best car trip games for adults

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55 Fun Road Trip Games for Adults to Play in the Car

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Road trips are full of fun, adventure, breathtaking landscapes, and weird roadside attractions . But sometimes they also involve long stretches of driving with nothing on your itinerary and nothing but corn out your window. In those cases, you might be looking for something to keep you and your friends entertained in the car. Enter these fun road trip games for adults.

Kids aren’t the only ones who should be able to have fun in the car. So all of these game ideas are perfect for a road trip with friends or a couples trip. Most of them can even be enjoyed by the whole family.

Read on to find some of the best road trip games for adults, and get ready for a memorable road trip!

Want more fun road trip games?

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Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

Classic Road Trip Games for Adults

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Everyone knows these standard road trip games. They are such classics that everyone will have fun playing, no matter their age!

The License Plate Game

How do you play the license plate game? All you have to do is keep a look out your windows and keep track of all the different license plates you see. To win: try to be the first to spot one from every state! Each individual vehicle can only be claimed by one person, so think fast! For example, if Jane sees a red Toyota with a Montana plate, she can claim that car. John will have to wait for another Montana plate to go by. You can play this game with just a pen and paper, or you can click here to learn more about the game, get a free license plate game printable, or find versions you can play online or buy .

Road Trip Scavenger Hunt

Keep your eye out for these common road trip sites. Compete in a road trip scavenger hunt to see who will claim each item first or make it a photo challenge and see who can get the best pic of or selfie with each item.

Road Sign Bingo

Play a friendly game of Road Sign Bingo . Play a traditional game where you try to get four in a row on a game sheet. Or print out a road sign checklist full of some of the most common road signs you’ll see on your road trip. Keep an eye out to see who can spot the most the fastest!

Traveling with friends, family, or a husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend? Want to get to know them a little more? These Get To Know You road trip games for adults will have everyone in the car talking.

Road Trip Questions

With all the free time you have in the car, why not spend some of it getting to know your passengers by taking turns answering fun road trip questions. This game of ice breakers and conversation starters will get the chat going. Use these 100 fun road trip questions to get everyone in the car talking. Ready to get to know your travel companions? Start asking away!

TableTopics to GO Road Trip

What was your all-time favorite vacation? Answer this and 39 other conversation starter question cards in this portable question and answer game designed for road trips.

Truth or Dare

Would you rather reveal something potentially embarrassing about yourself or do something potentially embarrassing? Play a friendly round of truth or dare while driving in your car. Take turns asking passengers, “truth or dare?” If truth is picked they have to answer any question you ask them. If they pick dare, give a wild (but car friendly) dare. A game of truth or dare in the car can be as tame or wild as you desire, and will let you really get to know your friends.

Two Truths and a Lie

Go around the car and have everyone say three facts about themselves: I studied abroad in Rome, I’ve traveled to all fifty states, my favorite color is blue. They can be anything you want…but one of them must be a lie. State two truths and one lie about yourself and then everyone else has to guess which of those facts is not so factual.

Never Have I Ever

Traditionally played as a drinking game, Never Have I Ever allows you to say something you’ve never done and learn which of your friends have. You definitely don’t want to drink and drive, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun with this get to know you game. Each person takes turns saying something they have never done using the phrase “never have I ever.” For example: “Never Have I Ever Been to Alaska,” Never Have I Ever Driven for 12 hours straight,” or “Never Have I Ever gone camping.” Then everyone else in the car has to chime in to say whether they have done the things you haven’t. If you’re playing at night by your hotel’s pool or the light of a campfire, have everyone take a drink if they have done the action in question. If you’re playing in the car, have the guilty raise their hand and yell “I have!”

The Hot Seat

Want to ask your friends questions you’d normal shy away from? Put them in the hot seat. In this road trip game everyone takes a turn in the hot seat. When it’s their turn everyone else gets to ask them any question they want. Any question they want. And the person in the hot seat has to answer. You can set a timer (like five minutes), a maximum question amount (like 5 questions), or a per person quota (everyone gets to ask two questions). Whichever way you choose to play, this game will let you all get to know each other on a whole new level.

Would You Rather

Would you rather eat only hamburgers for the rest of your life or never eat tacos again? In this game you pit two things against each other and decide which scenario you’d rather do over the other. Take tuns posing hypothetical battles and see how your answers compare to everyone else in the car!

Kiss, Marry, Kill

Say you had to choose from Joey, Chandler, and Ross on Friends. Which one would you kiss, which one would you marry, and which one would you prefer to throw off a cliff. Take turns listing three people (they can be celebrities; movie, book, or TV characters; or even people you know) and make arguments for who you would kiss, marry, or kill.

The Compliment Game

Go through the alphabet and take turns giving each other compliments that start with each letter. Tom is an amazing athlete. Danielle is a badass beatboxer. Go from A to Z and brighten your car mates’ days.

Most Likely To Game

Remember senior superlatives? At the end of the school year everyone would choose from their class who was the “most likely to succeed,” the “most athletic,” or the “biggest flirt.” Turn that into a road trip game by coming up with superlatives for everyone in the car!

What makes a good road trip game for adults? Most of the time you’ll be playing within the confines of the car, so you want something that can be done with minimal movement and minimal supplies. These car games are fun to play and are only dependent on what you can see out the car’s window.

Cows on My Side

If you’re driving across certain areas of the country, you’re going to see a lot of cows out your window. A lot of cows. Make spotting bovines a game by playing a friendly game of Cows on My Side. Game play for this one is easy. If you see cows out the window on your side of the car yell out, “cows on my side!” to get one point. If you see cows out the window on the other side of the car, yell out, “cows on your side!” before someone on that side does, to steal one point. When you pass a cemetery, be the first to yell out, “ghost cow!” to steal all the points.

There are plenty of other cow-related games to play on a road trip. Here are some of my favorite variations.

Similar to Cows on My Side, but with slightly different rules. For this version, every time you see a herd of cows, the first person to yell out, “my cows!” gets a point. If you see a church, the first to yell out, “marry my cows!” doubles their points. If you see a cemetery, the first to yell out, “bury your cows!” steals everyone’s points.

To play Hey Cow! you just yell out, “hey cow!” whenever you pass a herd of cows. For every cow that turns their head to look at you, you get a point.

Counting Cows (AKA Cow Poker)

Pit the left side of the car against the right side of the car and count all the cows you can see from your side of the window. It can get tricky when you pass a large field, so count fast! Whoever has counted the most cows at the end of the journey wins, but watch for cemeteries, if someone calls out, “your cows are buried!” they can steal all the other side’s points.

The RV Game

RVs are known to have some interesting names on their own. Make them even more interesting by adding the word “anal” before them for a bit of a juvenile laugh. Keep an eye out for RVs and make the one marked “commander” a little more interesting.

Slug Bug (AKA Punch Buggy)

The rules of this game are simple: every time you see a Volkswagon Beetle out the window, yell out “Slug Bug!” (or “Punch Buggy!” if you prefer), and give your travel companion a gentle punch on the arm.

The object of this road trip game is to be the first person in the car to spot a car with a burnt out headlight or taillight. This game is best played when driving at night (or through long tunnels) where the surroundings are dark and most cars have their lights on. Whoever spots a car with a light out yells out, “Padiddle,” and touches the ceiling of the car. Play throughout your trip and whoever has the most padiddles when your travels end wins.

Odd Colored Cars

Pick an odd-for-a-car color, something like pink or purple or orange. Keep your eyes on the road and see who can spot a car of that color first or see the most through the entire trip.

The Alphabet Game

Try to go through the entire alphabet (in alphabetical order) by referencing words on signs you see from the car. Look for words on billboards, highway signs, road signs, and businesses. Each individual word can only be used by one person. The first person to get from A to Z wins!

The Gas Price is Right

Gas prices are ever changed and can vary widely by state or city. Make it a game to try to guess the prices that gas will be for the next station you pass. Try to guess to the nearest tenth and see who is closest.

Fictional Families

Do you ever look at other cars on the road and wonder what their story is? In this road trip game for adults, you pick out another vehicle on the road and come up with a story about who they are and where they’re going.

Vehicle Identification Game

When you spot an oncoming car try to be the first person to identify the make and model and see who is the best at identifying the vehicles on the road.

Bring along a variety of travel-sized versions of your favorite board games. Look for smaller, simplified games that come with cards or magnetic boards that can easily be played by backseat passengers in the car. But even though they are meant for travel, many travel board games work better as games to play in a hotel after a long day on the road. Pack your favs to play in your hotel room or by the pool! Here are some of the most popular travel board games:

Monopoly Grab and Go Game

Play a compact game of Monopoly with all your favorite features in a small package that also serves as storage.

Connect 4 Grab and Go Game

Try to get four checkers in a row and block your opponent from getting it first. Connect 4 Grab and Go is a compact travel version of the popular board game.

Clue Grab and Go Game

Solve a whodunit mystery by following the clues. Move around the board and try to piece together what you find to be the first to crack the case in a friendly game of Clue. Buy Travel Clue

Scrabble to Go

Challenge each other to come up with the most impressive words. A travel edition of scrabble not only allows you to play this fun board game in a hotel room, latching pieces mean you can bring your unfinished game with you to pick up at the next day and the next hotel.

These games are perfect for bringing out your creative side. Use your time in the car to make up stories with your friends.

While You Were Sleeping

On a road trip with friends one thing is for certain: someone is going to fall asleep in the back seat. And that’s the perfect time to play a fun game of While You Were Sleeping. Once your sleeping car mate awakens from their backseat nap, tell them a story of what happened while they were sleeping. The catch? It’s a completely made up story. Try to make up a ridiculous story and see how long you can go and how much you can convince your sleepy car mate that it actually happened.

Fortunately/Unfortunately

Tell a story where everything goes right…and wrong. In Fortunately/Unfortunately you alternate sentences that start with fortunately or unfortunately. For example: Marissa was driving on a road trip. Fortunately she was almost to her hotel. Unfortunately her phone (and Google Maps) was about to die. Fortunately she had a paper map.

See how long your fortunate and unfortunate can go and where it takes you.

Mad libs are fun for all ages. There are a wide variety of these fill-in-the-blank stories, from adult-friendly options to ones based on your favorite TV shows to road trip focused stories . Whichever version you choose, you can pick adjectives and verbs to create your own hilarious stories.

Sorry I am Late

“Sorry I am late, but I accidentally traveled back in time and had to make sure my parents still got together so I would be born.” In this story telling game you start with “Sorry I am late but…” and then fill in the rest with a movie plot. Then see who in the car can guess what movie you are recapping.

Tell a story one word at a time. Have one person in the car start a story by saying a single word. Then the next person adds the next word. Keep going around the car one word at a time and see where this story time leads you!

These road trip games rely on simplicity: words, wordplay, and numbers.

Don’t Say It

Before your trip come up with a “Don’t Say It” word: something everyone is forbidden to say. Whenever someone says that word, they get a point. The person with the most amount of points at the end of the trip loses, and has to buy the car a round of soft drinks.

The Name Game

Start with one person saying a name, like Rebecca. The next person then says a name that starts with the last letter of that name. Rebecca ends with an A so the next person might say Amy. No repeat allowed, keep going until no one can think of a new name that fits!

The Counting Game

The goal of this game is to collectively count to 20. Sounds easy, right? But the trick here is you don’t know where or when the next person is taking a turn. One person starts by saying the number one. Then anyone can say the number two. But, if more than one person speaks at the same time, the game is done and you have to start over. If more than five seconds pass in between, the game is also done, so act fast!

Scattergories

This car game only requires a pen and paper. Come up with a list of categories. It can be anything you want, but try to find things that might have a lot of possible answers, like dog breeds, items of clothing, body parts, or cars. Write those all down in a list. The driver can then pick a random letter and all the passengers race to see who can fill in the list of categories with something starting with that letter the fastest.

In this easy car game, everyone picks any category they want: Taylor Swift songs, MLB teams, La Croix flavors, etc. And then everyone takes turns naming something that fits that category until someone is stumped and can’t think of anything that fits.

Try and guess what your car mates are thinking with these guessing games that are perfect to play in the car.

20 Questions

Read your friend’s mind in 20 questions of less. In this game, one person in the car has to think of something, anything. It can be a movie, a book, a person, place, or thing. Then everyone else in the car gets to ask questions to see who can guess what the person is thinking of. Choose your questions wisely, because you only have 20 tries.

I’m Going on a Picnic

In this game, players take turns saying what they might bring on a picnic (bananas, sandwiches , paper plates…). But one leader is in charge of saying whether you are allowed to bring that item or not, all based on a secret rule they have. For example, if Amanda is the leader she might have a secret rule that all items brought to the picnic must start with the first letter of her name. So if someone wanted to bring guacamole, they would be denied but someone bringing avocados would be OK. Players take turns naming items and trying to figure out what the secret rule is.

How much do you know about movies, TV shows, or celebrities? These games rely on your knowledge of films and those who star in them.

6 Degrees of Separation

Based on the popular “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon,” where it is said you can link any celebrity to Kevin Bacon (via mutual movie/television appearances) in six connections or less, in this version you can link any celebrities you want. Pick any two celebrities, like Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Frank Sinatra and connect them through their mutual crossovers.

The Movie Game

Similar to 6 Degrees of Separation, this road trip game also involves linking celebrities. But in this version, you have to come up with the next celebrity to link an actor to. To play, have one person name an actor or actress. Then, the next person has to name a movie they were in. The next person then has to name another actor or actress from that movie. Keep going until someone is stumped. That person has to sit out the next round. Keep playing until only one person is left and a winner is declared.

Bad Movie Plot

The goal of this game is to explain a movie plot badly and see who can guess what it is. For example, you might say, “an elderly man uses balloons to kidnap a young boy,” and others would have to try to guess that you’re explaining the plot to the Pixar movie Up .

Whether you love to sing or can’t hold a tune and prefer to leave it to the professionals, many fun road trip games for adults rely on music to guide them. These games are based on music knowledge, singing, or your favorite playlists.

Name That Tune

Use the scanner or seek on your radio or the shuffle feature on an app like Spotify. For every new song that comes up, try to be the first one to guess the name of the song and the musical artist. Or, take turns choosing a song to play and see if you can stump your friends.

Battle Of The Bands

Battle it out among the car to see which song reigns supreme. Choose a category. Any category. You can pick anything from “Best Emo Love Ballad” to “Songs that mention Birds.” Have two eople in the car think of a song that fits and then play them both for the whole car to hear. It’s then up to everyone in the car to vote and see which song, and which player, wins.

Human Jukebox

Channel your best Pitch Perfect impressions for this road trip game. To play, one person starts singing a song. Then the next person has to pick up with a new song that borrows the last word of the last phrase of the song before. Keep going until someone gets stumped, then start the Human Jukebox all over again.

There are so many different road trip games adults can play in the car. Here are some more games that will keep you entertained on long stretches of road.

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation. The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book features fun and engaging journal prompts. plus 100 activities and games to play in the car, at your hotel, or at stops along your route.

Shotgun! Road Trip Game

Shotgun! is a fun card game and car game. Designate a reader and then take turns answering road trip related questions and doing activities.

Road Trip Trivia

Have a fun time challenging each other to road trip trivia. Find trivia questions based on road trips, the route you’re on, your destination, or America.

Regional Snack Master

Every time you pull over at a gas station or travel center, have everyone try to find a local snack. Something you can really only find in the city or state you’re in. Compare your finds and see who found the tastiest (or weirdest) ones.

At the beginning of your road trip, have everyone make up a rule for the car. The sillier, the better. Something like at every red light you have to open all the windows and cheer. Try to keep up these funny road trip rules throughout the course of your trip.

In this game, start with one passenger coming up with a sentence or phrase. They whisper it into another passenger’s ear, and it should go all the way around until it gets to the last person in the car. That person then has to say out loud what they think they heard, and see how close or far it was from the original phrase.

Almost any game app can be a road trip game app. Here are some of our favorites that work well with a group of people traveling in a car.

Drive.fm: Car & Home Trivia

Have a knack for knowledge and want to put your brain to the test? Drive.fm is a game app controlled using your voice, making it the perfect hands-free trivia game to play in your car.

This musical trivia game features real song clips from popular artists. See who can guess the song the fastest!

A fun road trip game app for singing karaoke songs in the car.

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

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Valerie Bromann is a a website manager, content creator, and writer from Chicago, Illinois (currently living in Dallas, Texas). As an avid road tripper who has visited hundreds of roadside attractions, Val always pull over for a world’s largest thing. Founder of Silly America and author of The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book , she visits, photographs, and writes about all the weird tourist destinations she visits and offers road trip planning advice and inspiration based on her own travels so you can hit the road for yourself.

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Last modified: December 2, 2023 Category: Road Trip Games , Road Trip Planning

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30 Best Road Trip Games That Are Super Fun

Road trip games can make any journey more enjoyable and fun whether you're going on a long drive across the country or spending a few hours in the car with the kids.

Our list of the 30 of the best road trip games will provide entertainment for children and adults alike, ranging from music-related games and foodie challenges to word contests and devious pranks.

You will never have to think of what to do on a long car ride again! The following is the ultimate list of games you can play on a road trip.

1. The Story Game

Entertaining for adults and kids alike, this is storytelling with a twist - you go round the car and each passenger adds just one word following on from the player before.

See how crazy you can make the story, and get someone to record it on their phone so you can listen back to the hilarious progression of the plot as you make way along your road trip. You could go from sunbathing in Spain to training alpacas in Chile in a matter of seconds.

Trust us, you're in for a laugh with this one and if your passengers are good, these stories can get seriously long!

2. I'm Going On A Road Trip

This road trip game requires a bit more brain power than some of the others, but is still really entertaining and great for all ages. To play, passengers take it in turns to state 'I'm going on a road trip and I'm bringing…' followed by an item of their choice.

The next person has to repeat the phrase, saying the last person's item and adding one of their own and so on - eventually you'll have a really long list of crazy items to try and remember, and it's always amusing watching people try and get it right a few rounds in.

Be sure to throw in a few weird and wonderful items to confuse the rest of the players!

3. The Quiet Game

This game is a bit of a joke for the adults who want a few minutes of peace and quiet from their squabbling kids. The rules are hilariously simple - just say 'who can stay quiet the longest?' and breathe as the competitive siblings fall instantly silent.

Just a word of warning though: don't expect it to last very long, so have another kid-friendly car game lined up for when they get bored.

4. The Banana Game

This game is all about the color yellow and is super simple - points are awarded whenever a passenger spots a yellow vehicle.

Come up with a scoring system for different types of vehicle (e.g. one point for a car, two for a van, and three for a lorry) and whether you saw it parked (one point) or in motion (two points). Add any extra rules you fancy, and prepare to get competitive about who saw it first.

5. Never Miss A Beat

This game may be more of a singalong than a game, but it's still awesome!

Never miss a beat offers another chance to show off your singing skills and unusually gets everyone playing together rather than against each other.

All you need to do is stick on your family's favorite song or a song everyone knows the words to and start singing. Someone then needs to turn it down for 10 seconds whilst everyone keeps singing, before turning it back up again to see if you've kept the beat and stayed in time.

This game is mainly just a bit of fun, but you could always turn it into a competition by splitting into teams!

Another classic you've probably played a thousand times before but never get bored of.

Passengers take it in turns to find an object either inside or outside the car and say "I spy with my little eye something beginning with…" the first letter of whatever the object is.

The other passengers must then try and guess the answer (clues can be given if it's really hard), with the winner taking the next turn. This is an easy car game to play with kids and always a great one to keep bored passengers entertained for a surprisingly long time.

7. 20 Questions

This classic road trip game probably doesn't need much of an introduction - simply choose one passenger to start by thinking of a random object, and the other passengers take turns asking 20 yes-or-no questions to guess the object.

Whoever finds the answer first gets to think of the random thing in the next round, but if the object has everyone stumped, they get to keep their role for the next round.

There are no rules on the object you can pick, but lying in your answers is strictly forbidden!

8. Car Bingo

This kid-friendly game takes a little prep before you set off, but it's well worth it if you need to keep the kids entertained on a long journey.

Make a list of things the children might see along the road trip route - e.g. cows, a tractor, a red car etc, to give to them when you get into the car.

As you drive they can cross things off as they see them, not only distracting them from boredom but also encouraging them to look around and learn about the places they're visiting.

Make the list as specific to the place you're going as you want. In Texas you might have anything mentioning the Lone Star and in Wyoming you might be on the lookout for elk!

You can tailor the difficulty and number of things to find depending on the age of your children.

9. Sweet Or Sour

The rules of this road trip game are super simple: passengers take turns waving at passing pedestrians or people in nearby cars. If they wave back they're sweet, if not they're sour. You win a point for every sweet passerby you get, so aim to find as many friendly people as possible along the way.

For obvious reasons, the driver should opt out of this one, but it can be extra fun if they divert the car through a busy area of town to rack up some extra waving opportunities!

Remember not to distract other drivers!

10. Secret Place Race

Make use of that old road map that sits in the car seat pocket to entertain the kids. All you need to do for the secret place race is pick a place they're unlikely to know such as a tiny village, river, or mountain, and see how long it takes them to find it on the map.

This can be incredibly entertaining in a Where's Waldo kind of way, except their mission in finding the village can be made critically important for the driver to be able to find the right way!

Have a reward on hand if they're able to find it in less than 5 minutes, and watch as they're completely engrossed in the task. A simple yet satisfyingly effective game.

11. Punch Buggy

First gaining popularity as part of one of Volkswagen's marketing campaigns in the 1960s, the aim of this game is to give your fellow passengers a playful punch whenever you see a VW Beetle drive past.

This is one of those road trip games that is universally loved by children (as long as you monitor the punching to avoid disaster), although we don't see why the adults wouldn't enjoy it too.

Granted - in some parts of the world, seeing a Beetle is incredibly rare, so if you're struggling to see many Beetles, you could always choose a specific color of car or another funny model as the target instead to make it a touch easier.

12. Regional Car Pantry

One for the foodies. Stretching across the full duration of your road trip, collect as many local snacks as you can at every stop along the way to build up your car pantry.

Make sure you take pictures of each snack (or buy duplicates if they'll keep) so you can see what you've managed to collect at the end of the trip, and be sure to take some weird and wonderful treats home for friends and family to try.

Do some research beforehand and make a list of all the foods you want to find, or just wing it and see what local delicacies you stumble across as you go.

13. The License Plate Game

You'll need pens and paper for this game so make sure you've packed some before you head off. The aim is to spot license plates from as many different countries or US states (depending on where your road trip is taking place) as possible.

Write a list of the places you've seen and compare it with the other passengers at the end of the drive. This is the ideal game for those long stretches of boring motorway where you'll probably rack up a surprisingly long list, and the person with the most countries gets to ride shotgun for the next leg of the journey.

The end of this road trip game can get very controversial - if you spot a real game winner, photographic evidence is a good idea so get your phone out and take photos in secret!

14. The Fortunately - Unfortunately road trip game

This is similar to the Story Game (see #1 above), however players get a little more control and creativity. You can say more than one word this time!

One player starts off with a 'fortunately' sentence, and the next has to follow with an 'unfortunately' sentence to build a story of luck and misfortune. For example, one player might start with 'fortunately, the sun was shining' with the second player adding 'unfortunately they had a long drive ahead of them' and so on.

This game can make it a little easier to remember the long string as everything has to be either fortunate or unfortunate! Get as creative as you can and you'll find yourself at your destination in what seems like no time at all.

15. The Complete Food Menu Game

This is the perfect road trip game to play if you're passing through a few towns on your way although roadside restaurants and chains will do just fine.

Print out a sheet with all the food types you can think of in a grid against the names of people in the car.

Every time you drive past a restaurant of some kind, the first person to spot it gets to collect the tick for the food type it serves. Steaks and pizzas should be easy to collect by everyone, but you might just win if you're the only one who spotted the seafood restaurant in the middle of Oklahoma!

16. The Name Game

This is another simple game that keeps your brain occupied during a long drive without being too strenuous. One person simply says any name they can think of and the next person must say another name that begins with the last letter of the name before, and so on.

For example if passenger one says Tom, passenger two might say Mary. If you've made any friends during your road trip, try and include their names to make it a tad more topical.

Obviously adding the rule of not repeating the same names once they have been mentioned makes this a whole lot more interesting as the game progresses although you're guaranteed to have a disagreement over whether a name has or has not been mentioned already!

17. Guess The Song

If you're comfortable in your musical knowledge you'll definitely want to suggest playing this one. The rules are simple: get the front passenger to play the first few seconds of a song and whoever can guess the artist and song title the quickest wins a point.

This is much easier if you can connect your phone to the car for the road trip and play songs from there so you can easily search and pause the music.

The person with the most points after half an hour gets control of the music for the rest of the journey, so there's a lot at stake...

18. Sing The Next Line

A variation on the Guess The Song game above, except this game relies on your vocal chords.

Instead of just guessing the song after a few seconds, players have to rack their brains and try and sing the next line, and the person who successfully remembers it first wins a point. Think of a reward for whoever wins, and if you attempt it but get it wrong you have to do a forfeit chosen by the driver.

19. Radio Roulette

This game's a little less hands-on but no less entertaining. Use your road trip driving time to discover all the local radio stations of the place you're visiting by re-tuning every ten minutes and choosing a new station at random.

You'll probably find some pretty wacky programs and get to know traditional and popular music in that country - a great way to appreciate culture even when you're between destinations.

If you a radio station that is really wacky, let us know!

20. Would You Rather

This road trip game can be be as PG or as outrageous as you like depending on the age of the passengers.

Take turns asking the car whether they would rather do one thing or another (e.g. 'would you rather go to France or Spain?') and see what they answer. Make it as difficult as possible to choose between the two options for maximum entertainment value, whether that's making them equally amazing or equally horrible, it's up to you…

You can see how this game can get as interesting in group of adults as with kids - answering the question is compulsory and providing reasons is where it gets fun!

21. Car Rules Road Trip Game

Everyone in the car gets to make up a silly rule, e.g. whenever we cross a bridge everyone has has to touch their nose, or whenever we stop at a red light everyone has to touch the roof of the car.

The last person to join in when an action is enforced gains a point, and the person with the most points at the end of the drive loses. Get as creative as you like with the rules and try and catch people out where possible so you can take the victory.

The loser has to go pay for parking or buy ice creams at the next stop!

22. Hot Seat

If you're that nosy friend that wants to find out all of your companions' deepest secrets then you'll like this one. Passengers take it in turns to be in the hot seat and are asked 5 questions, one of which they're allowed to veto and the other four must be answered honestly.

This is best played in an adult-only car (questions get notoriously cheeky) and is the ideal way to pass the time finding out some interesting new facts about your road trip friends.

You can use it as a warm up or a step up from the car version of Truth or Dare (see #27 below) depending on how close your friendships are!

23. People Watching

Someone picks a car full of people that everyone can see (this works best if you're stuck in traffic), and together you make up a story about the people - who they are, where they're going, what they do for a living. The funnier and more far-fetched the story, the better - just make sure you're not staring too obviously at your subjects or it might get a little awkward...

Use your imagination to make the stories controversial and see how far you can go with making things up!

You might just surprise yourself how the most innocuous of road trip games will make you spot things you would never otherwise see just by looking at the cars around you.

24. Kiss, Marry, Avoid

Another one for the older crowd. Take turns listing three famous people and the other passengers in the car have to choose which person they would kiss, which they would marry, and which they would avoid.

Make it really hard to decide so that everyone has a bit of a laugh, and try to predict each other's answers to add an extra twist to the game.

If you want to add a little spice to the game, use people you all know or move to people in the car!

25. While You Were Sleeping

There's nothing more tempting than pulling a prank on a passenger who falls asleep en route, and whilst we don't dispute the whole drawing-a-mustache classic, we've got something even craftier.

Whilst they're taking a nap on the road trip, have a brainstorm with the awake members of the party and come up with an epic story or scenario of something that they missed during their nap.

The aim of the game is to get them to believe the story, so make sure nobody laughs or breaks character (come up with a forfeit if they do), and keep the lie going for as long as possible. If you manage to pull it off this is far better than a DIY mustache... but by all means, draw one on for good measure.

This classic road trip game can really take a turn for the worse if you want it to. A simple horror story about a truck that followed the car for miles that you just managed to pull away from before getting a flat tyre can go a long way as you're parked on the side of the road. Peer into the rear view mirror in horror and watch their face when a random truck appears on the horizon!

26. Categories

Popular with kids and adults alike the world over, Categories can be an awesome game to play on road trips as well.

The premise is simple - somebody picks a category which can have multiple different answers. Fruit or Beatles' songs can both be great options.

Players have to then take turns to name one item from the category at a time. Players are eliminated when they can't name one until there's one winner. Either the winner or the next person in turn gets to choose the next category.

That brings our list of the best road trip games to an end. Do you have other games you enjoy? Get in touch to let us know and we'll add it to our list!

27. Truth Or Dare (The Car Edition)

The old classic can and should be played on road trips! Players take turns to either answer an embarassing question truthfully or perform a dare set by other players.

The dares obviously have to be contained to the realms of the car or the roadside so you'll have to get creative.

Needless to say, this game is very different when played with kids as a family or with adult friends and is equally great in both cases!

28. 6 Degrees of Separation

This is a road trip game that will require some imagination and provide plenty of topics for conversation.

Take turns and pick two people who you may know or make them up (e.g. a Shaolin monk). The more different the background and location of these people the better!

Then proceed to discuss how these two people are connected through 6 connections or less. You don't have to know the whole chain - that's actually where the fun is.

