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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.

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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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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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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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30 Best Road Trip Games That Will Make Your Drive Go By in No Time

Your crew won't ever want to get out of the car!

Every item on this page was chosen by a The Pioneer Woman editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Road trip games are one of the easiest ways to make the miles fly by in the blink of an eye, and if you used to take road trips when you were little, you likely have several car games that you still love today. Perhaps you’re heading out with your whole family in tow or going somewhere fun with a group of gals or your main squeeze (talk about a cute summer date idea !). No matter what type of trip you’re taking, road trip games are a must. The nice thing about road trip games is that they don’t require a ton of items to bring along—just your brains, a few rules to follow, and plenty of giggles. If you’d like to tuck away those smartphones and kick it old-school, turn to these 30 boredom-busting road trip games.

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Just one round of the map game is enough to keep the crew busy. Have the driver think of a a few specific locations on a map. Afterward, the driver gives the non-driving passengers hints to what the location is by describing other points on the map near it. The participating passengers then stick a pin into the location they think is right and the driver confirms the accuracy of the pins at the end of the drive.

Guess Who Said It

This one is simple, but oh-so fun! One person will look up quotes from famous speeches and/or lines from popular movies and songs. This person then recites the chosen quote, and the other participating members must guess who said it. For example, the one who chose the quote could say this notorious line from The Hunger Games : "I volunteer as tribute!" If the players guessed "Katniss Everdeen / Jennifer Lawrence from The Hunger Games, " they would get a point!

Who's Most Likely to...?

Each person in the car takes turns proposing different questions in the style of "who in this car is most likely to do XYZ?" The blank is filled in with a random scenario. Then, the group takes turns offering their opinion on who they think in the car would be the most likely to do the proposed action. This one is fun, and you'll really get to know what your family and friends think of you!

Guess the Time

This one works if your road trip is especially long. Take a look at your route, and jot down a list of cities and towns you're sure to pass through along the way. Then, have everyone guess the specific times they think they'll drive through each city. The player who is closest each time wins!

A game of Mad Libs is more than likely to solicit some laughter. You'll need a printable that has a wacky story written out with some blanks in between sentences that call for nouns and verbs of the crew's choice. Once those blanks are filled out, read it aloud for a hilarious personalized story!

SHOP MAD LIBS TEMPLATES

While You Were Sleeping

It’s not just a favorite movie from the ‘90s! For this game, one person will be asleep (which happens pretty frequently on road trips). Once they’re asleep for at least five minutes, the ones who are awake will start making up a story, and each person will take turns adding to that story. After the person wakes up, the group’s job is to make them believe that it’s a true story. If someone starts giggling, they’ll lose a point. But if each one tricks the sleeper into believing the story, every person gets three points.

The Singing Game

This is for the family and pals who love to bust out a tune! One person in the car will start singing a song. The next person will pick up a lyric from that song and will link it up with another song (i.e. “Should I stay or should I go…” can link to “…your own way, go your own way.”) The words can connect to one another going round and round until someone can’t think of a new lyric or sings the incorrect words.

This might be one of the most classic car games of all time. You know the rules: someone in the car will spot something by the road and say, “I spy with my little eye, something that is…” and then will give a hint, whether it’s a color or general direction. The other players will ask questions until someone discovers what it is.

20 Questions

One person will choose a noun (a person, place, or thing) and the other players will get 20 questions to find out what it is. Simple and fun!

License Plate Game

A game that’s always a favorite! The aim of this game is to spy all 50 states on license plates throughout your journey. You can keep track on a piece of paper, a phone, or you can use a board with markers for each state.

SHOP LICENSE PLATE GAMES

Scavenger Hunt

Similar to “I Spy,” a road trip scavenger hunt involves bringing along a list of items that are typically seen along the road. Your pals or little ones will spot the items, like stop signs or blue cars, and check them off the list. The first one to check them all off wins.

Two Truths and a Lie

For this, one player will make three statements, and one of them will be false. The other players will try to guess which one is the untrue one. It’s a great way to discover new things about a friend or family member!

This game is great for older kids and adults. Focusing on compound words, each person will link to the previous word and keep going around until someone can’t come up with anything. For example, notebook, bookstore, store-bought, etc.

Never Have I Ever

Each player will start a statement by saying, “Never have I ever…” Then they’ll finish the statement by saying something like, “Fallen asleep in class,” or “Flown on an airplane.” The rest of the crew has to decide if it’s a true statement or not.

Road Trip Bingo

It’s just like the bingo you play at home, except this game has a road-trip spin. Bring along some bingo cards (you can even purchase ones that are road trip-themed) and look for all the items on the board. The first one to get BINGO wins!

SHOP ROAD TRIP BINGO CARDS

The Name Game

This game is all about naming as many “names” as you can, but you’ll each only have three seconds to answer! There are lots of ways to play: focus on first letters, go with last names only, etc. Or change the category to dog breeds, books, types of flowers, or anything else you can come up with.

Story Starter

Here’s a classic game. One person will start a story but won’t finish the sentence. The next player will finish that sentence, but won’t finish it, and so on. By the end, you’ll probably have a pretty funny story going!

Alphabet Game

This is a game to play when you know there will be a lot of signs and billboards along the way. Starting with “A” and so on, players will find words on the route that start with each letter of the alphabet. You can play with the letters in order, or you can cross them off as you see them.

The Grocery Game

The first player will come up with an item they would buy at the grocery store. Without telling anyone, the rest of the car will take turns asking questions to discover what it is. Is it red? Can it be found in the produce department? It’s an apple!

Name That Tune

This one goes out to the music lovers out there! For this game, someone will start playing music on the radio or on a smartphone. In only five seconds, you have to guess what song it is. The first person to answer gets a point!

SHOP SMARTPHONE SPEAKERS

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Road trips are not just about getting to your destination. It’s also about all the fun you can have on your journey to your next stop.

These road trip games will bring laughter and excitement to your next road trip.

Let’s dive into some of our favorites.

Alright, we know this is one of those classic games to play on a road trip that everyone has heard of, but have you ever really dug into it? 

I Spy has a lot of versatility. It’s not just that one-dimensional game you remember from your childhood. This is a game that you can mix up and cut loose with. Try adding time limits, creating I Spy themes, or just killing some time with a class road game. 

You probably know the rules, but all you need to do to play this game is pick something you and your friends can see and have them guess until they get it right. You’ll say, “I spy something that…” and add a clever clue that gives a subtle hint about what you’re looking at. 

The key to playing this game as an adult is to focus on those clever hints. That’s where the fun is!

20 Questions 

 20 Questions is one of those games that has plenty of versatility. Let’s look at a few ways to enjoy this game while on a road trip.

You play 20 Questions by assigning one person to be “it.” That person thinks of a person, place, or thing, and everyone else has 20 questions to narrow down their guess and get it right.

You can spice up 20 Questions by making it themed, personal, or romantic. It all depends on who you’re traveling with. 

Like many road games, this game is best played in short bursts. You want to mix up these classic road trip games, so you don’t burn out on any one game. 

Would You Rather

Would You Rather is another excellent game to play while on a road trip. 

The goal of this game is to give someone a ridiculous and near-impossible choice between two options. You can ask them to pick between their favorite hobbies, a million dollars or perfect health, or anything else you can think of!

This is also a great game for getting to know someone new. It’s the perfect icebreaker for couples and helps you explore topics that matter to the people you travel with. 

Mini Board Games 

Mini magnetic board games are fun games to play in the car, but they are also adorable. 

You and your travel companions can enjoy Scrabble, chess, checkers, or mini Monopoly.

There are travel-sized versions of just about every board game out there. Throw one of these in your bag, and you’ll hardly notice the extra space it takes up. Besides, it will generate way more fun than you might expect. 

Travel Scavenger Hunt 

One of the most fun things you can do when heading out on your road trip is to set up a scavenger hunt .

You need to do some planning ahead of time for this game. Think about some interesting or challenging items you and your travel companions can hunt down or see on the road together. 

These can be wrappers from regional snacks, landmarks, road signs, or anything you can find along your road trip route. 

Here’s a tip for setting up a scavenger hunt. Come up with a low-stakes prize for the winner, which could be anything from a Starbucks gift card to a coupon for a free back massage. 

Trivia Apps! 

Playing trivia games on the road used to mean taking several decks of cards with questions and answers on them. However, your phone is full of game apps to keep you entertained on your road trip.

There are trivia apps like Popcorn Trivia, SongPop, and countless others. These let you play trivia games based on movies, music, and even history with your travel buddies. 

Don’t get caught thinking these games are trivial; they are some of the most fun games to play on a road trip!

Related Post: Best Road Trip Game Apps

Travel Bingo

Here’s another exciting game that takes a little preparation before you hit the road.

You can set up a travel bingo gam e for everyone you will be on the road with. This bingo game can be full of fun inside jokes, sites along the way, and all the ups and downs of a long car ride.

