Beat the Boredom With These 25 Road Trip Activities Every Parent Should Know

Summer is quickly approaching, and that means it’s time to take a family vacation! While you can fly almost anywhere, getting to where you’re going with your family is half of the fun, so why not enjoy it? A road trip across the country or to the next state can create lasting memories.

However, if you’ve taken a road trip in the past, you likely know that while it may seem exciting at first, after an hour on the road, your kids are likely to start whining. To solve the problem, you need a good list of road trip activities that don’t involve your kids staring at their cell phones or video games the whole time.

In this guide, we’ll share numerous road trip activities you can prepare before your trip so the car ride to your dream destination goes as smoothly as possible without screens.

Try the Old Classics

If you’re of a certain age, you likely remember taking road trips with your family before phones and devices were common. Back then, you had to entertain yourself without a screen. With that in mind, why not start your list of road trip activities with some of the classics you used to enjoy?

• I Spy – As you drive, have your kids look out the window and find something of interest. Then, they can describe the color, and the rest of the family can try to guess what they’re looking at. 
• 20 Questions – A great way to use critical thinking in the car. One person thinks of an object, and the others must guess it by asking yes-or-no questions. It’s simple, but it can stretch on for quite a while. Especially when the chosen object is tricky.
• The License Plate Game – Your kids can add a bit of competition to the car ride by tracking how many different states they spot. Similarly, they can play the Alphabet Game, which challenges kids to find letters A through Z on license plates, signs, and billboards. Whoever gets to Z first wins!
• Would You Rather? – Each person takes turns asking the others what they would rather do between two options. Such as, “Would you rather pet a dinosaur or have a flying car?”

Get Creative

Your road trip activities may also involve using supplies or just your mind to create something fun or interesting. For example:

• Story Building Game – Each person contributes a sentence to an evolving story, often resulting in absurd and hilarious tales. It encourages listening, creativity, and collaboration all at once.
• Create a Comic Book – While you’re packing for your trip, be sure to include crayons or markers and paper. Then, your kids can create their own comic books. They may be inspired by stuff they see out the window, or they may come up with something completely original. This is an idea that can often stretch for hours.
• Travel Show – Another fun idea is pretending to host a travel show. Kids can narrate the journey as if they’re on television, describing landmarks, weather, and imaginary attractions. 
• Invent a New Animal – Next, have your kids create a new animal. Combining traits — like wings, scales, or unusual colors — leads to endless possibilities and often a lot of laughter. Your kids can draw the animal or just imagine it exists and that it can travel alongside your car.

Hands-On Activities

Before your trip, take the time to prepare a bag that’s intended just for road trip activities, so there is plenty to do during the journey. When your kids complain that they’re bored, you can pull something out of your bag of tricks. Here are some ideas to consider:

• Activity Books – Activity books filled with puzzles, mazes, and word searches are a tried-and-true option. They provide structure and a sense of accomplishment as kids complete each page.
• Sticker Books – Try to find reusable sticker books that your kids can use time and time again. Your kids can create scenes, rearrange characters, and tell stories without making a mess.
• Magnetic Play Sets – Magnetic play sets are particularly road-trip friendly since the pieces stay in place even when the car moves. These can range from simple dress-up dolls to more complex building kits.
• Travel Journal – This road trip is likely going to create memories that will last a lifetime. Ensure that’s the case by providing your children with travel journals so they can write down what they see and the activities they engage in along the way.

Calm and Quiet Activities

While there are many fun road trip activities, it’s also essential that you stay safe while you’re driving on the open road. If the GPS has you taking multiple turns or you need to concentrate harder than usual, then encourage your kids to enjoy some quieter activities.

• Audio Books – Put an audiobook on the radio and let your kids silently enjoy the story as you drive. Find a book that matches your child’s interest, and they could sit there listening for hours. 
• Music – If your kids are old enough to use earphones, allow them to listen to some quiet music of their preferred genre. When driving becomes less dangerous, you might consider a family sing-along.
• Guided daydreaming – This is a surprisingly effective way to spark creativity while encouraging relaxation. Ask questions like, “What would your dream house look like?” or “If you could design your own amusement park, what would it have?” These prompts can lead to long, thoughtful conversations.
• Coloring Books – Bring a few of their favorite coloring books, and your kids could entertain themselves for a while.

Movement While Seated

Sitting for long periods can be harmful to your health. When you sit for too long, it can lower your metabolism and raise your blood pressure and blood sugar. That doesn’t mean you can’t take a road trip. Just ensure that you take plenty of pit stops along the way. If stopping is not an option, you can still keep yourself and your kids engaged with these activities. Just make sure that they keep their seatbelts on.

• Stretch Activities – See who can reach the furthest when reaching for their toes or while twisting from side to side. Have your kids try to raise their hands above their heads to see who gets closer to the ceiling. 
• Simon Says – Adapt this popular game for the car by giving commands your kids can follow while staying buckled in. Examples can include things like “Simon says wiggle your fingers” or “Simon says tap your shoulders.” 
• Rest Stop Exercises – While you’re stopping for gas or bathroom breaks, encourage your kids to try jumping jacks or yoga moves to keep the blood flowing.

Fun While Looking Out The Window

There are games that your kids can play as you travel down the road. The games here will keep your kids entertained and help with their observational skills.

• Scavenger Hunt – Create a list of items — such as a red barn, a cow, a bridge, or a gas station —and challenge kids to find them along the way.
• Give Your Kids a Map – Buy a physical paper map at a gas station and give it to your kids. You’ll be surprised how much fun they will have looking at the lines while trying to tell you which way to go.
• Car Bingo – Create bingo cards before you leave or have your kids design them during the ride. Add items they may see along the road, like barns, cars of certain colors, license plates, etc.
• Weather Watcher – Make one or all of your kids special weather watchers. Have a child describe the sky, clouds, temperature, and changes they notice throughout the trip. This activity encourages observation and awareness. 

Have Meaningful Conversations

Mix up your list of road trip activities by adding meaningful conversation starters. When you’re on a road trip, and you’re all in one place, it creates the rare opportunity for uninterrupted conversation. Here are some questions to start with, and then let your imagination run wild.

• “If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?”
• “What would you do if you had a million dollars?” 
• “What dream do you remember having last?”
• “If you could invent anything, what would it be?”

Pit Stop Activities

Finally, round out your list of road trip activities by stopping to check out different places along your route. You can either take some time before your trip to research the landmarks, unique attractions, and eye-catching landscapes you may pass along the way, or just improvise and see what comes up. If you see a cool shop, restaurant, or animal attraction, stop by and see what you discover. Some of the best memories are those you never plan.

Make the Most of Your Journey

If you’re traveling a long distance during your road trip, it’s a great idea to plan out some activities along the way. They will keep your kids engaged and help you retain your sanity. Consider the many games and activities on this list and make this the greatest road trip of all time!

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Davor Geber/Shutterstock.com