How is a gaucho from a remote farm in southern Argentina connected to Prince Charles? The gaucho must know his ranch's boss (1). The boss knows the boss of the company that buys beef from local producers (2). That company has a liaison manager in a UK-based Argentinian beef importing firm (3). This manager has a colleague who imports fine wines from around the world for the same company (4). The colleague personally provides the fine wines to the Royal sommelier (5) and the sommelier personally knows Prince Charles (6). Bingo!

29. The Stop Joker Card road trip game

If you're going on a long trip and you're going to be driving all day or even longer than that, this is a great way to give everyone in the car, kids included, a way to have a bit of control.

At any point during the trip, each person can enact their Stop Joker Card - this means the car has to stop wherever they are passing and spend some time there doing an activity or just relaxing.

Your kids might see something really fun halfway along and use their card to break up the journey and everyone gets to have their stop along the route!

30. Pick One Car road trip game

This one is a game of patience and opportunity. Every person in the car has one chance during the journey to pick a car that you can see on your way as their ultimate One Car. The objective is to pick the coolest/fastest/most amazing car possible.

Once you've chosen a car, you can't change it - you only have one go so you better make it count - if you're passing something that is decent but not stellar, you might have to make a tough choice.

The game is made even more difficult by the fact that the first person to call the car out gets to have it so you have to be alert and on the lookout if you haven't got one yet.

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31 Best Games for Road Trips for Adults to Beat the Boredom

Road-tripping is our absolute favorite way of traveling . Not only are you able to get off the beaten path to find some hidden treasures, but also have a rewarding time with your travel partner to make ever-lasting memories. Especially when you pass the time with some fun games for road trips for adults.

But even the greatest road trip can have its downside with never-ending drives to the next destination to listening to the same playlist on repeat. Luckily, we are here to help with all of that with a list of road trip games.

On our two cross-country road trips through the USA, we tested so many different ways of being entertained while on the road. Our favorite thing to beat the boredom is playing some fun car games.

Here are our top 31 games for road trips for adults . Some you might already know, some you might find too crazy, some you might need an app for, and some will make you want to continue driving, even though you’re already at your destination. Feel free to change them the way they suit you best!

Before you head out on the road, do you have the right vehicle for your trip? You may want to think about renting a car or getting into an RV .

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps us create free content for you to enjoy. Learn more about our disclaimer  here . Thanks for your support!

Our Other Resources for Road Trips

45 useful gifts for road trips you didn’t know you needed, 100+ tested road trip pack list essentials you will not want to forget.

• 90+ Road Trip Quotes to Excite You to Hit the Road

Helpful Resources for Road Trips

Gas: When going on a road trip, money for gas can quickly disappear. Find the cheapest gas prices and more perks like a trip cost calculator with the GasBuddy app. l GasBuddy

Rental Car: Get out on the road and explore your destination with a rental car at the best price with Discover Cars. l Discover Cars 

Campervan: Our favorite way to explore the US National Parks is by campervan. Go to the world’s largest peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace and find your perfect van. l RVshare

Accommodations: After a day full of adventures, you deserve a good night’s rest. Whether it is a hotel room or a vacation home find a cozy accommodation that will make you feel at home. l Hotels.com  l  Vrbo

Travel Insurance: Feel safe on all your adventures around the world with simple and flexible travel insurance for all occasions. l World Nomad

Experiences: Make unforgettable experiences on your next trip with Get Your Guide, the best company to compare and book Sedona activities, and fun tours. l Get Your Guide

What to Pack: 100+ Tested Road Trip Pack List Essentials You Will Not Want to Forget

What Road Trip Games Can You Play while Driving?

Road trip classics.

Who doesn’t enjoy the good, old traditional road trip games? Even though they are around for a while and everyone knows them, they are still a lot of fun and don’t require anything fancy.

Road Trip Trivia

Goal: Learn the history of the area you are visiting.

Why Play this Game: Who doesn’t love a good trivia game? Now, you can design it yourself. Not only will you see and experience the area that you are traveling through, but you can also learn a little about it!

How to Play:

• Designate one person to host the road trip trivia game.
• The host will ask the passengers specific questions related to the country, state, area, or city you are road-tripping through. As a host, you can also use wifi to find some tricky questions for your fellow travelers.
• For every correct answer, the passenger will receive 1 point.
• The passenger with the most points is the winner for that round.

The Quiet Game

Goal: To stay quiet the longest.

Why Play this Game: If you are looking for some quiet to enjoy your ride, this is the game for you! It is ideal to play when you are traveling with small children or even an annoying road-trip partner who keeps asking, “Are we there yet?”

• Start a timer and then stay quiet. 2. If you speak, you are out. 3. The person who stays the quietest the longest, wins!

The License Plate Game

Goal: To be the first to find as many different state or country license plates as possible.

Why Play this Game: Isn’t it fun finding a new license plate? Especially when it is one you have never seen before. We all do it, so why not make it a game. You can learn the states, maybe even a little geography, and have some fun while on your road trip.

• Look out for different license plates before someone else finds them. 2. Check off or mark each license plate that you see. 3. Award yourself 1 point for each license plate (a point is only awarded to the first person to find the license plate). 4. Player with the most points at the end of the game wins.

Variations:

1. Decide on how long the game will be played.

For example: for the duration of the trip or for a specific time frame.

2. Change the way of scoring points.

For example , Certain license plates, e.g. harder to find license plates can equal 2 points.

3. Work in teams instead of alone.

Goal: To be the first person to find the object from the clue.

Why Play this Game: This classic road trip game will keep you and your passengers guessing and guessing what other people can see. You will never get bored because there is always something new and interesting to find along the way. Who will be the I Spy champion?

• One person has to find an object by looking out the window.
• Then provide a clue for the other passengers to try and guess the object.
• The passenger who correctly identifies the object wins.
• Now it is the winner’s turn to find a new object.

Goal: Be the last one left in the game by not missing a category

Why Play this Game: How many different objects of a category can you name? There are endless possibilities for different category topics which makes it a perfect game to play over and over again. All you have to do is choose a new category. Get creative and challenge your road trip partners to a fun car game of categories. Who will be the last one standing?

• Pick a category (cars, songs, movies, colors, countries, etc). 2. Each person takes turns naming something in the category. If you are stumped, you are out. 3. The last one left without being stumped is the winner.

1. Players have to name things in alphabetical order.

For example, The category is songs. The first player would have to start by naming a song that starts with “A.” Then B, C, D, and so on.”

2. The next player’s answer has to start with the last letter of the answer from the previous player.

For example, The category is songs. The answer is “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” The next player would have to name a song that starts with the letter “S.”

3. Decide on how long a player has to respond before the time is up.

For example, Each player has 10 seconds to give an answer.

Goal: Be the first person to get BINGO.

Why Play this Game: Turn the classic, old lady game, Bingo into a fun, exciting road trip car games that will entertain and excite everyone. This game needs a little preparation because you have to create a variety of Bingo cards before you start your trip.

• Give each passenger a Bingo card and something to write with.
• Each passenger will mark off their card until they have Bingo (5 covered squares in a row).
• The first-person with Bingo wins.

1. Choose a different BINGO pattern in order to win.

For example: Instead of having 5 squares in a row, you have to get a small square, a large square, an X, or even the full card to win.

2. Create different BINGO cards with different topics.

For example, Street signs, types of cards, fast food restaurants, songs, etc.

Price is Right

Goal: Try and guess the gas price to the nearest tenth in the area you are traveling through.

Why Play this Game: One thing that adds up quickly on a road trip is gas. Anytime we are on the road, we try to find the cheapest gas possible to save a little money. So why not make a game of it to pass the time?

• Each passenger will take a chance at guessing the gas price in the certain area you are traveling through.
• The person with the guess that is farthest away from the actual price has to pay for the next fill-up or a little treat at the next gas station ;-).

Music Car Games for Road Trips for Adults

Listening to music is the number one activity to be entertained on a road trip. But hearing the same playlist over and over again can get a little boring after a while. Why not try something new and get more involved with the artists and songs. Here are 5 fun games to play in the car with adults that make you enjoy music in a different, fun way .

Name that Song

Goal: Be the first one to name the song that is playing.

Why Play this Game: What is a road trip without great music, right? Now you can have fun testing your musical knowledge against your road trip partner to see who knows more song titles. Try putting on a local radio station to discover new music.

But what happens when no one knows the song? Use the Shazam app to find out the name.

• Turn on music from the radio, Sirius XM, or a Music App. 2. Listen to a song. 3. Guess the name of the song. 4. The first one to say the correct title, wins.

1. Naming song titles is too easy? Try to figure out the artist.

For example , Take It Easy by The Eagles

2. Maybe your music knowledge is so good that you can even name the genre.

For example , Take It Easy by The Eagles – Genre: Rock

Hum that Tune

Goal: Be the first person to correctly guess the tune that is being hummed.

Why Play this Game: Humming a tune may not be as easy as you thought. This car game will definitely have everyone laughing. It is time to put your musical skills to the test on your next road trip adventure.

• One person starts off the game by humming the beat of a song.
• The rest of the passengers will try to guess the name of the tune.
• The first passenger to guess correctly wins the game.
• Winners then get to hum a tune.

Song Lyric Game

Goal: Guess the name of the song by hearing a lyric of the song.

Why Play this Game: This game is an excellent way to be introduced to new music or reminisce about the good old times with some oldies. Have fun trying to stump your road trip partner with a variety of songs. See how many songs you really know.

• One passenger will start by saying a lyric from a song.
• Other passengers will have to try and guess the song from the lyrics.
• If a passenger guesses correctly, it is now their turn to pick a song lyric.

Radio Roulette

Goal: Find new songs or rediscover the music you haven’t heard in a while, as you shuffle through the radio on your road trip.

Why Play this Game: Sometimes tuning in to the same playlist or radio station can get a little boring. Why not listen to a variety of music? Radio Roulette is a great car game for road trips for adults that will keep the tunes changing and the time passing.

• Designate a certain time frame (ex: every 30 minutes).
• After the designated time, hit search on the radio.
• Whatever radio station it lands on will be your music choice for the next 30 minutes, or whatever time you set.
• See if you find any new songs, artists, or genres of music that you didn’t know you liked before.

Music Battle

Goal: Pick a song for a specific category and let the judge decide who had the best choice.

Why Play this Game: Do you think your music knowledge is unbeatable? When you have at least 3 road trip passengers of all ages, take on the challenge and find the best songs for a category. This game will have you laughing, smiling, and forgetting about how much longer until you arrive.

• Designate a music judge.
• The judge will then have to name a specific category.
• Participants have to think of a song that goes with that specific category.
• Once all songs have been entered, the judge will pick the best song for the category.

Word Associated Car Games for Road Trips for Adults

Time to encounter some new words, you have never heard before, with these fantastic word-associated adult car games.

The Alphabet Game

Goal: Find something that starts with every letter in the alphabet.

Why Play this Game: It is a non-competitive game that keeps everyone happy and working together. Since there are 26 letters in the alphabet, it will take up a lot of time when you have a long drive between destinations, especially when you get to the harder letters at the end of the alphabet.

• The first player has to find something visible that starts with the letter “A” 2. Next player has to find something visible starting with the letter “B” 3. Game continues until you reach the end of the alphabet.

The Rhyming Game

Goal: Find as many rhyming words as possible.

Why Play this Game: This is a great game for everyone from couples to families, who love to use their brains and have a good time laughing.

• One person starts by picking a word.  For example , Time
• Then everyone has to go around in order and say a word that rhymes with the chosen word. For example , dime, crime, climb, etc.
• If you get stumped or repeat a word, you are out.
•  Last one left wins.

Don’t Say That

Goal: Refrain from saying designated specific words.

Why Play this Game: Make your next road trip conversation a little more challenging with this fun car game for road trips for adults. Who will be the one who can’t stop saying those “Don’t Say That” words?

• Pick 5 commonly used words that people use when traveling.
• Identify the specific consequences for saying the “Don’t Say That” word.
• Test your memory skills to see who says the most “Don’t Say That” words during the road trip.

Spelling Bee

Goal: Correctly spell the words.

Why Play this Game: A fun way to test out each other’s spelling skills. Now, it is your time to prove you are the master speller!

Note: This car game for road trips for adults may work better with a group.

• Designate a passenger to be the host of the Spelling Bee.
• Other passengers will be the Spelling Bee participants.
• The host will look up challenging words to spell and ask one participant to spell the word.
• The one with the most words spelled correctly is the winner.

Movie-Based Car Games for Road Trips for Adults

As a real movie fan, Dana’s Hollywood knowledge isn’t bad but these games definitely reached her limit. When you love movies as much as we do, get ready for the challenge. Just be aware that there will be a lot of movies on your to-watch list when you’re done playing.

The Movie Game

Goal: See how many different actors or actresses and movies they have starred in you can name.

Why Play this Game: Ready to boost your movie knowledge? Team up with your road trip partner(s) and see how good your movie, actors, and actress’ memory is. Maybe you will find out that it is time to start watching more movies.

• One passenger starts the game by naming an actor or actress.
• Another passenger has to name a movie that the actor or actress has starred in.
• Then, either another passenger or the starting passenger will have to name another actor or actress that plays in that movie.
• The next passenger will then name a movie that the newly named actor or actress has starred in.
• The rotation continues until someone is no longer able to name an actor or actress or a movie.

Guess the Quote

Goal: Correctly guess who said the quote, what movie or show it is from, or what song it is in.

Why Play this Game: Road trips can be long and tiring. When the boredom sets in, pass the time and play Guess the Quote. This game will instantly have you forgetting about the time and how many more miles there are to go.

• One passenger starts by saying a quote from a movie, tv show, or song.
• It is the job of the other passengers to try and guess who said it, or where the quote is from.
• The passenger that guesses correctly, gets to pick the next quote.

Conversational Car Games for Road Trips for Adults

On the road for hours and have nothing left to chat about? Break the silence with these games which will keep you talking and talking. Not only will it give you something great to do, but these fun games in the car will also make sure you will get to know your road trip partners inside and out.

While You Were Sleeping

Goal: Create a story that happened while one road trip passenger was snoozing away.

Why Play this Game: This game only works when a passenger is taking a nap during the road trip. For all the passengers that are awake, it is time to have a little fun. Be creative and stay in character.

• Work together to create an unforgettable, unbelievable, unimaginable story that occurred while your road trip partner was sleeping.
• Everyone in the car will need to mesmerize the same story.
• When your road trip partner wakes up, it is time to start acting. Share the unimaginable series of events that happened while they were sleeping.
• Do your best without breaking character. See how long it will take for them to find out everything was made up.

Goal: Work together to create a personal story.

Why Play this Game: Bring out your creative side on your next family or friends’ road trip. Have you always wanted to be a writer or storyteller? How will your story end?

• The first person will start the story off by saying a word or a phrase.
• Taking turns, each road trip passenger will add on one word at a time to complete the sentence.
• Keep going until your story is complete.

Never Have I Ever

Goal: To eliminate everyone by asking “Never have I ever…” questions.

Why Play this Game: This is a perfect game to get to know more about your road trip partner(s), whether they are friends, family, or your significant other.

• Everyone starts with 5 points.
• Take turns saying something you have never done. For example: Never have I ever… been to Canada.
• If you have done it before, you minus a point. For example: If you have been to Canada, you would be minus a point.
•  Once you have lost all your points, you are out.
• The last one with points wins.

1. You can use up to 10 points.

2. If only 1 person has done whatever the question was, then it’s storytime. They have to explain how it happened.

Would You Rather?

Goal: Create the craziest questions to stump the other players.

Why Play this Game: Are you sure you really know the other passengers in the car? During this amusing game, you will definitely find out some new facts, or maybe even secrets about the other players…

• Think of fun questions for the other passengers.
• Ask the questions by saying, “Would you rather “this” or “that”?  For example: Would you rather go relax on a beach or climb a mountain?
• Everyone can answer which one they would rather do.
• Players can alternate asking questions.

The Hot Seat

Goal: Find out the hidden secrets of your road trip partner.

Why Play this Game: Want to get to know your road trip partner a little more but have not found the right time to ask the questions? Well, now you have the chance. On your next road trip consider playing the fun car game, The Hot Seat, and ask all those questions people usually do not want to answer.

• Each road trip passenger takes a chance at being in the Hot Seat.
• While in the Hot Seat, you will have to answer 5 questions that your road trip partner asks.
• After 5 questions switch roles.

21 Questions

Goal: You have 21 questions to try and guess what someone is thinking.

Why Play this Game: Test your skills and see how quickly you can guess what your road trip partner is thinking. This game can keep you occupied for a few minutes or even hours, depending on how good you are at guessing and asking questions. It is easily played by anyone because you can make it as hard or as easy as you want.

• One player thinks of something.
• Then, the rest of the players in the car start asking questions about this thought.
•  They only have 21 questions to figure it out.
• A question cannot be repeated.
• You can guess the player’s thoughts at any point. If you guess correctly, you get to start the next round. Congratulations on being the best guesser in the car.

Most Likely to Game

Goal: Identify the road trip partner you think is “most likely to” (whatever the topic is).

Why Play this Game: Didn’t win a class superlative back in High School? Now, it is your chance to see what your road trip partners think about you. Have fun laughing and joking, and expect some surprises with these road trip car games.

• Each player will take a turn and say a statement like, “most likely to be on TV.”
• All passengers will then point or name the person in the car who they think is the best fit for that statement.
• Add a twist, and then explain why you think this person best fits the statement.

Road Trip Apps: Car Games for Road Trips for Adults

Lean back and let your phone be the host. There are so many great fun car game apps out there that offer a huge variety of playing experiences and are not even expensive.

NOTE: Just keep in mind, that they require a charged phone and most of the time wifi. When you’re out in the backcountry, you have to play the more conventional car games for road trips for adults.

Drivetime (Drive.fm)

Drivetime is a one-of-a-kind app that uses interactive voice audio to entertain you safely while on the road. Once the app is opened, say play, and you will be able to control everything with your voice, so your hands can stay on the wheel. It is actually the only hands-free app with such an interactive entertainment experience. There is no need to even look at your screen again.

The app features a variety of content, mostly quizzes: from the popular Daily Trivia Show to Superfan Movie questions, and Jeopardy with Alex Trebek. You can also name the songs on Tune Time, or answer laughable questions in Would you Rather.

We used this app on our road trip last year and were overly surprised. Drivetime has a lot of different options for what to play, whereas other apps just concentrate on one topic.

The Drive.fm app is free to download in Apple’s App Store or Google Play. Want unlimited access to all of Drivetime entertainment? Purchase a subscription for $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year.

Popcorn Trivia

The Popcorn Trivia app brings the movies to you. Instead of just watching the movies, this app is more interactive and has more than 14,000,000 questions for you to answer. You can put your skills and knowledge to the test by challenging a friend, or a road trip partner, and you can even host your own movie game show.

It is time to brush up on your favorite movies.

The app is free to download in Apple’s App Store or Google Play.

Trivia Crack 2

Are you ready for a little trivia competition? Trivia Crack 2 has thousands of challenging trivia questions to see just how smart you are.

Want to be a trivia expert? Try and answer questions in all 6 categories. (Art, Science, History, Entertainment, Sports, and Geography).

The app is free to download in Apple’s App Store or Google Play. Want to play ad-free? Subscriptions start at $4.99 a month, 3 months at $11.99, and $39.99 a year.

An easy-to-use, free trivia quiz game right on your phone which makes it easy to play anywhere. Start playing on your next road trip and see where you rank on the leaderboards. The entertainment and challenges are never-ending with the variety of categories available in the app.

A cool feature of this app is that you are able to choose up to 12 different languages to play in.

This app is free to download in Apple’s App Store or Google Play.

Jeopardy! World Tour

Love watching Jeopardy on TV? It is even more fun to play it yourself on your phone, anywhere you want. Find out who will be the next Jeopardy World Tour champion on your next road trip by competing in thousands of unique categories.

Road trips are great for listening to music. When you love our music games, take it up a notch by downloading Song Pop 2 , the world’s biggest music trivia game. Compete to see who has better music knowledge with more than 100,000 music clips from popular artists.

Need to step up your music game, before you are ready to compete? Start in practice mode and improve your skills.

TOP TIP: If you like this POP game, you might also like TravelPop, a captivating photo trivia game that makes you dream of foreign places.

The app is free to download in Apple’s App Store and Google Play. Monthly VIP subscriptions to remove the ads start at $4.99.

Which car games entertained you the most? Did we forget any of your favorite games for road trips for adults?

Share your experiences with us or drop a question in the comments below!

You May Also Like:

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• Road Trip: 45 Useful Gifts for Road Trips You Didn’t Know You Needed
• National Parks: 16 Best East Coast National Parks You Need to Visit
• National Parks: 34 Best West Coast National Parks + Western U.S. Parks that Will Blow Your Mind
• National Parks: First Hand Ranking of National Parks in the U.S. from Best to Worst

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39 Fun Road Trip Games to Play

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Fill long drives with joy by playing these fun road trip games , helping you say goodbye to boredom on the journey, no matter who you’re traveling with.

I’ve been on plenty of road trips across Europe and the U.S. in my time, and these games have helped me, friends, and fellow travelers pass the time with lots of laughs and intrigue.

Road Trip Games (Fun Games to Play in the Car)

1. Truth or Dare

This is a classic game, but it can be adapted to a road trip as well. Take turns picking whether you want to reveal a truth or take a dare.

In this case, you will need to pick a dare that can be done safely in the car or by stopping the car when you get the chance. Time to be creative!

Read more: 100+ Best Truth or Dare Questions

2. Never Have I Ever

Each player holds up five fingers, and in turn, they name something they have never done, for instance, “Never have I ever been to Italy.”

For each thing they have done, players need to fold a finger. The person who folds all five fingers first loses. This is a fun game, and if you pick the right questions, you may even learn some interesting or funny things about your friends.

Read more: 200+ ‘Never Have I Ever’ Questions

3. The Compliment Game

In this game, you go through the alphabet, and for every letter, you say a compliment about someone else in the car. For instance, “A is for how awesome Monica is,” “B is for Jack’s beautiful hair,” and so on, taking turns.

4. Most Likely to

Take turns and come up with “most likely to” scenarios about your friends. Everyone in the car must point to the person they believe reflects the title.

You could say things like “Most likely to become a celebrity” or “Most likely to win a Nobel prize.” If you’re out of ideas, you can find many examples online, or just try to be creative and invent fun scenarios.

Read more: 300+ “Who is Most Likely to” Questions

5. The Forbidden Word

Pick a forbidden word at the beginning of your trip. Try to aim for a word that you would normally use a lot. Keep count of how many times each person says the forbidden word.

At the end of the trip, whoever has said the word the most will have to take a pre-agreed forfeit, such as paying for a round of drinks.

6. Truth or Lie?

This is a storytelling game in which one person in the car tells a true or invented story from their past, ideally something elaborate and hard to believe.

The other people in the car take turns and get to ask one question about the story before deciding if it’s true or not. Reveal the right answer after everyone took their guess. Take turns telling stories and see who has the greatest number of correct guesses.

7. Smurfing

Pick one person in the car who will be the subject of the game. While the subject covers their ears, the other persons need to pick a verb. Then, the subject must ask questions replacing the verb with the word “smurf.”

For instance, “Do you smurf in the morning or evening” or “When did you last smurf?” They need to guess the right verb as quickly as possible. You may even decide how many questions they get to ask or set a time limit, like 2 minutes, to guess the right verb.

For Families and Kids

8. what color is it.

In this game, start naming a list of items of the same color until your kid, or one of your kids, guesses the right color. For instance, you could start by saying “Sky, sea, smurfs…” and keep going until someone guesses blue.

A classic road trip game for families and kids, “I spy” consists in choosing an object, preferably something in the car, and having other players guess by asking yes or no questions.

You can use colors or the first letter of the object. For instance, you could say “I spy with my little eye… something blue/something that starts with the letter B.” The first person to guess the object gains a point.

10. Spelling Bee

A fun and educational game, the spelling bee is easy to play in a car. You can pick random words or make it more fun by choosing a theme, possibly something kids would enjoy.

For instance, you could do a Harry Potter spelling bee with words from the book/movie. Make sure to have someone keep track of the points on a piece of paper or a note app.

11. Scavenger Hunt

This game may require a bit of preparation but it’s a great way to keep kids entertained on a long road trip.

Before the trip, prepare a list of things you would usually see on the road, like road signs, cars, animals, and so on. The person who checks the most items off the list before the end of the trip wins.

12. Car Color Search

This game also needs some preparation, but it can be very entertaining for small kids. You can draw several cars of different colors or find a ready-made sheet online and print it.

Every time they spot a car of a certain color, they cross it off the list. Whoever crosses the most cars off the list wins the game.

13. Going on a Picnic

This challenging memory game is great for adults, but you can also play it with older kids. The first person starts by saying “I’m going on a picnic, and I’ll bring…” and picks an item.

The next person repeats the sentence and adds another item, then the third adds a third item, and so on. The list will get longer and longer. The first person who can’t remember the correct list is out of the game and it resets until there is one winner.

14. Storytime

If you’re feeling creative, why not invent a fairy tale with the kids? Start with the classic fairy tale beginning “Once upon a time…” and come up with the start of a magical journey in a singular sentence.

Each player will add a sentence to the story until you either reach the end or until a set time limit elapses. You can also record the story so you can listen to it later.

15. The Quiet Game

If you’re traveling with kids and want some downtime, you can always try the quiet game. See how long your kids can go without saying a word. The first one to break the silence loses.

For Couples or Two People

16. 20 questions.

In this guessing game, one person will have to think about an object, animal, or person, and the other must ask yes or no questions to figure out what the other person is thinking.

They have a limit of 20 questions to guess the item or person. Ideally, you would start with more generic questions, like “Is it an animal” or “Is it an object?” and get more specific with questions about the size, color, and other features.

If the person guesses in less than 20 questions, they take the place of the answerer. Otherwise, the same person gets to think of a new thing.

17. The Human Jukebox

This can be a really fun song if you know song lyrics. One person starts singing a song, and the next has to connect it to another song using the last word of the lyrics, then another has to connect a new song, and so on.

For instance, “Take me down to the paradise city where the girls…. Just wanna have fun, oh girls… Who run the world? Girls. Who run…. Boy run. This world is not made for you…” And see how long you can keep going before someone is stumped.

18. 6 Degrees of Separation

A person has to name two people, objects, movies, or any other thing. You can mix them, for instance, a celebrity and a movie, that are apparently not connected. Another player has to connect the two in six statements, or less.

You could, for example, pick Uma Turman and the movie Mamma Mia. And then say “Uma Turman starred in “Kill Bill” with Lucy Liu. Lucy Liu starred in Charlie’s Angels with Cameron Diaz. Cameron Diaz had a relationship with Justin Timberlake. Justin Timberlake starred in “In Time” alongside Amanda Seyfried. Amanda Seyfried starred in Mamma Mia!”

19. Two Truths and a Lie 

This is a great game to learn more about your travel companion. Take turns and tell two truths and one line. The other person has to guess which is the lie.

You can just keep playing to discover curious facts about yourselves or make it a points game. Whoever gets to 10 correct answers first wins. Remember to choose a reward for the winner.

Read more: 2 Truths and a Lie: 200+ Lie Ideas

20. Holiday Memory Game

In this memory game, you pretend you are packing your suitcase for the holidays and need to take turns listing all the items you will pack. The first person will start by saying “I am going on a holiday and I’m taking…” and adds an item.

The next player has to repeat the sentence and add a new item then the next player will do the same. Keep adding items to the bag, repeating the entire list every time. The first person who messes up the order or forgets an item loses the game or is out. Ready to test your memory?

21. Kiss Mary Avoid

Pick three people, either someone you know or celebrities, both from past and present. You may even pick a fictional character.

The other person will need to choose which person they would kiss, marry, and avoid. Depending on your choice of people, this game can be really fun. Take turns and get creative!

22. Would You Rather

Time to get creative for this game where a person has to ask the other(s) what they would choose between two options.

The idea is to come up with impossible or weird choices, like “Would you rather never see again or never taste food?” If you’re out of ideas, this “would you rather” questions list can help you out. Tine to make some difficult choices.

Generally Fun Road Trip Games

23. categories.

While this is not necessarily a road trip game, it’s a really fun one to pass the time. Pick a category, anything from ice cream flavors to R&B songs. Every player takes turns naming an item in that category. See who runs out of ideas first.

24. The Humming Song Game

The game is pretty easy yet fun to play. One player must hum a famous song while the others need to guess the song. The person who guesses correctly gets to hum a new song. It may sound really easy, but it can get quite tricky.

25. Music Battle

To play this game you must be at least three passengers. One person is the judge while the others need to play songs on their phones.

Select different categories, and for each one, every player picks a song and plays it. The judge has to decide the winning song for every category.

26. Alphabet

This game consists in spotting items that start with each letter of the alphabet, in order. You can use objects in the car or on the road, like road signs, billboards, animals, or anything else you may spot.

Call out each letter and the item/word as you see it. The first person the get to Z wins. In a different version, you may pick a category, like animals, and take turns naming items in that category in alphabetic order.

One player starts by saying a word, then each passenger takes turns saying words that rhyme. Set a 15-second time limit per turn. If the person can’t come up with a word within the time limit, they are out.

The remaining person wins a point. See who gains the most point before you get to the destination or who gets to 10 points first.

