road trip games without equipment

8 Road Trip Games to Keep Everyone Entertained, No Matter Their Age

Whether you’ve got a car full of kids, adults, friends, or family, these road trip games will make sure everyone has a good time—no equipment required..

• Copy Link copied

Lots of road trip games are free and you don’t need to pack anything other than your brain and a sense of humor.

Courtesy of Getty/Unsplash

Road trips are as much about the journey as the destination. But even though a car gives you flexibility and allows for more spontaneity than a plane, train, or bus, boredom is bound to set in. That’s where games come in.

Whether you are hitting the road with a party of 2 or 10—or with kids or adults—here are appealing games that can help pass the time and keep the “are we there yet?” chorus at bay.

20 Questions

In this classic parlor game that transitions easily into the car, one player thinks of a random person, place, or thing and the other participants take turns asking up to 20 yes-or-no questions to figure out the answer through a process of elimination. Whoever gets the answer first starts the new round.

The License Plate Game

The goal of this quintessential road trip game is to spot at least one license plate from each of the 50 states. Participants can write down the states as they see them or check them off of a list. Have kids in tow? Print out a blank map of the United States for each tot and have them color in the states whenever they see a corresponding license plate.

Build a Story

You might not write the next great American novel on your road trip, but you can create a hilarious tale collaboratively. The first player invents an opening line and then everyone takes turns adding a sentence to the story. Keep it going for as long as you need to, whether it’s the next rest stop or your final destination.

In this game, players take turns choosing letters to create a valid word (so no picking “Z” after someone says “X”). But the catch is that you don’t want to be the person to complete the word. Any player who does complete a word is penalized by receiving a letter from the word GHOST: “G” for the first penalty, “H” for the second, and so forth. Players who receive five penalties—and therefore spell out the word “GHOST”—are eliminated until one winner remains.

Scavenger Hunt

A game that involves spotting specific objects during the trip might not be ideal for the driver, but the rest of the travel party can have a blast. Simply create a list of objects to look for beforehand and distribute it to each traveler. Make the game easy or challenging by choosing items that are really common or very rare. To add some randomness to the game, create a unique list for each participant. As with any scavenger hunt, whoever finds the most items wins.

Alphabet Game

A good choice for families traveling with children, the alphabet game is another road trip classic that involves looking for words on signs and billboards that start with each letter of the alphabet, beginning with the letter “A” until reaching “Z.” Players can simply yell out the word when they see it, and the whole group moves on to the next letter. Whoever spots the most words wins.

Interactive Podcasts

You may not be able to convince a game show host to join your road trip adventure, but your entire travel party can put their smarts to the test by pressing play on a trivia or brain teaser podcast like Good Job, Brain! or Road Trip Riddles .

Name the Passenger

As you make your way along the open road, keep an eye on passengers in the other vehicles around you. (Unless you are driving, of course.) Pick some passengers at random and have a discussion about what name you would assign to them and why. Some laughs are guaranteed.

20 Fun Car Games to Play During Your Next Road Trip

It’s a road trip! What is a better way to pass the time on a long road trip than playing games! Road trip games are the best way to pass time on long or short road trips. Games are not only fun, but they can also help you and your family or friends get to know each other better and add more joy to your fun road trip. Playing some fun car games also help to break up the monotony of driving without adding stress to an already stressful situation. You’ll keep all your passengers happy…and awake!

Let us break out the road trip games! Do you have a long drive ahead? Here are 20 games to play in your car. Whether you’re traveling with kids or adults, these games will keep everyone entertained and help make the miles fly by. The best part is, they take up no space at all – just use your imagination and creativity! Get ready for some serious fun on your next adventure, with these games for the road.

20 Fun Road Trip Games to Play in the Car

• 1) The Singing Game
• 2) Guess The Song
• 3) I'm going on a picnic, and I'm bringing

4) The Alphabet Game

5) what’s missing, 6) i’m not telling, 7) lucky number game, 8) would you rather, 9) alphabet guessing game, 10) what’s your story, 11) license plate game, 12) 20 questions, 13) past, present, and future, 15) storytelling, 16) who am i, 17) quotation mania.

• 18) What's in the bag?

19) Get to Know You

20) two truths and a lie, road trip games for couples, road trip games for two, road trip games no equipment, road trip games for kids, road trip games for families, homemade road trip games, 1) t he singing game.

Participants in this game have a blast singing and making up songs together. It is the perfect activity  for a fun road trip to do with kids as it involves both singing and music creation. What more could you ask for?

How to play the singing game: 

The best way to play this game is as a group activity, where all of the participants have some starting point and must sing on succeeding words or notes.

Who can play the singing game: 

Kids, adults, and even couples can all play the singing game.

2) G uess The Song

It is an activity that will surely give you a good laugh. The game tests your knowledge of music and lyrics! 

Put on Spotify, radio, or your favorite music playlist and see who can guess what song is playing from the clues. If they get it right, then that person wins! It works best when played by two teams.

How to play guess the song game: 

A round of music starts, and each member takes turns guessing what song it is before time runs out. The team or person that recognizes the song correctly gets points!

Who can play guess the song game: 

Anyone with an average knowledge of popular music (and lyrics) can participate in this game, including Road Trip Games enthusiasts.

3) I’m going on a picnic, and I’m bringing

It is a simple but hilarious game for a fun road trip that will have everyone roaring with laughter. The rules are very straightforward, and all you need is some paper to write the names of different foods on!

How to Play the Picnic Game: 

One person starts by saying, “I’m going on a picnic, and I’m bringing…” then they fill in the blank with other food. 

The second person would say, “I’m going on a picnic, and I’m bringing…” then they fill in the blank with another food that starts with the last letter of the previous food.

Who can play the Picnic Game: 

This game is for all ages, and it’s a great way to get kids into Road Trip Games. The more they practice playing, the better their social skills will be!

This game is another classic that will never get old.

How to play the alphabet game: 

Players take turns saying the alphabet, and each player must say a word that starts with the letter they land on when it’s their turn. If you have trouble thinking of words in time, try this trick – think about an object or category beginning with that letter. For example, if the letter is “N,” you might think of a noodle or an animal that starts with N!

Who can play the alphabet game: 

Anyone who knows how to count from 0-26 and recognize letters of the alphabet can join in on this game. Kids will love it when they get older because their vocabulary is sure to grow!

This game is a great way to keep your child’s mind sharp, and it’s enjoyable on long or short car rides!

How to play the what is missing game: 

As you are driving, pick an object that the players will see along the way, such as a stop sign or traffic light. Everyone has to think of three different instances where they have seen this item before (i.e., school, home, etc.). Once everyone has given their responses, make them guess which one is missing from the list!

Who can play the what is missing game: 

This game works best for kids because they will understand the concept of giving examples.

It is a fun and engaging road trip game for kids of all ages. It’s also great if you’re playing with adults because it will help them develop their memory!

How to play the I am not telling game: 

One player starts by saying something like: “I’m going on an adventure!” Then the next person has to repeat what was said before adding something new. The game goes on like this until someone messes up and says something that was already said!

Who can play the I am not telling game: 

This is a great road trip game for kids because they will love seeing how long their memory lasts!

This game is sure to make any car ride fly by because it tests your knowledge, speed, and agility!

How to play the lucky number game: 

Players take turns saying a number. Whoever says the next “lucky” number wins that round! If you accidentally say an incorrect number or go too slow, then you lose for that turn. The player with the most wins when playing this game is declared the winner.

Who can play the lucky number game: 

This Road Trip Game for Kids will keep them on their toes! Stick to counting by ones or twos to make it less confusing and easy for younger players.

It is a classic road trip game that you can play with friends or family. It’s also a great way to keep your child entertained!

How to play the would you gather game: 

One player starts by saying something like, “Would you rather eat 1000 hot dogs in one minute or drink an entire bottle of ketchup?” The other person has to answer and then ask their question. Make sure that the questions aren’t too challenging because some players may not understand them!

Who can play the would you gather game:

This game is best for kids at least three years old or older because they can comprehend more challenging questions.

This road trip game for kids will help them learn new words and how to spell!

How to play the alphabet guessing game: 

One player starts by thinking of a word, ensuring that it begins with the letter “A.” The other person has to guess what the first word is. Make sure not too many people are playing, so you don’t get overwhelmed! Continue going around in a circle until someone guesses the word.

Who can play the alphabet guessing game: 

This game works best for kids at least four years old or older because they can spell even longer words!

It is an enjoyable road trip game that helps players develop their imagination and creativity. It’s also a great way to pass the time!

How to play what is your story: 

One player starts by thinking of something that happened in their life, such as going on vacation. Everyone else has to ask them questions about what was said so they can figure out how it ends! The first person has to say whether or not they want someone’s question to be included in the story.

Who can play what is your story: 

This is a great road trip game for kids because it will keep them entertained as you drive! Make sure that they are old enough to understand what’s going on and how to tell stories, which is usually at least six years of age or older.

It’s a valuable road trip game because it will keep you entertained while also teaching your child how to spell!

How to play license plate game: 

One player starts by thinking of a state that begins with the letter “A.” The other person has to guess which one they are thinking of. Continue going around in a circle until someone guesses correctly. Whoever guesses correctly will be the winner.

Who can play license plate game: 

License Plate is a great road trip game for kids because it will help them understand how to spell! 

20 Questions is a great game for family road trips to keep your child’s mind sharp while traveling long or short distances!

How to play 20 questions: 

One player thinks of an object. The other players then take turns asking yes/no questions to try and figure out what the task is before time runs out. If you have trouble thinking of questions, try to include details that narrow down the possibilities.

Who can play 20 questions: 

This game works well with any age and is an excellent way for kids to learn how to think outside the box! The more creative they get with their questions, the better chance they have at winning. It’s also one of those games where you might learn something new!

Play this game while in the car to keep your child’s mind sharp and keep him entertained during long or short journeys!

How to play past, present and future: 

Think of something in the past (i.e., yesterday). The other person has to think of something that happens before what you said, such as last week. Then the third person has to think of something that happens after what you said. It’s like a game of clues!

Who can play past, present and future : 

This game works well with any age and is one kid will enjoy playing for years to come – especially when they get older because their vocabulary will be getting bigger every time they play it! The more creative they are with their answers, the better chance they have at winning.

Playing this car ride game on a long or short driving trip will keep your child’s mind active and keep them sharp!

How to play I spy: 

One person picks an object that everyone else has to spy. Then the player thinks of three clues for their friends, giving them a chance to guess what the object is before time runs out. If you have trouble thinking of clues, try to include details about the object that narrow down your options.

Who can play I spy: 

A fun game for kids of any age and teaches them to think outside the box! The more creative they get with their answers, the better chance they have at winning it. It’s also one of those games where you might learn something new!

People of all ages will enjoy playing this fun and engaging game. You’ll never get tired of playing this classic game.

How to play storytelling: 

One player starts telling a story. The other players then take turns adding their part (i.e., chapter) of the story as they go along. It may begin simple, but it will be sure to get more interesting as you go!

Who can play storytelling: 

This game works well with any age and is an excellent way for kids to learn how to think outside the box.

This game is a great way to get everyone involved and keep them engaged. It tests your knowledge of music, movies, TV shows, books… basically anything you can think of!

How to play who am I: 

The first person starts by saying “I’m from the ___series” where they fill in the blank with something they like. The next person must guess what that is, and then they say “I’m from the ___series.”

Who can play who am I: 

This game works best when played by small groups of people who have a wide range of knowledge of different topics! It’s also fun if you’re looking for some good laughs with your family or friends.

It is a slightly different car ride game because it uses quotations and proverbs! 

When someone finishes saying the proverb or quote, they must go in order. It’s an easy way to practice your knowledge of famous quotations without having to do any research.

How to play quotation mania: 

One person starts by saying, “You know you’ve been playing too much when…” then they fill in the blank with a proverb. The other person would say, “You know you’ve been playing too much when…” and must finish the sentence with another proverb that starts with the last letter of the previous quote or proverb.

Who can play quotation mania: 

This game is great for fun Road Trip Games enthusiasts of all ages. Parents can play this with their kids, and the whole family will enjoy it!

18) What’s in the bag?

It is a car ride game that everyone will surely love. It tests your observation skills and creativity! You can play this with kids or even by yourself, making it perfect when you’re on the go in a car.

How to Play what is in the bag: 

One person starts by placing an object inside of their bag. The next person has to guess what is inside of the bag by asking questions like “is it bigger than a bread box?” or “is it smaller than my hand?”

Who can play what is in the bag: 

This Road Trip Game is great for kids and adults alike, especially when you’re on the go! You don’t even need to follow a set of rules, so even when you’re in the car it’s easy to play!

This game is ideal for families who want to get to know their kids better while having fun at the same time. 

How to play get to know you: 

The rules are very straightforward – each person writes three things about themselves on a piece of paper.

The papers are collected, and the first person reads the first fact out loud, then follows with another player who has to guess who wrote it by asking Yes-No questions! The players have to take turns to guess until they figure out whose is whose.

Who can play get to know you: 

This game works best for kids and adults, and anyone can play it – perfect for Road Trip Games!

This game is perfect for getting to know your fellow Road Trip Games enthusiasts. It tests skills in social awareness, memory recall, quick thinking, creativity, deduction ability, and more! 

How to play two truths and a lie: 

The point of the game is that everyone has to share three statements about themselves, two are truths, and one is a lie. Then everyone else has the task of figuring out which one is false.

Who can play two truths and a lie:

It’s great for groups who want to get better acquainted with each other on a fun road trip! This game is a fun activity for all ages, and it’s a fun way to learn about your fellow Road Trip Games enthusiasts.

I hope you learned something new and now have a few ideas to help make your next road trip more fun. If you liked any of the games we mentioned, tell me in the comment section below which one is your favorite! Happy traveling everyone!

• The singing  game
• Storytelling
• Guess the song
• What’s your story
• What’s in the bag
• Quotation mania
• What’s missing
• Get to know you
• Two Truths and Lie
• The Alphabet Game
• Alphabet Guessing Game
• 20 Questions
• Two truths and a lie

Pin Road Trip Games for Your Future Trips

Jumana is a travel writer and technologist living in the United Kingdom, born and brought up in India. While she is busy with her full time job as a computer technologist, she is an active explorer during her spare time. She has been exploring states of India since she was 15 and then around the world since she moved to the west in her 20s. Her favourite travel style is “On the Road” and she has perfected the art of road trip planning, covering multiple famous and undiscovered routes around Europe, UK and USA. She is on a mission to road trip the planet and learn more about the cultures around the world.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Weeknight Dinners
• kid-friendly
• Side dishes
• Healthy alternatives
• Lunch Bunch
• Kids Activities
• Time Together
• Copyright and Disclosures
• Comment Policy
• California Consumer Privacy Policy (CCPA)
• Do Not Sell My Personal Information

Made In A Pinch

Making family life easier, healthier, & happier!

Car Games For Road Trips: 25+ No-Prep Screen-Free Activities

7/6/22 TThis post may contain affiliate links. We receive a small commission at no additional cost to you, and we only recommend products that we have and use in our own homes. For more information, please read our Disclosure Policy

Are you ready to REALLY enjoy a family road trip without listing to kids whining about being bored? Well, with these car games for road trips , you can! Try these must-play road trip car games to keep the kids entertained so the entire family can enjoy hitting the road.

It’s part of the American dream, right? Hitting the road on a family road trip is all about the adventure and making memories together.

Whether the entire family piles into an RV or the car, you get to enjoy the excitement of seeing different parts of the country together up close and personal.

These are the kinds of trips that kids talk about for years.

But one major downside for parents on those trips can be bored kids.

Use Car Games For Road Trips To Avoid Boredom

Have you ever tried getting out on the road hoping for all those laughs and warm fuzzy feelings that it seems like families have on road trips – only to be deeply disappointed when the kids get bored after 15 minutes?

Because once that happens you’ll be subjected to a constant stream of questions and whining. “When will we get there? Are we there yet? I’m hungry! I’m bored!” etc

Once that happens, no fun will be had by anyone in that car!

But I’ve discovered a way to prevent that!

We have taken several long road trips now, so we have some experience in keeping kids happy, and entertained, and building those happy memories.

It’s all about playing car games for road trips. 😁

The right road trip car games are the key to keeping everyone smiling and laughing as the miles whiz by! What kind of games? Well, good ol’ fashioned games that don’t require a screen, of course!

Are you ready?

Best Road Trip Games For The Entire Family

Whether you’re hitting the road to go see grandma or just out exploring the country, prepare yourself with this list of car games for road trips. Then, when anyone gets bored, you have some games “up your sleeve.”

Need other activity ideas so the kids can keep themselves entertained and you can enjoy the open road? Don’t forget to grab this Road Trip Activity Set for more ideas!

1. Twenty Questions

This was one of the main games we played when I was a kid, and we played it A LOT because my parents LOVED road trips!

My husband and I play it with our kids – it gives the kids a GREAT outlet for asking a bazillion questions at the appropriate time!

How To Play This Road Trip Car Game:

One person is “it” and thinks of a noun. Then other players take turns asking yes-or-no questions. The questions aren’t random – they should target the information needed to guess what the item is that the chosen person is thinking of.

Twenty Questions Car Games For Road Trips Tips:

• After a player asks a question and receives an answer, they have an opportunity to take a guess at what the mystery item is. Get it right? They win! Guess wrong? It’s the next player’s turn.
• If no one has guessed the mystery item after 10 questions , the “it” person can give the guessers a clue about the item (optional). We didn’t do this at first, but then we got tired of the kids picking totally obscure items that no one could guess!
• If no one guesses the mystery item after 20 questions, they lose.

2. The License Plate Game

Here’s an old reliable road trip game! I definitely played this when I was a kid on road trips with my family. 

Note : most of the time your kids probably won’t find all the states. However, if you hit a popular national park like Yosemite or The Grand Canyon, you can probably find all the states plus some cool bonuses (think: Canadian provinces, Mexico, or Native American Nations)!

How To Play This Road Trip Car Game

Have the kids mark down all the different states from which they see license plates on your travels.

They can just write a list (and then practice alphabetizing them) or grab my Road Trip Activity Packet and color in each state they spot a license plate for on the map.

3. Would You Rather?

My son is the king of this game. He loves to play it even when we aren’t on a road trip, so it’s a perfect fit for our annual 13-hour road trip drives!

The questions become pretty outlandish, so you’re pretty much guaranteed a few laughs with this game!

Each person takes a turn asking far-fetched questions with two different options to the family. Examples might include, “would you rather be able to fly or be able to swim without needing to come up for air?” or “would you rather bike for 50 miles or run 20 miles?”

4. Name That Tune

Pull this one out for music lovers! I love games that can be adapted for different ages and played in different ways so that it never gets boring – and this game fits the bill.

How To Play This Road Trip car Game

Players take turns singing song lyrics or humming a tune. The other players try to guess the name of the song. Another option is to guess the singer. If anyone guesses both the song and singer, they get bonus points!

Adapting this game for kids of different ages is simple. When you play with younger kids, use familiar kid songs. When playing with older kids, go for popular radio songs.

5. Alphabet Memory Game 

Here’s a way to practice those letter skills – with an added bonus. This A-Z alphabet game challenges players’ memories in addition to their alphabet skills!

Decide who plays in what order then follow this method. The first player starts with “A is for…” and completes the statement. The second player repeats the process with the next letter, saying “B is for” but must repeat what the player says for “A” first. So they should say, “A is for…B is for…”

Repeat this same process through the complete alphabet. It will get harder as you get further through the alphabet! If anyone gets all of the items for all the letters right by the time you get to “Z,” they win!

NOTE : When playing with young kids, keep in mind that both their alphabet skills and memory skills may not be up to the task of doing the entire alphabet.

A good way to play with younger kids is to choose a letter to stop. Depending on how old your kids are, they may be able to do 4 or 5 letters, or they may be able to get to “L” or “M”.

6. The Alphabet Race

How about turning sibling rivalry into a friendly competition with a positive purpose? Grab a piece of paper and work on letter and spelling skills.

One person looks at the left side of the road while someone else looks at the right side of the road. Each player looks at trucks, signs, license plates, anything to find the letters of the alphabet.

Whoever finds every letter of the alphabet is the winner! There’s just one small catch: the letters have to be found in alphabetical order.

7. Story Telling

Here’s a game to boost creativity! You can do this activity in a couple of different ways, which reduces the fatigue factor and makes the time pass faster.

Choose a storyteller. The chosen storyteller comes up with a story on the spot. The type of story doesn’t matter – it can be any completely fictional story.

This activity can be highly entertaining and even funny – and it works on building storytelling skills at the same time. Help your kids build good storytelling skills by asking for any missing elements you would expect in a good story: beginning, problem, how to solve the problem/climax, and resolution.

This activity will likely be short and sweet with younger kids, while older children will be more likely to weave creative tales that will hold your attention.

Grab my Road Trip Activity Packet and continue the fun as you travel miles down the road without one single complaint!

8. Mad Libs-Style Story Telling

If you’ve been through a few rounds of storytelling and want to change things up, add a twist by turning the stories into Mad Libs stories.

Instead of having one person tell a story from beginning to end, this will be more round-robin style.

One person begins the story by saying “Once upon a time…” and introduces the main character. Each person takes a turn adding the next sentence of the story.

Keep going through the family until the story naturally comes to an end. If you have a family member who can drag things out until it’s just not enjoyable anymore, create an ending point. This might be a set number of sentences each person can add or a time limit.

9. Road Trip Bingo

I’ve never been around kids playing Bingo who were bored! Doubt me? Just download and watch kids playing my:

• Halloween Bingo
• Christmas Bingo
• Valentine’s Day Bingo

There’s no doubt bout it – Bingo is tons of fun and will keep kids occupied for quite a while as you head down the road. But to play it, you’ll need these free Bingo boards , which are part of my comprehensive Road Trip Activity Packet .

Give a Bingo card to each player. Then every player watches for items on the card as you drive. As players spot items, they mark out the corresponding picture on the cards.

The first player to find all the items in a row wins! The row can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal wins!

Turn those whines into gales of laughter with this free car-friendly Road Trip Bingo game !

10. Cloud Shapes

I love this game for kids who get motion sickness because they won’t get sick when looking at the clouds. It’s also GREAT for encouraging kids to use their imaginations as they try to find common shapes in clouds. Prepare yourself for lots of laughs as everyone tries to see the same shapes!

Each player looks at the clouds in the sky from their own window, trying to find and identify everyday shapes like objects or animals.

Once a player finds a shape, point it out to the other players and give them a chance to see if they can identify the same object that you see in the clouds.

11. I Spy Car Games For Road Trips

This is one of those games that works well with kids of a variety of ages. If your family has a mix of kids that can and can’t read, try playing I Spy!

With older kids, you can spot things inside and outside the car. However, with younger kids, you may want to choose items that are inside the car and easier for kids in car seats to see.

Choose an “it” person who spots the item. That person picks an item and says “I spy with my little eye…” and fills in the end of the sentence. Examples could be “I spy with my little eye something blue” or “I spy with my little eye something small and gray.”

12. What Color Is It?

Car games for road trips don’t get simpler than this! Let an adult list a series of things that are the same color until the kids can guess what the color is. The first kiddo to guess correctly wins that round!

For example, you might say “grass, leaves, moss, Jake’s room” and the kids guess “Green!”

13. Basic ABC Categories

Here’s a great game that can break up other games. We also tend to play it when waiting in lines!

This car game for road trips starts by choosing a category (desserts, animals, famous people). Then you go through the family with each family member naming something in that category that starts with the next letter in order.

Keep going until you reach the end of the alphabet or someone gets stumped.

For the category “desserts:”

A pple pie B lueberry cobbler C réme brulé D ark chocolate silk pie

14. Category ABCs (First Last Version)

Here’s a variation we like to play on Category ABCs to change things up.

As with the “normal” version, someone chooses a category. In this version, there’s no need to go in alphabetical order. Instead, they can start with any letter they want.

Strategy comes into play when the next person has their turn because they name something in the same category. The catch? The item every subsequent item named must start with the last letter of the previous word.

For example, if the category is “games,” the first player might say “catch.” Then next person to go must name a game that begins with the last letter in “catch”, which would be “h.” In this example, the next player might choose to say “hide and seek.” And so on from there until someone gets stuck.

15. In My Suitcase

Here’s a fun memory car game for road trips that makes great memories as a family! It follows a similar A – Z process that the ABC Categories game does.

The first person starts by saying, “I’m going on a vacation, and I packed…” Then they finish the sentence with an item that starts with the letter “A.”

The next person takes their turn and first repeats what the previous player is bringing. They then add an item that starts with the letter “B.”

Follow the format as you work your way from A to Z. The round is over once someone forgets an item!

“I’m going on vacation, and I packed an avocado.” “I’m going on vacation, and I packed an avocado and a ball.” “I’m going on vacation, and I packed an avocado, a ball, and a cracker.”

16. Car Trip Scavenger Hunt

Grab my Road Trip Activity Packet and use the printable scavenger hunt card included inside!

17. Name The Most

Ok, this car game for road trips is a bit like ABC Categories. But this road trip car game is for the competitive family (although you can play it like ABC Categories for a less competitive version)!

Someone names a category. The other players bet on how many items in the category they can name. Once a player thinks they can’t do better than the other, they issue a challenge to “Name them!”

The opponent now has their turn. I suggest setting a time limit of no more than 10 seconds, but that’s optional. If the second player is successful, they receive 1 point for each response they gave. If they fail to reach their goal, nobody receives any points!

Here are a few great places to start:

• US Presidents
• European countries
• All the books in a book series
• Characters from a certain movie or show (like Star Wars or Disney)
• Names of constellations

18. What am I Counting?

I’ve only played this guessing game a couple of times, but it’s quickly becoming a family favorite!

One person starts verbally counting something as they spot it. The catch is that they don’t tell anyone what they are counting.

The other players guess what the first person is counting, but there’s a strategy to it. Are they counting signs that whiz by on the highway? Is the counting quick or spread out?

19. 20 Math Questions

Here’s a numbers-based 20 Questions car game for road trips.

Let an adult think of a number between 1 and 100. Then the kids ask yes-or-no questions that are math-related.

Examples could include “Is your number even? Is it greater than 25?” and so on. The goal is to have the answers to the questions help you figure out the number.

It’s ok to keep track with pen and paper – but calculators are against the rules!

20. Six Degrees – Movie Edition

It’s the idea of Six Degrees of Separation – that everything is connected with six degrees of each other. Warning: this game can go on for a while!

Have one player name an actor/actress. The next player names a movie that the actor appeared in. Then the fun begins… the next person names someone  else  in the same movie that hasn’t already been named.

And the players continue to follow the process as they go back and forth until someone can’t answer.

Julia Roberts –> Wonder –> Owen Wilson –> Night At The Museum –> Ben Stiller…etc.

21. Sing-Along String-Along

Here’s a fun road trip car game for music lovers (that’s us!)!

To begin, one person SINGS a line of a song (just ONE line), then the next person picks up where the first left off and connects that song with a lyric from another song using the final word from the line before.

Play stops when someone messes up or gets stuck.

“Show me how big your brave is…” “Is there life out there…” “There once was a ship that put to sea…”

22. (Un)fortunate Storytelling

Get ready for some laughs as you enjoy a new original wacky story!

One person begins by telling a simple opening sentence. The next person continues the story by saying something fortunate that happened, “Fortunately…”

Then Person 3 jumps in to add an  unfortunate  event to the situation. Continue person-to-person, adding alternating fortunate and unfortunate situations.

I learned how to wakeboard! Fortunately, we had a fast boat. Unfortunately, the boat started going too fast. Fortunately, the boat pulled me out of the water easily so I could wakeboard. Unfortunately, it was going so fast that I started flying through the air instead of riding on top of the water. Fortunately….

23. Miles of Smiles

Inspired by a road trip games book with the same name,  Miles of Smiles , this game is easy breezy to play.

Everyone in the car smiles his or her biggest grin at passing drivers. Waving is ok, but silly faces are not.

Keep count of how many people smile back – maybe make a goal of getting to 20 people before the game ends or something similar.

24. Get ‘Em To Honk

This game is similar to Miles of Smiles, but you’re trying to get drivers of 18-wheelers to sound their horns.

When you pass an 18-wheeler, get in the window of your car and hold up your hand like you’re pulling down a handle from the roof. Pull it down a couple of times and see if the driver pulls down their horn to sound it off!

25. A-Z License Plate Game

The license plate game is always a fun one, but you can try some variations to KEEP it fun.

Try working as a team or as teams opposing one another to search for the letters A-Z  in order on license plates. Once you find that, then try finding numbers 0-9 in order . 

This idea is online because, let’s face it, Mama needs a break from time to time (and at least it’s an educational, thinking game)! Sudoku is a logic-based number puzzle game that typically consists of a 9×9 grid divided into nine 3×3 sub-grids.

While often that seems like a math problem, Sudoku is actually an entertaining puzzle. The objective of the game is to fill in the grid with numbers from 1 to 9, ensuring that each row, column, and sub-grid contains all the numbers from 1 to 9 without any repetitions.

The game typically starts with some numbers already filled in as clues, and the player must use logical deduction to fill in the remaining numbers. Sudoku is a popular game that can be played on paper or online, and it is known for its ability to exercise the mind and improve logical thinking skills.

How To Get The Most Out Of Car Games For Road Trips

My husband and I like taking road trips, and we’ve taken several with our kids. Through the school of hard knocks, we’ve learned a few helpful tips:

• Have lots of car games for road trips ready to go. The last thing you want to do is try to come up with an idea when the kids are squabbling with each other.
• Plan for each game to take about 30 minutes. We tend to get tired of any game after that long.
• We find it helpful to alternate between playing an individual road tip car game, a family car game, and take a break for a podcast or a quick snack.

More Screen-Free Road Trip Games And Fun

Phones and video games are a huge draw for kids. -and will keep them quiet. But if you’re seeking activities that will keep them QUIET AND OFF DEVICES, try these ideas!

• The 28 Best Podcasts For Kids That Parents Will Love Too
• 17 Laugh-Out-Loud Mom Podcast Options That Every Mom Needs
• 20 Best Family Games To Play On A Road Trip

I hope this list of ideas for fun car game for road trips helps your family enjoy hitting the road on an adventure! The key to success with family road trips is to bring along some variety. My Road Trip Activity Packet is an EASY way to help you get ready.

Happy Travels!

May 23, 2023 at 9:09 pm

Nice and helpful guide that families can follow through for their next road trips. Thanks for it.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

subscribe and never miss an update

Email newsletter.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

30 Best Road Trip Games That Are Super Fun

Road trip games can make any journey more enjoyable and fun whether you're going on a long drive across the country or spending a few hours in the car with the kids.

Our list of the 30 of the best road trip games will provide entertainment for children and adults alike, ranging from music-related games and foodie challenges to word contests and devious pranks.

You will never have to think of what to do on a long car ride again! The following is the ultimate list of games you can play on a road trip.

1. The Story Game

Entertaining for adults and kids alike, this is storytelling with a twist - you go round the car and each passenger adds just one word following on from the player before.

See how crazy you can make the story, and get someone to record it on their phone so you can listen back to the hilarious progression of the plot as you make way along your road trip. You could go from sunbathing in Spain to training alpacas in Chile in a matter of seconds.

Trust us, you're in for a laugh with this one and if your passengers are good, these stories can get seriously long!

2. I'm Going On A Road Trip

This road trip game requires a bit more brain power than some of the others, but is still really entertaining and great for all ages. To play, passengers take it in turns to state 'I'm going on a road trip and I'm bringing…' followed by an item of their choice.

The next person has to repeat the phrase, saying the last person's item and adding one of their own and so on - eventually you'll have a really long list of crazy items to try and remember, and it's always amusing watching people try and get it right a few rounds in.

Be sure to throw in a few weird and wonderful items to confuse the rest of the players!

3. The Quiet Game

This game is a bit of a joke for the adults who want a few minutes of peace and quiet from their squabbling kids. The rules are hilariously simple - just say 'who can stay quiet the longest?' and breathe as the competitive siblings fall instantly silent.

Just a word of warning though: don't expect it to last very long, so have another kid-friendly car game lined up for when they get bored.

4. The Banana Game

This game is all about the color yellow and is super simple - points are awarded whenever a passenger spots a yellow vehicle.

Come up with a scoring system for different types of vehicle (e.g. one point for a car, two for a van, and three for a lorry) and whether you saw it parked (one point) or in motion (two points). Add any extra rules you fancy, and prepare to get competitive about who saw it first.

5. Never Miss A Beat

This game may be more of a singalong than a game, but it's still awesome!

Never miss a beat offers another chance to show off your singing skills and unusually gets everyone playing together rather than against each other.

All you need to do is stick on your family's favorite song or a song everyone knows the words to and start singing. Someone then needs to turn it down for 10 seconds whilst everyone keeps singing, before turning it back up again to see if you've kept the beat and stayed in time.

This game is mainly just a bit of fun, but you could always turn it into a competition by splitting into teams!

Another classic you've probably played a thousand times before but never get bored of.

Passengers take it in turns to find an object either inside or outside the car and say "I spy with my little eye something beginning with…" the first letter of whatever the object is.

The other passengers must then try and guess the answer (clues can be given if it's really hard), with the winner taking the next turn. This is an easy car game to play with kids and always a great one to keep bored passengers entertained for a surprisingly long time.

7. 20 Questions

This classic road trip game probably doesn't need much of an introduction - simply choose one passenger to start by thinking of a random object, and the other passengers take turns asking 20 yes-or-no questions to guess the object.

Whoever finds the answer first gets to think of the random thing in the next round, but if the object has everyone stumped, they get to keep their role for the next round.

There are no rules on the object you can pick, but lying in your answers is strictly forbidden!

8. Car Bingo

This kid-friendly game takes a little prep before you set off, but it's well worth it if you need to keep the kids entertained on a long journey.

Make a list of things the children might see along the road trip route - e.g. cows, a tractor, a red car etc, to give to them when you get into the car.

As you drive they can cross things off as they see them, not only distracting them from boredom but also encouraging them to look around and learn about the places they're visiting.

Make the list as specific to the place you're going as you want. In Texas you might have anything mentioning the Lone Star and in Wyoming you might be on the lookout for elk!

You can tailor the difficulty and number of things to find depending on the age of your children.

9. Sweet Or Sour

The rules of this road trip game are super simple: passengers take turns waving at passing pedestrians or people in nearby cars. If they wave back they're sweet, if not they're sour. You win a point for every sweet passerby you get, so aim to find as many friendly people as possible along the way.

For obvious reasons, the driver should opt out of this one, but it can be extra fun if they divert the car through a busy area of town to rack up some extra waving opportunities!

Remember not to distract other drivers!

10. Secret Place Race

Make use of that old road map that sits in the car seat pocket to entertain the kids. All you need to do for the secret place race is pick a place they're unlikely to know such as a tiny village, river, or mountain, and see how long it takes them to find it on the map.

This can be incredibly entertaining in a Where's Waldo kind of way, except their mission in finding the village can be made critically important for the driver to be able to find the right way!

Have a reward on hand if they're able to find it in less than 5 minutes, and watch as they're completely engrossed in the task. A simple yet satisfyingly effective game.

11. Punch Buggy

First gaining popularity as part of one of Volkswagen's marketing campaigns in the 1960s, the aim of this game is to give your fellow passengers a playful punch whenever you see a VW Beetle drive past.

This is one of those road trip games that is universally loved by children (as long as you monitor the punching to avoid disaster), although we don't see why the adults wouldn't enjoy it too.

Granted - in some parts of the world, seeing a Beetle is incredibly rare, so if you're struggling to see many Beetles, you could always choose a specific color of car or another funny model as the target instead to make it a touch easier.

12. Regional Car Pantry

One for the foodies. Stretching across the full duration of your road trip, collect as many local snacks as you can at every stop along the way to build up your car pantry.

Make sure you take pictures of each snack (or buy duplicates if they'll keep) so you can see what you've managed to collect at the end of the trip, and be sure to take some weird and wonderful treats home for friends and family to try.

Do some research beforehand and make a list of all the foods you want to find, or just wing it and see what local delicacies you stumble across as you go.

13. The License Plate Game

You'll need pens and paper for this game so make sure you've packed some before you head off. The aim is to spot license plates from as many different countries or US states (depending on where your road trip is taking place) as possible.

Write a list of the places you've seen and compare it with the other passengers at the end of the drive. This is the ideal game for those long stretches of boring motorway where you'll probably rack up a surprisingly long list, and the person with the most countries gets to ride shotgun for the next leg of the journey.

The end of this road trip game can get very controversial - if you spot a real game winner, photographic evidence is a good idea so get your phone out and take photos in secret!

14. The Fortunately - Unfortunately road trip game

This is similar to the Story Game (see #1 above), however players get a little more control and creativity. You can say more than one word this time!

One player starts off with a 'fortunately' sentence, and the next has to follow with an 'unfortunately' sentence to build a story of luck and misfortune. For example, one player might start with 'fortunately, the sun was shining' with the second player adding 'unfortunately they had a long drive ahead of them' and so on.

This game can make it a little easier to remember the long string as everything has to be either fortunate or unfortunate! Get as creative as you can and you'll find yourself at your destination in what seems like no time at all.

15. The Complete Food Menu Game

This is the perfect road trip game to play if you're passing through a few towns on your way although roadside restaurants and chains will do just fine.

Print out a sheet with all the food types you can think of in a grid against the names of people in the car.

Every time you drive past a restaurant of some kind, the first person to spot it gets to collect the tick for the food type it serves. Steaks and pizzas should be easy to collect by everyone, but you might just win if you're the only one who spotted the seafood restaurant in the middle of Oklahoma!

16. The Name Game

This is another simple game that keeps your brain occupied during a long drive without being too strenuous. One person simply says any name they can think of and the next person must say another name that begins with the last letter of the name before, and so on.

For example if passenger one says Tom, passenger two might say Mary. If you've made any friends during your road trip, try and include their names to make it a tad more topical.

Obviously adding the rule of not repeating the same names once they have been mentioned makes this a whole lot more interesting as the game progresses although you're guaranteed to have a disagreement over whether a name has or has not been mentioned already!

17. Guess The Song

If you're comfortable in your musical knowledge you'll definitely want to suggest playing this one. The rules are simple: get the front passenger to play the first few seconds of a song and whoever can guess the artist and song title the quickest wins a point.

This is much easier if you can connect your phone to the car for the road trip and play songs from there so you can easily search and pause the music.

The person with the most points after half an hour gets control of the music for the rest of the journey, so there's a lot at stake...

18. Sing The Next Line

A variation on the Guess The Song game above, except this game relies on your vocal chords.

Instead of just guessing the song after a few seconds, players have to rack their brains and try and sing the next line, and the person who successfully remembers it first wins a point. Think of a reward for whoever wins, and if you attempt it but get it wrong you have to do a forfeit chosen by the driver.

19. Radio Roulette

This game's a little less hands-on but no less entertaining. Use your road trip driving time to discover all the local radio stations of the place you're visiting by re-tuning every ten minutes and choosing a new station at random.

You'll probably find some pretty wacky programs and get to know traditional and popular music in that country - a great way to appreciate culture even when you're between destinations.

If you a radio station that is really wacky, let us know!

20. Would You Rather

This road trip game can be be as PG or as outrageous as you like depending on the age of the passengers.

Take turns asking the car whether they would rather do one thing or another (e.g. 'would you rather go to France or Spain?') and see what they answer. Make it as difficult as possible to choose between the two options for maximum entertainment value, whether that's making them equally amazing or equally horrible, it's up to you…

You can see how this game can get as interesting in group of adults as with kids - answering the question is compulsory and providing reasons is where it gets fun!

21. Car Rules Road Trip Game

Everyone in the car gets to make up a silly rule, e.g. whenever we cross a bridge everyone has has to touch their nose, or whenever we stop at a red light everyone has to touch the roof of the car.

The last person to join in when an action is enforced gains a point, and the person with the most points at the end of the drive loses. Get as creative as you like with the rules and try and catch people out where possible so you can take the victory.

