Road trips are fun, but the long hours can get a little boring

Even if you’re a road trip junkie, you probably aren’t a fan of being cooped up for hours on end with no entertainment. And, if you’re parents, the boredom can quickly turn to misery with restless kids in the back seat. Tight quarters and long drives lead to boredom, and boredom leads to bickering, poking, and whining.

Are you shuddering at the very thought? Here are a few road trip games that are fun for kids and adults alike. They’re a great distraction from screens and squabbles! It’s easy to keep kids entertained with these fun games.

I spy

There’s a reason this one is a classic. Great for preschoolers, take turns saying, “I spy with my little eye, something…” and name a color or shape. The rest of the group tries to guess what the spied object is.

You’ll be amazed at how long this simple game can keep kids occupied. Try challenging each other by spying things that aren’t immediately obvious. Kids love it when they guess it right!

Road trip bingo

This game is great for all ages – it combines a scavenger hunt with bingo. Using a flat surface, like a book or clipboard, give each child a bingo card like this. Have a Ziploc bag handy with markers or crayons. When a player spots something on the bingo card, have them mark that spot.

The first player to mark all the squares in a straight-line, wins! You’ll have to prep a little bit by printing out the bingo cards, but it will all be worth it for the sweet silence you’ll have while the kids are looking for bingo items.

License plate game

Do you remember playing this when you were young? The license plate game has been around for ages, and there’s a reason its stuck around for so long.

Each person in the car gets a pad of paper and a pencil. As you pass cars on the highway, write down the states from each license plate. The goal is to “collect” all 50 states – bonus points for Canadian provinces!

If you don’t want to try and keep track of the states as you write them down, use this free printable map of the 50 states and Canadian provinces. It’s especially useful for older kids to help them learn geography.

Tic Tac Toe

The old standby – and a great game for peace and quiet when things get a little too rowdy. All you need is a pen and two players. Draw a nine-box grid and take turns marking “X” and “O.” The first person to get three in a row wins!

If you’re prepping games ahead of time, use this printable Tic Tac Toe template. Hand the templates over to the back seat and let the fun begin.

I’m going on a picnic

This memory-based game is a great option for children five and above. You can have as many players as you want, but you need at least two to get started. Player one starts the game by saying, “I’m going on a picnic, and I’m bringing…”

They follow with something that begins with the letter, “A,” such as “accordions.” Player two then repeats the sentence but adds something with the letter, “B.” For example, “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing accordions and bananas.”

And so on with the rest of the alphabet. The first person to forget an item is out, and the last person who remembers the whole string of objects wins!

20 questions

If “I’m going on a picnic” is too complicated, this simple game is sure to do the trick. It’s straightforward, and particularly entertaining for younger kids.

The first player thinks of a noun – a person, place, or thing. The other players take turns asking yes or no questions about the noun. After their question is answered, they get one chance to guess what it might be.

Keep going around until you guess the word. Then, take turns thinking of something for the others to guess.

Road trip games create lasting fun memories

Road trip games are great for keeping kids occupied and helping adults keep their sanity. Even more than that, they give you an opportunity to have good old-fashioned fun with your kids.

Old and young alike can participate in these simple games, and you’ll love looking back on the fun memories you’ll make along the way.

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