Road trips can be fun if you know what games to play! | Source: Deb Zelasny

There’s nothing like a family road trip, is there? Sometimes dreaded but always an adventure, a road trip doesn’t have to cause stress. You can be on-the-road ready with these fun ideas and games that can entertain even the weariest of travelers.

Source: Deb Zelasny

Mad Libs 

Mad Libs have been a classic for generations, and all kids need to play with is a pencil and their imaginations. Players take turns filling in the blanks and creating hilarious storylines. Mad Libs are available in various themes and can even be played with single players, thanks to a special page added to each Mad Lib story for the solitary writer. You can find Mad Libs in most book stores and online.


Source: R.Overgoor/Unsplash

I Spy

The classic game of I Spy requires no pens, papers, or game boards. Instead, car passengers take turns sharing the first letter of an object as a clue. For example, if the player chooses a cow, they say, “I spy with my little eye something beginning with ‘C’.” Players shout out possibilities until someone guesses correctly. The first person to guess correctly gets the next turn to choose an object. If you want a ready-made version, check out the I Spy Game Travel Game cards from University Games! Fellow Toy Insider Parent Charlene DeLoach keeps a set in her car’s glove compartment at all times!


Source: Deb Zelasny

On-the-Go Amusements

Chronicle Books created a line of On-the-Go Amusements that fit perfectly inside a bag or pocket. Each game comes in a handheld tin containing tiny cards with simple questions and games. 50 Cool Things To Do in the Car comes with 51 cards for ages 5 and up, with ideas like clothing puppets, a new language,’ and conversation plates. On-the-Go Amusements can be found online at chroniclebooks.com


Source: Crayola / The Toy Insider

Mess-Free Art

Crayola Foldalopes is a road trip dream come true! Each set contains five mess-free Color Wonder markers and 18 coloring pages. The travel container easily folds up to secure the supplies and comes in cute themed sets like Baby Shark and Trolls World Tour


Source: S. Borisov/Unsplash

The License Plate Game

Another classic road trip game that requires creativity and imagination is The License Plate Game. Players use the letters from car license plates to see if they can make funny acronyms. An example would be “Ugly Kids Rule” for UKR or “Find My Chips” for FMC. Kids can also keep track of different license plates with a simple checklist (there are many free printables available through Pinterest, or make your own).


Source: What Do yu Meme?/The Toy Insider

Shotgun: The Road Trip Game

Finding entertainment to pass the miles couldn’t get any easier than Shotgun: The Road Trip Game. This new travel card game from What Do You Meme? offers an easy solution for mundane family road trips. Players compete with their fellow passengers by completing dares, challenges, trivia, and more. With more than 200 cards to choose from, this one is perfect for tweens and teens since it’s recommended for ages 12 and up.


Source: Element5 Digital/Unsplash

Name That Tune

Another road trip game that requires no props or game boards is a simple round of Name That Tune. Use your favorite streaming service and device to play blurbs of recognizable songs. See who can call out the song title and artist first, within the least amount of notes played.  Kids can play this with various ages as long as you pick songs that children will recognize or some of their favorite music from movies and television shows.

For more fun road trip ideas, check out these toys or try out 7 Games You Can Play in the Car from Darcy Zalewski. With an arsenal of entertainment ideas, you’ll be ready to hit the road in no time!

About the author

Debbie Zelasny

Debbie Zelasny

Debbie Zelasny was an elementary school teacher for more than a decade before taking the plunge into the world of motherhood and blogging. She now owns and operates The Jersey Momma, an entertaining website for families and fun-seekers of all ages. Debbie loves going on adventures with her family, trying out new toys, giving travel advice, and sharing a myriad of cool stuff on her blog. She's not afraid to let her inner child shine through and she doesn't think you should be, either. Debbie's writing has been featured in The Mailbox Magazine, Yahoo! Voices, Pink Cake Box, and Thrive Global. She also really, really loves her dog.

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