The loser has to go pay for parking or buy ice creams at the next stop!

22. Hot Seat

If you're that nosy friend that wants to find out all of your companions' deepest secrets then you'll like this one. Passengers take it in turns to be in the hot seat and are asked 5 questions, one of which they're allowed to veto and the other four must be answered honestly.

This is best played in an adult-only car (questions get notoriously cheeky) and is the ideal way to pass the time finding out some interesting new facts about your road trip friends.

You can use it as a warm up or a step up from the car version of Truth or Dare (see #27 below) depending on how close your friendships are!

23. People Watching

Someone picks a car full of people that everyone can see (this works best if you're stuck in traffic), and together you make up a story about the people - who they are, where they're going, what they do for a living. The funnier and more far-fetched the story, the better - just make sure you're not staring too obviously at your subjects or it might get a little awkward...

Use your imagination to make the stories controversial and see how far you can go with making things up!

You might just surprise yourself how the most innocuous of road trip games will make you spot things you would never otherwise see just by looking at the cars around you.

24. Kiss, Marry, Avoid

Another one for the older crowd. Take turns listing three famous people and the other passengers in the car have to choose which person they would kiss, which they would marry, and which they would avoid.

Make it really hard to decide so that everyone has a bit of a laugh, and try to predict each other's answers to add an extra twist to the game.

If you want to add a little spice to the game, use people you all know or move to people in the car!

25. While You Were Sleeping

There's nothing more tempting than pulling a prank on a passenger who falls asleep en route, and whilst we don't dispute the whole drawing-a-mustache classic, we've got something even craftier.

Whilst they're taking a nap on the road trip, have a brainstorm with the awake members of the party and come up with an epic story or scenario of something that they missed during their nap.

The aim of the game is to get them to believe the story, so make sure nobody laughs or breaks character (come up with a forfeit if they do), and keep the lie going for as long as possible. If you manage to pull it off this is far better than a DIY mustache... but by all means, draw one on for good measure.

This classic road trip game can really take a turn for the worse if you want it to. A simple horror story about a truck that followed the car for miles that you just managed to pull away from before getting a flat tyre can go a long way as you're parked on the side of the road. Peer into the rear view mirror in horror and watch their face when a random truck appears on the horizon!

26. Categories

Popular with kids and adults alike the world over, Categories can be an awesome game to play on road trips as well.

The premise is simple - somebody picks a category which can have multiple different answers. Fruit or Beatles' songs can both be great options.

Players have to then take turns to name one item from the category at a time. Players are eliminated when they can't name one until there's one winner. Either the winner or the next person in turn gets to choose the next category.

That brings our list of the best road trip games to an end. Do you have other games you enjoy? Get in touch to let us know and we'll add it to our list!

27. Truth Or Dare (The Car Edition)

The old classic can and should be played on road trips! Players take turns to either answer an embarassing question truthfully or perform a dare set by other players.

The dares obviously have to be contained to the realms of the car or the roadside so you'll have to get creative.

Needless to say, this game is very different when played with kids as a family or with adult friends and is equally great in both cases!

28. 6 Degrees of Separation

This is a road trip game that will require some imagination and provide plenty of topics for conversation.

Take turns and pick two people who you may know or make them up (e.g. a Shaolin monk). The more different the background and location of these people the better!

Then proceed to discuss how these two people are connected through 6 connections or less. You don't have to know the whole chain - that's actually where the fun is.

How is a gaucho from a remote farm in southern Argentina connected to Prince Charles? The gaucho must know his ranch's boss (1). The boss knows the boss of the company that buys beef from local producers (2). That company has a liaison manager in a UK-based Argentinian beef importing firm (3). This manager has a colleague who imports fine wines from around the world for the same company (4). The colleague personally provides the fine wines to the Royal sommelier (5) and the sommelier personally knows Prince Charles (6). Bingo!

29. The Stop Joker Card road trip game

If you're going on a long trip and you're going to be driving all day or even longer than that, this is a great way to give everyone in the car, kids included, a way to have a bit of control.

At any point during the trip, each person can enact their Stop Joker Card - this means the car has to stop wherever they are passing and spend some time there doing an activity or just relaxing.

Your kids might see something really fun halfway along and use their card to break up the journey and everyone gets to have their stop along the route!

30. Pick One Car road trip game

This one is a game of patience and opportunity. Every person in the car has one chance during the journey to pick a car that you can see on your way as their ultimate One Car. The objective is to pick the coolest/fastest/most amazing car possible.

Once you've chosen a car, you can't change it - you only have one go so you better make it count - if you're passing something that is decent but not stellar, you might have to make a tough choice.

The game is made even more difficult by the fact that the first person to call the car out gets to have it so you have to be alert and on the lookout if you haven't got one yet.

Join our email list!

By joining our email list, you give LazyTrips permission to use your email for sending you newsletters, emails and updates including for marketing purposes. Your email will not be provided to third parties.

Related posts

*This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you buy after clicking on our links. The views expressed in this blog are strictly my own opinions and are not to be considered professional advice.

300+ Fun Road Trip Games to Play in the Car for Adults and Kids

Intro – Road Trip Games to Play

Are we there yet?! The dreaded question that inevitably comes up during any long car ride. But fear not, fellow road trip warriors, for I bring you a solution to keep boredom at bay and make the journey just as exciting as the final destination! Introducing our ultimate list of 300+ road trip games for adults and kids to play in the car. Gone are the days of mindlessly staring out the window or endlessly scrolling through social media. With these games, you’ll be laughing, bonding, and maybe even learning a thing or two along the way.

From classic favorites like “I Spy” and car scavenger hunts, to interactive challenges like “21 Questions” and “Name That Tune,” there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

So buckle up, pack your sense of humor, and get ready to make memories that’ll last long after the car ride is over. Let the fun road trip games begin!

It may seem obvious, but it’s been well analyzed that distracted drivers can result in serious accidents. So it’s important that you only play these games if they are not distracting the driver. For more information about distractions take a look at this useful NHTSA summary .

Jump to Games Lists

Feel free to read through some of the basics to start, or Jump straight to:

Kids Car Games List – 119 Games and Idea Teens & Adults Car Games List – 199 Games and Innovative Combinations

What are some classic road trip games that can keep everyone entertained?

Road trips are incomplete without classic road trip games that make the journey more fun. Road Trip Bingo involves spotting specific items or shapes along the road and marking them off a bingo card. It’s a fantastic way to pass the time and keep everyone engaged. Another great game is 20 Questions, where one player thinks of an object, and others have 20 questions to guess what it is.

As you hit the road, the License Plate Game is a must-try. Players aim to spot license plates from different states and mark them off a list. It’s exciting to see who finds the most plates during the trip!

Road Trip Bingo

Road Trip Bingo is a staple game during car rides, especially for families with kids. It keeps everyone on the lookout for specific items or landmarks, adding a competitive yet enjoyable element to the journey. This game is not only entertaining but also enhances observation skills as players scan their surroundings for bingo items.

Players can create their bingo boards with various road trip-related images to make the game more personalized and engaging. Whether it’s a red car, a rest area sign, or a cow in a field, the diversity of items keeps players entertained throughout the trip.

20 Questions

20 Questions is a mentally stimulating game that challenges players to think creatively and strategically. It encourages participants to ask well-thought-out questions to narrow down the possibilities and make an accurate guess. What makes this game exciting is the diversity of objects that can be chosen, ranging from everyday items to abstract concepts.

This game sparks lively discussions and fosters critical thinking skills, making it an ideal choice for long road trips where mental engagement is crucial. With each round revealing new insights about the players’ deductive abilities, 20 Questions promises endless entertainment for all ages.

License Plate Game

The License Plate Game is a classic road trip favorite that adds an element of competition to the journey. Players can create their unique rules, such as assigning points based on the rarity of each state’s license plate. This game not only entertains but also educates players about different states and their unique designs.

As players eagerly scan passing vehicles for elusive plates, the excitement builds, creating a lively atmosphere in the car. The License Plate Game turns mundane drives into exhilarating adventures, making it a must-play for road trips with friends and family.

Jump to the Games Lists

Kids Car Games List Teens & Adults Car Games List

How to play popular car games that are perfect for long rides?

Long car rides call for engaging car games that make the journey more enjoyable for everyone. The Alphabet Game is a simple yet entertaining choice where players find words starting with each letter of the alphabet in order. This game tests memory and quick thinking skills, keeping players alert throughout the ride.

For a nostalgic twist, the Memory Game challenges players to recall and repeat a growing list of items in the correct order. This game is not only fun but also exercises memory and concentration, making it ideal for long stretches on the road.

Alphabet Game

The Alphabet Game is a versatile choice for car rides, allowing players to explore their surroundings and think creatively. From road signs to passing vehicles, players can spot words beginning with each letter of the alphabet, adding variety to the gameplay. This game is not only entertaining but also educational, as players discover new words and objects along the way.

Players can set themed variations of the Alphabet Game, such as finding names of animals or cities, to tailor the gameplay to their interests. With each player contributing unique findings, the Alphabet Game creates a dynamic and interactive experience for all passengers, proving it’s among the best road trip games.

Memory Game

The Memory Game is a classic choice for car rides, engaging players of all ages in a challenging yet entertaining activity. As players take turns adding items to the list, the pressure to remember and repeat them correctly grows, creating an exciting gameplay dynamic. This game encourages focus and concentration, making it an excellent choice for lengthy car journeys where mental engagement is key.

Players can customize the difficulty level of the Memory Game by increasing the number of items to remember or setting time limits for recalling the list. Whether played competitively or cooperatively, the Memory Game promises hours of entertainment and mental stimulation for everyone in the car.

Scavenger Hunt

A Scavenger Hunt is a fantastic way to make long car rides more interactive and entertaining for everyone on board. Players can create a list of items to find along the road, such as specific road signs or unique vehicles, and compete to be the first to spot them. This game promotes teamwork and friendly competition, adding excitement to the journey.

Players can set time limits or point systems to enhance the challenge of the Scavenger Hunt, motivating participants to stay alert and observant throughout the trip. With surprises waiting to be discovered around every corner, the Scavenger Hunt transforms mundane car rides into thrilling adventures for passengers of all ages.

What are some fun and interactive games for the whole family during a road trip?

Road trips are the perfect opportunity for families to bond and have fun together. Would You Rather is a game that sparks hilarious discussions by presenting players with challenging dilemmas to choose between. It’s a great way to get to know each other better and share laughs along the way.

Next Person is a game where players take turns continuing a story one sentence at a time. This creative game encourages imagination and storytelling skills while keeping passengers engaged and entertained throughout the journey.

Would You Rather

Would You Rather is a lighthearted game that prompts players to make challenging decisions between two equally amusing or absurd options. It sparks lively debates and reveals unexpected preferences among players, leading to hilarious and memorable moments on the road. This game encourages creativity and humor, making it a favorite choice for family road trips.

Players can take turns presenting imaginative scenarios to keep the game engaging and unpredictable. From quirky dilemmas to thought-provoking choices, Would You Rather is a versatile game that guarantees laughter and entertainment for the whole family during long car rides.

Next Person

Next Person is a collaborative storytelling game that challenges players to build a cohesive narrative one sentence at a time. This game fosters creativity and cooperation among participants, encouraging them to listen and contribute to the evolving story. With each player adding a unique twist, the story unfolds in unexpected and humorous ways, keeping everyone entertained.

Players can introduce plot twists, quirky characters, and imaginative settings to make the story more engaging and entertaining. The collaborative nature of Next Person promotes teamwork and communication skills, making it an excellent choice for families looking to share creative adventures during road trips.

Next Road is a game that adds an element of surprise and anticipation to long car rides. Players take turns predicting the sights or events they will encounter after the next turn or along the upcoming road. This game encourages players to observe their surroundings and make creative guesses, sparking engaging conversations and enhancing the journey experience.

From imagining quirky roadside attractions to predicting the weather conditions ahead, Next Road keeps passengers entertained and involved in the journey. The game facilitates discussions about travel plans and destinations, making it a fun and interactive way to pass the time during family road trips.

How can you keep kids engaged and entertained during a road trip?

Keeping kids entertained during a road trip is essential for a smooth and enjoyable journey. Spy with My Little Eye is a game where one player secretly chooses an object within sight, and others have to guess what it is by asking yes-or-no questions. This game not only entertains but also sharpens children’s observational and deductive skills.

Take Turns Asking is a game where kids get to ask each other questions about anything, from favorite foods to dream vacation spots. This game fosters communication and bonding among siblings or friends in the car, creating a cheerful and engaging atmosphere.

Spy with My Little Eye

Spy with My Little Eye is a captivating game that challenges kids’ observation skills and deductive reasoning. By selecting items within the car or along the road, the designated spy prompts other players to think creatively and ask strategic questions to uncover the hidden object. This game not only entertains but also promotes cognitive development and critical thinking in young players.

Players can take turns being the spy, adding variety and excitement to the game as new objects are chosen for guessing. Spy with My Little Eye encourages active participation and engagement from all players, making it a must-have for keeping kids entertained and mentally stimulated during long road trips.

Take Turns Asking

Take Turns Asking is a simple yet effective game that encourages kids to express themselves and learn more about their fellow passengers. By taking turns asking questions and sharing answers, children bond and develop social skills while enjoying lighthearted conversations. This game fosters a sense of camaraderie and creates lasting memories for kids on the road.

Players can tailor the questions to suit the interests and preferences of everyone in the car, ensuring that the game remains engaging and enjoyable for all participants. Whether discussing favorite activities or imaginary adventures, Take Turns Asking sparks creativity and laughter, making it a wonderful addition to any family road trip.

Classic Road Trip Game

The Classic Road Trip Game is a timeless favorite that brings joy and excitement to kids of all ages. With simple rules and easy gameplay, this game involves spotting common objects or landmarks along the road and calling them out to earn points. The thrill of being the first to identify a designated item makes this game a hit among youngsters, turning the car ride into a spirited competition.

Players can customize the list of items to find based on the surroundings or create themed variations to add variety to the gameplay. The Classic Road Trip Game sparks enthusiasm and energy in the car, keeping kids engaged and entertained for hours on end. It’s a go-to choice for family road trips seeking simple yet enjoyable entertainment options.

What are the best games to play in the car that are suitable for different age groups?

Choosing the right games for respective age groups ensures that everyone in the car stays entertained and engaged throughout the journey. Games for Kids are specifically designed to cater to the interests and cognitive abilities of young passengers, offering simple and interactive gameplay that fosters creativity and learning.

Older Kids may enjoy more challenging and strategic games that test their observation, memory, and critical thinking skills. These games are designed to keep older children mentally stimulated and entertained during long car rides, offering a mix of fun and educational experiences.

For Younger Kids, games that focus on colors, shapes, and simple concepts are ideal for keeping them entertained and engaged in the car. These games nurture early learning skills and encourage active participation, ensuring that younger passengers have a delightful and enriching road trip experience.

Road trip games to play for Kids

Games for Kids are tailored to the interests and developmental stages of young passengers, offering engaging and interactive experiences that stimulate creativity and imagination. From color recognition to storytelling games, these activities provide children with opportunities to learn and have fun in a car-friendly setting. Games for Kids ensure that little passengers stay entertained and happy throughout the journey.

Players of Games for Kids can explore a variety of themed games, such as animal guessing games or alphabet challenges, to cater to different interests and preferences. With vibrant visuals and simple rules, these games create a cheerful and educational atmosphere in the car, making them ideal companions for young travelers on road trips.

Fun road trip games for older Kids

Older Kids can enjoy a range of challenging and thought-provoking games that keep them engaged and entertained during long car rides. From word puzzles to trivia quizzes, these games test cognitive abilities and knowledge, providing stimulating experiences for older children on the road. Older Kids benefit from games that offer a balance of fun and mental stimulation, ensuring an enriching and enjoyable journey.

Players can compete individually or in teams to solve puzzles and answer questions, fostering a sense of friendly competition and cooperation among passengers. With an array of games designed to appeal to older kids, the car ride becomes a dynamic and engaging environment that promotes learning and entertainment throughout the trip.

Younger Kids

Younger Kids thrive on games that emphasize colors, shapes, and basic concepts, engaging their curiosity and creativity during car rides. Simple matching games, counting exercises, and storytelling activities are perfect for younger passengers, offering playful and educational experiences that cater to their developmental needs. Younger Kids delight in interactive games that promote learning and skill development while keeping them entertained in the car.

Players can introduce interactive elements like singing, clapping, or acting out prompts to enhance the engagement and enjoyment of younger kids during the games. By incorporating familiar themes and activities, Younger Kids stay focused and entertained throughout the journey, creating a positive and enriching road trip experience for the entire family.

119 Fun Road Trip Games for Kids

Jump into this big list of 119 car games for kids all about making the most of the ride with creativity, learning, and fun stuff to see, hear or even smell. It’s all the cool things they can do without needing anything fancy.

Games for Kids Contents

Top 20 for Kids Storytelling Observation Games Hand Games Singing Games Drawing Games Paper Games

Jump to Teens & Adult Car Games Section Back to Top

Top 20 Best Road Trip Games for Kids

Here is my absolute top 20 great game to play on a road trip with the kids, but don’t stop there, make sure you look at the other sections for inspiration and laughs!

A classic observation game where one person describes an object they can see, and others guess what it is. 

Instructions Choose an object you see and give a descriptive clue without naming it. 

Example “I spy something green.”

Players think of an object, and the others have up to 20 questions to guess what it is. 

Instructions One player thinks of an object, and the others ask yes/no questions to guess it. 

Example Is it bigger than a breadbox? Is it alive?

License Plate Bingo

Create bingo cards with different categories like states, colors, or numbers, and spot license plates that match. 

Instructions Make or print bingo cards with various license plate criteria. Spot them to win. 

Example A card might have “A blue plate,” “Out of state plate,” or “Plate with number 7.”

Find objects outside the car that start with each letter of the alphabet, in order. 

Instructions Spot and call out objects seen outside that start with each letter of the alphabet. 

Example “A is for Airplane, B is for Bridge…”

Story Round-Robin

One person starts a story, and each passenger adds a sentence or two, building a tale together. 

Instructions Start a story with one sentence. Each person adds on to create a continuous narrative. 

Example “Once upon a time, a cat found a magic collar…”

Name That Tune

Hum or describe a song without saying its title for others to guess. 

Instructions Hum the melody or describe the song’s theme without using its title or lyrics. 

Example “This song is about dancing in the dark.”

Guess the Artist

When a song plays on the radio, the first person to identify the artist wins a point. 

Instructions Listen to the song on the radio, and be the first to correctly name the artist. 

Example “That’s ‘Shape of You’ by Ed Sheeran!”

Finish the Lyric

Play a song and pause it, challenging passengers to finish the lyrics correctly. 

Instructions Pause a song at a certain point. Others must continue the lyrics from where it stopped. 

Example “Despacito, quiero respirar tu cuello despacito…” – participants continue the lyrics.

Tic-Tac-Toe

A simple and quick game that can be played on paper or with a reusable board. 

Instructions Draw a grid and take turns marking Xs and Os in an attempt to get three in a row. 

Example Player 1 chooses X and places it in the center. Player 2 places O in the top left corner.

A word game where players guess letters to fill in the blanks of a hidden word before the drawing of a hangman is completed. 

Instructions One player thinks of a word and draws blanks for each letter. Others guess letters. 

Example Word is “CAMPFIRE,” so draw 8 blanks. Players guess letters until the word is revealed or the hangman is drawn.

Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament

A fun way to make decisions or just for a quick game, with a tournament twist for more players. 

Instructions Players pair off to play Rock, Paper, Scissors. Winners advance until a champion is crowned. 

Example If there are 8 players, it takes 3 rounds to determine a winner.

Word Association

A player says a word, and the next person has to say a word related to it, keeping the chain going. 

Instructions Start with any word. The next person says a word that is associated with the previous word. 

Example “Water” might lead to “Ocean,” then to “Fish,” and so on.

The License Plate Decoder

Invent a backstory or meaning for the letters and numbers on a license plate you see. 

Instructions Choose a license plate and create a funny or interesting story based on its letters and numbers. 

Example For “LUV 123,” “Lions Under Volcanoes, 123 of them.”

Map Reading Race

Give kids maps and have them track the journey, learning to read key map symbols and distances. 

Instructions Provide a map and have kids follow along, marking landmarks as they pass. 

Example Mark the starting point, and each child tracks the route, identifying major roads and landmarks.

Pictionary Telephone

A combination of drawing and guessing where each person’s interpretation is passed down the line to see how it evolves. 

Instructions The first person draws something based on a word, and each subsequent person guesses the word and redraws based on their guess. 

Example The word “Dog” starts and might end up interpreted as “Wolf” after several turns.

Musical Geography

Identify songs that mention cities, states, or countries and discuss them. 

Instructions When a location is mentioned in a song, shout it out and talk about the place. 

Example “New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of,” from “Empire State of Mind.”

Spot the Difference

Players find differences between two seemingly identical pictures prepared beforehand. 

Instructions Look at two similar pictures and find all the differences between them. 

Example One picture has a dog with a collar, and the other picture’s dog does not have a collar.

Pose two scenarios and have each passenger choose which one they would prefer, with explanations for their choices. 

Instructions Present two options and discuss which one each person would choose and why. 

Example “Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?”

Two Truths and a Lie

Each person shares three statements about themselves, two truths and one lie, while others guess the lie. 

Instructions Think of two true facts and one false fact about yourself. Others guess which one is the lie. 

Example “I’ve been skydiving, I’ve met a celebrity, and I’ve never been out of the country.” (If you’ve never met a celebrity, that’s the lie.)

A classic game of commands where players must only follow instructions that begin with “Simon says.” 

Instructions One person is Simon and gives commands. If Simon says “Simon says jump,” everyone jumps. If Simon just says “jump,” those who jump are out.  Example “Simon says touch your toes,” followed by “Jump up.” Only follow the first command.

That’s my top picks for Kids, keep reading for a huge number more of great games.

Amazon Entertainment : 30-day Free Trial

Streaming + Offline Content Need a break from the car games? Get Free Trial > Get some Down Time

Amazon Kids+

Prime Video

Prime Gaming

Back to Contents

Car Games for Kids – Storytelling

Embark on a journey of imagination and storytelling with these engaging activities. Perfect for young minds eager to explore, create, and invent, these games offer endless opportunities for adventure and creativity.

Once Upon a Time

Use classic story starters to inspire new tales. Children can draw cards with characters, settings, or objects to include in their stories.

Roll dice with pictures on them to determine elements of the story, such as characters, settings, and actions.

Finish the Story

Start a story and have each child add a sentence or two, taking turns to build on the narrative.

Magical World

Create stories set in magical or fantasy worlds with mythical creatures and enchanted objects.

Time Travel Adventures

Invent stories that involve traveling to different historical periods or to the future.

Superhero Sagas

Kids create their own superhero characters, including their powers, origins, and adventures.

Mystery Tales

Develop a mystery for characters to solve, including clues, suspects, and a surprising resolution.

Space Odyssey

Set stories in outer space, involving aliens, space travel, and distant planets.

Fairy Tale Reimagining

Take classic fairy tales and twist them with new perspectives or unexpected endings.

Animal Antics

Stories where animals are the main characters, possibly with human-like qualities or abilities.

Pirate Adventures

Tales of treasure hunts, sea monsters, and pirate ships on the high seas.

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Explore underground worlds, ancient civilizations, or fantastic landscapes below the surface.

Island Survival

Characters must survive and solve mysteries on a deserted or mysterious island.

Haunted Tales

Spooky but not too scary stories involving ghosts, haunted houses, or supernatural events.

Secret Agent Missions

Stories of espionage, secret gadgets, and undercover operations.

Lost Civilization

Discover an ancient or lost civilization, with stories about their culture, technology, and downfall.

Parallel Universe

Characters find themselves in a parallel universe where things are familiar yet distinctly different.

Eco-Warriors

Tales of heroes fighting to protect the environment or save endangered species.

Characters embark on a quest to find a magical object, solve an ancient riddle, or rescue someone in distress.

Invent a Planet

Kids create a story about discovering a new planet, including its environment, inhabitants, and cultures.

These storytelling prompts are designed to unleash the creative potential within every child, guiding them through worlds of their own making.

Observation road trip games to play

Explore the world around you with these fun and engaging observation and memory games. Perfect for enhancing children’s attention to detail, these activities are great for both indoor and outdoor play, encouraging curiosity and exploration.

A classic game where one person describes an object they can see, and others guess what it is using the clue.

Create a list of items or themes to find, either indoors or outdoors. Players mark off items as they find them.

Lay out a series of objects, let the kids study them for a minute, then cover them up and ask the kids to recall what they saw.

Provide two seemingly identical pictures and challenge kids to find small differences between them.

Nature Bingo

Create bingo cards with pictures or names of things to find in nature, such as specific types of leaves, insects, or birds.

Pick a color and have kids find objects that match the color as they walk or drive.

On road trips, look for license plates from different states and check them off a list.

Cloud Shapes

Observe the clouds and encourage kids to describe or guess what shapes they see.

Sit quietly in a park or garden (or car), and have kids draw a map of sounds they hear around them.

Storyteller’s Box

Fill a box with various small items. Kids pick an item without looking and tell a story about it.

What’s Missing?

Display several objects, have kids study them, then remove one object and ask them to identify what’s missing.

Photo Observation

Show kids a detailed photo for a short time, then ask questions about specific details in the picture.

While traveling, look for objects that start with each letter of the alphabet, in order.

Animal Watching

Observe animals (in the wild, at a zoo, or even pets) and discuss their behaviors, patterns, and habits.

Describe a person in the room or a character from a story with as few details as possible, and have others guess who it is.

Nature Walk Observation

On a walk, challenge kids to notice something new they haven’t seen before, even if it’s a familiar path.

Silhouette Guessing Game

Show the silhouette of an object, animal, or character, and have kids guess what it is.

Detail Detective

Describe a scene in detail (real or imaginary) and then ask specific questions about it.

Texture Scavenger Hunt

Find objects that match textures on a list, such as smooth, rough, bumpy, or soft.

What’s That Smell?

Blindfold players and have them guess objects or foods by their smell.

These games are designed to sharpen observational skills, enhance memory, and inspire creativity among children, making every day an adventure filled with discovery and learning.

Hand Games to play on a road trip

Hand games offer a playful way to engage minds and fingers, fostering coordination and laughter in equal measure.

Rock, Paper, Scissors

A classic hand game where players simultaneously form one of three shapes with an outstretched hand.

Instructions: Players count to three together and simultaneously show one of three shapes (rock, paper, or scissors) with their hand. Rock crushes scissors, scissors cut paper, and paper covers rock. This really is an easy to play road trip game.

Two players grasp hands and try to pin the other’s thumb down for a count of three.

Instructions: Players hook their hands together and chant “1, 2, 3, 4, I declare a thumb war!” and then try to pin the opponent’s thumb for a count of three.

Hand Clapping Games

Such as “Miss Mary Mack” or “A Sailor Went to Sea,” where players clap their own and each other’s hands in a sequence.

Instructions: Players face each other and clap their own hands together, then each other’s, in a set rhythm and pattern, often while reciting a rhyme.

Shadow Puppets

Using hands to form shadows on the wall or car ceiling, creating figures like animals or faces.

Instructions: In a dimly lit room, use a flashlight or lamp to cast a light on a wall. Shape your hands to form shadows that resemble animals or other figures.

Finger Knitting

Using fingers to weave yarn or string into simple bracelets or chains.

Instructions: Loop yarn around your fingers in a weaving pattern to create a knit chain, then slide off to finish the piece.

Hand Signs Game

Competing to quickly show a series of hand signs or gestures.

Instructions: Players take turns calling out specific hand signs (peace sign, thumbs up, etc.), and the other player must quickly replicate the sign.

Silent Animal Gestures

Players guess the animal someone is miming with their hands.

Instructions: One player uses hand gestures to mime an animal without making a sound, while others guess which animal it is.

Finger Spelling

Using sign language or invented gestures to spell out words for others to guess.

Instructions: Spell out a word using finger movements from sign language or a made-up system, while others try to guess the word.

Snap Battle

Players snap their fingers as quickly as possible in a playful competition.

Instructions: On a signal, players snap their fingers as fast as they can for a set time period. The one with the most snaps wins.

Number Guess

Hide a number of small items in your hand, and others guess how many there are.

Instructions: Hold a few small objects in your closed hand. Players guess the number of items without seeing them.

Hand Symphony

Creating a musical composition by clapping, snapping, and tapping hands in different rhythms.

Instructions: Assign different hand sounds (clap, snap, tap) to players and conduct them to create a rhythm or song together.

A quick-reflex game where players slap their hand down on a stack of cards when a jack is played (can be mimicked with hand gestures).

Instructions: Spread a deck of cards face down. Players take turns flipping cards. When a Jack appears, the first to slap it collects the cards. Mimic with hand gestures if no cards are available.

Concentration 64

A rhythm and memory game where players must keep up with the sequence of hand movements without making a mistake.

Instructions: Players sit in a circle and clap a beat. Taking turns, each player adds a hand movement to the sequence without breaking the rhythm.

The Mirror Game

Players mirror each other’s hand movements, trying to keep in sync.

Instructions: Two players face each other. One leads by making hand movements, while the other tries to copy them exactly like a mirror.

One player uses their finger to trace a path on the other player’s palm, who must guess the shape or letter.

Instructions: Trace a letter, number, or simple shape on the other player’s palm with your finger. The other player guesses what was traced.

Finger Races

Players slide their fingers across a surface, pretending they are racing.

Instructions: On a flat surface, players use their fingers as “legs” to race to a finish line.

Stacking hands on top of one another and trying to keep the tower from collapsing.

Instructions: Players take turns stacking one hand on top of the last, trying to build the tallest tower without it toppling over.

Finger Puppets

Creating simple puppets using fingers and playing out stories or scenarios.

Instructions: Use markers or stickers to decorate fingers as characters and act out stories or scenes.

Guess the Object

One player shapes their hand like an object and others guess what it is.

Instructions: Use your hands to mimic the shape of an object, and have others guess what you’re trying to represent.

Finger Twister

Players call out colors and a finger (e.g., “Right index finger, green”), and participants must touch the designated spot or color with that finger.

Instructions: Designate colors or spots on a surface. Players take turns calling out instructions for which finger to move to which color, trying not to get tangled.

Through these simple gestures and movements, many games and laughs can be had.

Singing for a fun road trip game

These singing games not only entertain but also educate, helping children learn numbers, letters, animal sounds, body parts, and more while enhancing their memory and attention skills. All makes for a fun road trip game.

Old MacDonald Had a Farm

Kids sing about different animals and the sounds they make, adding more animals with each verse.

Here is the first verse: Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O, And on his farm he had a cow, E-I-E-I-O, With a moo moo here and a moo moo there, Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo, Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.

The Wheels on the Bus

A classic song where children mimic the movements and sounds of different parts of the bus.

Here is the first verse: The wheels on the bus go round and round, Round and round, round and round, The wheels on the bus go round and round, All through the town.

If You’re Happy and You Know It

Children express their happiness through song, clapping hands, stomping feet, etc.

Here is the first verse: If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap clap), If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap clap), If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it, If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. (clap clap)

Hokey Pokey

Kids follow the song’s instructions to put different body parts in and out of the circle, turning themselves around.

Here is the first verse: You put your right hand in, You take your right hand out, You put your right hand in, And you shake it all about, You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around, That’s what it’s all about.

Five Little Ducks

A counting song where ducks go out to play, gradually decreasing in number.

Here is the first verse: Five little ducks went out one day, Over the hill and far away, Mother duck said “Quack, quack, quack, quack,” But only four little ducks came back.

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes

This song teaches body parts while encouraging kids to touch each part as it’s sung.

Here is the first verse: Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes, Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes, And eyes, and ears, and mouth, and nose, Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes.

A song about a dog named Bingo, with clapping to replace letters of the dog’s name in each verse.

Here is the first verse: There was a farmer who had a dog, And Bingo was his name-O, B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, And Bingo was his name-O.

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

A fun counting song about monkeys’ misadventures and the consequences of jumping on the bed.

Here is the first verse: Five little monkeys jumping on the bed, One fell off and bumped his head, Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, “No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

Ring Around the Rosie

A group circle game with singing and falling down at the end.

Here is the first verse: Ring-a-round the rosie, A pocket full of posies, Ashes! Ashes! We all fall down.

London Bridge is Falling Down

Kids form an arch with their arms while others pass under as the song plays, capturing someone at the end of the song.

Here is the first verse: London Bridge is falling down, Falling down, falling down, London Bridge is falling down, My fair lady.

I’m a Little Teapot

Children act out the lyrics, pretending to be a teapot with spout and handle.

Here is the first verse: I’m a little teapot short and stout, Here is my handle, here is my spout, When I get all steamed up, hear me shout, “Tip me over and pour me out!”

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Can be sung in rounds, mimicking rowing actions in pairs, sitting opposite each other.

Here is the first verse: Row, row, row your boat, Gently down the stream, Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream.

Down by the Bay

A rhyming song that encourages creativity, with kids coming up with new verses.

Here is the first verse: Down by the bay, Where the watermelons grow, Back to my home, I dare not go, For if I do, My mother will say, “Did you ever see a bear, combing his hair, Down by the bay?”

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Mimicking the spider’s movements, this song tells the story of its climb up the water spout.

Here is the first verse: The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout, Down came the rain and washed the spider out, Out came the sun and dried up all the rain, And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.

Skip to My Lou

A simple, playful song that can involve dancing or skipping around in a circle.

Here is the first verse: Lost my partner, what’ll I do? Lost my partner, what’ll I do? Lost my partner, what’ll I do? Skip to my Lou, my darling.

A modern favorite with repetitive verses and hand motions representing different members of the shark family.

Here is the first verse: Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo, Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo, Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo, Baby shark!

The Farmer in the Dell

A singing game with selections of different characters (the farmer, the wife, the child, etc.) during the song.

Here is the first verse: The farmer in the dell, The farmer in the dell, Heigh-ho, the derry-o, The farmer in the dell.

The Ants Go Marching

A counting and marching song, with verses for each number of ants.

Here is the first verse: The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah, The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah, The ants go marching one by one, The little one stops to suck his thumb, And they all go marching down to the ground, To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Do Your Ears Hang Low?

A silly song with accompanying gestures about ears, encouraging laughter and movement.

Here is the first verse: Do your ears hang low? Do they wobble to and fro? Can you tie them in a knot? Can you tie them in a bow? Can you throw them over your shoulder Like a continental soldier? Do your ears hang low?

These activities bridge generations and cultures, proving that when we sing together, harmony extends beyond the music.

Drawing Games You can Play

Embark on a journey of creativity and fun with drawing games that unleash the imagination and bring artwork to life.

Players draw a word on a piece of paper while others guess what it is.

Instructions:

• Divide players into teams.
• One team member draws a word on paper without speaking or gesturing.
• The team has a minute to guess the word for points.

Draw in the Dark

Players try to draw an object or scene in the dark or with their eyes closed, and then share the hilarious outcomes.

• Players close their eyes or turn off the lights.
• Each player tries to draw a predetermined object or scene.
• Share and laugh at the outcomes.

Exquisite Corpse

A collaborative drawing game where players fold a paper into sections and each person draws a part of a body (head, torso, legs) without seeing the other parts until the end.

• Fold a paper into sections, enough for each player.
• The first player draws a head at the top section, folds it to hide, and passes it on.
• Continue with each player adding parts of the body.
• Unfold to reveal the collaborative creature.

Draw the Song

Listen to a song and draw what you imagine the song is about.

• Play a song for everyone to listen to.
• Each player draws their interpretation of the song’s story or theme.
• Share drawings and discuss interpretations.

Drawing Relay

Players take turns adding to a drawing within a set time limit, creating a unique collaborative artwork.

• Start with a simple drawing.
• Players take turns, each adding to the drawing for a minute.
• Continue until everyone has added to the drawing.

Copycat Drawing

One player draws something, and the others try to replicate it as closely as possible.

• The first player draws an image.
• Other players try to copy the drawing as closely as possible.
• Compare drawings to the original.

Drawing Dictation

One player describes a scene or object without naming it, while others try to draw it based on the description.

• The describer thinks of a scene or object but doesn’t name it.
• They describe it in detail while others draw.
• Reveal the described object or scene and compare drawings.

Blind Contour Drawing

Without looking at the paper, draw the outline of an object or person in one continuous line. Instructions:

• Choose an object or person to draw.
• Without looking at your paper, draw its outline in one continuous line.
• Share and discuss the results.

Scribble Drawing

Start with a random scribble and then turn it into a detailed drawing by adding features and elements.

• Make a random scribble on your paper.
• Look at the scribble and imagine a detailed scene or object.
• Develop the scribble into a detailed drawing.

Memory Drawing

Look at an object for a certain period, then try to draw it from memory.

• Study an object for one minute.
• Without looking again, draw the object from memory.
• Compare the drawing to the object.

Draw the Word

Players write down a word or phrase, and others must illustrate it.

• Write down a word or phrase on a piece of paper.
• Pass the paper to another player who illustrates the word or phrase.
• Guess the original word or phrase from the illustration.

Opposite Drawing

Given a theme, players draw the opposite (e.g., draw cold when given the word hot).

• Choose a theme or concept word.
• Players draw something that represents the opposite of the theme.
• Share and explain your drawings.

Dot-to-Dot Drawing

One player makes dots on a paper, and another connects them to create a picture.

• One player places dots on a sheet of paper.
• Another player connects the dots to create an image.
• Reveal the final picture to the dot placer.

Story Drawing

One player starts a story, and each subsequent player adds a drawing to continue the tale.

• The first player draws a scene starting a story.
• Pass the paper; the next player adds to the story with another drawing.
• Continue until the story concludes.

Two-Line Drawing

Players can only use two lines to create a recognizable object or scene.

• Think of an object or scene to draw.
• Using only two continuous lines, create your drawing.
• Share and guess what each drawing represents.

Shape Challenge

Everyone starts with the same basic shape and must turn it into a unique drawing.

• All players start with the same basic shape on their paper.
• Transform the shape into a unique drawing.
• Share and discuss the creative outcomes.

Drawing with Scissors

Inspired by Matisse, players cut shapes out of colored paper to create a composition.

• Choose a variety of colored paper.
• Cut out shapes to create a composition or scene.
• Arrange and glue the shapes onto a background.

Nature Drawing

Incorporate an element found in nature (a leaf, a twig) into a drawing.

• Find an element from nature to include in your artwork.
• Draw a scene or object incorporating the natural element creatively.
• Share your nature-inspired artwork.

Alphabet Drawing

Choose a letter and draw objects that start with that letter, an easy and fun game to play on a road trip.

• Select a letter of the alphabet.
• Draw as many objects as you can think of that start with that letter.
• Share and compare drawings.

Fantasy Creature

Mix parts of different animals or objects to create a new fantasy creature.

• Think of different animals or objects to combine.
• Draw a creature that incorporates elements of your chosen animals or objects.
• Present your fantasy creature and explain its features.

Drawing games not only spark joy and creativity but also connect us through the universal language of art, making every sketch a shared adventure.

Car Games for Kids – Paper Games

Here’s a collection of classic and creative paper games, perfect for entertainment without the need for screens. These activities not only offer fun but also stimulate imagination and critical thinking. These overall principles make for a great game to play when on a road trip with the kids.

A classic game where players take turns marking Xs and Os in a 3×3 grid, aiming to get three in a row.

• Draw a 3×3 grid on a piece of paper.
• Players choose their marker, either X or O.
• Taking turns, each player places their marker in an empty square.
• The first player to align three of their markers vertically, horizontally, or diagonally wins.

Dots and Boxes

Players take turns connecting dots with lines. When a player completes a box, they mark it with their initial. The player with the most boxes wins.

• Fill a paper with a grid of dots.
• Players take turns drawing a single line (vertical or horizontal) between two adjacent dots.
• If a player completes the fourth side of a box, they initial it and play again.
• Once all boxes are completed, the player with the most initialed boxes wins.