28. Storyteller

The game is pretty simple but depending on how creative you get it can be very fun. One person starts a story with the first sentence. Then, everyone takes turns adding to the story.

Come up with interesting and fun plot twists to make the story more entertaining. Record it to have a memory of your road trip story.

29. Fortunately/Unfortunately

This game consists of telling a story where each sentence starts with the word “fortunately” or “unfortunately,” alternating between them.

For example: “Anna had to go to work. Unfortunately, her car broke down. Fortunately, she could take the train. Unfortunately, all trains were delayed.” Keep the story going, alternating between the two.

30. While You Were Sleeping

This is a funny game that you can play if any of the passengers falls asleep during the trip. With the other passengers, come up with an interesting and unbelievable story of something that happened while the other person was asleep.

When they wake up, tell them the story, starting with “While you were sleeping…”. Each passenger adds a little to the story to make it credible that you all witnessed it. Try not to break character and see if the other person believes your story.

31. Car Rule

To play this game, each person in the car gets to make up a random rule, and everyone has to follow it. Try to think of weird and fun rules, like “Whenever I change the radio station, everyone has to clap their hands”.

Assign points to everyone who enforces the rules except for the last person to do so. The person with the most points at the destination wins.

32. The License Plate Game

This classic road trip game can be played in different ways. You can try to spot a license plate from every US state or from different countries if you’re traveling in Europe.

Or you can try to spot a license plate starting with each letter of the alphabet, and the first one to get to Z wins. If you are playing with kids, you can even print a coloring map of the U.S. and have them color each state they spot on a license plate.

Trivia Road Trip Games

33. name that tune.

A great game for music lovers is “Name that tune”. You can simply turn on the radio or put on a Spotify playlist, making sure the song name is not visible on the display.

As soon as the song starts, the first person to shout the right song title wins a point. This is a great game to have fun, listen to music, and refresh your memory of song names.

34. Name the Artist

A different take on “Name that tune,” this game requires players to guess the artist. You can even prepare a playlist in advance and set different rules.

You can assign points based on who answers first, or you can take turns, play a song for 5 to 10 seconds, and let the player guess or pass. Whoever makes more points or reaches a set number of points first wins.

35. The Movie Game

If you know your movies and actors, you can play this potentially endless game during your road trip. To start, a person mentions an actor while another person must name a movie the actor has been in.

Another player must name a different actor in that movie, and the next player must then name another movie with that actor, and so on. See how long you can go!

36. Guess the Quote

One person in the car has to say a quote from a movie, TV show, or song, while the other passengers must guess where the quote is from.

The player who makes the right guess takes the next turn in saying a quote. Try to make it hard, and for extra fun, use the accent of the actor who said the quote.

37. “Sorry I am Late” Movie Guessing

This can be a really fun game for movie buffs. It essentially consists of saying a sentence that starts with “Sorry I am late” and continues with the main plot of a movie, told in a fun way.

For instance, “Sorry I am late, but I got a letter saying I am a wizard and I had to go to wizarding school only to find out this evil wizard has been trying to kill me since I was a newborn,” which would be Harry Potter. The person who guesses 10 movies first wins.

38. Bad Movie Plot

Another fun movie fame consists in picking a movie and explaining the plot in a really bad way, although factually correct. The other person has to guess the movie.

If they do, they win a point. Take turns and see who makes the most points or gets first to 10 correct guesses.

39. Celebrity

In this game, one person will play the character of a celebrity of their choice while the others take turns asking random questions.

The celebrity player answers the questions as if they were the famous person. The first person to guess the celebrity wins.

Long journeys in the car can often be difficult, for both you and the other passengers you are traveling with. Finding activities to pass the time can go a long way making the journey far more comfortable and enjoyable.

The beauty of these road trip games is that they require little, if any, equipment and preparation to play, yet can provide hours of fun.

Don’t let tiredness and boredom take control on a long car ride. Use these fun car games to create a fun and relaxing atmosphere, keeping your minds off the journey and giving you all an opportunity to interact and bond.

From word games to games involving famous people, there’s so much you can do in the car with minimal resources to entertain young kids, teenagers, and the whole family!

You Might Also Like to Read

• 40 Fun Things to Do on a Long Car Ride

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23 Fun Road Trip Games for Adults

Make time fly by faster than that maniac in the left lane with these road trip games for adults.

Samantha Leal is a food, travel, and lifestyle writer with over a decade of experience in print and digital media. Highlights: * Editorial intern at Glamour and Elegant Bride * Managing editor at Abroad View Magazine * Assistant editor at The Nest * Deputy editor at Latina.com * Senior web editor at Marie Claire * Freelance writer at Real Simple, InStyle.com , Glamour.com , and TeenVogue.com , among others * Currently the deputy editor of Well+Good.

Road trips are fun—at least, in theory. But after a couple of hours of music, podcasts , and "I'm just going to take a quick nap while you drive," things can quickly turn boring. Sometimes you can adapt party games for the car, but they don't always translate to sitting in a moving metal box. That's where these road trip games come in.

"I Spy" may have kept your attention when you were young—impressive, given that you had the attention span of a goldfish—but this list of car-ride games up the ante a bit. Pick a few of these best road trip games for adults for your next long ride.

Spin a Story From the Past

Think of this as "Who can lie better?" One player begins by telling a story about their past, and players have to guess whether they're telling the truth or spinning a tale.

Each guesser gets two follow-up questions, and then it's time for an answer. Every correct answer is two points, and the first player to 10 wins. (The loser has to reveal a super-embarrassing story.)

While the traditional license plate game involves finding a plate from each of the 50 states (yawn), this competition involves finding a license plate with random letters and creating a word with those letters. For example, if the license plate is YMT23, the answer could be "Yosemite".

Think of it as Road Trip Scrabble but, instead of taking turns, just yell when you see one and come up with a word. Other players can challenge by creating a longer word with those same letters.

To up the stakes, stipulate that the letters have to be in the exact order to make the word, and can't be scrambled. Award two points for each winning answer, and two extra points for anyone who spots a vanity plate. The winner is the first to reach 10 points.

Explain a Movie Plot Badly

This party game also works when you're trapped in a car. One player thinks of a movie and explains its plot in a way that is factual and terrible, and the other players have to guess.

The first player to guess correctly gets a point. If no one guesses correctly, the plot explainer gets a point. Our favorite: "Girl can't commit. Loses cat." (Yep, Breakfast at Tiffany's !)

Essentially the Same Movie

In another film-related game, a player starts by naming a movie. The next player has to name another movie that has the same basic plot. For example, Pretty in Pink and Some Kind of Wonderful, or No Strings Attached and Friends with Benefits .

Players continue to take turns naming flicks with essentially the same narrative until someone gets stumped. The last person to come up with a film that fits wins.

Radio Roulette

This is essentially a game of Name That Tune. Flip among radio stations until you hear a song (presets work best) and let it play for 15 seconds. Players are challenged to name that song and its artist, earning one point for each, with an extra point for naming its album. The first one to reach 15 points wins.

You know Mad Libs, that hilarious word game that solicits nouns, adjectives, and verbs from players to create an imaginative narrative. If you plan ahead, you can access a free printable Funny Mad Libs For Adults  to take with you on the road. (Don't forget to bring a pen!)

If you're not a fan of pre-technology, whip out a smartphone and play WordLibs online for free, with no app or downloads required. You can even create your own stories!

Fortunately, Unfortunately

To start this storytelling game, one player makes a declarative statement that begins with "Fortunately..." For example, "Fortunately, on this highway we will soon pass a cool roadside attraction." The next player must follow up with an "unfortunately" statement such as "Unfortunately, the attraction is a giant booger."

The subsequent player must give a "fortunately" statement, and so on as you go around from player to player. Switch from "fortunately" to "unfortunately" statements until everyone runs out of steam!

Snack the Rainbow

Along your road trip route, plan to stop at seven gas stations. At each station, find a snack that's a specific color of the rainbow. (Remember it's ROYGBIV!) You can only get one snack item per gas station.

Famous Names

Someone starts by saying the first and last names of a famous person. The next player must name another famous person whose first name starts with the first letter of the previous celebrity's last name.

For example, Justin Bieber leads to Billy Crystal. Billy Crystal leads to Catherine O'Hara. Catherine O'Hara leads to Owen Wilson, and so on. If a player is stumped, they're out, and the group moves on to the next player.

Road Sign Alphabet Game

Each player must find a word on a road sign that starts with the letter A, and then a word that starts with B, and so on through the alphabet. Once a player has claimed a word, the other players can't use that word. Whoever gets to the end of the alphabet first, wins.

Road Trip Trivia

For each city you pass through on your trip, designate one person to be the "expert" about that city's population, industry, dining establishments, and anything it might be known for. The expert can use their smartphone, but guessers cannot.

As you pass through each city, the expert asks trivia questions that other players guess the answers to. Examples are, "How many people live in Scranton?" and "Which fast food restaurant does Cedar Key have five of?"

Road Trip Bingo

Bingo is always a crowd-pleaser. Before you leave, you can create your own paper bingo cards or print road trip Bingo cards for free to distribute to each player.

If you make your own, consider a theme of fast food restaurants (McDonald's, Chick-Fil-A, KFC), gas stations (BP, Shell, Texaco), or types of cars (Honda Civic, Subaru Outback, Toyota Tacoma). Whichever you choose, make sure there are enough markers or stickers for everyone to mark their cards.

Guess the Time

Look up which cities you'll be passing through on the way to your final destination, and have everyone in the car guess the exact time you'll arrive at each one. (The use of map apps are prohibited.) For example, what time does your car pass the sign that says "Entering Sacramento"? The player whose guess is the closest wins that round.

Someone chooses a category, such as movies, sweet treats, or flowers. The first player must name something in that category that starts with the letter A. The second player has the letter B, and so on.

For example, if the category is flowers, the first player might say "amaryllis." The second person might say "begonia." The third person might say "carnation," and so on. Be sure to choose the categories based on the players' knowledge base. (If no one in the car is interested in gardening, flowers might not be the best category!)

The Price is Right

Based on the TV game show, each player guesses the price for regular unleaded gas at the next gas station you see. Whoever gets the price to the nearest tenth gets a point. When it's time to stop for gas, the player with the least number of points buys snacks for everyone.

Guess the Song

One player sings or says lyrics to a song and the other players must name the title of that song. Stating the lyrics in a monotone makes the game harder.

For example, someone says, "And he's long gone when he's next to me. And I realize the blame is on me." The winner is whoever correctly names the song's title, Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble."

Players must name the exact title. So, if a player says, "I Knew You Were Trouble When You Walked In," that answer is wrong, and someone else gets a chance to name the exact title.

Guess the Quote

One player looks up a famous quote on their smartphone and reads it to the other the players, who must name the person (or fictional character) who uttered it. The quote could be from a famous speech, like "Give me liberty or give me death!" (Patrick Henry) or a movie, like "There's no place like home," (Judy Garland as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz ).

While You Were Sleeping

This is a group game to play when one or two passengers are taking a nap. While they're sleeping, the rest of the passengers work together to create a story about something the sleepers missed.

For example, you all spotted a famous person who was stopped by the side of the road with a flat tire. The celebrity lets you hold their dog, eat some of their delicious snacks, and so on. Storytellers collectively agree on the specific, weird details for optimal believability. Too bad you didn't take any photos!

Who's Most Likely To...?

Someone starts by asking the question, "Who in this car is most likely to...?" The other players have 3 seconds to name the person that fits the statement best.

Players take turns asking a new question. Here are some possibilities:

• Who is most likely to answer the phone at 3 am?
• Who is most likely to throw their friend a surprise party?
• Who is most likely to give you a nickname?

If you have trouble thinking up questions, visit teambuilding.com for a list of dozens of them that'll keep you asking and answering for miles.

Triple Threat

Someone starts in the role of the judge by saying three random words, and each player has to tell a story using those three words. The player who thought up the best story, according to the judge, wins. The winner becomes the judge for the next round, offering the next trio of random words, and the game continues.

20 Questions

This classic guessing game easily adapts to a road trip. It starts with a player thinking of a person, place, or thing. The other players take turns asking yes-or-no questions to determine what they're thinking about.

Whoever guesses correctly gets a point but, if no one guesses after 20 questions, the originator gets a point. Make sure someone is keeping track of the number of questions!

Spot the Car

This game keeps everyone's eyes on the road. One player names a particular type of vehicle—like a double tractor-trailer, RV, or a Ram pickup—and players compete to be the first to see one and score a point. For a variation, consider non-vehicle items like signs or landscape items.

Scavenger Hunt

This activity works as well in a car as it does out of one, and demands much less legwork. If you're a planner, create your own list ahead of time based on what you expect to see along your drive. If not, print out a generic list for free . Either way, make a copy for each player, and whoever has seen (checked off) the most list items wins!

Related Articles

8 Road Trip Games to Keep Everyone Entertained, No Matter Their Age

Whether you’ve got a car full of kids, adults, friends, or family, these road trip games will make sure everyone has a good time—no equipment required..

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Lots of road trip games are free and you don’t need to pack anything other than your brain and a sense of humor.

Courtesy of Getty/Unsplash

Road trips are as much about the journey as the destination. But even though a car gives you flexibility and allows for more spontaneity than a plane, train, or bus, boredom is bound to set in. That’s where games come in.

Whether you are hitting the road with a party of 2 or 10—or with kids or adults—here are appealing games that can help pass the time and keep the “are we there yet?” chorus at bay.

20 Questions

In this classic parlor game that transitions easily into the car, one player thinks of a random person, place, or thing and the other participants take turns asking up to 20 yes-or-no questions to figure out the answer through a process of elimination. Whoever gets the answer first starts the new round.

The License Plate Game

The goal of this quintessential road trip game is to spot at least one license plate from each of the 50 states. Participants can write down the states as they see them or check them off of a list. Have kids in tow? Print out a blank map of the United States for each tot and have them color in the states whenever they see a corresponding license plate.

Build a Story

You might not write the next great American novel on your road trip, but you can create a hilarious tale collaboratively. The first player invents an opening line and then everyone takes turns adding a sentence to the story. Keep it going for as long as you need to, whether it’s the next rest stop or your final destination.

In this game, players take turns choosing letters to create a valid word (so no picking “Z” after someone says “X”). But the catch is that you don’t want to be the person to complete the word. Any player who does complete a word is penalized by receiving a letter from the word GHOST: “G” for the first penalty, “H” for the second, and so forth. Players who receive five penalties—and therefore spell out the word “GHOST”—are eliminated until one winner remains.

Scavenger Hunt

A game that involves spotting specific objects during the trip might not be ideal for the driver, but the rest of the travel party can have a blast. Simply create a list of objects to look for beforehand and distribute it to each traveler. Make the game easy or challenging by choosing items that are really common or very rare. To add some randomness to the game, create a unique list for each participant. As with any scavenger hunt, whoever finds the most items wins.

Alphabet Game

A good choice for families traveling with children, the alphabet game is another road trip classic that involves looking for words on signs and billboards that start with each letter of the alphabet, beginning with the letter “A” until reaching “Z.” Players can simply yell out the word when they see it, and the whole group moves on to the next letter. Whoever spots the most words wins.

Interactive Podcasts

You may not be able to convince a game show host to join your road trip adventure, but your entire travel party can put their smarts to the test by pressing play on a trivia or brain teaser podcast like Good Job, Brain! or Road Trip Riddles .

Name the Passenger

As you make your way along the open road, keep an eye on passengers in the other vehicles around you. (Unless you are driving, of course.) Pick some passengers at random and have a discussion about what name you would assign to them and why. Some laughs are guaranteed.

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10 Best Road Trip Games for Adults (+ Activities for Passengers)

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Are you looking for some fun games to play in the car during a road trip? You’ve come to the right place!

Of all the types of travel available, road tripping is one of my favourites and after doing road trips in loads of countries, including a 35,000-kilometre one in Australia, I now have a lot of games that I can play in the car.

In this article, you will find my full list of road trip games. This includes some that you can buy online but also others that are free and don’t require any equipment.

🔎 Table of Contents

Best Games to Play in the Car

Let’s get started with some fun road trip games that everyone in the car can play safely.

1. Shotgun! Road Trip Game

This is the ultimate road trip game. It was specifically designed for road trips.

You’ll find in the box many cards to use during your road trip. The driver will be able to play as you only need one person to read the cards.

Each card has a question or a challenge that is doable in the car (for instance: “first person to say the word “car” loses a point”).

Each player will be able to score points but be careful with these challenges as you may lose some points there.

Not only is this game affordable, good for all ages but it also gathers a bit of all the other games mentioned in this article.

Click here to see the game.

2. So…Cards

It can be difficult to find topic of conversation sometimes. So…Cards will solve the problem very quickly! This travel game is ideal for long road trips.

Basically, you’ll get loads of cards with conversation starters. They can be about anything. It’s a great way to talk about things we don’t usually think of in our daily life and get some very interesting discussion going.

The pack of card is travel sized so you can take it anywhere with you.

If you are in the car, one of the passengers can read the cards and you can all start discussing it from there. Obviously, the driver won’t read any cards but will be able to participate as there is nothing but talking involved.

3. Mini-Mysteries

If you love game nights and murder mysteries, you will be happy to know that you can also do that on a road trip! You can easily buy a book with plenty of 5-min mysteries and try to solve them during your trip.

One of the passenger can read the mysteries and you can all work as a team to solve them. The clues and puzzles vary and can include a bit of maths, logic and confusing facts.

The great thing about this is that it’s very entertaining and will get everyone in the car involved. The driver can play as well as he won’t need to look at anything. He just needs to listen to the stories and try to figure it out.

Each mystery take 5 to 10 minutes to solve which means you can do a few in a row or just stop after one if you had enough.

You can get one of the books before the trip or, if you are already in the car, get the ebook version and have it on your phone.

Click here to see all the mini-mysteries books.

4. Road trip Trivia

Nothing better than a good trivia quiz on a road trip! Not only is that entertaining but it will also be a good opportunity to learn new things!

You can find many quizzes online or print them in advance. For more fun, think about getting a quiz about the destination you’re heading to.

To make it even easier for you, we created the ultimate travel trivia quiz!

If you are interesting in more road trip trivias, make sure to check all of our quizzes !

5. 21 Questions 

21 Questions is a classic conversation starter game. You only need two people to play but can also play with more.

It’s very simple. Basically, you ask a total of 21 questions to the others. You can do one question each and the others answer. Altogether, each player will ask 21 questions.

It’s a great way to start some interesting conversations and get to know the people you’re travelling with.

Here are some examples of questions that you can ask:

• “What is your best childhood memory?”
• “What is your best travel memory?”
• “Who is your celebrity crush?”

6. Don’t say it

This is a simple but very fun game! Basically, you need to pick 5 common words (not each, 5 in total) and the passengers in the car are not allowed to say them during the road trip.

To make it more fun, try to think of words that you would usually use a lot during a car journey such as “arrive,” “car,” “look,” and “see,” for example.

If someone says one of those words, then they have to be ‘punished’ in some way. This can be by doing a dare after the trip or put a coin in a jar.

The coin idea is quite good because you can use the money to buy a round of drinks or something similar when you arrive.

7. Never have I ever

This is a classic and while it has been categorised as a drinking game, it really doesn’t have to be.

It starts with one person saying a statement “never have I ever” and then following it up with something they have never done.

If you (or someone else in the car) have done it, then you would have to do something in exchange. Usually it’s a drink but since we are on a road trip, I recommend using the money pot system and use the money for a common activity then.

8. Would you rather 

This is when you think of two strange things such as “would you rather have hands for feet or feet for hands” or strange activities.

You can make this as gruesome or as wholesome as you want it to be, just know your audience when it comes to some of the things you say. 

9. The movie game 

This is a great game for movie lovers. It starts with someone naming an actor or actress, the next person then has to name a film they starred in.

The next person will name another actor or actress in that film, and so it continues. You carry on until you can no longer think of anything.

So for example, Leonardo Dicaprio, Titanic, Kate Winslet, The Holiday, Cameron Diaz, and so on. 

10. Post it Game (without the post it)

Do you know the post it game where you write the name of someone famous on a post it and stick it on the forehead of someone and they have to guess who they are?

Well this is basically a car version of this. One passenger think of a famous person or character and the others have to guess who it is.

To get more information, they can ask any yes or no question such as ‘Are you a man?’ or ‘Are you a singer?’…

The games goes on until someone guessed and then another passenger can be the one answering questions.

Hopefully, that has given you some inspiration for some of the games and activities you can enjoy on your next road trip. 

Founder of Beeloved City, I am originally from France and have been living in the UK since 2016. I've travelled to 25 countries as a backpacker, travel coordinator and for holidays. I spent a year in Australia before eventually settling down in Manchester, England

*This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you buy after clicking on our links. The views expressed in this blog are strictly my own opinions and are not to be considered professional advice.

300+ Fun Road Trip Games to Play in the Car for Adults and Kids

Intro – Road Trip Games to Play

Are we there yet?! The dreaded question that inevitably comes up during any long car ride. But fear not, fellow road trip warriors, for I bring you a solution to keep boredom at bay and make the journey just as exciting as the final destination! Introducing our ultimate list of 300+ road trip games for adults and kids to play in the car. Gone are the days of mindlessly staring out the window or endlessly scrolling through social media. With these games, you’ll be laughing, bonding, and maybe even learning a thing or two along the way.

From classic favorites like “I Spy” and car scavenger hunts, to interactive challenges like “21 Questions” and “Name That Tune,” there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

So buckle up, pack your sense of humor, and get ready to make memories that’ll last long after the car ride is over. Let the fun road trip games begin!

It may seem obvious, but it’s been well analyzed that distracted drivers can result in serious accidents. So it’s important that you only play these games if they are not distracting the driver. For more information about distractions take a look at this useful NHTSA summary .

Jump to Games Lists

Feel free to read through some of the basics to start, or Jump straight to:

Kids Car Games List – 119 Games and Idea Teens & Adults Car Games List – 199 Games and Innovative Combinations

What are some classic road trip games that can keep everyone entertained?

Road trips are incomplete without classic road trip games that make the journey more fun. Road Trip Bingo involves spotting specific items or shapes along the road and marking them off a bingo card. It’s a fantastic way to pass the time and keep everyone engaged. Another great game is 20 Questions, where one player thinks of an object, and others have 20 questions to guess what it is.

As you hit the road, the License Plate Game is a must-try. Players aim to spot license plates from different states and mark them off a list. It’s exciting to see who finds the most plates during the trip!

Road Trip Bingo

Road Trip Bingo is a staple game during car rides, especially for families with kids. It keeps everyone on the lookout for specific items or landmarks, adding a competitive yet enjoyable element to the journey. This game is not only entertaining but also enhances observation skills as players scan their surroundings for bingo items.

Players can create their bingo boards with various road trip-related images to make the game more personalized and engaging. Whether it’s a red car, a rest area sign, or a cow in a field, the diversity of items keeps players entertained throughout the trip.

20 Questions

20 Questions is a mentally stimulating game that challenges players to think creatively and strategically. It encourages participants to ask well-thought-out questions to narrow down the possibilities and make an accurate guess. What makes this game exciting is the diversity of objects that can be chosen, ranging from everyday items to abstract concepts.

This game sparks lively discussions and fosters critical thinking skills, making it an ideal choice for long road trips where mental engagement is crucial. With each round revealing new insights about the players’ deductive abilities, 20 Questions promises endless entertainment for all ages.

License Plate Game

The License Plate Game is a classic road trip favorite that adds an element of competition to the journey. Players can create their unique rules, such as assigning points based on the rarity of each state’s license plate. This game not only entertains but also educates players about different states and their unique designs.

As players eagerly scan passing vehicles for elusive plates, the excitement builds, creating a lively atmosphere in the car. The License Plate Game turns mundane drives into exhilarating adventures, making it a must-play for road trips with friends and family.

Jump to the Games Lists

Kids Car Games List Teens & Adults Car Games List

How to play popular car games that are perfect for long rides?

Long car rides call for engaging car games that make the journey more enjoyable for everyone. The Alphabet Game is a simple yet entertaining choice where players find words starting with each letter of the alphabet in order. This game tests memory and quick thinking skills, keeping players alert throughout the ride.

For a nostalgic twist, the Memory Game challenges players to recall and repeat a growing list of items in the correct order. This game is not only fun but also exercises memory and concentration, making it ideal for long stretches on the road.

Alphabet Game

The Alphabet Game is a versatile choice for car rides, allowing players to explore their surroundings and think creatively. From road signs to passing vehicles, players can spot words beginning with each letter of the alphabet, adding variety to the gameplay. This game is not only entertaining but also educational, as players discover new words and objects along the way.

Players can set themed variations of the Alphabet Game, such as finding names of animals or cities, to tailor the gameplay to their interests. With each player contributing unique findings, the Alphabet Game creates a dynamic and interactive experience for all passengers, proving it’s among the best road trip games.

Memory Game

The Memory Game is a classic choice for car rides, engaging players of all ages in a challenging yet entertaining activity. As players take turns adding items to the list, the pressure to remember and repeat them correctly grows, creating an exciting gameplay dynamic. This game encourages focus and concentration, making it an excellent choice for lengthy car journeys where mental engagement is key.

Players can customize the difficulty level of the Memory Game by increasing the number of items to remember or setting time limits for recalling the list. Whether played competitively or cooperatively, the Memory Game promises hours of entertainment and mental stimulation for everyone in the car.

Scavenger Hunt

A Scavenger Hunt is a fantastic way to make long car rides more interactive and entertaining for everyone on board. Players can create a list of items to find along the road, such as specific road signs or unique vehicles, and compete to be the first to spot them. This game promotes teamwork and friendly competition, adding excitement to the journey.

Players can set time limits or point systems to enhance the challenge of the Scavenger Hunt, motivating participants to stay alert and observant throughout the trip. With surprises waiting to be discovered around every corner, the Scavenger Hunt transforms mundane car rides into thrilling adventures for passengers of all ages.

What are some fun and interactive games for the whole family during a road trip?

Road trips are the perfect opportunity for families to bond and have fun together. Would You Rather is a game that sparks hilarious discussions by presenting players with challenging dilemmas to choose between. It’s a great way to get to know each other better and share laughs along the way.

Next Person is a game where players take turns continuing a story one sentence at a time. This creative game encourages imagination and storytelling skills while keeping passengers engaged and entertained throughout the journey.

Would You Rather

Would You Rather is a lighthearted game that prompts players to make challenging decisions between two equally amusing or absurd options. It sparks lively debates and reveals unexpected preferences among players, leading to hilarious and memorable moments on the road. This game encourages creativity and humor, making it a favorite choice for family road trips.

Players can take turns presenting imaginative scenarios to keep the game engaging and unpredictable. From quirky dilemmas to thought-provoking choices, Would You Rather is a versatile game that guarantees laughter and entertainment for the whole family during long car rides.

Next Person

Next Person is a collaborative storytelling game that challenges players to build a cohesive narrative one sentence at a time. This game fosters creativity and cooperation among participants, encouraging them to listen and contribute to the evolving story. With each player adding a unique twist, the story unfolds in unexpected and humorous ways, keeping everyone entertained.

Players can introduce plot twists, quirky characters, and imaginative settings to make the story more engaging and entertaining. The collaborative nature of Next Person promotes teamwork and communication skills, making it an excellent choice for families looking to share creative adventures during road trips.

Next Road is a game that adds an element of surprise and anticipation to long car rides. Players take turns predicting the sights or events they will encounter after the next turn or along the upcoming road. This game encourages players to observe their surroundings and make creative guesses, sparking engaging conversations and enhancing the journey experience.

From imagining quirky roadside attractions to predicting the weather conditions ahead, Next Road keeps passengers entertained and involved in the journey. The game facilitates discussions about travel plans and destinations, making it a fun and interactive way to pass the time during family road trips.

How can you keep kids engaged and entertained during a road trip?

Keeping kids entertained during a road trip is essential for a smooth and enjoyable journey. Spy with My Little Eye is a game where one player secretly chooses an object within sight, and others have to guess what it is by asking yes-or-no questions. This game not only entertains but also sharpens children’s observational and deductive skills.

Take Turns Asking is a game where kids get to ask each other questions about anything, from favorite foods to dream vacation spots. This game fosters communication and bonding among siblings or friends in the car, creating a cheerful and engaging atmosphere.

Spy with My Little Eye

Spy with My Little Eye is a captivating game that challenges kids’ observation skills and deductive reasoning. By selecting items within the car or along the road, the designated spy prompts other players to think creatively and ask strategic questions to uncover the hidden object. This game not only entertains but also promotes cognitive development and critical thinking in young players.

Players can take turns being the spy, adding variety and excitement to the game as new objects are chosen for guessing. Spy with My Little Eye encourages active participation and engagement from all players, making it a must-have for keeping kids entertained and mentally stimulated during long road trips.

Take Turns Asking

Take Turns Asking is a simple yet effective game that encourages kids to express themselves and learn more about their fellow passengers. By taking turns asking questions and sharing answers, children bond and develop social skills while enjoying lighthearted conversations. This game fosters a sense of camaraderie and creates lasting memories for kids on the road.

Players can tailor the questions to suit the interests and preferences of everyone in the car, ensuring that the game remains engaging and enjoyable for all participants. Whether discussing favorite activities or imaginary adventures, Take Turns Asking sparks creativity and laughter, making it a wonderful addition to any family road trip.

