15 Best Road Trip Games for Kids: Fun Car Games

Road trip games for kids are the perfect way to make long drives feel like part of the vacation. Keep your kids entertained while driving, whether you’re traveling across the country or just a few miles away. This can make a stressful trip into a memorable bonding experience.

This ultimate guide shares 15 road trip games for the whole family that are both educational and fun, and approved by parents.

Why Road Trip Games for Kids Matter

Children who are easily bored, like to ask questions, or tend to move around, can find it difficult to stay patient during car rides. Instead of endless snacks or tablets, car games offer:

• Children can benefit from mental stimulation to stay alert and engaged
• Shared laughter and teamwork can help families bond through laughter.
• A boost in education without feeling like you’re at school
• Breaking away from screens to improve travel habits
  

Real parents, educators and road trip veterans have tested these games.

Classic Road Trip Games for Kids That Always Work

1. I Spy

Ideal for toddlers and younger children. The game is played by a person who spots something in or outside the car and then says, “I spy something that’s…” (e.g., green). Other people guess until someone gets the correct answer.

Pro tip: Start by focusing on simple objects such as shoes, trees, or traffic signs.

2. The Alphabet Game

The players look out of their windows and find the letters of the alphabet on signs, vehicles, or billboards, starting from A to Z. The first person to finish the alphabet wins.

This is a great tool for early learners to learn letter recognition.

3. 20 Questions

Ask the other players up to 20 yes-or-no questions to help you figure out what it is. This is a great critical-thinking activity for older children.

To make the process easier, start with categories such as “animal,” food,” or “cartoon characters.”

4. The License Plate Game

Each player must try to find as many license plates as they can from different states or provinces. Count the license plates you find to see which player has the most at the end of your trip.

Print this free map and color it in as you discover the states.

5. Would You Rather?

You can ask silly, funny, or fun questions, such as “Would it be better to have jellybeans or spaghetti for your teeth?” Each person takes a turn answering the question and explains why.

You can expect a lot of laughter and creative responses.

Educational Road Trip Games for Kids

6. State Capital Challenge

Your child will guess the capital of a state in the United States of America. You can also do it in reverse: give the capital, and your child guesses the state. Check answers with flashcards and apps.

This is a great resource for middle school students learning geography.

7. Math Road

You can use numbers from signs or license plates to create simple math problems. You can ask: “What is 7 x 6?” or “Add all the numbers on this plate!”

The difficulty level can be adjusted according to age. For example, counting for younger children and multiplication for older ones.

8. Spelling Bee on Wheels

Spell words aloud with your children. Start with easy words like “cat,” “blue,” and then progress to “vacation,” restaurant,” or Mississippi.

Learn before the summer ends with this great idea.

9. Animal Alphabet

Each player must name an animal starting with the letter “A” (e.g., Alligators, Bears, Cat …). Continue to go through the alphabet. Help is available if someone gets stuck.

All ages will enjoy this educational and fun game.

10. Rhyming Rumble

Each player takes turns rhyming a given word (such as “car”) until there are no more words to be said. This is a great way to improve your language and phonics skills.

You can make it musical by creating a silly rhyme together.

Creative and Silly Road Trip Games for Kids

11. Story Builder

One player starts a story with a sentence like, “Once upon a time, a Dragon lived in a Treehouse.” As each player adds sentences, the story becomes hilarious and unique.

You can even record the story to listen to later!

12. What is That Sound?

Before the trip, record a few sounds of animals or household items on your phone. Ask your child to guess the sound by playing it one at a time. You can even make your own sound effect!

Ideal for toddlers, preschoolers and young children.

13. The Grocery List Game

“I am going to the grocery store, and I will be buying …”, then name an item from your shopping list (e.g., apples). Next, the person repeats what you said and adds another item. Each turn, the list grows longer!

This is an amazing memory game for kids.

14. Car Color Hunt

Choose a color of car (like blue or red) and then count the number you see within 5 minutes. Each player chooses their own color.

The perfect way to teach younger children colors and numbers.

15. Name That Tune

You can play a few seconds of a song, either on the radio or in a playlist. See who can guess its title or artist the fastest. Make it a competition and keep track of the score!

Make a playlist for your family road trip in advance to make it even more enjoyable.

Travel Tips for Parents with Experience

• Rotate activities every 20-30 minutes to avoid burnout.
• Printables such as bingo cards, coloring pages, or checklists are great to include.
• Include small prizes, such as stickers or snacks, for the winners of the games.
• Stretch and reset your muscles between rounds.
• Assign your child the role of “game master” and keep it exciting.
  

Trust and Experience in Family Travel

This guide is based on the firsthand experience of parents, educators, and pediatric psychologists who are familiar with child behavior while traveling. Each game is:

✅ Screen-free
✅ Travel-tested
✅ Kid-approved
✅ Promotes development or learning

To help families enjoy their road trips without stress, we prioritize practical and trustworthy advice.

Final Thoughts

Turn long drives into unforgettable moments with these 15 road trip games for kids! Packed with laughter, creativity, and learning, these games transform every mile into a memory. Say goodbye to “Are we there yet?” — your next family adventure begins the moment you hit the road.

FAQs

What is the 20 Questions car game for kids?

This simple game is perfect for children. The first player must think of a place, person, or thing. Each player takes a turn asking a question that is answered by merely saying yes or no. The questionnaire is given one guess after each answer.

How to play the alphabet game in the car?

The first person picks the left-hand side, while the second chooses the right. Each person then looks for the letters of their alphabet on license plates or signs on their side of the road. The goal of this game is to identify all letters in alphabetical order from A to Z.

What is the best game to play while traveling?

The classic road trip game “I Spy” is a great way to pass the time. You can play this game by having each person choose an object they haven’t seen yet or taking turns to spot something for the other players. It can be fun to hunt for the item with everyone.

How to play the banana car game?

The Banana Game is a great game to play if you don’t want to overthink. The only skill needed is keen observation. The first person to spot a yellow car passing gets points. You can give points for the size and make of the vehicle.