One player thinks of a word, and the others guess letters. For each wrong guess, part of a hangman drawing is added.

• The word chooser thinks of a word and draws a blank line for each letter.
• Guessing players suggest letters.
• If the letter is in the word, the chooser writes it in the correct spots. If not, they add a part to the hangman drawing.
• The game ends when the word is guessed or the hangman is fully drawn.

Paper Fortune Teller

A folded paper game where players choose colors and numbers to reveal a hidden message or fortune.

• Fold a paper into a fortune teller shape with eight flaps inside.
• Write colors on the four outer flaps and numbers on the eight inner flaps.
• Hide fortunes or messages under the inner flaps.
• Players choose a color, spell it out while manipulating the fortune teller, choose a number, and then reveal their fortune under the flap.

Each player draws two grids. On one grid, they place ships. They take turns guessing coordinates to “hit” the opponent’s ships.

• Each player draws two 10×10 grids, labeling rows and columns.
• Secretly place ships on one grid.
• Players take turns calling out grid coordinates.
• Mark hits and misses on your grids. The first to sink all opponent’s ships wins.

Players draw a word on paper while others try to guess what it is.

• Prepare a list of words or phrases.
• Players take turns drawing a selected word for their team to guess within a time limit.
• No letters, numbers, or verbal clues allowed. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

Paper Airplane Contest

Kids design and fold paper airplanes, then see whose can fly the farthest or perform the best tricks.

• Each player folds a paper into an airplane.
• Decide on the contest criteria (distance, accuracy, tricks).
• Take turns launching your airplanes according to the contest rules. The best performance according to the criteria wins.

A classic fortune-telling game where players find out about their future jobs, spouses, car, and living situation.

• Write M.A.S.H. at the top of a paper (Mansion, Apartment, Shack, House).
• List categories (partner, car, number of kids, job) and options under each.
• Draw a spiral and count the lines to get a number. Count through the options, crossing out the option each time you hit the number.
• Your future is determined by the last options left.

Folded Story

Players write a sentence on a paper, fold it to hide most of it, and pass it on. The next player continues the story.

• The first player writes a sentence on the top of the paper and folds it to hide all but the last word.
• Pass the paper to the next player, who writes another sentence starting with that word.
• Continue until the paper is full, then unfold and read the story aloud.

Word Search

Create a grid of letters with hidden words for players to find and circle.

• Draw a grid on a piece of paper and fill it with random letters.
• Hide words within the grid by writing them vertically, horizontally, diagonally, forwards, or backwards.
• Players search for and circle the hidden words.

Crossword Puzzles

Design simple crossword puzzles related to themes or subjects the kids are interested in.

• Create a grid on a piece of paper.
• Fill in words horizontally and vertically, creating intersecting words.
• Write clues for each word and number them according to their position in the grid.
• Players fill in the grid based on the clues.

Fill a 9×9 grid so that each column, row, and 3×3 section contain all digits from 1 to 9.

• Draw a 9×9 grid, subdivided into 3×3 sections.
• Pre-fill some of the cells with numbers 1-9.
• Players fill in the empty cells, ensuring each row, column, and 3×3 section contains all numbers 1-9 without repetition.

Cipher Games

Create coded messages for kids to decode, using simple substitution ciphers.

• Write a message.
• Replace each letter with another letter, number, or symbol based on a key.
• Players use the key to decode the message.

Comic Strip Creation

Provide a theme or story starter, and let kids create their own comic strips.

• Decide on a theme or story starter.
• Draw a series of empty comic panels on a piece of paper.
• Fill in the panels with your story, using drawings and dialogue.

Folding paper to create shapes, animals, or objects. Beginners can start with simple models like cranes or boats.

• Choose an origami model to make.
• Follow step-by-step folding instructions to shape your paper into the model.
• Decorate your origami if desired.

Scavenger Hunt Lists

Create lists of items for kids to find and check off. They can draw or write when they find each item.

• Create a list of items to find.
• Distribute the list to players.
• Players search for items and check them off or draw them as they find them.

Create two similar drawings with slight differences for kids to find.

• Draw two similar pictures with a few subtle differences.
• Players look for and point out the differences between the two pictures.

Maze Design

Draw mazes on paper for kids to solve, or have them design their own for others to try.

• Design a maze with a clear start and finish.
• Players attempt to solve the maze by drawing a path from start to finish.

Storybook Creation

Kids write and illustrate their own stories, making a small book out of paper.

• Fold and cut paper to create a booklet.
• Write a story across the pages, adding illustrations.
• Share the completed storybook with others.

Symmetry Art

Fold a paper in half, draw a design on one side, then paint or color it. Fold again to transfer the design to the other half, creating a symmetrical artwork.

• Fold a paper in half to create a crease, then unfold.
• Draw a design on one half or add paint.
• Fold the paper back over while the paint is still wet to transfer the design to the other half.
• Unfold to reveal the symmetrical artwork.

These games prove that all you need is paper, pens, and a bit of creativity to unlock hours of fun and learning. Each game, from the strategic to the artistic, offers a unique way to engage the mind and foster creativity.

120 Fun Road Trip Games To Play in the car – Teens and Adults

Stepping up from the kids’ games, our teens and adults section brings a twist with challenges that test strategy, wit, and teamwork. It’s about diving deeper into fun, with a touch of complexity and a lot more laughs.

Games for Teens and Adults Contents

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – Top 20 Alphabet Theme Ideas 20 Questions Ideas Classic Car Games Combined Longer Running Games Pre-Planned Games Educational Games Word and Riddle Games Number Plate Game Ideas Brain Teasers and Logic Puzzles True or False Game Ideas Pop Culture Trivia and Radio

Back to Kids Games Section Back to Top

Top 20 Best Road trip Games for Teens and Adults

Kick off your road trips with this collection of games designed for teens and adults, focusing on creative, strategic, and interactive fun that goes beyond the simplicity of children’s games. Perfect for keeping the energy high and making those long drives fly by.

Car Karaoke

Instead of “Guess the Song,” passengers take turns singing their favorite songs while others guess the title or artist.

Instructions

• Choose a passenger to sing first.
• The singer selects a song and performs a portion of it.
• Other passengers guess the song’s title and artist.

Adapted from a classic guessing game, one player thinks of something, and others have up to 20 questions to guess what it is.

• One player thinks of an object, animal, or person.
• The others take turns asking yes or no questions.
• The group tries to guess the answer within 20 questions.

Pose two scenarios and have each passenger choose which one they would rather do, with explanations for their choices.

• Present two different scenarios to the passengers.
• Each passenger chooses their preferred scenario and explains why.
• Rotate who poses the next set of scenarios.

Each passenger says three statements about themselves, two truths and one lie, while others guess the lie.

• A passenger states two truths and one lie about themselves.
• The others guess which statement is the lie.
• Reveal the correct answer before moving to the next person.

Adaptation of a campfire storytelling game where one person starts a story, and each passenger adds a sentence or two.

• Begin a story with a single sentence.
• Pass the story to the next passenger, who adds to it.
• Continue until the story reaches a natural conclusion or every passenger has contributed.

License Plate Lingo

Create sentences or a story using the letters from license plates spotted on the road.

• Spot a license plate and read its letters.
• Create a sentence or story starting with those letters.
• Take turns and try with different plates.

Travel Bingo

Make bingo cards with items or events likely to be seen on the road (like a red car, a cow, or a billboard). First to get a line wins.

• Prepare bingo cards before the trip with common road trip sights.
• Mark off items as you spot them during the journey.
• The first to complete a line shouts “Bingo!” and wins.

The Alphabet Game

Find words outside the car that start with each letter of the alphabet, in order, from A to Z.

• Start with the letter A and find a word seen outside that starts with it.
• Continue through the alphabet in order.
• The first to reach Z or the furthest along wins.

Adaptation of the observation game where players compete to spot items from a pre-determined list, like different types of vehicles, road signs, or animals.

• Create a list of items to spot before the trip.
• Players call out and mark off items as they spot them.
• The player who spots the most items wins.

The Movie Game

One player names an actor, the next names a movie that actor was in, then the next names another actor from that movie, and so on.

• Start with naming an actor.
• The next person names a movie the actor was in.
• Continue with movies and actors, keeping the chain going.

The Singing Game

Someone sings a line from a song, and the next person has to start their song with the last word of the previous song.

• Sing a line from a song.
• The next person starts their song with the last word sung.
• Continue, linking songs through their final words.

Play the first few seconds of a song on your device, and the first person to guess the song wins.

• Play a short clip of a song.
• The first person to correctly guess the song title and artist wins.
• Take turns playing song clips.

Whisper a message to the person next to you, and have it passed along through whispers. The last person says it out loud to see how much it changed.

• Whisper a message to the person next to you.
• Pass the message down the line through whispers.
• The last person says the message out loud to compare with the original.

I’m Going on a Trip

A memory game where the first person says, “I’m going on a trip and I’m bringing…” followed by an item. Each person repeats the list and adds their own item.

• Start the game with “I’m going on a trip and I’m bringing…” followed by an item.
• Each subsequent player repeats the list and adds an item.
• Continue until someone forgets an item or the list becomes too long.

One person says a word, and the next person has to say a word related to it. The game continues with associations to the previous word.

• Start with any word.
• The next person says a word associated with the previous word.
• Continue, building a chain of associated words.

Pick a category, and players take turns naming items that fit into it until someone gets stumped.

• Choose a category (e.g., fruits, countries).
• Take turns naming items within the category.
• Continue until someone can’t name an item.

The Picnic Game

Similar to “I’m Going on a Trip,” but each item must begin with the next letter of the alphabet. One of my favorite fun road trip games to play with the kids.

• The first player starts with “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing…” followed by an item starting with A.
• The next player repeats the first item and adds something starting with B.
• Continue through the alphabet.

Guess the Animal

One player thinks of an animal, and others ask yes/no questions to guess what it is.

• Think of an animal but don’t reveal it.
• Others ask yes/no questions to deduce the animal.
• Continue until the animal is guessed or questions run out.

Finish the Lyrics

Say a line from a song, and another player has to finish the next line.

• Recite a line from a song.
• The next player completes the lyric.
• Confirm the correct lyrics and continue with different songs.

Spin the Bottle (Q&A Edition)

Adapt it by having a “spinner” (using a phone app or imaginary bottle) and whoever it “points” to must answer a question from the group.

• Use an app or mimic spinning a bottle.
• The person the bottle points to must answer a group question.
• Rotate the spinner and continue with questions.

That’s just my top Picks, keep reading for more Fun games.

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – Alphabet Theme Ideas

Games based on using the Alphabet are almost endless. But here are 20 ideas which can help with your creativity.

Players must name an animal for each letter of the alphabet.

Cities of the World

Name cities around the globe, from A to Z.

Foods and Drinks

Each letter corresponds to a food or drink item.

Movie Titles

Players come up with movie titles for every letter.

Famous People

This can include celebrities, historical figures, or fictional characters.

Book Titles

Great for book lovers, name a book title for each letter.

Name a song title for each letter of the alphabet.

Identify brands that correspond with each letter.

Household Items

Find items around the house or that you’d typically find in a home, for each letter.

Sports and Activities

Any sport, exercise, or physical activity fits into this category.

Test your geography skills by naming countries from A to Z.

Plants or Flowers

Ideal for nature enthusiasts, name plants or flowers for each letter.

Come up with titles of TV shows, past or present.

Professions

Name a job or profession for each letter of the alphabet.

Instruments

Musical instruments that start with each letter.

for an easy to play game, Identify colors or shades that correspond with each letter.

Name languages spoken around the world, from A to Z.

Video Games

Great for gamers, name a video game for each letter.

Name an invention or discovery for each letter.

Mythological Creatures

Dive into mythology by naming creatures from legends and folklore for each letter.

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – 20 Questions Ideas

The game of 20 Questions is a classic guessing game where one player thinks of an item, and the other players have up to 20 yes-or-no questions to guess what it is. This game can be adapted to various themes to make it more interesting or educational. Here are 20 ideas or themes for playing 20 Questions

Think of an animal, and others must guess it with questions related to habitat, diet, characteristics, etc.

Historical Figures

For a fun game to play, choose a person from history, and players ask questions to figure out who it is based on their achievements, era, nationality, etc.

Geographical Locations

This could be a country, city, landmark, or natural feature, with questions revolving around location, cultural significance, or physical characteristics.

The mystery item is a movie, and questions can be about the plot, characters, actors, or awards.

Pick a book, and players ask questions related to genre, author, plot, or characters.

Celebrities

Choose a well-known public figure, and questions can relate to their profession, notable works, or personal life.

Think of an invention, and questions could be about its inventor, era of creation, purpose, or impact on society.

The item to guess could be a type of plant, flower, or tree, with questions focusing on habitat, appearance, and uses.

Choose a specific dish or food item, and questions can be about ingredients, origin, or taste.

The mystery item could be a sport, athlete, or sports team, with questions about rules, achievements, or famous figures associated with it.

Musical Instruments

Pick an instrument, and players ask questions regarding its family, how it’s played, or its sound.

Choose a creature from mythology, and questions could explore its origins, powers, or stories.

Technological Gadgets

Think of a gadget, and questions can be about its use, features, or the era it was popular.

Choose a famous work of art, and questions can revolve around the artist, era, medium, or subject matter.

Scientific Theories

Pick a scientific theory or concept, and questions could be about the field of science it belongs to, its implications, or key figures associated with it.

Board Games

The item could be a board game, with questions about gameplay, the number of players, or components.

Choose a language, and players ask questions about the region it’s spoken, number of speakers, or its writing system.

Holidays and Traditions

Think of a holiday or cultural tradition, and questions can be about how, where, or why it’s celebrated.

Choose a type of vehicle, and questions could cover its mode of transportation, use, or features.

Clothing and Fashion

Pick an item of clothing or a fashion trend, with questions about the era it was popular, materials, or associated culture.

Hopefully that helps with your creativity and spurs you on to find even more great ideas.

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – Classic Car Games Combined

Get ready to level up your road trip entertainment with these innovative car games that blend classic fun with fresh twists. Perfect for all ages, these games promise to keep everyone engaged and laughing from start to finish.

Karaoke Charades

Players sing a song while acting out the lyrics, and others guess the song and artist.

• One player selects a song and starts singing while also acting out the lyrics.
• The other passengers guess the song and the artist based on the performance.
• Rotate roles after each song.

Start with a word or phrase, draw it, then the next person guesses what it is and draws their interpretation, continuing down the line to see how it evolves.

• The first player writes down a word or phrase and then draws it on a piece of paper.
• The next player guesses what it is and then draws their interpretation of that guess on another piece of paper.
• Continue passing and drawing down the line, then compare the first and last drawings.

20 Questions + Storytelling

The object guessed in 20 Questions becomes the protagonist in a spontaneous group storytelling session.

• Play a classic game of 20 Questions until the object is correctly guessed.
• Use the guessed object as the protagonist of a group storytelling session, with each passenger adding to the story.

Alphabet Road Trip Bingo

Create bingo cards with the alphabet, and players must find objects starting with each letter outside the car to fill their card.

• Before the trip, create bingo cards with each square representing a letter of the alphabet.
• As you travel, players spot and call out objects that start with the letters on their card.
• The first player to complete a row or column wins.

Musical Scavenger Hunt

Compile a playlist where each song title or artist is a clue to find a specific object or perform an action.

• Create a playlist with songs where the titles or artists relate to objects or actions.
• Play each song, and passengers must figure out the clue and either find the object or perform the action.
• Keep score of who completes the most tasks.

Guess the Emoji Story

One player creates a short story using only emojis, and others must decipher the story or continue it with their own emoji sequence.

• One player composes a short story using a sequence of emojis.
• Other players attempt to decipher the story from the emojis.
• Players can then add to the story with their own sequence of emojis.

Trivia Treasure Hunt

Combine trivia questions with a treasure hunt, where each correct answer leads to a clue or location of the next hidden item.

• Prepare a list of trivia questions related to the trip or general knowledge.
• Correct answers lead to clues or the location of hidden items along the trip.
• The player who finds the most items or solves the final clue wins.

Drawing Pictionary with a Twist

Use concepts from “Taboo” where certain obvious clues or words cannot be drawn, making it harder to guess.

• Similar to Pictionary, but with a list of words or concepts that are “taboo” and cannot be used in the drawings.
• Players take turns drawing while others guess, without using the taboo clues.
• Points are awarded for correct guesses under time limits.

Soundtrack of My Life Challenge

Players choose songs that represent different moments in their life, and others have to guess the event or period it correlates with.

• Each player selects a series of songs that represent significant moments in their life.
• Play snippets of each song, and the other passengers guess the life event or period it represents.
• Share stories behind each song choice.

Dance-Off Simon Says

Mix “Simon Says” with a dance-off, where players must follow dance moves only when “Simon says” but with added competition for the best dancer.

• One player is “Simon” and calls out dance moves followed by “Simon says.”
• Players only move if “Simon says” is used before the move; otherwise, they stay still.
• Add competitive elements by voting on the best dancer for each round.

Story Dice + Improv Theater

Use story dice to roll for story elements, and then perform an impromptu skit based on the results.

• Roll story dice to determine elements like setting, character, and conflict.
• Players collaborate to perform a short, improvised skit using the rolled elements.
• Take turns rolling dice and performing different skits.

Lip Reading Song Battle

Mute a song’s audio, and one player tries to lip-sync the lyrics while the others guess the song.

• Play a song with the audio muted.
• One player lip-syncs the lyrics.
• Others guess the song based on the lip-sync performance.

Crafty Spies

Combine “I Spy” with crafting, where players create a simple craft based on something they spy with their eyes.

• Play a round of “I Spy” to choose an object.
• Using crafting materials, players create a simple representation of the spied object.
• Share and explain your crafts with the group.

Emoji Charades

Act out the meaning of emojis for others to guess, adding a modern twist to traditional charades.

• Choose an emoji and act out its meaning without speaking.
• Other players guess the emoji based on the actions.
• Rotate actors and continue with different emojis.

Musical Hangman

Play hangman using only song titles or artist names, and the guesser has to sing the song if they solve the puzzle.

• Choose a song title or artist and draw blanks for each letter.
• Players guess letters; incorrect guesses result in drawing parts of the hangman.
• If a player correctly guesses, they sing a line from the song.

Alphabetical Lip Sync Battles

Participants perform lip-sync battles but must choose songs that start with the next letter of the alphabet each round.

• Start with the letter A and choose a song that begins with A for the first lip-sync battle.
• The next round moves to B, and so on through the alphabet.
• Judges or audience vote on the best lip-sync performance for each round.

Movie Mashup Madness

Players describe a movie plot using details from two different films, while others guess the movies involved.

• Pick two movies and combine elements from both into a single plot description.
• Other players guess which two movies are being described.
• Take turns creating and guessing movie mashups.

Recipe Roulette

Combine “20 Questions” with cooking, where players ask questions to guess the dish, then attempt to cook it with only the guessed ingredients.

• Think of a recipe but don’t reveal it.
• Players ask yes/no questions to guess the dish.
• Attempt to cook the dish with the ingredients identified through the questions.

Celebrity Heads Road Trip Edition

Adapt “Celebrity Heads” for the car by guessing the celebrity based on traits or accomplishments, using road signs or objects seen outside for hints.

• Think of a celebrity and give hints based on traits, accomplishments, or related road signs and objects.
• Players ask yes/no questions and guess the celebrity.
• Rotate the role of the hint giver.

Historical Figure Daydreams

Players choose a historical figure, then play a round of “Fortunately/Unfortunately” to create humorous scenarios about what could have happened in their lives.

• Choose a historical figure.
• Start with a scenario involving the figure.
• Players take turns adding to the story with alternating “fortunately” and “unfortunately” scenarios.

I hope you enjoyed that section of creative combinations of car games. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, I’m sure you can come up with some yourself.

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – Longer Running Games

Longer-running games are great for keeping interest and excitement alive over extended periods, such as during road trips, vacations, or even over a summer break. Here are 20 ideas for longer-running games that involve ongoing tasks, collection, or points tallying, providing continuous fun and engagement

Regional Snack Collection

At each stop, collect a snack or item unique to that area, aiming to gather the most diverse collection of treats by trip’s end.

• Plan to stop at various regional locations along your route.
• At each stop, select a snack or local item unique to the area.
• Compare collections at the end of the trip to see who has the most diverse assortment.

Travel Journal Doodles

Each participant maintains a doodle journal, adding a drawing for every place visited or sight seen, comparing journals at the end of the trip.

• Provide each traveler with a journal at the trip’s start.
• Encourage drawing a doodle for each significant sight or location visited.
• Share and compare the doodle journals at the journey’s conclusion.

Create bingo cards with states, countries, or unique characteristics of license plates. The first to complete their bingo card wins.

• Before the trip, prepare bingo cards featuring different states, countries, or unique license plate features.
• Mark off each item on your card as you spot it during the trip.
• The first to complete a row or card shouts “Bingo!” and wins.

Mini Travel Olympics

Hold a series of short physical challenges or games at rest stops or parks, keeping a tally of winners to declare an overall champion at the trip’s end.

• Identify suitable rest stops or parks for physical activities.
• Organize a variety of short games or challenges.
• Keep score of each participant’s wins to determine the overall champion by the trip’s end.

Scenic Photography Contest

Participants take photos of scenery, landmarks, or quirky finds along the journey. Vote on categories like “Most Beautiful” or “Most Unusual” at the trip’s end.

• Throughout the trip, take photos of interesting sights, landmarks, or scenery.
• At the journey’s end, organize a voting session for various categories.
• Declare winners for each category based on votes.

Car Ride Story Building

Start a collaborative story at the beginning of the trip, and each person adds a sentence or paragraph in turns. Read the entire story aloud at the journey’s end.

• Begin a story with an opening line.
• Pass the story around, with each person adding to it in turn.
• Read the completed story together once the trip concludes.

Travel Trivia

Keep track of interesting facts, landmarks, or learning moments encountered during the trip. Hold a trivia quiz on the last day to recall what everyone learned.

• Throughout the trip, note down interesting facts or landmarks.
• Organize a trivia quiz based on these notes on the last day.
• Quiz each other to see who remembers the most.

Postcard Chronicles

Send a postcard to yourself from each major stop, writing about what you did or saw there. Collect them at home as a keepsake of your travels.

• At each significant stop, choose a postcard and write a brief account of your experiences.
• Mail the postcard to your home address.
• Collect and reminisce over the postcards once home.

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Maintain a list of animals, plants, and natural phenomena to spot over the trip. Tally who spots the most items on the list by the end.

• Create a list of natural items to spot during your travels.
• Keep a tally of who spots each item first.
• Count up the tallies at the end of the trip to find the winner.

Culinary Explorer

Try a different local dish at each stop and rate them. Compile a food diary or blog to summarize the culinary adventure.

• At each stop, try a local dish or specialty.
• Rate each dish based on taste, presentation, and uniqueness.
• Compile your ratings and experiences into a diary or blog.

Podcast or Book Club

Select a podcast series or a book to listen to or read together during the journey. Discuss it at various intervals or at the trip’s end.

• Choose a podcast or book for the trip.
• Listen or read in segments during the journey.
• Hold discussions at predetermined intervals or at the end of the trip.

Landmark Bingo

Similar to License Plate Bingo but with landmarks or types of locations (e.g., museums, bridges, national parks). First to complete their card wins.

• Create bingo cards with various landmarks or location types.
• Spot and mark off these landmarks during your travels.
• The first to complete their card wins.

Fit Challenge

Use fitness trackers to monitor steps or activity levels, setting daily goals. The person with the most consistent achievement or improvement wins.

• Set daily step or activity goals for each traveler.
• Use fitness trackers to monitor progress.
• Review achievements at the end of the trip to determine the winner.

Souvenir Swap

Collect souvenirs from each location, then have a swap meet at the end of the trip to exchange items and stories.

• Collect souvenirs from each stop on your journey.
• At the trip’s end, organize a swap meet to exchange souvenirs and share stories behind each item.

City Builder

Like your idea, participants choose items or landmarks they see and describe how they’d incorporate them into their ideal city. Sketch or list ideas and share at the trip’s end.

• As you travel, note down interesting items or landmarks.
• Imagine and describe how each could be part of your ideal city.
• Share your city concepts with fellow travelers at the end of the trip.

Travel Playlist Compilation

Each person adds songs to a collaborative playlist throughout the trip, aiming to encapsulate the journey’s mood or memorable moments.

• Create a collaborative playlist accessible to all travelers.
• Add songs throughout the trip that capture moments or moods.
• Share and discuss the playlist at the journey’s conclusion.

Cultural Immersion List

Make a list of cultural activities to experience, such as attending a local event or trying a traditional craft. Document each activity with photos or entries in a travel diary.

• Before the trip, research and list cultural activities available along your route.
• Participate in these activities and document the experience.
• Share your cultural immersion experiences through photos or diary entries.

Historical Marker Hunt

Take note of historical markers or sites visited. Research and share a brief history at the day’s end or trip’s conclusion.

• Keep an eye out for historical markers and sites during your travels.
• Research and learn about the significance of each.
• Share your findings with fellow travelers at the end of the day or trip.

Roadside Attraction Bingo

In my opinion, this is one of the best road trip games. Start by Creating bingo cards with common and uncommon roadside attractions (e.g., giant statues, unique local businesses). First to spot and document each with a photo wins.

• Prepare bingo cards with various roadside attractions listed.
• Spot and photograph these attractions during your journey.
• The first to complete a bingo row or card wins.

Travel Vlog or Blog

Document the trip through videos or blog posts, with each person responsible for capturing or writing about different segments or aspects of the journey.

• Assign different travel segments or topics to each traveler for documentation.
• Capture the journey through videos or blog entries.
• Compile and share the complete vlog or blog at the trip’s conclusion.

These games encourage exploration, creativity, and physical activity, making long journeys or extended periods more engaging and memorable for all involved.

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – Pre-Planned Games

Games that require a bit of pre-planning can add an enriching layer to your journey, transforming a simple trip into an adventure filled with discovery and learning. Here are several themes and ideas for games and activities that can be planned in advance to enhance long journeys.

Movie Set Road Trip

Research and plan visits to filming locations of favorite movies or TV shows. Create trivia or scavenger hunts based on those movies to play en route or at the location.

• Research and list filming locations of interest along your route.
• Plan your visit to these locations.
• Create trivia questions or a scavenger hunt related to the movies or TV shows for additional fun.

Historical Trails

Choose a historical trail or route, such as the Oregon Trail, Route 66, or the Freedom Trail, and plan stops at significant landmarks. Prepare related games, stories, or quizzes for each landmark.

• Select a historical trail or route and identify key landmarks to visit.
• Research the history and significance of each landmark.
• Prepare interactive games, stories, or quizzes related to each stop.

Geocaching Adventure

Use a geocaching app to plan a route with caches along the way. Geocaching combines treasure hunting with navigation skills, making for a thrilling journey.

• Download a geocaching app and locate caches along your travel route.
• Plan your stops around these geocache locations.
• Use the app to navigate to the caches and log your finds.

Cultural Heritage Tour

Select a route that goes through areas rich in cultural heritage. Learn about the local traditions, cuisines, and crafts in advance, and plan activities or visits around them.

• Research areas rich in cultural heritage along your route.
• Learn about local traditions, cuisines, and crafts.
• Plan visits or activities that allow you to experience the cultural heritage firsthand.

Nature Exploration

Plan a trip around national parks, nature reserves, or scenic landscapes. Prepare a nature bingo or scavenger hunt that includes flora, fauna, and geological features to look for.

• Identify national parks, nature reserves, or scenic landscapes to visit.
• Prepare a nature bingo or scavenger hunt with items to find or observe.
• Explore the natural beauty and mark off items on your bingo card or scavenger hunt list.

Art and Architecture Quest

Focus on exploring art galleries, street art, and architectural wonders along your route. Develop an art journal or photo challenge to capture and reflect on the art seen during the trip.

• Map out art galleries, street art locations, and architectural wonders to visit.
• Create an art journal or initiate a photo challenge for the trip.
• Document and discuss the art and architecture you encounter.

Literary Journey

Choose a route that follows the settings of a novel or the life of a famous author. Prepare discussions, readings, and activities based on the book or author’s works.

• Select a novel or author with strong ties to specific locations.
• Plan your route to follow the settings or significant places in the author’s life.
• Organize discussions, readings, and activities related to the book or author at each stop.

Music Trail

Plan to visit places of musical significance, such as the birthplaces of famous genres (e.g., jazz in New Orleans, country in Nashville) or iconic music venues. Include a playlist of related music to listen to as you travel.

• Identify places of musical significance to visit on your trip.
• Compile a playlist of music related to these places or genres.
• Visit the locations and immerse yourself in the music history and culture.

Science and Innovation Tour

Include stops at science museums, observatories, tech companies, or historical sites of scientific discoveries. Prepare trivia questions or experiments related to each stop.

• Plan visits to science museums, observatories, and other related sites.
• Prepare trivia questions or simple experiments related to the science or innovation at each location.
• Engage with the science and technology through interactive learning at each stop.

Foodie Road Trip

Map out a route based on regional cuisines, famous restaurants, or food festivals. Plan to try specific dishes at each location and rate them, or even take a cooking class.

• Research regional cuisines, famous restaurants, and food festivals along your route.
• Make a list of must-try dishes or restaurants.
• Sample the local cuisine at each stop, rate the dishes, and possibly take a local cooking class.

Sports History Tour

Visit stadiums, halls of fame, or hometowns of famous athletes. Create fantasy sports teams or sports trivia based on the locations visited.

• Identify stadiums, halls of fame, and significant sports locations along your route.
• Research the sports history of each location to create trivia questions or fantasy sports teams.
• Engage in trivia challenges or discussions about sports history at each stop.

Ghost Towns and Legends

Explore abandoned towns, haunted locations, or sites of local legends. Research stories in advance for storytelling sessions.

• Map out ghost towns, haunted locations, or legendary sites to visit.
• Gather stories, legends, and histories of each place before the trip.
• Share these stories with your travel companions as you explore each site.

Astronomy Road Trip

Plan stops at observatories, planetariums, or dark sky parks for stargazing. Learn about constellations and celestial events that may occur during your trip.

• Locate observatories, planetariums, and dark sky parks along your travel route.
• Research constellations, stars, and any celestial events happening during your trip.
• Schedule stargazing sessions and use the opportunity to learn and share astronomy knowledge.

Eco-Challenge

Focus on sustainable travel, visiting eco-friendly sites or engaging in conservation activities. Plan challenges around minimizing your carbon footprint or learning about ecology.

• Choose eco-friendly destinations and activities that emphasize conservation and sustainability.
• Set personal or group challenges to minimize your carbon footprint during the trip.
• Engage in activities that educate on environmental conservation and document your eco-friendly practices.

Fitness Challenge

Map out a route with opportunities for hiking, biking, swimming, or other physical activities. Set personal fitness goals or challenges for each location.

• Identify stops along your route where you can engage in physical activities like hiking or biking.
• Set fitness goals or challenges for each activity or location.
• Track your progress and celebrate achievements as you meet your fitness goals during the trip.

Photography Challenge

Choose a theme or subject for photography (e.g., landscapes, urban life, sunrise/sunset) and plan stops accordingly. Share tips and critique photos to improve skills along the way.

• Decide on a photography theme or subject for your trip.
• Plan your route to include stops that offer opportunities to capture photos related to your theme.
• Share photography tips among your group and critique each other’s photos to improve your skills.

Gardens and Botanics Tour

Visit botanical gardens, arboretums, or wildflower trails. Prepare a plant identification guide or a botanical sketchbook activity.

• Research and plan visits to botanical gardens, arboretums, and trails known for their flora.
• Prepare a plant identification guide or create a botanical sketchbook for drawing the plants you see.
• Explore the beauty of plant life, documenting and sketching as you go.

Film Festival Tour

Attend film festivals in different cities if your trip coincides with their schedules. Discuss themes, cinematography, and performances.

• Research film festivals happening along your route and plan your itinerary to attend them.
• Watch films and participate in festival activities.
• Hold discussions about the films’ themes, cinematography, and performances after viewing.

Craft Brewery Tour

For adults, plan a route that includes visits to craft breweries, with tastings and tours. Learn about the brewing process and regional specialties.

• Identify craft breweries along your route and plan visits.
• Participate in brewery tours and tastings to learn about the brewing process and regional beer specialties.
• Discuss the flavors, brewing techniques, and your favorite brews from each stop.

Railroad History Trip

Follow historic railroad routes, visiting train stations, railroad museums, and scenic railway journeys. Prepare related games or model train building sessions.

• Research historic railroad routes and significant railway locations to visit.
• Plan stops at train stations, museums, and scenic railway journeys that highlight railroad history.
• Engage in railroad-themed games or model train building activities to deepen your appreciation of railway heritage.

These themes not only add structure and purpose to your journey but also enrich the experience with education, culture, and fun, making the journey as memorable as the destination.

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – Educational Games

Educational games that engage Older Kids and Teens (or even Adults) into thinking critically about their surroundings can be both fun and informative, helping them learn about economics, history, architecture, and more. Here are several ideas for games that can educate kids during a journey, categorized by different themes.

Architecture and Urban Planning

Building functions guess.

Spot different buildings, and have kids guess their purposes. Discuss why certain designs are used for specific functions.

• Point out various buildings along the route.
• Ask kids to guess each building’s function based on its design.
• Discuss the architectural features that indicate the building’s purpose.

City Planning Basics

Discuss why certain areas have more of a specific type of business or building and talk about zoning, city planning, and community needs.

• Observe the distribution of businesses and buildings in different areas.
• Initiate a discussion on zoning laws, city planning, and why certain areas develop specific business types.
• Talk about how these decisions impact the community.

Economics and Business

Business success or failure.

When passing by businesses or abandoned buildings, speculate why a business might have succeeded or failed.

• Identify businesses or buildings that are thriving or abandoned.
• Discuss potential reasons for their success or failure.
• Consider factors like location, competition, and market demand.

Supply and Demand on the Road

Discuss why certain products or services are more common in some areas than others, relating it to the concept of supply and demand.

• Notice the prevalence of certain types of businesses or products in different regions.
• Discuss how supply and demand influence these patterns.
• Talk about factors that affect supply and demand in various locations.

Environmental Science

Eco-detectives.

Identify different types of landscapes (urban, rural, forest, desert) and discuss the ecosystems and how humans impact them.

• As you travel, identify and categorize the landscapes you see.
• Discuss the characteristics of each ecosystem.
• Talk about human impacts on these environments.

Recycling and Sustainability Quest

Spot recycling bins, solar panels, wind turbines, or other signs of sustainable practices and discuss their importance.

• Look for signs of sustainable practices and renewable energy use.
• Discuss the importance of each practice spotted.
• Talk about ways to incorporate sustainability into daily life.

History and Culture

Historical marker scavenger hunt.

Look for historical markers and research or discuss the significance of each location.

• Keep an eye out for historical markers along your route.
• Stop to read the markers and research further if needed.
• Discuss the historical significance of the locations.

Cultural Diversity Explorer

Notice and discuss cultural markers that indicate the heritage of the communities you pass through (e.g., architectural styles, restaurants offering various cuisines).

• Observe and identify cultural markers in different communities.
• Discuss what these markers reveal about the community’s heritage.
• Explore the cultural diversity and history of the places you visit.

Science and Technology

Engineering wonders.

Identify and talk about the engineering behind bridges, tunnels, dams, and skyscrapers.

• Spot engineering marvels like bridges and skyscrapers.
• Discuss the engineering principles and challenges involved in their construction.
• Explore the impact of these structures on society and the environment.

Technology Timeline

Notice and discuss the evolution of technology, from old factories to modern wind farms or tech companies.

• Identify examples of old and new technology along your route.
• Discuss how technology has evolved over time.
• Consider the future direction of technological development.

Mathematics

Math in motion.

Calculate travel times, distances, or fuel consumption as a practical application of math skills.

• Use maps and travel information to calculate distances between stops.
• Estimate travel times based on distance and speed.
• Discuss fuel consumption and how to calculate it.

Budgeting Game

Give kids a hypothetical budget for a day’s journey. Have them manage expenses like food, souvenirs, and activities.

• Assign a hypothetical budget for the day.
• As you make stops, have kids decide how to spend their budget.
• Discuss choices and the importance of budgeting.

Health and Nutrition

Healthy choices challenge.

Discuss the nutritional value of different foods when stopping for meals, encouraging healthy choices.

• At meal stops, evaluate the available food options.
• Discuss the nutritional value of different foods.
• Encourage making healthy food choices.

Exercise Exploration

Talk about the importance of physical activity and brainstorm ways to stay active during stops.

• Discuss the benefits of regular physical activity.
• Brainstorm quick exercises or activities that can be done at rest stops.
• Encourage everyone to participate in physical activities during stops.

Provide kids with maps and have them track the journey, learning to read key map symbols and distances.

• Distribute maps to the kids.
• Teach them how to read map symbols and measure distances.
• Have them track the journey’s progress on their maps.

Landmark Legends

Research and share stories about natural landmarks you pass, enhancing geographical and cultural knowledge.

• Identify natural landmarks along your route.
• Research and prepare stories or facts about each landmark.
• Share these stories as you pass by the landmarks.

Government and Civics

Local government glimpse.

Discuss the role of local government in maintaining roads, parks, and public services spotted along the way.

• As you travel, identify public services and infrastructure.
• Discuss the role of local governments in providing these services.
• Talk about the importance of civic responsibility and community involvement.

Public Services Hunt

Identify and talk about different public services (fire stations, schools, libraries) and their roles in the community.

• Spot various public service facilities during your journey.
• Discuss the function and importance of each service.
• Consider how these services contribute to community welfare.

Arts and Creativity

Artistic inspirations.

Encourage kids to sketch or describe landscapes, buildings, or scenes they find interesting, discussing artistic elements.

• Provide sketchbooks or notebooks for drawing or describing scenes.
• Encourage observation and depiction of interesting sights.
• Discuss the artistic elements of the scenes captured.

Music and Movements

Discuss the influence of music on culture and personal identity, exploring different genres and artists.

• Create a playlist featuring a variety of music genres and artists.
• As you listen, discuss the cultural significance and personal impact of different musical styles.
• Encourage exploration of new music and artists.

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

What-if scenarios.

Pose hypothetical situations related to the journey or locations (e.g., “What if this bridge wasn’t here? How would it affect the town?”).

• Present hypothetical scenarios to the group.
• Discuss possible outcomes and impacts of these scenarios.
• Encourage creative thinking and problem-solving discussions.

Invent a Solution

Spot a problem or challenge a community might face (like traffic congestion, pollution) and brainstorm innovative solutions.

• Identify visible community challenges during your trip.
• Discuss the causes and potential solutions to these problems.
• Encourage innovative and practical ideas.

Language and Communication

Language spotting.

Identify different languages on signs, businesses, and public spaces. Discuss where these languages are from and basic greetings or phrases.

• Look for signs or businesses featuring different languages.
• Discuss the origins of these languages and their global presence.
• Learn and share basic greetings or phrases in the languages spotted.

Storytelling from Surroundings

Create stories based on interesting sights or landmarks seen, encouraging creativity and narrative skills.

• Choose a landmark or sight as the story’s setting or inspiration.
• Encourage each participant to create and share a story based on the chosen sight.
• Discuss the creative process and narrative elements of each story.

Social Studies

Community roles and jobs.

Observe different jobs people are doing in the communities you pass through and discuss their importance to society.

• Notice various jobs and roles performed by people in different communities.
• Discuss the significance of these jobs to the community and society at large.
• Reflect on the diversity of roles and their contributions to community life.

Historical Impact Analysis

Speculate on how historical events might have shaped the landscapes, towns, and cities you visit.

• Research the history of the places you plan to visit.
• As you travel, discuss the historical events that have influenced these places.
• Consider the long-term impacts of these events on the landscape and community.

Environmental Awareness

Conservation conversations.

Discuss the importance of conservation efforts visible during your journey, such as protected areas, wildlife crossings, and conservation signs.