Classic Road Trip Game

The Classic Road Trip Game is a timeless favorite that brings joy and excitement to kids of all ages. With simple rules and easy gameplay, this game involves spotting common objects or landmarks along the road and calling them out to earn points. The thrill of being the first to identify a designated item makes this game a hit among youngsters, turning the car ride into a spirited competition.

Players can customize the list of items to find based on the surroundings or create themed variations to add variety to the gameplay. The Classic Road Trip Game sparks enthusiasm and energy in the car, keeping kids engaged and entertained for hours on end. It’s a go-to choice for family road trips seeking simple yet enjoyable entertainment options.

What are the best games to play in the car that are suitable for different age groups?

Choosing the right games for respective age groups ensures that everyone in the car stays entertained and engaged throughout the journey. Games for Kids are specifically designed to cater to the interests and cognitive abilities of young passengers, offering simple and interactive gameplay that fosters creativity and learning.

Older Kids may enjoy more challenging and strategic games that test their observation, memory, and critical thinking skills. These games are designed to keep older children mentally stimulated and entertained during long car rides, offering a mix of fun and educational experiences.

For Younger Kids, games that focus on colors, shapes, and simple concepts are ideal for keeping them entertained and engaged in the car. These games nurture early learning skills and encourage active participation, ensuring that younger passengers have a delightful and enriching road trip experience.

Road trip games to play for Kids

Games for Kids are tailored to the interests and developmental stages of young passengers, offering engaging and interactive experiences that stimulate creativity and imagination. From color recognition to storytelling games, these activities provide children with opportunities to learn and have fun in a car-friendly setting. Games for Kids ensure that little passengers stay entertained and happy throughout the journey.

Players of Games for Kids can explore a variety of themed games, such as animal guessing games or alphabet challenges, to cater to different interests and preferences. With vibrant visuals and simple rules, these games create a cheerful and educational atmosphere in the car, making them ideal companions for young travelers on road trips.

Fun road trip games for older Kids

Older Kids can enjoy a range of challenging and thought-provoking games that keep them engaged and entertained during long car rides. From word puzzles to trivia quizzes, these games test cognitive abilities and knowledge, providing stimulating experiences for older children on the road. Older Kids benefit from games that offer a balance of fun and mental stimulation, ensuring an enriching and enjoyable journey.

Players can compete individually or in teams to solve puzzles and answer questions, fostering a sense of friendly competition and cooperation among passengers. With an array of games designed to appeal to older kids, the car ride becomes a dynamic and engaging environment that promotes learning and entertainment throughout the trip.

Younger Kids

Younger Kids thrive on games that emphasize colors, shapes, and basic concepts, engaging their curiosity and creativity during car rides. Simple matching games, counting exercises, and storytelling activities are perfect for younger passengers, offering playful and educational experiences that cater to their developmental needs. Younger Kids delight in interactive games that promote learning and skill development while keeping them entertained in the car.

Players can introduce interactive elements like singing, clapping, or acting out prompts to enhance the engagement and enjoyment of younger kids during the games. By incorporating familiar themes and activities, Younger Kids stay focused and entertained throughout the journey, creating a positive and enriching road trip experience for the entire family.

119 Fun Road Trip Games for Kids

Jump into this big list of 119 car games for kids all about making the most of the ride with creativity, learning, and fun stuff to see, hear or even smell. It’s all the cool things they can do without needing anything fancy.

Games for Kids Contents

Top 20 for Kids Storytelling Observation Games Hand Games Singing Games Drawing Games Paper Games

Jump to Teens & Adult Car Games Section Back to Top

Top 20 Best Road Trip Games for Kids

Here is my absolute top 20 great game to play on a road trip with the kids, but don’t stop there, make sure you look at the other sections for inspiration and laughs!

A classic observation game where one person describes an object they can see, and others guess what it is. 

Instructions Choose an object you see and give a descriptive clue without naming it. 

Example “I spy something green.”

Players think of an object, and the others have up to 20 questions to guess what it is. 

Instructions One player thinks of an object, and the others ask yes/no questions to guess it. 

Example Is it bigger than a breadbox? Is it alive?

License Plate Bingo

Create bingo cards with different categories like states, colors, or numbers, and spot license plates that match. 

Instructions Make or print bingo cards with various license plate criteria. Spot them to win. 

Example A card might have “A blue plate,” “Out of state plate,” or “Plate with number 7.”

Find objects outside the car that start with each letter of the alphabet, in order. 

Instructions Spot and call out objects seen outside that start with each letter of the alphabet. 

Example “A is for Airplane, B is for Bridge…”

Story Round-Robin

One person starts a story, and each passenger adds a sentence or two, building a tale together. 

Instructions Start a story with one sentence. Each person adds on to create a continuous narrative. 

Example “Once upon a time, a cat found a magic collar…”

Name That Tune

Hum or describe a song without saying its title for others to guess. 

Instructions Hum the melody or describe the song’s theme without using its title or lyrics. 

Example “This song is about dancing in the dark.”

Guess the Artist

When a song plays on the radio, the first person to identify the artist wins a point. 

Instructions Listen to the song on the radio, and be the first to correctly name the artist. 

Example “That’s ‘Shape of You’ by Ed Sheeran!”

Finish the Lyric

Play a song and pause it, challenging passengers to finish the lyrics correctly. 

Instructions Pause a song at a certain point. Others must continue the lyrics from where it stopped. 

Example “Despacito, quiero respirar tu cuello despacito…” – participants continue the lyrics.

Tic-Tac-Toe

A simple and quick game that can be played on paper or with a reusable board. 

Instructions Draw a grid and take turns marking Xs and Os in an attempt to get three in a row. 

Example Player 1 chooses X and places it in the center. Player 2 places O in the top left corner.

A word game where players guess letters to fill in the blanks of a hidden word before the drawing of a hangman is completed. 

Instructions One player thinks of a word and draws blanks for each letter. Others guess letters. 

Example Word is “CAMPFIRE,” so draw 8 blanks. Players guess letters until the word is revealed or the hangman is drawn.

Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament

A fun way to make decisions or just for a quick game, with a tournament twist for more players. 

Instructions Players pair off to play Rock, Paper, Scissors. Winners advance until a champion is crowned. 

Example If there are 8 players, it takes 3 rounds to determine a winner.

Word Association

A player says a word, and the next person has to say a word related to it, keeping the chain going. 

Instructions Start with any word. The next person says a word that is associated with the previous word. 

Example “Water” might lead to “Ocean,” then to “Fish,” and so on.

The License Plate Decoder

Invent a backstory or meaning for the letters and numbers on a license plate you see. 

Instructions Choose a license plate and create a funny or interesting story based on its letters and numbers. 

Example For “LUV 123,” “Lions Under Volcanoes, 123 of them.”

Map Reading Race

Give kids maps and have them track the journey, learning to read key map symbols and distances. 

Instructions Provide a map and have kids follow along, marking landmarks as they pass. 

Example Mark the starting point, and each child tracks the route, identifying major roads and landmarks.

Pictionary Telephone

A combination of drawing and guessing where each person’s interpretation is passed down the line to see how it evolves. 

Instructions The first person draws something based on a word, and each subsequent person guesses the word and redraws based on their guess. 

Example The word “Dog” starts and might end up interpreted as “Wolf” after several turns.

Musical Geography

Identify songs that mention cities, states, or countries and discuss them. 

Instructions When a location is mentioned in a song, shout it out and talk about the place. 

Example “New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of,” from “Empire State of Mind.”

Spot the Difference

Players find differences between two seemingly identical pictures prepared beforehand. 

Instructions Look at two similar pictures and find all the differences between them. 

Example One picture has a dog with a collar, and the other picture’s dog does not have a collar.

Pose two scenarios and have each passenger choose which one they would prefer, with explanations for their choices. 

Instructions Present two options and discuss which one each person would choose and why. 

Example “Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?”

Two Truths and a Lie

Each person shares three statements about themselves, two truths and one lie, while others guess the lie. 

Instructions Think of two true facts and one false fact about yourself. Others guess which one is the lie. 

Example “I’ve been skydiving, I’ve met a celebrity, and I’ve never been out of the country.” (If you’ve never met a celebrity, that’s the lie.)

A classic game of commands where players must only follow instructions that begin with “Simon says.” 

Instructions One person is Simon and gives commands. If Simon says “Simon says jump,” everyone jumps. If Simon just says “jump,” those who jump are out.  Example “Simon says touch your toes,” followed by “Jump up.” Only follow the first command.

That’s my top picks for Kids, keep reading for a huge number more of great games.

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Car Games for Kids – Storytelling

Embark on a journey of imagination and storytelling with these engaging activities. Perfect for young minds eager to explore, create, and invent, these games offer endless opportunities for adventure and creativity.

Once Upon a Time

Use classic story starters to inspire new tales. Children can draw cards with characters, settings, or objects to include in their stories.

Roll dice with pictures on them to determine elements of the story, such as characters, settings, and actions.

Finish the Story

Start a story and have each child add a sentence or two, taking turns to build on the narrative.

Magical World

Create stories set in magical or fantasy worlds with mythical creatures and enchanted objects.

Time Travel Adventures

Invent stories that involve traveling to different historical periods or to the future.

Superhero Sagas

Kids create their own superhero characters, including their powers, origins, and adventures.

Mystery Tales

Develop a mystery for characters to solve, including clues, suspects, and a surprising resolution.

Space Odyssey

Set stories in outer space, involving aliens, space travel, and distant planets.

Fairy Tale Reimagining

Take classic fairy tales and twist them with new perspectives or unexpected endings.

Animal Antics

Stories where animals are the main characters, possibly with human-like qualities or abilities.

Pirate Adventures

Tales of treasure hunts, sea monsters, and pirate ships on the high seas.

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Explore underground worlds, ancient civilizations, or fantastic landscapes below the surface.

Island Survival

Characters must survive and solve mysteries on a deserted or mysterious island.

Haunted Tales

Spooky but not too scary stories involving ghosts, haunted houses, or supernatural events.

Secret Agent Missions

Stories of espionage, secret gadgets, and undercover operations.

Lost Civilization

Discover an ancient or lost civilization, with stories about their culture, technology, and downfall.

Parallel Universe

Characters find themselves in a parallel universe where things are familiar yet distinctly different.

Eco-Warriors

Tales of heroes fighting to protect the environment or save endangered species.

Characters embark on a quest to find a magical object, solve an ancient riddle, or rescue someone in distress.

Invent a Planet

Kids create a story about discovering a new planet, including its environment, inhabitants, and cultures.

These storytelling prompts are designed to unleash the creative potential within every child, guiding them through worlds of their own making.

Observation road trip games to play

Explore the world around you with these fun and engaging observation and memory games. Perfect for enhancing children’s attention to detail, these activities are great for both indoor and outdoor play, encouraging curiosity and exploration.

A classic game where one person describes an object they can see, and others guess what it is using the clue.

Create a list of items or themes to find, either indoors or outdoors. Players mark off items as they find them.

Lay out a series of objects, let the kids study them for a minute, then cover them up and ask the kids to recall what they saw.

Provide two seemingly identical pictures and challenge kids to find small differences between them.

Nature Bingo

Create bingo cards with pictures or names of things to find in nature, such as specific types of leaves, insects, or birds.

Pick a color and have kids find objects that match the color as they walk or drive.

On road trips, look for license plates from different states and check them off a list.

Cloud Shapes

Observe the clouds and encourage kids to describe or guess what shapes they see.

Sit quietly in a park or garden (or car), and have kids draw a map of sounds they hear around them.

Storyteller’s Box

Fill a box with various small items. Kids pick an item without looking and tell a story about it.

What’s Missing?

Display several objects, have kids study them, then remove one object and ask them to identify what’s missing.

Photo Observation

Show kids a detailed photo for a short time, then ask questions about specific details in the picture.

While traveling, look for objects that start with each letter of the alphabet, in order.

Animal Watching

Observe animals (in the wild, at a zoo, or even pets) and discuss their behaviors, patterns, and habits.

Describe a person in the room or a character from a story with as few details as possible, and have others guess who it is.

Nature Walk Observation

On a walk, challenge kids to notice something new they haven’t seen before, even if it’s a familiar path.

Silhouette Guessing Game

Show the silhouette of an object, animal, or character, and have kids guess what it is.

Detail Detective

Describe a scene in detail (real or imaginary) and then ask specific questions about it.

Texture Scavenger Hunt

Find objects that match textures on a list, such as smooth, rough, bumpy, or soft.

What’s That Smell?

Blindfold players and have them guess objects or foods by their smell.

These games are designed to sharpen observational skills, enhance memory, and inspire creativity among children, making every day an adventure filled with discovery and learning.

Hand Games to play on a road trip

Hand games offer a playful way to engage minds and fingers, fostering coordination and laughter in equal measure.

Rock, Paper, Scissors

A classic hand game where players simultaneously form one of three shapes with an outstretched hand.

Instructions: Players count to three together and simultaneously show one of three shapes (rock, paper, or scissors) with their hand. Rock crushes scissors, scissors cut paper, and paper covers rock. This really is an easy to play road trip game.

Two players grasp hands and try to pin the other’s thumb down for a count of three.

Instructions: Players hook their hands together and chant “1, 2, 3, 4, I declare a thumb war!” and then try to pin the opponent’s thumb for a count of three.

Hand Clapping Games

Such as “Miss Mary Mack” or “A Sailor Went to Sea,” where players clap their own and each other’s hands in a sequence.

Instructions: Players face each other and clap their own hands together, then each other’s, in a set rhythm and pattern, often while reciting a rhyme.

Shadow Puppets

Using hands to form shadows on the wall or car ceiling, creating figures like animals or faces.

Instructions: In a dimly lit room, use a flashlight or lamp to cast a light on a wall. Shape your hands to form shadows that resemble animals or other figures.

Finger Knitting

Using fingers to weave yarn or string into simple bracelets or chains.

Instructions: Loop yarn around your fingers in a weaving pattern to create a knit chain, then slide off to finish the piece.

Hand Signs Game

Competing to quickly show a series of hand signs or gestures.

Instructions: Players take turns calling out specific hand signs (peace sign, thumbs up, etc.), and the other player must quickly replicate the sign.

Silent Animal Gestures

Players guess the animal someone is miming with their hands.

Instructions: One player uses hand gestures to mime an animal without making a sound, while others guess which animal it is.

Finger Spelling

Using sign language or invented gestures to spell out words for others to guess.

Instructions: Spell out a word using finger movements from sign language or a made-up system, while others try to guess the word.

Snap Battle

Players snap their fingers as quickly as possible in a playful competition.

Instructions: On a signal, players snap their fingers as fast as they can for a set time period. The one with the most snaps wins.

Number Guess

Hide a number of small items in your hand, and others guess how many there are.

Instructions: Hold a few small objects in your closed hand. Players guess the number of items without seeing them.

Hand Symphony

Creating a musical composition by clapping, snapping, and tapping hands in different rhythms.

Instructions: Assign different hand sounds (clap, snap, tap) to players and conduct them to create a rhythm or song together.

A quick-reflex game where players slap their hand down on a stack of cards when a jack is played (can be mimicked with hand gestures).

Instructions: Spread a deck of cards face down. Players take turns flipping cards. When a Jack appears, the first to slap it collects the cards. Mimic with hand gestures if no cards are available.

Concentration 64

A rhythm and memory game where players must keep up with the sequence of hand movements without making a mistake.

Instructions: Players sit in a circle and clap a beat. Taking turns, each player adds a hand movement to the sequence without breaking the rhythm.

The Mirror Game

Players mirror each other’s hand movements, trying to keep in sync.

Instructions: Two players face each other. One leads by making hand movements, while the other tries to copy them exactly like a mirror.

One player uses their finger to trace a path on the other player’s palm, who must guess the shape or letter.

Instructions: Trace a letter, number, or simple shape on the other player’s palm with your finger. The other player guesses what was traced.

Finger Races

Players slide their fingers across a surface, pretending they are racing.

Instructions: On a flat surface, players use their fingers as “legs” to race to a finish line.

Stacking hands on top of one another and trying to keep the tower from collapsing.

Instructions: Players take turns stacking one hand on top of the last, trying to build the tallest tower without it toppling over.

Finger Puppets

Creating simple puppets using fingers and playing out stories or scenarios.

Instructions: Use markers or stickers to decorate fingers as characters and act out stories or scenes.

Guess the Object

One player shapes their hand like an object and others guess what it is.

Instructions: Use your hands to mimic the shape of an object, and have others guess what you’re trying to represent.

Finger Twister

Players call out colors and a finger (e.g., “Right index finger, green”), and participants must touch the designated spot or color with that finger.

Instructions: Designate colors or spots on a surface. Players take turns calling out instructions for which finger to move to which color, trying not to get tangled.

Through these simple gestures and movements, many games and laughs can be had.

Singing for a fun road trip game

These singing games not only entertain but also educate, helping children learn numbers, letters, animal sounds, body parts, and more while enhancing their memory and attention skills. All makes for a fun road trip game.

Old MacDonald Had a Farm

Kids sing about different animals and the sounds they make, adding more animals with each verse.

Here is the first verse: Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O, And on his farm he had a cow, E-I-E-I-O, With a moo moo here and a moo moo there, Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo, Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.

The Wheels on the Bus

A classic song where children mimic the movements and sounds of different parts of the bus.

Here is the first verse: The wheels on the bus go round and round, Round and round, round and round, The wheels on the bus go round and round, All through the town.

If You’re Happy and You Know It

Children express their happiness through song, clapping hands, stomping feet, etc.

Here is the first verse: If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap clap), If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap clap), If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it, If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. (clap clap)

Hokey Pokey

Kids follow the song’s instructions to put different body parts in and out of the circle, turning themselves around.

Here is the first verse: You put your right hand in, You take your right hand out, You put your right hand in, And you shake it all about, You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around, That’s what it’s all about.

Five Little Ducks

A counting song where ducks go out to play, gradually decreasing in number.

Here is the first verse: Five little ducks went out one day, Over the hill and far away, Mother duck said “Quack, quack, quack, quack,” But only four little ducks came back.

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes

This song teaches body parts while encouraging kids to touch each part as it’s sung.

Here is the first verse: Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes, Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes, And eyes, and ears, and mouth, and nose, Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes.

A song about a dog named Bingo, with clapping to replace letters of the dog’s name in each verse.

Here is the first verse: There was a farmer who had a dog, And Bingo was his name-O, B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, And Bingo was his name-O.

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

A fun counting song about monkeys’ misadventures and the consequences of jumping on the bed.

Here is the first verse: Five little monkeys jumping on the bed, One fell off and bumped his head, Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, “No more monkeys jumping on the bed!”

Ring Around the Rosie

A group circle game with singing and falling down at the end.

Here is the first verse: Ring-a-round the rosie, A pocket full of posies, Ashes! Ashes! We all fall down.

London Bridge is Falling Down

Kids form an arch with their arms while others pass under as the song plays, capturing someone at the end of the song.

Here is the first verse: London Bridge is falling down, Falling down, falling down, London Bridge is falling down, My fair lady.

I’m a Little Teapot

Children act out the lyrics, pretending to be a teapot with spout and handle.

Here is the first verse: I’m a little teapot short and stout, Here is my handle, here is my spout, When I get all steamed up, hear me shout, “Tip me over and pour me out!”

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Can be sung in rounds, mimicking rowing actions in pairs, sitting opposite each other.

Here is the first verse: Row, row, row your boat, Gently down the stream, Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream.

Down by the Bay

A rhyming song that encourages creativity, with kids coming up with new verses.

Here is the first verse: Down by the bay, Where the watermelons grow, Back to my home, I dare not go, For if I do, My mother will say, “Did you ever see a bear, combing his hair, Down by the bay?”

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Mimicking the spider’s movements, this song tells the story of its climb up the water spout.

Here is the first verse: The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout, Down came the rain and washed the spider out, Out came the sun and dried up all the rain, And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.

Skip to My Lou

A simple, playful song that can involve dancing or skipping around in a circle.

Here is the first verse: Lost my partner, what’ll I do? Lost my partner, what’ll I do? Lost my partner, what’ll I do? Skip to my Lou, my darling.

A modern favorite with repetitive verses and hand motions representing different members of the shark family.

Here is the first verse: Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo, Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo, Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo, Baby shark!

The Farmer in the Dell

A singing game with selections of different characters (the farmer, the wife, the child, etc.) during the song.

Here is the first verse: The farmer in the dell, The farmer in the dell, Heigh-ho, the derry-o, The farmer in the dell.

The Ants Go Marching

A counting and marching song, with verses for each number of ants.

Here is the first verse: The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah, The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah, The ants go marching one by one, The little one stops to suck his thumb, And they all go marching down to the ground, To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Do Your Ears Hang Low?

A silly song with accompanying gestures about ears, encouraging laughter and movement.

Here is the first verse: Do your ears hang low? Do they wobble to and fro? Can you tie them in a knot? Can you tie them in a bow? Can you throw them over your shoulder Like a continental soldier? Do your ears hang low?

These activities bridge generations and cultures, proving that when we sing together, harmony extends beyond the music.

Drawing Games You can Play

Embark on a journey of creativity and fun with drawing games that unleash the imagination and bring artwork to life.

Players draw a word on a piece of paper while others guess what it is.

Instructions:

• Divide players into teams.
• One team member draws a word on paper without speaking or gesturing.
• The team has a minute to guess the word for points.

Draw in the Dark

Players try to draw an object or scene in the dark or with their eyes closed, and then share the hilarious outcomes.

• Players close their eyes or turn off the lights.
• Each player tries to draw a predetermined object or scene.
• Share and laugh at the outcomes.

Exquisite Corpse

A collaborative drawing game where players fold a paper into sections and each person draws a part of a body (head, torso, legs) without seeing the other parts until the end.

• Fold a paper into sections, enough for each player.
• The first player draws a head at the top section, folds it to hide, and passes it on.
• Continue with each player adding parts of the body.
• Unfold to reveal the collaborative creature.

Draw the Song

Listen to a song and draw what you imagine the song is about.

• Play a song for everyone to listen to.
• Each player draws their interpretation of the song’s story or theme.
• Share drawings and discuss interpretations.

Drawing Relay

Players take turns adding to a drawing within a set time limit, creating a unique collaborative artwork.

• Start with a simple drawing.
• Players take turns, each adding to the drawing for a minute.
• Continue until everyone has added to the drawing.

Copycat Drawing

One player draws something, and the others try to replicate it as closely as possible.

• The first player draws an image.
• Other players try to copy the drawing as closely as possible.
• Compare drawings to the original.

Drawing Dictation

One player describes a scene or object without naming it, while others try to draw it based on the description.

• The describer thinks of a scene or object but doesn’t name it.
• They describe it in detail while others draw.
• Reveal the described object or scene and compare drawings.

Blind Contour Drawing

Without looking at the paper, draw the outline of an object or person in one continuous line. Instructions:

• Choose an object or person to draw.
• Without looking at your paper, draw its outline in one continuous line.
• Share and discuss the results.

Scribble Drawing

Start with a random scribble and then turn it into a detailed drawing by adding features and elements.

• Make a random scribble on your paper.
• Look at the scribble and imagine a detailed scene or object.
• Develop the scribble into a detailed drawing.

Memory Drawing

Look at an object for a certain period, then try to draw it from memory.

• Study an object for one minute.
• Without looking again, draw the object from memory.
• Compare the drawing to the object.

Draw the Word

Players write down a word or phrase, and others must illustrate it.

• Write down a word or phrase on a piece of paper.
• Pass the paper to another player who illustrates the word or phrase.
• Guess the original word or phrase from the illustration.

Opposite Drawing

Given a theme, players draw the opposite (e.g., draw cold when given the word hot).

• Choose a theme or concept word.
• Players draw something that represents the opposite of the theme.
• Share and explain your drawings.

Dot-to-Dot Drawing

One player makes dots on a paper, and another connects them to create a picture.

• One player places dots on a sheet of paper.
• Another player connects the dots to create an image.
• Reveal the final picture to the dot placer.

Story Drawing

One player starts a story, and each subsequent player adds a drawing to continue the tale.

• The first player draws a scene starting a story.
• Pass the paper; the next player adds to the story with another drawing.
• Continue until the story concludes.

Two-Line Drawing

Players can only use two lines to create a recognizable object or scene.

• Think of an object or scene to draw.
• Using only two continuous lines, create your drawing.
• Share and guess what each drawing represents.

Shape Challenge

Everyone starts with the same basic shape and must turn it into a unique drawing.

• All players start with the same basic shape on their paper.
• Transform the shape into a unique drawing.
• Share and discuss the creative outcomes.

Drawing with Scissors

Inspired by Matisse, players cut shapes out of colored paper to create a composition.

• Choose a variety of colored paper.
• Cut out shapes to create a composition or scene.
• Arrange and glue the shapes onto a background.

Nature Drawing

Incorporate an element found in nature (a leaf, a twig) into a drawing.

• Find an element from nature to include in your artwork.
• Draw a scene or object incorporating the natural element creatively.
• Share your nature-inspired artwork.

Alphabet Drawing

Choose a letter and draw objects that start with that letter, an easy and fun game to play on a road trip.

• Select a letter of the alphabet.
• Draw as many objects as you can think of that start with that letter.
• Share and compare drawings.

Fantasy Creature

Mix parts of different animals or objects to create a new fantasy creature.

• Think of different animals or objects to combine.
• Draw a creature that incorporates elements of your chosen animals or objects.
• Present your fantasy creature and explain its features.

Drawing games not only spark joy and creativity but also connect us through the universal language of art, making every sketch a shared adventure.

Car Games for Kids – Paper Games

Here’s a collection of classic and creative paper games, perfect for entertainment without the need for screens. These activities not only offer fun but also stimulate imagination and critical thinking. These overall principles make for a great game to play when on a road trip with the kids.

A classic game where players take turns marking Xs and Os in a 3×3 grid, aiming to get three in a row.

• Draw a 3×3 grid on a piece of paper.
• Players choose their marker, either X or O.
• Taking turns, each player places their marker in an empty square.
• The first player to align three of their markers vertically, horizontally, or diagonally wins.

Dots and Boxes

Players take turns connecting dots with lines. When a player completes a box, they mark it with their initial. The player with the most boxes wins.

• Fill a paper with a grid of dots.
• Players take turns drawing a single line (vertical or horizontal) between two adjacent dots.
• If a player completes the fourth side of a box, they initial it and play again.
• Once all boxes are completed, the player with the most initialed boxes wins.

One player thinks of a word, and the others guess letters. For each wrong guess, part of a hangman drawing is added.

• The word chooser thinks of a word and draws a blank line for each letter.
• Guessing players suggest letters.
• If the letter is in the word, the chooser writes it in the correct spots. If not, they add a part to the hangman drawing.
• The game ends when the word is guessed or the hangman is fully drawn.

Paper Fortune Teller

A folded paper game where players choose colors and numbers to reveal a hidden message or fortune.

• Fold a paper into a fortune teller shape with eight flaps inside.
• Write colors on the four outer flaps and numbers on the eight inner flaps.
• Hide fortunes or messages under the inner flaps.
• Players choose a color, spell it out while manipulating the fortune teller, choose a number, and then reveal their fortune under the flap.

Each player draws two grids. On one grid, they place ships. They take turns guessing coordinates to “hit” the opponent’s ships.

• Each player draws two 10×10 grids, labeling rows and columns.
• Secretly place ships on one grid.
• Players take turns calling out grid coordinates.
• Mark hits and misses on your grids. The first to sink all opponent’s ships wins.

Players draw a word on paper while others try to guess what it is.

• Prepare a list of words or phrases.
• Players take turns drawing a selected word for their team to guess within a time limit.
• No letters, numbers, or verbal clues allowed. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

Paper Airplane Contest

Kids design and fold paper airplanes, then see whose can fly the farthest or perform the best tricks.

• Each player folds a paper into an airplane.
• Decide on the contest criteria (distance, accuracy, tricks).
• Take turns launching your airplanes according to the contest rules. The best performance according to the criteria wins.

A classic fortune-telling game where players find out about their future jobs, spouses, car, and living situation.

• Write M.A.S.H. at the top of a paper (Mansion, Apartment, Shack, House).
• List categories (partner, car, number of kids, job) and options under each.
• Draw a spiral and count the lines to get a number. Count through the options, crossing out the option each time you hit the number.
• Your future is determined by the last options left.

Folded Story

Players write a sentence on a paper, fold it to hide most of it, and pass it on. The next player continues the story.

• The first player writes a sentence on the top of the paper and folds it to hide all but the last word.
• Pass the paper to the next player, who writes another sentence starting with that word.
• Continue until the paper is full, then unfold and read the story aloud.

Word Search

Create a grid of letters with hidden words for players to find and circle.

• Draw a grid on a piece of paper and fill it with random letters.
• Hide words within the grid by writing them vertically, horizontally, diagonally, forwards, or backwards.
• Players search for and circle the hidden words.

Crossword Puzzles

Design simple crossword puzzles related to themes or subjects the kids are interested in.

• Create a grid on a piece of paper.
• Fill in words horizontally and vertically, creating intersecting words.
• Write clues for each word and number them according to their position in the grid.
• Players fill in the grid based on the clues.

Fill a 9×9 grid so that each column, row, and 3×3 section contain all digits from 1 to 9.

• Draw a 9×9 grid, subdivided into 3×3 sections.
• Pre-fill some of the cells with numbers 1-9.
• Players fill in the empty cells, ensuring each row, column, and 3×3 section contains all numbers 1-9 without repetition.

Cipher Games

Create coded messages for kids to decode, using simple substitution ciphers.