Travel bingo is a great way to add a little lightheartedness to some of the challenges of taking a road trip. Why not lean into these awkward moments and add a square on your travel bingo card for awkward smells or getting stuck in traffic?

The winner of travel bingo can get a little prize, but there’s no prize more fabulous than the satisfaction of being the travel bingo champion.  Related Post: Free Downloadable Road Trip Bingo Cards

Gas Station Stop Gourmet 

There are plenty of travel games about embracing the unique and sometimes weird cuisine you can find while on the road.

The goal of this game is to make the most of the limited culinary options you have at your average gas station. Players should be given a budget and are challenged to come up with the most exciting meal they can think of.

Imagine you’re on a Food Network competition show, but all you can do is create a fine dining experience using a convenience store and a few fast food diners.

This is a great game to help people think outside the box and not get stuck snacking on the same pre-packaged chips for the entire ride. 

Fictionary  

Fictionary started hundreds of years ago with the Victorians in England. 

This word game is all about obscure words and the definitions that they “should” have. Play works like this. 

One player picks an obscure word that few people know, like “mycorrhizal” or “sozzled.” Everyone else writes down their made-up definitions. Whoever gets the most laughs wins!

More Road Trip Entertainment: Best Attention-Grabbing Audio Books for a Road Trip Boredom-Busting Podcasts for a Road Trip Road Trip Questions for Couples

Six Degrees of Separation

Here’s another road trip classic, especially for movie buffs. 

Six Degrees of Separation got a second wind when it became an iconic meme in the early days of the internet known as Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. 

The point of the game is straightforward. One player names two actors, and the other must connect them in six degrees of separation or less.

Here’s a classic example using Kevin Bacon.

“Kevin Bacon and William Shatner.”

William Shatner was in Festival in Cannes with Maximilian Schell, who starred in Telling Lies in America with Kevin Bacon.

There’s even a website called The Oracle of Bacon that can generate these degrees of separation if you two get stuck!

Fictional Road Trip Families

One of the most fun things about a road trip is the people you will meet on the way. 

However, some people you “meet” drive past you on the road at 60 miles an hour. While you need more time to meet them adequately, you can still tell a fun story about their lives.

The next time an interesting-looking car drives past you, collaborate on a fictional story about the family inside that vehicle. Take turns adding story elements and see where it will lead you.

The Movie Game

Here is another one for film buffs.

This game starts with one person naming a movie and another person naming an actor who starred in that film. The next person then picks another actor from that movie and a different movie that the actor starred in. The second player then repeats the process, and play continues until no one can name a new movie.

For a twist on this game, players can go back and forth naming actors, writers and directors, and production staff on movies until they cannot name anyone else involved with a given film.

Human Jukebox

Here’s a game for the musically inclined pair on a road trip.

Human Jukebox starts with one player singing a line from a song. Then the other player uses the last word of that line to connect it to a brand-new song.

Here’s an example:

Player 1 starts with a line from Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody: “So you think you can stop me and spit in my eye. So you think you can love me and leave me to die. Oh, baby, can’t do this to me, baby .”

Player 2 connects it with Britney Spears’s classic “… Baby One More Time.” When I’m not with you, I lose my mind. Give me a sign. Hit me, baby, one more time.”

And the song goes on!

Two Truths and a Lie

Two Truths and a Lie is more than a fun game. It’s a great way to get to know your travel companions.

Here’s how the game works:

Name two truths about yourself and one lie. For example, you could say, “I used to have blue hair, I once designed a video game, and my aunt is a world record holder for women’s rodeo.” 

Your traveling companions will then have to guess which is the lie and which is the truth. And the fun part is that you can make your truth and lies as straightforward or as challenging to guess as you’d like. 

This game is a fun way to explore your traveling companion’s personal history and discover unique and fun details about their life.

Fortunately Unfortunately

Fortunately Unfortunately is a game that can get weird pretty quickly. Therefore, it’s a great game if someone in the car has their crabby pants on. 

It starts with one player saying something that starts with “fortunately: that’s positive, and then the next saying something negative about that same event starting with “unfortunately.”

“Fortunately, we got time off of work for this road trip.”

“Unfortunately, your boss got replaced by a zombie.”

“Fortunately, all those George Romero movies I watch have prepared me for this day.”

Continue this back and forth until you are ready to move on to the next game. 

The Road Trip Memory Game

Here’s a fun game to test your memory skills.

The game starts with the first player saying, “I’m going on a road trip, and I’m bringing…” 

They can name any person, place, or thing they want to bring on this road trip. Let’s say they said, “my guitar.”

The next player continues the game by saying, “I’m going on a road trip, and I’m bringing my guitar and…” and adding their own item.

The game continues until someone forgets items on the list. Consider this game as a safe way to forget what you need to bring on your next road trip!

Radio Roulette

Radio Roulette can be an exciting way to find new music you love or a challenging endurance test.

All you need to do is turn on the local radio stations and pick one randomly. You have to keep this station on for an unbroken 10 minutes to complete a round of the game. After 10 minutes, you switch to the next radio station and keep playing.

You might find yourself in love with some local Polka you would have never thought to listen to. Or you might be battling through 10 minutes of local talk radio.

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

In the mood to win $1,000,000? Well, there might not be a stack of hundreds on the table, but you can have fun playing along.

The Who Wants To Be A Millionaire app is a great way to play a game with just two players on your next ride. One player gets to be the host of this iconic game show, while the other gets to be in the hot seat with a shot at a cool million dollars.

Bad Film Plots

Usually, when you play a game, you want to do everything right. However, Bad Film Plots has you intentionally doing everything wrong.

This game aims to explain a movie’s plot as badly but as accurately as possible. The other players must guess the film you’re talking about correctly.

Let’s say you wanted to badly explain the plot of Terminator II: Judgement Day. You could say: “A down-on-her-luck working single mother makes an unlikely friendship as her son discovers a father figure.” 

That may be tricky, but that’s the whole point of the game. 

Local Trivia Night

One of the most significant advantages you have when taking road trips today is that you’ve got the whole internet by your side while you’re on the road.

Use that to your advantage and do a local trivia game while traveling. 

One player gets to be the trivia master asking questions about the state you’re driving through.

Try Out Some Nintendo Switch Games! 

Some of the best games to play on a road trip take advantage of today’s technology. 

The Nintendo Switch offers plenty of variety, including two-player puzzle games, action, and RPGs with compelling stories. You can even download classic Super Nintendo video games and enjoy nostalgia while on the road. The Switch has games for kids and adults, so you don’t have to worry about not finding the right game for you. 

Name That Tune

No list of road trip games would be complete without a game designed for music lovers, as singing and enjoying new tunes is one of the best parts of a good road trip. 

And SongPop 3 is one of the best game apps for long car rides for music lovers. This app plays a song clip and has you guess what you’re hearing.

These are real clips from actual songs. And you’ll hear everything from Cardi B to Queen. You can even play in dedicated music genres to focus on your favorites.

You can spice things up a little by trying to sing the next lyrics in the song. 

Words With Friends

Words With Friends is one of, if not the, most popular word game app. The secret to this app’s success is that it is Scrabble but for the smartphone age. Being a digital Scrabble allows Words With Friends to give you more options to play while traveling.

You and your traveling partners can play together using your own devices or challenge friends and family back home. Since it’s basically Scrabble, you know what you’re getting into with this app.

License Plate Game

The L icense Plate Game aims to find as many license plates from the 50 States + the District of Columbia as you can during your road trip. 

The best thing about the License Plate Game is you can make the rules to fit your road trip needs. Plus, you can make it enjoyable by finding prizes for the winners or an award for the first passenger to spot a license plate from Mexico or Canada.

You can make a list of all 50+ states, or there are phone apps to help you keep track. Our favorite is PlateSpot . 

Related Post: License Plate Game: 3-Ways to Play on Your Next Road Trip

24 Road Trip Games Everyone Will Love

Family road trips are so fun, and it’s fantastic to hit the road and check out the scenery as you go, but if you’re going on a long drive make sure you have some road trip games to keep everyone happy and entertained.

I remember playing games with my sister in the backseat of our car, and for the most part, we had fun. It was around the 4-hour mark that we started to go squirrely. I wish we had prepared ourselves with this epic list of fun road trip games. It would have made road trips stress-free and fun!

Road Trip Games for the Entire Family

“I spy with my little eye…something that is….” I think this is a classic that we all love to play when we’re hitting the road. Everyone takes turns saying, “I spy with my little eye, something that is…” and you say the color of something you see. Everyone can take turns guessing what you’ve picked based on the color you say.

Whoever picks the proper object gets to choose an object next.

2. 20 Questions

Take turns picking something in a category like Type of Bird – Blue Jay. Don’t tell anyone, and everyone goes around and asks you a question about what you’ve chosen. They get to ask you 20 questions combined, and then they need to guess what you picked. They need to ask questions with a yes or no answer.