• Identify conservation efforts and protected areas during your travels.
• Discuss the purpose and importance of these conservation measures.
• Reflect on how individuals and communities can contribute to environmental conservation.

Climate Zones

Talk about the different climate zones you travel through and their characteristics, including the types of vegetation and wildlife that can survive there.

• Research the climate zones along your route.
• Discuss the characteristics of each climate zone, including vegetation and wildlife.
• Reflect on how climate affects the natural world and human activities.

Astronomy and Space

Skywatching stories.

If traveling at night, identify constellations and share myths or facts about them.

• Prepare constellation maps or apps for night travel.
• Identify constellations and share their myths or scientific facts.
• Discuss the significance of these constellations in different cultures and science.

Space Exploration Discussion

Discuss how certain landscapes you pass through resemble other planets or moons and the basics of space exploration.

• Compare and contrast Earth’s landscapes with known landscapes of other planets or moons.
• Discuss human space exploration efforts and achievements.
• Explore the possibilities of future space travel and discovery.

These educational games and discussions can turn a long journey into a moving classroom, sparking curiosity and a love for learning in various subjects. They encourage observation, questioning, and critical thinking, making travel an enriching experience beyond just reaching a destination.

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – Word and Riddle Games

Here are 20 word or riddle games designed to entertain teens and adults during long car trips. These games are perfect for stimulating the mind and sparking lively discussions.

Start with one word, and each person says the first word that comes to mind. Keep going until you can’t think of any more associations.

• Someone says a starting word.
• The next person says the first word they think of that’s associated with it.
• Continue around until no one can think of a related word.

Example “Car” might lead to “road,” which might lead to “travel,” and so on.

Each person shares three statements about themselves—two truths and one lie. The others have to guess which statement is the lie.

• Each player thinks of two truths and one lie about themselves.
• They share all three statements in a random order.
• The others guess which one is the lie.

Example “I’ve been to Australia, I have two siblings, I can play the guitar.” (If the lie is about playing the guitar.)

Movie Synonyms

Describe a movie title with synonyms (e.g., “Gigantic” for “Big”), and others guess the movie.

• Think of a movie title.
• Describe it using synonyms without saying the actual title.
• Others guess the movie based on your description.

Example “Nighttime in the Museum” for “Night at the Museum.”

Choose a word, and everyone takes turns saying a word that rhymes with it until someone gets stumped.

• Take turns saying words that rhyme with the starting word.
• Continue until someone can’t think of a rhyming word.

Example If the starting word is “cat,” responses might include “hat,” “bat,” “rat,” etc.

Alphabet Story

Start a story where each sentence begins with the consecutive letter of the alphabet. “A long time ago…” “But then…”

• Begin a story with a sentence starting with “A.”
• The next person continues the story with a sentence starting with “B.”

Example “A cat walked into a bar. But it wasn’t an ordinary bar…”

Riddle Me This

Share riddles for others to solve, ranging from simple to complex. You can prepare a list of riddles beforehand.

• Think of or look up a riddle.
• Share the riddle with the others.
• They try to solve it.

Example “What has to be broken before you can use it?” (An egg.)

License Plate Decoder

Invent a backstory or meaning for the letters and numbers on a license plate you see.

• Choose a random license plate.
• Create a story or meaning behind its letters and numbers.
• Share with the others and see who can come up with the most creative interpretation.

Example For “4JMP2,” “Four jugglers made pancakes too.”

Start with a word, and each person changes one letter to make a new word. The goal is to see how far you can veer from the original word.

• Begin with any word.
• The next person changes one letter to form a new word.
• Continue, with each person altering one letter of the latest word.

Example “Cat” could change to “bat,” then to “bit,” “bite,” and so on.

These games are great for keeping the energy up and making long car trips more enjoyable and engaging for teens and adults alike.

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – Number Plate Game Ideas

Elevate your road trip entertainment with these imaginative number plate car games. Each game transforms ordinary license plates into puzzles, stories, and challenges, making the miles fly by.

Alphabet Soup

Find license plates in alphabetical order, starting with A and working your way to Z.

Example First, spot a plate with an ‘A’, then look for a ‘B’, and continue until you reach ‘Z’.

State Bingo

Create bingo cards with different states. Spot license plates from those states to mark off your squares.

Example If your card has Texas, Florida, and California, and you spot a plate from Texas, mark that square off.

License Plate Limericks

Create a short, funny limerick using the letters from a spotted license plate.

Example For a plate reading “D4N,” a limerick could be: “A dog named Dan, who could tan, in the sun he’d span, until he ran, after the mailman.”

License Plate Math

Use the numbers on a license plate to create and solve math problems. Add, subtract, multiply, or divide the digits in creative ways.

Example If a plate is “X32G4,” you could create: 3 + 2 – 4 = 1.

Plate Color Hunt

Look for license plates of a specific color. The first to spot a predetermined number of them wins.

Example Find five blue license plates while traveling through the city.

Plate Pictionary

Draw a scene or object that the letters on a license plate remind you of, and have others guess what it is.

Example A plate “CAT” might inspire a drawing of a cat lounging in the sun.

License Plate Stories

Create a short story or sentence using the letters of a license plate as the first letter of each word.

Example For “GFT,” a story could start: “Giant frogs trembled…”

Around the World

Spot license plates from as many different states or countries as possible, aiming to “travel” through continents or across the U.S.

Example Spotting a plate from California, then one from New York, and imagining the coast-to-coast journey.

Plate Detective

Guess the profession or personality of the vehicle’s owner based on the license plate and the car’s appearance.

Example A plate that reads “4RTIST” on a brightly painted van might belong to an artist.

Invent a funny or interesting meaning behind the letters and numbers on a license plate.

Example A plate “123 XYZ” could be decoded as “One-two-three, Xylophone Yodeling Zebras.”

Plate Categories

Pick a category (e.g., animals, foods, movies). Use the letters on a license plate to name something within that category.

Example For “BGR,” in the food category, you could say “Burger.”

License Plate Scramble

Rearrange the letters in a spotted license plate to form new words or phrases.

Example A plate “LVE” could be scrambled to “EVL” (Evil).

Secret Mission

Pretend each spotted license plate is a clue or code for a secret mission. Create the mission’s objective based on the plates you see.

Example A plate “007” might inspire a spy mission to uncover a mystery.

License Plate Haiku

Use the letters on a license plate to inspire a haiku. The letters can dictate the theme or specific words to use.

Example For “SNW,” a haiku could be: “Silent night whispers, Snowflakes dance on cold breezes, Winter’s breath holds tight.”

Plate Chain

Spot a license plate, then find another plate where the last letter or number of the first plate is the first letter or number of the next.

Example If you see a plate ending in “4,” find another starting with “4.”

License Plate Tag

When you see a license plate from a new state, shout it out. No repeats allowed. The person with the most unique states wins.

Example Spotting plates from Florida, then Texas, and so on, each called out once.

Number Pursuit

Choose a number (e.g., 7), and then find license plates with numbers that add up to it.

Example A plate with “313” because 3 + 1 + 3 = 7.

License Plate Bingo Deluxe

Make a bingo card with a mix of states, numbers, and colors. For example, “A blue plate from Texas” or “A plate with ‘123’.”

Example Creating a bingo card that requires spotting a green plate, a plate from Nevada, and a plate containing “567.”

Alphabetical Sentences

Use the letters from a plate to start each word of a sentence, in order. The more coherent the sentence, the better.

Example For “CAT,” a sentence could be: “Cats adore tuna.”

License Plate Riddles

Create riddles based on the letters and numbers of a license plate. For example, if the plate is “4JMP2,” the riddle could be “I jump but never play. What am I?” (Answer: A basketball).

Example For “SUN1,” a riddle might be: “I shine and rise but never run. What am I?” (Answer: The sun).

These variations of the number plate game provide a fresh and engaging way to pass the time on long car journeys, turning every new plate spotted into a mini-adventure.

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – Brain Teasers and Logic Puzzles

Here are 20 brain teasers and logic puzzles designed to challenge and entertain during long car trips. These puzzles are perfect for teens and adults looking for a mental workout on the road.

Answers at the bottom of section.

Missing Dollar

Three friends check into a hotel room that costs $30. Each friend pays $10. Later, the clerk realizes the room was only $25 and gives $5 to the bellboy to return to the friends. The bellboy, however, decides to keep $2 for himself and gives $1 back to each friend. Now, each friend has paid $9, totaling $27, and the bellboy has $2. Where is the missing dollar?

Crossing the Bridge

Four people need to cross a bridge at night. The bridge can only hold two people at a time, and they have only one flashlight. The group’s speeds are 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, and 10 minutes. How can they all cross the bridge in 17 minutes?

Farmer’s Challenge

A farmer needs to transport a wolf, a goat, and a cabbage across a river. His boat can only carry him and one other item at a time. He can’t leave the wolf alone with the goat or the goat alone with the cabbage. How can he get all three across safely?

The Three Doors

You’re in a game show with three doors. Behind one door is a car, and behind the other two are goats. You pick a door, say No. 1, and the host, who knows what’s behind the doors, opens another door, say No. 3, revealing a goat. He then asks if you want to switch to door No. 2. Should you switch?

The Hat Puzzle

Three people are captured by a bandit king. The king lines them up and places a hat on each of their heads, either black or white. Each person can only see the hat of the people in front of them, not their own or those behind. The king promises freedom to anyone who can correctly state the color of their hat. How do they figure it out?

Water Jug Problem

You have a 5-liter jug and a 3-liter jug and need to measure exactly 4 liters of water. How do you do it?

The Monty Hall Problem

Similar to the Three Doors puzzle but explore variations. For instance, what if there were 100 doors instead of three?

Two Fathers and Two Sons

Two fathers and two sons go fishing. Each catches one fish, so why do they bring home only three fish?

The Poisoned Wine

A king has 1000 bottles of wine, and one is poisoned. He has 10 prisoners to find out which one is poisoned. The poison takes effect in an hour, and the king needs the answer by the next morning. How does he figure out which bottle is poisoned with the least number of deaths?

Infinite Quarter Toss

If you toss a quarter an infinite number of times, what are the odds that you will eventually flip heads ten times in a row?

The Liar and the Truth Teller

You come to a fork in the road with two individuals. One always tells the truth, and the other always lies. You can ask one question to find out which road leads to your destination. What do you ask?

The Sock Drawer

In a dark room, you have a drawer containing 10 red socks and 10 blue socks. How many socks must you pull out to ensure you have a matching pair?

Birthday Paradox

In a room of 23 people, what’s the probability that at least two people share the same birthday?

The Escalator

A man walks up an escalator moving downward and counts 50 steps. When he walks up the same escalator, now moving upward, he counts 75 steps. How many steps would he count if the escalator were not moving?

The Four Prisoners

Four prisoners are lined up, and each has a hat placed on their head, either black or white. They can’t speak, move, or see their hat but can see the hats in front of them. How can at least one guarantee to guess their hat color correctly?

The Dropped Egg

You have two eggs and access to a 100-story building. The eggs can survive falls from certain floors without breaking. What’s the least number of drops you need to find out the highest floor from which an egg can be dropped without breaking?

The Silent Agreement

Two people, who have never met, are placed in separate rooms and can’t communicate. They are told that if they both write down the same positive whole number, they will each win that amount in dollars. However, if one writes down a number one higher than the other, that person wins $1,000,000. What number do they choose?

Locked Box with a Key Inside

You have a locked box that is transparent enough to see a key inside. The box has a hole too small for the key to fit through. How do you open the box?

Dividing the Gold

Five pirates discover a treasure of 100 gold coins. They must divide it under the rules that the most senior pirate proposes a distribution, and all pirates, including the proposer, vote on it. If half or more of the pirates vote for it, the gold is distributed that way. Otherwise, the proposer is thrown overboard, and the process repeats. How does the gold get divided?

The Racing Horses

You have 25 horses, and you want to find out the three fastest horses. You can race up to 5 horses at a time, but you don’t have a stopwatch. What’s the minimum number of races you need to identify the top 3 horses?

Answer: There’s no missing dollar. This is a common misdirection puzzle. The $27 total includes the $25 room cost plus the $2 kept by the bellboy. The three friends effectively paid $9 each ($27 total), out of which $25 went to the room and $2 to the bellboy.

Answer: The quickest way is 17 minutes:

• The two fastest people (1 minute and 2 minutes) cross first, taking 2 minutes.
• The 1-minute person comes back with the flashlight, taking 1 more minute (3 minutes total).
• The two slowest people (5 minutes and 10 minutes) cross, taking 10 minutes (13 minutes total).
• The 2-minute person comes back with the flashlight, taking 2 more minutes (15 minutes total).
• The two fastest people (1 minute and 2 minutes) cross again, taking 2 minutes (17 minutes total).

Answer: The farmer takes the goat across first, leaves it, and returns. He then takes the wolf (or the cabbage) across, but brings the goat back with him. He leaves the goat on the original side and takes the cabbage across. Finally, he returns to pick up the goat.

Answer: Yes, you should switch. When you initially choose a door, there’s a 1/3 chance you’ve picked the car and a 2/3 chance you’ve picked a goat. After the host opens a door revealing a goat, switching gives you a 2/3 chance of winning the car, as the initial probabilities don’t change.

Answer: This puzzle’s solution depends on the specific setup and rules provided, such as the arrangement of the hats and the logic each prisoner can use based on what they see and know.

Answer: Fill the 5-liter jug and use it to fill the 3-liter jug, leaving you with 2 liters in the 5-liter jug. Empty the 3-liter jug, transfer the 2 liters into it, and fill the 5-liter jug again. Pour from the 5-liter jug into the 3-liter jug until it’s full, leaving exactly 4 liters in the 5-liter jug.

Answer: Switching doors indeed increases your chance of winning to 2/3, as initially, there’s a 1/3 chance you’ve chosen the car and a 2/3 chance the car is behind one of the other doors.

Answer: There are only three people: a grandfather, his son (who is also a father), and his grandson.

Answer: Use a binary system to label the bottles and give each prisoner a mix of wines according to the binary labels. You can identify the poisoned bottle with just one round of testing and a maximum of one death.

Answer: The probability is 1, meaning it’s certain that you will eventually flip heads ten times in a row if you flip the coin an infinite number of times.

Answer: You ask either person what the other would say is the correct road. Then you take the opposite road.

Answer: You must pull out three socks to guarantee a matching pair, as the first two could be one of each color.

Answer: The probability that at least two people share the same birthday in a room of 23 people is about 50%.

Answer: This puzzle’s solution would depend on understanding the man’s walking speed relative to the speed of the escalator, a variable not provided in the question.

Answer: Without more specifics, one strategy involves the prisoners using logical deduction based on what they see and assuming a predetermined order of guessing to ensure at least one can correctly state their hat color.

Answer: The least number of drops to find the highest safe floor can be minimized using a binary search strategy or by incrementing floors in a systematic way, but the exact number depends on the outcome of each drop.

Answer: Rational choice theory might suggest both choosing the number 1, as cooperation maximizes the reward without risking losing to greed.

Answer: The solution might involve using magnets, shaking the box until the key falls out of the lock mechanism, or other creative solutions not directly apparent from the problem statement.

Answer: The most senior pirate proposes giving one gold coin to the lowest-ranking pirate and another to one other pirate, keeping the rest. This ensures just enough votes to keep from being thrown overboard.

Answer: You need 7 races. Race the 25 horses in groups of 5, then race the winners of each group to find the fastest three.

These puzzles are sure to provide plenty of mental stimulation and spark engaging conversations, making any long car trip feel shorter.

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – True or False Game Ideas

True or False games are fantastic for stimulating critical thinking and can be adapted to a wide range of themes, especially during a journey where the scenery, radio, and conversations provide endless material. Here are several themes and ideas for True or False games that can be played during a car ride.

Historical Facts – True or False: Landmarks Edition

Make up or state true facts about historical landmarks you pass or discuss during the trip.

Environmental and Geographical

Ecosystems and wildlife.

Make statements about the ecosystems or animals you might see or pass through during your journey, turning it into an educational yet fun road trip game.

Geographical Features

Claim facts about rivers, mountains, or other geographical features in the areas you’re traveling through.

Cultural and Societal

Cultural practices.

Propose true or false statements about the cultural practices of the places you’re visiting or passing by.

Say something about celebrities or historical figures associated with the areas you’re traveling through.

Innovations on the Road

Discuss inventions or technological advancements and their origins or functionalities, related or not to what you see during the trip.

Astronomy Facts

Share amazing but true (or false) facts about space, planets, or constellations that might relate to the night sky if you’re traveling after dark.

Arts and Literature

Literary legends.

Make statements about authors, books, or literary characters related to the regions you’re exploring.

Music Milestones

Assert facts about music genres, artists, or songs that come up on the radio, exploring their backgrounds and truths.

Food and Cuisine – Culinary Claims

Make claims about the local cuisines, dishes, or food production methods of the places you’re visiting.

Sports and Recreation – Athletic Achievements

Propose true or false facts about sports teams, events, or athletes from the areas you’re driving through.

Business and Economy – Corporate Conundrums

Discuss companies, startups, or economic facts related to the regions you’re in, which could include visible businesses or industries along the route.

Architecture and Urban Planning – Architectural Assertions

State facts about architectural styles, famous buildings, or urban planning trends visible on your journey.

Transportation and Travel – Vehicular Varieties

Make statements about the history, evolution, or peculiar facts of different modes of transportation you see or use.

Media and Entertainment – Entertainment Enigmas

Share surprising truths or fabrications about movies, TV shows, or celebrities connected to the locations you’re passing by.

Wildlife and Nature Conservation – Conservation Facts

Propose statements about wildlife conservation efforts, endangered species, or national parks you might encounter.

Health and Wellness – Well-being Wonders

Discuss health facts, myths, or surprising truths about wellness practices seen or relevant during your trip.

Astronomy and Space Exploration – Space Speculations

Create true or false statements about astronomical discoveries, space missions, or celestial phenomena.

Myths, Legends, and Folklore – Mythical Musings

Weave in local myths, legends, or ghost stories of the areas you’re traveling through, presenting them as true or false.

Puzzles and Brain Teasers – Logical Lore

Challenge your travel companions with logical puzzles or brain teasers that seem implausible but might actually be true.

Playing these True or False games can lead to intriguing discussions, spur curiosity, and prompt participants to learn more about a variety of topics, all while keeping the travel atmosphere lively and engaging.

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – Pop Culture Trivia and Radio

Here are 20 Pop culture trivia games focused on what you might hear on the radio during a long car trip. These games can make the journey more entertaining and engaging for everyone.

One person hums or describes a song without saying its title, and others guess the song.

When a song plays on the radio, the first person to shout out the correct artist wins a point.

Stop a song midway and challenge passengers to correctly finish the lyrics.

Song in a Movie

Name a song that’s playing and have participants guess which movie it was featured in.

Decade Duel

When a song comes on, players guess the decade it was released. Closest guess wins.

Identify the genre of the current song on the radio. Bonus points for naming another artist from the same genre.

Cover or Original

Decide if the song playing is a cover version or the original. Extra points for naming the original artist if it’s a cover.

Artist Association

After hearing a song, the next player must name another artist who has collaborated with the performing artist.

One-Hit Wonders

When a song by a one-hit wonder artist plays, be the first to identify them as such.

Back-to-Back

After one song ends, guess the artist of the next song before it starts.

Lyric Lookup

Someone recites lyrics from a song, and others have to name the song and artist.

Musical Connections

Name a song, then players take turns naming another song that shares a word in the title.

Guess the Album

Name the song and artist that’s playing, and challenge others to guess the album it’s from.

Song Title Synonyms

Provide a synonym for a song title (e.g., “Gigantic” for “Big”), and others guess the actual title.

Artist’s First Hit

When an artist’s song plays, challenge others to name the artist’s first hit single.

Same Era Artists

Name the artist currently playing and have players list other artists who were popular in the same era.

Award-Winning Tracks

Guess whether the current song or its artist has won a Grammy (or any other major music award) and for what category.

Song Sampler

Play the first few seconds of a song from your phone, and others guess the song and artist.

Songs often mention cities, states, or countries. When a location is mentioned in a song, be the first to shout it out.

Collaboration Call-Out

When a song featuring multiple artists plays, earn points by naming all the artists involved.

These pop culture trivia games focused on radio content are sure to make any long car trip more enjoyable and engaging, offering a fun way to explore music knowledge and preferences with friends and family.

I really hope this article has been of help. My overall aim of this website is to whole heartedly help people so they stay safe on the roads. Keeping passengers entertained and also the driver (as long as it’s safe and not distracting) is important.

If you are going on a road trip why not check out my other article on Car First Aid Kits or Best Dash Cams .

If you have any questions. please feel free to leave a comment or you can contact me directly via the contact us page.

What are road trip games, and why are they so popular?

Road trip games are fun activities to play during car rides to keep passengers entertained and pass the time. They are popular because they help create a lively atmosphere and make long journeys more enjoyable.

How can I make the most of game to play on a long car ride with adults and kids?

To make the most of your road trip games, choose a variety of games that appeal to both adults and kids, take turns playing different games, and have small prizes for winners to add excitement.

What are some classic car games that everyone in the car will enjoy?

Classic car games like “I Spy,” “20 Questions,” “Alphabet Game,” and “License Plate Game” are popular choices that can entertain both adults and kids during a long car ride.

How do I keep my younger kids entertained during a family road trip?

For younger kids, consider playing games like “I Spy with My Little Eye,” “Alphabet Game,” and “Road Trip Scavenger Hunt” that are engaging and easy to understand.

What are some creative road trip games that involve road signs and landmarks?

Games like “Road Signs Bingo,” “Road Trip Scavenger Hunt,” and “Travel Games” that require players to spot specific road signs and landmarks along the journey are both educational and fun.

How can I ensure that everyone in the car participates in the road trip games?

To ensure everyone participates, establish a rotation system where each person in the car takes turns asking questions or initiating the next game, creating an inclusive and engaging experience.

What are some engaging road trip games for older kids and adults on a long car ride?

Older kids and adults may enjoy games like “Would You Rather,” “20 Questions,” “Memory Game,” and “Road Trip Bingo” that offer a mix of humor, challenge, and interaction for a memorable journey.

How can I make the alphabet game more challenging for advanced players?

To make the alphabet game more challenging, play in alphabetical order with each player naming items starting with the next letter of the alphabet, adding a twist to the classic game.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

EverythingForDrivers.com

Your one stop shop for post accident Guides and Help As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

© EverythingForDrivers.com

20+ Car Games to Make Your Road Trip Fun and Memorable

• 14 minute read

• May 4, 2023

A road trip is a great way to create unforgettable memories with your loved ones, and what better way to make it fun and memorable than by playing games and activities in the car? This introduction section aims to set the tone for the article by highlighting the joy of road trips and emphasizing the importance of games and activities for entertainment.

First, the section introduces the joy of road trips, which includes the freedom of the open road, the sense of adventure and discovery, and the opportunity to spend quality time with family or friends.

Then, the section highlights the importance of games and activities for entertainment during road trips. Playing games provides a fun way to pass the time and helps break up the monotony of long drives and keeps everyone engaged. It can also help to reduce stress, build relationships, and create lasting memories. For more details keep reading this post.

Classic Road Trip Car Games

Classic Road Trip Games are traditional games that have been played for generations during long car rides. These games are easy to play, require little or no equipment, and are suitable for all ages. Classic road trip games are a great way to bring the family together, pass the time, and create lasting memories.

Some of the most popular classic road trip games include I Spy, 20 Questions, the Alphabet Game, the License Plate Game, and the Name Game. These games are simple to understand and can be played by anyone, regardless of age or gaming experience.

Playing classic road trip games can help to make the journey more enjoyable, reduce stress and anxiety, and provide an opportunity to bond with family and friends. It’s a great way to unplug technology and connect with the people and surroundings around you.

I Spy is a classic road trip game that can be played with two or more players. The objective of the game is to guess an object that another player has chosen based on clues provided about the object’s attributes.

How to Play: One player selects an object within sight and says, “I spy with my little eye, something that is [color or description].” The other players have to guess what the object is until someone correctly identifies it. The player who correctly guesses the object gets to select the next object and provide clues about it.

How to Win: The player who correctly guesses the object gets one point. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins. The game can be more challenging by selecting obscure objects or requiring the guessers to ask yes or no questions.

20 Questions

20 Questions is a popular road trip game that can be played with two or more players. The objective of the game is to guess a chosen object by asking yes or no questions, with the goal of narrowing down the possibilities to the correct answer within 20 questions.

How to Play: One player chooses an object and keeps it a secret from the other players. The other players take turns asking yes or no questions about the object until someone correctly guesses it, or until they have reached the limit of 20 questions. The player who correctly guesses the object gets to choose the next object for the next round.

How to Win: The player who correctly guesses the object gets one point. The game can be made more challenging by setting a time limit or by adding additional restrictions, such as requiring questions to be asked in a certain category or theme. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.

Alphabet Game

The Alphabet Game is a fun road trip game that can be played with two or more players. The objective of the game is to find words or objects that start with each letter of the alphabet in order, starting with the letter A and ending with the letter Z.

How to Play: Players take turns finding words or objects that start with each letter of the alphabet, in order. For example, the first player might say “A is for Apple,” and the second player might say “B is for Bicycle,” and so on. The game continues until someone reaches the letter Z or until a pre-determined time limit is reached.

How to Win: The player who successfully completes the entire alphabet first, or who has the most letters of the alphabet completed when the game ends, wins. The game can be made more challenging by adding additional rules, such as requiring each word to be a certain category or theme, or by requiring the words to be found outside of the car during rest stops or breaks.

License Plate Game

The License Plate Game is a fun and easy road trip game that can be played with two or more players. The objective of the game is to spot as many license plates from different states or provinces as possible during the trip.

How to Play: Players keep a tally of the different states or provinces they see on license plates during the trip. If a player sees a license plate from a new state or province, they can add it to their tally. The game can be made more challenging by requiring players to find license plates from specific states or provinces, or by requiring players to find license plates with specific letters or numbers.

How to Win : The player who spots the most license plates from different states or provinces by the end of the trip wins. The game can also be played by giving points to each player for the different states or provinces they see, with more points awarded for harder-to-find states or provinces.

Name That Tune

Name That Tune is a classic road trip game that tests players’ knowledge of music. The objective of the game is to guess the name of a song based on a short clip of its melody.

How to Play: One player hums or whistles a short clip of a song, and the other players try to guess the name of the song. The player who guesses correctly gets to hum or whistle the next clip, and the game continues in this way. The game can also be played with a portable music player, where one player plays a clip of a song and the other players try to guess the name.

How to Win: The player who correctly identifies the most songs by the end of the game wins. The game can also be played with points, where each player gets a point for correctly identifying a song, and the player with the most points at the end of the game wins.

New Twists on Old Favorites

New Twists on Old Favorites” refers to modern variations of classic road trip games that add a new dimension of fun and excitement to the traditional gameplay. In this section, we will explore some new and innovative twists on the classic games we all know and love.

These new twists can help to keep the games fresh and engaging, even for players who have played them before. By introducing new elements and variations, these games can help to make your road trip even more enjoyable and memorable.

DIY Board Games

DIY board games are a great way to pass the time on a road trip. As the name suggests, these games are ones that you make yourself. This can involve designing the board, creating game pieces, and coming up with the rules. The possibilities are endless, and the only limit is your creativity.

How to Play : The rules of each DIY board game will be unique, as they are created by the players themselves. However, the general idea is to create a game that is fun, challenging, and engaging. Players can use their imagination to come up with interesting challenges and obstacles, and the game can be as simple or complex as desired.

How to Win : As with the rules of the game, the objective of each DIY board game will also be unique. Some games may have a clear winner, while others may be more cooperative and have a shared goal.

Collaborative Storytelling

Collaborative storytelling is a game that involves players taking turns adding to a story. Each player contributes a sentence or paragraph, and the story grows and evolves as it progresses. This game can be a lot of fun, as it allows players to be creative and imaginative, and the story can take unexpected twists and turns.

How to Play : To play collaborative storytelling, one player begins by setting the scene and introducing the characters. The next player then adds to the story, and so on. The goal is to create a story that is interesting, engaging, and cohesive.

Players should listen to what has been said before them and try to build on the story in a way that makes sense and keeps it moving forward.

How to Win : Collaborative storytelling is not necessarily a game that has a winner or loser. The objective is simply to create a fun and entertaining story together.

However, players can challenge themselves to create the most interesting or creative contributions to the story, which can be a fun way to keep the game engaging.

Spot the Difference

• About the game : In this game, two seemingly identical images are presented, and players have to spot the differences between them.
• How to play : One person shows two nearly identical pictures to the other players, who must then find and point out the differences between them.
• How to win : The person who correctly identifies the most differences between the two images wins.

Sing-a-long Karaoke:

• About the game : Players take turns singing along to popular songs and scoring points for accuracy and creativity.
• How to play : One person chooses a song, and everyone else sings along. Players can earn points for hitting the right notes, adding creative flourishes to the song, or making others laugh with their performance.
• How to win: The person with the most points at the end of the game wins.

Travel Scavenger Hunt:

• About the game: In this game, players compete to find objects or complete challenges while on a road trip.
• How to play: Players are given a list of items or tasks to complete while on the road trip. These might include finding certain license plates, spotting certain landmarks, or completing certain challenges.
• How to win : The first person or team to complete all the tasks on the list wins.

Best Road Trip Games for Families

These games are not only fun, but they also help to bring the family together during long hours on the road. We have chosen games that are suitable for children of all ages and that can be played with minimal materials or preparation.

So, let’s dive in and explore these family-friendly games that are sure to make your road trip more enjoyable.

Mad Libs is a word game where one player prompts another player to provide a list of words to fill in the blanks of a story. The words are often of a certain type, such as nouns, verbs, or adjectives, and are chosen without knowing the context of the story. Once all the words are provided, the story is read back with the player’s words in place of the blanks.

How to Play: To play Mad Libs, one player will need to have a Mad Libs book or a list of stories with blank spaces for the words. The other player will then be prompted to provide a list of words, without knowing the context of the story. Once all the words are provided, the first player reads the story back with the provided words in place of the blanks.

How to Win : There is no real winner or loser in Mad Libs, as the game is meant to entertain and create a funny story.

The Animal Name Game

About the Game : The Animal Name Game is a game where each player takes turns naming an animal, and the next player must name an animal that starts with the last letter of the previous animal’s name. The game continues until someone cannot name an animal within a set time limit or repeats an animal name that has already been used.

How to Play: To play The Animal Name Game, each player takes turns naming an animal. The next player must then name an animal that starts with the last letter of the previous animal’s name. For example, if the first player says “elephant”, the next player must name an animal that starts with “t”, such as “tiger”. The game continues in this way until someone cannot name an animal within a set time limit or repeats an animal name that has already been used.

To win , players must successfully name an animal for each letter of the alphabet in the correct order without repeating any previously named animals.

Would You Rather

About the game : This game involves asking someone to choose between two difficult or unpleasant options and explaining why they chose that option.

How to play : Players take turns asking “Would you rather” questions and the other players must choose which option they would rather do.

How to win : There are no winners or losers in this game. The goal is simply to have fun and get to know each other better.

Story Cubes

About the game : Story Cubes is a game that involves rolling dice with different pictures on them and using the pictures to create a story.

How to play : Each player takes turns rolling the dice and using the pictures to create a sentence or phrase that adds to the story. Players can continue the story where the previous player left off or start a new story.

How to win: There are no winners or losers in this game. The goal is simply to use your imagination and creativity to tell a fun and entertaining story.

The Name Game

About the game: The Name Game is a word game that involves creating new words or phrases using the letters of someone’s name.

How to play : One player chooses a name and the other players must come up with words or phrases that start with each letter of the name. For example, if the name is “John,” players could come up with “Jovial,” “Optimistic,” “Honest,” and “Nice.”

How to win : There are no winners or losers in this game. The goal is simply to have fun and be creative with words.

Fun Road Trip Activities for Kids

The “Fun Road Trip Activities for Kids” section covers a variety of games and activities that can help keep kids entertained and engaged during long car rides. The games and activities mentioned in this section are:

Road Trip Bingo

Road Trip Bingo is a fun game that keeps kids entertained during long car rides. It is a variation of traditional bingo that can be played with different themes, such as road signs, license plates, and landmarks.

To play Road Trip Bingo, each player gets a bingo card with different items to spot during the trip. The goal is to find all the items on the card and yell “bingo” when they have completed a row or the entire card.

To win at Road Trip Bingo, players must be observant and quick to spot the items on their bingo cards. It also helps to have a bit of luck on your side, as some items may be harder to find than others.

Coloring Books and Activity Pages

Coloring Books and Activity Pages are a classic way to keep kids engaged and entertained during a long road trip. These activities encourage creativity and help children develop their fine motor skills.

To use coloring books and activity pages on a road trip, parents can purchase a variety of coloring books and activity books ahead of time and pack them in the car. They can also download and print activity pages from the internet. Some activity pages can be found for free, while others can be purchased online.

To use these activities, parents can provide their children with a variety of coloring supplies such as colored pencils, crayons, and markers. Children can choose a page from their coloring book or activity book, or select an activity page printed from the internet. They can then work on their activity while on the road.

There is no specific way to win at coloring books and activity pages. The goal is to keep children engaged and entertained while on the road and to encourage their creativity and fine motor skills.

Magnetic Games and Puzzles :

Magnetic games and puzzles are great for road trips because they are compact and easy to transport. They usually come with a magnetic board and magnetic pieces that can be moved around to solve puzzles or play games.

There are a variety of magnetic games and puzzles available, such as magnetic chess, checkers, and tic-tac-toe.

Interactive Storybooks :

Interactive storybooks are a fun way to engage kids in reading during a road trip. They often include sound effects, animations, and interactive features that allow children to interact with the story.

Some popular interactive storybook apps include The Cat in the Hat, The Lorax, and Dr. Seuss’s ABCs.

Play-Doh and Clay:

Play-Doh and clay are great for kids who like to create and mold things with their hands. They are easy to transport and can provide hours of entertainment during a road trip.

Play-Doh and clay sets usually come with different colors of dough or clay, as well as tools for shaping and molding.

Other Great Road Trip Games and Activities

This section includes some additional fun games and activities that can be enjoyed on a road trip. These games and activities include.

Carpool Karaoke :

Carpool Karaoke is a singing game where passengers take turns singing along to popular songs. It can be played with a phone or a CD player and a selection of songs.

How to play : Players take turns choosing a song and singing along to it while the others in the car join in as backup singers. The next player chooses a new song and the game continues.

How to win: There is no winner or loser in this game, the goal is to have fun and enjoy the music together.

License Plate Bingo :

License Plate Bingo is a game where players try to find license plates from different states or provinces to complete a bingo board.

How to play : Each player gets a bingo board with a list of states or provinces on it. As players spot license plates from different places, they mark them off on their board. The first player to complete a row or a full board wins.

How to win: The first player to complete a row or a full board wins.

The Alphabet Memory Game:

This game requires players to take turns reciting the alphabet and coming up with a word that starts with each letter. The next player must then repeat the previous player’s word and add a new word starting with the next letter of the alphabet. The game continues until a player can no longer think of a word that fits the pattern.

Word Association:

In this game, one person says a word and the next player has to say a word that is associated with the previous word in some way. For example, if the first word is “dog,” the second player might say “bone,” and the third player might say “fetch.” The game continues until a player can’t think of a related word.

DIY Magnetic Tic Tac Toe:

To play this game, players use a metal tray or cookie sheet and make a tic-tac-toe board with masking tape. They can then use magnetic Xs and Os to play the game. To make the game more challenging, players can play on a larger grid or add additional pieces to the game.

The conclusion of the article “0+ Car Games to Make Your Road Trip Fun and Memorable” summarizes the key points discussed in the article and reiterates the importance of having fun games and activities on road trips. It encourages readers to try out different games and activities with their families and friends and create their own unique memories.

Additionally, the conclusion may offer some final tips or suggestions for making road trips more enjoyable, such as packing snacks and drinks, taking breaks to stretch your legs and enjoy the scenery, and being flexible with your itinerary. Overall, the conclusion aims to leave readers feeling inspired and excited to embark on their next road trip adventure.

How much did you like Our detailed  20+ Car Games to Make Your Road Trip Fun and Memorable ?   Review Also, please share these  Blogs  with your friends on social media.

Related Article –

Road Trips Ideas | 12 Tips to Prepare Your Car for a Long Road Trip?

• 150 Best Places to Visit in the United States In 2023
• Road Trip With Kids
•  Important Road Trip Packing List

Meet David Hoper, a passionate travel Blog writer with 7+ years of experience in travel content. Through his exemplary storytelling and engaging narratives, he shares his experiences and brings destinations to life. With a keen eye for detail and a love for exploration, he has cultivated a diverse portfolio of travel blogs that inspire and inform readers worldwide.

In this article:

Post written by: David Hoper

Leave a reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• May 3, 2023

United states Kalapaki Beach in Lihue, Hawaii | Things to Do & Attractions

Road Trips The 20+ Best Snacks Ideas for Long Drive Road Trips

You may also like.

What Should I Do If I Get Lost on a Road Trip? | 10 Tips

• 5 minute read

The Best Audiobooks to Listen to On Your Road Trip

• 4 minute read

20 Safety Tips For Driving In Bad Weather 

• 6 minute read

How to Stay Awake While Driving Long Distances

The 20+ Best Snacks Ideas for Long Drive Road Trips

• 10 minute read

Our Latest Instagram Posts

@amazingworld.travel8.

25 Road Trip Games to Make the Miles Go By Fast

You won’t be hearing: “Are we there yet?” 😂

Every item on this page was chosen by a The Pioneer Woman editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Road trip games are one of the easiest ways to make the miles fly by in the blink of an eye, and if you used to take road trips when you were little, you likely have several car games that you still love today. Perhaps you’re heading out with your whole family in tow or going somewhere fun with a group of gals or your main squeeze (talk about a cute summer date idea !). No matter what type of trip you’re taking, road trip games are a must. The nice thing about road trip games is that they don’t require a ton of items to bring along—just your brains, a few rules to follow, and plenty of giggles. If you’d like to tuck away those smartphones and kick it old-school, turn to these 25 boredom-busting road trip games.

While You Were Sleeping

It’s not just a favorite movie from the ‘90s! For this game, one person will be asleep (which happens pretty frequently on road trips). Once they’re asleep for at least five minutes, the ones who are awake will start making up a story, and each person will take turns adding to that story. After the person wakes up, the group’s job is to make them believe that it’s a true story. If someone starts giggling, they’ll lose a point. But if each one tricks the sleeper into believing the story, every person gets three points.

The Singing Game

This is for the family and pals who love to bust out a tune! One person in the car will start singing a song. The next person will pick up a lyric from that song and will link it up with another song (i.e. “Should I stay or should I go…” can link to “…your own way, go your own way.”) The words can connect to one another going round and round until someone can’t think of a new lyric or sings the incorrect words.

This might be one of the most classic car games of all time. You know the rules: someone in the car will spot something by the road and say, “I spy with my little eye, something that is…” and then will give a hint, whether it’s a color or general direction. The other players will ask questions until someone discovers what it is.

20 Questions

One person will choose a noun (a person, place, or thing) and the other players will get 20 questions to find out what it is. Simple and fun!

License Plate Game

A game that’s always a favorite! The aim of this game is to spy all 50 states on license plates throughout your journey. You can keep track on a piece of paper, a phone, or you can use a board with markers for each state.

SHOP LICENSE PLATE GAMES

Scavenger Hunt

Similar to “I Spy,” a road trip scavenger hunt involves bringing along a list of items that are typically seen along the road. Your pals or little ones will spot the items, like stop signs or blue cars, and check them off the list. The first one to check them all off wins.

Two Truths and a Lie

For this, one player will make three statements, and one of them will be false. The other players will try to guess which one is the untrue one. It’s a great way to discover new things about a friend or family member!

