Alright, road trippers, gather ’round! We’re about to head off on a trip that’s less “Are we there yet?” and more “Can we keep driving?”
Listen, we’ve all been there – stuck in a car with our loves for hours on end, watching the same stretch of highway roll by, wondering if we can fashion a parachute out of fruit snack wrappers and make a break for it. But take heart, y’all. I’ve got 35 fun road trip games up my sleeve that’ll have everyone from little Timmy to Aunt Gladys laughing, bonding, and maybe even… gasp… putting away their phones.
We’re talking fun road trip games that’ll tickle your brain cells, challenge your creativity, and maybe even teach you a thing or two about your fellow passengers. And here’s the kicker – these games aren’t just for the kiddos. Oh no, we’re equal-opportunity fun-havers here. Mom and Dad, you’re not just chauffeurs on this trip. You’re full-fledged players, and let me tell you, nothing brings out your competitive side quite like trying to spot a Hawaii license plate on I-35.
If you’re looking for other road trip tips, you have to check out our 25 road trip hacks and our list of road trip activities to help you survive a long car ride with the kids.
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My List of 35 Fun Road Trip Games
From classic road trip games to word games to trivia games, to laugh your a$$ off games, your next long car ride will keep both kids and adults entertained. These 35 fun road trip games are the best way to pass the time!
The License Plate Game
How to play: Try to spot license plates from all 50 states. Keep a checklist and mark off each state as you see it. The first person to spot a new state gets a point. Alternatively, try to create words or phrases using the letters on license plates.
You can even use one of these license plate game journals to keep track of all your road trips.
I-Spy
How to play: This easy-to-play game is perfect even with the smallest passenger. One player chooses an object visible from the car and says, “I spy with my little eye something that is…” followed by a descriptive clue (e.g., color, shape, size). Other players take turns guessing until someone identifies the object correctly.
20 Questions
How to play: Here’s a throw-back game for the parents. One person thinks of a person, place, or thing. Others take turns asking yes/no questions to guess what it is, with a maximum of 20 questions. If no one guesses correctly after 20 questions, the thinker reveals the answer.
The Alphabet Game
How to play: Players search for words on road signs, billboards, or license plates that start with each letter of the alphabet, in order. The first person to complete the alphabet wins. For a cooperative version, work together to find all the letters.
Would You Rather
How to play: Players take turns asking “would you rather” questions with two choices, often silly or outrageous. For example, “Would you rather have fingers as long as your legs or legs as short as your fingers?” Everyone answers and discusses their choices.
Name That Tune
How to play: One person hums or sings a short part of a song without lyrics. The first person to correctly guess the song title gets a point and becomes the next hummer/singer.
The Movie Game
How to play: Start by naming an actor. The next player must name a movie that actor was in. The following player names another actor from that movie, and so on. If a player can’t think of a connection, they’re out. Last player standing wins.
Spot the Car
How to play: Choose a specific car model, color, or feature (e.g., red cars, pickup trucks, cars with roof racks). Each player counts how many they see in a set time period. The player with the most sightings wins.
The Story Game
How to play: This game is easy to play and fun for everyone in the car. One person starts a story with a single sentence. Each player then adds one sentence to continue the tale. Try to create the most outrageous or funny story possible. You can also set a theme or genre for added challenge.
Geography Chain
How to play: The first player names a geographical location (city, country, river, etc.). The next player must name a place that starts with the last letter of the previous place. For example: London – New York – Kiev – Vienna. No repetitions allowed.
Two Truths and a Lie
How to play: Think you know your car mates well? Here’s your chance to find out with this favorite party game. Each player tells three statements about themselves – two true and one false. Other players guess which statement is the lie. Each play scores a point for correct guesses and successful deceptions.
The Rhyme Game
How to play: One person says a word, and others take turns saying words that rhyme with it. Continue until no one can think of a new rhyming word. The last person to provide a rhyme wins the round and chooses the next word.
Categories
How to play: Choose a category (e.g., animals, foods, countries). Players take turns naming items in that category. If a player can’t think of an item or repeats one, they’re out. Last player standing wins and picks the next category.
The Memory Game
How to play: Start with “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing…” The first player adds an item. Each subsequent player must recite the entire list and add a new item. Players are out if they forget an item or add one out of order.
Guess the Celebrity
How to play: One player thinks of a celebrity. Others ask yes/no questions to narrow down who it might be. Set a limit of 20 questions or keep going until someone guesses correctly.
