10 top road trip games for your next long journey
Road trip games not only help the hours fly by as you make your way to your next stop, but they also serve as a fantastic way to keep all passengers entertained. Whether you're in your own car, an RV, or a rental vehicle, these enjoyable road trip games are sure to add fun to your next adventure.
1. I spy: A timeless road trip classic
Game Explanation: One player selects an object they can see, and the others try to figure out what it is by asking questions.
Instructions for playing:
- The youngest passenger in the vehicle observes their surroundings, picks something, and announces, 'I spy with my little eye, something [color].'
- The other passengers take turns guessing items of that specified color.
This road trip game is ideal for: Everyone! It's a timeless classic that works well for both small and large groups, making it perfect for families, couples, or friends.
2. Travel bingo: On-the-go scavenger hunts
Game Overview: Players utilize a bingo card to search for items typically seen on road trips to complete their bingo card.
How to play:
- Each participant picks a travel bingo card. You can either make your own or purchase a travel game set.
- Determine if your goal is to complete a line, form an X, or fill the entire card for a win.
- During the journey, keep an eye out for items on your bingo card and mark them when spotted.
- The first player to find all necessary items to achieve the goal wins the game.
This road trip game is ideal for: Families with young children who enjoy scavenger hunts.
3. The alphabet game: A quick-thinking challenge
Concept: One player selects a category, and others must name items within that category, beginning with the letter A and proceeding through the alphabet.
How to play:
- Establish a turn order. The first player chooses a category (like movies, animals, or countries).
- The next player must say a word from that category that starts with the letter A.
- Players continue to name words in alphabetical order (the second player must find a word starting with B).
- If a player cannot think of a word for a specific letter, they are out of the game.
- The last remaining player wins, and a new category is selected for the next round.
This road trip game is ideal for: Travelers who enjoy games that challenge quick thinking.
4. Hot seat: Test your knowledge of friends!
Concept: The individual in the “hot seat” poses a personal question, and others must guess the answer.
How to play:
- The youngest participant takes the hot seat first.
- This player asks the group a personal question, like 'What is my favorite movie?' or, 'What restaurant did we go to for my 13th birthday?'
- The other players take turns providing answers. A point is awarded for each correct guess.
- Once a player answers correctly, they take the hot seat and ask their own question.
- The game continues until one player answers five questions correctly, at which point they are declared the winner!
This road trip game is ideal for: Families, couples, and friends eager to deepen their connections.
5. I went to the store: A fun memory challenge
Concept: A memory game where players create an expanding sequence of words to remember each round.
How to play:
- Establish the order of play. 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 previous item] and [an item starting with the letter B].'
- Players alternate reciting the sentence and adding new items until someone forgets the entire list. That player is out, and the next player takes their turn.
- The final player remaining who can recall the complete list wins the game.
This road trip game is ideal for: Those who enjoy memory challenges and creative thinking.
6. Road trip word games: The license plate challenge
Concept: Players must form words using the letters from license plates they spot.
How to play:
- A player announces a nearby license plate (for instance, 7AP45L).
- The first person to create a word using the letters from that plate in the correct order scores a point (like APPLE).
- If no one can make a word in that sequence, the player who can create a word using those letters in any arrangement receives half a point (such as PLANT).
- Then, another player reads out a license plate, and the game goes on. The first player to reach five points is the winner.
This road trip game is great for: Those who love word games that involve manipulating letters.
7. Guess that tune: A perfect road trip game for music enthusiasts
Concept: One person sings or hums a tune while others attempt to identify the song and/or artist.
How to play:
- Choose a music genre and pick the first player to start.
- The chosen player will sing, hum, or whistle a song from that genre.
- The first person to correctly identify the song title and artist earns a point, or half a point if they only get one right.
- Once everyone has had a turn to choose a song, switch to a different genre for the next round.
- The first to reach seven points is declared the winner.
This road trip game is ideal for: Families, couples, and friends who love reminiscing about popular tunes.
8. Categories: Unleash Your Creativity
Concept: An engaging road trip game where a player chooses a category, and everyone counts items related to that category until the timer runs out.
How to play:
- The first player selects a category based on what they see while driving (for example, a particular car color, an animal, or the state/letter on a license plate).
- Players then have two minutes to identify as many items in that category as they can.
- When time expires, the player who has spotted the most items in the category is declared the winner.
This road trip game is ideal for: Those who enjoy honing their observation skills on the road.
9. Road Trip Trivia: Fun Quizzes for Family Adventures
Concept: Players tune in to 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 application.
- Explore various episodes, each themed differently.
- Listen carefully and attempt to answer all 10 questions. Each correct response earns a point, and the player with the highest score after 10 questions is the winner.
This road trip game is ideal for: Families who love to challenge their knowledge with various trivia topics during road trips.
Evaluation :
5/5