26 Road Trip Games for Kids and Adults

1. I spy 

This classic begins with one player stating, “I spy with my little eye something…” and filling in the rest with a characteristic like color, shape or starting letter. The player who guesses the item correctly gets to go next. 

2. Car color race 

Pick a car color and a time limit. The person who spots the most cars in that color before the timer ends can choose the next color. 

3. Animal noises 

Who doesn’t love a good animal sounds competition? Name an animal and see who can do the best impression. 

4. Simon says (car edition)

Take turns with a rousing game of car-friendly Simon Says. Think of car-safe things like sticking out tongues or making silly faces. 

5. Hand clap competition 

Make some noise in the car with hand clap patterns for kids to imitate. Of course, the driver needs to sit this one out! 

Best games to play in the car with kids  

Children ages 7 to 10 typically enjoy structured tasks that focus on creativity and memory. Incorporating some friendly competition between siblings or parents can often encourage participation. Consider awarding small prizes to the winners of each round and allowing the overall victor to choose the restaurant for a meal.  

6. The alphabet game 

Find letters from A to Z on signs and license plates. For some friendly competition, the first person to call out a letter and location gets dibs! 

7. Spelling bee 

Challenge each other to spell words. Choose what you like or use things related to your destination.  

8. This or that? 

This activity is similar to “Would you rather?” Name two items or scenarios, and let everyone answer which one they would choose. Go from easy things like pizza vs. tacos to more complex scenarios like riding a rollercoaster vs. going water skiing. The possibilities are endless with this exciting activity. 

9. Rhyme time 

Take turns coming up with words that rhyme. Combine with a spelling bee for even more enjoyment. 

10. Categories 

Pick a category, like fruits, and have everyone name a different item in turns until someone gets stumped. The last person to answer gets to choose the next category. Other example categories can include types of cars, animals, TV sitcoms, etc. 

Road trip competitions to keep tweens engaged  

Activities that promote thinking and encourage self-expression or teamwork are great for tweens. Give them a chance to lead to help inspire their creativity. 

11. Fortunately/unfortunately 

This storytelling adventure gets silly fast, so be prepared for contagious and uncontrollable laughter. Start a story with one line, and then the next player has to continue it after using “fortunately” or “unfortunately.” Example: I adopted a dog. Unfortunately, he was covered in mud. Fortunately, my dog loved his first bath. 

12. Two truths and a lie 

One player makes three statements, two of which are true. The other players have to guess which one is a lie.  

13. Mad Libs

Purchase a Mad Libs booklet, find prompts online or create your own. Fill in the blanks for the different types of words for a hilarious story. 

14. Guess who (or what)? 

Name characteristics of a person (famous or family member), a pet (or other animal) or a thing and have others guess. The winner goes next. 

15. The compliment challenge 

Have all passengers take turns saying something nice about everyone else. Break out this one to stop sibling squabbles.  

Travel games with teens in mind 

Teens often prefer more complex and engaging tasks to tap into their interests and sense of humor. 

16. Movie connections 

Start by naming a movie. The next player names an actor in that movie. The following participant names a different film the actor was in, and so on, until someone gets stumped.  

17. Celebrity name drop 

Choose a celebrity; the next player must name another using one of the previous person’s initials. 

18. Tall tales

Take turns telling the most outlandish stories. The driver gets to choose the winner. 

19. Travel journal prompts

Provide writing prompts to encourage teens to reflect on their travels. (This is also good for younger kids who like to write!) 

Road trip entertainment for the whole family 

These games provide family-friendly fun for all ages. Rotate leaders to keep everyone involved and add scoring duties to keep older kids engaged. 

20. 20 questions 

What is most appropriate for the 20^th example? Twenty questions, of course. One person thinks of something, and other players get up to 20 yes or no questions to guess what the item is.  

21. Favorites game 

Have one person choose a question, such as “What is your favorite food?” and let others answer. Take turns with other categories. Another option is to have players guess others’ favorites. 

22. Sing-along challenge 

Start a song and let the next player continue with the following line. Nursery rhymes or familiar favorites work well, and the driver can also participate. 

23. Name that tune

Hum a few notes of a song and have other players guess. If they’re stumped, add a few more notes to help!

24. Story builder

Have one player start a story with a sentence. Other passengers add to the story one sentence at a time. Note: This is fun to save with an audio memo on your phone.

25. Vacation packing list

Each player names an item to pack on vacation, starting with each letter of the alphabet. For a bigger challenge suitable for older kids and adults, have each player name the previous items before adding their own.

26. Road trip scavenger hunt

This long-haul adventure has a list of items to search for during the whole drive. Have a list to check off (pictures for younger players) and see who has the most items at each pit stop for a small prize. Choose a bigger prize for the overall winner.

Is your long drive part of a move?

If you’re moving long-distance, turning your move into a road trip can be enjoyable for everyone.  

Are you still in the planning phase? Don’t miss out on your free, no-obligation U-Pack® quote by calling 844-362-5303844-594-3077 or requesting one online.

What’s your favorite road trip entertainment? Let us know in the comments!