Road trips can be a lot of fun, but keeping kids entertained in the car can be a challenge. This is especially true if you have kids who are prone to motion sickness. It may not always be possible to drive while children are sleeping–I get it. So, to help make your next road trip a little easier, we’ve compiled a list of 19 fun-filled, creative ideas to keep kids occupied on the journey. These activities and games are easy to play, require little or no equipment, and are sure to keep kids entertained for hours.
From classic games like “I Spy” and “Hangman” to newer games like “Story Chain” and “Who Am I?”, this list will come in handy when you need it. Trust me! So load up the car, grab some snacks, and get ready to have some fun on your next road trip!
Here are 19 ways for keeping kids entertained on road trips:
Name That Tune
Play a few seconds of a song and have players guess the name of the song or the artist. You can load up a set list in advance of all their favorite tunes from movies or cartoons, and see if they can guess the movie or tv show! If you don’t have a soundtrack handy, another way to play this is to hum that tune. We recently played this and you would be surprised how many popular songs children can hum–and guess! This is a family favorite game and can be played anywhere.
I Spy
One person selects an object they can see and says “I spy with my little eye, something that is (color/shape/etc.)”. The other players take turns guessing the object until someone correctly guesses it and becomes the next person to spy.
License Plate Game
The license plate game is a classic road trip game where participants try to spot license plates from as many different states or regions as possible. The goal is to see who can find the most license plates from different locations during the trip. Some variations of the game involve keeping track of the license plates with a list or a map, while others simply involve announcing the different states or regions as they are spotted. It’s a fun and easy game that can keep passengers entertained for hours during a long car ride.
Listen to audiobooks, podcasts or music
These can be a great way to keep older kids engaged during long car rides. Load up their devices with books, podcasts or their favorite music ahead of time. My daughter has a SanDisk Clip Jam MP3 Player and her own head phones and loves listening to her favorite tunes on all drives, short and long alike.
The Alphabet Game
Players try to find words that start with each letter of the alphabet in order. This will help get kids looking outside at their surroundings, and also practice sounds and thinking of words that start with specific letters.
Would You Rather
Players take turns asking each other silly questions like “Would you rather be a cat or a dog?” and explain why they chose their answer.
Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt can be a fun and interactive way to keep kids entertained during a road trip. You can make a list of items for kids to spot along the way, such as certain license plates, types of vehicles, animals, landmarks, or even road signs with certain words. Depending on the age of your children, you can make the scavenger hunt as easy or as challenging as you like. You can also create a theme for your scavenger hunt, such as a nature-themed hunt where kids have to spot different types of trees, plants, and animals along the way.
Here is a Road Trip Scavenger Hunt Game Set that includes 10 dry erase markers.
20 Questions
One person thinks of a person, place, or thing and the other players take turns asking yes or no questions to try to guess what it is. This is similar to the ice breaker game. Remember to ask yes or no questions.
Mad Libs
If your child can write while driving Mad Libs is fun, but it is not for the easily nauseous. Players take turns filling in the blanks of a story with silly words and phrases to create a humorous story. This activity may not be suitable for children who are prone to car sickness. If you are in that camp, see our post on ways to prevent car sickness on long road trips.
Hangman
One player thinks of a word and the other players try to guess the word by suggesting letters. This is a family favorite game when we are waiting for food at restaurants, or just passing the time. This activity helps create good spellers.
Storytelling Story Chain
Players take turns adding to a story, with each person adding a sentence or two to continue the plot. We like this game a lot as it can build on the previous person’s story and become very whacky and imaginative. It’s a silly and fun way to pass the time.
Spot the Difference
Print out or make your own spot the difference game with two similar images and have players find the differences.
Road Sign Bingo
Create a bingo card with common road signs or cities that you’ll pass, and have players mark off the signs as they spot them. Don’t have time to make one? Buy a Travel Bingo Set made especially for the car, which doesn’t contain small pieces that get lost in the car or the use of a messy marker or stamp.
Word Association
One person says a word and the other players take turns saying words that are associated with that word.
The Rhyme Game
One player says a word and the other players take turns saying words that rhyme with that word. Rhyming is both a mentally challenging and fun way to pass the time.
Car Counting
Players try to count how many of a certain type of car they see on the road, such as red cars or SUVs. Could be a great way to work on counting for the little ones.
Name That Animal
One player thinks of an animal and the other players take turns asking yes or no questions to try to guess what it is. Questions like “Am I pink?”, “Do I have wings?” really helps children develop some of their observational skills.
Let Them Take Pictures
Giving kids a disposable camera or a digital camera and letting them document the trip can be a fun and creative way to keep them entertained. Disposable cameras are a great item to give children to let them learn about how to take pictures, because you also get physical photos as memories (if you find the time to develop the film!).
You can get a single time use disposable camera like this FujiFilm QuickSnap Flash 400 disposable camera or get a digital camera specially designed for kids, like the Seckton Upgrade Kids Selfie Camera, which can take both selfies and regular digital photos. And for those who are wondering, yes you can still develop the old-fashioned film at places like CVS.
Chew Gum
I know it sounds simply, but if you strategically give your children gum sparingly like I do, then reserving it for a special occasion like road trips can really help pass the time. It’s perfect to break up the humdrum of a long drive, and also beneficial for popping the ears if gaining or losing elevation. They can also practice blowing bubbles, although that may be more safely done outside of the vehicle and far away from free flowing hair.
Avoid the sugar with a sugar-free and aspartame-free gum like PUR Gum, which contains xylitol, a naturally occurring non-fermentable sugar alcohol which has anti-cavity properties. Keep in mind gum may not be suitable for young children.
When embarking on a road trip with kids, it’s essential to have entertaining games that can keep them engaged and happy throughout the journey. From classic favorites to modern inventions, there are plenty of options to make the miles fly by. With these games in your arsenal, road trips become a joyous adventure, filled with laughter and cherished memories for the whole family.
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