Remember those endless car rides to see relatives? Long before the era of handheld gaming systems, families had to entertain themselves the old-fashioned way. If you’re looking to unplug from devices and bond with your crew, or if you’ve exhausted your list of fun trivia to share, these classic road trip games are sure to keep everyone engaged.
- License Plate Challenge
Can you spot plates from all 50 states? Discuss their designs and meanings! Bonus round: call out any vanity plates and work together to decode the messages. - I-Spy
“I spy with my little eye something blue.”
“Please don’t say the sky!” - Mile Marker Math
If your hotel is at exit 64 and you’re at mile marker 392, how far is it? For older kids: Calculate the travel time if you’re driving 70 miles per hour. Try this with roadside attraction billboards too! - Count Everything
In Montana, cows outnumber people. How many can you count on your drive to Yellowstone? Or what about alligators on Alligator Alley? - Punch Buggy
With the VW Bug fading in popularity, this game feels a little more like Where’s Waldo. - 20 Questions
Guess who or what I’m thinking of. Stick to a theme for added fun—heading to a theme park? Choose characters from your favorite movies. - Story Dice
Pick up some story dice and let your kids unleash their creativity! Each die has a word or idea to incorporate into a story. Each person can take turns rolling and telling their own tale or building on someone else’s. - The Alphabet Game
Starting with A, find letters on signs to work through the alphabet. If someone spots a cemetery, they stay on their letter, while the others start back at A. - The Other Alphabet Game
Take turns naming things that begin with each letter of the alphabet. The catch? You have to repeat everything the previous players said! - Padiddle
How many cars with a burnt-out headlight can you find? - Would You Rather?
Test your knowledge of your travel mates with quirky questions like, “Would you rather fight a duck the size of a horse or 100 horse-sized ducks?” - Radio Tag
Put the radio on scan and see who can guess the song first. - Human Jukebox
Start a song with a line, and the next person must use the last word to start a new song. - The Name Game
Name a celebrity, and the next person must use the last letter of that name to come up with another celebrity. - Going on a Picnic
“I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing…” Each person adds an item, repeating all previous items until someone forgets. - Six Degrees of Separation
Connect any two people in six steps or fewer. It’s fun to link a celebrity to someone you know! - The Quiet Game
Great for encouraging some peace and quiet! - Superlatives
Who is most likely to become an astronaut? Or who’s most likely to own a pet squirrel? - Hangman
Got a notebook? Play hangman with a twist—use words related to your destination. - My Cows!
Every time you pass a farm, the first person to shout “My Cows!” scores points based on how many cows they estimate they see. - License Plate Stories
Use the letters from a license plate to start a story. Example: “CWB 0078: Claire was beautiful, but…” - Getting to Know You
Use a phone or book to find questions that help you learn more about each other. The answers might surprise you! - Compliment Game
Go through the alphabet, giving compliments for each letter. - Explain a Movie Plot Badly
For older kids, try explaining a favorite movie in the most confusing way possible. Example: “He was inverted. Then his best friend dies.” - Opportunity Corner
Whenever you make a sharp turn, shout “opportunity corner!” and use the momentum to snuggle with your seatmate. Just make sure everyone’s in on it!
If you have some extra time and budget, consider picking up travel-sized versions of games from toy stores. However, these classic games will keep everyone entertained for hours.
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Summary
This article outlines 24 fun road trip games for kids to keep them entertained and engaged during long car rides. From classic games like the License Plate Challenge to newer ideas like Human Jukebox, these activities encourage family bonding and creativity while traveling.