13 Great Road Trip Games

Road trips can definitely be a pain if your kids aren't occupied with something; we've all heard the inevitable question of "are we there yet?" far too many times. While road trips can seem to drag on forever, a quick game cam ease tension and make the time fly by.

License Plate Spotting

Part of the fun of taking a road trip is seeing the various states represented on the license plates of cars you pass. The premise of this game is to simply try to spot as many license plates from different states or provinces as possible; this game is so easy that even the driver can participate. Bonus points for Puerto Rico!

Alphabet Shopping

This game will definitely help sharpen one’s lexicon. There are several variations of the game, but the general idea is to “shop” through the supermarket by choosing items that begin with each letter of the alphabet in turn, without forgetting those that have already been mentioned. It’s really fun to use unusual items like Rhubarb and Vienna Sausages.

Name that Tune

A road trip isn’t complete without a few tunes to listen to in the car. All one has to do is listen to a song and be the first to name it. This game can get fun when different genres are introduced, pegging kids versus parents.

Slug Bug

The idea of this game is to try to spot as many Volkswagen Beetles on the road as possible. When a person spots a VW Beetle, they slug someone in the arm and cry “Slug Bug!” If this is too rowdy for your crew, simply tally up the scores and find a more gentle and suitable prize for the person that spots the most Beetles.

Countries of the World

This game is extremely educational and fun all at the same time. Play against the members in the car and try to rattle off as many countries as possible. To make it more challenging, you can make the next country start with the last letter of previous country or try capitals as well.

20 Questions

Someone comes up with a person, place, or thing. The others are able to ask up to twenty questions in an effort to guess the mystery object. The questions must be yes or no questions in nature.

I Spy

This game is a staple in the road trip game arsenal. One player finds something in or around the car and says, “I spy with my little eye something that is (insert color).” The others then have to guess which object the person is referring to.

Count the…

There are plenty of things to see on road trips. From cattle to billboards to “Waffle House” signs, count however many of the chosen object you want to look for on your road trip. All one has to do is be the first to shout out that object and try to keep a tally of how many they see throughout the journey.

Tunnels

This game is simple; whenever your vehicle passes through a tunnel, see who can hold their breath the longest. DON’T let the driver play as they could pass out and cause an accident—this has actually happened…

Banana Game

To get a point in this game, all one has to do is shout ‘banana’ whenever a yellow vehicle is spotted. It is fun and keeps the mind occupied during the drive. Bonus points can be awarded for different vehicles if desired. School buses are all well and good, but finding bright yellow passenger cars is the real challenge.

Word Games

“Deep but not Profound,” “Grandma Likes Coffee, but she Doesn’t Like Tea,” “Uncle Bobby,” “Aunt Jemima,” and similar games can be wonderfully enjoyable in the car, if you know how to play. Each of these fun word-smithy games requires participants to decipher which items go into each category. There are infinite versions of these games, each one with a slightly different twist. This game is most enjoyable when you know how to play and those around you don’t!

Padiddle

As you drive at night, if you see a car with a headlight out, shout “Padiddle!” No real goal, but shouting nonsensical words can be fun for kids and young-at-heart adults alike!

Super Hero Alphabet

Name a super hero that starts with an ‘A’ and then describe their super powers. For example “Apple Girl” supplies apples to the sickly to keep the doctor away, and “Botox Boy” can change his appearance at will. It’s inventive and imaginative, and kids will love it. It can be adapted quite easily as well to suit the mood.