This game is great for older kids and adults. Focusing on compound words, each person will link to the previous word and keep going around until someone can’t come up with anything. For example, notebook, bookstore, store-bought, etc.

Never Have I Ever

Each player will start a statement by saying, “Never have I ever…” Then they’ll finish the statement by saying something like, “Fallen asleep in class,” or “Flown on an airplane.” The rest of the crew has to decide if it’s a true statement or not.

Road Trip Bingo

It’s just like the bingo you play at home, except this game has a road-trip spin. Bring along some bingo cards (you can even purchase ones that are road trip-themed) and look for all the items on the board. The first one to get BINGO wins!

SHOP ROAD TRIP BINGO CARDS

The Name Game

This game is all about naming as many “names” as you can, but you’ll each only have three seconds to answer! There are lots of ways to play: focus on first letters, go with last names only, etc. Or change the category to dog breeds, books, types of flowers, or anything else you can come up with.

Story Starter

Here’s a classic game. One person will start a story but won’t finish the sentence. The next player will finish that sentence, but won’t finish it, and so on. By the end, you’ll probably have a pretty funny story going!

Alphabet Game

This is a game to play when you know there will be a lot of signs and billboards along the way. Starting with “A” and so on, players will find words on the route that start with each letter of the alphabet. You can play with the letters in order, or you can cross them off as you see them.

The Grocery Game

The first player will come up with an item they would buy at the grocery store. Without telling anyone, the rest of the car will take turns asking questions to discover what it is. Is it red? Can it be found in the produce department? It’s an apple!

Name That Tune

This one goes out to the music lovers out there! For this game, someone will start playing music on the radio or on a smartphone. In only five seconds, you have to guess what song it is. The first person to answer gets a point!

SHOP SMARTPHONE SPEAKERS

What Color Is It?

This game is perfect if you have young kiddos. The adults will list several items that are the same color: for instance, leaves, frogs, money, and so on. The kids have to guess the color!

Triple Threat

Someone in the car will choose three random nouns, like “alligator,” “flute,” and “mashed potatoes.” Everyone else in the car will have to make up a story based on these three nouns!

Car Color Search

Keep track of car colors as you spot them, including all the colors of the rainbow and some less-common ones, like pink, lime green, and gold.

Would You Rather?

These are questions that you make up as you go along, and you might learn some new things about each other, too! Ask questions like, “Would you rather eat a too-hot slice of pizza or a too-cold popsicle?” or “Would you rather win a million dollars or have the ability to fly?” Each person gets to answer these fun questions.

In My Suitcase

It’s a memory game! Start a sentence with, “I’m going on vacation, and I packed…” and begin with an item that starts with the letter A. The next player will choose an item that starts with B, but they have to add the previous player’s item onto their sentence. For example, you could say, “I’m going on vacation, and I packed accessories.” Next, the person could say, “I’m going on vacation, and I packed accessories and a brush.” See how long you can go until someone forgets.

SHOP SUITCASES

.css-l114lb:before{background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:contain;background-size:contain;content:'';display:block;margin:auto auto 0.25rem;}.loaded .css-l114lb:before{background-image:url('/_assets/design-tokens/thepioneerwoman/static/images/butterfly.svg');}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-l114lb:before{width:2.039rem;height:1.616rem;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-l114lb:before{width:2.5rem;height:1.9rem;}} Fun

30 Pool Party Ideas That Are Sure to Make Waves

Cute Couple Captions That Are Just So Dang Sweet

75 Riddles for Adults That Will Leave You Stumped

25 Fun Picnic Games for the Whole Family

125 Cute and Unique Girl Cat Names

25 Cute Pickleball Outfits to Wear on the Court

These Two 'When Calls the Heart' Actors Are Dating

Give Dad a Laugh With These Father's Day Puns

30 Fun Father's Day Games Any Dad Will Love

177 Best Horse Names for Your Shining Stallion

These Father's Day Jokes Will Make Dad Chuckle

• Search Search Please fill out this field.
• Martha's Blog
• Sweepstakes

These Road Trip Games Are So Fun, Your Kids Won't Ask "Are We There Yet?" Once

The tech-free car activities on our list will also help you connect with your kids—whether they're five or 15—on a deeper level.

• Toddlers and Preschoolers
• School-Age Kids
• Tweens and Teens

AleksandarNakic / GETTY IMAGES

The modern family road trip may look very different from the one you, your siblings, and your parents took decades ago, when you drove cross-country with maps instead of GPS, CDs in a Discman that skipped when you went over bumps, and nothing but pre-texting-era postcards to keep in touch with family and friends back home.

But one thing, at least, hasn't changed: Family road trips, whether an hour-long trip to your beach house or a multi-state adventure through the National Parks , offer valuable time to connect and bond with the other travelers in your car—especially if you can convince everyone to set aside their tablets, phones, and earbuds.

Classic road trip games like I Spy, Two Truths and a Lie, or Spot the License Plate have helped pass the time for families on cars, trains, and planes for generations. Bri DeRosa, content manager for Boston-based nonprofit The Family Dinner Project , suggests adding the games below to your lineup; all can be modified for different age groups and played with no equipment and no planning—just your presence. "When you purposefully interact with each other, whether it's at meal time or playing a game during a road trip, are intentional about spending that time together, and try to do so in a way that's fun, the message you are sending is that you, as a family, are important enough to each other to be together without distraction," she says.

Road Trip Games to Play With Toddlers and Preschoolers

Kyryl Gorlov / GETTY IMAGES

When you need a break from Disney soundtracks and handing out snacks, try one of these games that are just right for your youngest travelers (and their older siblings, too).

Cat and Cow

This incredibly simple game is a favorite for little ones, says DeRosa. One person alternates saying either "Cat" or "Cow"—switch between them, but say each as many times in a row as you want—and the rest of the players respond with either "meow" or "moo." "You do it quickly and it ends up with everybody just dissolved in laughter because meow and moo are so similar," says DeRosa. "Little kids love it—their favorite thing to do is be the person who dictates cat and cow to watch their parents mangle it."

Different Drummers

In this rhythm game, one person acts as the leader, tapping out a syncopated pattern on the dashboard, on their knees, or on a book on their lap, while the rest of the group follows. Have younger kids match your beat in a follow-the-leader-style game, and add tricky changes or quick stops to make it harder for older ones, says DeRosa.

Think of this as celebrity charades without the action, says DeRosa: One person describes someone the entire group knows, one detail at a time, and other players see who can correctly name the person first. Who counts as a celebrity can depend on the age range of your players: A favorite swimming teacher, the mailman, Grandpa, or Bluey are equally worthy choices for the preschool set.

Road Trip Games to Play With School-Age Kids

Maskot / GETTY IMAGES

Give the "Are we there yet?" group something else to talk about with these games—which are more fun when the whole car participates.

Can You Remember?

Turn your family's powers of observation into a game that's perfect for slow highways, rest stop meals, or rides along stretches of dull terrain. This game requires no preparation, says DeRosa: "People close their eyes and you challenge them to remember what’s around them: What color is dad's shirt? What's your sister wearing in her hair?" If you’re outside the car in an unfamiliar place, give everyone 30 seconds to look around before quizzing them on the photos on the wall, what types of cake are in the dessert case at the diner where you're having lunch, or how many flavors of potato chips this mini-mart sells.

Story by Sentence

Any type of storytelling game is a hit with school-age kids, says DeRosa. In the most basic version, go around the car with each person adding one sentence to a made-up story, building on the details that came before. If you need a little creative inspiration, products like Story Cubes or Story Stones offer pictures of animals, places, people, and things to get your tale started; for a free alternative, have each person in the group name one item in a given category that must be included in the final story (then enjoy coming up with a story about a pink dinosaur going bowling on the moon).

Family History

Draw on classic stories from your parents, grandparents, and extended relatives for this trivia game, which tests players on how well they know their family background. Which of your grandmothers went to Woodstock? Which of your grandfathers was in the Navy? Which uncle broke his arm on a Boy Scout camping trip? Which aunt lived in Spain after college? "Let kids try to guess or remember who did what," says DeRosa. "It's a really excellent way of strengthening that family heritage, and their sense of belonging within their family unit."

Road Trip Games to Play With Tweens and Teens

SolStock / GETTY IMAGES

These more challenging—and funnier—games just might tempt your older kids away from their devices.

Alphabet Games

Alphabet games are classics for any age, whether you're spotting letters on license plates and signs with preschoolers or having school-age kids create an alphabetical list of what they're bringing on a picnic. But tougher versions can be surprisingly engaging for tweens and teens who think they’ve outgrown this type of activity.

DeRosa's favorite modification: Require players to use the last letter of the previous answer as the first letter of their answer—no repeated letters allowed. Choosing a tricky category can make this more interesting, too: Try celebrity actors (where Brad Pitt could be followed by Tom Holland, but not Taylor Swift, for example), countries, or cities.

Higgledy Piggledy

This rhyming game is one of DeRosa's family's favorites—a standby for waiting in airports and for long trips. One person thinks of two rhyming words, then gives a clue to the rest of the group, who must guess the pair of words. "For example, you think of funny bunny, and the clue is something like, hilarious furry mammal," she says. "It's silly and engaging, but also really enough of a brainteaser for older kids not to get bored."

The Song Game

Convince your teens to take out their earbuds with a few rounds of this music-and-lyrics-based game. Choose a specific word or category, and take turns coming up with lyrics or songs that include them; the last person to come up short is the winner. "Maybe the word is love, or make it harder with a category like transportation—and you might use 'Leavin’ on a Jet Plane' or 'Midnight Train to Georgia,'" says DeRosa.

2-Minute Interview

This fast-paced, either-or game might help you learn a thing or two about your quietest kids (particularly those tight-lipped teens). "Set the timer, and choose someone to be the interviewer, then see how many either/or questions you can ask and answer in two minutes," DeRosa says. (A few ideas to get started: summer or winter, chocolate or vanilla, socks or no socks, pizza or tacos, planes or trains, Woody or Buzz, ocean or lake.)

Simple Conversation Starters

Another take on Q&A games doesn't require the timer. Instead, have a stock of conversation starters or would-you-rathers at the ready: What three items would you take to a desert island? If you had a time machine, what would you do? If you could change a rule, what would it be? "Ask them things that are not about life, school, homework, friend struggles, and odds are, they are going to eventually loosen up and talk about the things you want to know," says DeRosa. "Road trips are the perfect opportunity for families to find those moments of reconnection."

100+ Fun Road Trip Games for Everyone!

Posted on Last updated: February 12, 2024

Road trips offer a unique opportunity to explore, bond, and create unforgettable memories. An essential part of these journeys is the road trip games that bring laughter, joy, and friendly competition.

Whether you’re traveling with family, friends, or solo, these games transform long drives into an adventure, making every mile an opportunity for fun and connection. Let the games begin!

Classic Road Trip Games

Embark on a journey back to the basics with classic road trip games that have stood the test of time. These games require no gadgets, just an eagerness to have fun and a dash of creativity.

Perfect for all ages, they turn every mile marker into a moment of joy and every road sign into a prompt for play. Let’s dive into the timeless fun that makes every road trip memorable.

How to Play: One player looks around and chooses an object that all players can see, but they keep it a secret. They say, “I spy with my little eye, something…” followed by a clue about the object’s color, shape, or a general description. The other passengers take turns guessing what the object might be. The game continues with players taking turns to “spy” new objects.

Players: 2 or more.

Variations: To keep things interesting, set themes for each round like “only things outside the car” or “items that start with the letter B.”

2. 20 Questions

How to Play: Think of something—animal, vegetable, or mineral—and let the others know the category. They have 20 questions to ask to guess what it is, but you can only answer with “yes” or “no.” If someone figures it out before reaching 20 questions, they win and get to think of the next object.

Variations: Try limiting the categories to specific themes, such as movie characters or historical figures, to ramp up the challenge.

3. License Plate Game

How to Play: Keep your eyes peeled for license plates from as many different states as possible. When someone spots a new state, they shout it out. Keep a list of all the states seen during the trip. The person or team that spots the most wins.

Players: Any number.

Variations: Make it educational by requiring the spotter to say something they know about the state or find the state on a map.

4. Alphabet Game

How to Play: The aim is to find words that begin with each letter of the alphabet, in order, from A to Z. Players look for letters on signs, license plates, billboards, and passing trucks. The first person to complete the alphabet wins.

Variations: Play in teams and make it a relay; once a player finds “A,” the next player looks for “B,” and so on.

5. The Picnic Game

How to Play: Start the game with “I’m going to a picnic and I’m bringing…” followed by something that begins with the letter A. The next player repeats the phrase, including the A item and adding something that starts with B. This continues through the alphabet. If you forget an item, you’re out!

Variations: Change the picnic to a different theme, like a monster party or a castle banquet, to spark imagination.

6. Story Time

How to Play: One person starts a story with a single sentence. The next player adds another sentence to continue the story, and so on. The tale grows more elaborate and often more humorous as each person adds their twist. The game ends when the story comes to a natural conclusion or becomes too absurd to continue.

Variations: Limit each contribution to specific genres, like sci-fi or fairy tales, or add rules like each sentence must contain a certain word or concept.

7. Guess the Song

How to Play: Hum, whistle, or softly sing the melody of a well-known song without using any lyrics. The other passengers try to guess the song as quickly as they can. The first person to name the song correctly gets to perform the next one.

Variations: Make it themed around specific decades, genres, or artists to cater to the group’s musical tastes or to challenge their knowledge.

8. Would You Rather

How to Play: Players take turns asking “Would you rather” questions, posing two scenarios from which the other passengers must choose. For example, “Would you rather always have to sing instead of speaking or dance everywhere you go?” The game sparks laughter and intriguing conversations as players justify their choices.

Variations: Set boundaries to keep questions appropriate for all players and consider creating themed rounds, like food-related choices, travel dilemmas, or superpower options.

9. The Name Game

How to Play: Start with any name (person, place, or thing). The next player has to come up with a name that begins with the last letter of the previous name mentioned. No repeats allowed! If someone gets stuck, they’re out, and the game continues until only one player remains.

Variations: Narrow it down to categories such as celebrities, cities, animals, or foods to increase the difficulty or educational value.

10. Silent Car DJ

How to Play: One player acts as the DJ and plays a song on their device, but with headphones in so only they can hear it. They hum or tap the rhythm, and the others have to guess the song. Points are awarded for correct guesses, and the DJ role rotates after each round.

Variations: Instead of humming, the DJ could describe the song with three adjectives, making others guess based on the description.

11. Categories

How to Play: Choose a broad category, such as animals, cities, foods, or movies. Players take turns naming items that fit within the category. The catch? You can’t repeat an item that’s already been said, and you only have a few seconds to think of your answer. If you can’t come up with something or you repeat an item, you’re out. The last player remaining wins.

Variations: To increase the challenge, narrow the categories to more specific themes, like ‘Animals in Africa’ or ‘Movies with Tom Hanks.’

12. Two Truths and a Lie

How to Play: Each player takes a turn to say three statements about themselves: two truths and one lie. The rest of the group has to guess which statement is the lie. This game is not only fun but also a great way for passengers to learn new and surprising things about each other.

Variations: For a twist, after the lie is revealed, the person has to tell the story behind one of the truths.

13. The Restaurant Game

How to Play: One player thinks of a restaurant, and the others ask up to 20 yes-or-no questions to guess what it is. Questions can range from the type of cuisine to the restaurant’s location. This game can spark discussions about food, travel experiences, and personal preferences.

Variations: Expand the game to include any type of business or specific places the group has visited together to make it more personal and challenging.

14. The Alphabet Sign Game

How to Play: Similar to the Alphabet Game but with a twist. Players must find the letters of the alphabet, in order, on road signs only. The first person to spot a sign with the next letter calls it out and moves on to the next letter. The first player to reach ‘Z’ wins.

Variations: To make it more challenging, exclude common signs or require the whole word to start with the letter.

15. Telephone

How to Play: This classic game starts with one person whispering a short message to the person next to them. The message is whispered from person to person until it reaches the last player, who says it out loud. It’s often amusing to see how much the message changes as it’s passed along.

Players: 3 or more, the more, the merrier.

Variations: Introduce a theme for the messages, such as movie plots or famous quotes, to guide the whispering and add an element of challenge in remembering specific details.

Trivia and Quiz Games

Elevate your road trip with a dash of knowledge and a sprinkle of competition.

Trivia and quiz road trip games are perfect for those who love to learn, challenge their brains, and boast about their obscure knowledge.

These games are not only entertaining but also educational, making them ideal for travelers of all ages.

Ready to test your wit and perhaps learn a thing or two along the way? Let’s quiz!

1. Movie Trivia

How to Play: Test your group’s movie knowledge with questions about classic films, famous actors, and award-winning movies. One person plays the quizmaster, asking questions like, “Which movie won the Best Picture Oscar in 1994?” or “Name the actor who played James Bond in ‘Casino Royale’.” Keep score, or just play for fun!

Variations: Focus on a specific genre, decade, or even movies from a single director to tailor the game to the interests of the passengers.

2. Capital Cities Quiz

How to Play: A geographical twist that challenges players to name the capital cities of countries around the world. The quizmaster names a country, and players take turns answering. Incorrect answers mean you’re out, and the last person standing is the geography champ!

Variations: Make it easier for younger players by asking for the country of famous landmarks or harder by asking for cities that are not capitals.

3. Name That Tune

How to Play: Hum, whistle, or sing a few bars of a song without revealing its title or the artist, and let the others guess. The person who guesses correctly gets a point and takes the next turn as the performer.

Variations: Stick to a particular decade, genre, or even songs from movies to keep everyone on their toes.

4. Celebrity Guessing Game

How to Play: Think of a celebrity, and the others ask yes-or-no questions to figure out who it is. Questions can be about their profession, their work, physical characteristics, or any public knowledge. The game goes on until the celebrity is guessed or the questions run out.

Variations: Limit the celebrities to a certain field, like athletes or musicians, to make the game more challenging.

5. Road Trip Bingo

How to Play: Before the trip, create bingo cards with common road trip sights (like a red car, a billboard, or a cow). Players mark off the items on their card as they see them. The first to get five in a row and shout “Bingo!” wins.

Variations: Customize bingo cards for different regions or themes, such as a beach trip, mountain adventure, or urban exploration.

6. The Ultimate Quiz

How to Play: Combine all areas of trivia into one ultimate quiz game. Include categories like sports, science, pop culture, history, and more. Each correct answer scores points, and the person with the most points at the end of the game—or the trip—wins ultimate bragging rights.

Variations: Have each passenger come up with their set of questions for the group, giving everyone a chance to be the quizmaster.

7. Finish the Fact

How to Play: Start a fact about something (it could be about a country, a scientific phenomenon, a historical event, etc.) but leave it incomplete. For example, “The Eiffel Tower was originally intended for…” Players then guess to complete the fact. This game can lead to hilarious answers and some genuine learning moments.

Variations: Choose facts related to the destinations on your trip route to add an educational twist that connects with your journey.

8. Sports Trivia

How to Play: Perfect for the sports enthusiasts in the car, ask questions related to different sports, famous athletes, Olympic records, and memorable sporting events. Keep track of points to find out who the ultimate sports trivia champion is by the end of the trip.

Variations: Narrow the focus to a particular sport, like basketball or soccer, or include questions about local sports teams and athletes from your area.

9. Book Worm Trivia

How to Play: This game is for the literary aficionados in the car. Challenge each other with questions about famous books, authors, literary genres, and classic literature. For example, “Who wrote ‘1984’?” or “In which book does the character Scout appear?” Points are awarded for correct answers, and the person with the most points after a set number of questions wins.

Variations: Focus on a specific literary period, genre, or even books that have been adapted into movies to cater to different interests.

10. Science and Nature Quiz

How to Play: Test your knowledge of the natural world and scientific discoveries with questions ranging from biology and chemistry to astronomy and earth science. The quizmaster poses a question, and players take turns answering. This game not only entertains but educates, sparking curiosity about the wonders of the world.

Variations: Make it more interactive by relating questions to the scenery outside. For instance, if you’re passing through a mountainous area, ask questions related to geology or mountain ecosystems.

11. Historical Figures Guess Who

How to Play: One player thinks of a famous historical figure, and the rest ask yes-or-no questions to figure out who it is. The game continues until the figure is guessed or the questions are exhausted. It’s a great way to brush up on history while having fun.

Variations: Narrow the pool of historical figures to a certain era or field, such as Renaissance artists, World War II leaders, or women in science, to make the game more challenging.

12. Mythology Matchup

How to Play: Dive into the rich world of myths and legends with this trivia game. Players are given a character or item from mythology, and they must name the mythological tradition it belongs to (Greek, Roman, Norse, etc.) or tell a fact about it. It’s a fantastic way to explore different cultures and stories.

Variations: Focus on one mythology at a time or challenge players to match gods and goddesses with their domains or symbols.

13. Foodie Trivia

How to Play: For the culinary enthusiasts, this game tests your knowledge of world cuisines, cooking techniques, famous chefs, and food history. Questions can range from “What is the main ingredient in a traditional ratatouille?” to “Who is considered the father of modern French cuisine?”

Variations: Challenge players to guess the dish from a list of ingredients or to name the country of origin for popular dishes.

14. Pop Culture Puzzles

How to Play: This game focuses on current pop culture, including movies, music, influencers, viral trends, and television shows. Players might have to answer questions like “What was the highest-grossing film of 2020?” or “Who sang the hit song ‘Levitating’?” Keep the questions current to test who’s really up-to-date.

Variations: For a twist, include “finish the meme” challenges where one player describes a popular meme, and others have to complete or explain it.

15. Environmental Trivia

How to Play: With a focus on the environment, sustainability, and wildlife, this game educates players on important issues while engaging them in a fun challenge. Questions can cover topics like endangered species, national parks, renewable energy sources, and significant environmental events.

Variations: Incorporate questions related to the regions you’re driving through, such as local conservation efforts, native species, or geographical features.

Word and Language Games

Inject some linguistic fun into your road trip with games that play with words and language.

These games are perfect for wordsmiths, budding poets, and anyone who loves to tangle with tenses, wrestle with rhymes, or simply savor the sounds of syllables sliding together.

They’re a fantastic way to keep minds sharp and spirits high, turning every turn of the road into a twist of the tongue. Let’s dive into the verbal voyage!

1. Word Association

How to Play: Kick off this simple yet stimulating game by saying a word. The next player says the first word that comes to mind associated with the previous word. The game continues with each player building off the last word mentioned. It’s a great way to see where your minds wander and how differently or similarly everyone thinks.

Variations: Introduce themes to guide the associations, such as only using adjectives, animals, or places, to make the game more challenging.

2. Rhyme Time

How to Play: One player says a word, and the others must take turns coming up with words that rhyme with it. Keep going until no one can think of any more rhymes. For an added challenge, disallow simple rhymes or set a timer to up the ante.

Variations: Make it a storytelling challenge where each rhyming word must be used in a sentence that continues the story.

3. Storytelling Round Robin

How to Play: Begin a story with a single sentence. The next player adds a sentence, and so on, with each contribution building on the last. The resulting stories can be fantastical, hilarious, or unexpectedly poignant, reflecting the collective creativity of the players.

Variations: Impose rules such as each sentence must contain a certain word, or each addition must switch the genre of the story.

4. Word Chain

How to Play: Start with any word. The next player must say a word that begins with the last letter of the previous word. No repeating words, and each word must be real and verifiable. This game can go on indefinitely and is a great way to expand your vocabulary.

Variations: Focus on specific categories, like animals or food, to narrow down the options and increase difficulty.

5. Alphabetical Sentences

How to Play: Construct sentences where each consecutive word begins with the next letter of the alphabet. For example, “Alligators bask, cautiously digesting.” Players can work together to create the longest possible sentence or challenge each other to see who can come up with the most complex or humorous sentence.

Variations: Try creating sentences in reverse alphabetical order for a brain-bending twist.

6. Synonym Rolls

How to Play: One player says a word, and the next must come up with a synonym for it. The game continues, with each player trying to think of another synonym. This game ends when players run out of synonyms or repeat a word.

Variations: Play the antonym version, where players must come up with opposite words instead.

7. Haiku Highway

How to Play: Embrace the beauty of your surroundings by composing haikus related to the trip. A traditional haiku is a three-line poem with a syllable pattern of 5-7-5. Take turns sharing your poetic observations about the journey, the landscape, or travel companions.

Variations: Expand beyond haikus to other forms of poetry, challenging each other to limericks, free verse, or sonnets about the trip.

8. The Unending Sentence

How to Play: Start with a simple sentence. The next player adds to it, and so on, with the goal of creating the longest, most grammatically correct sentence possible. This game can lead to some hilariously complex sentences and tests your understanding of grammar and punctuation.

Variations: Impose limitations such as each addition must include a specific word class (noun, verb, adjective, etc.) to increase the educational value.

9. First Letter, Last Letter

How to Play: This game challenges players to think of a word that starts with the last letter of the word previously mentioned. For example, if the word is “road,” the next word could be “dog.” The game continues, with each player linking their word to the last letter of the word before theirs. This can be played with themes, such as animals, cities, or any category you choose.

Variations: Make it more challenging by disallowing repeat words or setting a time limit for responses.

10. Gibberish Translation

How to Play: One player says a phrase in gibberish, and the others have to guess what they’re trying to convey. The gibberish speaker can give hints if needed. The aim is to translate the gibberish back into English, rewarding the most creative and accurate interpretations.

Variations: Instead of gibberish, use a made-up language or incorporate simple foreign language phrases for a bilingual twist.

11. Tongue Twister Tournament

How to Play: Challenge your fellow travelers to say classic tongue twisters as quickly and accurately as possible. Each player takes turns attempting different tongue twisters, and the group votes on the performance. Players get points based on clarity and speed.

Variations: Create your own tongue twisters related to the trip or surroundings for a personalized touch.

12. The Silent Game

How to Play: While not strictly a word game, this game challenges players to stay silent for as long as possible. It’s a humorous way to enjoy some quiet time, with the last person remaining silent winning the game. The twist? Other players can try to make the silent player speak (without touching them).

Variations: Add challenges or tasks that the silent player must complete while maintaining their silence for added difficulty.

13. Celebrity Name Game

How to Play: Start with the name of a celebrity. The next player must think of another celebrity whose first name starts with the first letter of the last name of the previous celebrity. For example, if the first name is “Tom Hanks,” the next could be “Harrison Ford.”

Variations: Include fictional characters to broaden the pool of names and add an element of fun.

14. The Definition Game

How to Play: One player thinks of a word, preferably one that’s obscure or whose meaning might not be widely known, and shares it with the group. The other players then invent definitions for the word, trying to convince the others that their definition is the correct one. After everyone has presented, the true meaning is revealed.

Variations: Vote on the best fake definition for points, regardless of whether it’s correct, to reward creativity.

15. Reverse Spelling Bee

How to Play: In this twist on the traditional spelling bee, the quizmaster spells out a word backward, and the players must guess the word. This game tests listening skills and mental flexibility as players translate the backward spelling into a recognizable word.

Variations: Use words related to the trip or destinations for a thematic connection to your journey.

Interactive Tech Games

In the age of smartphones and tablets, technology offers a wealth of opportunities to make road trips more engaging and interactive.

These games leverage the power of devices to entertain, educate, and even connect players with others far away.

From trivia apps that test your knowledge to multiplayer games that pit passengers against each other in friendly competition, there’s no shortage of ways to turn your vehicle into a mobile game room.

So, charge up your devices, download some apps, and get ready for some high-tech fun on the road.

1. Mobile App Trivia

How to Play: Numerous trivia apps are available that cover a wide range of topics, from general knowledge and science to pop culture and history. Players can compete individually or split into teams, answering questions on their devices. Some apps allow for real-time competition against players from around the world.

Players: 1 or more per device.

Variations: Choose apps that offer themed trivia nights or allow players to create custom quizzes about each other for a personal touch.

2. Multiplayer Gaming Apps

How to Play: There are many apps designed for multiple players, allowing you to engage in everything from strategy games and puzzles to racing and action adventures. Find games that can be played on a single device or over a shared network, and dive into a virtual world together.

Variations: Look for games that require cooperation to complete challenges or solve puzzles, encouraging teamwork and communication among passengers.

3. Audiobook Story Guessing

How to Play: Listen to an audiobook together and pause it at cliffhanger moments or the end of chapters. Everyone then guesses what happens next, with points awarded for correct predictions or the most creative guesses. Resume playback to find out who was right.

Variations: Choose audiobooks from genres everyone enjoys, or for an educational twist, listen to historical or scientific audiobooks and quiz each other on the content.

4. Podcast Quiz

How to Play: Select a podcast episode related to a topic of interest for all passengers. After listening, one passenger poses questions about the episode. This can be a great way to learn something new and spark interesting discussions.

Variations: Choose different podcast genres for each leg of the trip, ranging from mystery and science to history and comedy, to keep the content fresh and engaging.

5. Geocaching Adventure

How to Play: Use a geocaching app to find hidden caches along your route. This global treasure hunt uses GPS to guide you to specific coordinates where a geocache is hidden. It’s a great way to add physical activity and adventure to your stops.

Variations: Look for caches that contain trackables—items that travel from cache to cache—and see how far items you track or place travel over time.

6. Virtual Scavenger Hunt

How to Play: Create a list of items to find or tasks to complete that can be done from the car, such as taking a photo of a specific landmark, finding a rare car model, or spotting wildlife. Use your phones to document each item found or task completed.

Variations: Make the scavenger hunt educational by including historical landmarks or natural wonders in the list of items to find.

7. Karaoke App Competition

How to Play: Use a karaoke app that scores your singing based on pitch and rhythm. Passengers take turns performing songs, and the app provides a score at the end of each performance. It’s a fun way to showcase your vocal talents (or lack thereof) and enjoy some music.

Variations: Hold a tournament with different musical genres or have duet battles for an added layer of fun.

8. Digital Pictionary

How to Play: Drawing and guessing games are available as apps, allowing players to sketch on their devices while others guess what’s being drawn. These apps often have time limits and scoreboards to keep the competition lively.

Variations: Choose themes for each round, such as movies, animals, or actions, to keep the game challenging and interesting.

9. Language Learning Challenge

How to Play: Use a language learning app to collectively learn basics or brush up on a language spoken at your destination. Compete to see who can complete lessons or earn the most points by the end of the trip. It’s a productive and fun way to prepare for international travel or simply learn something new together.

Variations: Focus on learning useful travel phrases or challenge each other to conversations using only the new language.

10. Escape Room Apps

How to Play: Dive into the world of virtual escape rooms, where you solve puzzles and decode messages to “escape” from a locked room. These apps offer a variety of themed adventures, from mystery and horror to fantasy. Work together to solve the puzzles as quickly as possible.

Variations: Assign roles based on strengths, such as puzzle solver, researcher, or coordinator, to tackle the challenges more effectively.

11. Virtual Reality Sightseeing

How to Play: If you have VR headsets or can share one among the group, download virtual reality apps that allow you to visit famous landmarks, museums, and natural wonders around the world. Take turns exploring different locations and share interesting facts or impressions with each other.

Players: 1 per VR headset.

Variations: Make it educational by focusing on historical sites or natural phenomena related to your road trip destinations.

12. Interactive Story Apps

How to Play: Choose an app that offers interactive stories, where your decisions affect the outcome. These can range from mystery and romance to fantasy and adventure. Read the story aloud, and as a group, decide which paths to take at key decision points.

Variations: Vote on decisions for a democratic approach or rotate the decision-maker role to let each player shape the story’s direction.

13. Fitness Challenge Apps

How to Play: Use fitness apps to set up daily challenges, such as achieving a certain number of steps during rest stops or completing mini-workouts. Keep track of everyone’s progress and reward the winner with a special treat or privilege on the trip.

Variations: Tailor challenges to the trip, like doing specific exercises at landmarks or competing in impromptu races.

14. Social Media Scavenger Hunt

How to Play: Create a list of photo or video challenges to complete and share on social media, such as imitating a statue, dancing in a scenic spot, or finding the quirkiest roadside attraction. Use hashtags to track your posts and see who can complete the most challenges.

Variations: Focus on creating content that tells a story of your journey or highlights lesser-known attractions.

15. Digital Art Contests

How to Play: Utilize drawing or painting apps to hold art contests. Choose a theme or subject, and everyone creates their digital artwork. Share the results with each other or on social media to let followers vote on their favorites.

Variations: Have art challenges based on scenery you pass or themes related to your trip destinations.

Creative and Imagination Games

Let your creativity soar and imagination run wild with games designed to inspire storytelling, artistic expression, and innovative thinking.

These games are perfect for travelers looking to stretch their minds and explore new ideas, all while enjoying the journey together.

Whether you’re crafting epic tales, sketching the passing landscape, or inventing new games, there’s no limit to where your creativity can take you.

Buckle up for a journey filled with whimsy, wonder, and the joy of creating something out of nothing.

1. Create a Story

How to Play: One person starts by saying a sentence to begin a story. The next person adds a sentence, and so on, with each addition building upon the last. The goal is to create a collaborative story that can take unexpected turns and evolve in surprising ways.

Variations: Introduce specific elements that must be included, such as a mysterious character, a magical object, or a specific setting, to guide the story’s direction.

2. Imagine If

How to Play: Players take turns posing hypothetical scenarios, starting with “Imagine if…” The scenarios can be as realistic or fantastical as you like. Each player then adds their response or continuation of the scenario, leading to creative and often humorous discussions.

Variations: Limit the scenarios to themes related to your trip or destinations for a more focused exploration of creativity.

3. Draw It Out

How to Play: Using paper and pens or a drawing app on a tablet, one player describes a scene or object without naming it, and the others must draw what they think is being described. Afterward, compare drawings to see how each person interpreted the description.

Variations: Make it a guessing game where players have to guess what was being described based on the drawings.

4. Invent a Game

How to Play: Challenge yourselves to invent a new game that can be played in the car. Discuss ideas, decide on the rules, and then test it out. This not only sparks creativity but also results in a unique game that’s personalized to your group’s interests.

Variations: Set constraints for the game creation, such as it must involve storytelling, drawing, or singing, to narrow down the focus.

5. The What-If World

How to Play: Players ask “What if” questions about the world around them, pondering alternate realities or outcomes. For example, “What if trees could talk?” or “What if we could fly?” Discuss the implications, invent stories, or draw conclusions based on these fantastical questions.

Variations: Focus on “What if” questions related to the places you’re passing through or visiting on your trip.

6. Design Your Dream Destination

How to Play: Each player describes their dream travel destination, detailing what makes it unique, what activities you can do there, and even what the local cuisine is like. This game encourages players to use their imagination and share their travel aspirations.

Variations: Sketch your dream destination or create a travel brochure for it, adding a visual or written element to the game.

7. Once Upon a Time

How to Play: Using the phrase “Once upon a time,” start a fairy tale that each player contributes to. The story can include classic elements like dragons, magic, and quests, but should also incorporate modern twists or personal touches from each player.

Variations: Assign roles (such as hero, villain, sidekick) to each player, who must then tell the story from their character’s perspective.

8. The Soundtrack of Our Trip

How to Play: Imagine your road trip is a movie. Discuss and decide together what songs would be on the soundtrack, including the opening credits, a dramatic moment, and the closing credits. Share why each song was chosen and how it fits the “movie” of your trip.

Variations: Create actual playlists based on these discussions and listen to them during your trip, enhancing the journey with your personalized soundtrack.

9. Collaborative Comic Strip

How to Play: Start creating a comic strip together. One person draws the first panel, then passes it to the next player to draw the second panel, and so on. Each panel should continue the story from where the last one left off. By the end, you’ll have a unique comic strip created by everyone in the car.

Variations: Set a theme or main character for the comic strip at the beginning, or let each panel be a surprise to the next artist to encourage spontaneity.

10. Dream Invention Brainstorm

How to Play: Discuss and brainstorm ideas for a new invention. It could be something practical, something futuristic, or completely whimsical. Talk about what problem it solves, how it works, and even what it looks like. The goal is to let your creativity and problem-solving skills run wild.

Variations: Sketch your inventions or come up with a pitch as if you were presenting it on a show like “Shark Tank.”

11. Alternate Ending

How to Play: Think of movies, books, or stories that everyone is familiar with, and discuss alternative endings for them. Each player proposes their unique twist on how the story could have concluded, encouraging creative thinking and storytelling skills.

Variations: Write down these alternate endings or act them out if space and safety allow.

12. The Time Capsule

How to Play: Pretend you’re creating a time capsule to be opened in 50 years. Discuss and decide what items (real or imagined) you would include to represent your current road trip, the era you’re living in, or your group of travelers. Explain why each item was chosen and what story it tells about your journey or time.

Variations: Design or draw the items instead of just discussing them, creating a visual time capsule.

13. Mythical Creature Creation

How to Play: Each player comes up with their own mythical creature, describing its appearance, abilities, and habitat. You can get as detailed as you like, from what it eats to how it interacts with humans (if at all). This game sparks imagination and can lead to some fascinating creature designs.

Variations: Draw your creatures or create a story involving all the creatures invented by the players.

14. Future City Planning

How to Play: Imagine you’re the planners of a city in the future. Discuss what innovative features and technologies your city will have, how it addresses modern challenges, and what daily life looks like for its inhabitants. This game encourages forward-thinking and discussions about technology, sustainability, and community living.

Variations: Sketch your city or specific technologies and buildings in it, or create a brochure or advertisement promoting your futuristic city.

15. Secret Superhero Identities

How to Play: Each player invents a superhero persona for themselves, complete with powers, weaknesses, a hero name, and a backstory. Share your superhero identities with each other, and then create scenarios or challenges that your superheroes might face on an adventure.

Variations: Combine all the superheroes into a single story or comic, working together to overcome a grand challenge or villain.

Puzzle and Strategy Games

Engage your brain and test your strategic thinking with puzzle and strategy games designed to challenge and entertain.

These games are perfect for those who enjoy a mental workout and the satisfaction of solving problems or outsmarting their opponents.

From logic puzzles that stretch your reasoning skills to strategy games that require foresight and planning, there’s a wealth of ways to turn the journey into a battle of wits.

Prepare to think critically and strategize creatively as we delve into games that make every decision count.

1. Sudoku Showdown

How to Play: Bring along printed sudoku puzzles or use a sudoku app. Compete to see who can complete their sudoku puzzle the fastest. To accommodate multiple players, you can work on the same puzzle and take turns, or each work on separate puzzles of similar difficulty levels.

Variations: Adjust the difficulty level based on the experience of the players, or try a team approach where players collaborate to solve more challenging puzzles.

2. Travel Chess or Checkers

How to Play: Use a travel-sized chess or checkers set for games on the go. These classic strategy games are perfect for rest stops or longer breaks. Players take turns, strategizing moves to outmaneuver their opponent.

Players: 2.

Variations: Play a tournament with brackets if you have more than two players, or introduce “speed chess” rules to keep games quick and engaging.

3. Crossword Competition

How to Play: Bring a book of crossword puzzles or find them in newspapers or apps. See who can complete a crossword puzzle the fastest, or work on a single puzzle as a group and see how many clues you can solve together.

Variations: For a collaborative twist, each player can be responsible for different sections of the crossword or specialize in certain types of clues.

4. Brain Teaser Battles

How to Play: Prepare a list of brain teasers, riddles, and logic puzzles before the trip. Challenge each other with these puzzles, and keep score of who solves the most. This game tests your critical thinking and problem-solving skills under pressure.

Variations: Turn it into a team game where one team poses puzzles to the other, alternating roles after each round.

5. Tangram Challenges

How to Play: Use a tangram set or an app to challenge each other with geometric puzzles. Players try to recreate specific shapes using the seven tangram pieces within a set time limit. This game tests spatial awareness and geometric skills.

Variations: Compete to see who can complete the most puzzles in a given time or who can create the most original design.

6. Memory Match

How to Play: Use a deck of cards or a memory match game app. Lay out the cards or activate the game, and players take turns flipping two cards at a time, trying to find matches. The player with the most matches at the end wins.

Variations: Increase the difficulty by adding more cards or using a version of the game with complex symbols or pictures.