3. Alphabet

Pick a topic like Tv Shows, or Songs and everyone goes around taking turns saying one thing in that category that starts with the letters of the alphabet in order.

4. Quiet Time

Who can be quiet the longest? Kids and adults can use this time to read, go on electronics or have a nap, and whoever can go the longest, being quiet wins! Mad libs are also great for quiet time.

5. License Plate Game

Everyone keeps track of the different license plates from other states. Whoever can find the most from different states win! You could also put together a scorning system beforehand based on how far the states are.

6. I’m Going on an Adventure Memory Game

Everyone takes turns adding one thing that they’re taking on an adventure, and the next person needs to remember what was said beforehand and then add their item. The first person starts by saying something like, “I’m going on an adventure, and this is what I pack. A backpack. “

The next player says the same but add their item to the end. Keep going until someone make a mistake. If you make a mistake, you’re out. Last person to complete the sentence with everyone’s things wins!

7. Would You Rather

Take turns saying statements like, “would you rather kiss a frog or kiss a mouse.” Anything goes. Take turns going around to see what everyone picks. Take turns asking the would you rather question.

8. Categories

Pick a category and take turns naming things from that category. An example would be. Dogs. Golden retriever, poodle, etc. Keep going until someone can’t name anything else.

9. Truth or Dare

This feels like a classic. Take turns asking someone if they pick truth or dare and then ask them a question if they choose truth or give them a fun dare if they decide dare.

10. Story Time

One person starts by adding to the story. Add a word at a time, but you can’t forget the words there were added before yours. Repeat the story that was said before your turn, and then add your word. Whoever messes up the order of the words first is out. Last person to recite the story without making a mistake wins.

11. Scavenger Hunt

This game might take some preparation before you hit the road, but it will be fun for everyone. Before you go on your trip, make a list of things to find on a piece of paper. While you’re on the road, give the list to everyone so they can check off the items as they see them.

The first person to find all the items wins! Hopefully, by the end of the trip, everyone will have all the things checked off.

12. Rhyming Game

Everyone gets a chance to pick a word to start with; then, the second person has to say a word that rhymes with the first person’s word. Keep going until you can’t think of any more rhyming words.

13. Name the Song

Take turns humming a song until someone can guess the song’s name. If you want to make it a bit more challenging, guess the singer’s name too!

14. Never Have I Ever

“Never have I ever kissed a frog.” Take turns going around to each person so they can say their own never have I ever statement. Anyone who has also never done what’s said in the statement puts their hands up. It’s a fun game to get to know everyone and a great icebreaker.

15. Rock Paper Scissors

Two people face off in rock, paper scissors. Take turns picking rock, paper, or scissors and whoever wins gets the point.

16. Thumb Wars

One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war. Play mini-games by trying to trap your opponent’s thumb under your own. A fun game to play for all ages.

17. Spelling Game

Have a spelling bee in the car. One person can ask for the words to be spelled out, and every correct spelled word is a point. Whoever has the most points after a particular time or amount of words wins.

18. Reading Game

Everyone can bring a book or a few mini books and take turns reading for everyone. It’s a great way to connect by seeing what type of books everyone likes to read.

19. Connection

This one is fun because it can be tricky. Pick two people or two things and try to find three ways they can connect. Everyone can take turns picking, and everyone else has to try to find ways to connect.

20. First to See

Someone picks something to look out for, and the first person to see it wins a point. You can choose a specific license plate, an airplane, a tall building, anything works!

21. Mini Car Games for Kids

You can find some fun mini car games like tic tac toe, chess, checkers that are super fun to play for all ages. You can sometimes even find fun board games like monopoly and sorry in mini-sized games for the car.

22. Games on Apps

You can download some great multiplayer games on your electronics like headbands, minute to win it, sudoku, ping pong, and some fun strategy or math games. These are all super fun and could even be used for a family games night.

You can download some great trivia games on your phone and ask questions. You can play one-on-one or with everyone in the car.

Download a poker app and get others to join you. You can play at a table together or at different tables and have fun collecting points. You could also try with a deck of cards if you have a travel tray for the car.

Have the best road trip ever with these fun car games. Prepare for your family vacation or road trip with a list of fun games everyone can play, and you’re sure to have a great time. Don’t forget you can also download some great books and games to keep kids entertained like Martha Speaks , Curious George .

This post originally appeared on Savoteur .

Victoria Cornell is the founder of Motherhood Life Balance. She helps busy moms find peace in the midst of the chaos, transform their mindset, get organized, and find the fuel to live their best life. You can find her at https://motherhoodlifebalance.com/

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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:

• Road Trip: Explore Utahs National Parks in One Unforgettable Road Trip
• Road Trip: Road Trip Across the United States: 9 Week Itinerary
• Road Trip: Plan a Trip from Zion to Bryce Canyon: 2 Utah National Parks
• Road Trip: 100+ Tested Road Trip Pack List Essentials You Will Not Want to Forget
• 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
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• National Parks: First Hand Ranking of National Parks in the U.S. from Best to Worst

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24 Entertaining Road Trip Games To Make Time Fly

Highway to happiness.

On a road trip with kids, between being asked “Are we there yet?” after every exit and trying to avoid turning road time into screen time, hours can pass slowly. Not to mention that cars aren’t really conducive to playing conventional board games, or even reading, for a lot of kids. Make the time fly by with these road trip games that are easy to play in the car (even for the driver) and have a learning component to accompany the fun.

(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)

Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger Hunt is a classic game for a reason. You can call out items for people to spy, or use Eye Spy sheets for people to use to mark off what they see while driving.

Why we love it: Eye Spy builds focus and attention.

Try it: Use these printable Scavenger Hunt sheets where you can check off pictures of various things you’d see on a road trip plus road signs .

Would You Rather …?

Especially for older kids, answering questions like “Would you rather team up with Captain Marvel or Superman?” is a fun imagination activity.

Why we love it: Answering the questions encourages creative thinking.

Buy it: Print out questions ahead of time or buy a deck of cards on Amazon.

Alphabet Game

Looking for classic road trip games? Try the alphabet game, where you name things that you see, but you have to call them out in alphabetical order. (You can’t use license plates.) So, looking out the window, you might see an Arby’s, barn, chicken coop, driveway … you get the idea.

Why we love it: Kids who are learning the alphabet will enjoy participating in helping identify the next letter and naming words they see, while older kids can get creative and try to find the less obvious options.

Name That Artist

In this game, you put on the car radio and try to name the artist when each song comes on. Select someone to keep points and tally each time a person is correct. The person with the most points when you get to your destination (or the next gas station) wins.

Why we love it: It’s friendly competition and encourages listening.

The License Plate Game

The goal is to find license plates from as many states as possible. When you see a new state, call it out. Bonus points for listing the state’s capital, biggest city, or even state bird.

Why we love it: It builds geography knowledge as you mark off the states that you see.

Try it: Use this state printable from Great Wolf Lodge , or this license plate printable from The Road Trip Expert .

List things you see that are the same color. So, start with something red, like a “fire hydrant.” Then, everyone has to think of more things that are that color. Or play the opposite way, with one person listing things that are one color and the others guess which color they’re thinking of.

Why we love it: Finding or brainstorming things that are the same color encourages categorization and thinking skills.

Magnetic Board Games

Travel board games are a great way to keep kids engaged in the back seat. Stock the back seat with travel versions of chess, checkers, and other games.

Why we love it: Board games build critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Buy it: Travel Chess and  Travel Checkers on Amazon

Travel Trivia

This game requires some preparation—prep a set of trivia questions about topics your child knows something about, like Disney characters, pop music, or Minecraft. Then, ask them questions throughout the drive. Or use a general trivia question list, like this one from Parade or Kidpillar .

Why we love it: Kids will love showing off what they know and will build background knowledge about topics too.

Guess in 10

Guess in 10 is a card game that challenges you to guess an animal or city by answering up to 10 questions. It’s great for kids to play in the back seat or for the whole family to play.

Why we love it: Kids learn about whichever topic your Guess in 10 deck is about, and they learn how to deduce answers from bits of information.

Buy it: Guess in 10, animal edition or Guess in 10, city edition on Amazon

Finish the Story

The driver starts, “Once upon a time …” then each person in the car adds the next complete sentence until you have a silly story. Set a time limit or wrap up after each person has had a chance to say three or four sentences.

Why we love it: Building a story together is a great way to reinforce grammar and story elements like plot, setting, and characters.

The Name Game

To start, one person names a city. The next person has to name a city that starts with the first city’s last letter. So, you could start with “Calcutta” and the second person could say “Anchorage,” and so on. You can also play this game with animal names instead of cities.

Why we like it: The Name Game challenge is a great way to build new knowledge and activate familiar knowledge in a new way.

Going on a Picnic

Looking for more classic road trip games? In this memory challenge game, the first person says, “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing …” and then names something. The second person says, “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing …” and includes the first thing and then adds their own. This continues until the list is too long to remember. For another version, you can play the same game but with the starter “I’m packing a suitcase …”

Why we love it: Going on a Picnic reinforces attention, listening, and memory.