• Write a message.
• Replace each letter with another letter, number, or symbol based on a key.
• Players use the key to decode the message.

Comic Strip Creation

Provide a theme or story starter, and let kids create their own comic strips.

• Decide on a theme or story starter.
• Draw a series of empty comic panels on a piece of paper.
• Fill in the panels with your story, using drawings and dialogue.

Folding paper to create shapes, animals, or objects. Beginners can start with simple models like cranes or boats.

• Choose an origami model to make.
• Follow step-by-step folding instructions to shape your paper into the model.
• Decorate your origami if desired.

Scavenger Hunt Lists

Create lists of items for kids to find and check off. They can draw or write when they find each item.

• Create a list of items to find.
• Distribute the list to players.
• Players search for items and check them off or draw them as they find them.

Create two similar drawings with slight differences for kids to find.

• Draw two similar pictures with a few subtle differences.
• Players look for and point out the differences between the two pictures.

Maze Design

Draw mazes on paper for kids to solve, or have them design their own for others to try.

• Design a maze with a clear start and finish.
• Players attempt to solve the maze by drawing a path from start to finish.

Storybook Creation

Kids write and illustrate their own stories, making a small book out of paper.

• Fold and cut paper to create a booklet.
• Write a story across the pages, adding illustrations.
• Share the completed storybook with others.

Symmetry Art

Fold a paper in half, draw a design on one side, then paint or color it. Fold again to transfer the design to the other half, creating a symmetrical artwork.

• Fold a paper in half to create a crease, then unfold.
• Draw a design on one half or add paint.
• Fold the paper back over while the paint is still wet to transfer the design to the other half.
• Unfold to reveal the symmetrical artwork.

These games prove that all you need is paper, pens, and a bit of creativity to unlock hours of fun and learning. Each game, from the strategic to the artistic, offers a unique way to engage the mind and foster creativity.

120 Fun Road Trip Games To Play in the car – Teens and Adults

Stepping up from the kids’ games, our teens and adults section brings a twist with challenges that test strategy, wit, and teamwork. It’s about diving deeper into fun, with a touch of complexity and a lot more laughs.

Games for Teens and Adults Contents

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – Top 20 Alphabet Theme Ideas 20 Questions Ideas Classic Car Games Combined Longer Running Games Pre-Planned Games Educational Games Word and Riddle Games Number Plate Game Ideas Brain Teasers and Logic Puzzles True or False Game Ideas Pop Culture Trivia and Radio

Back to Kids Games Section Back to Top

Top 20 Best Road trip Games for Teens and Adults

Kick off your road trips with this collection of games designed for teens and adults, focusing on creative, strategic, and interactive fun that goes beyond the simplicity of children’s games. Perfect for keeping the energy high and making those long drives fly by.

Car Karaoke

Instead of “Guess the Song,” passengers take turns singing their favorite songs while others guess the title or artist.

Instructions

• Choose a passenger to sing first.
• The singer selects a song and performs a portion of it.
• Other passengers guess the song’s title and artist.

Adapted from a classic guessing game, one player thinks of something, and others have up to 20 questions to guess what it is.

• One player thinks of an object, animal, or person.
• The others take turns asking yes or no questions.
• The group tries to guess the answer within 20 questions.

Pose two scenarios and have each passenger choose which one they would rather do, with explanations for their choices.

• Present two different scenarios to the passengers.
• Each passenger chooses their preferred scenario and explains why.
• Rotate who poses the next set of scenarios.

Each passenger says three statements about themselves, two truths and one lie, while others guess the lie.

• A passenger states two truths and one lie about themselves.
• The others guess which statement is the lie.
• Reveal the correct answer before moving to the next person.

Adaptation of a campfire storytelling game where one person starts a story, and each passenger adds a sentence or two.

• Begin a story with a single sentence.
• Pass the story to the next passenger, who adds to it.
• Continue until the story reaches a natural conclusion or every passenger has contributed.

License Plate Lingo

Create sentences or a story using the letters from license plates spotted on the road.

• Spot a license plate and read its letters.
• Create a sentence or story starting with those letters.
• Take turns and try with different plates.

Travel Bingo

Make bingo cards with items or events likely to be seen on the road (like a red car, a cow, or a billboard). First to get a line wins.

• Prepare bingo cards before the trip with common road trip sights.
• Mark off items as you spot them during the journey.
• The first to complete a line shouts “Bingo!” and wins.

The Alphabet Game

Find words outside the car that start with each letter of the alphabet, in order, from A to Z.

• Start with the letter A and find a word seen outside that starts with it.
• Continue through the alphabet in order.
• The first to reach Z or the furthest along wins.

Adaptation of the observation game where players compete to spot items from a pre-determined list, like different types of vehicles, road signs, or animals.

• Create a list of items to spot before the trip.
• Players call out and mark off items as they spot them.
• The player who spots the most items wins.

The Movie Game

One player names an actor, the next names a movie that actor was in, then the next names another actor from that movie, and so on.

• Start with naming an actor.
• The next person names a movie the actor was in.
• Continue with movies and actors, keeping the chain going.

The Singing Game

Someone sings a line from a song, and the next person has to start their song with the last word of the previous song.

• Sing a line from a song.
• The next person starts their song with the last word sung.
• Continue, linking songs through their final words.

Play the first few seconds of a song on your device, and the first person to guess the song wins.

• Play a short clip of a song.
• The first person to correctly guess the song title and artist wins.
• Take turns playing song clips.

Whisper a message to the person next to you, and have it passed along through whispers. The last person says it out loud to see how much it changed.

• Whisper a message to the person next to you.
• Pass the message down the line through whispers.
• The last person says the message out loud to compare with the original.

I’m Going on a Trip

A memory game where the first person says, “I’m going on a trip and I’m bringing…” followed by an item. Each person repeats the list and adds their own item.

• Start the game with “I’m going on a trip and I’m bringing…” followed by an item.
• Each subsequent player repeats the list and adds an item.
• Continue until someone forgets an item or the list becomes too long.

One person says a word, and the next person has to say a word related to it. The game continues with associations to the previous word.

• Start with any word.
• The next person says a word associated with the previous word.
• Continue, building a chain of associated words.

Pick a category, and players take turns naming items that fit into it until someone gets stumped.

• Choose a category (e.g., fruits, countries).
• Take turns naming items within the category.
• Continue until someone can’t name an item.

The Picnic Game

Similar to “I’m Going on a Trip,” but each item must begin with the next letter of the alphabet. One of my favorite fun road trip games to play with the kids.

• The first player starts with “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing…” followed by an item starting with A.
• The next player repeats the first item and adds something starting with B.
• Continue through the alphabet.

Guess the Animal

One player thinks of an animal, and others ask yes/no questions to guess what it is.

• Think of an animal but don’t reveal it.
• Others ask yes/no questions to deduce the animal.
• Continue until the animal is guessed or questions run out.

Finish the Lyrics

Say a line from a song, and another player has to finish the next line.

• Recite a line from a song.
• The next player completes the lyric.
• Confirm the correct lyrics and continue with different songs.

Spin the Bottle (Q&A Edition)

Adapt it by having a “spinner” (using a phone app or imaginary bottle) and whoever it “points” to must answer a question from the group.

• Use an app or mimic spinning a bottle.
• The person the bottle points to must answer a group question.
• Rotate the spinner and continue with questions.

That’s just my top Picks, keep reading for more Fun games.

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – Alphabet Theme Ideas

Games based on using the Alphabet are almost endless. But here are 20 ideas which can help with your creativity.

Players must name an animal for each letter of the alphabet.

Cities of the World

Name cities around the globe, from A to Z.

Foods and Drinks

Each letter corresponds to a food or drink item.

Movie Titles

Players come up with movie titles for every letter.

Famous People

This can include celebrities, historical figures, or fictional characters.

Book Titles

Great for book lovers, name a book title for each letter.

Name a song title for each letter of the alphabet.

Identify brands that correspond with each letter.

Household Items

Find items around the house or that you’d typically find in a home, for each letter.

Sports and Activities

Any sport, exercise, or physical activity fits into this category.

Test your geography skills by naming countries from A to Z.

Plants or Flowers

Ideal for nature enthusiasts, name plants or flowers for each letter.

Come up with titles of TV shows, past or present.

Professions

Name a job or profession for each letter of the alphabet.

Instruments

Musical instruments that start with each letter.

for an easy to play game, Identify colors or shades that correspond with each letter.

Name languages spoken around the world, from A to Z.

Video Games

Great for gamers, name a video game for each letter.

Name an invention or discovery for each letter.

Mythological Creatures

Dive into mythology by naming creatures from legends and folklore for each letter.

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – 20 Questions Ideas

The game of 20 Questions is a classic guessing game where one player thinks of an item, and the other players have up to 20 yes-or-no questions to guess what it is. This game can be adapted to various themes to make it more interesting or educational. Here are 20 ideas or themes for playing 20 Questions

Think of an animal, and others must guess it with questions related to habitat, diet, characteristics, etc.

Historical Figures

For a fun game to play, choose a person from history, and players ask questions to figure out who it is based on their achievements, era, nationality, etc.

Geographical Locations

This could be a country, city, landmark, or natural feature, with questions revolving around location, cultural significance, or physical characteristics.

The mystery item is a movie, and questions can be about the plot, characters, actors, or awards.

Pick a book, and players ask questions related to genre, author, plot, or characters.

Celebrities

Choose a well-known public figure, and questions can relate to their profession, notable works, or personal life.

Think of an invention, and questions could be about its inventor, era of creation, purpose, or impact on society.

The item to guess could be a type of plant, flower, or tree, with questions focusing on habitat, appearance, and uses.

Choose a specific dish or food item, and questions can be about ingredients, origin, or taste.

The mystery item could be a sport, athlete, or sports team, with questions about rules, achievements, or famous figures associated with it.

Musical Instruments

Pick an instrument, and players ask questions regarding its family, how it’s played, or its sound.

Choose a creature from mythology, and questions could explore its origins, powers, or stories.

Technological Gadgets

Think of a gadget, and questions can be about its use, features, or the era it was popular.

Choose a famous work of art, and questions can revolve around the artist, era, medium, or subject matter.

Scientific Theories

Pick a scientific theory or concept, and questions could be about the field of science it belongs to, its implications, or key figures associated with it.

Board Games

The item could be a board game, with questions about gameplay, the number of players, or components.

Choose a language, and players ask questions about the region it’s spoken, number of speakers, or its writing system.

Holidays and Traditions

Think of a holiday or cultural tradition, and questions can be about how, where, or why it’s celebrated.

Choose a type of vehicle, and questions could cover its mode of transportation, use, or features.

Clothing and Fashion

Pick an item of clothing or a fashion trend, with questions about the era it was popular, materials, or associated culture.

Hopefully that helps with your creativity and spurs you on to find even more great ideas.

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – Classic Car Games Combined

Get ready to level up your road trip entertainment with these innovative car games that blend classic fun with fresh twists. Perfect for all ages, these games promise to keep everyone engaged and laughing from start to finish.

Karaoke Charades

Players sing a song while acting out the lyrics, and others guess the song and artist.

• One player selects a song and starts singing while also acting out the lyrics.
• The other passengers guess the song and the artist based on the performance.
• Rotate roles after each song.

Start with a word or phrase, draw it, then the next person guesses what it is and draws their interpretation, continuing down the line to see how it evolves.

• The first player writes down a word or phrase and then draws it on a piece of paper.
• The next player guesses what it is and then draws their interpretation of that guess on another piece of paper.
• Continue passing and drawing down the line, then compare the first and last drawings.

20 Questions + Storytelling

The object guessed in 20 Questions becomes the protagonist in a spontaneous group storytelling session.

• Play a classic game of 20 Questions until the object is correctly guessed.
• Use the guessed object as the protagonist of a group storytelling session, with each passenger adding to the story.

Alphabet Road Trip Bingo

Create bingo cards with the alphabet, and players must find objects starting with each letter outside the car to fill their card.

• Before the trip, create bingo cards with each square representing a letter of the alphabet.
• As you travel, players spot and call out objects that start with the letters on their card.
• The first player to complete a row or column wins.

Musical Scavenger Hunt

Compile a playlist where each song title or artist is a clue to find a specific object or perform an action.

• Create a playlist with songs where the titles or artists relate to objects or actions.
• Play each song, and passengers must figure out the clue and either find the object or perform the action.
• Keep score of who completes the most tasks.

Guess the Emoji Story

One player creates a short story using only emojis, and others must decipher the story or continue it with their own emoji sequence.

• One player composes a short story using a sequence of emojis.
• Other players attempt to decipher the story from the emojis.
• Players can then add to the story with their own sequence of emojis.

Trivia Treasure Hunt

Combine trivia questions with a treasure hunt, where each correct answer leads to a clue or location of the next hidden item.

• Prepare a list of trivia questions related to the trip or general knowledge.
• Correct answers lead to clues or the location of hidden items along the trip.
• The player who finds the most items or solves the final clue wins.

Drawing Pictionary with a Twist

Use concepts from “Taboo” where certain obvious clues or words cannot be drawn, making it harder to guess.

• Similar to Pictionary, but with a list of words or concepts that are “taboo” and cannot be used in the drawings.
• Players take turns drawing while others guess, without using the taboo clues.
• Points are awarded for correct guesses under time limits.

Soundtrack of My Life Challenge

Players choose songs that represent different moments in their life, and others have to guess the event or period it correlates with.

• Each player selects a series of songs that represent significant moments in their life.
• Play snippets of each song, and the other passengers guess the life event or period it represents.
• Share stories behind each song choice.

Dance-Off Simon Says

Mix “Simon Says” with a dance-off, where players must follow dance moves only when “Simon says” but with added competition for the best dancer.

• One player is “Simon” and calls out dance moves followed by “Simon says.”
• Players only move if “Simon says” is used before the move; otherwise, they stay still.
• Add competitive elements by voting on the best dancer for each round.

Story Dice + Improv Theater

Use story dice to roll for story elements, and then perform an impromptu skit based on the results.

• Roll story dice to determine elements like setting, character, and conflict.
• Players collaborate to perform a short, improvised skit using the rolled elements.
• Take turns rolling dice and performing different skits.

Lip Reading Song Battle

Mute a song’s audio, and one player tries to lip-sync the lyrics while the others guess the song.

• Play a song with the audio muted.
• One player lip-syncs the lyrics.
• Others guess the song based on the lip-sync performance.

Crafty Spies

Combine “I Spy” with crafting, where players create a simple craft based on something they spy with their eyes.

• Play a round of “I Spy” to choose an object.
• Using crafting materials, players create a simple representation of the spied object.
• Share and explain your crafts with the group.

Emoji Charades

Act out the meaning of emojis for others to guess, adding a modern twist to traditional charades.

• Choose an emoji and act out its meaning without speaking.
• Other players guess the emoji based on the actions.
• Rotate actors and continue with different emojis.

Musical Hangman

Play hangman using only song titles or artist names, and the guesser has to sing the song if they solve the puzzle.

• Choose a song title or artist and draw blanks for each letter.
• Players guess letters; incorrect guesses result in drawing parts of the hangman.
• If a player correctly guesses, they sing a line from the song.

Alphabetical Lip Sync Battles

Participants perform lip-sync battles but must choose songs that start with the next letter of the alphabet each round.

• Start with the letter A and choose a song that begins with A for the first lip-sync battle.
• The next round moves to B, and so on through the alphabet.
• Judges or audience vote on the best lip-sync performance for each round.

Movie Mashup Madness

Players describe a movie plot using details from two different films, while others guess the movies involved.

• Pick two movies and combine elements from both into a single plot description.
• Other players guess which two movies are being described.
• Take turns creating and guessing movie mashups.

Recipe Roulette

Combine “20 Questions” with cooking, where players ask questions to guess the dish, then attempt to cook it with only the guessed ingredients.

• Think of a recipe but don’t reveal it.
• Players ask yes/no questions to guess the dish.
• Attempt to cook the dish with the ingredients identified through the questions.

Celebrity Heads Road Trip Edition

Adapt “Celebrity Heads” for the car by guessing the celebrity based on traits or accomplishments, using road signs or objects seen outside for hints.

• Think of a celebrity and give hints based on traits, accomplishments, or related road signs and objects.
• Players ask yes/no questions and guess the celebrity.
• Rotate the role of the hint giver.

Historical Figure Daydreams

Players choose a historical figure, then play a round of “Fortunately/Unfortunately” to create humorous scenarios about what could have happened in their lives.

• Choose a historical figure.
• Start with a scenario involving the figure.
• Players take turns adding to the story with alternating “fortunately” and “unfortunately” scenarios.

I hope you enjoyed that section of creative combinations of car games. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, I’m sure you can come up with some yourself.

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – Longer Running Games

Longer-running games are great for keeping interest and excitement alive over extended periods, such as during road trips, vacations, or even over a summer break. Here are 20 ideas for longer-running games that involve ongoing tasks, collection, or points tallying, providing continuous fun and engagement

Regional Snack Collection

At each stop, collect a snack or item unique to that area, aiming to gather the most diverse collection of treats by trip’s end.

• Plan to stop at various regional locations along your route.
• At each stop, select a snack or local item unique to the area.
• Compare collections at the end of the trip to see who has the most diverse assortment.

Travel Journal Doodles

Each participant maintains a doodle journal, adding a drawing for every place visited or sight seen, comparing journals at the end of the trip.

• Provide each traveler with a journal at the trip’s start.
• Encourage drawing a doodle for each significant sight or location visited.
• Share and compare the doodle journals at the journey’s conclusion.

Create bingo cards with states, countries, or unique characteristics of license plates. The first to complete their bingo card wins.

• Before the trip, prepare bingo cards featuring different states, countries, or unique license plate features.
• Mark off each item on your card as you spot it during the trip.
• The first to complete a row or card shouts “Bingo!” and wins.

Mini Travel Olympics

Hold a series of short physical challenges or games at rest stops or parks, keeping a tally of winners to declare an overall champion at the trip’s end.

• Identify suitable rest stops or parks for physical activities.
• Organize a variety of short games or challenges.
• Keep score of each participant’s wins to determine the overall champion by the trip’s end.

Scenic Photography Contest

Participants take photos of scenery, landmarks, or quirky finds along the journey. Vote on categories like “Most Beautiful” or “Most Unusual” at the trip’s end.

• Throughout the trip, take photos of interesting sights, landmarks, or scenery.
• At the journey’s end, organize a voting session for various categories.
• Declare winners for each category based on votes.

Car Ride Story Building

Start a collaborative story at the beginning of the trip, and each person adds a sentence or paragraph in turns. Read the entire story aloud at the journey’s end.

• Begin a story with an opening line.
• Pass the story around, with each person adding to it in turn.
• Read the completed story together once the trip concludes.

Travel Trivia

Keep track of interesting facts, landmarks, or learning moments encountered during the trip. Hold a trivia quiz on the last day to recall what everyone learned.

• Throughout the trip, note down interesting facts or landmarks.
• Organize a trivia quiz based on these notes on the last day.
• Quiz each other to see who remembers the most.

Postcard Chronicles

Send a postcard to yourself from each major stop, writing about what you did or saw there. Collect them at home as a keepsake of your travels.

• At each significant stop, choose a postcard and write a brief account of your experiences.
• Mail the postcard to your home address.
• Collect and reminisce over the postcards once home.

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Maintain a list of animals, plants, and natural phenomena to spot over the trip. Tally who spots the most items on the list by the end.

• Create a list of natural items to spot during your travels.
• Keep a tally of who spots each item first.
• Count up the tallies at the end of the trip to find the winner.

Culinary Explorer

Try a different local dish at each stop and rate them. Compile a food diary or blog to summarize the culinary adventure.

• At each stop, try a local dish or specialty.
• Rate each dish based on taste, presentation, and uniqueness.
• Compile your ratings and experiences into a diary or blog.

Podcast or Book Club

Select a podcast series or a book to listen to or read together during the journey. Discuss it at various intervals or at the trip’s end.

• Choose a podcast or book for the trip.
• Listen or read in segments during the journey.
• Hold discussions at predetermined intervals or at the end of the trip.

Landmark Bingo

Similar to License Plate Bingo but with landmarks or types of locations (e.g., museums, bridges, national parks). First to complete their card wins.

• Create bingo cards with various landmarks or location types.
• Spot and mark off these landmarks during your travels.
• The first to complete their card wins.

Fit Challenge

Use fitness trackers to monitor steps or activity levels, setting daily goals. The person with the most consistent achievement or improvement wins.

• Set daily step or activity goals for each traveler.
• Use fitness trackers to monitor progress.
• Review achievements at the end of the trip to determine the winner.

Souvenir Swap

Collect souvenirs from each location, then have a swap meet at the end of the trip to exchange items and stories.

• Collect souvenirs from each stop on your journey.
• At the trip’s end, organize a swap meet to exchange souvenirs and share stories behind each item.

City Builder

Like your idea, participants choose items or landmarks they see and describe how they’d incorporate them into their ideal city. Sketch or list ideas and share at the trip’s end.

• As you travel, note down interesting items or landmarks.
• Imagine and describe how each could be part of your ideal city.
• Share your city concepts with fellow travelers at the end of the trip.

Travel Playlist Compilation

Each person adds songs to a collaborative playlist throughout the trip, aiming to encapsulate the journey’s mood or memorable moments.

• Create a collaborative playlist accessible to all travelers.
• Add songs throughout the trip that capture moments or moods.
• Share and discuss the playlist at the journey’s conclusion.

Cultural Immersion List

Make a list of cultural activities to experience, such as attending a local event or trying a traditional craft. Document each activity with photos or entries in a travel diary.

• Before the trip, research and list cultural activities available along your route.
• Participate in these activities and document the experience.
• Share your cultural immersion experiences through photos or diary entries.

Historical Marker Hunt

Take note of historical markers or sites visited. Research and share a brief history at the day’s end or trip’s conclusion.

• Keep an eye out for historical markers and sites during your travels.
• Research and learn about the significance of each.
• Share your findings with fellow travelers at the end of the day or trip.

Roadside Attraction Bingo

In my opinion, this is one of the best road trip games. Start by Creating bingo cards with common and uncommon roadside attractions (e.g., giant statues, unique local businesses). First to spot and document each with a photo wins.

• Prepare bingo cards with various roadside attractions listed.
• Spot and photograph these attractions during your journey.
• The first to complete a bingo row or card wins.

Travel Vlog or Blog

Document the trip through videos or blog posts, with each person responsible for capturing or writing about different segments or aspects of the journey.

• Assign different travel segments or topics to each traveler for documentation.
• Capture the journey through videos or blog entries.
• Compile and share the complete vlog or blog at the trip’s conclusion.

These games encourage exploration, creativity, and physical activity, making long journeys or extended periods more engaging and memorable for all involved.

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – Pre-Planned Games

Games that require a bit of pre-planning can add an enriching layer to your journey, transforming a simple trip into an adventure filled with discovery and learning. Here are several themes and ideas for games and activities that can be planned in advance to enhance long journeys.

Movie Set Road Trip

Research and plan visits to filming locations of favorite movies or TV shows. Create trivia or scavenger hunts based on those movies to play en route or at the location.

• Research and list filming locations of interest along your route.
• Plan your visit to these locations.
• Create trivia questions or a scavenger hunt related to the movies or TV shows for additional fun.

Historical Trails

Choose a historical trail or route, such as the Oregon Trail, Route 66, or the Freedom Trail, and plan stops at significant landmarks. Prepare related games, stories, or quizzes for each landmark.

• Select a historical trail or route and identify key landmarks to visit.
• Research the history and significance of each landmark.
• Prepare interactive games, stories, or quizzes related to each stop.

Geocaching Adventure

Use a geocaching app to plan a route with caches along the way. Geocaching combines treasure hunting with navigation skills, making for a thrilling journey.

• Download a geocaching app and locate caches along your travel route.
• Plan your stops around these geocache locations.
• Use the app to navigate to the caches and log your finds.

Cultural Heritage Tour

Select a route that goes through areas rich in cultural heritage. Learn about the local traditions, cuisines, and crafts in advance, and plan activities or visits around them.

• Research areas rich in cultural heritage along your route.
• Learn about local traditions, cuisines, and crafts.
• Plan visits or activities that allow you to experience the cultural heritage firsthand.

Nature Exploration

Plan a trip around national parks, nature reserves, or scenic landscapes. Prepare a nature bingo or scavenger hunt that includes flora, fauna, and geological features to look for.

• Identify national parks, nature reserves, or scenic landscapes to visit.
• Prepare a nature bingo or scavenger hunt with items to find or observe.
• Explore the natural beauty and mark off items on your bingo card or scavenger hunt list.

Art and Architecture Quest

Focus on exploring art galleries, street art, and architectural wonders along your route. Develop an art journal or photo challenge to capture and reflect on the art seen during the trip.

• Map out art galleries, street art locations, and architectural wonders to visit.
• Create an art journal or initiate a photo challenge for the trip.
• Document and discuss the art and architecture you encounter.

Literary Journey

Choose a route that follows the settings of a novel or the life of a famous author. Prepare discussions, readings, and activities based on the book or author’s works.

• Select a novel or author with strong ties to specific locations.
• Plan your route to follow the settings or significant places in the author’s life.
• Organize discussions, readings, and activities related to the book or author at each stop.

Music Trail

Plan to visit places of musical significance, such as the birthplaces of famous genres (e.g., jazz in New Orleans, country in Nashville) or iconic music venues. Include a playlist of related music to listen to as you travel.

• Identify places of musical significance to visit on your trip.
• Compile a playlist of music related to these places or genres.
• Visit the locations and immerse yourself in the music history and culture.

Science and Innovation Tour

Include stops at science museums, observatories, tech companies, or historical sites of scientific discoveries. Prepare trivia questions or experiments related to each stop.

• Plan visits to science museums, observatories, and other related sites.
• Prepare trivia questions or simple experiments related to the science or innovation at each location.
• Engage with the science and technology through interactive learning at each stop.

Foodie Road Trip

Map out a route based on regional cuisines, famous restaurants, or food festivals. Plan to try specific dishes at each location and rate them, or even take a cooking class.

• Research regional cuisines, famous restaurants, and food festivals along your route.
• Make a list of must-try dishes or restaurants.
• Sample the local cuisine at each stop, rate the dishes, and possibly take a local cooking class.

Sports History Tour

Visit stadiums, halls of fame, or hometowns of famous athletes. Create fantasy sports teams or sports trivia based on the locations visited.

• Identify stadiums, halls of fame, and significant sports locations along your route.
• Research the sports history of each location to create trivia questions or fantasy sports teams.
• Engage in trivia challenges or discussions about sports history at each stop.

Ghost Towns and Legends

Explore abandoned towns, haunted locations, or sites of local legends. Research stories in advance for storytelling sessions.

• Map out ghost towns, haunted locations, or legendary sites to visit.
• Gather stories, legends, and histories of each place before the trip.
• Share these stories with your travel companions as you explore each site.

Astronomy Road Trip

Plan stops at observatories, planetariums, or dark sky parks for stargazing. Learn about constellations and celestial events that may occur during your trip.

• Locate observatories, planetariums, and dark sky parks along your travel route.
• Research constellations, stars, and any celestial events happening during your trip.
• Schedule stargazing sessions and use the opportunity to learn and share astronomy knowledge.

Eco-Challenge

Focus on sustainable travel, visiting eco-friendly sites or engaging in conservation activities. Plan challenges around minimizing your carbon footprint or learning about ecology.

• Choose eco-friendly destinations and activities that emphasize conservation and sustainability.
• Set personal or group challenges to minimize your carbon footprint during the trip.
• Engage in activities that educate on environmental conservation and document your eco-friendly practices.

Fitness Challenge

Map out a route with opportunities for hiking, biking, swimming, or other physical activities. Set personal fitness goals or challenges for each location.

• Identify stops along your route where you can engage in physical activities like hiking or biking.
• Set fitness goals or challenges for each activity or location.
• Track your progress and celebrate achievements as you meet your fitness goals during the trip.

Photography Challenge

Choose a theme or subject for photography (e.g., landscapes, urban life, sunrise/sunset) and plan stops accordingly. Share tips and critique photos to improve skills along the way.

• Decide on a photography theme or subject for your trip.
• Plan your route to include stops that offer opportunities to capture photos related to your theme.
• Share photography tips among your group and critique each other’s photos to improve your skills.

Gardens and Botanics Tour

Visit botanical gardens, arboretums, or wildflower trails. Prepare a plant identification guide or a botanical sketchbook activity.

• Research and plan visits to botanical gardens, arboretums, and trails known for their flora.
• Prepare a plant identification guide or create a botanical sketchbook for drawing the plants you see.
• Explore the beauty of plant life, documenting and sketching as you go.

Film Festival Tour

Attend film festivals in different cities if your trip coincides with their schedules. Discuss themes, cinematography, and performances.

• Research film festivals happening along your route and plan your itinerary to attend them.
• Watch films and participate in festival activities.
• Hold discussions about the films’ themes, cinematography, and performances after viewing.

Craft Brewery Tour

For adults, plan a route that includes visits to craft breweries, with tastings and tours. Learn about the brewing process and regional specialties.

• Identify craft breweries along your route and plan visits.
• Participate in brewery tours and tastings to learn about the brewing process and regional beer specialties.
• Discuss the flavors, brewing techniques, and your favorite brews from each stop.

Railroad History Trip

Follow historic railroad routes, visiting train stations, railroad museums, and scenic railway journeys. Prepare related games or model train building sessions.