7. Strategy Card Games

How to Play: Bring a deck of cards and play strategy-based card games like Rummy, Hearts, or Spades. These games require strategic thinking, planning, and a bit of bluffing to win.

Players: 2 to 4.

Variations: Learn and introduce new card games from different cultures to keep the gameplay fresh and educational.

8. Logic Puzzle League

How to Play: Equip yourselves with a book of logic puzzles, which might include grid puzzles, sequence puzzles, and more. Challenge yourselves to solve these puzzles individually or as a group, discussing your reasoning and strategies as you go.

Variations: Set up a league with a point system for different types of puzzles, crowning the “Logic Champion” at the end of the trip.

9. Battle of Wits: 20 Questions Reimagined

How to Play: Give the classic game of 20 Questions a strategic twist. One player thinks of an object, and the others have a limit of 20 questions to figure it out—but with a catch. Players also score points based on the efficiency of their questions, encouraging strategic thinking about what to ask next.

Variations: Implement a rule where the questioner can make a guess at any time, but if they’re wrong, they lose a point or give a point to the person who chose the object, adding an extra layer of strategy.

10. Codebreaker Challenge

How to Play: Create a simple code or cipher before the trip. During the trip, one player writes messages using this code, and the others try to decipher them. The first to crack the code or the one who decodes the most messages wins.

Variations: Use different types of codes throughout the trip, from simple substitution ciphers to more complex systems, to keep the game challenging.

11. Map Quest

How to Play: Using a physical map or a mapping app, one player selects a destination, and the others must figure out the most efficient route using only the information given by the map. This tests geographic knowledge, planning skills, and the ability to navigate complex routes.

Variations: Set challenges within this game, such as finding the shortest route, the most scenic route, or creating a route that passes through specific checkpoints.

12. Strategic Storytelling

How to Play: This game combines storytelling with strategic thinking. Players collaborate to tell a story, but each addition must follow a strategic goal, such as avoiding certain words, incorporating specific themes, or achieving a narrative objective set at the beginning.

Variations: Introduce “plot twist” cards or challenges at intervals, which must be incorporated into the story, requiring quick thinking and adaptability.

13. The Great Debate

How to Play: Players choose or are assigned different sides of a debate on a light-hearted topic. Each side must come up with arguments and strategies to convince the others. Points are awarded for creativity, logic, and persuasiveness.

Players: 3 or more (including a judge).

Variations: Incorporate absurd topics or fictional scenarios to make the debates more entertaining and imaginative.

14. Building Bridges

How to Play: Using paper, pens, and a creative mind, players must design a bridge that meets specific criteria, such as length, material limitations, and aesthetic appeal. After drawing, players present their designs, explaining the strategy behind their construction methods and choices.

Variations: Make it a competition with categories for judging, such as most innovative design, most realistic, or most likely to withstand natural disasters.

15. Escape Plan

How to Play: One player designs a hypothetical “escape room” scenario with puzzles, clues, and a storyline. The others must ask strategic questions to solve the puzzles and “escape” within a certain timeframe. This game tests problem-solving skills and creativity in both the design and execution phases.

Variations: Rotate the role of the escape room designer, allowing each player to craft their unique challenges and stories.

Musical and Sing-Along Games

Turn up the volume and let the rhythm take over with musical and sing-along games that celebrate the joy of music.

These games are perfect for music lovers and anyone who enjoys a good melody, offering a fun way to pass the time while showcasing your vocal talents—or just your enthusiasm for a catchy tune.

From guessing games that test your musical knowledge to creative challenges that let you compose your own songs, there’s a symphony of options for making your road trip a musical adventure.

Get ready to sing your heart out, tap your feet, and let the music lead the way.

1. Karaoke Challenge

How to Play: Use a karaoke app or simply play songs from a playlist, muting the vocals if possible. Passengers take turns singing, and performances can be rated by the audience for fun. Choose songs that everyone knows to encourage group participation.

Variations: Award points for accuracy, performance flair, or audience engagement to keep things interesting.

2. Name That Tune

How to Play: One player hums, whistles, or plays a short snippet of a song, and the others try to guess the song as quickly as possible. The player who guesses correctly first gets to choose and perform the next song.

Variations: Limit the song choices to specific decades, genres, or artists to tailor the game to your group’s musical tastes.

3. Finish the Lyric

How to Play: Play a line from a song, then pause it abruptly. The next player must sing or say the next line correctly. If they succeed, play continues; if not, it’s the next player’s turn. This game tests your memory and musical knowledge.

Variations: Make it more challenging by choosing songs with less well-known verses or by only reading the lyrics without the melody.

4. Create Your Own Song

How to Play: Collaborate to write a song about your road trip, including details about places you’ve seen, inside jokes, and memorable moments. Take turns contributing lines or verses, and then put it all together into a melody.

Variations: Assign different parts of the song (verse, chorus, bridge) to different players or create a song in a specific musical style (country, pop, rap).

5. Guess the Artist

How to Play: Play a few seconds of a song, and the other passengers have to guess the artist. This can be played with a streaming service or local music files. Keep score to see who has the broadest knowledge of music artists.

Variations: Focus on specific music periods, genres, or even movie soundtracks to narrow down the possibilities and challenge your group’s music knowledge.

6. Musical Storytelling

How to Play: One player starts by singing a line from a song that hints at a story or emotion. The next player must continue with another line from a different song that logically follows the narrative or emotional thread. This continues, weaving a story or conveying a mood through connected song lyrics.

Variations: Set a theme for the story, such as love, adventure, or overcoming challenges, to guide the song choices.

7. The Humming Game

How to Play: Similar to “Name That Tune,” but players hum the tune instead of playing a snippet. This tests both the hummer’s ability to convey the song without words and the guessers’ ability to recognize tunes from just the melody.

Variations: Use only television theme songs, commercial jingles, or songs from musicals to make guessing more focused and potentially easier or harder.

8. Song Association Game

How to Play: One player says a word, and the others have a short time to sing a snippet of a song that includes that word. Points are awarded for speed, accuracy, and sometimes creativity in song selection.

Variations: Play with themes related to your trip, such as cities, emotions, or landscapes, to make the song choices more meaningful.

9. Band on the Run

How to Play: Each passenger picks an imaginary instrument and “plays” it to a song playing over the speakers. The challenge is to keep in rhythm and put on a performance. After each “performance,” players rate each other on creativity, enthusiasm, and how well they “played” their instrument.

Variations: Switch instruments after every song, or introduce “solo performances” where one person takes the spotlight while others provide backup.

10. Music Video Director

How to Play: As a song plays, passengers collaboratively come up with a concept for a music video for that song. Discuss locations, scenes, and the storyline. After the song ends, vote on the best idea or combine elements from everyone’s suggestions to create a group concept.

Variations: Assign roles such as director, cinematographer, and actors, and plan out specific shots or scenes, adding depth to the creative process.

11. Lyrics Rewriting Workshop

How to Play: Choose a well-known song and rewrite the lyrics to fit the theme of your road trip or to recount a funny event that happened along the way. Each passenger contributes a line or verse, and together, you create a new version of the song.

Variations: Focus on specific parts of the song to rewrite, like the chorus, or challenge yourselves to maintain the original rhyme scheme and meter.

12. Musical Charades

How to Play: Like traditional charades, but with a musical twist. Players act out the title of a song, a band, or a musical act without speaking, while others guess. Use motions to represent words or actions associated with the song or artist.

Players: 3 or more.

Variations: Include categories or themes to narrow down the guessing, such as 80s hits, rock bands, or songs about traveling.

13. Song Shuffle Story

How to Play: Put your music library on shuffle. Each song that plays serves as inspiration for a short story, memory, or joke from one of the passengers, ideally relating to the song title, lyrics, or mood.

Variations: Make it a challenge to connect each story to the next, creating a coherent narrative thread or theme that runs through the entire game.

14. Echo Song Battle

How to Play: One player sings a line from a song, and the next player must sing a line from a different song that echoes a word or theme from the previous line. The game continues, with each player trying to link their song choice to the one before.

Variations: Set a timer to limit how long players have to think of their song line, adding pressure and spontaneity to the game.

15. Composer’s Challenge

How to Play: Take turns humming a melody you create on the spot. The next player has to add onto the melody, either by extending it, adding harmony, or creating a response melody. Continue around until you have a complete composition created by all passengers.

Variations: Record each addition on a phone or other device, and play back the entire composition at the end to hear your collaborative masterpiece.

Mindfulness and Relaxation Games

In the midst of the excitement and entertainment, it’s also important to incorporate moments of calm and mindfulness into your road trip.

Mindfulness and relaxation games offer a serene counterbalance to the high-energy activities, inviting passengers to connect with their senses, breathe deeply, and find peace on the road.

These games are designed to reduce stress, enhance awareness, and promote a sense of well-being among travelers.

Let’s explore games that turn the journey into a path toward tranquility and mindfulness.

1. The Gratitude Game

How to Play: Take turns sharing things you’re grateful for, focusing on the experiences of the trip, the beauty of the scenery, or personal reflections. This simple exercise can shift focus to the positive, uplifting everyone’s mood.

Variations: Set a theme for each round, such as nature, technology, or people, to guide the reflections.

2. Mindful Observation

How to Play: Choose an object outside the window and observe it quietly for a full minute. Then, share your observations, describing the object in detail and reflecting on any thoughts or feelings it evoked. This game encourages present-moment awareness and attention to detail.

Variations: Focus on observing different senses in turn—sight, sound, touch—to deepen the mindfulness experience.

3. Breathing Relay

How to Play: Start with deep, synchronized breathing as a group. One person leads a breathing exercise, guiding the others in inhaling, holding the breath, and exhaling slowly. Pass the role of leader around, allowing each passenger to contribute a breathing pattern or technique.

Variations: Incorporate visualization or meditation techniques with the breathing exercises for enhanced relaxation.

4. Soundscapes

How to Play: Close your eyes (except for the driver!) and listen to the sounds around you for a few minutes. Afterward, discuss what you heard and how it made you feel. This game helps tune into the environment and fosters a calming, mindful listening practice.

Variations: Create your own soundscape using apps or recordings of nature sounds, then reflect on the imagined environment.

5. Positive Affirmations Circle

How to Play: Each person takes a turn to say a positive affirmation about themselves and then one about another passenger. This activity boosts self-esteem and strengthens connections within the group.

Variations: Focus on affirmations related to travel, such as adaptability, curiosity, or joy in discovery.

6. Cloud Stories

How to Play: Look at the clouds and individually pick one that catches your eye. Spend a few moments in silence contemplating it, then share what you imagined or felt about your chosen cloud. This game encourages creativity and a connection to nature.

Variations: Instead of clouds, focus on landscapes or other natural features you pass by, interpreting their shapes or imagining their stories.

7. Sensory Countdown

How to Play: Engage in a “5-4-3-2-1” exercise to ground yourselves. Name five things you can see, four you can touch (describing the texture), three you can hear, two you can smell (if possible), and one you can taste (even if it’s just the memory of a taste). This exercise helps focus on the present and calms the mind.

Variations: Adapt the countdown to focus more on one sense, especially if you’re in an area with limited sensory input.

8. Intention Setting

How to Play: Share intentions for the day or for a particular destination. Discuss what you hope to experience, learn, or feel. Revisit these intentions at the end of the day or trip to reflect on how they were realized, fostering a sense of purpose and mindfulness about your journey.

Variations: Write down these intentions and share them with the group, creating a shared document of your collective journey’s aspirations.

9. Journey Journaling

How to Play: Allocate quiet time for each passenger to jot down thoughts, sketches, or observations in a journal. This can be about the scenery, how you’re feeling, or anything you’ve noticed or appreciated along the way. Afterward, if everyone is comfortable, share some of your reflections with the group.

Variations: Choose a specific theme for each journaling session, such as gratitude, nature, or personal growth, to guide the reflection.

10. Guided Imagery Relaxation

How to Play: One passenger leads a guided imagery session, describing a peaceful scene in detail (such as a serene beach, a quiet forest, or a cozy mountain cabin). Everyone else listens, visualizes the scene, and allows themselves to be mentally transported there, focusing on the calming effects.

Players: Any number, with one acting as the guide.

Variations: Record a guided imagery session before the trip, perhaps even one personalized to your journey, and play it back during the game.

11. Haiku Highway

How to Play: Inspired by the traditional Japanese form of poetry, passengers compose haikus (short poems of three lines, with a syllable pattern of 5-7-5) that capture moments or impressions from the trip. Share these poems aloud, enjoying the simplicity and depth of expression this form allows.

Variations: Set challenges for the haikus, such as focusing on a particular color, emotion, or element of the landscape.

12. Mindful Eating Experience

How to Play: Choose a snack or meal to eat mindfully. Before starting, everyone observes their food, noticing its color, texture, and smell. Eat slowly, savoring each bite and focusing on the flavors and sensations. Discuss the experience afterward, reflecting on any new insights or appreciations.

Variations: Blindfolded tasting, where each person tries to guess what they’re eating based on taste, smell, and texture alone, heightening the sensory experience.

13. The Silence Game

How to Play: Set a timer for a period of silence, during which passengers are invited to meditate, contemplate, or simply rest in the quiet. This game encourages internal reflection and a break from constant stimulation.

Variations: Include gentle background music or nature sounds to aid in relaxation, or practice silent observation, focusing on different senses in turn.

14. Emotional Check-In

How to Play: Pause for a group check-in, where each person shares how they’re feeling in the moment, what’s on their mind, or anything they’re processing. This game fosters emotional awareness and support within the group, creating a safe space for sharing.

Variations: Use prompts to guide the check-in, such as “What has been the highlight of the trip so far for you?” or “Is there anything you’re looking forward to?”

15. Nature Connection Ritual

How to Play: Whenever you stop for a break in a natural setting, take a few moments to connect with the environment. This could involve walking barefoot on the grass, hugging a tree, listening to the wind, or simply breathing in the fresh air deeply. Share your experiences and feelings afterward.

Educational Road Trip Games

Educational road trip games offer a fun and interactive way to learn new facts, explore topics of interest, and stimulate curiosity while on the move.

These games are perfect for families, students, and lifelong learners who want to turn their journey into an opportunity for growth and discovery.

From geography quizzes to science experiments you can perform in a moving vehicle, there’s no limit to the knowledge you can uncover.

Prepare to engage your brain, challenge your companions, and learn something new with each mile you travel.

1. Geography Guessing Game

How to Play: Use a map or a geography app to quiz each other on capitals, countries, landmarks, and natural features. You can ask questions like “What’s the capital of this state?” or “Which river are we crossing?” This game enriches your understanding of the world and the places you’re traveling through.

Variations: For a more advanced challenge, focus on historical geography, asking about ancient cities, historical events tied to specific locations, or changes in political boundaries.

2. Science on the Go

How to Play: Conduct simple, safe science experiments that don’t require stopping the car. For example, you can explore the concepts of motion by observing how objects behave in a moving vehicle. Discuss the science behind what you observe, such as inertia, gravity, and friction.

Variations: Prepare a list of phenomena to observe before the trip, such as the phase of the moon, weather patterns, or types of ecosystems you pass through, and discuss the science behind each.

3. Historical Timeline Challenge

How to Play: One player mentions a historical event, and the next player has to mention another event that happened either before or after, depending on the direction chosen at the start. This game tests and expands your knowledge of history in a fun, chronological context.

Variations: Focus on specific themes, such as inventions, wars, cultural movements, or the history of science and technology, to tailor the game to the players’ interests.

4. Vocabulary Builder

How to Play: Choose a word of the day, and everyone tries to use it correctly as many times as possible during the trip. Alternatively, challenge each other with unfamiliar words, and guess their meanings before looking them up to learn new vocabulary.

Variations: Pick words related to your trip’s destination or themes, such as geological terms for a national park visit, to make the learning relevant and engaging.

5. Math Road Rally

How to Play: Use the journey to solve math problems. Calculate the distance between points, average speed, fuel consumption, or even budgeting for the trip. It’s a practical way to apply math skills and make real-world connections.

Variations: Create challenges or competitions, such as who can calculate the estimated arrival time most accurately using current speed and distance remaining.

6. Language Learning Game

How to Play: If traveling in a multilingual region or to a destination where another language is spoken, practice key phrases and vocabulary together. Use language learning apps, phrasebooks, or audio courses to learn and quiz each other.

Variations: Turn it into a role-playing game where you simulate conversations in different travel-related scenarios, such as ordering food, asking for directions, or checking into a hotel.

7. Cultural Trivia Quiz

How to Play: Prepare trivia questions about the cultures, traditions, and customs of the places you’re visiting or passing through. This game is an excellent way to educate yourselves about the diversity of the world and foster respect and curiosity for different cultures.

Variations: Include questions about world religions, languages, culinary traditions, and significant holidays to broaden the scope of learning.

8. Environmental Awareness Challenge

How to Play: Discuss environmental issues related to the areas you’re traveling through, such as conservation, wildlife protection, or climate change impacts. Look for examples along the way, and talk about ways to address these challenges.

Variations: Focus on positive actions, highlighting conservation successes, renewable energy projects, or sustainable tourism practices observed during the trip.

9. Artifact Hunt

How to Play: Before the trip, research interesting historical or cultural sites along your route. As you travel, look for these “artifacts” — anything from a historical marker to a local museum. Take photos or notes about each find and discuss its significance. This turns the journey into a scavenger hunt through time and culture.

Variations: Include natural “artifacts” like geological formations or significant trees to expand the learning to environmental history.

10. “Did You Know?” Exchange

How to Play: Each passenger researches and shares fun facts or lesser-known information about the places you’re visiting or passing by. This can include folklore, unusual laws, famous residents, or unique local customs. It’s a great way to stimulate curiosity and appreciation for diversity.

Variations: Tailor the “Did You Know?” facts to themes, such as technological innovations from the area, literary figures, or pivotal moments in social justice related to the locations.

11. Economy Explorer

How to Play: Discuss the economic landscape of the areas you travel through, focusing on industries, agriculture, and services. Identify different businesses, farms, and factories along the route, and speculate on their roles in the local and broader economy. This game offers insights into the interconnectedness of communities and economies.

Variations: Make predictions about how the economy of an area might change in the future based on current observations and known trends, fostering critical thinking about economic development and sustainability.

12. Local Lore and Legends

How to Play: Research or ask locals about myths, legends, and stories from the areas you visit. Share these tales during the trip, diving into the rich tapestry of local folklore that gives each place its unique character. This game is a gateway to understanding cultural values and the power of storytelling.

Variations: Create your own story or legend inspired by the landscapes and communities you encounter, blending learned lore with imaginative creation.

13. Architecture Analysis

How to Play: Observe and discuss the architectural styles of buildings you see along the way. Try to identify the period, influences, and functional aspects of different structures. This encourages an appreciation for design and engineering and how they reflect cultural and historical contexts.

Variations: Focus on specific types of buildings, such as houses, public buildings, or religious structures, to deepen the analysis and understanding of architectural diversity.

14. Political Landscape Discussion

How to Play: Engage in discussions about the political history and current political climate of the regions you’re traveling through. Explore how geography, economy, and culture have shaped political developments and policies. It’s a respectful way to broaden understanding of governance and societal dynamics.

Players: Any number, with mindful respect for diverse opinions.

Variations: Compare and contrast the political landscapes of different areas visited, considering factors like governance models, civic engagement, and public policy issues.

15. Artistic Inspirations

How to Play: Use the scenery, towns, and experiences of your trip as inspiration for individual or collaborative art projects. Sketch, write poetry, compose music, or simply brainstorm ideas influenced by your journey. Share and discuss your creations, reflecting on how travel inspires creativity.

Variations: Choose a single theme that each person must interpret in their artwork, offering diverse perspectives on the same subject.

• NORTHERN IRELAND
• TRAVEL TIPS

10 Best Road Trip Games for Adults (+ Activities for Passengers)

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost for you!

Are you looking for some fun games to play in the car during a road trip? You’ve come to the right place!

Of all the types of travel available, road tripping is one of my favourites and after doing road trips in loads of countries, including a 35,000-kilometre one in Australia, I now have a lot of games that I can play in the car.

In this article, you will find my full list of road trip games. This includes some that you can buy online but also others that are free and don’t require any equipment.

🔎 Table of Contents

Best Games to Play in the Car

Let’s get started with some fun road trip games that everyone in the car can play safely.

1. Shotgun! Road Trip Game

This is the ultimate road trip game. It was specifically designed for road trips.

You’ll find in the box many cards to use during your road trip. The driver will be able to play as you only need one person to read the cards.

Each card has a question or a challenge that is doable in the car (for instance: “first person to say the word “car” loses a point”).

Each player will be able to score points but be careful with these challenges as you may lose some points there.

Not only is this game affordable, good for all ages but it also gathers a bit of all the other games mentioned in this article.

Click here to see the game.

2. So…Cards

It can be difficult to find topic of conversation sometimes. So…Cards will solve the problem very quickly! This travel game is ideal for long road trips.

Basically, you’ll get loads of cards with conversation starters. They can be about anything. It’s a great way to talk about things we don’t usually think of in our daily life and get some very interesting discussion going.

The pack of card is travel sized so you can take it anywhere with you.

If you are in the car, one of the passengers can read the cards and you can all start discussing it from there. Obviously, the driver won’t read any cards but will be able to participate as there is nothing but talking involved.

3. Mini-Mysteries

If you love game nights and murder mysteries, you will be happy to know that you can also do that on a road trip! You can easily buy a book with plenty of 5-min mysteries and try to solve them during your trip.

One of the passenger can read the mysteries and you can all work as a team to solve them. The clues and puzzles vary and can include a bit of maths, logic and confusing facts.

The great thing about this is that it’s very entertaining and will get everyone in the car involved. The driver can play as well as he won’t need to look at anything. He just needs to listen to the stories and try to figure it out.

Each mystery take 5 to 10 minutes to solve which means you can do a few in a row or just stop after one if you had enough.

You can get one of the books before the trip or, if you are already in the car, get the ebook version and have it on your phone.

Click here to see all the mini-mysteries books.

4. Road trip Trivia

Nothing better than a good trivia quiz on a road trip! Not only is that entertaining but it will also be a good opportunity to learn new things!

You can find many quizzes online or print them in advance. For more fun, think about getting a quiz about the destination you’re heading to.

To make it even easier for you, we created the ultimate travel trivia quiz!

If you are interesting in more road trip trivias, make sure to check all of our quizzes !

5. 21 Questions 

21 Questions is a classic conversation starter game. You only need two people to play but can also play with more.

It’s very simple. Basically, you ask a total of 21 questions to the others. You can do one question each and the others answer. Altogether, each player will ask 21 questions.

It’s a great way to start some interesting conversations and get to know the people you’re travelling with.

Here are some examples of questions that you can ask:

• “What is your best childhood memory?”
• “What is your best travel memory?”
• “Who is your celebrity crush?”

6. Don’t say it

This is a simple but very fun game! Basically, you need to pick 5 common words (not each, 5 in total) and the passengers in the car are not allowed to say them during the road trip.

To make it more fun, try to think of words that you would usually use a lot during a car journey such as “arrive,” “car,” “look,” and “see,” for example.

If someone says one of those words, then they have to be ‘punished’ in some way. This can be by doing a dare after the trip or put a coin in a jar.

The coin idea is quite good because you can use the money to buy a round of drinks or something similar when you arrive.

7. Never have I ever

This is a classic and while it has been categorised as a drinking game, it really doesn’t have to be.

It starts with one person saying a statement “never have I ever” and then following it up with something they have never done.

If you (or someone else in the car) have done it, then you would have to do something in exchange. Usually it’s a drink but since we are on a road trip, I recommend using the money pot system and use the money for a common activity then.

8. Would you rather 

This is when you think of two strange things such as “would you rather have hands for feet or feet for hands” or strange activities.

You can make this as gruesome or as wholesome as you want it to be, just know your audience when it comes to some of the things you say. 

9. The movie game 

This is a great game for movie lovers. It starts with someone naming an actor or actress, the next person then has to name a film they starred in.

The next person will name another actor or actress in that film, and so it continues. You carry on until you can no longer think of anything.

So for example, Leonardo Dicaprio, Titanic, Kate Winslet, The Holiday, Cameron Diaz, and so on. 

10. Post it Game (without the post it)

Do you know the post it game where you write the name of someone famous on a post it and stick it on the forehead of someone and they have to guess who they are?

Well this is basically a car version of this. One passenger think of a famous person or character and the others have to guess who it is.

To get more information, they can ask any yes or no question such as ‘Are you a man?’ or ‘Are you a singer?’…

The games goes on until someone guessed and then another passenger can be the one answering questions.

Hopefully, that has given you some inspiration for some of the games and activities you can enjoy on your next road trip. 

Founder of Beeloved City, I am originally from France and have been living in the UK since 2016. I've travelled to 25 countries as a backpacker, travel coordinator and for holidays. I spent a year in Australia before eventually settling down in Manchester, England

39 Fun Road Trip Games to Play

Sharing is caring!

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more

Fill long drives with joy by playing these fun road trip games , helping you say goodbye to boredom on the journey, no matter who you’re traveling with.

I’ve been on plenty of road trips across Europe and the U.S. in my time, and these games have helped me, friends, and fellow travelers pass the time with lots of laughs and intrigue.

Road Trip Games (Fun Games to Play in the Car)

1. Truth or Dare

This is a classic game, but it can be adapted to a road trip as well. Take turns picking whether you want to reveal a truth or take a dare.

In this case, you will need to pick a dare that can be done safely in the car or by stopping the car when you get the chance. Time to be creative!

Read more: 100+ Best Truth or Dare Questions

2. Never Have I Ever

Each player holds up five fingers, and in turn, they name something they have never done, for instance, “Never have I ever been to Italy.”

For each thing they have done, players need to fold a finger. The person who folds all five fingers first loses. This is a fun game, and if you pick the right questions, you may even learn some interesting or funny things about your friends.

Read more: 200+ ‘Never Have I Ever’ Questions

3. The Compliment Game

In this game, you go through the alphabet, and for every letter, you say a compliment about someone else in the car. For instance, “A is for how awesome Monica is,” “B is for Jack’s beautiful hair,” and so on, taking turns.

4. Most Likely to

Take turns and come up with “most likely to” scenarios about your friends. Everyone in the car must point to the person they believe reflects the title.

You could say things like “Most likely to become a celebrity” or “Most likely to win a Nobel prize.” If you’re out of ideas, you can find many examples online, or just try to be creative and invent fun scenarios.

Read more: 300+ “Who is Most Likely to” Questions

5. The Forbidden Word

Pick a forbidden word at the beginning of your trip. Try to aim for a word that you would normally use a lot. Keep count of how many times each person says the forbidden word.

At the end of the trip, whoever has said the word the most will have to take a pre-agreed forfeit, such as paying for a round of drinks.

6. Truth or Lie?

This is a storytelling game in which one person in the car tells a true or invented story from their past, ideally something elaborate and hard to believe.

The other people in the car take turns and get to ask one question about the story before deciding if it’s true or not. Reveal the right answer after everyone took their guess. Take turns telling stories and see who has the greatest number of correct guesses.

7. Smurfing

Pick one person in the car who will be the subject of the game. While the subject covers their ears, the other persons need to pick a verb. Then, the subject must ask questions replacing the verb with the word “smurf.”

For instance, “Do you smurf in the morning or evening” or “When did you last smurf?” They need to guess the right verb as quickly as possible. You may even decide how many questions they get to ask or set a time limit, like 2 minutes, to guess the right verb.

For Families and Kids

8. what color is it.

In this game, start naming a list of items of the same color until your kid, or one of your kids, guesses the right color. For instance, you could start by saying “Sky, sea, smurfs…” and keep going until someone guesses blue.

A classic road trip game for families and kids, “I spy” consists in choosing an object, preferably something in the car, and having other players guess by asking yes or no questions.

You can use colors or the first letter of the object. For instance, you could say “I spy with my little eye… something blue/something that starts with the letter B.” The first person to guess the object gains a point.

10. Spelling Bee

A fun and educational game, the spelling bee is easy to play in a car. You can pick random words or make it more fun by choosing a theme, possibly something kids would enjoy.

For instance, you could do a Harry Potter spelling bee with words from the book/movie. Make sure to have someone keep track of the points on a piece of paper or a note app.

11. Scavenger Hunt

This game may require a bit of preparation but it’s a great way to keep kids entertained on a long road trip.

Before the trip, prepare a list of things you would usually see on the road, like road signs, cars, animals, and so on. The person who checks the most items off the list before the end of the trip wins.

12. Car Color Search

This game also needs some preparation, but it can be very entertaining for small kids. You can draw several cars of different colors or find a ready-made sheet online and print it.

Every time they spot a car of a certain color, they cross it off the list. Whoever crosses the most cars off the list wins the game.

13. Going on a Picnic

This challenging memory game is great for adults, but you can also play it with older kids. The first person starts by saying “I’m going on a picnic, and I’ll bring…” and picks an item.

The next person repeats the sentence and adds another item, then the third adds a third item, and so on. The list will get longer and longer. The first person who can’t remember the correct list is out of the game and it resets until there is one winner.

14. Storytime

If you’re feeling creative, why not invent a fairy tale with the kids? Start with the classic fairy tale beginning “Once upon a time…” and come up with the start of a magical journey in a singular sentence.

Each player will add a sentence to the story until you either reach the end or until a set time limit elapses. You can also record the story so you can listen to it later.

15. The Quiet Game

If you’re traveling with kids and want some downtime, you can always try the quiet game. See how long your kids can go without saying a word. The first one to break the silence loses.

For Couples or Two People

16. 20 questions.

In this guessing game, one person will have to think about an object, animal, or person, and the other must ask yes or no questions to figure out what the other person is thinking.

They have a limit of 20 questions to guess the item or person. Ideally, you would start with more generic questions, like “Is it an animal” or “Is it an object?” and get more specific with questions about the size, color, and other features.

If the person guesses in less than 20 questions, they take the place of the answerer. Otherwise, the same person gets to think of a new thing.

17. The Human Jukebox

This can be a really fun song if you know song lyrics. One person starts singing a song, and the next has to connect it to another song using the last word of the lyrics, then another has to connect a new song, and so on.

For instance, “Take me down to the paradise city where the girls…. Just wanna have fun, oh girls… Who run the world? Girls. Who run…. Boy run. This world is not made for you…” And see how long you can keep going before someone is stumped.

18. 6 Degrees of Separation

A person has to name two people, objects, movies, or any other thing. You can mix them, for instance, a celebrity and a movie, that are apparently not connected. Another player has to connect the two in six statements, or less.

You could, for example, pick Uma Turman and the movie Mamma Mia. And then say “Uma Turman starred in “Kill Bill” with Lucy Liu. Lucy Liu starred in Charlie’s Angels with Cameron Diaz. Cameron Diaz had a relationship with Justin Timberlake. Justin Timberlake starred in “In Time” alongside Amanda Seyfried. Amanda Seyfried starred in Mamma Mia!”

19. Two Truths and a Lie 

This is a great game to learn more about your travel companion. Take turns and tell two truths and one line. The other person has to guess which is the lie.

You can just keep playing to discover curious facts about yourselves or make it a points game. Whoever gets to 10 correct answers first wins. Remember to choose a reward for the winner.

Read more: 2 Truths and a Lie: 200+ Lie Ideas

20. Holiday Memory Game

In this memory game, you pretend you are packing your suitcase for the holidays and need to take turns listing all the items you will pack. The first person will start by saying “I am going on a holiday and I’m taking…” and adds an item.

The next player has to repeat the sentence and add a new item then the next player will do the same. Keep adding items to the bag, repeating the entire list every time. The first person who messes up the order or forgets an item loses the game or is out. Ready to test your memory?

21. Kiss Mary Avoid

Pick three people, either someone you know or celebrities, both from past and present. You may even pick a fictional character.

The other person will need to choose which person they would kiss, marry, and avoid. Depending on your choice of people, this game can be really fun. Take turns and get creative!

22. Would You Rather

Time to get creative for this game where a person has to ask the other(s) what they would choose between two options.

The idea is to come up with impossible or weird choices, like “Would you rather never see again or never taste food?” If you’re out of ideas, this “would you rather” questions list can help you out. Tine to make some difficult choices.

Generally Fun Road Trip Games

23. categories.

While this is not necessarily a road trip game, it’s a really fun one to pass the time. Pick a category, anything from ice cream flavors to R&B songs. Every player takes turns naming an item in that category. See who runs out of ideas first.

24. The Humming Song Game

The game is pretty easy yet fun to play. One player must hum a famous song while the others need to guess the song. The person who guesses correctly gets to hum a new song. It may sound really easy, but it can get quite tricky.

25. Music Battle

To play this game you must be at least three passengers. One person is the judge while the others need to play songs on their phones.

Select different categories, and for each one, every player picks a song and plays it. The judge has to decide the winning song for every category.

26. Alphabet

This game consists in spotting items that start with each letter of the alphabet, in order. You can use objects in the car or on the road, like road signs, billboards, animals, or anything else you may spot.

Call out each letter and the item/word as you see it. The first person the get to Z wins. In a different version, you may pick a category, like animals, and take turns naming items in that category in alphabetic order.

One player starts by saying a word, then each passenger takes turns saying words that rhyme. Set a 15-second time limit per turn. If the person can’t come up with a word within the time limit, they are out.

The remaining person wins a point. See who gains the most point before you get to the destination or who gets to 10 points first.

28. Storyteller

The game is pretty simple but depending on how creative you get it can be very fun. One person starts a story with the first sentence. Then, everyone takes turns adding to the story.

Come up with interesting and fun plot twists to make the story more entertaining. Record it to have a memory of your road trip story.

29. Fortunately/Unfortunately

This game consists of telling a story where each sentence starts with the word “fortunately” or “unfortunately,” alternating between them.

For example: “Anna had to go to work. Unfortunately, her car broke down. Fortunately, she could take the train. Unfortunately, all trains were delayed.” Keep the story going, alternating between the two.

30. While You Were Sleeping

This is a funny game that you can play if any of the passengers falls asleep during the trip. With the other passengers, come up with an interesting and unbelievable story of something that happened while the other person was asleep.

When they wake up, tell them the story, starting with “While you were sleeping…”. Each passenger adds a little to the story to make it credible that you all witnessed it. Try not to break character and see if the other person believes your story.

31. Car Rule

To play this game, each person in the car gets to make up a random rule, and everyone has to follow it. Try to think of weird and fun rules, like “Whenever I change the radio station, everyone has to clap their hands”.

Assign points to everyone who enforces the rules except for the last person to do so. The person with the most points at the destination wins.

32. The License Plate Game

This classic road trip game can be played in different ways. You can try to spot a license plate from every US state or from different countries if you’re traveling in Europe.

Or you can try to spot a license plate starting with each letter of the alphabet, and the first one to get to Z wins. If you are playing with kids, you can even print a coloring map of the U.S. and have them color each state they spot on a license plate.

Trivia Road Trip Games

33. name that tune.

A great game for music lovers is “Name that tune”. You can simply turn on the radio or put on a Spotify playlist, making sure the song name is not visible on the display.

As soon as the song starts, the first person to shout the right song title wins a point. This is a great game to have fun, listen to music, and refresh your memory of song names.

34. Name the Artist

A different take on “Name that tune,” this game requires players to guess the artist. You can even prepare a playlist in advance and set different rules.

You can assign points based on who answers first, or you can take turns, play a song for 5 to 10 seconds, and let the player guess or pass. Whoever makes more points or reaches a set number of points first wins.

35. The Movie Game

If you know your movies and actors, you can play this potentially endless game during your road trip. To start, a person mentions an actor while another person must name a movie the actor has been in.

Another player must name a different actor in that movie, and the next player must then name another movie with that actor, and so on. See how long you can go!

36. Guess the Quote

One person in the car has to say a quote from a movie, TV show, or song, while the other passengers must guess where the quote is from.

The player who makes the right guess takes the next turn in saying a quote. Try to make it hard, and for extra fun, use the accent of the actor who said the quote.

37. “Sorry I am Late” Movie Guessing

This can be a really fun game for movie buffs. It essentially consists of saying a sentence that starts with “Sorry I am late” and continues with the main plot of a movie, told in a fun way.

For instance, “Sorry I am late, but I got a letter saying I am a wizard and I had to go to wizarding school only to find out this evil wizard has been trying to kill me since I was a newborn,” which would be Harry Potter. The person who guesses 10 movies first wins.

38. Bad Movie Plot

Another fun movie fame consists in picking a movie and explaining the plot in a really bad way, although factually correct. The other person has to guess the movie.

If they do, they win a point. Take turns and see who makes the most points or gets first to 10 correct guesses.

39. Celebrity

In this game, one person will play the character of a celebrity of their choice while the others take turns asking random questions.

The celebrity player answers the questions as if they were the famous person. The first person to guess the celebrity wins.

Long journeys in the car can often be difficult, for both you and the other passengers you are traveling with. Finding activities to pass the time can go a long way making the journey far more comfortable and enjoyable.

The beauty of these road trip games is that they require little, if any, equipment and preparation to play, yet can provide hours of fun.

Don’t let tiredness and boredom take control on a long car ride. Use these fun car games to create a fun and relaxing atmosphere, keeping your minds off the journey and giving you all an opportunity to interact and bond.

From word games to games involving famous people, there’s so much you can do in the car with minimal resources to entertain young kids, teenagers, and the whole family!

You Might Also Like to Read

• 40 Fun Things to Do on a Long Car Ride

Save and Pin for Later

Keep these super fun road trip games for safekeeping, ready for when you next travel by car, and save this article to one of your Pinterest boards.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

30 GAMES FOR THE PERFECT ROAD TRIP

Majestic mountains, rolling meadows, and the bored family that is constantly bickering. Does this sound all too familiar on your family road trip? Well, we’ve got the solution to your problem: 30 fun road trip games that are great for everyone!

These games are a great way to keep everyone off of social media, allowing them to just live life with the people they love! None of these games can be played alone, so make sure that you have space for all of your friends in the car.

1. ROAD TRIP TRIVIA 

Road trip trivia is the perfect game for those individuals who like to learn things about the places that they have been and the places that they are going. Road trips are never boring when you are competing to prove who has the most random assortment of knowledge.  

HOW TO PLAY

The game comes in a metal tin to contain the mess when you’re not playing. Simply choose a card, read aloud the question, and take turns answering. You may choose to play with random locations, or you can use the locations that you are near. 

2. SHOTGUN 

• Hit The Road: This card game is perfect for your next long drive!
• Family Fun: This family game is designed for ages 12+ and is encouraged to be...
• How to Play: Nominate someone to be the card reader (person sitting shotgun,...

Shotgun is the perfect game for any age group. This game can easily keep younger players occupied, while older players will be just as entertained.

The player riding Shotgun is the designated card reader for the first game.

You can play a DIY version of the game by making your own cards before the road trip. Alternatively, the game has over two hundred question cards that allow players to complete a variety of actions to earn points. Of course, the player with the most points wins the game when the road trip ends!  

3. NAME THE ARTIST 

Name the Artist is a game that is perfect for the musically inclined family. It keeps the road trip interesting by giving everyone a chance to play their favorite type of music and possibly even discover some new music.

When a song comes on the radio, you must yell the artist of the song before any other player.  If you’re the first player to do this, you score a point.  

If the game gets boring, you can spice it up by choosing a player to play random music from their phone. Additionally, to make things more difficult, you could only allow a few seconds of the song to play before you announce your answers. Either way, you get to listen to sick jams while also enjoying wholesome family time.  

4. WOULD YOU RATHER ROAD TRIP 

Would You Rather is a classic game that can be played in any party or group setting. It also happens to be one of the best road trip games for those who want to learn a little more about the people that they are traveling with!  You will bond with the players who play Would You Rather for the rest of your life.

Present the players with a “would you rather” option, and they must choose one of the two options. Fair warning : this game can get gross and out of hand quickly because anything in the world is an option. As the game progresses, the players will come up with ridiculous choices that the others must choose between. 

