8 best road trip games to play with kids
If you’re ready to turn the car around on your long-haul road trip, take a look at this article for relief. Try road trip games with your kids to end the chorus of questions—or, at the very least, replace it with a chorus of focused questions. These games can be played with kids of all ages and make travelling with children easier, so put it to a vote and get going.
I spy
Good for ages: 4+
Time commitment: 10 minutes+
‘I spy with my little eye…’ This game is a classic, but can get old fast. In this game—in case you have been living under a rock—one person looks around and chooses an object and then describes it using one adjective.
20 questions
Good for ages: 5+
Time commitment: 15 minutes+
Replace those ‘Are we there yet?’s with more constructive questions. In this game one person thinks of, well, anything, and others in the car try to guess what it is in 20 questions or less. Don’t put boundaries on this game–try listing animals or objects in the car for young children, switch to verbs for teens.
Banana
Good for ages: 2+
Time commitment: 5 minutes+
Banana requires keen observation of your surroundings. The first person to spot a passing yellow vehicle and yell ‘Banana’ gets points. Add an extra twist by awarding points based on the size of the car.
Name that tune
Good for ages: 8+
Time commitment: 10 minutes+
Whether you are whistling, humming, singing or playing karaoke-style, this game is great for older kids. Choose a theme for the game, such as movie soundtracks, show tunes, or Katy Perry. The one who correctly guesses the tune gets to be the singer for the next round.
The alphabet game
Good for ages: 8+
Time commitment: 20 minutes+
If you want a game that can take you from A-Z on your road trip, try the alphabet game. Choose a category and go up and down the alphabet finding words that fit. If you hesitate too long, you lose.
Team storytelling
Good for ages: 6+
Time commitment: 10 minutes+
Get your creative juices going by composing a group story. One person in the car starts with ‘Once upon a time…’ and everyone alternates sentences (or words) from there. When you have reached your destination, have your kids illustrate the story as a road trip souvenir.
Hangman
Good for ages: 7+
Time commitment: 10 minutes+
You get five guesses to make the word or phrase, so choose wisely. With each wrong letter, your hanging man gains a limb. When five are up, you lose. Pack a pencil and paper before you leave home to play this game, though.
Tic tac toe
Good for ages: 4+
Time commitment: 5 minutes+
It’s the game of x’s and o’s. Get three in a row and you’re in business. Remember to bring paper and a pencil to make this game work.
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