• Research historic railroad routes and significant railway locations to visit.
• Plan stops at train stations, museums, and scenic railway journeys that highlight railroad history.
• Engage in railroad-themed games or model train building activities to deepen your appreciation of railway heritage.

These themes not only add structure and purpose to your journey but also enrich the experience with education, culture, and fun, making the journey as memorable as the destination.

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – Educational Games

Educational games that engage Older Kids and Teens (or even Adults) into thinking critically about their surroundings can be both fun and informative, helping them learn about economics, history, architecture, and more. Here are several ideas for games that can educate kids during a journey, categorized by different themes.

Architecture and Urban Planning

Building functions guess.

Spot different buildings, and have kids guess their purposes. Discuss why certain designs are used for specific functions.

• Point out various buildings along the route.
• Ask kids to guess each building’s function based on its design.
• Discuss the architectural features that indicate the building’s purpose.

City Planning Basics

Discuss why certain areas have more of a specific type of business or building and talk about zoning, city planning, and community needs.

• Observe the distribution of businesses and buildings in different areas.
• Initiate a discussion on zoning laws, city planning, and why certain areas develop specific business types.
• Talk about how these decisions impact the community.

Economics and Business

Business success or failure.

When passing by businesses or abandoned buildings, speculate why a business might have succeeded or failed.

• Identify businesses or buildings that are thriving or abandoned.
• Discuss potential reasons for their success or failure.
• Consider factors like location, competition, and market demand.

Supply and Demand on the Road

Discuss why certain products or services are more common in some areas than others, relating it to the concept of supply and demand.

• Notice the prevalence of certain types of businesses or products in different regions.
• Discuss how supply and demand influence these patterns.
• Talk about factors that affect supply and demand in various locations.

Environmental Science

Eco-detectives.

Identify different types of landscapes (urban, rural, forest, desert) and discuss the ecosystems and how humans impact them.

• As you travel, identify and categorize the landscapes you see.
• Discuss the characteristics of each ecosystem.
• Talk about human impacts on these environments.

Recycling and Sustainability Quest

Spot recycling bins, solar panels, wind turbines, or other signs of sustainable practices and discuss their importance.

• Look for signs of sustainable practices and renewable energy use.
• Discuss the importance of each practice spotted.
• Talk about ways to incorporate sustainability into daily life.

History and Culture

Historical marker scavenger hunt.

Look for historical markers and research or discuss the significance of each location.

• Keep an eye out for historical markers along your route.
• Stop to read the markers and research further if needed.
• Discuss the historical significance of the locations.

Cultural Diversity Explorer

Notice and discuss cultural markers that indicate the heritage of the communities you pass through (e.g., architectural styles, restaurants offering various cuisines).

• Observe and identify cultural markers in different communities.
• Discuss what these markers reveal about the community’s heritage.
• Explore the cultural diversity and history of the places you visit.

Science and Technology

Engineering wonders.

Identify and talk about the engineering behind bridges, tunnels, dams, and skyscrapers.

• Spot engineering marvels like bridges and skyscrapers.
• Discuss the engineering principles and challenges involved in their construction.
• Explore the impact of these structures on society and the environment.

Technology Timeline

Notice and discuss the evolution of technology, from old factories to modern wind farms or tech companies.

• Identify examples of old and new technology along your route.
• Discuss how technology has evolved over time.
• Consider the future direction of technological development.

Mathematics

Math in motion.

Calculate travel times, distances, or fuel consumption as a practical application of math skills.

• Use maps and travel information to calculate distances between stops.
• Estimate travel times based on distance and speed.
• Discuss fuel consumption and how to calculate it.

Budgeting Game

Give kids a hypothetical budget for a day’s journey. Have them manage expenses like food, souvenirs, and activities.

• Assign a hypothetical budget for the day.
• As you make stops, have kids decide how to spend their budget.
• Discuss choices and the importance of budgeting.

Health and Nutrition

Healthy choices challenge.

Discuss the nutritional value of different foods when stopping for meals, encouraging healthy choices.

• At meal stops, evaluate the available food options.
• Discuss the nutritional value of different foods.
• Encourage making healthy food choices.

Exercise Exploration

Talk about the importance of physical activity and brainstorm ways to stay active during stops.

• Discuss the benefits of regular physical activity.
• Brainstorm quick exercises or activities that can be done at rest stops.
• Encourage everyone to participate in physical activities during stops.

Provide kids with maps and have them track the journey, learning to read key map symbols and distances.

• Distribute maps to the kids.
• Teach them how to read map symbols and measure distances.
• Have them track the journey’s progress on their maps.

Landmark Legends

Research and share stories about natural landmarks you pass, enhancing geographical and cultural knowledge.

• Identify natural landmarks along your route.
• Research and prepare stories or facts about each landmark.
• Share these stories as you pass by the landmarks.

Government and Civics

Local government glimpse.

Discuss the role of local government in maintaining roads, parks, and public services spotted along the way.

• As you travel, identify public services and infrastructure.
• Discuss the role of local governments in providing these services.
• Talk about the importance of civic responsibility and community involvement.

Public Services Hunt

Identify and talk about different public services (fire stations, schools, libraries) and their roles in the community.

• Spot various public service facilities during your journey.
• Discuss the function and importance of each service.
• Consider how these services contribute to community welfare.

Arts and Creativity

Artistic inspirations.

Encourage kids to sketch or describe landscapes, buildings, or scenes they find interesting, discussing artistic elements.

• Provide sketchbooks or notebooks for drawing or describing scenes.
• Encourage observation and depiction of interesting sights.
• Discuss the artistic elements of the scenes captured.

Music and Movements

Discuss the influence of music on culture and personal identity, exploring different genres and artists.

• Create a playlist featuring a variety of music genres and artists.
• As you listen, discuss the cultural significance and personal impact of different musical styles.
• Encourage exploration of new music and artists.

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

What-if scenarios.

Pose hypothetical situations related to the journey or locations (e.g., “What if this bridge wasn’t here? How would it affect the town?”).

• Present hypothetical scenarios to the group.
• Discuss possible outcomes and impacts of these scenarios.
• Encourage creative thinking and problem-solving discussions.

Invent a Solution

Spot a problem or challenge a community might face (like traffic congestion, pollution) and brainstorm innovative solutions.

• Identify visible community challenges during your trip.
• Discuss the causes and potential solutions to these problems.
• Encourage innovative and practical ideas.

Language and Communication

Language spotting.

Identify different languages on signs, businesses, and public spaces. Discuss where these languages are from and basic greetings or phrases.

• Look for signs or businesses featuring different languages.
• Discuss the origins of these languages and their global presence.
• Learn and share basic greetings or phrases in the languages spotted.

Storytelling from Surroundings

Create stories based on interesting sights or landmarks seen, encouraging creativity and narrative skills.

• Choose a landmark or sight as the story’s setting or inspiration.
• Encourage each participant to create and share a story based on the chosen sight.
• Discuss the creative process and narrative elements of each story.

Social Studies

Community roles and jobs.

Observe different jobs people are doing in the communities you pass through and discuss their importance to society.

• Notice various jobs and roles performed by people in different communities.
• Discuss the significance of these jobs to the community and society at large.
• Reflect on the diversity of roles and their contributions to community life.

Historical Impact Analysis

Speculate on how historical events might have shaped the landscapes, towns, and cities you visit.

• Research the history of the places you plan to visit.
• As you travel, discuss the historical events that have influenced these places.
• Consider the long-term impacts of these events on the landscape and community.

Environmental Awareness

Conservation conversations.

Discuss the importance of conservation efforts visible during your journey, such as protected areas, wildlife crossings, and conservation signs.

• Identify conservation efforts and protected areas during your travels.
• Discuss the purpose and importance of these conservation measures.
• Reflect on how individuals and communities can contribute to environmental conservation.

Climate Zones

Talk about the different climate zones you travel through and their characteristics, including the types of vegetation and wildlife that can survive there.

• Research the climate zones along your route.
• Discuss the characteristics of each climate zone, including vegetation and wildlife.
• Reflect on how climate affects the natural world and human activities.

Astronomy and Space

Skywatching stories.

If traveling at night, identify constellations and share myths or facts about them.

• Prepare constellation maps or apps for night travel.
• Identify constellations and share their myths or scientific facts.
• Discuss the significance of these constellations in different cultures and science.

Space Exploration Discussion

Discuss how certain landscapes you pass through resemble other planets or moons and the basics of space exploration.

• Compare and contrast Earth’s landscapes with known landscapes of other planets or moons.
• Discuss human space exploration efforts and achievements.
• Explore the possibilities of future space travel and discovery.

These educational games and discussions can turn a long journey into a moving classroom, sparking curiosity and a love for learning in various subjects. They encourage observation, questioning, and critical thinking, making travel an enriching experience beyond just reaching a destination.

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – Word and Riddle Games

Here are 20 word or riddle games designed to entertain teens and adults during long car trips. These games are perfect for stimulating the mind and sparking lively discussions.

Start with one word, and each person says the first word that comes to mind. Keep going until you can’t think of any more associations.

• Someone says a starting word.
• The next person says the first word they think of that’s associated with it.
• Continue around until no one can think of a related word.

Example “Car” might lead to “road,” which might lead to “travel,” and so on.

Each person shares three statements about themselves—two truths and one lie. The others have to guess which statement is the lie.

• Each player thinks of two truths and one lie about themselves.
• They share all three statements in a random order.
• The others guess which one is the lie.

Example “I’ve been to Australia, I have two siblings, I can play the guitar.” (If the lie is about playing the guitar.)

Movie Synonyms

Describe a movie title with synonyms (e.g., “Gigantic” for “Big”), and others guess the movie.

• Think of a movie title.
• Describe it using synonyms without saying the actual title.
• Others guess the movie based on your description.

Example “Nighttime in the Museum” for “Night at the Museum.”

Choose a word, and everyone takes turns saying a word that rhymes with it until someone gets stumped.

• Take turns saying words that rhyme with the starting word.
• Continue until someone can’t think of a rhyming word.

Example If the starting word is “cat,” responses might include “hat,” “bat,” “rat,” etc.

Alphabet Story

Start a story where each sentence begins with the consecutive letter of the alphabet. “A long time ago…” “But then…”

• Begin a story with a sentence starting with “A.”
• The next person continues the story with a sentence starting with “B.”

Example “A cat walked into a bar. But it wasn’t an ordinary bar…”

Riddle Me This

Share riddles for others to solve, ranging from simple to complex. You can prepare a list of riddles beforehand.

• Think of or look up a riddle.
• Share the riddle with the others.
• They try to solve it.

Example “What has to be broken before you can use it?” (An egg.)

License Plate Decoder

Invent a backstory or meaning for the letters and numbers on a license plate you see.

• Choose a random license plate.
• Create a story or meaning behind its letters and numbers.
• Share with the others and see who can come up with the most creative interpretation.

Example For “4JMP2,” “Four jugglers made pancakes too.”

Start with a word, and each person changes one letter to make a new word. The goal is to see how far you can veer from the original word.

• Begin with any word.
• The next person changes one letter to form a new word.
• Continue, with each person altering one letter of the latest word.

Example “Cat” could change to “bat,” then to “bit,” “bite,” and so on.

These games are great for keeping the energy up and making long car trips more enjoyable and engaging for teens and adults alike.

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – Number Plate Game Ideas

Elevate your road trip entertainment with these imaginative number plate car games. Each game transforms ordinary license plates into puzzles, stories, and challenges, making the miles fly by.

Alphabet Soup

Find license plates in alphabetical order, starting with A and working your way to Z.

Example First, spot a plate with an ‘A’, then look for a ‘B’, and continue until you reach ‘Z’.

State Bingo

Create bingo cards with different states. Spot license plates from those states to mark off your squares.

Example If your card has Texas, Florida, and California, and you spot a plate from Texas, mark that square off.

License Plate Limericks

Create a short, funny limerick using the letters from a spotted license plate.

Example For a plate reading “D4N,” a limerick could be: “A dog named Dan, who could tan, in the sun he’d span, until he ran, after the mailman.”

License Plate Math

Use the numbers on a license plate to create and solve math problems. Add, subtract, multiply, or divide the digits in creative ways.

Example If a plate is “X32G4,” you could create: 3 + 2 – 4 = 1.

Plate Color Hunt

Look for license plates of a specific color. The first to spot a predetermined number of them wins.

Example Find five blue license plates while traveling through the city.

Plate Pictionary

Draw a scene or object that the letters on a license plate remind you of, and have others guess what it is.

Example A plate “CAT” might inspire a drawing of a cat lounging in the sun.

License Plate Stories

Create a short story or sentence using the letters of a license plate as the first letter of each word.

Example For “GFT,” a story could start: “Giant frogs trembled…”

Around the World

Spot license plates from as many different states or countries as possible, aiming to “travel” through continents or across the U.S.

Example Spotting a plate from California, then one from New York, and imagining the coast-to-coast journey.

Plate Detective

Guess the profession or personality of the vehicle’s owner based on the license plate and the car’s appearance.

Example A plate that reads “4RTIST” on a brightly painted van might belong to an artist.

Invent a funny or interesting meaning behind the letters and numbers on a license plate.

Example A plate “123 XYZ” could be decoded as “One-two-three, Xylophone Yodeling Zebras.”

Plate Categories

Pick a category (e.g., animals, foods, movies). Use the letters on a license plate to name something within that category.

Example For “BGR,” in the food category, you could say “Burger.”

License Plate Scramble

Rearrange the letters in a spotted license plate to form new words or phrases.

Example A plate “LVE” could be scrambled to “EVL” (Evil).

Secret Mission

Pretend each spotted license plate is a clue or code for a secret mission. Create the mission’s objective based on the plates you see.

Example A plate “007” might inspire a spy mission to uncover a mystery.

License Plate Haiku

Use the letters on a license plate to inspire a haiku. The letters can dictate the theme or specific words to use.

Example For “SNW,” a haiku could be: “Silent night whispers, Snowflakes dance on cold breezes, Winter’s breath holds tight.”

Plate Chain

Spot a license plate, then find another plate where the last letter or number of the first plate is the first letter or number of the next.

Example If you see a plate ending in “4,” find another starting with “4.”

License Plate Tag

When you see a license plate from a new state, shout it out. No repeats allowed. The person with the most unique states wins.

Example Spotting plates from Florida, then Texas, and so on, each called out once.

Number Pursuit

Choose a number (e.g., 7), and then find license plates with numbers that add up to it.

Example A plate with “313” because 3 + 1 + 3 = 7.

License Plate Bingo Deluxe

Make a bingo card with a mix of states, numbers, and colors. For example, “A blue plate from Texas” or “A plate with ‘123’.”

Example Creating a bingo card that requires spotting a green plate, a plate from Nevada, and a plate containing “567.”

Alphabetical Sentences

Use the letters from a plate to start each word of a sentence, in order. The more coherent the sentence, the better.

Example For “CAT,” a sentence could be: “Cats adore tuna.”

License Plate Riddles

Create riddles based on the letters and numbers of a license plate. For example, if the plate is “4JMP2,” the riddle could be “I jump but never play. What am I?” (Answer: A basketball).

Example For “SUN1,” a riddle might be: “I shine and rise but never run. What am I?” (Answer: The sun).

These variations of the number plate game provide a fresh and engaging way to pass the time on long car journeys, turning every new plate spotted into a mini-adventure.

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – Brain Teasers and Logic Puzzles

Here are 20 brain teasers and logic puzzles designed to challenge and entertain during long car trips. These puzzles are perfect for teens and adults looking for a mental workout on the road.

Answers at the bottom of section.

Missing Dollar

Three friends check into a hotel room that costs $30. Each friend pays $10. Later, the clerk realizes the room was only $25 and gives $5 to the bellboy to return to the friends. The bellboy, however, decides to keep $2 for himself and gives $1 back to each friend. Now, each friend has paid $9, totaling $27, and the bellboy has $2. Where is the missing dollar?

Crossing the Bridge

Four people need to cross a bridge at night. The bridge can only hold two people at a time, and they have only one flashlight. The group’s speeds are 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, and 10 minutes. How can they all cross the bridge in 17 minutes?

Farmer’s Challenge

A farmer needs to transport a wolf, a goat, and a cabbage across a river. His boat can only carry him and one other item at a time. He can’t leave the wolf alone with the goat or the goat alone with the cabbage. How can he get all three across safely?

The Three Doors

You’re in a game show with three doors. Behind one door is a car, and behind the other two are goats. You pick a door, say No. 1, and the host, who knows what’s behind the doors, opens another door, say No. 3, revealing a goat. He then asks if you want to switch to door No. 2. Should you switch?

The Hat Puzzle

Three people are captured by a bandit king. The king lines them up and places a hat on each of their heads, either black or white. Each person can only see the hat of the people in front of them, not their own or those behind. The king promises freedom to anyone who can correctly state the color of their hat. How do they figure it out?

Water Jug Problem

You have a 5-liter jug and a 3-liter jug and need to measure exactly 4 liters of water. How do you do it?

The Monty Hall Problem

Similar to the Three Doors puzzle but explore variations. For instance, what if there were 100 doors instead of three?

Two Fathers and Two Sons

Two fathers and two sons go fishing. Each catches one fish, so why do they bring home only three fish?

The Poisoned Wine

A king has 1000 bottles of wine, and one is poisoned. He has 10 prisoners to find out which one is poisoned. The poison takes effect in an hour, and the king needs the answer by the next morning. How does he figure out which bottle is poisoned with the least number of deaths?

Infinite Quarter Toss

If you toss a quarter an infinite number of times, what are the odds that you will eventually flip heads ten times in a row?

The Liar and the Truth Teller

You come to a fork in the road with two individuals. One always tells the truth, and the other always lies. You can ask one question to find out which road leads to your destination. What do you ask?

The Sock Drawer

In a dark room, you have a drawer containing 10 red socks and 10 blue socks. How many socks must you pull out to ensure you have a matching pair?

Birthday Paradox

In a room of 23 people, what’s the probability that at least two people share the same birthday?

The Escalator

A man walks up an escalator moving downward and counts 50 steps. When he walks up the same escalator, now moving upward, he counts 75 steps. How many steps would he count if the escalator were not moving?

The Four Prisoners

Four prisoners are lined up, and each has a hat placed on their head, either black or white. They can’t speak, move, or see their hat but can see the hats in front of them. How can at least one guarantee to guess their hat color correctly?

The Dropped Egg

You have two eggs and access to a 100-story building. The eggs can survive falls from certain floors without breaking. What’s the least number of drops you need to find out the highest floor from which an egg can be dropped without breaking?

The Silent Agreement

Two people, who have never met, are placed in separate rooms and can’t communicate. They are told that if they both write down the same positive whole number, they will each win that amount in dollars. However, if one writes down a number one higher than the other, that person wins $1,000,000. What number do they choose?

Locked Box with a Key Inside

You have a locked box that is transparent enough to see a key inside. The box has a hole too small for the key to fit through. How do you open the box?

Dividing the Gold

Five pirates discover a treasure of 100 gold coins. They must divide it under the rules that the most senior pirate proposes a distribution, and all pirates, including the proposer, vote on it. If half or more of the pirates vote for it, the gold is distributed that way. Otherwise, the proposer is thrown overboard, and the process repeats. How does the gold get divided?

The Racing Horses

You have 25 horses, and you want to find out the three fastest horses. You can race up to 5 horses at a time, but you don’t have a stopwatch. What’s the minimum number of races you need to identify the top 3 horses?

Answer: There’s no missing dollar. This is a common misdirection puzzle. The $27 total includes the $25 room cost plus the $2 kept by the bellboy. The three friends effectively paid $9 each ($27 total), out of which $25 went to the room and $2 to the bellboy.

Answer: The quickest way is 17 minutes:

• The two fastest people (1 minute and 2 minutes) cross first, taking 2 minutes.
• The 1-minute person comes back with the flashlight, taking 1 more minute (3 minutes total).
• The two slowest people (5 minutes and 10 minutes) cross, taking 10 minutes (13 minutes total).
• The 2-minute person comes back with the flashlight, taking 2 more minutes (15 minutes total).
• The two fastest people (1 minute and 2 minutes) cross again, taking 2 minutes (17 minutes total).

Answer: The farmer takes the goat across first, leaves it, and returns. He then takes the wolf (or the cabbage) across, but brings the goat back with him. He leaves the goat on the original side and takes the cabbage across. Finally, he returns to pick up the goat.

Answer: Yes, you should switch. When you initially choose a door, there’s a 1/3 chance you’ve picked the car and a 2/3 chance you’ve picked a goat. After the host opens a door revealing a goat, switching gives you a 2/3 chance of winning the car, as the initial probabilities don’t change.

Answer: This puzzle’s solution depends on the specific setup and rules provided, such as the arrangement of the hats and the logic each prisoner can use based on what they see and know.

Answer: Fill the 5-liter jug and use it to fill the 3-liter jug, leaving you with 2 liters in the 5-liter jug. Empty the 3-liter jug, transfer the 2 liters into it, and fill the 5-liter jug again. Pour from the 5-liter jug into the 3-liter jug until it’s full, leaving exactly 4 liters in the 5-liter jug.

Answer: Switching doors indeed increases your chance of winning to 2/3, as initially, there’s a 1/3 chance you’ve chosen the car and a 2/3 chance the car is behind one of the other doors.

Answer: There are only three people: a grandfather, his son (who is also a father), and his grandson.

Answer: Use a binary system to label the bottles and give each prisoner a mix of wines according to the binary labels. You can identify the poisoned bottle with just one round of testing and a maximum of one death.

Answer: The probability is 1, meaning it’s certain that you will eventually flip heads ten times in a row if you flip the coin an infinite number of times.

Answer: You ask either person what the other would say is the correct road. Then you take the opposite road.

Answer: You must pull out three socks to guarantee a matching pair, as the first two could be one of each color.

Answer: The probability that at least two people share the same birthday in a room of 23 people is about 50%.

Answer: This puzzle’s solution would depend on understanding the man’s walking speed relative to the speed of the escalator, a variable not provided in the question.

Answer: Without more specifics, one strategy involves the prisoners using logical deduction based on what they see and assuming a predetermined order of guessing to ensure at least one can correctly state their hat color.

Answer: The least number of drops to find the highest safe floor can be minimized using a binary search strategy or by incrementing floors in a systematic way, but the exact number depends on the outcome of each drop.

Answer: Rational choice theory might suggest both choosing the number 1, as cooperation maximizes the reward without risking losing to greed.

Answer: The solution might involve using magnets, shaking the box until the key falls out of the lock mechanism, or other creative solutions not directly apparent from the problem statement.

Answer: The most senior pirate proposes giving one gold coin to the lowest-ranking pirate and another to one other pirate, keeping the rest. This ensures just enough votes to keep from being thrown overboard.

Answer: You need 7 races. Race the 25 horses in groups of 5, then race the winners of each group to find the fastest three.

These puzzles are sure to provide plenty of mental stimulation and spark engaging conversations, making any long car trip feel shorter.

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – True or False Game Ideas

True or False games are fantastic for stimulating critical thinking and can be adapted to a wide range of themes, especially during a journey where the scenery, radio, and conversations provide endless material. Here are several themes and ideas for True or False games that can be played during a car ride.

Historical Facts – True or False: Landmarks Edition

Make up or state true facts about historical landmarks you pass or discuss during the trip.

Environmental and Geographical

Ecosystems and wildlife.

Make statements about the ecosystems or animals you might see or pass through during your journey, turning it into an educational yet fun road trip game.

Geographical Features

Claim facts about rivers, mountains, or other geographical features in the areas you’re traveling through.

Cultural and Societal

Cultural practices.

Propose true or false statements about the cultural practices of the places you’re visiting or passing by.

Say something about celebrities or historical figures associated with the areas you’re traveling through.

Innovations on the Road

Discuss inventions or technological advancements and their origins or functionalities, related or not to what you see during the trip.

Astronomy Facts

Share amazing but true (or false) facts about space, planets, or constellations that might relate to the night sky if you’re traveling after dark.

Arts and Literature

Literary legends.

Make statements about authors, books, or literary characters related to the regions you’re exploring.

Music Milestones

Assert facts about music genres, artists, or songs that come up on the radio, exploring their backgrounds and truths.

Food and Cuisine – Culinary Claims

Make claims about the local cuisines, dishes, or food production methods of the places you’re visiting.

Sports and Recreation – Athletic Achievements

Propose true or false facts about sports teams, events, or athletes from the areas you’re driving through.

Business and Economy – Corporate Conundrums

Discuss companies, startups, or economic facts related to the regions you’re in, which could include visible businesses or industries along the route.

Architecture and Urban Planning – Architectural Assertions

State facts about architectural styles, famous buildings, or urban planning trends visible on your journey.

Transportation and Travel – Vehicular Varieties

Make statements about the history, evolution, or peculiar facts of different modes of transportation you see or use.

Media and Entertainment – Entertainment Enigmas

Share surprising truths or fabrications about movies, TV shows, or celebrities connected to the locations you’re passing by.

Wildlife and Nature Conservation – Conservation Facts

Propose statements about wildlife conservation efforts, endangered species, or national parks you might encounter.

Health and Wellness – Well-being Wonders

Discuss health facts, myths, or surprising truths about wellness practices seen or relevant during your trip.

Astronomy and Space Exploration – Space Speculations

Create true or false statements about astronomical discoveries, space missions, or celestial phenomena.

Myths, Legends, and Folklore – Mythical Musings

Weave in local myths, legends, or ghost stories of the areas you’re traveling through, presenting them as true or false.

Puzzles and Brain Teasers – Logical Lore

Challenge your travel companions with logical puzzles or brain teasers that seem implausible but might actually be true.

Playing these True or False games can lead to intriguing discussions, spur curiosity, and prompt participants to learn more about a variety of topics, all while keeping the travel atmosphere lively and engaging.

Fun Car Games for Teens and Adults – Pop Culture Trivia and Radio

Here are 20 Pop culture trivia games focused on what you might hear on the radio during a long car trip. These games can make the journey more entertaining and engaging for everyone.

One person hums or describes a song without saying its title, and others guess the song.

When a song plays on the radio, the first person to shout out the correct artist wins a point.

Stop a song midway and challenge passengers to correctly finish the lyrics.

Song in a Movie

Name a song that’s playing and have participants guess which movie it was featured in.

Decade Duel

When a song comes on, players guess the decade it was released. Closest guess wins.

Identify the genre of the current song on the radio. Bonus points for naming another artist from the same genre.

Cover or Original

Decide if the song playing is a cover version or the original. Extra points for naming the original artist if it’s a cover.

Artist Association

After hearing a song, the next player must name another artist who has collaborated with the performing artist.

One-Hit Wonders

When a song by a one-hit wonder artist plays, be the first to identify them as such.

Back-to-Back

After one song ends, guess the artist of the next song before it starts.

Lyric Lookup

Someone recites lyrics from a song, and others have to name the song and artist.

Musical Connections

Name a song, then players take turns naming another song that shares a word in the title.

Guess the Album

Name the song and artist that’s playing, and challenge others to guess the album it’s from.

Song Title Synonyms

Provide a synonym for a song title (e.g., “Gigantic” for “Big”), and others guess the actual title.

Artist’s First Hit

When an artist’s song plays, challenge others to name the artist’s first hit single.

Same Era Artists

Name the artist currently playing and have players list other artists who were popular in the same era.

Award-Winning Tracks

Guess whether the current song or its artist has won a Grammy (or any other major music award) and for what category.

Song Sampler

Play the first few seconds of a song from your phone, and others guess the song and artist.

Songs often mention cities, states, or countries. When a location is mentioned in a song, be the first to shout it out.

Collaboration Call-Out

When a song featuring multiple artists plays, earn points by naming all the artists involved.

These pop culture trivia games focused on radio content are sure to make any long car trip more enjoyable and engaging, offering a fun way to explore music knowledge and preferences with friends and family.

I really hope this article has been of help. My overall aim of this website is to whole heartedly help people so they stay safe on the roads. Keeping passengers entertained and also the driver (as long as it’s safe and not distracting) is important.

If you are going on a road trip why not check out my other article on Car First Aid Kits or Best Dash Cams .

If you have any questions. please feel free to leave a comment or you can contact me directly via the contact us page.

What are road trip games, and why are they so popular?

Road trip games are fun activities to play during car rides to keep passengers entertained and pass the time. They are popular because they help create a lively atmosphere and make long journeys more enjoyable.

How can I make the most of game to play on a long car ride with adults and kids?

To make the most of your road trip games, choose a variety of games that appeal to both adults and kids, take turns playing different games, and have small prizes for winners to add excitement.

What are some classic car games that everyone in the car will enjoy?

Classic car games like “I Spy,” “20 Questions,” “Alphabet Game,” and “License Plate Game” are popular choices that can entertain both adults and kids during a long car ride.

How do I keep my younger kids entertained during a family road trip?

For younger kids, consider playing games like “I Spy with My Little Eye,” “Alphabet Game,” and “Road Trip Scavenger Hunt” that are engaging and easy to understand.

What are some creative road trip games that involve road signs and landmarks?

Games like “Road Signs Bingo,” “Road Trip Scavenger Hunt,” and “Travel Games” that require players to spot specific road signs and landmarks along the journey are both educational and fun.

How can I ensure that everyone in the car participates in the road trip games?

To ensure everyone participates, establish a rotation system where each person in the car takes turns asking questions or initiating the next game, creating an inclusive and engaging experience.

What are some engaging road trip games for older kids and adults on a long car ride?