If you aren’t able to come up with questions on the fly, you can purchase a deck of Would You Rather cards, and then you can draw randomly from the deck. You will quickly get into the heads of your car-mates, so be prepared!

5. THE LICENSE PLATE GAME 

The License Plate Game is a fun game that can be played as a background game on a road trip. This means you don’t have to be exclusively playing this game, as it can be played throughout the entire road trip.

The goal is to spot as many license plates from as many states as possible! They have to be confirmed by other players before they are allowed to count them! This saves the group from having to worry about cheating.  

This game is great for kids and adults alike as you travel through many cities and states. To make keeping score easier, you can print a map of the United States before heading out on your road trip and use crayons to color in the map when you see a state’s license plate.

Once a plate is called, it cannot be called again, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled. The players will quickly become excited as they realize that many of the plates from the same state do not look the same! 

6. I SPY 

I Spy is a classic game that many families love to play. It can also become an awesome road trip game, keeping everyone engaged and interested in their surroundings. This game can be as complicated or simple as you make it, making it perfect for any age group. 

First, you must say, “I Spy,” and then give a random quality of the object that you have chosen. The other player must be able to see the object so it cannot be something hidden. Everyone will then begin to guess what you have spied. The other players get three tries before you receive a point. If the players spot the object, then they earn a point instead! 

7. THE GROCERY GAME 

The Grocery Game will have everyone in the car giggling by the end. This game is similar to I Spy, but it easily takes the place of I Spy when you are experiencing the boring stretch of a road trip, like the desert. This game uses imagination rather than actual objects in the surrounding space. 

To play, first think of something you have seen in a grocery store. Remember, grocery stores have lots of things, even toys! The other players must then ask questions regarding the object. Questions could be about its shape, its color, or its purpose. The questions must be yes or no questions.

The questions will have players laughing, and so will the random things that pop into people’s heads! 

8. ALPHABET GAME 

The Alphabet Game is a perfect game to practice alphabetical skills with younger kids, and it is more of a challenge than one would think! 

The goal of the game is to find signs that begin with each letter of the alphabet. The catch? It must happen in alphabetical order. If you think you will have trouble keeping up with everyone’s place, then you can print a sheet online or even do it yourself! This allows players to mark off each letter as they find a sign beginning with that letter and write down what the sign was beside it.

The best time to find new signs is when you are stopping to eat or when you pass food places. Everybody else may be caught up in city limit signs, but food places are where it’s at!

9. IN MY SUITCASE 

In My Suitcase is another fun alphabetical game. While it is a perfect road trip game for younger kids, the entire family will have a laugh playing In My Suitcase.

To play, each player will attempt to finish the following statement: “I’m going on vacation, and in my suitcase, I have….”.  

You first state an item that begins with the letter A. The next player will make the statement, mentioning an item that begins with the letter B. See how long your group can go! When someone gets stuck, and they do not have a word that matches the letter that they are on, then the round ends. 

If you don’t have many exciting things packed in your suitcases besides what you wear, everyone can spice it up by stating items that aren’t actually in their bag. This will quickly lead to gut-wrenching laughs. 

10. SING ALONG CHALLENGE 

The Sing Along Challenge is another game that is directed at musically inclined families. It’s a super fun game to play with classic and well-known music, but even funnier with more obscure choices!

First, choose a song and play a portion of it aloud. Whenever you want, you can pause, and any player that you choose will then begin to sing from the same place in the song.  

If the player you choose is able to sing the next line, they win a point. If they aren’t, then you win a point. Every player has to be chosen before a player can be chosen again. This helps to avoid singling anyone out!  

11. ROAD TRIP BINGO 

This is another road trip classic that can be played with everyone except the driver, of course. If you’re driving, just have someone else cross off things you list. 

This is a pretty obvious one: you can download a sheet off the internet or create your own. Make a bingo sheet of different things you might see along the road, for example, different gas stations, fast food places, and even famous sights. The possibilities are endless, and this game can be played throughout the trip, too! 

12. GUESS THE TIME

Guess The Time is a fun way to get people looking forward to certain destinations that could otherwise be boring. The good thing about this game is that it can be prepared before the road trip, and all you have to do is keep track of the points.

To play this game, simply make a list of the cities you’ll be passing through during your road trip. Then, have everyone guess at what exact time you’ll be passing through each destination. For example , what time will the car pass the sign saying “You are now leaving Ohio”? 

The person with the closest time (down to the minute) wins the round.

13. WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

This is one of our favorite games to play during road trips. It’s especially fun if you have someone in your car who loves to nap.

Once someone falls asleep during your trip, then the game begins. The rest of the people in the car will make up a fake story that supposedly happened while the other person was asleep. 

You can wake the player after a while or just wait until they wake up themselves. Then, you start to tell the made-up story. Each player then has to add their own part to the story. Whoever breaks character or is caught by the sleeper loses a point. If you all successfully convince the sleeper, then you each get a point.

As this is not really a game, you can do it too many times on the trip, and you can up the stakes by saying whoever loses has to do the dishes.

14. THE PRICE IS RIGHT

The beauty of this game is that gas prices are constantly changing from state to state and even from gas stations within each state.

To play, everyone must try to guess the price of regular unleaded gas at the next gas station whoever guesses the price correctly to the nearest tenth wins. It is especially fun for players who don’t drive since they rarely pay attention to gas prices. 

You can have the player who is furthest away buy a snack for everyone inside the gas station!

15. SPIN A STORY FROM THE PAST

This is a great game for the players in the car who are good at making up stories. It is essentially “who can lie better.”

You begin by telling a story about your past, and another player has to say whether you are telling the truth or spinning a story. Each player gets two follow-up questions, and then they have to guess. A good strategy is to tell a real story but then add something that didn’t happen. This makes it easier to follow the “lie.”

If they guess correctly, they get two points, and the first player to reach 10 points wins. The loser has to tell an embarrassing story that actually happened. 

16. RIFF OFF

Riff Off is similar to The License Plate Game but with a fun twist. You can think of it almost like Scrabble with license plates!

To play this game, you have to find a license plate whose letters could make up a word. For example , if the license plate is PKN48, you could yell, “Pumpkin!” Another player can challenge you by creating a longer word with the same letters.

If you want to make the game a bit more difficult, you can say that the letters have to be in the correct order to make up the word, not scrambled. If someone spots a vanity plate, they get an extra two points. The first player to 10  points wins.

17. CHANGE ONE LETTER

It seems like movie references are a big part of road trip games. This game is super fun to play, especially for those extra creative people. This game doesn’t have an exact title, but Change One Letter seems to work the best. 

To play this game, choose a film, TV show, video game, or book, preferably something well-known. Then, change one letter of the title and describe the plot of the newly created title. Everyone else has to guess what the title is.

You can add or remove a letter as long as the title is made up of real words. For example , you might change Fight Club to Flight Club . Then, make up a plot about men who secretly take flights around the world together and then have to become pilots and fly the planes filled with their secret friends as passengers.

18. 20 QUESTIONS

20 Questions is a classic road trip game that can be played almost anywhere. The best part is that the object chosen is only limited by your imagination.

Similar to the grocery game, except there is a limit of only 20 questions. Pick an object, person, or place and allow the other players to guess what it is.

They may only ask yes or no questions, and they only get a total of 20 questions and only 3 guesses total. If they don’t guess in 20 questions, then you win. If someone guesses, they win, and they get to pick the next object.

19. DID YOU HEAR THAT…

Did you Hear That is a great game to play, especially if you keep up to date with pop culture and news. If you don’t, then you may have some trouble unless you are a good lie detector!

In this game, you are trying to fool your opponent and make them believe your story is true. You start by asking, “Did you hear that (blank) happened?” Your opponent will then either say, “That didn’t happen,” or “Tell me more.”

If they guess correctly that something didn’t happen, then they get two points. If they guess incorrectly that something didn’t happen, then you steal one of their points and gain two of your own!

However, if they say, “Tell me more,” you continue with the story and the points are doubled at the end of your statement!

20. THE SINGING GAME

Let’s get another game for the singers in the group. This is especially fun when everyone joins in and sings along to each song.

This game is played in a chain. So you start singing any song you want. The next person now has to sing another song that begins with any lyric from your song. This continues until someone messes up or they get stuck. 

Here’s a good example :

• “Don’t go breaking my heart…”
• “…will go on and…”
• “…Find, that what you’re looking for has been here the whole time…”

21. THE MOVIE GAME

This game is like a word association game but with movies and actors. It will go very well for film buffs, but for everyone else, well, good luck.

The rules of this game are quite simple. First, start with any actor you can think of and say their name aloud. The next player then has to name a movie that that actor was in. Then the next person says another actor who starred in that same film. This continues until someone is incorrect. They then sit out the next round. 

An example would be:

• Jennifer Lawrence
• The Silver Linings Playbook
• Robert DeNiro
• The Godfather

22. EXPLAIN A MOVIE PLOT BADLY

As I mentioned before, movies come up a lot during road trips. We love that, but how often do we get to describe movies badly?

In this game, you simply pick any film; again, known films are usually better for this one. Now, describe the plot of the film in a terrible way, but that is also factual. The others have to guess the film. If they guess correctly, they get a point; if not, then you get a point.

Here’s our favorite example, “Two 90yr old men fight when one of them can’t remember who the other is.” ( Captain America: The Winter Soldier )

23. ESSENTIALLY THE SAME MOVIE

Yes, believe it or not, it’s another movie-based game. It’s just so much fun to incorporate films into road trip games. This game is so fun, but it also makes you see how similar a lot of movies are! 

The game starts with you naming any film you want. The next person then has to name another movie that has the same basic plot. Some examples are Volcano and Dante’s Peak , or No Strings Attached , and Friends with Benefits.

The play continues until someone gets stumped. The last person to be able to name a film that fits is the winner.

24. FORTUNATELY, UNFORTUNATELY

Fortunately, Unfortunately, is a fun game to play, especially for those who are good at improv. The best part is that it takes no preparation at all and can help kids with their creativity!

The game is really easy to play. All you do is make a declarative statement that begins with “Fortunately.” For example, “Fortunately, we are passing through Las Vegas soon.” Then, the next person follows that up with an “Unfortunately” statement. For example, “Unfortunately, It’s now underwater!” Then that continues until someone can’t think of anything or until you get bored.

25. REGIONAL FOOD MASTER

You know I couldn’t leave out games for the foodies out there. This game is much easier if you’re playing with adults, but if the kids are playing, you’ll just have to cover the bill.

The object of the game is to collect the most regional snacks between the start and the end of your road trip. There are a few rules to make it a bit more interesting. 

• You have to get a snack at each gas station you stop at.
• You can only choose one item per gas station.
• The food item has to be created in the region where the stop was.
• Duplicate cities do not count.

The person who has the most snacks at the end of the trip is the winner!

26. THE COUNTING GAME

The counting game is one that can be played anytime, anywhere. It can even be played as a drinking game, but obviously not during the road trip. There is no limit to the number of players. However, the more players there are, the more chance there is to mess up.

Start the game by saying the number one out loud. Then, another person follows with the next number at random. This continues until you reach the number 20. The rules are: if two people say the same number at the same time, then you start over. If there is more than a five-second pause, start over. Trust me, this is harder than you might think.

27. FAMOUS NAME GAME

This is another association-style game. If you know the names of lots of famous people, then you’ll love this game. 

You’re trying to connect the first and last names of famous people. Start by saying any name out loud. Then, the next person has to say another name of a person whose first name starts with the first letter of the previous last name. For example, you say Chris Hemsworth, the next person can say Harry Stiles, and so on. 

If someone says a name that has the same letter as their first and last name, for example, Lindsay Lohan, then the order of players reverses. The first person to mess up loses and is out for the round.

28. BATTLE OF THE BANDS

This game is super fun for the whole family. It works especially well if someone has their phone connected to the car and can create playlists.

Two people are going head to head in this game to have their song chosen as the best in a category. One person is going to give out a theme, for example, “love songs” or “best fight songs.”

Two other contestants have one minute to choose their song. Each player then plays their song, and everyone in the car judges which song is better. Whoever wins gets one point, and the one with the most points wins.

29. WORD ASSOCIATION

I love games that make your brain work hard. This one will definitely do that and can also help kids with creativity. It can be played anytime you have some downtime, so the car ride is perfect!

The game is simple: start with a word, and the next person thinks of a word associated with it. The next person does the same with the previous word. 

For example:

• Haunted house
• Meerkat 

The game is over when someone says something crazy or can’t think of anything. However, if they can defend their answer, then the game can continue.

30. COW ON MY SIDE

I absolutely loved this game as soon as I heard about it. It’s another one of those games that you can play throughout the trip and not be actively playing. Be sure to keep an eye out!

Throughout the road trip, anytime you see cows, you shout out, “ Cows on my side!” You get a point every time you call it out. If you see cows on the other side, you can yell, “Cows on your side!” If you call this before the other person sees them, you get to steal a point.

The person with the most points at the end of the trip wins. My favorite part of the game is if you see a cemetery and scream, “Ghost cow!” you get to steal all the other side’s points!

31. TRIPLE THREAT

This is another one to help out with creativity. It is super fun to use random words that don’t coincide to make it a bit more difficult.

To play, you say three random words out loud. Then, each player has to tell a story using the three words. You get to be the judge and decide who told the best story. 

The winner now gets to choose three words for the other players, and play continues. 

YOUR NEXT ROAD TRIP WILL BE A BLAST!

Road trips are a must for families who want to make memories together. Although they can be boring at times, with enough initiative, the road trips will create memories all on their own. Families will laugh, joke, and play games, making the trip seem faster than it is!  

From trivia games to singing challenges, these are some games that will work for any family. Any age group can participate in these games, as many of them can be modified for younger players. 

If you’re looking for games more appropriate for parties check out the 10 best drinking games article.

• Recent Posts

• 16 AWESOME DRINKING GAMES WITH CUPS - April 26, 2024
• 7 MOST POPULAR CASINO GAMES - July 25, 2023
• Blackjack vs Poker: Differences Explained - March 20, 2023

36 Road Trip Games

At first glance, traveling long distances in a car might seem like an exciting adventure.  However, after the first 100 miles you are quickly reminded that road trips can get boring fast.  Well, be bored no longer — here is the ultimate guide to road trip games .  We’ve got road trip games for the kids, road trip games for adults and road trip games for the whole family!  These games will make even the longest road trips fun and exciting.

Why Play Road Trip Games?

You might be thinking why bother with road trip games — surely everyone has a smartphone or tablet to keep them occupied during the journey?  Well, road trip games have certain advantages over staring at electronic devices during a journey, such as:

Road Trip Games for Kids

If the adults in the car are busy driving, sleeping, or listening to music, the kids can still play some road trip games together.  These road trip games are simple to learn and a ton of fun!  They will keep the kids occupied throughout the journey, making it feel like the car trip is shorter and more enjoyable.

This is perhaps the most well-known road trip game of all time!   I Spy  is the perfect game for kids to play in the car.  They will be looking out the window, engaged in conversation with each other, and having a great time.

To play  I Spy , one person looks at their surroundings and chooses an object that the other players have to guess the name of.  They tell the other participants what letter the name of the object starts with or the color of the object.  The player who correctly guesses the name of the object goes next.  Tell the kids to choose something which they can see for more than 10 seconds and not just items that are flying past the car at 60 miles per hour.

SUSSED Wacky Would You Rather Card Game

• Would You Rather’ meets ‘Who Knows Who Best’!
• Easy to Play: Ask each other mysterious questions and try to figure out which answers everyone has picked!
• Multi-Award Winning: Play for hours as you experience 220 new conversations. Each deck contains 110 cards

Check Price

Would you rather  is a simple game where participants are asked to choose between two undesirable things.  For example, you could ask someone if they would rather be completely bald or completely covered in hair.  They should also be asked to rationalize their decision — is being hairy better because you can be incognito?  Or is being bald better because people will think you are Professor X from the X-Men?  There are also some great  Would You Rather card decks  which are designed for young children.  Players simply draw a card from the deck and answer the  Would You Rather question.  This pack has some hilarious questions that will have the adults in the car laughing hysterically.

Travel Scavenger Hunt Card Game

• The Travel Scavenger Hunt for Kids from University Games is great fun on a car trip
• Kids love whiling away the miles searching for the objects found on the cards
• Can you find a red car, a license plate with the letter ”Z,” or a stop sign?

The Travel Scavenger Hunt Card Game is guaranteed to keep the kids busy during a long road trip!  It is incredible fun and simple to play.  Each player takes five cards from the deck and tries to locate the objects that are written on each card.  There are also “feel it” “smell it” and “hear it” cards that encourage kids to use all of their senses while enjoying their car trip.  The kids will be so busy during the journey that they won’t complain or ask “how long till we get there”!

Rock, Paper, Scissors

A road trip is the perfect time to find out which of your children is the current rock paper scissors champion.  To play this game, each child makes a fist and shouts out “Rock Paper, Scissors” — swinging their first down each time they say a word.  They then make the shape of a rock (closed fist), paper (an open hand) or scissors (making a V with their index and middle fingers).  Rock beats scissors, scissors beats paper, and paper beats rock!  They get one point for each win, and the first to reach a designated total (the first to 21 works well) wins the game.

Travel Questions Game

• Road trip travel bingo for two players for fun on the go
• Choose among four great travel themes (signs, country, town and city, vehicles) on eight double-sided cards
• Bingo cards store inside the two wooden game boards with windows that flip open and closed to cover the items players…

Slug-A-Bug / Punch Buggy

This is a simple game that will keep the kids busy scanning the road and looking at the other cars.  Participants have to look for Volkswagen Beetles on the road.  Traditionally when they see one, they would give another family member a punch in the arm.  However, if you don’t want the kids whacking each other during the journey, have them tally the number of bugs they see.  The person who spots the most bugs could get a candy bar at the next stop!

Boredom Buster

• Lonely Planet Kids (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 128 Pages – 04/19/2016 (Publication Date) – Lonely Planet Kids (Publisher)

Lonely Planet has been helping people explore the world for decades with their handy travel guides.  They also make some great books for kids who are traveling to new places.  This book contains dozens of road trip word games, memory games, counting games, solo games, and spotting games.  The kids will find a few games that they love — keeping them occupied and happy during the journey.

Ultimate Sticker Puzzles:

License plates across states.

• Tallarico, Tony (Author)
• 24 Pages – 04/21/2005 (Publication Date) – Price Stern Sloan (Publisher)

This is a fun-filled activity book that will keep the kids occupied for hours!  It contains travel games, puzzles, mazes, word scrambles and trivia about the 50 states.  This book also has full-color license plate stickers to make playing the  license plate game easier.

Flip to Win Hangman Game

• GUESSING GAME: Kids will love playing this classic word game with a twist!
• NO LOOSE PIECES: This travel-friendly wooden word game includes an erasable whiteboard, a self-storing dry-erase marker,…
• PLAY AND LEARN: This wooden word game encourages friendly competition, spelling practice, and fine motor skills.

If you are traveling with young children, this hands-on wooden hangman game is a great game to take with you.  It includes a wooden frame with 37 wooden flaps and an erasable white board section to enter answers.  This game helps the kids have fun while improving their vocabulary.

Sweet or Sour

This is another classic car game that has been around for decades.  The kids simply wave  at people on the street or other motorists to see if they wave back.  If they wave back, they are sweet, if they don’t they are sour!  Keep a tally to see if the journey had more sweet or sour people.

Shotgun! – The Hilarious Family Card Game for Road Trips

• Family Fun: This family game is designed for ages 12+ and is encouraged to be played with 2+ players (of all ages).
• How to Play: Nominate someone to be the card reader (person sitting shotgun, we’re lookin’ at you). If the car setup allows, you can rotate the reader. Read the card and play based on the prompt! Play until you reach your destination or until you stop for fast food.
• What’s Inside: Contains 200 cards, 1 drawstring pouch and instructions.

This exciting card game is fun for all ages.  Shotgun! is also easy to learn, making it perfect for people of all ages.  It includes two hundred cards and a drawstring pouch (perfect for traveling).  One Amazon review said,  “I have two teenage boys that are pretty hard to impress. When I first announced we were going to play Shotgun on our road trip last week I won’t lie, I had a 19 yr old rolling his eyes and a 15 yr old that didn’t want to take his headphones off. By the time we got to the third card we were all laughing hysterically, and 2 hours of our trip flew by! I highly recommend this game for your next road trip. My teens both thought it was a lot of fun to play!” There you have it! What’s better than a mothers honest review? It is very fast-paced and the perfect game for kids to play in the back seat.

Travel Bingo

• This durable 4 Pack Assorted 6.75 x 6.5 inch Travel Bingo Cards are perfect for Roadtrips (Includes a mix of Auto Bingo…
• Spot Items from your Travel Bingo card from the Backseat on your Roadtrips
• Mark the Items with the Fingertip Shutter Windows

This is a super fun game that encourages the kids to look out the window and spot different objects.  When they see each item on their bingo sheet, they mark it off until they get the items need to win. It comes with a sturdy carry case, 4 pads of markable bingo sheets and 4 pencils.

Family Road Trip Games

These road trip games are simple to learn but interesting enough that adults will enjoy playing them.  They are an excellent choice for families that are playing together.

21 Questions

Our family loves to play 21 questions on road trips — it’s challenging, easy for the whole family to learn, and a ton of fun!  A person has to think of a person, place or object.  The other participants then have 21 questions to find out what that person, place or object is!  If a questioner correctly guesses the item, they will be the next person to start the round.

Rubberneckers

• Lore, Matthew (Author)
• 68 Pages – 02/01/1999 (Publication Date) – Chronicle Books (Publisher)

Say goodbye to “100 bottles of beer on the wall” — you can play Rubberneckers instead!  This travel game has hundreds of different challenges and fun mini-games that you can play while sitting in the car.  Some of the challenges in the game include spotting particular items — like weathervanes or satellite dishes.  The family will become eagle-eyed adventurers who are exploring the world.  Your road trip will become an exciting exploration of the world instead of a mundane journey.

Don’t Say It!

This is another great game for the entire family, because it has simple rules.  The passengers in the car think of five words that they should not say during the journey.  I they say any of those words, they will be penalized in some way.  You can be creative about the penalty — it could be something silly like being forced to sing an embarrassing song or donate 50 cents to the road trip’s candy fund.  Choose words that are often said during a road trip or words that certain passengers frequently say.

License Plate Game

• WOODEN TRAVEL GAME: The Melissa & Doug U.S.A. License Plate Game adds excitement to travel with a wooden game board…
• DURABLE AND EASY TO USE: The U.S.A. License Plate Game helps kids learn the name and location of all fifty states,…
• TWO PLAYER GAME: Color-coded edges allows for two-person play.

This exciting road trip game is guaranteed to make your family feel like they are exploring the entire country from the car!  This game includes a sturdy wooden board with a map of the United States.  Players are challenged to learn the location and name of all fifty states in the mainland.  They are can also spot license plates from different states to complete the map.

• THE ORIGINAL GUESSING GAME: This edition of the Guess Who? game features classic tabletop boards, 24 Mystery cards and 48 Face cards
• INTERACTIVE GAME FOR KIDS: Kids can have loads of fun as they use yes or no question to guess each other’s mystery character
• CLASSIC GUESS WHO? GAMEPLAY: Remember playing the Guess Who? game when you were a kid? This guessing game features classic gameplay with updated characters from the previous edition

This might not seem like a typical road trip game, but Guess Who is compact with few pieces and therefore easy to bring along for the ride. Perfect if you have two kids in the back seat. Playing this game will let them entertain themselves and give the parents up front a few moments to themselves. Guess Who has become increasingly popular in recent years as lot of “challenges” have come out like, “Guess Who? using only vibes” or “Guess Who? by their music taste.” Your kids can come up with their own challenges and have fun round after round!

Fictional Families

This is a hilarious road trip game that the entire family will enjoy.  It really harnesses the creativity of your passengers and is guaranteed to draw a few laughs along the way.  Whenever someone sees some interesting-looking people in another car, they say “Fictional Family Spotted”.  Your family then takes a good look at the occupants in the other vehicle and creates an imaginary back story about them.  The more exciting and creative the back story is, the better!  Your family will create some hilarious stories that can become a running joke during the journey.

The Geography Road Game

The best part of being on the road with the family is that they get to learn a lot about the geography of the United States — if they are not glued to their smartphone!  Help the kids learn more about the location of counties, cities and states with this simple geography game.  The game starts when one player names a location, for example Nebraska.  The next person must name a location in the United States that starts with the last letter of that word — the letter “A.”  You can score this game if you like — making states worth 1 point, towns or cities worth 2 points and national parks, waterways and mountains worth 3 points.

Melissa & Doug Flip to Win Travel Memory Games

Melissa & Doug Flip to Win Travel Memory Game – Wooden Game Board, 7 Double-Sided Cards

• WOODEN TRAVEL MEMORY GAME: The Melissa & Doug Flip-to-Win Memory Game includes a wooden frame with 25 flaps and sliding scorekeepers, and 7 double-sided, laminated, themed game cards.
• DURABLE AND EASY TO USE: This matching game features a bungee-hinge design that helps improve the durability and strength of this game. It is also easy for smaller hands to use and safe for kids 5 to 7 years.
• GREAT GIFT FOR KIDS 5 TO 7 YEARS: The Melissa & Doug Flip-to-Win Memory Game is an exceptional gift for kids from 5 to 7 years. Add the Melissa & Doug Secret Decoder Deluxe Activity Set as an engaging option for screen-free fun.

“Choose from among seven fun themes, slide a card into the gameboard and start looking for matches. This handy memory game includes one game board, seven double-sided game cards and a two-player scoreboard. There are no loose pieces and everything conveniently stores in the board. Great for travel. This matching game features a bungee-hinge design that helps improve the durability and strength of this game. It is also easy for smaller hands to use and safe for kids 5 to 7 years.”

Fortunately/Unfortunately

This is a funny game that will generate some laughs and stimulate your children’s creativity.  The first person in the car thinks of something fortunate that is happening soon.  The next person has to think of something unfortunate that is tied to the first event.  Each occupant of the car continues saying fortunate/unfortunate things until the story comes to a conclusion.  The crazier the events are in the story, the more enjoyable it will be!  For example:

“Fortunately, it’s a beautiful sunny day today!”

“Unfortunately, it is bombarding us with deadly gamma rays” “Fortunately, we can absorb those rays and become the next hulk”

“Unfortunately we’d probably destroy all of the other cars on the road”

“Fortunately, we’d get to date Jennifer Connelly or Scarlett Johansson because they have been girlfriends of the Hulk in movies!”

The Furthest License Plate Game

This games tests both the eyesight and geographical knowledge of participants!  The goal of the game is to look at the license plates around you and choose one from a state that is as far away as possible.  You can either play the game over the duration of the entire trip or have “one-offs” where you have 5 seconds to spot a far away license plate then yell it out.  It is great fun to be traveling in Florida and spot a car with an Alaskan license plate next to you!

Complainers

You might think the last thing you want to hear during the journey is a complaining child!  Surprisingly, voicing outrageous and silly complaints can actually be a fun road trip game.  Each participant gets two minutes to complain about any inane or silly thing they can think of.  For example, some ridiculous complaints you make could include:

“This beautiful sunny day is giving me skin cancer why can’t it be wet and miserable?”

“My feet are too cold and my head is too hot!”

“This shirt is itching so much it feels like I am covered by cactus leaves!”

“I hate peanuts! I just hate them!”

“Pugs aren’t cute they are annoying and have fat, wrinkly faces!”

Name That Celebrity

This game can be quite funny and makes time fly while on the road!  Passengers have to look for other people who look like well known celebrities.  When they see one they have to yell out the location of the car and the name of the celebrity.  The person  “must have” a resemblance to the celebrity.  The other occupants of the car can either agree or disagree.  They can also name an alternate celebrity who has a closer resemblance to that person.

Adult Road Trip Games

If there are no young kids in the car, you might be looking for more advanced road trip games that have more complex puzzles or require more knowledge.  These games are useful for road trips with adult friends or road trips for families with teenage children.

Never Have I Ever…

Normally played as a drinking game,  Never Have I Ever  works well as a road trip game and makes monotonous journeys fun!   To play the game, one person makes a statement start with “Never have I ever…”  then everyone who has performed that action in their life has to have a drink.  Try to think of questions that are interesting, unusual or funny.

For example, “Never have I ever cheated on a test” or “Never have I ever eaten someone else’s lunch” can provide some interesting responses.  The people who answered yes to the proposition then have the option of providing the back story to the event.  It is a great way for people to learn more about one another!  You can also play the  Loaded Questions Card Game , which has 200 creative and interesting question cards plus a scoring system.  Also check out the  Never Have I Ever Conversation Starters card pack — it contains over 150 cards with interesting questions on them

Cards Against Humanity

• Cards Against Humanity is a party game for horrible people.
• This is the main game. Buy this first.
• Contains 500 white cards and 100 black cards for maximum replayability.

Described as a “party game for horrible people” Cards Against Humanity poses some tricky and politically incorrect questions to each player.  The deck contains black cards and white cards.  At the start of the round, a chosen player (The Judge) draws a black card from the stack.  This card contains a question that must be answered with one of the white cards.  Each player must use one of their ten white cards to answer that question.

Players hand their white card answers to The Judge.  The Judge then chooses the answer that they like the most from the responses.  The player with the chosen answer gets a point. The tricky part is that the responses don’t go very well with the questions!  They are often politically incorrect and distasteful.  Players feel like horrible human beings, but they are guaranteed to have a few laughs.

You can play this game in the car, with the driver being the Judge — they just have other people read them the questions and answers on the cards on their behalf.

Human Jukeboxes

If everyone in your car is a music lover, you can give Human Jukeboxes a try.  To play this game, one passengers  starts singing a line from their favorite song.  The next person must think of a different song lyric that starts with the last word of the first song.  For example:

“’Cause you make me feel like I’ve been locked out of heaven”  (Bruno Mars)

“…Heaven only knows, Heaven only knows” (John Legend)

The Movie Game

This is the perfect road trip game for passengers who are film lovers.  It’s also very easy to learn!  The game is started by someone saying the name of a random actor.  The next person must say the name of a movie that the actor starred in.  The next person must say the name of another actor in the same movie.  The game goes on until someone cannot think of the name of a matching actor or movie.  The person who cannot answer or gets the answer wrong is out of the game until the next round.

Radio Roulette

If you are enjoying a road trip around America with your family and friends, you should make sure they experience as much culture as possible!   One way you can do so is by playing radio roulette.  Randomly change the radio station that you are listening to every 10 minutes.  You will hear everything from classical jazz to evangelical Christians and crazy people talkback radio!  There are some pretty bizarre radio stations out there and forcing yourself to listen to them makes the road trip much more interesting.

Explain a Film Plot Badly

This is another one for the film fanatics!  A person in the car explains a film plot very badly and the other passengers have to guess what the movie is.  Here are a couple of examples:

“Unhappy billionaire terrorizes mentally ill man” — Batman

“Man destroys family heirloom” — Lord of The Rings.

“I’m not supposed to talk about it” — Fight Club

“A boy becomes friends with a monk, goes into space, kisses his sister and kills his dad” — Star Wars

Cornhole Rules and Regulations

Road trip word games can be great fun for people of all ages.  They can help expand the vocabulary and creativity of participants — which makes these games a great choice for families with young children.  Here are a few of the best road trip word games.

• Put the laws of motion to the test with our patented Q-BA-MAZE 2
• 0 Stunt Sets
• The ingenious pieces interlock in endless configurations, while double-exit cubes keep you guessing which way the…

Mad Libs is one of the world’s most popular word games.  Participants are presented with a story or song that has a few words missing.  They must fill in the blanks to create an original piece of work.  This is a book containing dozens of mad libs for the family to enjoy while on a road trip. The songs and stories that are created from filling them in are often hilarious!

Round Robin Story Game

This game involves participants crafting an interesting story one word at a time!  Most stories are fairly short — usually four or five sentences long.  Some of the stories that are created are quite memorable and funny.  It’s usually good idea to record the stories on your phone, so you can play them back later for a few laughs.

The game starts with a player saying the first word in the story.  The game then goes around the car in a circle, with each player contributing an additional word.  Players can also contribute punctuation to complete a sentence.

For example:

Person 1:  It

Person 2:  was

Person 3:  a

Person 4:  dark

Person 1:  night

Person 2:  in

Person 3:  Tennessee

Person 4:  and

Person 1:  the

Person 2:  clowns

Person 3:  were

Person 4:  everywhere!

The Related Words Game

To play this game, participants are given a starting word.  They must think of a word that relates to this starting word.  They then continue thinking of words that relate to the previous word in the list — with the goal of coming back to the first word.  The winner of the game is the player who uses the shortest list of words.

For example, if the word is orange:

Person 1 says: Orange, fruit, cup, drink, juice, orange.

Person 2 says: Orange, fruit, food, Cheetos, orange.  (Winner!)

I’m Going on a Picnic!

This game is a fantastic way to improve your memory and language skills.  If you have some kids in the car, it can really help them improve their vocabulary!  The game starts with a player saying: “I’m going on a picnic and I am bringing…” then the name of an object or animal that starts with the letter A.  The next person then says: “I’m going on a picnic and I am bringing…” then mentions the first item and another item starting with the letter B.  The game continues through the alphabet.

If a player cannot remember the names of all of the items in the list, they are out.  If you are playing with younger players, you can offer them a few hints if they can’t remember a specific item.

Spot the Alphabet

This is another great game for the whole family.  Each player is looking for road signs, shop names or billboards that start with each letter of the alphabet.  They start at “A” and work their way through to “Z”.  For example, if someone spots a sign for “Appalachians Mountains” they mention it — completing the letter “A” and moving on to “B”.  The object must be spotted on your side of the car and each object can only be used once.

The Rhyming Game

This is a simple road trip word game that will test your vocabulary and ability to rhyme.  A starting player says a word that is easily rhymed, then players take turns thinking of other words that rhyme with it.  Each player has 3 seconds to think of a word and words cannot be repeated.

Whether you are taking a family road trip across the country or only taking a short trip with some friends, consider unplugging and enjoying your time with others to the fullest with these fun travel games! Find the game from the above list that will work for you and your family! Never be bored on a long trip again!

We hope you enjoyed reading The Ultimate Guide to Road Trip Games!  These games are so much fun that you will be looking forward to your next road trip instead of dreading it!

Do you have any fun road trip games we didn’t list? Comment below some of your favorites!

Featured Image via Freepik

To tell the truth, traveling with children is quite not an easy task because you always need to provide for many nuances, including looking for some ways to entertain your kids. I am really happy to read your article because soon we will go on a road trip and now it is no longer a problem what to create to satisfy the desires of my children and get rid them of boredom. Before this time I couldn’t even think about such a wonderful possibility to take magnetic board games with us. It is the best decision to spend your time with usefulness and fun at the same time, without any chance to lose some particles. Also, I really liked Wikki Stix because it is such an unusual and fascinating idea. Children can develop their creativity and create something absolutely unique from waxy sticks. It is thrilling.

// Marina Teramond @ NMPL

Leave a Reply

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Funattic.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Pin It on Pinterest

50 classic games you can play without equipment

Video game consoles cost hundreds of dollars. Online gaming subscriptions come with a monthly fee. Organized sports like hockey and football require mountains of expensive equipment. Many other games can only be played with game-specific sets like board games, jigsaw puzzles, or classic backyard games like bocce ball, croquet, tetherball, and badminton. Then there are the countless games that require just basic equipment like a ball—but equipment nonetheless.

What if a bored group of kids or adults don't have anything—no ball, no jump rope, no bike, no playing cards? The answer is that they'd still have plenty of options.

Using a variety of sources including game-focused websites, parent/children-dedicated blogs, and historical entertainment sites, Stacker came up with a list of 50 classic games that just about anyone can play with virtually no equipment. The list omits the many games that require even the most basic items like previously mentioned balls or jump ropes. Occasionally, however, the list includes games that require easy-access objects like rocks, sticks, or any interchangeable item—one, for example, technically calls for a button, but any small object will do.

Some are played inside, and others require vast amounts of space outdoors. Some are for teams, and others involve head-to-head matchups. Many are competitions that end with clear winners and losers, while others are played just for the sake of playing them. Some require music, and some are clapping games. Some are physical, while others are games driven by imagination. Some are famous favorites that are universally known to nearly everyone, while others might be brand new to some readers.

All, however, can be used to pass the time on rainy days by just about every adult and child looking for something to do. Keep reading to learn about the classic games that just about anyone can enjoy with no equipment at all.

You may also like:  What the world was like when your grandparents were born

Tag might just be the most familiar, famous, and universal no-tech game of all time. It's hard to imagine anyone who hasn't at one point or another run from the person who is "it" before being tagged and becoming "it" themselves. Although it's impossible to confirm, there's an old internet rumor that says "tag" is an acronym for "touch and go."

Red light, green light

This tag variation requires whoever is "it" to function as a traffic light, shouting "green light" to a group of kids that begin the game at a pre-chosen starting line a good distance away. The "it" person can stop all the players by yelling "red light"—anyone caught moving returns to the starting line, and play continues until a traffic violator is caught and becomes "it." Some variations involve a yellow light.

Mother, may I?

This classic game can be played between parents and children down to toddler age or between pairs or groups of kids who are much older. The child asks the person playing the role of mother for permission to do something by using the game's title phrase. Mother either grants permission or suggests an alternative.

Truth or dare?

Whether it's played innocently among children, as an embarrassment-based party game for straitlaced adults, or as a raunchy excuse for older teens or college kids to have a licentious good time, truth or dare requires both imagination and courage. Players take turns in order, with one asking "truth or dare?" and another choosing to reveal something honestly or take their inquisitor up on a physical challenge.

Jailbreak is a sprawling outdoor game that requires a lot of space and enough players for two teams. One team hides and the other pursues them, and when members of the hunting party find a hidden opponent, they grab them and yell "one, two, three, you're my man" or something similar, and escort them to a predetermined spot designated as the jail. Someone guards the jail, but if an opponent can slip past the jailor and yell "jailbreak!" then their comrade is freed. When everyone is locked up, the teams switch roles.

You may also like:  The best streaming services in 2021

Charades technically requires a pencil and paper to keep score and a watch or timer, but it can be played without. Broken up into two teams, one player acts out a charade that represents a pre-selected word or phrase, and their teammates have to guess the word correctly before time runs out to score a point. It's a game that both adults and children can play together.

Captain’s coming

In this childhood classic , a group of kids pretends to be on a ship with one designated as the captain and the rest as subservient crew members who must obey the captain's orders, which could include anything from swabbing the deck to avoiding sharks. Whoever finishes an assignment last is out. When the captain boards the ship, a designated yeller shouts "captain's coming!" to saluting crew members, who the captain tries to trick into prematurely lowering their salutes.

In this popular variation of tag , the "it" person chases a scattering group until grabbing someone and yelling, "freeze!" That person remains frozen until a teammate unfreezes them by tagging them—or until the game ends when everyone in the group is successfully immobilized.

This outdoor game also takes a lot of space and enough kids to form into two teams, which line up parallel to each other some distance apart. One team, designated "red rover," links their arms and yells, "Red rover, red rover send (opposing team member's name) on over!" That kid then runs at the human chain and tries to break it—if successful, the runner captures two red rover members and, if not, joins the red rover team.

Duck, duck, goose

In the ultimate schoolyard recess game that is duck, duck, goose , a group of kids sits in a circle except for one who is it. The "it" person circles the perimeter while tapping each player on the head and saying, "duck" with each tap. When the "it" person touches a person and yells "goose" instead of "duck," the chosen goose gets up and tries to chase the "it" person, who, in turn, tries to make it to the open seat first.

Throwing rocks

The only things required to throw rocks at inanimate targets as a challenge between friends are rocks. They don't count as equipment, however, because anyone can find them anywhere. This game requires space and a little planning to make sure no windows, cars, animals, and most of all, people, are situated behind the target.