Car Categories

One person chooses a category (e.g., cities, movie titles, dinner foods, breakfast foods, etc.). Then, people take turns naming items that are included in that category. So, if you choose cities, then you could say Des Moines, Athens, Chicago, etc. To make it more difficult, name things in alphabetical order (Athens, Buffalo, Chicago).

Why we love it: Categorizing information helps kids learn and remember new information as they connect old and new knowledge.

Loaded Questions Jr.

Loaded Questions Junior poses questions like What two words best describe you? and What job do you think you would be really good at? The questions spark conversations that may surprise you.

Why we love it: Thinking through unexpected questions helps kids develop language and cognitive skills.

Buy it: Loaded Questions Junior on Amazon

Random Association

In this game, the first player announces a category. The next player says a word associated with that category. Then each person contributes until everyone has participated. So, if someone says “Christmas,” the next person could say the first thing that pops into their head, like “stockings” or “tree.” The game ends when someone repeats a word.

Why we love it: Just like Car Categories, this game helps kids connect familiar and new information.

Counting Cows

Some people look out one side of the car, and others look out the other. Whenever you see a cow, yell “cow” or “moo.” The first person to see each cow gets a point and the person who gets the most points is the winner.

Why we love it: It’s a fun way to spend the time, and you don’t know what else you’ll see!

Choose a famous person—historical or celebrity—and have other players guess who you are. It’s 20 Questions, but for people.

Why we love it: Between the adults and kids in the car, there’s lots of opportunity for everyone to learn about someone new.

Spot the Cracker Barrel

Before you leave on your road trip, decide on one restaurant that you’re going to keep watch for. Then, note each time you see that restaurant. This is one of those road trip games with many variations. It could be Cracker Barrel, Starbucks, McDonald’s, Culver’s—any restaurant you think you’ll spot on road signs and at rest stops. Whoever sees the most of that restaurant gets to choose the next restaurant you eat at.

Why we love it: Having to focus on and pay attention to one thing, even for a short while, builds focus.

Learn more: Blogger at Large

A book of Mad Libs, where you fill in silly nouns, adjectives, and adverbs to create stories that are absurd enough to be hilarious, is a great way to engage elementary schoolers through adults.

Why we love it: Mad Libs teaches parts of speech (noun, verb, adjective …), and when kids read their silly stories aloud, they’re building fluency.

Buy it: Goofy Mad Libs on Amazon

Color Search

Here’s one of the easiest road trip games to play. Choose a color, then call out all the things you see that are that color, like yellow lights, houses, flowers. You can have someone tally how many things each person sees. Choose a time frame or stretch of the trip to make this manageable.

Why we love it: Put an elementary-aged child in charge of tallying so they can practice collecting data.

Fortunately, Unfortunately

Take turns telling a story, but each sentence has to start with Fortunately or Unfortunately . It forces players to take the story to unexpected places.

Why we love it: Storytelling, with a little structure, encourages kids to think creatively.

Drawing Game

Start with a blank piece of paper. One person starts the drawing, then passes the paper to the next person, who adds to the drawing. Go around a few times and you’ll have a crazy drawing in the end. Add a time limit for more fun.

Why we love it: It shows how everyone can contribute parts to a final product.

Carpool Chaos

Carpool Chaos is a card game of games, questions, and challenges that engages you in conversations you won’t expect. Even the driver can play as none of the challenges involve movement.

Why we love it: Kids get practice responding to tons of different questions and games.

Buy it: Carpool Chaos on Amazon

The Family Game

See how well your family members know each other by asking each other trivia questions. Use a card deck like Do You Really Know Your Family? for ready-made questions. What is Mom’s favorite color? What did Dad like to do as a kid?

Why we love it: Kids get practice answering questions and learn more about the people they’re closest to.

Buy it: Do You Really Know Your Family? on Amazon

What are your favorite road trip games? Share with us in the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE on Facebook .

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Car Games For Road Trips: 25+ No-Prep Screen-Free Activities

Are you ready to REALLY enjoy a family road trip without listing to kids whining about being bored? Well, with these car games for road trips , you can! Try these must-play road trip car games to keep the kids entertained so the entire family can enjoy hitting the road.

It’s part of the American dream, right? Hitting the road on a family road trip is all about the adventure and making memories together.

Whether the entire family piles into an RV or the car, you get to enjoy the excitement of seeing different parts of the country together up close and personal.

These are the kinds of trips that kids talk about for years.

But one major downside for parents on those trips can be bored kids.

Use Car Games For Road Trips To Avoid Boredom

Have you ever tried getting out on the road hoping for all those laughs and warm fuzzy feelings that it seems like families have on road trips – only to be deeply disappointed when the kids get bored after 15 minutes?

Because once that happens you’ll be subjected to a constant stream of questions and whining. “When will we get there? Are we there yet? I’m hungry! I’m bored!” etc

Once that happens, no fun will be had by anyone in that car!

But I’ve discovered a way to prevent that!

We have taken several long road trips now, so we have some experience in keeping kids happy, and entertained, and building those happy memories.

It’s all about playing car games for road trips. 😁

The right road trip car games are the key to keeping everyone smiling and laughing as the miles whiz by! What kind of games? Well, good ol’ fashioned games that don’t require a screen, of course!

Are you ready?

Best Road Trip Games For The Entire Family

Whether you’re hitting the road to go see grandma or just out exploring the country, prepare yourself with this list of car games for road trips. Then, when anyone gets bored, you have some games “up your sleeve.”

Need other activity ideas so the kids can keep themselves entertained and you can enjoy the open road? Don’t forget to grab this Road Trip Activity Set for more ideas!

1. Twenty Questions

This was one of the main games we played when I was a kid, and we played it A LOT because my parents LOVED road trips!

My husband and I play it with our kids – it gives the kids a GREAT outlet for asking a bazillion questions at the appropriate time!

How To Play This Road Trip Car Game:

One person is “it” and thinks of a noun. Then other players take turns asking yes-or-no questions. The questions aren’t random – they should target the information needed to guess what the item is that the chosen person is thinking of.

Twenty Questions Car Games For Road Trips Tips:

• After a player asks a question and receives an answer, they have an opportunity to take a guess at what the mystery item is. Get it right? They win! Guess wrong? It’s the next player’s turn.
• If no one has guessed the mystery item after 10 questions , the “it” person can give the guessers a clue about the item (optional). We didn’t do this at first, but then we got tired of the kids picking totally obscure items that no one could guess!
• If no one guesses the mystery item after 20 questions, they lose.

2. The License Plate Game

Here’s an old reliable road trip game! I definitely played this when I was a kid on road trips with my family. 

Note : most of the time your kids probably won’t find all the states. However, if you hit a popular national park like Yosemite or The Grand Canyon, you can probably find all the states plus some cool bonuses (think: Canadian provinces, Mexico, or Native American Nations)!

How To Play This Road Trip Car Game

Have the kids mark down all the different states from which they see license plates on your travels.

They can just write a list (and then practice alphabetizing them) or grab my Road Trip Activity Packet and color in each state they spot a license plate for on the map.

3. Would You Rather?

My son is the king of this game. He loves to play it even when we aren’t on a road trip, so it’s a perfect fit for our annual 13-hour road trip drives!

The questions become pretty outlandish, so you’re pretty much guaranteed a few laughs with this game!

Each person takes a turn asking far-fetched questions with two different options to the family. Examples might include, “would you rather be able to fly or be able to swim without needing to come up for air?” or “would you rather bike for 50 miles or run 20 miles?”

4. Name That Tune

Pull this one out for music lovers! I love games that can be adapted for different ages and played in different ways so that it never gets boring – and this game fits the bill.

How To Play This Road Trip car Game

Players take turns singing song lyrics or humming a tune. The other players try to guess the name of the song. Another option is to guess the singer. If anyone guesses both the song and singer, they get bonus points!

Adapting this game for kids of different ages is simple. When you play with younger kids, use familiar kid songs. When playing with older kids, go for popular radio songs.

5. Alphabet Memory Game 

Here’s a way to practice those letter skills – with an added bonus. This A-Z alphabet game challenges players’ memories in addition to their alphabet skills!

Decide who plays in what order then follow this method. The first player starts with “A is for…” and completes the statement. The second player repeats the process with the next letter, saying “B is for” but must repeat what the player says for “A” first. So they should say, “A is for…B is for…”

Repeat this same process through the complete alphabet. It will get harder as you get further through the alphabet! If anyone gets all of the items for all the letters right by the time you get to “Z,” they win!

NOTE : When playing with young kids, keep in mind that both their alphabet skills and memory skills may not be up to the task of doing the entire alphabet.

A good way to play with younger kids is to choose a letter to stop. Depending on how old your kids are, they may be able to do 4 or 5 letters, or they may be able to get to “L” or “M”.