Older kids and adults may enjoy games like “Would You Rather,” “20 Questions,” “Memory Game,” and “Road Trip Bingo” that offer a mix of humor, challenge, and interaction for a memorable journey.

How can I make the alphabet game more challenging for advanced players?

To make the alphabet game more challenging, play in alphabetical order with each player naming items starting with the next letter of the alphabet, adding a twist to the classic game.

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14 Road Trip Games Adults Will Actually Enjoy

Before tablets and podcasts, we used games to keep us entertained. For your next road trip, try some of these games to keep you going along the way.

Brand Publisher

Road trips always seem like a great idea at the beginning, and they are! But let's face it: spending hours on end in a moving metal box with the same people can take its toll on your patience. Especially if energetic kids are involved.

So here, to combat potential boredom and irritability in passengers any age, are some fun road trip games to keep everyone in the car happy:, 1. if you have some sleepy passengers in the car, you should definitely play "while you were sleeping.".

The Game: Create the most believable story when someone falls asleep

• First, a passenger must fall asleep

• After five minutes of slumber, the awake passengers begin creating a story

• Each person takes turns adding to the story

• Once the passenger wakes up, you have to get them to believe the story

• If somebody breaks character, they lose a point

• If somebody goes off script, you ask, "Are you sure?" and then that person is silenced and loses two points

• If you successfully fool the person, each storyteller wins three points

• If the sleeping passenger fools the car and joins their story correctly, they steal their current point total

• The one with the most points at the destination wins

2. Change ONE letter of a title and get people to guess it by describing the plot.

The game:  Change ONE letter of a title and get people to guess it by describing the plot. Unfortunately this game doesn't have a name like the others do, but it's still super fun and you can play it anywhere.

• Pick a movie, video game, TV show, or book title and change one letter of it. Don't pick anything to obscure.

• Get people to guess it by describing the plot of the new title you created. For example, you might change Beauty and the Beast to Beauty and the F east , and make up a new plot about a beautiful woman who runs a catering company and has to plan the biggest meal of her career.

• Adding or subtracting a letter from the title also works, just as long as it's still only one letter. Example: Star Warts  instead of Star Wars

3. For a good old-fashioned guessing game, play "21 Questions."

The Game: Guess what a person is thinking in 21 questions

• Someone thinks of something

• Then the car begins by asking questions

• You can't repeat a question that has been asked

• Whoever guesses it right gets to start the next round

4. If your car mates are current and hip on events, then you should play "Did You Hear That...?"

The Game: Pop culture and news collide for a fun game of fact or fiction

• You are trying to fool your opponent

• You start by asking, "Did you hear that _______ happened?"

• Your opponent can either say, "That didn't happen," or, "Tell me more."

• If they correctly guess that it didn't happen, the opponent gets two points

• If they incorrectly guess that it didn't happen, you steal one point and gain two additional

• If you are asked, "Tell me more," points double at the end of the statement

5. For a car full of human jukeboxes, play "The Singing Game."

The Game: Connect song lyrics for a fun sing-along game

• One person starts singing a song

• Using a lyric from the song, the next person has to connect it with another song

• It continues on until somebody messes up the lyrics or is stumped

• "I kissed a girl and I..."

• "...Really, really, really like you..."

• "...Doing that thing you do, breaking my heart into a million..."

6. If your car is full of film buffs, play "The Movie Game."

The Game: Connect actors through movies they have starred in

• The game starts with an actor/actress

• The next person has to say a movie that they were in

• The following person has to state another actor/actress from that movie

• It continues on

• If someone is incorrect, they have to sit out the next round

• Elijah Wood

• Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

• Sean Astin

7. When you have a car full of optimists, play "Fortunately/Unfortunately."

The Game: Making a fortunate situation out of an unfortunate situation

• One person starts by saying "Fortunately" and mentioning something fortunate

• The next person has to follow by saying something unfortunate about the previous situation

• Move clockwise around the car switching between fortunate and unfortunate situations

• If somebody stumbles, they get a strike. Three strikes, and you're out

• Last man standing wins

• Fortunately, this will be my first time seeing the Grand Canyon

• Unfortunately, it was invaded by Martians just last week

• Fortunately, I just finished my course in extraterrestrial communications

8. All know-it-alls will spark some fierce competition if you play "The Alphabet Categories."

• This is NOT the road sign game; you name things in alphabetical order from a category

• You start with a category like food, bands, cars, etc.

• You start with A and travel down the alphabet

• You can get as specific with your categories as you want

9. If you love to get your snack on, definitely play "Regional Food Master."

The Game: Collect the most regional snacks between the start and finish of your road trip

• At each gas station you stop at, you have to find a local snack

• You can only get one food item per gas station

• The food item has to be created within the region the stop is located

• Whoever has the most snacks by your destination wins

• Duplicate cities don't count

10. For the spontaneous math wizards, play "The Counting Game."

The Game: See how high you can collectively count without any order

• Somebody random begins with the number one

• Another person follows at random with the next number

• If two people say the same number at the same time, you start over

• If there is more than a five-second pause, you start over

• You are trying to get to the number 20

11. For all the walking encyclopedias, play "The Name Game."

The Game: Connect first and last names of famous people

• Start with the name of anyone famous (besides yourself, duh...)

• The next person has to say a person whose first name starts with the letter of the previous last name

• If somebody mentions a person where both the first and last name start with the same letter, the game reverses in order (e.g., Bob Barker, Lindsay Lohan, Mandy Moore, etc.)

• Tom Brady

• Billy Joel

• Janet Jackson (reverse!)

• John Oliver

12. For the aspiring DJs in your car, play "Battle of the Bands."

The game: Two people battle to pick the best song based on a category

• One person gives a theme, like "songs about cities" or "love songs"

• Two contestants have 60 seconds

• Each contestant takes a turn playing their selected song

• The car judges the two selections and picks a winner

• Tally up scores at the end of the game

13. If you consider yourself a wordsmith, then definitely play "Word Association."

The Game: See how far you can string along words through association

• The name of the game is associations

• One person begins with a word

• The following person has to think of a word that is associated

• The game continues until somebody messes up or says something far-out

• Taco Salad

14. If you are looking for an easy laugh, play "Cows on My Side."

The Game: Holler when you see a cow!

• When you see a cow on your side of the road, you have to yell, "Cows on my side!"

• Every time you call a cow, you get a point

• If you see cows on the other side you say, "Cows on your side!"

• If you call, "Cows on your side," before the person sees them, you steal a point

• If anyone sees a cemetery they scream, "Ghost cow," stealing all the other side's points

15. And if you want to kick it old-school, play "The Alphabet Game."

The Game: This is the classic alphabet game everyone knows and loves. Go through alphabet using words on signs

• You are trying to find words in alphabetical order

• You can use billboards, business, and road signs

• You can't use license plates

• The first one to get to the end of the alphabet wins

• Once a word is said, nobody else can repeat that word

Have a favorite road trip game? Add it in the comments below!

Sometimes it isn't the destination that matters, it's the journey. for all your road trips, let bp fuel your journey..

All images courtesy of Thinkstock.

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7 Best Road Trip Games for Adults

Next week, a few friends and I are heading off on a road trip to DC . One of the friends has a sister there who flies helicopters for the government, so we figured we’d abuse the fact that she has an apartment half a mile from the National Mall to plan a pretty cheap vacation because what am I, made of money? (No. No, I am not.)

Next week, my friends and I will be road trippin’ to DC in this trusty, old Hyundai

While the traditional road trip games , like the alphabet game and the license plate game, can be good for the whole family, we plan to entertain ourselves in a more adult fashion. After a few celebratory Jell-o shots before embarking—don’t worry, none for the driver—we’ll look to some of these road trip games for adults to keep ourselves occupied.

Everyone needs some Jell-O shots if they will be passengers on a long, boring road trip. They are the perfect compliment to some good, old-fashioned adult road trip games.

Keep in mind, some of these games may be NSFW, in my experience.

[wptab name=”Cows”]

He who counts the most cows, wins

Counting Cows

I owe this game to a friend from middle/high school, and she in turn owes it to her grandmother. I’ve heard other people play variations of this, but the original one I learned is absolutely the best. The car is divided down the middle. If you’re sitting on the left (driver) side of the car, you’re on a team together, and if you’re sitting on the right (passenger) side, you’re on a team together. During your trip, watch out your windows for cows to count; each cow you spot gets you a point, but you can only count cows on your side of the car.

The game does involve a bit of strategy. If you’re sitting on the passenger side of the car and spot some cows up ahead on the driver side, you can do your best to distract your opponents from looking out their windows and counting the cows. Maybe by suddenly singing out loud or asking them to identify a weirdly shaped mole on your belly.

A few extra rules: if you pass a church on your side, you double yours cows because they get married. If you pass a graveyard on your side, you lose all your cows because they die. And if you pass a dual church/graveyard situation, you’re a sick bastard, as you’ve just married off all your cows and killed them on their honeymoon.

And a bonus: if you spot a cow in a tree, that’s an automatic win.

[wptab name=”Six Degrees”]

Because Kevin Bacon is in everything

Six Degrees

You’ve likely heard of the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game. While this doesn’t have any adult content to it, it is much easier to play with adults who are familiar with cinema/TV. In this game, a player selects two film or TV stars. Then, all players race to figure out how the two are connected via other actors. For example, if the names are Steve Carell and Elijah Wood, you might determine that Steve Carell was in Date Night with Tina Fey, who starred in 30 Rock , which Steve Martin guest starred on. Steve Martin was in Planes, Trains and Automobiles with John Candy, who starred in Uncle Buck with Macaulay Culkin, who played the bad son in the Elijah Wood film, The Good Son . (Do I get extra points because Kevin Bacon actually makes a cameo in  PTA ?)

The first person to make such an association wins, and then selects the next two names to connect.

[wptab name=”Polar Plunge”]

The best (worst?) time to play Polar Plunge

Polar Plunge

I’m not sure where the old (and odd) expression comes from, but I’m recycling it to use as a title for this game. I’m hoping that the warm weather holds out and this game is not playable on the road trip I’m about to take, but it’s worth mentioning all the same.

This game is best left for the winter months and is rather simple. The driver and passengers must strip down to their undergarments and drive around on a cold night with the windows rolled down and the AC blasting. The last person to hold out on putting clothes back on wins the game.

[wptab name=”Mad Libs”]

Mad Libs Photo: Amazon

Mad Libs books are a cheap but worthy investment. Because blanks like “parts of the body” can be a bit suggestive when you are playing with an older crowd, it’s best to leave this game for when you have a car full of adults.

Though I suppose the game could be fun with kids—but only for the kids, unless you’d find humor in every word being either “poop” or “booger.” Okay, I take that back, it’d still be fun.

[wptab name=”What’s Yours Like”]

What’s Yours Like Photo: Amazon

What’s Yours Like

You’ll have to shell out some cash to actually buy this game , but it’s worth the investment. In a typical round for this game, all but one player knows what the secret word is. The other players then take turns giving clues that help the person guess the word.

From what I understand, the game is only fun with the right people—players who know how to make a clue not too obvious but not too vague, all at the same time.

[wptab name=”Would You Rather”]

Would You Rather (though this is a version for the kiddies too) Photo: Amazon

Would You Rather

The classic game of “Would You Rather” asks life’s toughest questions, like “Would you rather have to eat ten cockroaches every day for breakfast for the rest of your life or share a bedroom with a cockroach the size of a golden retriever for a year?” I include this game as an adult road trip game only because every time I’ve played this game, the questions get progressively more and more risqué.

If you want a more PG version, you can buy a book with premade “Would You Rather” questions—or, you know, just actively keep your mind out of the gutter.

[wptab name=”Padiddle”]

If that headlight is burnt out, you’ve got yourself a Padiddle

This is another fun game to play at night (much like the Polar Plunge game ). Whenever you spot a car with a headlight out, you must quickly slap the ceiling of the car. The last person to do so must remove an article of clothing. The game may seem a little childish, but with really competitive (or attractive) friends, it gets to be very interesting.

[end_wptabset]

Timothy Moore takes his leadership inspiration from Michael Scott, his writing inspiration from Mark Twain, and his dancing inspiration from every drunk white guy at a wedding. When Tim is not writing about cars and money, he’s working on his novel or reading someone else’s, geeking out over strategy board games, hiking with his pooch, or channeling his inner Linda Belcher over beers with his friends. See more articles by Timothy.

Road Trip Games for Adults 🚗

Spice up your next road trip with your boyfriend or girlfriend with entertaining and refreshing games that’ll liven you up and prevent you from falling asleep. With these games, you surely won’t mind how far you’re about to drive and travel!

• 💦   1. Dirty Would You Rather
• 😎   2. 20 Questions Game
• 🧠   3. Road Trip Trivia
• 🎵   4. Name the Artist
• 🚗   5. Licence Plate Game

When you’re on the road with your partner, it pays to know some simple and fun games for road trips that’ll make your drive a legendary one! Why wait to make magic happen once you arrive at your destination when you can make plenty of wonderful memories while you’re still on your way? Enjoy our collection of fun road trip games!

1. Dirty Would You Rather

Dirty Would You Rather is a super fun game and will entertain you enough yet won’t distract you too much while either of you is driving. Know the mechanics of the game and turn your road trip into a great story you’ll be telling your kids someday!

How to Play Would You Rather

This game of truth will let you explore your fellow passengers and your preferences in food, style, places, movies, music, and more while you’re driving down the road. All you need to do is ask each player a “Would You Rather” question that will make them choose between two things without thinking too much about the answer.

It’s best to determine who gets to start with Rock Paper Scissor. Would You Rather as one of the best travel games for adults will guarantee tons of fun! Enjoy sharing your funny stories while answering the questions!

Play Would You Rather Online

Wanna play Would You Rather now? You can play it online with our app or download your very own for your Android or iPhone!

Play Online

Best Would You Rather Road Trip Questions

Here are some of the best Dirty Would You Rather Road Trip questions for your new favorite game:

1. Would you rather have sex on an airplane or a yacht?

No judgment here, honey.

2. Would you rather be the third person in a threesome or invite someone to have a threesome with you and your partner?

The world is so much more liberated than before!

3. Would you rather have sex with Christian Grey or Edward Cullen?

These two fictional characters will be the death of you.

4. Would you rather be in an open relationship or a traditional one?

The world is changing and open relationships are more common than ever.

5. Would you rather have anal or oral sex?

You’ll never know until you try.

6. Would you rather sleep with your best friend or your best friend’s ex?

Both come with their own consequences so pick the one you can deal with.

7. Would you rather spend a night in Vegas or a night in Bangkok?

Pick the sin city for you!

8. Would you rather give head or be given one?

Decide if you want to deliver pleasure or receive it.

9. Would you rather kiss someone of the same sex or f*ck someone of the opposite sex?

Pick your poison.

10. Would you rather be on a one-night stand or fall in love overnight?

Decide how much you’re willing to go overnight, babe!

👉 Follow this link for 200+ more dirty Would You Rather questions!

2. 20 Questions Game

The next one on our list of road trip games is the 20 Questions Game. Since you have nothing else to do while you’re in the car on a long drive with your lover, you’re gonna love this perfect game that’ll surely occupy your thoughts while you’re stuck in the car for hours.

Have you heard about the 21 Questions Game ? Follow the link and find out how awesome of a game it is!

How to Play 20 Questions Game

You must both take turns thinking about a thing or a person. The goal for each turn is for your boyfriend or girlfriend to successfully guess the thing/person/place you’re thinking about by asking 20 questions or less that you will answer with only a yes or no . Enjoy this fun game for adults!

Best Questions for 20 Questions

Here are some of the best questions you can use for your 20 Questions Game :

1. Is it someone we personally know?

This will narrow down our choices to people you know and you can go on from there.

2. Is it something we always use?

If it is then you better start with the different categories for things/stuff you usually use or see each day.

3. Is he a guy?

After this question is answered, the possible answers will be reduced by 50% since you will already know the gender.

4. Is it trending nowadays?

Famous celebrity? Politicians? Latest scandal? Number one songs? New releases?

5. Does it start with the letter __?

This can be pretty useful when you already have a certain answer in mind and you just wanna be sure about it. Kind of like cheating on the game but actually not!

6. Is it in any way directly related to the occasion?

If you’re playing this while you’re both on your way to an event or party, options will be narrowed down a lot and you’re gonna be closer to the correct answer.

7. Is he/she still alive?

Another great question that’ll cancel out 50% of potential answers.

8. Is it technology-related?

Maybe your partner is thinking about a gadget he/she is so fond of.

9. Is he/she someone I hated before?

When you get that gut-feeling that your partner is trying to piss you off by bringing up someone you undeniably loathe.

10. Is it a movie ?

You can replace the word movie with show, song, artist, celebrity, or practically any category that you think your gf/bf would like to talk about or is interested in.

3. Road Trip Trivia

Another classic road trip game is Trivia. This is one of the best adult car games and involves answering trivia questions about various topics, ranging from geography to history to pop culture. It can be played by any number of people, and is a great way to test your knowledge while on the road.

How to Play Road Trip Trivia

Playing Road Trip Trivia is easy, and it can be done by any number of people. It usually begins with one person asking a question about the category that has been chosen for the game. Those can be difficult questions, easy questions, or just fun questions to entertain everyone!

For example, if the category was history, then they might ask “What year did World War II end?” To make it easier, they get multiple choice answers to choose from.

If they are correct, then they get to ask a question themselves. If they are incorrect, then another road trip partner gets to try. The game continues until someone gets stuck or runs out of questions.

Play Road Trip Trivia online

If you don’t want to bother making your own questions, you can play Road Trip Trivia online! Check out our apps to play, and enjoy your next drive:

Join Trivia Live

Best Road Trip Trivia Questions

Here are some great questions that you can ask during your road trip trivia games:

1. What is Santa Claus’ real name?

St. nicholas, 2. who is gossip girl.

• Serena van der Woodsen

Dan Humphrey

• Blair Waldorf

3. In Greek mythology, who stole Helen from Menelaus?

4. what do you call a polygon with 11 sides, 5. who invented the spoon, 6. which is the biggest city in the world.

• The Vatican

7. What can eat a lot of iron but never get sick?

8. i have no eyes but i can cry. what am i, 9. who is second in line to the british crown.

• Prince George

Prince William

• Prince Charles
• Prince Harry

10. What was the name of the first animal to be cloned?

• Shelly the sheep

Dolly the sheep

• Milly the mouse
• Tilly the dog

11. What is the oldest national park in the USA?

• Arches National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park
• Canyonlands National Park

Yellowstone National Park

• Capitol Reef National Park and Zion National Park

👉 If you’re looking for more questions, here can you find 100+ Trivia questions!

4. Name the Artist

Lovers love to talk about and share with each other their favorite artists, especially when you’re on a road trip trying to set the mood and make it romantic for the both of you. Here’s a game that will let you share your fave music and at the same time make it a lot more fun!

How to Play Name the Artist

One way to play the game is just to play some songs in the car by setting Spotify on a random shuffle, covering the car screen, and competing on who gets to name the artist who sang the song first.

Another way is for each of you to sing a song and the others to name the artist of the song. Enjoy sharing your favorite song and testing your travel partner’s music knowledge while playing this road trip classic!

Play Charades Online

This adult travel game is much like the Charades game since you’re supposed to guess the name of famous people but instead of acting like a mime to give your clue, you must sing the song.

You don’t have to wait until the next party to play Charades with your boyfriend, girlfriend family, and friends. Play it anytime and anywhere with our online version of the game. Follow the link below!

Play Charades online

Best Name the Artist Ideas

Here are some of the best Name the Artist ideas that you can use on your next road trip. Just choose among these interesting and famous musical artists and singers:

• Dolly Parton
• Justin Bieber
• Michael Jackson
• Taylor Swift
• Alicia Keys
• Britney Spears
• Miley Cyrus
• Mariah Carey
• Tina Turner
• Janet Jackson
• The Beatles

Tip: You can make the game more difficult if the players have to guess the song titles as well!

5. Licence Plate Game

The Licence Plate Travel Game is definitely one of the most popular games. This simple game can be enjoyed by any number of people and is a great way to learn about the different states of your country.

How to Play License Plate Game

To play this classic travel game, you simply look at the license plates of the cars that are driving around you and try to find ones from different states/countries. The person who spots the most different ones wins!

Tip: It’s also one of the best classic games for kids because it’s mostly a quiet game and it’s easy to play!

Aren’t you a lot more excited right now to go on your next trip and play our favorite road trip games with your travel partner? Experience a road trip so epic that you would never want to reach your destination and just stay in your bubble forever! Here can you find more fun car games for your next family road trip!

Party & Drinking Games

Looking for some fun party games to liven up your next get-together? Check out our collection of 100+ party games for all ages!

Dinner Party Games for Adults

Roadtrip Games for Couples 🚗

WhatsApp Games for Couples

Drinking Games for Couples

Dirty Most Likely To Questions for Adults

Fun Games to Play When Bored

The Best Road Trip Games For Kids, Teens, and Adults

Traveling by car might not be the quickest or most glamorous way to get to a destination, but it can be tons of fun. You just need these road trip games!

Ah, the open road! There’s nothing like it. Crank up the tunes, put the windows down, open the sunroof, and feel the wind blowing through your hair. There’s so much to see out there! Eyes open wide as you pass new sights, “moo” at cows in fields, and play some awesome road trip games.

Traveling by car might not be the quickest or most glamorous way to get to a destination, but it’s the most common and certainly be tons of fun. You just need to know how to make it exciting, and we’re here to help! We’ve listed the very best games for kids, teens, and adults to play while traveling.

Make a Stop for a Scavenger Hunt

You could create your own scavenger hunt for the car, but why not make a stop in one of the 400+ cities where we offer ready-made epic adventures! Get ready to stretch your legs because these app-led hunts are packed with interesting sights that you’ll be challenged to find. Each landmark is fantastic in and of itself, but we’ll also share interesting facts, quiz you with some local trivia, and prompt you to take social-media share-worthy photos. All of this can be yours for less than the price of a movie—and our scavenger hunts will leave you with lasting memories. Give one a try!

Road Trip Games for Young Kids

These days, you can order an  I Spy Travel Car Game  from Amazon, but it’s not absolutely necessary. You can certainly play I Spy without it.

This guessing game is technically easier to play while stopped, but many families have enjoyed it as a road trip game. The only thing is that, since you’re moving, it’s best to choose items that can be viewed in plain sight, within the car or in a book or magazine. 

To start, players must decide on the first spy. That child will need to say “I spy, with my little eye” and give a clue to what they’ve seen. The item itself should remain a secret until the other players guess. For example, if the spy chooses a straw, he might start with “I spy, with my little eye, something that starts with an S.”

The player who correctly guesses the object gets to be the next spy.

Restaurant Race

There are so many chain restaurants out there and passengers probably see hundreds of them on an average road trip. Another easy game, Restaurant Race lets passengers each choose a chain and collect points whenever they hear it on a radio commercial, see a billboard, or see the actual restaurant.

The Alphabet Game

The Alphabet Game works best on long car rides with many objects to see along the way. The object is to proceed through the alphabet by finding words or things that start with each letter of the alphabet. This is a fun game and helps young kiddos learn their alphabet.

Unless you’re allowing road signs (and maybe sometimes if you are), it’s best to leave out letters like Q, X, and Z. We’re assuming it’s unlikely you are traveling somewhere kids will see and recognize quails, Xolos, and zebra!

Kids can play this game competitively or cooperatively. To play competitively, each child must go through the entire alphabet, and the first player to finish wins. To play cooperatively, take turns going through the letters as you proceed from A to Z.

Punch Buggy

This family road trip game has been around for decades! Playing is as easy as identifying Volkswagen Beetles on the road and remembering to “call” them. All you have to do is yell “punch buggy” or slug bug!”

Back when some of the Let’s Roam crew were kids, we didn’t just call the cars as we saw them; we also punched each other’s arms. Since we’re living in a kinder world now, we don’t advise that. You can just play for points.

Sometimes, passengers can agree on special circumstances. For instance, you might opt to give more points for old-school bugs, convertibles, VW buses, bugs on the side of the road, etc. You could even give bonus points for spotting Beetles in limited edition colors.

There is a variation on this game that can be played at night. It’s called Padiddle and, instead of Volkswagen Beetles, passengers try to be the first to call out cars with at least one headlight out. We used to hit the car roof when we saw padiddles, but tiny kids won’t be able to reach that. Like punch buggy, it’s just as fun without the hitting!

First One to See It

This is an uncomplicated game for the little explorers. It’s all in the name! Pick certain landmarks and offer points or rewards for the first to spot them from the car. If you’re traveling to a different state, you could give a small reward, like a special sticker, to the first passenger who spots the “Welcome” sign.

You might want to set different point values for references vs. the actual business. Kids can get 5 points for each advertisement and 10 points for each sighting of the restaurant. Set a time limit or play for the entire trip. When time is up, the winner is the passenger with the most points!

This is a clever take on the age-old game of Bingo. Car bingo, or travel bingo, can be played with DIY, commercial, or printable bingo cards . They’re different from the typical B-I-N-G-O cards because, instead of numbers, the blocks are full of things typically seen on a road trip.

A typical car bingo card might have a school bus, a hospital, a traffic cone, a cow, and an airplane. Just as in traditional bingo, players will mark items off as they come up until someone gets all of the objects in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal row. You can also play for four corners, an X, or a full card.

This is a terrific game for little ones, but you could modify it for older age groups by changing the items on the cards. You could even make it a more adult game by associating the cards with things like common road rage expressions, things often heard on car trips, or unusual roadside sights.

Miles of Smiles

This fun road trip game oozes positivity and should help a long trip to go more smoothly! Challenge kids to brighten up the moods of passersby with their biggest smiles and see how many smile back.

The real appeal of this game is that it’s a feel-good way to pass some time on the road, but you could keep track of points—10 points for a smile, 15 for a wave, and 20 for a smile, wave, and beep.

Road Trip Games for Teens

The License Plate Game

The general premise of the license plate game is that passengers collect points when they are the first to spot specified things on license plates—every state, every letter of the alphabet, etc. You can vary it according to the way your group would like to play.

From our experience, one of the most common methods is to challenge players to be the first to spot all of the letters of the alphabet and/or numbers 0-9 in order . The first one to finish wins. Alternatively, passengers can mark states off a list and the person who spots the most unique states on license plates is the victor.

One clever variation on the license plate game is that passengers try making up silly word combinations with the letters on the license plates on passing cars. So, RKG could translate to “Rich keeps guppies.” The more the sentence seems to fit the driver or others in the car, the better the game ends up!

The Name Game

The name game also has variations but is most frequently played by going through rounds of categories. Passengers decide on an order. The first person names a category and each player needs to name something that not only fits the category but also begins with the same letter that starts their own name.

To increase the difficulty, you can time answers by using a timer or whistling the Jeopardy theme song. Anyone who gets stumped is eliminated. If you are playing with only a few passengers, You can allow 2 “stumps” but, on the third strike, the player is out.

The Memory Game

You can play this memory game in a number of different ways, but the premise remains the same. Players go through the alphabet naming something that begins with each letter. What makes it tough is that each player needs to remember and must recount everything that’s been mentioned before their turn.

One variation, “In My Suitcase,” begins with the first player saying, “I’m going on a trip and, in my suitcase, I packed” and listing an object that begins with an A. The next player repeats what player 1 said and adds something that begins with a B, and so on. For example:

Player 1: “I’m going on a trip and, in my suitcase, I packed an adapter” Player 2: “I’m going on a trip and, in my suitcase, I packed an adapter and a blanket.” Player 3: “I’m going on a trip and, in my suitcase, I packed an adapter, a blanket, and a camera.”

Players continue until they get to the letter Z (or everyone gives up). To make the game a little less challenging, you could eliminate tough letters like X. To make the game more difficult, you could restrict players to objects that meet a certain theme, like objects you would actually pack in a suitcase. Just change the original statement according to the topic you choose.

This is a guessing game that tests players’ pop culture knowledge. One passenger chooses a celebrity to portray but doesn’t say who it is. As other passengers ask questions to try to determine the player’s secret celebrity identity, the “actor” answers the questions as the celeb would.

This doesn’t require any acting skills (although those could make it more entertaining)! Questions can be about anything, from daily habits to high-profile romance details. The first person to correctly guess the secret identity wins the right to portray s famous person of their choice.

The Movie Game

While we’re focusing on pop culture, we can’t leave out the movie game. This activity is challenging but can pass a lot of travel time.

To play this game, one passenger starts by naming an actor. The next player must name a movie or show that the actor was in. Then, the next passenger must name another actor from that show or film. Keep going until all players are completely stumped.

It may sound easy, but after a while, the movie game can really get tricky. It can be just as enjoyable with two people as with ten. It’s a fantastic pastime during a family vacation and it’s popular on school field trips with a large group of kids.

Fortunately/Unfortunately

This is a super simple game, but it can lead to lots of laughs! Basically, you start a story that all of the passengers will make up as the game goes on. The catch is that each part of the story starts with “fortunately” or “unfortunately.” The first person starts the story with a sentence that begins with “fortunately.” The next person begins the second sentence of the story with “unfortunately,” and the story progresses from there.

Player 1: “Fortunately, we decided to go on a vacation.” Player 2: “Unfortunately, we decided to take the car.” Player 3: “Fortunately, our car is very comfortable.” Player 4: “Unfortunately, it was a very long ride.” Player 1: “Fortunately, we read Let’s Roam’s article about the best road trip games before we left!”

Get the idea? We told you it was easy!

