Are you planning a family road trip and dreading the inevitable cries of “Are we there yet?” from the backseat? Don’t worry! We’ve compiled a list of 50+ fun car games perfect for keeping the whole family entertained during those long car rides.
Family road trips are a cherished tradition for many, especially during the long hot days of summer, offering the perfect opportunity to bond, explore new places, and create lasting memories.
As you embark on your next long road trip, you may be seeking ways to keep the whole family entertained, from younger kids to older children and we have compiled a list of the best road trip games and car ride activities that will ensure a good time for all!
From word games that challenge the mind to fun road trip classics like Rock Paper Scissors, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. So buckle up, and get ready to make your next stop a memorable one with these great car games.
Huge List of Fun Car Games For Road Trips That The Whole Family Can Enjoy
I Spy (Little Eye)
A fun game that kids of any age can play, the first person selects an object they see and says, “I spy with my little eye, something that is (color/shape).” The other players then guess what the object is. You can also play this game with the alphabet, I spy with my little eye… something beginning with A, B, C and so on.
Alphabet Game
A classic game for long road trips, family members take turns finding objects or road signs that begin with each letter of the alphabet in alphabetical order. The first player to spot an object for each letter wins.
Scavenger Hunt
Before your long drive, create a list of items commonly seen on the side of the road, such as a stop sign or a cow. Pass out the list to each player and see who can find the most items by the end of the trip.
Hearts
Hearts is a fantastic card game ideal for families on road trips, offering engaging gameplay that promotes strategy and social interaction. It’s perfect for passing the time and fostering family bonding during long journeys. If you’re without a deck of cards, you can easily play Hearts online at sites like Hearts.land, ensuring the fun continues even when you’re on the move.
License Plate Game
A road trip classic, players try to find license plates from different states. Keep a list and see who can find the most by the end of the game.
20 Questions
A great way to pass the time, one player thinks of a person, place, or thing, and the other players take turns asking yes or no questions to figure out what it is. The game continues until someone guesses correctly or all 20 questions have been asked.
Name Game
Players take turns naming famous people, with the next player having to think of a name that starts with the last letter of the previous name. If someone gets stuck, they’re out until the next round.
TV Show/Movie Game
Similar to the name game, players take turns naming a TV show or movie, with the next player having to think of a title that starts with the last letter of the previous title.
Favorite Song Game
Players take turns singing a line from their favorite song, with the next player having to sing a line from a song that starts with the last word of the previous line.
Hot Seat
A fun way to get to know your family members better, one person is in the “hot seat” and must answer questions from the other players for a set time limit.
Memory Game
The first player names an object, and the next person repeats the object and adds another one. This continues with each player adding an object to the list and trying to remember the entire sequence. When someone forgets an item, they’re out of the game.
Spelling Bee
A simple game that’s perfect for older kids and adults, take turns choosing longer words for the other players to spell. If a player spells a word incorrectly, they’re out of the game.
Road Trip Bingo
Before your trip, create or purchase car bingo cards featuring common sights like a red barn or a motorcycle. As players spot these items, they mark them off on their card. The first person to get five in a row wins.
You can use our free printable travel bingo game for this activity.
Mad Libs
A classic road trip game for a good laugh, players take turns filling in the blanks of a Mad Libs story with words chosen by the other players. Read the completed story aloud for a hilarious time.
Grocery Store Game
A fun memory game for kids of all ages, players take turns naming items found in a grocery store in alphabetical order.
Rock, Paper, Scissors
A simple and classic game for a quick time pass, players simultaneously choose rock, paper, or scissors. Rock beats scissors, scissors beats paper, and paper beats rock. Best of three wins.
Trivia Games
Test your family’s knowledge on various subjects with age-appropriate trivia questions. We have put together a huge list of road trip trivia questions here, or you can create your own questions or use a trivia book or app.
Degrees of Separation
A great game for movie lovers, the first player names an actor and a movie they starred in. The next player must then name another actor from that movie and another movie they appeared in. The game continues until someone can’t think of a connection.
Quiet Game
A favorite for parents on long journeys, challenge the kids to see who can stay quiet the longest. Whoever makes a noise is out of the game.
Sticker Books
Provide each child with a sticker book and a selection of stickers to keep them entertained for hours. Look for books with themes that interest your children.
Alphabetical Order
Players take turns naming items in a specific category (such as animals or foods) in alphabetical order. The game continues until a player can’t think of an item for the next letter of the alphabet.
Road Trip Activities
Bring along activity books, coloring books, and puzzles to keep the little kids entertained during the drive. There is no harm bringing their iPad along the way for a long trip too.
Own Sentence Game
The first player starts by saying a word, and the next player repeats the word and adds another one. Continue until the sentence becomes too long or doesn’t make sense anymore.
Car Pictionary
Give each player a piece of paper and a pencil. One person draws a picture related to the trip, and the others try to guess what it is within a time limit.
Word Association
A player says a word, and the next player must say a word related to the first word. Continue around the car until someone can’t think of a related word.
Two Truths and a Lie
Each player shares three statements about themselves, two of which are true and one is false. The other players try to guess which statement is the lie.
Would You Rather
Players take turns asking each other “Would you rather…?” questions, prompting fun and often hilarious discussions.
Storytelling
The first person starts a story with one sentence, and each player adds a sentence to continue the story. See where your collective imagination takes you!
Road Sign Game
Each player chooses a specific road sign (such as a stop sign or a speed limit sign) and counts how many they see during the trip. The person who spots the most signs wins.
Guess the Distance
Players take turns guessing how far away a specific landmark is. The person closest to the actual distance wins.