6. The Alphabet Race

How about turning sibling rivalry into a friendly competition with a positive purpose? Grab a piece of paper and work on letter and spelling skills.

One person looks at the left side of the road while someone else looks at the right side of the road. Each player looks at trucks, signs, license plates, anything to find the letters of the alphabet.

Whoever finds every letter of the alphabet is the winner! There’s just one small catch: the letters have to be found in alphabetical order.

7. Story Telling

Here’s a game to boost creativity! You can do this activity in a couple of different ways, which reduces the fatigue factor and makes the time pass faster.

Choose a storyteller. The chosen storyteller comes up with a story on the spot. The type of story doesn’t matter – it can be any completely fictional story.

This activity can be highly entertaining and even funny – and it works on building storytelling skills at the same time. Help your kids build good storytelling skills by asking for any missing elements you would expect in a good story: beginning, problem, how to solve the problem/climax, and resolution.

This activity will likely be short and sweet with younger kids, while older children will be more likely to weave creative tales that will hold your attention.

Grab my Road Trip Activity Packet and continue the fun as you travel miles down the road without one single complaint!

8. Mad Libs-Style Story Telling

If you’ve been through a few rounds of storytelling and want to change things up, add a twist by turning the stories into Mad Libs stories.

Instead of having one person tell a story from beginning to end, this will be more round-robin style.

One person begins the story by saying “Once upon a time…” and introduces the main character. Each person takes a turn adding the next sentence of the story.

Keep going through the family until the story naturally comes to an end. If you have a family member who can drag things out until it’s just not enjoyable anymore, create an ending point. This might be a set number of sentences each person can add or a time limit.

9. Road Trip Bingo

I’ve never been around kids playing Bingo who were bored! Doubt me? Just download and watch kids playing my:

• Halloween Bingo
• Christmas Bingo
• Valentine’s Day Bingo

There’s no doubt bout it – Bingo is tons of fun and will keep kids occupied for quite a while as you head down the road. But to play it, you’ll need these free Bingo boards , which are part of my comprehensive Road Trip Activity Packet .

Give a Bingo card to each player. Then every player watches for items on the card as you drive. As players spot items, they mark out the corresponding picture on the cards.

The first player to find all the items in a row wins! The row can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal wins!

Turn those whines into gales of laughter with this free car-friendly Road Trip Bingo game !

10. Cloud Shapes

I love this game for kids who get motion sickness because they won’t get sick when looking at the clouds. It’s also GREAT for encouraging kids to use their imaginations as they try to find common shapes in clouds. Prepare yourself for lots of laughs as everyone tries to see the same shapes!

Each player looks at the clouds in the sky from their own window, trying to find and identify everyday shapes like objects or animals.

Once a player finds a shape, point it out to the other players and give them a chance to see if they can identify the same object that you see in the clouds.

11. I Spy Car Games For Road Trips

This is one of those games that works well with kids of a variety of ages. If your family has a mix of kids that can and can’t read, try playing I Spy!

With older kids, you can spot things inside and outside the car. However, with younger kids, you may want to choose items that are inside the car and easier for kids in car seats to see.

Choose an “it” person who spots the item. That person picks an item and says “I spy with my little eye…” and fills in the end of the sentence. Examples could be “I spy with my little eye something blue” or “I spy with my little eye something small and gray.”

12. What Color Is It?

Car games for road trips don’t get simpler than this! Let an adult list a series of things that are the same color until the kids can guess what the color is. The first kiddo to guess correctly wins that round!

For example, you might say “grass, leaves, moss, Jake’s room” and the kids guess “Green!”

13. Basic ABC Categories

Here’s a great game that can break up other games. We also tend to play it when waiting in lines!

This car game for road trips starts by choosing a category (desserts, animals, famous people). Then you go through the family with each family member naming something in that category that starts with the next letter in order.

Keep going until you reach the end of the alphabet or someone gets stumped.

For the category “desserts:”

A pple pie B lueberry cobbler C réme brulé D ark chocolate silk pie

14. Category ABCs (First Last Version)

Here’s a variation we like to play on Category ABCs to change things up.

As with the “normal” version, someone chooses a category. In this version, there’s no need to go in alphabetical order. Instead, they can start with any letter they want.

Strategy comes into play when the next person has their turn because they name something in the same category. The catch? The item every subsequent item named must start with the last letter of the previous word.

For example, if the category is “games,” the first player might say “catch.” Then next person to go must name a game that begins with the last letter in “catch”, which would be “h.” In this example, the next player might choose to say “hide and seek.” And so on from there until someone gets stuck.

15. In My Suitcase

Here’s a fun memory car game for road trips that makes great memories as a family! It follows a similar A – Z process that the ABC Categories game does.

The first person starts by saying, “I’m going on a vacation, and I packed…” Then they finish the sentence with an item that starts with the letter “A.”

The next person takes their turn and first repeats what the previous player is bringing. They then add an item that starts with the letter “B.”

Follow the format as you work your way from A to Z. The round is over once someone forgets an item!

“I’m going on vacation, and I packed an avocado.” “I’m going on vacation, and I packed an avocado and a ball.” “I’m going on vacation, and I packed an avocado, a ball, and a cracker.”

16. Car Trip Scavenger Hunt

Grab my Road Trip Activity Packet and use the printable scavenger hunt card included inside!

17. Name The Most

Ok, this car game for road trips is a bit like ABC Categories. But this road trip car game is for the competitive family (although you can play it like ABC Categories for a less competitive version)!

Someone names a category. The other players bet on how many items in the category they can name. Once a player thinks they can’t do better than the other, they issue a challenge to “Name them!”

The opponent now has their turn. I suggest setting a time limit of no more than 10 seconds, but that’s optional. If the second player is successful, they receive 1 point for each response they gave. If they fail to reach their goal, nobody receives any points!

Here are a few great places to start:

• US Presidents
• European countries
• All the books in a book series
• Characters from a certain movie or show (like Star Wars or Disney)
• Names of constellations

18. What am I Counting?

I’ve only played this guessing game a couple of times, but it’s quickly becoming a family favorite!

One person starts verbally counting something as they spot it. The catch is that they don’t tell anyone what they are counting.

The other players guess what the first person is counting, but there’s a strategy to it. Are they counting signs that whiz by on the highway? Is the counting quick or spread out?

19. 20 Math Questions

Here’s a numbers-based 20 Questions car game for road trips.

Let an adult think of a number between 1 and 100. Then the kids ask yes-or-no questions that are math-related.

Examples could include “Is your number even? Is it greater than 25?” and so on. The goal is to have the answers to the questions help you figure out the number.

It’s ok to keep track with pen and paper – but calculators are against the rules!

20. Six Degrees – Movie Edition

It’s the idea of Six Degrees of Separation – that everything is connected with six degrees of each other. Warning: this game can go on for a while!

Have one player name an actor/actress. The next player names a movie that the actor appeared in. Then the fun begins… the next person names someone  else  in the same movie that hasn’t already been named.

And the players continue to follow the process as they go back and forth until someone can’t answer.

Julia Roberts –> Wonder –> Owen Wilson –> Night At The Museum –> Ben Stiller…etc.

21. Sing-Along String-Along

Here’s a fun road trip car game for music lovers (that’s us!)!

To begin, one person SINGS a line of a song (just ONE line), then the next person picks up where the first left off and connects that song with a lyric from another song using the final word from the line before.

Play stops when someone messes up or gets stuck.

“Show me how big your brave is…” “Is there life out there…” “There once was a ship that put to sea…”

22. (Un)fortunate Storytelling

Get ready for some laughs as you enjoy a new original wacky story!

One person begins by telling a simple opening sentence. The next person continues the story by saying something fortunate that happened, “Fortunately…”

Then Person 3 jumps in to add an  unfortunate  event to the situation. Continue person-to-person, adding alternating fortunate and unfortunate situations.

I learned how to wakeboard! Fortunately, we had a fast boat. Unfortunately, the boat started going too fast. Fortunately, the boat pulled me out of the water easily so I could wakeboard. Unfortunately, it was going so fast that I started flying through the air instead of riding on top of the water. Fortunately….

23. Miles of Smiles

Inspired by a road trip games book with the same name,  Miles of Smiles , this game is easy breezy to play.

Everyone in the car smiles his or her biggest grin at passing drivers. Waving is ok, but silly faces are not.

Keep count of how many people smile back – maybe make a goal of getting to 20 people before the game ends or something similar.

24. Get ‘Em To Honk

This game is similar to Miles of Smiles, but you’re trying to get drivers of 18-wheelers to sound their horns.

When you pass an 18-wheeler, get in the window of your car and hold up your hand like you’re pulling down a handle from the roof. Pull it down a couple of times and see if the driver pulls down their horn to sound it off!

25. A-Z License Plate Game

The license plate game is always a fun one, but you can try some variations to KEEP it fun.

Try working as a team or as teams opposing one another to search for the letters A-Z  in order on license plates. Once you find that, then try finding numbers 0-9 in order . 