String Along

Study your playlist before your trip because, if you’re playing this road trip game, you’ll need to know your music. This is a fun way to test players’ knowledge of song lyrics.

The first player says or sings one line from a song. Each subsequent player must sing a line from another song that begins with the same word the previous lyric ended with.

Road Trip Games for Adults

Would You Rather

“Would you rather” questions are ideal conversation starters, but they work with any sort of company. All you need to do is think about interesting choices that will help you get to know your traveling companions or might spark discussion.

The questions you ask can be as practical or unusual as you’d like. Here are some samples:

• Would you rather go skydiving or deep-sea diving?
• Would you rather be on a reality TV show or star in a romantic comedy?
• Would you rather have a velociraptor or a brontosaurus?
• Would you rather quit watching sports or quit listening to music?
• Would you rather relive your most embarrassing moment or your scariest?

If you’re looking for more ideas, we’ve got 50 would you rather questions for couples . Even if you’re traveling with friends or family members, some of the suggestions might inspire you.

This road trip game ended up on our list for adults because of its complexity. We assure you—as difficult as it is to explain, it’s not nearly as tough to play. It’s kind of a combination of the basketball game of HORSE and Hangman. Even if you’re not familiar with those, we’re pretty sure you’ll get the hang of it!

At the start of the game, players should agree on a minimum acceptable word length. Then, a starting player thinks of a word and says its first letter. The next person must add a letter that follows the first to start an actual word. They don’t have to be thinking of the same word—all that matters is that a real word can be spelled with each letter given. Each subsequent player must add a letter until someone adds a letter that eliminates the chances of creating a longer word.

If the first person chooses the letter C, the second might choose an R. The third player could name the letter O. If the next player should choose a letter that extends but does not complete the word. The object is to try to see how long a word you can create by selecting one letter at a time.

So where does “GHOST” come into all of this? While the game progresses, if a player cannot think of a letter that extends the word everyone is spelling, they might be tempted to throw out a random letter. Any other player can call that person’s bluff by asking the word they had in mind. If the stumped passenger cannot give an actual word that could be spelled with their letter, they are assigned the letter G.

If it happens again, they get the letter H. A third time? They get the letter O, and this goes on until they become a GHOST and are out of the game. You could also be punished with a letter from the word GHOST if you finish a word too soon.

Even while players are being assigned letters from the word “GHOST,” word-forming continues. Each time a word is successfully completed, the next turn starts a new word. This goes on until all but one player is a GHOST. The only player to remain alive is the champion!

20 Questions

“20 questions” is a popular pastime that is fantastic for adult road trips. In case you’ve never played it, you’ll be glad to know the instructions aren’t quite as complicated as our previous game! It can be played with kids, but sometimes it’s too complex for the young crowd and not quite exciting enough for teens. Adults always seem to like it!

To play, passengers take turns thinking of a person, animal, object, or landmark. (If you’re playing old-school style, the choices are typically animal, vegetable, or mineral.) Once they have someone or something in mind, they can give the other players the category their choice falls into. Each guesser takes turns asking yes/no questions until someone correctly guesses or all 20 questions have been used.

Name That Tune

This is a travel-friendly version of the game show! The easiest way to play is to take turns playing snippets of songs and see who can identify the song from brief clips. The person who correctly guesses receives points and picks the next song. Mobile devices and worldwide connectivity have made this much easier to adapt as a road trip game.

If you want to make it even more like the game show, you can allow players to challenge each other to see who thinks they can guess the song with the shortest snippet. If they fail, other players can guess and steal the points for that round. Set a time or song limit so you know when the game will be over. In the end, the person with the most points wins.

What Am I Counting?

This game is great to play just about anywhere you may be riding. Take turns coming up with objects that are seen multiple times on a trip. On each turn, someone counts out loud every time they see one of whatever “it” is until another player guesses what’s being counted.

Once a player correctly guesses what’s being counted, they start the next round. Play until everyone has gone or you get tired and want to move on to another game.

Six Degrees

Do you remember the “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” game popularized in the 90s? This road trip game is a version of that.

Based on the notion that everyone can be connected within six or fewer acquaintances, people were dumbfounded when they realized that Kevin Bacon can be connected with practically anyone in Hollywood within six degrees. The game got so popular that websites and apps, like The Oracle of Bacon , were made to test the theory. Try the site or app—you might be blown away by the results!

You can play Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon in the car, or you could just play a game that connects people or celebrities within six degrees of one another. It’s amazing to see what types of ties you can come up with, even when you try to link people you know.

Best Drive I Ever Had

We’re ending with a quirky and cute game to play with friends. When you set out on the road, wait until you get to the first main highway or freeway and say, “best drive I ever had!” When they look at you as if you’ve lost your mind, explain to them that this is a new game.

Every time you get onto a new main road, someone needs to repeat, “best drive I’ve ever had.” You can play for points (given to the first person to remember each time you switch roads) or just play for laughs. Either way, it’s bound to add a little humor to the trip!

Closing Thoughts on Road Trip Games

We hope you and your friends or family try some of these travel games on an upcoming trip. If you want to get a little fancy, pack a dry erase board and marker for each passenger to list items or for someone to keep score when playing for points. They also come in handy for games like tic-tac-toe or Pictionary. Whiteboards are also easier to see than someone’s mobile device.

Speaking of mobile devices, consider a “no phones” rule for the car! Go old-school with activities, songs to sing, and the very best road trip snacks. We could all go one trip without Disney videos and podcasts.

Do you have any favorite road trip games? How about some funny or interesting memories from family car trips? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

On your next road trip, don’t forget to pack the Let’s Roam Scavenger Hunt App ! As you drive past cities, see if they’re on our list. We’ve got app-led scavenger hunts in hundreds of cities worldwide. You can purchase tickets in advance, and take a quick pit stop in any of the available locations to enjoy a little adventure!

Frequently Asked Questions

Family members of all ages can appreciate games like Travel Bingo, The Alphabet Game, What Am I Counting, and Restaurant Race. With that said, most road trip games can be family-friendly!

Many road trip games are “classics.” Even with the rise of mobile devices, today’s kids are playing some of the same travel games their grandparents played, like I Spy, Punch Buggy, and 20 Questions.

Three of the simplest road trip games to teach kids are First One to See It, I Spy, and Punch Buggy. Other easy games include Restaurant Race and Travel Bingo.

When traveling with children, come prepared with road trip games . You might also want to pack dry erase boards and markers. Remember to make pitstops and consider a scavenger hunt along the way!

Featured Products & Activities

13 Fun Road Trip Games for Adults

Before the days of smartphones and tablets,  people used  road trip games  to have fun in the car during long journeys .  Instead of being glued to a screen, you can learn more about your friends or family and create some fantastic new memories.  They are a great way to stay occupied and share a few laughs while on the road!  To help you get started, here are a few of the  best road trip games for adults.

Never Have I Ever…

This  classic game also works well for car trips.  A person in the car makes a simple statement starting with “Never have I ever…” and anyone who has ever done that action in their life must take a bit of a donut.  Play continues around the car in a clockwise direction. Just a word of caution, however. We recommend letting everyone play except the driver so that they will be able to pay attention to the road. We don’t mean it in a discriminatory manner, just in the sense that safety is too important to be forgotten. Or if the driver really wants to play, we recommend saving the donut bite for later so that they won’t have to take their eyes off the road or their hand off the stick shift.

Six Degrees of Separation

Six degrees of separation is a theory that everyone in the world is connected via six or fewer relationships .  In this game, one person names two different film or television stars and the other people in the car must try to find a link between the two in six steps or less.  For example, you might say William Shatner and Hale Berry.

They are linked by:

William Shatner starred in Miss Congeniality with Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock starred in Practical Magic with Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman starred in Australia with Hugh Jackman

Hugh Jackman starred in X-Men with Halle Berry!

See where this is going? You can take either two celebrities you like and then link them as fast as you can. Just don’t pick two stars that have starred in the same movie. That would ruin the game in most scenarios unless it’s something very obscure and forgotten by most of the population.

21 Questions

This game is great fun for people of all ages . Have a passenger think of a person, place, or object. The other passengers then have 21 questions to find out what they are thinking of. Questions should only be asked once. The questioner who correctly guesses what the person thought of gets to start the next round.   You can try all sorts of characters, objects, and what not to think of. The more obscure what you’re thinking of is, the more frustrating or pleasant the game can be. It depends on who you’re playing with and on their taste.

Don’t Say It!

This is a simple game that tests the memory of players during a long car ride. Pick 5 common words that passengers are not allowed to say during the journey.  They should be common words used when traveling like “arrive”, “look” or “car”.  Whenever a person says one of the five words they are penalized in some way — either they donate a coin to the “road trip snacks fund” or they have to perform an annoying task like filling the car with petrol or running an errand. You can think of lots of ways to “punish” the one who isn’t paying attention and says one of the words in question.

Fictional Families

This is a  great game to get your imagination going during the car ride. Simply pick out a vehicle that is sharing the road with you and have everyone take a good look at the occupants. Everyone should then collaborate to give these people an imaginary back story based on how they look, what kind of car they drive, and how they are dressed. Some really funny backstories can be invented if you’re creative enough.

Image via Unsplash

Human Jukeboxes

This is a great game if everyone in the car loves music.  It is started by one passenger singing a line from a well-known song.  The next person must connect the last word from that lyric to another song. For example:

“Love, love me do, you know I love you…”  (The Beatles)

“…Give love a bad name…” (Bon Jovi)

“…That’s not my name, that’s not my name!” (The Ting Tings)

Would You Rather

Another simple and funny road trip game that will help the time go faster. Simply think of two strange or disgusting activities and ask your fellow passengers which one they would prefer to perform. For example, “Would you rather have no arms or no legs?”  Everyone should put some thought into their responses and have a couple of funny reasons why they made the choice.

The Movie Game

This is a great game for people who love movie trivia .  It starts with a person mentioning the name of a random actor.  The next person has to answer with a film that this actor starred in.  The next person has to answer with the name of another actor who starred in the film and so on.  The key to winning is thinking of obscure movies and actors.  If someone gets an answer wrong, they are out of the game until the next round.  For example: “Sean Bean” — “Game of Thrones” — “Lena Headley” — “Judge Dredd” — “Karl Urban” — “Star Trek”

Fortunately/Unfortunately

This game requires a bit of creativity, but it can be quite fun for adults to play.  The first person thinks of something fortunate about the trips or what has happened that day.  It can be something true or something fictional.  The next person must follow it up with some unfortunate event tied to the first event.  For example:

“Fortunately, we are going to arrive at our destination sooner than expected!”

“Unfortunately, it has been invaded by the Chinese military”

“Fortunately, we all like Chinese food!”

“Unfortunately, they have no fortune cookies”

Couples Padiddle

In this game, participants have to call out “Padiddle” every time they see a vehicle with a headlight out.  The last one to say  padiddle  has to do something for the other person.  In the couples version of the game, this might be to give them a kiss or give them a neck massage.

This game involves one person in the group being asked five questions by anyone else in the car.  The person in the hot seat has to answer at least 4 out of the 5 questions. We like this game because it can be as wholesome or as roast-like as anyone wants it to become. Again, depending on the type of people you’re playing with, you can go over the limit or play it safe. It’s up to you and the others in the car how much you’ll be laughing during such a bout of banter.

Radio Roulette

As you drive across the country, you will keep finding new (and unusual) radio stations with some interesting and entertaining content. Radio roulette involves randomly choosing a new radio station every 10 minutes so you get to hear what is out there.  You might find yourself listening to everything from smooth 80s jazz through to evangelical Christian radio! You can even try inputting random frequencies on the radio tuner and see what you’ll get when you’ll have driven three miles past the point where you set the chosen frequency. We bet you’re already thinking about all the different possibilities!

Explain a film plot badly

This is another fun game for film buffs!  In this game, one person explains the plot of a film very badly and the other passengers attempt to guess which film it is.  For example “A boy befriends a bearded hermit and two gay robots, goes into space, snogs his sister and kills his dad”.  Know the answer?  Star Wars!  Here’s another one — “Bloke punches himself. Encourages others to punch him. Leaves his job. Shaves his head. Bad influence on Meatloaf”.  That’s right, it is Fight Club!

So try a few of the above road trip games for adults — you’ll be surprised by how fun the journey becomes! Want more road trip games? Check out our bonus list of 35 family road trip games .

Featured image via Unsplash

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6 fun car games for kids during a road trip

P arents heading out on a road trip with their kids might be wondering how to entertain everyone in the car for an extended period. It's a valid concern!

Corinne McDermott, founder of the family travel website  Have Baby Will Travel , recommends filling the time with car games — many of which are screen alternatives — that both parents and kids can enjoy.

Keep in mind: there’s nothing wrong with zoning out to music or in silence (sometimes boredom is good for kids !), however planning a few activities will save everyone's sanity — including that of the driver.

Car games for kids and parents

Check out these activities that kids can do on their own or with parents.

Fiddle with travel-sized gadgets

Consider toys like Etch-A-Sketch, a Rubik's Cube or fidget spinners to engage children's hands and minds.

If kids have room in the backseat and the ride is not too bumpy, card games like Uno, Go Fish and Old Maid are ideal.

'I Spy' games

"You can’t go wrong with a classic 'I Spy' and we love a version of 'Who Am I?' that we’ve customized to be solely Disney characters so the options aren’t too vast," McDermott tells TODAY.com . "Usually we give five statements about the character before revealing who it is but you can jump in with a guess at any time."

"Would You Rather" game

Ask kids to think deeply in a game of "Would You Rather" in which they choose the lesser of two evils in wild scenarios.

“Children can learn to problem solve and test their reasoning skills in safe, non-realistic situations,”  Francyne Zeltser , the clinical director of psychology, training and special projects at Manhattan Psychology Group, PC, tells TODAY.com about the game. “And parents can model deductive reasoning for kids.”

“Look for” games

Kids can search for animal-shaped clouds or license plates with certain numbers or vanity phrases, says McDermott, adding, “If we’re listening to music, a podcast or an audiobook, we still keep one eye on the sky or on traffic to share our findings.”

Participate in a sing-a-long

Crank up your playlist and let loose, suggests McDermott.

Chose your kids' favorite music or introduce hits from your own childhood.

“Create a road trip playlist or find a channel that plays slightly older popular music and see your kids transform into mini pop stars right before your eyes," she says.

Watch movies or television shows

McDermott suggests that kids use a tablet mount so their eyes don't maintain a downward gaze. Looking straight ahead can help prevent motion sickness and help posture, too.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com

The Best Toilets of 2024, Tested by Experts

Our top picks combine flushing performance, comfort and efficiency.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Best Overall Toilet

Kohler corbelle comfort height toilet.

Best Value One-Piece Toilet

Glacier bay one-piece toilet in white.

Best Smart Toilet

Kohler innate smart toilet.

Best Wall-Mounted Toilet

Duravit sensowash starck f shower toilet seat.

Best Value Two-Piece Toilet

Delta foundations two-piece toilet.

Best Two-Piece Toilet

Best Toilet for Modern Spaces

Swiss madison well made forever one-piece toilet.

Best High-Efficiency Toilet

American standard vormax ultra high efficiency toilet.

Best Smart Toilet Bidet

Toto s7a washlet.

Over the last five years, our team inside the Institute's Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab has tested more than 20 toilets from all the top brands, including American Standard, Delta, Glacier Bay and Kohler, to name just a few. In the Lab, we put toilets through a torture test that includes flushing golf balls and sponges. We also send toilets into the homes of consumer testers, who share real-world experience, like how noisy the toilet is in the dead of night or if it’s easy enough to keep clean. And we hear from professional remodelers, who share insights into installation.

After reading through our picks, you’ll find more information on the qualities to look for when shopping for the best toilets. Be sure to check out other expert advice for bathroom upgrades, including our round-up of the best showerheads , towel warmers for your favorite bath towels , toilet risers and waterproof vinyl flooring .

Kohler is one of the brands our experts have tested the most, both in-Lab and through extended use in actual homes. This Corbelle two-piece toilet ranks as our best overall toilet, combining superb flushing performance with an elegant shape and water-efficient mechanics. "It was able to down 21 tissues, seven sponges and 14 golf balls in a single flush," says Alec Scherma , a test engineer at the Good Housekeeping Institute. You can spend less on a toilet, but if the Corbelle is in your budget, several features make it worth the splurge. The comfort-height design offers superb ergonomics for older homeowners, and the toilet is extremely water-efficient, using just 1.28 gallons per flush. Testers also say the Corbelle doesn’t need to be cleaned as often, thanks to the surface treatment that helps inhibit the growth of water scale and mineral stains. It also features a skirted trapway — a smooth facade at the base of the toilet which means fewer bends and curves to trap dust and grime.

If you're looking to spend a bit less, take a look at the Kohler Highline Classic . Our experts say the two-piece, comfort-height toilet should deliver capable flushing performance for a couple hundred dollars less than the Corbelle, though you'll have to live without a skirted trapway.

Glacier Bay is one of The Home Depot's exclusive brands, so it's a solid option if value and convenience are top priorities. And you won't have to compromise much on performance, either. In fact, the one-piece toilet was one of the best in our tests at flushing away solid and liquid waste. It's also held up well in extended home testing too. "We installed the toilet in a rental unit more than a year ago," notes one of our testers. "Renters can be forgiven for not being hyper-vigilant with use and maintenance, but the Glacier Bay hasn't had any maintenance or performance issues."

"Less expensive toilets tend to be two-piece, which are a little harder to keep clean," adds Scherma. "This Glacier Bay offers a great price in a one-piece design." It also has a bunch of innovative features, including dual-flush technology, nice for keeping your water bill in check. The soft-close lid is another touch of luxury. The elongated seat offers maximum comfort, though you'll have to be diligent about cleaning, since the bowl doesn't have any of the surface treatments that help prevent stains and water scale. One more possible drawback: The toilet is only available in basic white.

If you're doing a high-end bathroom remodel, chances are you're considering a smart toilet. The built-in cleansing bidet is the key feature of these high-tech commodes, and most people who experience it become quick converts. That was clearly the case with our home testers who evaluated Kohler's Innate Smart Toilet, which combines sleek contours with a long list of enhancements, including precision water pressure and temperature control, plus electrolyzed pre-rinsing of the bowl to minimize stains. "I really appreciate the bidet features," our tester noted, adding that "the auto-flush is amazing, it's nice to look at and it's much easier to clean than a regular toilet." The Innate can even flush on its own and lift and lower its seat automatically, for start-to-finish hands-free control.

Our expert Lab review found all the specs our engineers look for in a top-performing toilet, starting with a 1.28 gallons-per-flush efficiency rating that qualifies it for the EPA’s WaterSense certification. Its comfort-height design makes sitting down and getting up easier, another "aging in place" benefit of smart toilets, along with the hands-free cleaning.

Make no mistake: This high-end toilet is priced 10 times higher than other perfectly serviceable models in our round-up, plus the heated seat and warm water are an added energy cost. But if the Innate is in the budget, it certainly won't disappoint.

Wall-hung toilets are particularly well-suited to urban dwellers or others who have small bathrooms. That's because the tank is hidden behind the wall, giving back about six inches of floor space. Duravit's Sensowash Starck F was designed by renowned industrial and interior designer Philippe Starck, adding to the fixture's conceptual flair.

But does it work? Our experts say yes. “The bidet for back and front really delivers a sense of clean that you might find surprising at first, but then really love," says the general manager of the Good Housekeeping Institute Laurie Jennings , who installed the Sensowash in her home. "The night-light feature is cool, and the powerful heated seat is next-level awesome.” Our engineers also like that the Sensowash Starck F's automatic open-and-close lid and the fact that it can be operated via remote control or an app on your phone that allows you to program profile settings.

As with all wall mounts, installation is more complicated because it requires opening the wall, rerouting the waste pipe and possibly reconfiguring the wall studs. Keep in mind that this model needs to be plugged in so you'll need a power source nearby as well.

The least expensive toilet from our latest round of testing is also one of the most capable. "In our Lab tests, we were able to flush 21 golf balls down this Delta," reports Scherma.

The two-piecer with an elongated bowl and comfort height offers solid flushing performance, using just 1.28 gallons at a time , good enough for the EPA WaterSense label. The plain design only comes in white, but the slow-close lid is a feature usually reserved for more expensive models, and there’s even a splash guard to keep liquid from getting under the tank, a common complaint with two-piece toilets.

Still, there are more crevices in the two-piece design, so keeping the exterior clean will take extra work, and the bowl is susceptible to stains and water scale.

Two-piece toilets have a more traditional look. If that matches the design of your bathroom, Toto's Drake from Toto is one to consider. Though we haven't tested it in our Lab, our engineers expect it to perform similarly to other tested Toto toilets.

That's because it features the same cyclonic flushing technology, which we have found to be extremely effective at sending solid and liquid waste on its way. The trade-off with this model is that it uses a bit more water — 1.6 gallons per flush. But Toto sells another version of the Drake that meets the EPA’s WaterSense label requirement of 1.28 gallons per flush.

The line's comfort-height design makes it an excellent choice for homeowners with more limited mobility. The rimless toilet bowl design facilitates cleaning by eliminating the build-up of hidden waste. Take note, however, that the seat is sold separately with both models.

In our tests, we find one-piece toilets are the easiest to keep clean because there are fewer cracks and crevices to trap grime. Our design experts say they also offer a more sleek, modern look. Both points are true with this eye-catching commode from Swiss Madison.

In addition to its shapely design, the dual-flush technology makes it water-efficient. "This toilet is the standard 15 inches, if you prefer a traditional height," says Scherma, noting that some testers find comfort height to be a little awkward. All of our testers like the soft-close lid which, combined with the quiet, gravity-fed flush, won't wake the house in the middle of the night. Another nice feature: The quick-release seat removes easily from the seat without the need for tools, for deep cleaning.

One note: This is the largest toilet we tested, and the heaviest too, weighing a good 20 pounds more than other models. So it's not ideal for smaller bathrooms and its heft makes installation more challenging.

Our experts have seen steady improvements in toilet water efficiency over the decades (some of them even remember when they needed upwards of 5 gallons for a single flush!). The Vormax shows how far the industry has come. Using just one gallon per flush, the WaterSense-certified unit is among the most water-efficient toilets on the market, without any sacrifice in flushing power of both solid and liquid waste, based on our testing. Its 17-inch height straddles the line between standard and comfort (American Standard uses the term “right height").

It may be a little pricey, but antimicrobial agents in the material are designed to inhibit the growth of mold, mildew and odor-causing bacteria, though as with any toilet, you’ll still need to clean it regularly — just maybe not quite as often. As is fairly common with toilets, the seat of the Vormax is sold separately.

Bidet seats replace your existing seat, effectively turning any standard toilet into a smart one. Japan-based Toto invented the bidet-style toilet seat in 1980, and it remains the market leader. In recent years, we've tested several iterations of the brand’s flagship model, the Washlet, including the recently launched S7A. Easy installation and feature-rich performance make it our current favorite in the fast-growing category.

Testers called out the heated seat, night-light, water temperature controls and the pre-mist feature that helps keep waste from sticking to the bowl. “I also love how easy the seat is to remove for a deep clean,” noted one tester, who installed the S7A as part of a bathroom renovation. The S7A has a particularly sleek, streamlined profile compared with other bidets we’ve tested. We also like that the S7A's seamless seat design minimizes gaps and crevices for dirt and grime to collect.

In addition to the steep upfront cost, the Toto uses more energy and water than a traditional toilet seat, as is the case with all premium bidets. If you're curious about bidets but have a smaller budget, consider the Tushy Classic 3.0 , which won a 2023 Home Reno Award . It's a manual bidet, meaning no heated water or pressure controls, but it's a fraction of the price of premium electric bidets and doesn't need to be plugged into an outlet.

How we test toilets

Our market experts keep constant tabs on the bathroom fixture market to identify the toilets you’re most likely to find at home centers, bath showrooms, plumbing supply stores and online. They are also regulars at trade shows and industry events, including the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS).

Continuous hands-on toilet tests start in our Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where our engineers perform a thorough spec review, checking factors like water efficiency and flush mechanism, and verify any third-party certifications related to performance and efficiency.

Rigorous Lab tests are carried out by our engineers, who put each toilet through a battery of tough tests. This includes clog tests involving colored powder, wads of toilet paper , sponges and even golf balls. Our top toilets were able to handle more than 12 golf balls in a single flush (some more than 20!). We also used sensitive sound equipment to measure noise.

Consumer testing takes place over several months in our homes, where we were able to evaluate the toilets under real-world conditions. Home-based consumer testing captures usability, with consumer testers assessing factors like comfort, cleanability and intuitiveness of the high-tech features.

Experts use this rig to elevate toilets during testing. A bucket underneath catches the flushed water — along with sponges, golf balls and other items used to simulate waste.

What to look for when shopping for the best toilet

Toilets have become more complicated in recent years, thanks to improvements in design, efficiency and technological innovations. Consider these options to find the model that’s right for you.

✔️ Height: Newer toilets are available in "comfort height," usually between 17 and 19 inches high, versus the 15 inches of traditional toilets. Older homeowners or those with knee issues may appreciate the extra few inches, since it makes the toilet easier to get on and off. You should also think about the overall height of the toilet, tank included; it can vary from model to model by six inches or more, which might make a difference in a powder room or other small bathroom.

Another important size consideration is the toilet’s rough opening or the distance from the finished wall to the center of the toilet's floor drain. Twelve inches is the standard, but some models come with 10-inch and 14-inch openings. It’s important to match the new toilet with the existing one, otherwise, you’ll have to make pricey modifications to the floor and plumbing.

✔️ Weight: No toilets are heavy enough to require additional structural support, but an extra hefty toilet will be harder to install, especially if you're tackling the job on our own. A 75-pound toilet is more DIY-friendly than one weighing 120 pounds or more.

✔️ Flush mechanism: Toilets used to have one flushing option, typically a lever on the tank that you press down. They still exist, but dual-flush toilets are now common. These typically have two buttons on the top of the tank that let you do a partial flush for liquid waste and a full flush for solid waste. Dual-flush toilets can save water, but our tests have found the flushing power to be a little weak with some models, so you end up having to flush twice. The dual-flush models that made our round-up don't have that issue.

✔️ Flush system: There are two main options: gravity-feed and pressure-assisted. Unless you have a large household, our experts say stick with a gravity-feed toilet, which uses a traditional tank and the law of gravity to move waste down the drain. Pressure-assisted toilets use compressed air to force water and waste down the line, making for a very noisy flush. They’re extremely effective and can handle flush after flush without waiting for the tank to refill, which is why they’re more common in commercial buildings.

✔️ Style: The main decision here is between a one-piece and two-piece design. One-piece toilets are fabricated using a single mold, integrating the tank and the bowl. They have a sleeker look with fewer cracks and crevices in their exteriors, which makes for easier cleaning. But they usually cost more than two-piece toilets, which have a separate bowl and tank, for a more traditional look. Two-piece toilets are also lighter, which along with their simpler mechanics, makes them easier to install.

✔️ Bowl shape: It’s not a huge factor, but if you’re short on space (say in a powder room), you’re better off with a round bowl, since those toilets are a bit smaller than elongated models. If space is really tight, you might want to consider a wall-mounted toilet. With this option, the tank is hidden behind the wall, so you gain a good six inches. They tend to be more expensive and installation is more involved and pricey, but they’re a great fit for tight spaces.

✔️ Water efficiency: All toilets made today must meet the federal limit of 1.6 gallons per flush (compared with the 3 to 5 gallons per flush that used to be the norm). The EPA's WaterSense label recognizes toilets that use 1.28 gallons per flush. Some dual-flush models in our tests do even better by using a single gallon for their liquid-waste flush.

How often should a toilet be replaced?

Toilets have an unlimited lifespan, according to a study of home components by the National Association of Home Builders. But parts inside the toilet tank, like the flapper or valve, will need occasional maintenance or replacement.

Even if you have an older toilet in your home that's still working, it might be worth an upgrade to take advantage of improved water efficiency. In 1992, a new federal law required all new toilets to use 6 gallons per flush (gpf) or less; prior to that, 3 to 5 gallons was the norm. The EPA's WaterSense certification calls for a stricter 1.28 gpf and the most efficient toilets in our tests get the job done using a single gallon.

What is a toilet’s MaP score?

Short for “maximum performance,” the MaP score is an industry test that measures the number of grams of soybean paste (used to simulate solid waste) and toilet paper that a toilet can flush away completely in a single flush. While the information is available to plumbing suppliers and contractors, it’s not always easy to find for consumers, which is why we don’t list it alongside other specs. But if you’re working with a pro, you can ask them for the MaP score of any toilets they recommend. A score of 600 or higher is considered high-performing.

What are smart toilets?

The latest innovation in toilet design, smart toilets are loaded with high-tech features, including night-lights, self-opening and closing lids and even built-in digital assistants ("Hey Google, is it going to rain today?"). But the key distinguishing feature is the built-in bidet that provides a gentle cleaning spray, eliminating, or at least reducing, the need for toilet paper. The market for smart toilets has grown significantly in recent years, so much so that we now have a separate report on them. Check out our top smart toilet picks for all the details.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Dan DiClerico has tested and written about bathroom fixtures, including toilets, for more than two decades. As Director of Home Improvement & Outdoor at the Good Housekeeping Institute , Dan oversaw the latest round of toilet testing in our Lab, as well as the in-home, survey-based consumer testing that allows us to evaluate these devices under real-world conditions.

Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute . A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.

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