Alphabet Categories
Choose a category (such as animals or cities) and have players take turns naming items in the category that start with each letter of the alphabet.
These are just a few examples of the many fun car games and activities available for your next road trip. With a little creativity and preparation, you can ensure that your family stays entertained and engaged during those long car rides.
So go ahead, plan your next family adventure, and enjoy the journey just as much as the destination! Here are a few more ideas….
The A-Z Restaurant Game
Players take turns naming restaurants or fast food chains for each letter of the alphabet, in alphabetical order.
Word Ladder
Choose a starting word and a target word. Players take turns changing one letter of the current word to create a new word, eventually reaching the target word.
Celebrity Baby Names
Players try to guess the unique names of celebrities’ children. This can lead to some interesting discussions and laughter.
Radio Roulette
Quickly switch through radio stations, and each player must guess the title and artist of the song currently playing.
Cloud Shapes
Take turns looking at the clouds and describing what shapes, animals, or objects they resemble.
Cow Count
Divide the car into two teams – one on each side. Each team counts the cows they see on their side of the road. If a team spots a cemetery on the opposing team’s side, they can shout “Ghost Cows!” and reset the other team’s count to zero.
License Plate Slogans
Players make up funny or clever slogans based on the letters on license plates they see during the drive.
Who Am I?
One player thinks of a character or famous person, and the other players ask yes or no questions to figure out who they are.
Story Cubes
Use story cubes (dice with images) to roll a random set of images, and take turns creating stories that incorporate those images.
Pass the Story
One player starts a story, and after a minute, passes the story to the next player to continue. The story changes with each player, often leading to hilarious twists and turns.
Odd One Out
Choose a category (such as animals or movies) and list four items, with one being the odd one out. The other players must guess which item doesn’t belong.
The Humming Game
One player hums a tune, and the others try to guess the song.
What’s Missing?
One player chooses an object in the car and secretly removes it from sight. The other players must figure out what’s missing.
Animal Sounds
Players take turns imitating animal sounds, and the others have to guess the animal.
The Prediction Game
Each player makes a prediction about something they think will happen during the trip, such as spotting a specific type of vehicle or hearing a certain song on the radio.
The Compliment Game
Go around the car and have each person give a genuine compliment to the person on their left. This game encourages positivity and boosts morale during long trips.
The Laughing Game
One player starts laughing, and the others must join in the game without smiling or laughing. The last person to keep a straight face wins.
Invention Game
Players take turns describing a fictional invention, and the others have to guess what problem the invention is meant to solve.
Print Out Word Searches
Create or download themed word searches that your children can complete during the trip. Tailor them to your children’s interests or your destination for a personalized touch. You can find various word search templates online, or create your own using word search generator tools.
We also have free word searches for you to print out on all kinds of themes from black history month to ramadan, halloween and beyond.
Print Out Coloring Pages
Keep the little ones entertained with coloring pages featuring their favorite characters, animals, or scenes. Print out a variety of coloring pages before your trip, and pack some coloring supplies like colored pencils or washable markers.
We have all kinds of themes to download free here at in the playroom, from shark coloring, to disney frozen coloring pages, to mermaid coloring and more.
Print Out Color By Number
Combine the fun of coloring with the challenge of a puzzle by providing your children with color by number pages. These activities help improve concentration and fine motor skills while keeping them engaged during long car rides. Search our site for printable color by number pages in various themes and difficulty levels for example disney princess color by number, or pokemon color by number.
We also have tonnes more free printable road trip activities that you can check out here…
- Road Trip I-SPY Printable Game for Kids
- Road Trip Printables for Kids
- Printable Travel Games for Kids
By incorporating these printable activities into your long road trip, you’ll ensure that your children stay entertained and engaged, making the journey enjoyable for everyone in the family. Don’t forget to include the necessary coloring supplies and a hard surface to work on, such as a clipboard or lap desk. Happy travels!
From classic road trip games to new favorites, there’s something for everyone here. Buckle up and let the fun begin!
As your family road trip comes to an end, we hope that these fun road trip games and activities have brought laughter, joy, and a sense of connection to your journey. Whether you’ve discovered a new favorite game or revisited beloved classics, these car ride games have made the miles fly by, turning every stretch of road into an adventure. So next time you hit the open road, remember to pack these engaging activities, and watch as your family comes together to create unforgettable memories. Safe travels and happy gaming!
Recap of the game list….
Table of Contents
- Huge List of Fun Car Games For Road Trips That The Whole Family Can Enjoy
- I Spy (Little Eye)
- Alphabet Game
- Scavenger Hunt
- Hearts
- License Plate Game
- 20 Questions
- Name Game
- TV Show/Movie Game
- Favorite Song Game
- Hot Seat
- Memory Game
- Spelling Bee
- Road Trip Bingo
- Mad Libs
- Grocery Store Game
- Rock, Paper, Scissors
- Trivia Games
- Degrees of Separation
- Quiet Game
- Sticker Books
- Alphabetical Order
- Road Trip Activities
- Own Sentence Game
- Car Pictionary
- Word Association
- Two Truths and a Lie
- Would You Rather
- Storytelling
- Road Sign Game
- Guess the Distance
- Alphabet Categories
- The A-Z Restaurant Game
- Word Ladder
- Celebrity Baby Names
- Radio Roulette
- Cloud Shapes
- Cow Count
- License Plate Slogans
- Who Am I?
- Story Cubes
- Pass the Story
- Odd One Out
- The Humming Game
- What’s Missing?
- Animal Sounds
- The Prediction Game
- The Compliment Game
- The Laughing Game
- Invention Game
- Print Out Word Searches
- Print Out Coloring Pages
- Print Out Color By Number
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.
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