This idea is online because, let’s face it, Mama needs a break from time to time (and at least it’s an educational, thinking game)! Sudoku is a logic-based number puzzle game that typically consists of a 9×9 grid divided into nine 3×3 sub-grids.

While often that seems like a math problem, Sudoku is actually an entertaining puzzle. The objective of the game is to fill in the grid with numbers from 1 to 9, ensuring that each row, column, and sub-grid contains all the numbers from 1 to 9 without any repetitions.

The game typically starts with some numbers already filled in as clues, and the player must use logical deduction to fill in the remaining numbers. Sudoku is a popular game that can be played on paper or online, and it is known for its ability to exercise the mind and improve logical thinking skills.

How To Get The Most Out Of Car Games For Road Trips

My husband and I like taking road trips, and we’ve taken several with our kids. Through the school of hard knocks, we’ve learned a few helpful tips:

• Have lots of car games for road trips ready to go. The last thing you want to do is try to come up with an idea when the kids are squabbling with each other.
• Plan for each game to take about 30 minutes. We tend to get tired of any game after that long.
• We find it helpful to alternate between playing an individual road tip car game, a family car game, and take a break for a podcast or a quick snack.

More Screen-Free Road Trip Games And Fun

Phones and video games are a huge draw for kids. -and will keep them quiet. But if you’re seeking activities that will keep them QUIET AND OFF DEVICES, try these ideas!

• The 28 Best Podcasts For Kids That Parents Will Love Too

17 Laugh-Out-Loud Mom Podcast Options That Every Mom Needs

20 best family games to play on a road trip.

I hope this list of ideas for fun car game for road trips helps your family enjoy hitting the road on an adventure! The key to success with family road trips is to bring along some variety. My Road Trip Activity Packet is an EASY way to help you get ready.

Happy Travels!

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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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• Best Family Vacations

11 Best Road Trip Games for Families

Jan 31, 2023

See recent posts by Jackie Perrin

Games for a family road trip need three ingredients in order to maximize their vacation mileage: portability, a minimum number of small parts, and a kid-friendly fun factor. Avoid the “Are we there yet?” blues and take a detour around the “tech trap” when you add one or more of these travel-ready games to your emergency road kit . From modern spins on retro favorites to cleverly designed all-in-one sets that kick searches for lost pieces to the curb, these are the best road trip games for families. 

1. The Alphabet Game

In this classic road trip game that doesn’t require a board or game pieces, players attempt to find words starting with every letter of the alphabet, going in order from A to Z. You can look at billboards, road signs, branded trucks, restaurant names, and more. It’s up to you whether to play cooperatively–with each player building off the group’s progress–or competitively, with everyone going through their own alphabet. Either way, when players spot their next word, they call out their letter and the word (“A! Arby’s!”) so everyone can keep track. Some people use the rule that if someone spots a graveyard, they can declare it and all other players will go back to “A”.

Another version of the Alphabet Game is for someone to pick a category (the original game is “groceries/food”, but it could be animals, places, famous people, or something else), and the family will take turns naming items from that category that begin with ascending letters from A to Z. For example, if one person starts with “aardvark,” the next person could follow up with “butterfly” and so on.

2. Melissa & Doug Flip to Win Hangman

A retro game made road-ready, Flip to Win Hangman by Melissa & Doug is one of the best road trip games for beginning readers (ages 6 and up). Designed with flippable, magnetic wooden letters, each game comes with an erasable whiteboard and a self-store dry-erase marker . The sturdy set really holds up to repeated kid (and adult) play, which is good because it’s addictive! It’s so fun, in fact, you’ll want to buy a second game for Grandma’s house!

Related: The Best Snacks for Road Trips

3. Coggy by Fat Brain Toys

Get kids’ mental gears spinning as they build visual-spatial skills with Coggy by Fat Brain Toy Co . The mind-building travel game is designed as a single strand of connected patterned cogs, which players match to a series of corresponding pattern cards. Gears make a satisfying click as they pivot, making Coggy one of the best travel games for kids who need some sensory input when they’re cooped up in the car. 

No self-respecting list could leave out this classic kids’ road trip game! Players take turns selecting an object around them (ideally something in the car or that will remain in sight for a while), and giving the others a clue about it. The traditional formula is “I spy, with my little eye, something [color], or something beginning with [letter].”

But if you want to get preschoolers even more involved with the game, try the I Spy Travel Card Game from University Games . Similar to the board-free classic, this road trip game is seek-and-find style for ages 4 and up. The game contains 48 jumbo cards with simple pictures and corresponding text. Pre-readers will feel grown-up as they “read” about common road trip sights, and then race to be the first to locate them. 

5. Travel Blurt

A favorite party game gets a travel makeover in Travel Blurt , a fast-talking word recall game for on-the-go play. Pit sibling against sibling or parent team against kid teams in a hilarious competition that will have everyone laughing out loud. A handy travel case and magnetic scorecards help keep the fun at your fingertips. One of the best road trip games for groups, Travel Blurt is for three to four players, ages 10 and up.

Related: 10 Strangest Places to Stop on a U.S. Road Trip

6. License Plate Game

Have your kids “collect” as many license plate states as they can find, writing each one down to keep track. They probably won’t find all 50 (looking at you, Alaska, and Hawaii), but especially if you’re driving cross-country, you’d be surprised how many people you’re sharing the road with. This is another kids’ road trip game that lends itself equally well to collaboration or competition: do they work together or collect their own lists of plates? Or go a step further and have them learn while playing with the Flip to Win License Plate Game by Melissa & Doug .

Easy to play and fun for all ages, it’s a scavenger-hunt style game that helps kids learn U.S. states and capital cities. The beauty of this smartly designed game— and what makes it one of the best road trip games available—is that the parts stay put. No more fishing loose pieces out of car seats and seat cushions, thanks to sturdy, flippable, magnetic wooden pieces! Adults will enjoy taking a trip down memory lane as they play along with the kids and revisit a childhood classic. Great for gift-giving, this game is for one to two players (or teams), ages 8 and up.

7. Interstate Highway Bingo Cards

Lure your family members away from their devices and into the driver’s seat on your next road trip travel adventure with Interstate Highway Bingo Cards by Regal Games . Fingertip shutters reveal photos of common road trip sights, such as a horse, rest area, farm house and police car. Be the first to get five pictures in a row, and become the king or queen of the road trip! The four-card set makes it easy for brothers, sisters, aunts, and uncles to get in on the scenery-spotting competition.

8. 20 Questions

Especially with younger kids, it often seems like the questions are endless. 20 Questions is a perfect way to get it out of their system. You’ve probably played it before, but just to refresh your memory: one player thinks of a person, place, or thing. The others take turns asking yes-or-no questions; after each question, they get a guess about what/where/who it is. If they don’t solve it after 20 questions, they lose.

Related: Best Family Card Games to Play on Vacation

9. Guess in 10-Cities Around the World

It’s the Game of 20 Questions, minus 10! In “ Guess in 10-Cities Around the World ,” players draw clue cards and, through the process of elimination, make guesses to identify one of 52 diverse metropolitan locations. Kids and parents will learn about the food, culture and monuments associated with the world’s most famous cities, from Rome to San Francisco . For parents looking to increase learning mileage on the road, this game for players ages 8 and up is one of the best road trip games to pack in your overnight bag .

Related: 10 (and a Half) Tips for Road Trips

10. FlashDash

FlashDash by Winning Fingers helps backseat travelers get the wiggles out, without waging a sibling turf war. A combination of the popular games Simon and Bop it, contained in a compact handheld electronic cube, FlashDash features four different speed and memory games, with lights and optional sound. For kids who need to move on long car rides, this Android device alternative is one of the best new road trip games. Designed for ages 6 to adult. 

11. Cow on My Side

This simple kids’ road trip game is a lot of fun for families driving through the countryside. When you see cows on your side of the road, yell “Cows on my side!” You get a point for each time you call a group of cows. If you spot cows on the opposite side, you can yell “Cows on your side!” and steal a point from your opponent. Passing a cemetery? The first person to yell “Ghost cow!” steals all the other side’s points.

Of course, you can always bring along a tablet or computer and put on one of these kids’ movies for road trips, but sometimes it’s nice to just engage everyone with some old-fashioned fun. Especially if your trip is on the longer side, it’s a good way to turn those potentially torturous hours into quality family bonding time.

Writer Jackie Perrin has covered the best of family travel for nearly two decades, for media ranging from newspapers and magazines to  TripAdvisor.com . At home and on the go, she manages a crew of companions. Follow her on Pinterest, TripAdvisor and Instagram,  @NYfamtravels .

Related:   Most Fun Family Beach Games 

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General election latest: Starmer accused of 'purge' by Corbyn - as Labour gains defector over Tory stance on Gaza

Sir Keir Starmer has faced accusations of a left-wing cull in the Labour Party, including from predecessor Jeremy Corbyn. In better news for the party leader, another Tory has defected.

