Road trips can be a great way for families to bond and make memories that last a lifetime. Who wants to spend their life indoors, right? But things can get messy when you have small kids tagging along for those long hours on the road. Those “Are we there yet?” questions can quickly turn into "Dad, I want to go home.”
That’s why we created this list of fun road trip activities for kids to keep the little ones engaged throughout the trip. From classic games and tech-based challenges to family bonding activities, road trips can finally be enjoyable—reminding everyone that it’s not about the destination but the journey.
Let’s dive in!
Classic Games
We can’t mention road trip games without talking about the classics, which have stood the test of time. What’s great about these games is that they don’t require supplies.
I spy
It's one of the most popular road trip games. One person will say, “I spy with my little eye, something that is…” and proceeds to mention a characteristic of the “thing.”
The kids will then try and guess what the "thing" is. What makes this game so interesting is that it keeps the kids alert to their surroundings.
The Alphabet Game
This game involves mentioning a letter from the alphabet and then asking the kids to search outside and see what objects or signs start with that letter of the alphabet. Another awesome way to keep the kids involved in the trip.
20 Questions
One person will think of a place or a thing, and the rest of the participants will have 20 yes-or-no questions to guess what “it” is.
The cool thing about 20 Questions is the mental challenge it offers kids, and we all know kids love guessing games.
License Plate Hunt
Here you’ll start by creating a list of different states. Next, ask the kids to search for license plates from different states. Every time they spot a license from a state on the list, you’ll cancel them off the list.
These classic road trip activities for kids are a surefire way to keep the kids from getting bored and being engaged during those long road stretches. Let’s now consider the next group of games—the creative type!
Creative Games
If your kids are more creative or artistic, then these games will help turn those long roads into a fun experience.
Coloring
Pack a couple of coloring books, including crayons, colored pencils, and markers, then get the kids to color an item and compete on who does the best coloring. Of course, ensure you give praise based on your effort to keep everyone happy.
Activity Pads and Sticker Books
The kids will love the sticker books, especially those that have fun themes like outer space and animals. You may also bring along activity pads such as mazes and word searches.
Drawings
A drawing competition can get everyone engaged and occupied. Here, you ask the kids to draw a certain scenery. This could be the horizon, hills, sunset, or a forest. Drawings can help the kids keep their focus and concentration and their minds in the moment.
But road trip activities for kids can also be a learning experience!
Educational Games
Who said travel time cannot be a chance to learn something new? Educational games can be fun while at the same time helping build on the kids’ knowledge base.
Audiobooks
One way to turn that trip into an educational escapade is by downloading audiobooks. Ensure they are age-appropriate. Some really cool ones include The Magic Tree House, Story Nory, and The Brains On!
Roadside Geography
Carry a map and teach the kids how to read it. They can try to spot some geographical features, such as lakes, rivers, mountains, and various other landmarks, while comparing what they see outside to what they see on the maps. This can be a great way to build on their navigation skills and get them ready for when it's their time to go on a road trip.
Digital maps such as Google Maps and Google Earth have made it much easier to navigate. For kids who love tech, they’ll be able to see firsthand how to navigate using digital maps during the road trip.
Car Math Games
Another awesome way to build knowledge while on the road is to help the kids work on their math skills. They could add up the numbers on license plates or try to calculate the distance to the next town.
Learning a New Language
Travel time can also be a great time for the kids to learn a whole new language. You can download and install apps on your smartphone like Duolingo or Rosetta, which the kids can use to learn how to construct sentences in French, Spanish, or even Swahili.
For tech-savvy kids, here are a few fun digital activities to keep them entertained while also learning.
Tech-Friendly Games
Adding in screen time as part of the road trip experience can turn out to be a pleasant way to spend time on the road. You may also want to consider something that is not just entertaining but also educational.
Educational Apps and Games
There are plenty of kid-friendly educational apps available for downloading, such as Khan Academy Kids, PBS Kids games, and Toca Boca.
Furthermore, consider downloading interactive games. Some of these include puzzle games like Cut The Rope or word games like Wordscapes.
Watch a Movie
Family-friendly movies are a great option when looking to stop one of the kids from complaining throughout the trip. You can download the movie on the tablet, but remember to bring along some headphones to prevent distractions for the rest of the people on the trip.
Music and Sing-alongs
Consider creating a playlist filled with everyone’s favorite songs. Each one can pick their favorite song, and everyone can join in the sing-along. Not only is this game engaging, but it can be a great way to bond as a family.
Those tablets, smartphones, and other devices will require charging, and what better way to do this than with the Bluetti Elite 200 V2 Power Station? With its 2073Wh output and ability to simultaneously charge up to 9 devices, you can drive easily while the devices charge throughout the trip.
Ensure the power station has sufficient power to power all the devices during the trip. Well, that’s where the Bluetti Charger 1 comes in. Simply connect it to the car‘s alternator and keep the power station juiced up for the trip, ensuring the devices have enough charge for when it's time to watch a movie, play games, or play music to sing along to.
Food Fun and Snacks
Food games are a sure way to keep kids happy throughout the long stretches. Here are a few food games to consider adding to your list of road trip activities for kids.
Snack Necklaces
You can take pretzels and other snacks and add them onto a string. The kids can play with the multicolored snack necklaces and later munch on them.
DIY Snack Box
Create snack boxes using Pentos or tackle boxes and store some healthy treats like grapes, carrots, crackers, and dried fruits. The kids now have something to chew on throughout the trip.
Guess The Snack
Guess the snack is a game that is bound to give the kids some great fun. Have the kids blindfolded, then feed them a snack and ask them to guess what it is. It will keep them guessing and having fun the whole time.
Rest Stop Games
When you are on a road trip, chances are you’ll need to stop every couple of hours to allow everyone to stretch their legs and use the washroom. You can take advantage of the breaks to have a good time with some fun road trip activities for kids.
The kids can go on a scavenger hunt where they can search out objects that are unique to the area, identify certain plants, or try to see if they can find certain animals. Or perhaps a short photo safari where they can take pictures of the wildlife, landmarks, and scenery.
And what better time to go shell collecting or searching for souvenirs in the area before continuing with the road trip?
Take a Break
You don’t need to spend each moment doing something. If you’ve spent the last couple of hours on the road engaging in the road trip activities for kids and games that we’ve mentioned above, then perhaps it's time to take a break and do absolutely nothing.
This can be a great way for everyone to kick back and relax. You can play soft music on the stereo and even pull out the cozy pillows for the kids to have nap time.
Speaking of naptime, you could also bring out storybooks and read to the kids before bed.
Final Thoughts
Road trips don’t have to be boring for kids. Being prepared with road trip activities for kids can make the experience more fun. From classic road trip games to tech-friendly activities, you can kick boredom out the car window.
