10 top road trip games for your next journey

Road trip games not only help the time pass quickly as you head to your next stop, but they also provide a fun way to engage and entertain your fellow travelers. Whether you're in your own car, an RV, or a rental vehicle, these enjoyable road trip games are sure to keep you amused on your driving escapade.

1. I spy: A timeless road trip favorite

How it works: One player chooses an object within sight, and the others take turns guessing what it is.

Game Instructions:

• The youngest player in the car scans the surroundings, picks something, and states, 'I spy with my little eye, something [color].'
• The other passengers take turns guessing objects of that color.

This road trip game is ideal for: Everyone! It's a timeless classic that can be enjoyed by small or large groups, including families, couples, or friends.

2. Travel bingo: A mobile scavenger hunt

How it works: Players utilize a bingo card to search for common road trip items to complete their bingo.

Game Instructions:

• Every player picks a travel bingo card. You can either make your own or purchase a travel game set.
• Determine the winning condition—whether it’s completing a line, forming an X, or filling the entire card.
• While driving, keep an eye out for items on your bingo card and mark them as you spot them.
• The first player to find all the necessary items to achieve the goal wins the game.

This road trip game is ideal for: Families with younger kids who enjoy scavenger hunts.

3. The alphabet game: A rapid-fire challenge

Game Concept: One player selects a category, and everyone must name items within that category, starting with the letter A and progressing through the alphabet.

Instructions for Play:

• Establish the turn order. The first player chooses a category (such as movies, animals, countries, etc.).
• The next player must name something from that category beginning with the letter A.
• Players continue to provide items from the chosen category in alphabetical order (the second player will name something starting with B).
• If a player cannot think of a word for a specific letter, they are out of the game.
• The last player remaining wins, and a new category is selected for the next round.

This road trip game is ideal for: Travelers who enjoy quick-thinking challenges.

4. Hot seat: How well do you know your friends?

Game Concept: The player in the “hot seat” poses a personal question, and others must guess the answer.

Instructions for Play:

• The youngest player takes the hot seat first.
• This player asks the group a question about themselves, such as, 'What is my favorite movie?' or 'What was the name of the restaurant for my 13th birthday celebration?'
• The other players take turns responding. If someone guesses correctly, they earn a point.
• Once a player answers correctly, they move into the hot seat and ask their own question.
• Play continues until one player has correctly answered five questions. That player wins!

This road trip game is ideal for: Families, couples, and friends looking to deepen their connections.

5. I went to the store: A fun memory challenge

Game Concept: A memory game where players create a cumulative list of words that must be remembered each round.

Instructions for Play:

• Establish a turn order. The first player begins by saying, “I went to the store and bought [an item starting with the letter A].”
• The next player continues with, 'I went to the store and bought [the item the previous player mentioned] and [an item starting with the letter B].'
• Players take turns repeating the sentence and adding new items until one player cannot recall the entire list. That player is out, and the next player takes their turn.
• The last player remaining who can remember the complete list wins.

This road trip game is suitable for: Those who enjoy memory challenges and creative thinking.

6. Road trip word games: The License Plate Challenge

Game Concept: Players must form words using the letters they find on various license plates.

How to play:

• A player announces a nearby license plate (for instance, 7AP45L).
• The first person to create a word using the letters on that plate in sequence earns a point (for example, APPLE).
• If no one can form a word with the letters in that specific order, the player who can make a word with those letters in any arrangement receives half a point (for example, PLANT).
• Another player then calls out a license plate, and the game continues. The first to reach five points wins.

This road trip game is ideal for: Those who enjoy wordplay with letters to form words.

7. Guess That Tune: A Music Lover's Road Trip Game

Concept: One person sings or hums a tune while others attempt to identify the song and/or the artist.

How to play:

• Choose a music genre and designate the first player.
• The chosen player will sing, hum, or whistle a song from that genre.
• The first person to correctly guess both the song title and artist earns a point; they receive half a point if they identify only one.
• Once every player has had a turn to choose a song, switch to a different genre for the next round.
• The first player to reach seven points is declared the winner.

This road trip game is ideal for: Families, couples, and friends who love enjoying and recalling popular tunes.

8. Categories: Unleashing Creativity

Concept: A lively road trip game where a player selects a category, and others race to count objects within that category before time runs out.

How to play:

• The first player identifies a category based on what they see while driving (like a specific car color, an animal, or a state license plate).
• Players then have two minutes to find as many items related to that category as they can.
• When the time is up, the player who has identified the most items in that category is the winner.

This road trip game is ideal for: Those who enjoy using their observational skills while on the road.

9. Road Trip Trivia: Fun Quizzes for the Family Journey

Concept: Players tune into a podcast featuring 10 trivia questions and aim to answer as many correctly as possible.

How to play:

• Connect your phone to the car's Bluetooth and search for 'road trip trivia' in your podcast app.
• Explore various episodes, each centered around a specific theme.
• Listen carefully and attempt to answer each of the 10 questions. Each correct answer earns a point, and the player with the highest score after 10 questions is declared the winner.

This road trip game is ideal for: Families who love challenging their knowledge with various trivia topics during road trips.

10. The Waving Game: A Delightful Road Trip Activity

Concept: Wave at passing drivers and see how many wave back.

How to play:

• This game is straightforward. Each player takes turns waving at someone in a passing car. If the other person waves back, you earn a point.
• The first player to receive five waves in return wins the game.

This road trip game is ideal for: Friends who want to enjoy the experience of a road trip together.

What guides Dinogo's content choices?

I've spent countless hours on family road trips, and all I've learned has been incorporated into this guide, along with helpful tips from the Dinogo team. From admiring the lush rolling hills of the Irish countryside in an RV to navigating the stunning glacier-capped mountains of Iceland, I've gathered a wealth of experience in coming up with and enjoying road trip games. These selections showcase a diverse array of the best road trip games for families, couples, and friends. Most require no purchases or materials, so you can enjoy them anytime.

Conclusion

Select the most enjoyable road trip games, and watch the time zoom by as you journey to your destination. So, stock up on snacks and prepare your group for some fun. For additional tips on road trips, be sure to explore these road trip tips and a helpful guide to rental cars.