The Singing Game
How to play: One person sings a line from a song. The next player must sing a line from a different song that starts with the last word of the previous song. Continue as long as possible. First person who can’t think of a song is out.
Who Am I?
How to play: Write names of famous people on sticky notes and place them on players’ foreheads. Players take turns asking yes/no questions about their identity. The first to guess their character wins.
The Emoji Game
How to play: One person describes a movie, book, or song using only emoji (either verbally or by drawing). Other players try to guess what it is. The first to guess correctly gets to describe the next item.
Word Association
How to play: One person says a word, and the next person says the first word that comes to mind in association with it. Continue the chain as long as possible. Try to reach 50 words without breaking the chain.
Silent Charades
How to play: One player acts out a movie, book, TV show, or phrase without making any noise. Remaining players try to guess what it is. Set a time limit for each round. The first to guess correctly gets to act next.
The Minute Game
How to play: The driver announces the start of a minute. Players must guess when exactly one minute has passed without looking at any time-keeping devices. The player closest to the actual minute mark wins.
Fortunately/Unfortunately
How to play: This game is always fun! Create a collaborative story where players alternate between fortunate and unfortunate events. Start with “Fortunately…” and the next player continues with “Unfortunately…” Keep the story going as long as possible.
Spell It Backwards
How to play: One player chooses a word and spells it backwards. Other players try to guess the original word. The first to guess correctly gets to choose and spell the next word backwards.
The Animal Name Game
How to play: The first player names an animal. The next player must name an animal that starts with the last letter of the previous animal’s name. (Example: Lion. Narwhal. Llama. Armadillo…) No repetitions are allowed. Last player able to name an animal wins.
Fictionary
How to play: One player (the reader) finds an obscure word in a dictionary and reads it aloud. Other players invent definitions for the word. The reader collects and reads all definitions, including the real one. Players vote on which they think is correct. Points are awarded for guessing the right definition or fooling others with invented ones.
The Grocery Game
How to play: Start with “I went to the grocery store and bought…” Each player adds an item in alphabetical order. For example: “apples, bananas, carrots, dates…” Continue until someone can’t think of an item for their letter.
Famous Pairs
How to play: One person names one half of a famous pair (e.g., “peanut butter”), and others try to guess the other half (“jelly”). Take turns offering famous pairs. This can include fictional characters, historical figures, or common object pairings.
Travel Bingo
How to play: Before the trip purchase, download or create road trip bingo cards. I love these mess-free BINGO cards! As you travel, players mark off items they spot. First to get five in a row (or cover the whole card) wins.
The Rhyming Riddle Game
How to play: One player says, “I spy something that rhymes with…” and provides a rhyming word for an object they can see. Other players try to guess the object. The first to guess correctly gets to offer the next rhyming riddle.
The Movie Quote Game
How to play: Players take turns quoting lines from movies. The first person to correctly identify the movie gets a point and offers the next quote. Consider setting a theme (e.g., comedies, Disney movies) to make it more accessible for all players.
Word Ladder
How to play: Choose a starting word and an ending word of the same length. Players take turns changing one letter at a time to create new words, aiming to reach the ending word. For example, changing COLD to WARM: COLD – CORD – CARD – WARD – WARM.
The Alphabet Category Game
How to play: Choose a category (e.g., countries, foods, animals). Go through the alphabet, with each player naming something in that category starting with the next letter. For an added challenge, try to go through the alphabet multiple times with the same category.
License Plate Phrases
How to play: Look at the letters on license plates of passing cars and try to create funny phrases or sentences using those letters as acronyms. For example, BRK 264 could become “Big Red Kangaroos 2 6 4ever!”
The Telephone Game
How to play: This is a classic road trip game for kids. The first player whispers a phrase to the next person, who then whispers what they heard to the next person, and so on. The last person says aloud what they heard. Compare it to the original phrase and laugh at how it changed!
The Landmark Challenge
How to play: Before the trip, research landmarks or points of interest along your route. During the drive, challenge passengers to spot these landmarks first. Award points for each correct identification. This game not only keeps everyone engaged but also teaches about the areas you’re passing through.
Wrapping-Up: 35 Fun Road Trip Games
With these 35 fun road trip games in your arsenal, long car journeys will hopefully fly by in a flurry of fun, laughter, and friendly-ish competition. These games not only combat boredom but also promote bonding, stimulate creativity, and create lasting memories. Remember to adapt the games to suit your group’s ages and interests, and don’t forget to take breaks and enjoy the scenery along the way.
