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Don't take anything with tons of tiny pieces and cards - they'll scatter all over your backpack on the road and you'll lose half of them. I learned that the hard way when a game box popped open on a train and I was picking pieces out from under the seats.
Games that only need cards or dice work best. Uno really is a solid choice, but I'd add Quackers or Imaginarium in the travel version - they've got simple rules, you don't need a flat surface, and a round takes like 15-20 minutes. There's also Munchkin in a compact version if you want something a bit more complex but funny.
The main thing is pick based on how fast you'll get bored, not how many components it has. On a trip you need games that don't drag on for an hour, otherwise you'll be sick of them after the second round.
Take classic Uno or Jenga - they take up minimal space and fun is guaranteed! I'd also suggest Bananagrams or Travel Scrabble - they play quickly and nothing gets lost.
The main thing is to check if the box fits in your backpack's side pocket so you don't squash it the whole way with your clothes. If the game is fragile or has tons of pieces, move everything into a small plastic container or a drawstring bag 😊 I usually take Kotelnitsa or Foliant - they're just cards, minimal components, and you can play them on your lap outdoors. Plus you can always throw in a regular deck of cards, it weighs basically nothing, and there are dozens of games you can play with it.
When I went on vacation with my family, I brought a few board games with me and quickly realized that compactness isn't the main thing. What matters is that the game doesn't require constant attention to the layout or surface. Uno is genuinely a lifesaver, but one time we played on a train and the cards kept sliding off the table. Set, on the other hand - a card puzzle with visual search - turned out to be ideal: you can lay the cards out on any flat surface, even on a blanket on your lap, and the game doesn't depend on vibrations.
I'd add some advice about word games with no components. Contact or Marshrutka only need paper and a pen, and they're entertaining for hours. I had a situation where a game with tons of pieces just didn't work for the conditions - in a car, everything kept rolling under the seats. Since then, I either take card games or ones where you need a minimum of pieces: dice, a few tokens max.
One important thing - think about packaging. If you want to bring something bulky, dump the contents out of the box and put it in a bag or pouch. That way you save space and nothing gets lost on the trip. Plus grab a notebook and pen - a universal backup in case you want to play word games or do rankings.
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