Thursday 30 May 2024 18:26, UK

• General Election 2024

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Election news

• Bulletin: What you need to know from the campaign trail today
• Tory defects to Labour over war in Gaza
• Corbyn accuses Starmer of 'clearly intervening' in 'purge'
• No reason Abbott shouldn't be able to stand, says Rayner
• 'How can we trust you?' Voter challenges PM over partygate
• Greens vow 'bold' ideas | Reform proposes 'immigration tax'
• Daily Podcast: Beth Rigby interviews Labour's deputy leader
• Live reporting by Tim Baker  and (earlier)  Ben Bloch  and Katie Williams

Expert analysis

• Darren McCaffrey: Partygate clearly still an issue for Tories
• Beth Rigby: Massive distraction gives Starmer questions to answer
• Gurpreet Narwan: Reform light on detail - but could still be pivotal

Election essentials

• Trackers: Who's leading polls? | Is PM keeping promises?
• Campaign Heritage: Memorable moments from elections gone by
• Follow Sky's politics podcasts: Electoral Dysfunction | Politics At Jack And Sam's
• Read more: What happens next? | Who is standing down? | Key seats to watch | How to register to vote | What counts as voter ID? | Check if your constituency's changing | Your essential guide to election lingo | Sky's election night plans

Ask a question or make a comment

We're approaching the end of the first full week of campaigning for the 2024 general election - and it's been another busy one.

From the Tories pitching their national service and pensions policies, to Labour in-fighting over the future of Diane Abbott, there's been plenty for voters and our team here at Sky News to sink their teeth into.

You may well have questions about what's gone down. How realistic are Rishi Sunak's growing list of ideas? Does the Abbott row risk damaging Sir Keir Starmer? Which was our favourite Lib Dem stunt of the week?!

We've opened up our question form at the top of this page until around 8pm tonight - and we'll aim to have some of our political experts answer a selection of your queries on Friday.

By Gurpreet Narwan , political correspondent

Reform UK events are usually light on policy, but the party has been doing some brainstorming. 

Its latest offer: an employers' immigration tax.

Businesses which employ foreigners instead of British citizens will have to pay additional premium on their national insurance contributions, taking the tax rate up from 13.8% to 20%. 

The party believes this could raise £20bn for the exchequer.

However, there are exemptions. 

It will not apply to health and social care, a major sector for migrant labour, which raises doubts about how much of a dent the policy would make to net migration figures. 

Small employers with fewer than five staff will also be exempt.

The party did not say what it would mean for those with settled status or workers on spousal or family visas.

When asked whether he was comfortable with the prospect of businesses going bust, Nigel Farage said: "Some might but businesses generally innovate, businesses generally go bust if people don't buy their products. 

"Yes, costs are a factor, but it's all about innovation and change."

Both he and Richard Tice were nonplussed at the prospect that businesses might pass the costs onto consumers, risking higher inflation.

As we're in the election period, there is plenty of party political criticism flying around.

The Conservatives have responded to our political editor  Beth Rigby 's interview with Angela Rayner - in which the deputy Labour leader said Diane Abbott should be allowed to stand if she wants.

A spokesperson for the Tories said: "Today the Labour Party campaign has descended into complete chaos. 

"Keir Starmer changed major tax policy overnight in response to a press release, and today he's being undermined by his own deputy. 

"Starmer's central claim that he has 'changed' the Labour Party has been exposed as nothing more than a con that is falling apart before the public's eyes."

Read the interview with Ms Rayner below:

 By Jon Craig , chief political correspondent

Sir Keir Starmer is celebrating the third defection by a Tory to Labour in just over a month.

Mark Logan, who was elected Conservative MP for Bolton North East in 2019, has told Sky News he is quitting the Tories and is urging people to vote Labour in the general election on 4 July.

In recent months he has been a fierce critic of the government's policy on Gaza and is now calling on the UK to recognise Palestine as a country.

Northern Ireland-born Mr Logan, 40, won his seat from Labour in the 2019 general election with a slender majority of just 378. It had been Labour since 1997 but was previously held by the Tories.

A former UK diplomat serving in China who is fluent in Mandarin and Japanese, his dramatic switch follows secret talks with Labour chief whip Sir Alan Campbell and members of Sir Keir's inner circle.

Mr Logan had been due to defend the seat in the general election, but after his shock defection, he hopes to become a Labour candidate in another constituency.

In a "personal statement" on Commons stationery written just before parliament dissolved on Thursday, Mr Logan referred to Labour's 1997 election anthem Things Can Only Get Better.

He wrote: "Labour is back, and given how things have been, I believe things can only get better."

Read more below: 

By Faye Brown , political reporter

Trump-style Tory attacks claiming Sir Keir Starmer is "too old" to be prime minister may have backfired, a new poll suggests. 

According to More in Common, only 17% of voters think the Labour leader is too old to be PM - a number that drops to 5% among swing voters. 

What's more, the average age of undecided voters is… 61 - the same age as Sir Keir. 

Luke Tryl, the UK director of More in Common said "given the Tories need these voters back, implying 61 is a 'sleepy' age may not be wise". 

On Sunday, anonymous quotes emerged in the papers calling Sir Keir "Sir Sleepy", suggesting he does not have the stamina for the campaign. 

It echoes the sort of attacks launched in the US by Donald Trump on Joe Biden, who is 81. 

'A risky strategy'

Mr Tryl told Bloomberg, which first reported on the polling, that pretending the two have the same age problem is "either wishful thinking… or Tory aides have watched too much West Wing". 

"Implying people of that age (61) are past it is a risky strategy", he said, given this is "the key demographic the Tories need to win back if they are going to avoid a 1997-style landslide defeat". 

Sir Keir has dismissed the "sleepy" claims as "desperate". 

Even senior Tories have appeared uncomfortable with this line of attack. 

On Tuesday, we asked Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride, 62, if he would condone that sort of characterisation. 

"It's not a term that I have used or would use. I think whatever age you are in life, people have a huge amount to contribute in some of the most effective ways", he said, noting he is "in the same bracket" as Sir Keir.

Statistics released today show the number of soldiers in the UK's armed forces has dropped below the target of 73,000.

Plans set out by the government put the UK on course to reduce its armed forces from 82,000 troops to 73,000 by 2025.

Ten years ago, there were 97,000.

Data out from the Ministry of Defence shows that numbers fell to 72,510 in April this year - down 2,320 in the previous year.

John Healey, the shadow defence secretary, says "our forces can't afford five more years of the Tories".

The Conservatives have pledged to increase military spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030, and Labour say they will meet the same target when economic conditions allow.

An MoD spokesperson said: "Recruitment and retention are a priority for the armed forces, and they continue to implement a number of measures to improve it for both regular forces and the reserves."

It's just gone 5pm - here's where we are as we get to tea time.

First up, if you need something to listen to on your journey home from work, our political editor Beth Rigby spoke to Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner. 

Listen to them talk on the Daily Podcast below:

All the parties have been on the campaign trail as we remain more than a month out from the election.

Let us get you up to speed on everything you may have missed so far today…

• Sir Keir Starmer  has launched his party's election campaign in Wales , alongside the embattled first minister , where he reiterated his message of "change" and "national renewal" - and said Rishi Sunak didn't catch them out with the early election call;
• But the accusation that he is blocking left-wing candidates from standing for the party is overshadowing the party's messaging, with his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn telling Sky News he is "clearly intervening" in a "purge";
• The Labour leader denied that he is doing so , however, insisting the party wants "the highest quality candidates";
• He also praised Diane Abbott - who claims she has been blocked from standing - as a "trailblazer", but added: "No decision has been taken to bar her";
• And his deputy, Angela Rayner, told Sky News there was no reason Ms Abbott can't stand;
• Our political editor Beth Rigby says the issue has turned into a "massive distraction" - and leaves Sir Keir with questions to answer ;
• And Sky News has learned that Faiza Shaheen, who was blocked by Labour from being their candidate in Chingford and Woodford Green, intends to take legal action to challenge the decision.
• Rishi Sunak had a tough afternoon at a voter Q&A in Milton Keynes, where a man who lost his mother during the pandemic challenged him over his partygate fine ;
• Our  political correspondent Darren McCaffrey  says this shows the scandal that brought down Boris Johnson  is still relevant in this year's election ;
• Meanwhile,  the Conservative Party  has been hitting Labour on its tax pledges today, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt accusing the opposition of "flip-flopping" ;
• He accused his opposite number, Rachel Reeves, of "buckling under pressure" to rule out raising VAT in the next parliament, having "carefully and deliberately" avoided doing so all week -  including in an interview with Sky News' Sam Coates ;
• Speaking to Sky News, he  defended the PM's assertion that interest rates would fall under a government led by him, saying although the Bank of England is "independently" responsible for interest rates, he claimed Labour would fund spending through borrowing, which would see higher interest rates;
• But Mr Hunt also refused to commit to lowering prices amid this cost of living crisis by cutting VAT, saying prices are "decided in a market economy".
• Elsewhere, the  Green Party  has launched its election campaign , saying they want to win at least four seats in parliament to ensure Labour are "pushed beyond the timid change they are offering".
• The  Lib Dems  have been unveiling their plans for a mental health professional to work in every school - and Sir Ed Davey went down a waterslide .
• The SNP leader, John Swinney, has been out campaigning in Edinburgh.
• Plaid Cymru  has launched its campaign in Bangor, declaring it's "time to kick the Conservatives out of power".
• And  Reform UK  has launched its legal immigration policy , which consists primarily of an "employer immigration tax" to incentivise businesses to employ British workers;
• Nigel Farage also took the time to rule out a deal with the Tories .

