car games

Road trip fun: car games for your little travel buddy

Are you gearing up for a family road trip with your little one(s) in tow? Or maybe you just need a fun way to keep your kids entertained during the daily school run or errand dash?

Here is a trunk-load of car games that’ll turn any drive into an adventure. Buckle up and get ready for some on-the-go fun!

Who am I?

Our current favorite is Who am I? animal version.

One player thinks about an animal and the others ask questions that can be answered with yes or no. Like “Do you live in water?” or “Do you have 4 legs?”. You can make it “Guess in 10” and you’re only allowed to ask 10 questions to find out the animal. But we just like to keep going until we figure it out.

Carpool karaoke

Who needs a fancy stage and a screaming audience when you have a car and a captive audience of little rockstars? “Carpool Karaoke” is your chance to shine as a family band. Create a playlist of everyone’s favorite tunes, grab a pretend microphone (or a hairbrush will do), and let the musical mayhem begin. Bonus points for creative choreography!

I spy with a twist

“I Spy” is a classic, but let’s give it a twist to keep things fresh. Instead of just saying “I spy with my little eye something red,” and just naming objects, take turns describing them in silly ways. Try something like, “I spy with my little eye something that smells like bubblegum.” or “I spy with my little eye, something that’s as orange as a pumpkin and bounces like a rubber ball!” You’d be amazed at how imaginative kids can get with their clues.

Silly storytelling

Storytelling gets a hilarious makeover in the car. Start a story with a silly sentence like, “Once upon a time, a cow wore sunglasses to a disco,” and take turns adding sentences to build the story. It’s a guaranteed way to get everyone giggling and see where the wild imagination of kids (and caregivers) can take you.

I’ve always loved stories so this is my favorite game to play!

Do you need some more silly story prompts?

Once upon a time there was a dragon with a purple tutu…
Once upon a time there was a little boy who burned magical bubbles…
A long time ago, when I was a little kid, I stumbled into a spiderweb that made me invisible…
Once upon a time there was a witch. Instead of a flying broomstick she had a flying scooter…
Once upon a time there was a friendly monster that really liked chocolate…
A long time ago, when I was still a little kid, I discovered a lake full of jello…
Once upon a time on a grey and rainy day something weird happened. The rain started going up instead of falling down…
Once upon a time I met a little fairy just as big as my thumb…
Once upon a time a witch, a monster and a unicorn met in a restaurant…
This is the story why unicorns have rainbow hair. Once upon a time…

Animal sound charades

Pick an animal, any animal, and take turns mimicking their sounds. Guessing what animal each other is pretending to be can lead to some hilarious moments. “Is that a rooster or a dinosaur, sweetie?”

Counting challenge

This one’s great for practicing math skills. Have your preschooler count how many red cars, blue signs, or green trees they see during the drive. You can even turn it into a competition to see who can count the most!

Road trip bingo

This one requires a little bit of work. But trust me it’s worth it! And remember it doesn’t have to be pinterest pretty. Create custom bingo cards with pictures of things you might encounter on the road—like a traffic light, a dog in a car, or a fast-food restaurant. When your little one spots something on their card, they can mark it off. First one to get a bingo wins!

The color game

Choose a specific color and have your child find objects of that color during the drive. For example, if you pick “yellow,” they can spot yellow cars, signs, or even flowers. Extend the fun by making your kid draw everything they spot.

Silly songs and rhymes

Encourage your kid to make up silly songs or rhymes about the things you see on the road. Sing about the big blue truck or the funny-shaped clouds. You might just discover the next nursery rhyme sensation!

License plate detective

Make a game out of spotting license plates from different states or countries. Keep a tally and see who can find the most unique plates during the trip. Bonus points for making up stories about where the cars might be headed!

License plate lingo

This one is a little more advanced, but last year my kindergartener thought it was hilarious and it somewhat worked already. This year we’re pros.

As you spot license plates, challenge the kids to come up with the craziest phrases using the letters on the plates. “GZZ 567” could become “Giant Zebras Zipping!” It’s a wordplay extravaganza, and you might even learn some new vocabulary along the way.

The great license plate count

We haven’t tried this one yet, but I hope we’ll get there in a year or two.

Each time you spot a license plate, add up the digits on it. The goal? To reach a certain number before your next pit stop. If you’re feeling competitive, make it a family tournament! Loser buys ice cream at the next rest area.

Remember, the key to a successful road trip with kids is not just reaching your destination but making the journey a memorable adventure. These games will keep everyone entertained, and who knows, you might even hear, “Are we there yet?” a little less often.

So, buckle up, hit the road, and let the laughter begin! Safe travels and happy gaming!

It’s also always a good idea to have some books and toys in the car.

Think picture books, coloring books, fidget toys, magnetic tiles or one of my favorites, LEGO.

Make a fun binder to have your LEGO on the go here.

And if you’re looking for more tips to survive the next road trip with your kids, here is your survival guide.

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Road trip fun: car games for your little travel buddy

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