, slip a pouch of pipe cleaners, stickers, and paper into your Pico Travel Bag. Pico’s compact, lightweight design gives you extra room to bring along these little activities without overstuffing your carry-on. Fall family travel is about creating memories — not cleaning up glitter explosions at 30,000 feet. By packing low-mess crafts like sticker pumpkins or leaf rubbings, you’ll keep kids entertained and car seat safe while traveling. Pair these activities with the lightweight Pico Car Seat, and you’ve got comfort, safety, and creativity all in one trip.