Here are a couple of other stories that may interest you:

Our essential political podcast,  Politics At Jack And Sam's , is going daily through the election campaign to bring a short burst of everything you need to know about the day ahead as this election unfolds.

Click here to listen to this morning's episode - and tap here to follow Politics At Jack At Sam's wherever you get your podcasts .

Stick with us for all the latest throughout the evening.

By  Gurpreet Narwan , political correspondent

During a Reform campaign event earlier, Nigel Farage rowed back from comments he made last night in which he hinted he might be open to doing a deal with the Tories.

Mr Farage told The Sun his party "might have a conversation" with the Tories, but asked "what are they going to do for me?"

It came after he conceded the election result was a foregone conclusion, with a Labour victory almost certain. 

'No deal with Tories whatsoever'

Mr Farage said he was instead looking to the future and wanted to shape the conservative opposition in the UK.

When asked whether this meant a deal with the Tories was likely, Mr Farage said he was joking. 

He said he was being "deeply sarcastic" in his interview with The Sun and Reform had "absolutely no interest in doing anything at all".

"There is no deal with the Conservatives whatsoever," he said.

When asked whether that was true or whether he was rowing back because of tense conversations with the party and leader Richard Tice, Mr Farage said "there's not a cigarette paper between us."

 Sky political correspondent Serena Barker-Singh has been speaking to Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader who is now an independent.

Mr Corbyn was asked about the candidates seen to be on the left of the party - like Diane Abbott, Lloyd Russell-Moyle, and Faiza Shaheen - not being allowed to stand.

He tells Serena: "The one thing they all have in common, the people that have been purged, is that they're on the left of the party and have all spoken out in favour of an immediate ceasefire and permanent ceasefire in Gaza."

When it was put to him that Labour claims some of the action was down to liking social media posts, Mr Corbyn says: "We don't even know which tweet it was or whose tweet it was.

"That seems to me a bit thin - and the Labour Party's procedures ought to be more robust and more open than that."

Serena asks if Mr Corbyn thinks Sir Keir Starmer is behind the decisions.

The ex-Labour chief says: "Well, as much as he claims sometimes it's nothing to do with him and other times that he's made the decision, he better make up his mind what it is. 

"I think the leader ought to be independent of the other processes. But he clearly is intervening all along the way."

Mr Corbyn is standing for re-election in Islington North.

Labour's Angela Rayner speaks to our political editor  Beth Rigby  in an extended interview for the Daily podcast. 

The party’s deputy leader says that she believes Diane Abbott should be able to stand as an MP - and she denied leader Sir Keir Starmer was acting "in a factional way".

On the first official day of campaigning, she also spoke about the investigations into her living arrangements - and revealed the details of her campaign battle bus.

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Travelers cope with crowds and high prices on the busiest day of Memorial Day weekend

Highways and airports are likely to be jammed the next few days as Americans head out for Memorial Day weekend getaways and then return home.

Airports around the country are bracing for the travel rush as Americans head out for Memorial Day weekend. AAA predicts 43.8 million people expected to travel between Thursday and Monday. (AP Video: Tassanee Vejpongsa)

Highways and airports are likely to be jammed this weekend, as Americans head out on Memorial Day weekend getaways. AAA says this will be the busiest start-of-summer weekend in nearly 20 years.

Travelers on Florida’s Turnpike are experiencing relatively light traffic at the start of the Memorial Day weekend, with no major congestion reported, allowing them to focus on their wallets instead of their anxiety about traffic. (AP video by Cody Jackson)

Travelers walk through Salt Lake City International Airport Friday, May 24, 2024, in Salt Lake City. A record number of Americans are expected to travel over the 2024 Memorial Day holiday. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

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Travelers move through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ahead of Memorial Day, Friday, May 24, 2024, in Atlanta.(AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Michelle Winters plays the violin as passengers stand in line at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ahead of Memorial Day, Friday, May 24, 2024, in Atlanta.(AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Cars drive through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ahead of Memorial Day, Friday, May 24, 2024, in Atlanta.(AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Gasoline prices are displayed on a sign outside a service station as the Memorial Day holiday travel period kicks off Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Greenwood Village, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Traffic slowly moves along Interstate 405 on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles. Highways and airports are likely to be jammed in the coming days as Americans head out on and home from Memorial Day weekend getaways. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Travelers contended with big crowds and flight delays Friday, which was expected to be the busiest day of the Memorial Day weekend.

More than 6,000 U.S. flights were delayed by early evening on the East Coast, continuing a trend that has tested the patience of travelers all week. Cancellations were more modest, at slightly more than 200, according to tracking data from FlightAware.

There were delays on the highways, too.

Along Florida’s Turnpike, Wallis Tinnie said a traffic accident and road work slowed her drive to an African American history commemoration in the Florida Panhandle, the site in 1816 of the first battle of the Seminole Wars.

“But we’re comfortable with it,” the Miami woman said during a stop at Port Saint Lucie. “We left early, and our event is tomorrow. So hopefully — God willing, creek don’t rise — we’ll be there in plenty of time.”

The Transportation Security Administration predicted that Friday would be the busiest day of the holiday weekend for air travel, with nearly 3 million people expected to pass through airport checkpoints . TSA screened just under 2.9 million people Thursday, coming within about 11,000 of breaking the record set on the Sunday after Thanksgiving last year.

Pasha Pidlubniak waits for a domestic flight at Miami International Airport, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Miami. A record number of Americans are expected to travel over the 2024 Memorial Day holiday. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

“Airports are going to be more packed than we have seen in 20 years,” AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said.

Highways also are likely to be jammed as motorists head out of town and then return home. AAA predicted this will be the busiest start-of-summer weekend in nearly 20 years, with 43.8 million people expected to roam at least 50 miles from home between Thursday and Monday — 38 million of them taking vehicles.

The annual expression of wanderlust that accompanies the start of the summer travel season is happening at a time when Americans tell pollsters they are worried about the economy and the direction of the country.

“Memorial Day is a holiday weekend. I get to hang with family and friends, so I’d say that’s priceless, right?” Nene Efebo said during a two-hour wait for a delayed flight at Denver International Airport. “Anything to hang out with family and friends.”

Victoria Ramos Valdes of Miami was taking a driving vacation with her husband, Blake, and their children, ages 3 and 4 months old.

“We said, hey, we’re going to go for a $300 budget, and the hotel is around $150,” she said, but it has a water slide, providing plenty of entertainment. “We’re taking a nice family trip and doing our best to have the best Memorial Day weekend possible.”

Some travelers reported experiencing sticker shock when they booked their trips. Upon arriving at Philadelphia International Airport, Ciarra Marsh said the city “was not our original destination, but we chose here because it was cheaper.”

At Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, Larisa Latimer of New Lenox, Illinois, said her airfare was reasonable but other expenses for a getaway to New Orleans were not.

Motorists travel along Interstate 24 near the Interstate 40 interchange Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. A record number of Americans are expected to hit the pavement over the 2024 Memorial Day holiday. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

“I just have to make the accommodation,” she said. “The rental car is up ... this year, the hotel accommodations were very unusually expensive.”

Kathy Larko of Fort Myers, Florida, used frequent-flyer miles — and some flexible scheduling — to pay for her trip to Chicago.

Travelers wait at a TSA checkpoint at the Los Angeles International Airport, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Los Angeles. A record number of Americans are expected to travel over the 2024 Memorial Day holiday. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

“I’m really conscious of looking at the cost of the entire trip. We’re staying a little farther out than we normally would” to get a lower hotel rate, she said. “We’re also flying back a day later, because we could get cheaper miles.”

The weekend’s highway traffic and crowded airports could be a sample of what is to come for several more weeks. U.S. airlines expect to carry a record number of passengers this summer. Their trade group estimates that 271 million travelers will fly between June 1 and August 31, breaking the record of 255 million set – you guessed it – last summer .

George Ridley, 4, left, rides on a suitcase as he and his father Chris Ridley make their way through the Nashville international Airport, Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. A record number of Americans are expected to travel over the 2024 Memorial Day holiday. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

This story was previously updated to correct the spelling Fort Myers, Florida.

Cody Jackson in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, Melissa Perez Winder in Chicago and Shelley Adler in Washington contributed to this report.