Hitting the road for your next vacation? Keep the kids (and adults!) happy with these fun road trip activities.
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Whether you’re taking a big family vacation, a road trip across the country, or just sending the kids to grandma’s house for the weekend, you’ll need things to do on a long car ride.
With family spread across Texas, we regularly spend hours in the car. Below you’ll find our favorite easy, inexpensive, and fun things for kids to do. Plus, most of these ideas are fun for adults too. Whether you want to join in or just need something to keep the kids entertained for an hour, add these ideas to your travel plans.
Favorite car activities for road trips
1. Listen to audiobooks
My family absolutely loves listening to audiobooks together, especially when we are traveling. There are lots of great stories that appeal to adults and kids of all ages. If you don’t read kids’ fiction often, you might be surprised to find that middle grade stories are fun, even when you’re well past the 8 to 12 age range.
Some of our favorite series include Bunnicula, The Ranger’s Apprentice, and A Tale Dark and Grimm. We usually visit our local public library before a trip and pick up a few. You could also take turns reading a book aloud. And if you can’t all agree on a book, I recommend the Playaway. You can borrow them from your local library and all you need are batteries and headphones.
2. Play the alphabet game
You probably know The Alphabet Game, though everyone plays by different rules. You could find a sign that includes each letter of the alphabet in order. Change it up and find an object that starts with each letter of the alphabet in order. Take turns finding each letter.
It’s not essential, but I designed a printable version of The Alphabet Game that you can use to track your finds. This printable is handy for playing with little kids; you don’t have to go in ABC order.
3. Read a map
For some reason, I still have a paper atlas in my glove box and my 7-year-old finds it fascinating. Maybe it has something to do with technology and the GPS on my phone, but paper maps are something adults take for granted.
Kids Activities Blog suggests giving your child a big paper map or atlas before the trip. Let the kids help plan the route, including stops for lunch or quirky roadside attractions. Trace the route with a marker. While you drive, let them follow along and read. Maps are full of interesting road and city names, symbols to learn, and natural features like rivers.
4. Play the license plate game
This game is also probably familiar and is more fun the farther you travel. Sort of an I-spy game, kids look for license plates from all 50 states.
To help keep track, give your child a blank map and have them color each state as they find each license plate. This printable map of the US makes it easy!
5. Road trip rewards
If your trip includes miles of near-identical empty fields, it can seem to stretch on endlessly for a kid (or sometimes adults too). Start by estimating how long the trip will take and telling your child when you should arrive (if they can tell time). Divide the trip into sections and plan a small surprise or reward at those intervals.
You could make a chart with the times and let your child mark when it is time for each one. For my kids, simple treats like a piece of gum or a new printed coloring page are perfect. You can also pick up small goodies at the dollar store.
6. Coloring pages and puzzles
My kids love to color, do word searches, and play other games like mad libs. They also get easily bored doing the same thing for too long. Rather than purchasing a stack of new coloring books in a single theme, I have made my own travel book with printables. One page might be a cute cat coloring sheet while the next is a LEGO maze. Just punch holes and add the printables to a slim 3-ring binder. Add a zip pocket for crayons and you’ve got an activity that doesn’t take up too much space.
7. Travel board games
Pick up the travel version of your child’s favorite board game. We have Hungry Hungry Hippos, which I like because it is self-contained. I’ve also found Guess Who, Connect 4, and Trouble.
8. Sewing cards
Sewing cards are a great activity for busy fingers. They require a little concentration, so your child will likely be quiet and mostly still while working on one. I like these cheerful ones in the shape of a sun, lion, and flower from Minieco. She also includes instructions. These shape sewing cards from Mr. Printable are a little more abstract, so kids can sew them in different patterns.
Traveling in the winter? I’ve got a set of cute snowflake lacing cards here on One Mama’s Daily Drama.
9. Mini family challenge
Turn snack time into a family challenge that everyone can participate in. While packing your travel snacks, be sure to grab a few things that are perfect for a guessing game.
For example, have all the kids close their eyes while you hand out M&Ms. Everyone eats their piece and tries to guess which color they got. You could do the same with other candy, like Skittles or Starburst. Or purchase several flavors of a popular snack, like Pringles or popcorn, and have everyone guess which flavor they are tasting.
10. Stop and stretch
Even I don’t like being in the car for long road trips. I thing after the first hundred miles or so, everyone gets restless and more easily irritated. Everyone needs a break! Find a nice place to stop – roadside park, gas station, restaurant, etc – and let everyone out for a few minutes.
Explore the area, read a Historical Marker sign, and take a bathroom break. We like to tell the kids to “get their wiggles out” before we get back in the car. Usually, one or both of them will start wiggling around their arms and legs and hopping around. It really makes a difference when we get back in the car.
I hope you enjoy these road trip activities for kids on your next family vacation! Find more budget family travel tips here on One Mama’s Daily Drama.
What’s next? Try these other fun and creative ideas on One Mama’s Daily Drama:
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