Skipping rocks

This version requires a body of water and rocks that are flat on one side. Like the target practice variation, it can be played alone or in groups by kids or adults. Once new players get the wrist-flicking action down, they enjoy the satisfying experience of watching their rocks appear to defy the laws of physics as they bounce across the surface of the water until they lose their momentum and run out of skips.

Memory moves

If music doesn't count as equipment, several dance games deserve a place on this list—none more than memory dance. Kids, adults, or both form a circle, and one person is chosen to do a dance in the middle. Next, a person is chosen to enter the circle and mimic the dance, then another, then another, and so on.

Dance switch

In dance switch, the group dances independently, and one yeller is designated to call out new dance styles—like the robot, ballet, or break dancing—at random intervals. When the yeller announces a new dance, everyone in the group switches their styles.

Dance hat is kind of like the rhythmic opposite of hot potato. A group dances independently while passing around a hat, and whoever is wearing the hat when the music stops wins.

Dance creation

This one's simple. A group of people gathers in a circle and takes turns dancing in the center with brand new dance moves that they invent on the spot.

Partner switch

In this final dance game, partners compete in pairs inside circles or other predetermined areas, which get smaller as the game goes on. When either partner steps outside their circle or area, the duo is out. In the end, the only remaining pair wins.

Just like dance games, clapping games  require only human bodies—and the most famous of them all is patty cake, also called pat-a-cake. Everyone knows the words ("pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker's man..."), which are pantomimed by two players clapping their hands together and then high-fiving with one hand to the other person's opposing hand.

Say, say, oh playmate

This clap game is played to rhyming lyrics that are more comprehensive than patty cake and too long to list here. It also switches things up with a number-counting interlude that causes players to change their clapping patterns.

Long-legged sailor

Long-legged sailor is a clapping game with fairly basic lyrics but a much more complex clapping pattern. It introduces palms up/palms down clapping and a cadence that changes claps with every single word.

You may also like:   The best streaming services for sports in 2021

Although its lyrics involve violence against medical professionals and a boy eating an entire bathtub, Miss Susie is a classic nonetheless. With clapping patterns that are nearly the same as patty cake, it's easy to learn and involves a behind-the-back clap to mix things up.

Miss Mary Mack

Miss Mary Mack is one of the most famous clap games for a reason. It's fun, it's easy to learn, and its hallmark three-word repetition gives it a classic old-school recess playground feel.

Ring-around-the-rosy

Ring-around-the-rosy is more than just a nearly universally known nursery rhyme. Although the first known use of the phrase was in 1878, it's believed to be referencing the bubonic plague of the 14th century. It's a game that involves dancing in a circle while holding hands, singing the morbid tune, and falling to the ground when it ends. Posies are flowers that medieval superstition said could ward off disease, "ring around the rosy" signifies round rashes that come with the plague, and "ashes, ashes, we all fall down" signifies dying of the plague and being cremated—now go have fun.

Jump the cracks

This game requires only two feet, a keen eye, and a sidewalk or any surface with cracks. The object of the game is to get from point A to point B without stepping on a crack. Some versions require players to chant a primitive superstition that rivals ring-around-the-rosy in terms of creepiness that in a perfect world wouldn't be involved in children's games: step on a crack, break your mother's back.

Hide and seek

Perhaps the most famous no-tech game in history, hide and seek involves one person shielding their eyes and counting while another person or group of people scramble to find a good hiding spot. When the countdown expires, the seeker yells "ready or not, here I come," and the hunt begins.

Kick the can

Although a can is the standard central object of the game, kids can play kick the can with just about anything—the game was popularized during the Great Depression when money for toys was tight. After the object is given a home base location, a group of kids hides, and one designated person looks for them. When a hider is spotted, the "it" person yells "kick the can," and they both run to see who can kick the object first.

The floor is lava

This game can be played indoors and out, and requires no actual molten rock or metal. One kid yells out, "the floor is lava," and the rest of the group scrambles to get off the floor and onto a couch, a fire hydrant, or any other safe perch before the yeller counts to five.

King of the hill

Achieving power is one thing—but defending and maintaining it is the real challenge. This is the lesson learned in king of the hill. A group of children scrambles to the top of the hill, and whoever claws and scratches to the top first has to fend off the onslaught of a mob bent on regime change.

Capture the flag

Similar to king of the hill, capture the flag is all about gaining and defending turf, but it's a team game. A group of kids is divided into two teams spread across an even amount of ground outside with a flag—or any object—placed in each team's space. Starting from a neutral location, the kids then use cunning, deception, and brawn to get the other team's flag and return it to their space before the other team does the same to them.

Hopscotch technically requires chalk to draw a geometric pattern on the pavement, but any visible markers will do. In a series of essentially infinite combinations, children hop with one foot or two in predetermined sequences, sometimes picking up markers as they go.

You may also like:  The best streaming services for football in 2021

Simon says requires kids to follow basic instructions like raise your hands or stand on one foot at the direction of a designated yeller—but only if the yeller first says, "Simon says." If someone acts without hearing that prompt, they're out.

In this game , the same rules from regular tag apply. In this case, however, the "it" person has to tag the shadow of another kid to make that kid "it."

TV tag, too, follows the same rules as tag , but it offers players a unique defense mechanism. To avoid being tagged, a kid can yell out the title of a previously unmentioned television show just before the touch is made.

Whisper down the lane

Often called telephone, whisper down the lane starts with one person whispering a phrase to the person next to them, who then whispers the same phrase—or their interpretation of it—to the next person, and so on. Hilarity ensues at the end when the mangled remnants of the phrase are compared to the original.

Both kids and adults can play hot potato with or without an actual spud—any tossable and catchable object will do. The object is tossed from one person to the next as the music plays, and when the music stops, whoever is stuck holding the object is out, and the process repeats until only the winner remains.

Musical chairs

This game, too, weeds out players via music. The group stands up and walks around a perimeter of chairs with one chair missing, and when the music stops, whoever is standing at the empty spot is out. Then another chair is removed, and the game is repeated until the winner is left standing.

Crack the whip

In crack the whip , a group of kids joins hands and follows the leader, who zigs and zags and runs and turns. The rest of the group does its best to keep up and, in doing so, looks like a whip cracking as it goes.

Button, button, who's got the button?

This game requires a button, but any object small enough to hide in a child's hand—like a coin—will suffice. The "it" person touches the outstretched hand of each child in a group and puts the object in the hand of only one. No one but the "it" person and the button-holder knows who really has it, and the other children have to guess.

Heads up 7-up

This classroom favorite is led by one "it" person who touches the heads of six people in the class while every student has their heads down on their desks. When six have been touched, the teacher calls out "heads up 7-up," and the players try to guess who among them was "it."

Blind man's bluff

An ancient game dating to at least 2,000 years ago in Greece, blind man's bluff is kind of like tag with a twist. The "it" person is blindfolded and spun around until disoriented and dizzy. The others then call out "blind man" as the "it" person tries to tag them by the sound of their voices.

The greatest pool game in history, Marco Polo , also deals with an "it" person whose eyes are closed and chasing the voices of the others. In this case, however, the "it" person calls out "Marco," and the others respond with "Polo." If someone illegally exits the pool and the "it" person hears, he or she calls out "fish out of water," and that person becomes "it."

Johnny on a pony

Also called buck-buck, Johnny on a pony has several variations, all of which involve one group of riders jumping on the backs of another group who line up to mimic a pony. In one version, the pony team tries to buck the riders. In another, the riders try to break the pony.

Steal the bacon

This game requires a good amount of space outside and enough kids to form two teams separated into two opposing areas with a piece of imaginary bacon (which could be any object) in the middle. Each team member is assigned a number, and when a teacher, parent, or neutral kid calls a number, the corresponding kid on each team races to snag the bacon.

Arm wrestling

This one-on-one competition of strength, timing, technique, and endurance pits one arm wrestler against another. All it takes is two chairs, a hard surface like a table, and a pair of dueling arms.

Hide and seek flipped backward, sardines involves a group of kids hiding their eyes, counting, and finally searching for one hiding child. As they find the hiding kid, they join that kid in the hiding spot, lying close together like sardines.

Staring contest

In this age-old battle of wills and retinas , two players face off by staring into each other's eyes. Whoever blinks or looks away first loses.

Monkey in the middle

Monkey in the middle is a keep-away game played with a small group of children. As the name implies, the monkey stands in the middle and tries to snag a ball or other object out of the air as the other kids pass the ball to each other over the monkey's head.

Generations of parents have passed the time during long car trips with I spy . One player uses phrases like "I spy with my eye" and then give a descriptive statement, like "something red." The other player then looks for red things and guesses what player one was seeing.

License plate game

Another road trip classic is the license plate game . The object is simple—participants keep an eye out for state license plates they haven't seen yet and keep track of how many different ones they spot.

Sometimes called hot hands, red hands, or slapsies, this two-player game is not for the timid. One player places their hands palms up, and the other player puts their hands over the first person's hands palms down. The under person tries to flip their hands and slap the top of the second player's hands before they can pull them away.

Trending Now

50 most meaningful jobs in america.

50 best crime TV shows of all time

50 best colleges on the East Coast

50 best movies of the '60s

Itineraries, Travel Tips and Tools

Road Trip Games for Families

8th September 2023

southernafro

Are you getting ready for an exciting family road trip? Looking for ways to keep everyone entertained and make the journey more enjoyable? You’ve come to the right place! We’ve put together a collection of engaging road trip games that are perfect for families. These games will not only keep boredom at bay but also create unforgettable memories along the way. Here are some fantastic road trip games for families:

The Alphabet Game

Table Of Contents

Objective: Enhance your vocabulary and observation skills while having fun.

In the Alphabet Game, each person takes turns finding words outside the car that start with the next letter of the alphabet. Start with “A” and work your way through the entire alphabet collectively.

20 Questions

Objective: Test your deductive reasoning and guessing abilities.

In this game, one person thinks of an object or person, and the others take turns asking yes-or-no questions to guess what it is. You have 20 questions to figure it out, and the person who successfully stumps the group gets to choose the next item.

Licence Plate Game

Objective: Spot license plates from different places and compete to find the most unique ones.

Challenge everyone to keep an eye out for license plates from various states or provinces. Keep a tally of the plates you find, and see who can spot the most unique ones during the trip.

I’m Going on a Picnic

Objective: Challenge your memory and creativity while having fun.

Start the game by saying, “I’m going on a picnic, and I’m bringing…” followed by an item that starts with the letter “A.” The next person repeats the phrase, includes the “A” item, and adds something starting with “B.” Continue in this pattern, reciting the growing list and adding an item corresponding to the next letter of the alphabet.

Would You Rather

Objective: Spark fun and imaginative discussions.

Present amusing or thought-provoking “Would you rather” scenarios to each other. For example, “Would you rather have a pet dinosaur or a dragon?” Take turns answering and explaining your choices.

Road Trip Bingo

Objective: Keep an eye out for common road trip sights and compete to get Bingo!

Create personalized bingo cards featuring items commonly seen on a road trip, such as cows, billboards, or specific types of vehicles. Mark off the items as you spot them, and the first person to get a line or a full card exclaims, “Bingo!”

Name That Tune

Objective: Test your music knowledge and have a blast singing along.

Play short snippets of songs from various genres and eras, challenging each other to guess the song title and artist. Keep score, and the person with the most correct answers emerges as the winner.

Objective: Think on your feet and come up with items within a given category.

Select a category, such as actors, cities, or food, and take turns naming items within that category. The catch is that each item must start with the last letter of the previous one mentioned.

Desert Island

Objective: Explore your imagination and share your preferences.

Imagine being stranded on a desert island and discuss the three items each person would want to have with them. Take turns sharing your choices and explaining the reasoning behind them.

Movie Trivia

Objective: Challenge your movie knowledge and compete for the highest score.

Put your movie knowledge to the test with a round of movie trivia. Take turns asking questions about actors, film quotes, or famous movie scenes. Award points for correct answers, and the person with the highest score prevails.

Story Chain

Objective: Create a collaborative and creative storytelling experience.

Begin a story with a few sentences, and then each person adds a sentence to continue the narrative. Allow the story to unfold unexpectedly and creatively, taking turns building upon each other’s contributions.

Road Trip Karaoke

Objective: Sing your hearts out and have a mini karaoke session on wheels.

Compile a playlist of your favorite songs and take turns singing along as you cruise along the road. Encourage everyone to participate and create a lively karaoke session on the go.

Road Trip Games for Couples

If you’re embarking on a road trip as a couple, it’s essential to have entertaining games that enhance your journey together. Here are some games specifically designed for couples:

The Newlywed Game

Objective: Test your knowledge of each other and enjoy some playful moments.

Put your knowledge of each other to the test with a road trip version of this classic game. Take turns asking questions about preferences, memories, or experiences. Learning more about each other and having some fun along the way is the aim of the game.

Truth or Dare

Objective: Create exciting conversations and shared experiences.

Challenge each other with thought-provoking questions or fun dares throughout the trip. It can lead to exciting conversations and create memorable shared experiences.

Road Trip Trivia

Objective: Reminisce and test your knowledge as a couple.

Prepare a list of trivia questions about your relationship, favorite movies, or shared adventures. Take turns asking the questions and see who can answer correctly. It’s a great way to reminisce and test your knowledge as a couple.

Destination Dreaming

Objective: Explore your travel aspirations and build excitement for upcoming adventures.

Engage in conversations about your dream destinations and create a shared bucket list of places you want to visit. This game allows you to explore your travel aspirations and build excitement for your future adventures.

Road Trip Games for Toddlers

Traveling with toddlers can be challenging, so keeping them entertained is crucial. Here are some games that can engage and entertain your little ones:

Objective: Promote observation skills and language development.

Take turns saying, “I spy with my little eye, something that is…” and provide a clue about something visible inside or outside the car. Toddlers can guess what you’re referring to, promoting observation skills and language development.

Objective: Make the journey interactive and entertaining.

Create a playlist of toddler-friendly songs and sing along together. Encourage hand movements and dancing to make it more interactive and entertaining.

Animal Sounds

Objective: Engage their imagination and teach them about animals.

Imitate the sounds of different animals and have your toddler guess which animal you’re pretending to be. It’s a great way to engage their imagination and teach them about other animals.

Storytelling

Objective: Encourage creativity and imaginative thinking.

Tell interactive stories with your toddler as the main character. Let their imagination run wild as you incorporate their suggestions and create a unique story.

Travel Scavenger Hunt

Objective: Keep them engaged and excited during the trip.

Create a simple scavenger hunt list with items or objects your toddler can spot during the road trip. It could be a red car, a stop sign, or a tree. Help them find the items and celebrate their successes.

Road Trip Games for Kids

For older kids, consider these engaging games to keep them entertained on the road:

Objective: Test deductive reasoning and guessing skills.

One person thinks of an object or person, and the others ask yes-or-no questions to guess what it is within 20 questions.

License Plate Game

Objective: Learn about different states and provinces.

Challenge the kids to spot license plates from different states or provinces. Provide them with a map and encourage them to mark off the ones they find.

Objective: Compete to spot common road trip sights and win Bingo.

Create personalized bingo cards with items commonly seen on a road trip, such as road signs, landmarks, or specific types of vehicles. The first person to spot everything on their card wins.

Objective: Test music knowledge and compete for points.

Play snippets of popular songs and have the kids guess the song title and artist. You can award points for correct answers and keep score throughout the trip.

Objective: Foster creativity and collaborative storytelling.

Start a story with a few sentences, and let each child add a sentence to continue the narrative. It’s a creative way to keep their imaginations flowing and build a unique story together.

Online Road Trip Games

If you’re looking for road trip games that can be played online, consider these options:

Virtual Trivia

Objective: Challenge each other’s knowledge in various categories.

Explore online trivia games or apps that allow you to compete against each other in various categories. Take turns answering questions and see who can achieve the highest score.

Online Scavenger Hunt

Objective: Solve puzzles and find items online.

Explore virtual scavenger hunts that you can play using smartphones or tablets. These interactive hunts often involve solving clues or finding specific items online.

Multiplayer Mobile Games

Objective: Enjoy multiplayer games together on smartphones or tablets.

Download multiplayer games that allow you to play together during the road trip. Many options include word games, quiz games, or multiplayer puzzle games.

Online “Would You Rather”

Objective: Engage in discussions about hypothetical scenarios.

Search for websites or apps that offer virtual “Would You Rather” scenarios. Take turns answering the questions and engaging in discussions about your choices as you navigate through different scenarios.

Homemade Road Trip Games

If you prefer DIY games that require minimal supplies, consider these homemade road trip game ideas:

Road Trip Bingo (Printable Version)

Objective: Spot common road trip sights and get Bingo.

Create customized bingo cards featuring objects or landmarks commonly seen on a road trip. You can find printable versions online or design your own. Cross off the items as you spot them during the journey.

Memory Game

Objective: Test memory and matching skills.

Prepare a set of cards with images or words. Lay them out and allow each player to flip two cards simultaneously to find matching pairs. The player with the most matches wins.

One person thinks of an object or person, and the others ask yes-or-no questions to guess what it is within 20 questions. This classic game requires no materials.

Storytelling Relay

Objective: Create a collaborative story.

Initiate a story with a few sentences and have each player contribute one sentence to continue the narrative. Keep the story flowing by passing it around in relay fashion.

Road Trip Games Without Equipment

If you prefer games that require no equipment whatsoever, consider these ideas:

Objective: Spot license plates from different places.

Challenge everyone to spot license plates from different states or provinces. Keep a tally of the plates you find and see who can spot the most unique plates during the trip.

Alphabet Game

Objective: Enhance vocabulary and observation skills.

Starting with the letter “A,” each person takes turns finding words outside the car that begin with the following alphabet letter. The objective is to progress through the entire alphabet collectively.

Engage in the classic 20-question game where one person thinks of an object or person, and the others ask yes-or-no questions to guess what it is.

Objective: Test music knowledge.

Hum or sing a few notes of a song and have others guess the title or artist. You only need your voice and musical knowledge for this game; no equipment is necessary.

What to Take on a Long Road Trip with a Toddler

Packing the right essentials ensures a seamless and enjoyable journey for you and your toddler. From comfort items to entertainment options, having the necessary supplies on hand can make all the difference in keeping your toddler happy and content throughout the trip. Let’s explore some essential items to consider packing for a long road trip with a toddler:

Snacks and Drinks

Objective: Keep your toddler nourished and hydrated.

Pack healthy snacks like fruits, granola bars, and crackers. Ensure you have ample water and other beverages to keep your toddler hydrated.

Comfortable Clothing and Blankets

Objective: Ensure your toddler stays comfortable in changing temperatures.

Pack extra clothing in case of spills or accidents. Include cozy layers and blankets to accommodate different temperatures in the car.

Diapers, Wipes, and Changing Essentials

Objective: Be prepared for diaper changes on the go.

Bring an adequate number of diapers, wipes, and diaper rash cream. Remember to pack a portable changing pad and plastic bags for hygienic disposal.

Favorite Toys and Books

Objective: Keep your toddler entertained and comforted.

Take your toddler’s beloved toys, stuffed animals, and books to provide entertainment and a sense of familiarity. Consider interactive toys that can engage them for longer periods.

Portable DVD Player or Tablet

Objective: Keep your toddler entertained with screen time.

If your toddler enjoys screen time, bring a portable DVD player or tablet loaded with their favorite shows or movies to keep them entertained during long journeys.

Travel-Friendly Activities

Objective: Engage your toddler in creative and interactive play.

Pack coloring books, crayons, stickers, and simple puzzles to engage your toddler. Magnetic drawing boards or reusable sticker sets can also be great options.

Travel Pillow and Blanket

Objective: Ensure your toddler’s comfort and encourage napping.

Provide your toddler with a travel pillow and a cozy blanket to ensure their comfort and help them nap during the trip.

First Aid Kit

Objective: Be prepared for minor accidents or illnesses.

Carry a well-stocked first aid kit that includes band-aids, antiseptic ointment, fever medication, and any necessary prescription medications.

With these essentials packed and a variety of engaging road trip games on hand, your family road trip is bound to be a memorable adventure filled with laughter and fun. So, hit the road and enjoy the journey!

Leave a comment Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

No products in the cart.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Be Right Back contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Road Trip Game for Couples: 27 Ideas That Will Surprise Your Partner

Save to Find It Later!

Are you looking for the best road trip game for couples ? We’ve got you covered! Having traveled to many romantic places , Eric and I have gone on many road trips whether that’d be to discover the US West Coast , driving Route 66 , road tripping around Ireland or driving across Vancouver Island . Playing car ride games for couples together always allow us to pass time but also to turn what can be a long boring drive into a fun date idea , especially when the surrounding landscapes are breathtaking!

In this post, we’ve gathered our years of experience traveling across the world to bring to you the best road trip games for couples! You’ll find 27 of the best travel games for couples , all categorised so you can focus on games that will bring back the romantic connection, games that will give you lots of fun or even games that will allow you to share your love for music. They will help you make the most of the most romantic couple’s road trips out there!

Before we start, one of our best travel tips when it comes to playing road trip games as a couple is to keep it lighthearted! 

Relationship based road trip game for couples

Some of the best road trip games for couples are those that are relationship oriented. In this section, we share our favourite fun relationship games for couples on road trip that will help you get to know your partner better!

1. Would You Rather, a great conversation game for couples on a road trip

Would You Rather is a great road trip game for couples because it’s all about getting to know each other’s preferences, opinions, and personalities. This communication game for couples is an excellent opportunity to discover new things about your partner while also having fun. The game is perfect for a road trip because it’s simple and doesn’t require any equipment. It can be played for hours, and the questions can become more interesting and challenging as you play. 

You can come up with the questions as you go or you can prepare some in advance. Eric and I usually come with the questions on the spot but that’s up to you! One tip that we can give you, as we’ve played this game many times on road trips , is to keep the questions fun and avoid any questions where you know your partner can’t win with any answers! The goal is to have fun, not to get mad about things that won’t happen anyways! 

By playing this game, you’ll be able to learn more about your partner’s priorities, tastes, and values.

Here’s a few examples of Would You Rather road trip questions for couples :

• Would you rather have my toe nails on your nails or me to have your toe nails on my nails?
• Would you rather sleep for one week on the floor or sleep for one week without me?
• Would you rather meet your favourite band or become part of your favourite band?
• Would you rather have breakfast in bed every day for a year or have a surprise date night every week for a year?
• Would you rather go on a romantic getaway to a beach or a cabin in the woods?
• Would you rather be able to teleport yourself or to read people’s minds?
• Would you rather have a personal driver or a personal chef?
• Would you rather have a movie theater in your house or a bowling alley?
• Would you rather become rich and really old or stay young and poor?

2. Two Truths and a Lie, one of the best getting to know you games for couples

Two Truths and One Lie is an excellent get to know you game for couples on a road trip because it’s a fun way to learn more about each other and easy to get going. The game is simple: each person tells three statements, two of which are true, and one is false. It’s great for a road trip because it requires no equipment and can be played anywhere. This questions game for couples encourages honesty and creativity, and it’s a perfect way to bond with your partner. 

We recommend picking out false statements that could be true to make it even more difficult for your partner. You can base your false statements on true events and simply change certain facts to make them false. For example, if you have met a celebrity in Paris before, your false statement could be that you met a celebrity in London once. Make sure to keep your poker face on as well! Eric and I are both really good at keeping ours on which makes the game extra fun!

By playing this game, you’ll learn more about your partner’s experiences, achievements, and personal history. Two truths and a lie can also be played on other date occasions such as during a date at the beach or even for a cozy early date at home .

3. 21 Questions game for couples

21 Questions is a fantastic game that includes 21 road trip questions couples will have to answer by taking turns. This question and answer game for couples is all about asking and answering questions, which can help deepen your connection. The game is perfect for a road trip because it’s easy to play and requires no equipment. By asking questions, you’ll learn more about your partner’s thoughts, opinions, and beliefs. The game can range from silly to serious, and it’s a great way to get to know each other better. 

Here are some questions Eric and I like to ask each other. Some you’ll have to change as years go by and some can be asked regularly so you can reuse them!

Road trip games for couples questions on your relationship:

• On a scale from 1 to 10, how are you satisfied with our life right now?
• What is your favorite memory of our relationship?
• What is the most important lesson you’ve learned from our relationship so far?
• How do you feel about our communication in our relationship?
• What do you think is our biggest strength as a couple?
• What is one thing you would like to improve in our relationship?

Life as a couple:

• What is your favorite activity to do together?
• How do you balance your personal goals and our relationship goals?
• What do you think is the best way to support each other’s hobbies and interests?
• How do you see our lifestyle evolving in the next 5-10 years?

Professional:

• What is your career goal for the next 5 years?
• Are you happy in your current job?
• What kind of support do you need from me in your professional life?
• What is your ultimate dream travel destination?
• What is your dream job, if money wasn’t a factor?
• If you had one wish, what would it be? 
• What would be your dream house if money wasn’t a factor?
• If you could choose one super power what would it be?
• If you could learn a new skill, what would it be?
• What are some of your long-term personal goals?
• What do you hope to achieve as a couple in the future?

By playing this game, you’ll gain insight into your partner’s personality and how they see the world.

4. Kiss, Marry, Kill

Kiss, Marry, Kill is usually a game played by friends about famous celebrities. To make it harder, people usually ask you to say, out of 3 celebrities that you like, who you would marry, who you would kill and who you would kiss. 

It is also a fun question game for couples because it’s all about making choices and seeing how your partner’s preferences match up with your own. The game is perfect for a road trip because it requires no equipment and you can use anyone from famous athletes to celebrities to people you know. By playing this game, you’ll learn more about your partner’s tastes, preferences, and priorities.

5. This or That game for couples [food edition]

If you’re looking for questions to ask for couples game on a road trip that are different from questions in road trip quizzes for couples, then this is it! This or That is a fun and lighthearted game for couples who love food because it’s all about choosing your favorite dishes. If you’re anything like us, you’ll get how hard this game can become really quickly! We love most foods so it can be hard to decide which one we save! The game can be played with different categories, such as snacks, drinks, or desserts, and it’s a great way to bond over your shared love of food. You can also mix up styles of cuisines, fast food with high end restaurants and more.

For example, Eric and I do the road trip to Whistler quite often. We love to stop at WhiteSpot on our way to either get a burger or one of their delicious milkshakes. But we also love eating a Michelin restaurants like we did when we spent a couple of days in Lisbon . So when we’re on a road trip, we play this game and ask each other to pick between those foods. Some of the first questions are:

• Milkshake from WhiteSpot or desert from Michelin star restaurant?
• Burger from A&W or from Five Guys?
• Smash burger or regular burger?
• French Cuisine or Jamaican Cuisine? 

Once you’ve asked the first question, your partner needs to pick one of the options. Then for the second question, you need to ask them between the option they chose and another one.

So if Eric picked the milkshake from WhiteSpot, my second question could be:

• Milkshake from WhiteSpot or Milkshake from Bunsen? 

6. Never Have I Ever, one of the best questions game for married couples

Never Have I Ever is a fantastic game for couples because it’s all about sharing experiences and learning more about each other’s past. The first time I ever heard of this game was in One Tree Hill 9big fan here!). This game is often played in high school and college. Usually, people who “have” have to drink. Obviously, on a road trip, you won’t be able to drink so you can simply say “I have” or “I have never”. 

This is a fun road trip game for couples because it allows you to learn more about your partner’s time before you came into the picture. By playing this game, you’ll learn more about your partner’s life experiences, adventures, and misadventures. The game can be played with different themes, such as travel, relationships, or work, and it’s a great way to bond with your partner.

Fun road trip questions for couples to play Never have I ever:

• Never have I ever stolen from a shop when I was little
• Never have I ever skipped school to hang out with friends
• Never have I ever eaten food past the expiration date
• Never have I ever peed myself
• Never have I ever kissed a stranger
• Never have I ever missed my alarm
• Never have I ever texted the wrong person 
• Never have I ever missed a flight

7. Alphabet Compliments

Eric and I love road trips. And one thing that makes road trips even better is hearing your partner say nice things about you. With the calm of the car and the peaceful nature surroundings, it’s the perfect place to throw some compliments at each other to make everything even more romantic. 

For that, Alphabet Compliments is an excellent road trip game for couples as it’s all about showing appreciation for each other. The game is perfect for a road trip because it’s easy to play and can be a nice switch up from listening to music or having to think about answers to questions. The game involves taking turns to compliment each other, starting with the letter A and then B, C, etc. It’s a great way to express gratitude and affection for your partner while making you think about compliments that start with the right letter. Thats also a good way to be creative for compliments and appreciate your partner for things you never mention. Eric and I love to play that game as some of the compliments always surprise us and even teach us about ourselves. We also find that it’s a great conversation starter!

8. Magazine Couple Quizzes

Couple quizzes in magazines are designed to spark conversation and encourage you to learn more about each other so they re great for road trips. The quizzes usually ask questions about your likes, dislikes, habits, and preferences, and the results can be surprising and insightful. All you will need is to get a magazine before heading out. What’s great about magazine quizzes is that you can find them in most gas station so they are easy to come around. Some quizzes are a bit out there so it can trigger laughs and good conversations too! By taking these quizzes, you’ll learn more about your partner’s personality, interests, and values. The quizzes can be fun, informative, and thought-provoking, and they’re a great way to deepen your connection with your partner.

Landscape related road trip game for couples

Some of the fun car games for couples are the car games that make you enjoy the drive as you go! In this section, we share with you two favourites of ours when it comes to games to play with the landscapes that surround us on our road trips! 

9. I Spy, one of the easiest to organise and fun road trip games for couples

I Spy is a classic game that is perfect for couples on a road trip. It involves taking turns describing something you see and the other person has to guess what it is. This game is great for couples because it encourages communication and can be a fun way to learn about each other’s observations and perspectives. On a road trip, I Spy is a great way to incorporate the surrounding landscape into the game, as you can take turns spying things outside the car window and guessing what they are. To play this game, the person guessing can only ask yes or no questions! Eric and I play this game everywhere we go and it’s quite fun!

10. Road Trip Bingo

Road Trip Bingo is a fun and interactive game that is perfect for couples on a road trip. We recommend that you create a list of items you might see on a road trip, such as a billboard for a specific restaurant, a specific type of car, a bridge, animals etc. It’s best if you create the list beforehand but you can also create the list as you go and say “the first one to spot X wins”. 

This game is great for couples because it encourages teamwork and can be a fun way to bond over shared experiences. We played Bingo on our road trip to Whistler when we went back to Vancouver. The Sea To Sky Highway is one of the most scenic and romantic roads so it’s a great place to play landscape bingo! It’s also a good way tor really pay attention to your surroundings on your drive than just feeling like you passed through. This can make the journey more engaging and exciting.

Music related couple games to play in the car

A romantic road trip would not be complete without some music playing in the car! In this section, we share some of our top couples road trip games that are music based.

11. Song Alphabet

Song Alphabet is a fun game to play with your partner on a road trip. It involves taking turns naming songs in alphabetical order, with each song starting with the next letter of the alphabet. This game is perfect for couples because it allows you to share your music taste and discover new songs together. It can also be a good occasion to pock fun at each other when one is trying to make up songs (That would be Eric haha!). Additionally, it can be a great way to reminisce about past memories associated with certain songs. 

We also like to turn this game into different versions. For example, we like to play the song alphabet but sometimes we will add a rule that each song has to be from a different singer to make it more difficult. You can also add a rule that when you find a song, you have to sing or hum part of it! We don’t have to add that rule because we usually sing it anyways and it’s so fun!

12. Singer Alphabet

Similar to Song Alphabet, Singer Alphabet involves taking turns naming singers in alphabetical order. This game is a great way to learn about each other’s favorite artists and music genres. It can also spark interesting conversations about the music industry and the evolution of popular music. On a road trip, Singer Alphabet can be a fun way to break up the monotony of driving and keep each other engaged. You can also make it more difficult by choosing to only name male or female singers or to rule bands out.

13. Guess the Song and Singer, one of the best games to play in the car for couples

This game involves listening to the radio and trying to guess the name of the song and the singer. This is a really good game for couples on road trips as you can turn it into a bit of a healthy and flirty competition! If you prefer working as a team, it works too and can be a fun challenge. You can take turns guessing and helping each other out. It’s also a great way to discover new music and expand your musical horizons.

14. Finish the Lyrics

Finish the Lyrics is a classic game that involves a player singing a few lines of a song and then stopping, prompting the other person to complete the lyrics. This game is perfect for couples because it can lead to some hilarious moments and fun memories. Eric and I listen to a lot of the same music but also to very different music so we’ve had very funny moments in the past! It’s also a great way to bond over shared musical interests. On a road trip, Finish the Lyrics can help pass the time and make the journey more entertaining.

15. Themed Songs

Themed Songs is a game that involves taking turns naming songs that are related to a specific topic. For example, you could choose a theme like “California” and take turns naming songs that mention California in the lyrics or are about California. When we have played this game together, we named songs like California Girls by Katy Perry or California Dreamin’ by The Mamas and Papas. You can pick any theme you’d like though! It’s also a fun way to explore different themes and topics, and it can spark interesting conversations about the music and the culture surrounding it.

Fun road trip games for couples

In this section, we included fun things for couples to do on a road trip that are easy games to organize. These are lighthearted and will make you have a good time together! 

16. Who Am I, one of the best car trip games for couples

Who Am I is one of the funnest road trip games for two because it encourages you to think creatively and learn more about each other’s interests and personalities. The game involves choosing a person, character, or animal and giving clues until the other person guesses who it is. The partner trying to guess can only ask yes or no questions. It’s perfect for a road trip because it requires no equipment and can be played for hours in the car. Eric and I play this game all the time whether we’re on a hiking date or on a road trip and we love it!

17. Make Believe

Make Believe is one of the funniest games to play while driving. It’s all about using your imagination and telling silly stories to see how gullible your partner is. The way this game goes is that you have to wait for your partner to fall asleep. When they wake up, you tell them two stories of something that happened while they were sleeping and they have to guess which is true and which is false. This is a good way to laugh together.

18. Build the Story Game

Turn a long drive into a road trip date with this fun couple road trip game. Build the Story is a fun game for couples because it’s all about collaboration and creativity. The game involves taking turns telling a story, but the catch is that you have to stop in the middle of a sentence, and the other person has to continue. It’s perfect for a road trip because it can keep you entertained for hours and requires no equipment. The stories you’ll end up telling will be some of the craziest ones you’ve ever heard! But the crazier the better! By playing this game, you’ll learn more about your partner’s storytelling abilities, and you’ll have fun creating a story together.

19. Wordsmith, one of the oldest road games for couples

Wordsmith is one of the road trip games for couples that barely needs introduction! It’s all about creativity and wordplay. The game involves choosing a word, and then taking turns coming up with other words that have a link to it.

For example, one person says “cloud”. Your partner will need to come up with a word related to “cloud” such as “water” or “sky”. And then you keep going until you either get tired of the game or you can’t find a related word anymore. The trick is you can’t say the same words twice so once it’s been said, it’s gone! 

Though this is a popular road trip game for couples, Eric and I actually get bored quickly with that one so it’s not a favourite. But it’s a good one if you’re both tired and just need an easy game to pass time!

20. Film Alphabet, one of the cool and cultural road trip activities

Film Alphabet is another one of the road trip games adults like. It’s a fun game for couples who love movies because it’s all about guessing movies from A to Z. The game involves taking turns naming a movie that starts with the next letter of the alphabet. It’s perfect for a road trip because it can keep you entertained for hours and gets you talking about movies, actors and can lead to many different conversations that will help both pass time and nurture your relationship. 

21. Guess the State, the license plate game

Guess the State is a fun game for couples who love geography and travel because it’s all about guessing the state from other drivers licence plates. Whether you’re in France or in the USA, license plates are market with a couple letters that match a certain state or region. A fun game is to guess what they are. It’s perfect for a road trip because it’s a game you can only play on the road!

Atlas is a fun game for couples who love geography because it’s all about naming countries in a special order. Two play this game, one person starts with one country and then name another one that starts with the last letter of the previous one. For example, if the first country is China, then the second one has to start with an A like Albania. It’s perfect for a road trip because it can take a while to find certain countries depending on the letters. This game, in our experience, always lead to funny moments as one partner always try to make up some non-existing country! 

23. Make Up Funny License Plates

Make Up Funny License Plates is a fun game for couples who love humor and wordplay because it’s all about creating funny phrases using license plate letters and numbers. The game involves taking turns coming up with phrases that use the letters and numbers on a passing car’s license plate. You can play this game on a road trip in any country!

24. Charades

Charades is a French game that Marie played a lot when she was younger. It’s a fun game to play as a couple on a road trip as you can make them guess romantic messages. The concept of the game is that one partner will say a few sentences. Each sentence leads to finding a word or a sound. If your partner finds all the words and sounds, then they can make out a sentence or a word. Let’s see a couple of examples to be clearer: 

Example 1 of this road trip game for couples:

• My first is next to my nose
• My second is all you need
• My third is often next to o

If we decipher this charade, we find that:

• My first is an eye (I)
• My second refers to the song “All you need is Love” so the answer is Love
• My third is a u (you)

The answer is “I love you”

• My first fixes your cloths
• My second likes to be called quick or rapid
• My first is a tailor
• My second is “swift”

The answer is Taylor Swift.

25. No Yes or No, a classic car game for couples

No Yes or No is a fun game for couples who love to talk because it’s all about asking questions without saying “yes” or “no.” The game involves taking turns asking questions, and the other person has to answer without using those words. This is great practice for couples as in relationships, a lot of questions that arise are no black or white so yes and no are often out of the question answers. 

26. Rhyming Words

Rhyming Words is a fun game for couples who love language and wordplay because it’s all about coming up with words that rhyme. The game involves taking turns saying a word, and the other person has to come up with a word that rhymes with it.

27. Name Names, a good trivia game for couples

Name Names is a fun game for couples who love trivia and competition because it’s all about naming items in a category, such as types of food, until one person can’t think of any more. It’s perfect for a road trip because you can just play on the spot. You can choose the category beforehand or the first person chooses it. By playing this game, you’ll have fun trying to stump each other with obscure items in the category.

Road Trip Game for Couples FAQs

If you want to make your journey more enjoyable, try playing No Yes or No, Bingo, Charades, or Movie Alphabet. These games can keep you engaged and pass the time quickly.

Our favourite road trip games are Build a Story, Who am I, or Would you rather. These games are perfect for long drives, and you can have a lot of fun while playing them.

If you’re looking for a romantic trip, you can’t go wrong with a road trip on the US West Coast or a road trip from Nashville to New Orleans. We’ve done both and loved it! These destinations offer scenic views, beautiful beaches, and delicious food, making them perfect for couples.

During a road trip, couples often talk about their life and dreams, things to do at the destination, what music and food to get at gas stations, and what they’re excited about for the trip. It’s a great opportunity to connect with your partner and create some beautiful memories together but there is no pressure to talk about anything. Couple games like we set out in this post can be great conversation starters too!

Any questions on which road trip game for couples to choose?  Drop them in the comments or  on insta  and we will get back to you asap.

— SAVE THIS POST —

Did you like this post?  If you liked this post, don’t hesitate to share it!

Want to save this post?  You can pin the following images on pinterest to save this post.

Mary and Eric

We are Mary and Eric, the founders of Be Right Back, a blog dedicated to romance around the globe and at home.

We are Mary and Eric, the founders of Be Right Back, a blog dedicated to romance around the globe and at home. With over 10 years of experience in dating and traveling to romantic places, we share our favorite date ideas and romantic destinations to help couples level up their relationships. Having lived in and traveled through the USA, we also share our favourite things to do in the States.

With 70,000 monthly readers and 16,000 followers on social media, Be Right Back is your go-to resource for romantic trip ideas and couple activities at home and abroad.

One Comment

What a fun and creative idea for a road trip game for couples! I think this is a great way to spice up your relationship and have some laughs along the way. I like how you included different categories and levels of difficulty for the questions. Some of them are really hilarious and some are quite deep. I can’t wait to try this game with my partner on our next road trip. Thank you for sharing this awesome resource. You are such a talented and thoughtful blogger.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *