Screen-Free Road Trip Games for the Whole Family
Twenty-five screen-free road trip games for kids and families: spotting, word, storytelling, music and quiet games, plus tips to keep the driver focused.
Key takeaways
- The best road trip games need nothing but eyes, ears and imagination.
- Mix spotting games, word games, storytelling and quiet games to match everyone’s energy.
- Keep the driver out of games that need looking around, and plan regular breaks.
On this page
Long drives go faster with a few good games, and you don’t need a single screen. The best road trip games use what’s outside the window, a bit of wordplay and a lot of imagination. Here are 25 screen-free games for kids and families, sorted by type, with tips for keeping the peace in the back seat and the driver focused on the road.
Spotting games
- I Spy. One person picks something visible and says, “I spy with my little eye something that is…” and a color or first letter. Everyone guesses.
- License plate hunt. Try to spot plates from as many states as possible. Keep a list and see how many you collect by the end of the trip.
- Alphabet game. Find each letter of the alphabet, in order, on signs, trucks and billboards. Q and Z are the tough ones.
- Car color bingo. Everyone picks a color. Score a point each time a car of your color passes. First to 20 wins.
- Road trip bingo. Before you leave, make bingo cards with things like a red barn, a cow, a bridge, a gas station and a motorcycle.
- Animal count. Count cows, horses or birds on your side of the car. Whoever has the most by the next stop wins.
- Landmark lookout. Whoever spots the next water tower, windmill or mountain first earns a point.
Word games
- Twenty questions. One person thinks of a person, place or thing. Everyone else asks up to 20 yes-or-no questions to guess it.
- Categories. Pick a category, such as fruit or animals, and take turns naming something in it. Anyone who repeats or gets stuck is out.
- The alphabet picnic. “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing apples.” The next person repeats the list and adds something starting with B, and so on.
- Word chain. Say a word; the next person says a word starting with the last letter of yours. “Car, rainbow, window…”
- Rhyme time. Pick a word and take turns rhyming with it. The last person to find a rhyme wins.
- Tongue-twister challenge. Take turns saying tongue twisters three times fast. The giggles are guaranteed.
Storytelling games
- Story chain. One person starts a story with a sentence; each person adds the next sentence. Let it get as silly as it likes.
- Fortunately, unfortunately. Alternate lines: “Fortunately, we found a treasure map. Unfortunately, a goat ate it. Fortunately…”
- Three-word stories. Each person picks a random word; together you make up a story that uses all of them.
- What’s their story? Invent a backstory for a passing truck: where is it going, and what’s inside?
Question and choice games
- This or that. Quick choices such as “beach or mountains?” Get the list from our this or that questions.
- Would you rather. Bigger, sillier dilemmas that spark debates; see our would you rather questions.
- Riddle round. Take turns reading riddles and guessing answers; our riddles for kids are perfect.
- Joke swap. Each person tells their best joke; try our knock-knock jokes for younger kids.
Music games
- Hum that tune. One person hums a song; the others guess the title.
- Finish the lyric. Sing a line and stop; the next person carries on.
- Car choir. Pick a song everyone knows and sing it in rounds, in whispers or in silly voices.
Quiet game
- The quiet game. Everyone stays silent; the first person to talk loses. It’s a classic for a reason, especially near the end of a long drive.
Pack a boredom-buster bag
A small bag within reach of the back seat can save the day: a notepad and pencils, a few printed bingo cards, a deck of cards for rest stops, a travel-size magnetic board game and a joke book. Rotate the items so something new appears every hour or so, and keep one surprise back for the final stretch.
Which games suit which ages?
| Age | Good choices |
|---|---|
| Preschoolers | I Spy with colors, animal count, car color bingo, singing |
| Ages 5 to 8 | Alphabet game, road trip bingo, story chain, riddles, jokes |
| Ages 9 to 12 | License plate hunt, twenty questions, categories, fortunately-unfortunately |
| Teens and adults | Word chain, three-word stories, would you rather, hum that tune |
Tips for a smoother trip
- Keep the driver out of spotting games. Drivers should keep their eyes on the road; they can join word and music games instead.
- Mix loud and quiet games to match energy levels.
- Bring a small kit: paper, pencils, bingo cards and a clipboard for writing in the car.
- Offer small prizes, such as choosing the next snack or the next song.
- Take regular breaks for stretching, snacks and restrooms, especially with young children.
- Check car seats before you set off, and make sure everyone is buckled in correctly for their age and size.
Frequently asked questions
What are good road trip games without screens?
I Spy, the alphabet game, license plate hunts, twenty questions, story chains and this or that are all easy, screen-free favorites.
How do you keep kids entertained on a long drive?
Mix games with music, snacks, audiobooks and regular breaks, and let kids choose some of the games.
Can the driver play road trip games?
Only games that don’t need them to look away from the road, such as word games, music games and quizzes. Spotting games are for passengers.
Sources
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