TravelJul. 29, 2025
4 fun boating vacation ideas, no license or experience required
Discover beginner-friendly boating vacations this summer, from guided cruises to DIY rentals and houseboat vacations.
Published on Jul. 22, 2025
Classic road trip games keep everyone occupied (no screens needed!) – Photo courtesy of Lisa5201 / E+
Road trips are an epic way to vacation. The adventure of the open road, the flexibility on time, and not having to deal with TSA rules for packing are just a few of the many advantages.
However, if your family is anything like mine, “Are we there yet?” and “I’m bored” will begin approximately five minutes after backing out of the driveway.
Solution? Road trip games. Car ride games can transform downtime into a fun-filled bonding opportunity. We've rounded up entertaining car trip games suitable for a variety of ages. With a bit of preparation and a dash of creativity, you’ll be ready with activities that'll keep everyone smiling (and off their electronic devices) for miles on your epic road trip.
One passenger chooses a visible object, keeping its identity secret, and giving a single adjective hint in the format “I spy with my little eye something sparkly.” Players take turns trying to guess what the object is. Players give descriptive clues until someone guesses correctly and becomes the next spy. It’s a great way to hone observational skills.
Each person shares a “rose” (the most positive part of their week) and a “thorn” (the most challenging). The game encourages self-reflection, listening skills, and acceptance of individual perspectives.
Name a place that starts with the last letter of the place named by the player before you. For example, if the first player says “Arkansas,” the next player must pick a location starting with the letter S, such as “Sudan.”
What is more useful when it's broken? An egg! – Photo courtesy of Amazon
Riddles aren't only good for a laugh, but they can boost critical thinking. Road Trip Riddles is a road trip game that features 120 family-friendly riddles for a carload of giggles.
Someone thinks of a person, place, or thing, while the others try to deduce who or what it is by asking up to 20 questions, such as “Is it a living thing?” Everyone must answer all questions with a simple yes or no.
Download a list of all the state capitals before your road trip and quiz passengers along the way. This road trip game is an excellent way to challenge your memory and learn that Albany is the capital of New York and Sacramento is the capital of California.
For this car trip game, everyone in the car keeps their eyes out for Volkswagen Beetles, those cute little cars with characteristic rounded features. When you see a VW Beetle, you yell, “Punch Buggy!” and lightly punch or tap the person next to you on the upper arm.
Drive each other mad in a good way with Mad Libs – Photo courtesy of Amazon
Created in the 1950s, Mad Libs is a retro winner. One player prompts the others to provide a list of words, specifying a grammatical direction, such as "verb" or "adjective," to fill in the blanks in the story. When someone reads the story out loud, the result is usually nonsensical and comical. It’s an effortless way to learn the difference between key grammar terms for an English lesson that’s full of fun. Amazon also has this great road trip activity book that includes Mad Libs and more!
Trying to find all 26 letters of the alphabet on license plates, road signs, and bumper stickers along your journey is a team effort that passes time quickly.
Checking off a license plate from each of the 50 states during your road trip is no easy feat. Appoint a secretary to keep track and see if you’ve succeeded before your trip is complete.
Take turns humming your favorite song without singing the lyrics. The first person to name the tune gets to hum the next song.
The National Mustard Museum is in Middleton, Wisconsin – Photo courtesy of Amazon
Road Trip America is a trivia card game that asks 150 eclectic questions about quirky places to visit in the U.S., such as which condiment has a museum and where you can sip a $10,000 martini. This road trip game is a family-friendly conversation starter that will have the entire car laughing.
Each person picks a gas brand, such as Shell, Mobil, or Exxon. This road trip game also works well with roadside fast-food outlets, such as Wendy’s or Taco Bell. Each time you see that gas station or fast-food outlet that you’ve selected, you get a point; whoever gets the most points wins. Keeping tabs builds simple math skills.
For this road trip game, the first person starts with “once upon a time,” with each passenger adding a sentence to build a story. You'll exercise some creative muscle as the scenery flies by.
Place an object, such as a button or penny, inside a coffee can with a lid. Each player shakes the can and tries to figure out what's inside. The first to guess correctly is the winner. This road trip game builds the auditory sense.
When the driver needs some quiet time, these solitary road trip games are the answer. You can purchase a foldable travel tray to keep all materials within easy reach.
Have you ever felt like playing a road trip game? Here's a good one – Photo courtesy of Amazon
A staple in kindergarten classrooms, each durable board is covered in colored felt or flannel and features cutouts with semi-adhesive backing, allowing for easy attachment and detachment. Positioning the cutouts on the board helps develop fine motor skills, as well as narrative storytelling skills. Chefan Felt Boards offer a variety of themed kits, ranging from farm animals to nursery rhymes.
This is a very sketchy road trip game – Photo courtesy of Amazon
This mechanical, no-batteries Etch A Sketch drawing toy has been a backseat staple for generations. Turn the knobs and lines appear on the grey screen; a shake erases so you may start again. Compact and lightweight, it’s easy to maneuver in a car.
Time will pass like magic with this road trip game – Photo courtesy of Amazon
Softcover books, like the Disney Mickey Magic Ink Coloring Book Set, come with special markers that reveal hidden patterns, shapes, words, and more on each page.
Color yourself calm with these coloring books for all ages – Photo courtesy of Amazon
Coloring books can be calming. If you think they’re just for kids, think again. Collections like 101 Calmness: Adult Coloring Books, meant for teens and adults, are trending. Pack a few colored pencils along and you’re good to go. Coloring within the lines can help sharpen spatial skills for all ages.
Kids will be like putty in their hands with this classic toy – Photo courtesy of Amazon
Silly Putty can provide loads of fun just about anywhere. The small plastic container is ultra-light and portable. Made of pliable silicone polymers, the nontoxic substance stretches thin, can be rolled into a ball, and molded to fit over your fingers. Of course, it can also stick to hair, so a few rules might be helpful before bringing out this road trip game.
Stringing cereal on shoestring licorice is an edible car activity that kids love. Use shoestring licorice as thread and give each child a small container of circle-shaped cereal, such as Cheerios, to thread onto the licorice. This tactile activity builds fine motor skills while filling hungry tummies.
Allison Tibaldi is a travel and food writer based in New York City. She has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne Australia, Toronto and Los Angeles.
She studied early childhood development in graduate school and firmly believes that travel is the best education.
She writes for numerous publications including CNN, Travel Channel, HGTV, am New York, Emirates Open Skies, Family Traveller and Travel Weekly.
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