You know that saying, It’s the journey that matters, not the destination? Clearly, whoever came up with that one has never sat in a car with two bickering kids in tow. Family road trips are often advertised as a bonding experience, complete with sing-a-longs and heartfelt conversations. But as any parent who’s actually done one knows, sitting in the car for more than 15 minutes with your brood is its own kind of torture. (I know from personal experience that the combination of stiff knees, traffic jams and whining kids is enough to bring a grown woman to tears.) Don’t fret—we have 15 ideas for how to make the time fly by. Here are the best things to do on a long car ride with kids. (Psst: They’ll also work great on a quick trip to the grocery store.)
15 Fun Things to Do on a Road Trip to Keep Everyone Entertained
From meditation to Mad Libs
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1. Listen to a Podcast: A Road Trip Essential
Yep, the same thing that keeps you entertained on your morning commute will work to occupy the entire fam on your car ride to visit grandma. From the hilarious to the thought-provoking, here are nine awesome podcasts for kids. And for kids slightly older, try one of these podcasts for teens. Want something a little more substantial for little ears (just because it’s vacation, doesn’t mean that the learning is over)? Try one of these educational podcasts for kids.
2. Try an Audiobook to Pass the Time
You were so excited to read the entire Harry Potter series again, but this time sharing the world of Hogwarts with your kid. The only problem? Those books are long. And by the time you snuggle up to your mini at night to read him a bedtime story, he can only manage a couple of pages before passing out. Well, a long car ride is the perfect opportunity to relive the magic. Download the wizarding series and so much more with our pick of the ten best audiobooks for the whole family.
3. Play the State License Plate Game: A Classic Road Trip Activity
You might remember this activity from when you were a kid and that’s because a classic never goes out of style. To play, make a list of all 50 states either beforehand or while in the car (for an extra challenge, see if your little geniuses can name all the states without looking them up). Then as each kid finds a plate from a new state, they get to cross it off their list. The first one to complete all 50 states (or get the highest number of states crossed off) is the winner. Extra bonus? Your kid will practice his geography and memorization skills.
4. Take a Rest: Naps Are a Must on Long Road Trips
If your road trip is really long and you have small kids with you then naptime is a must. But what do you do if your child is resisting? Make the backseat as cozy as possible to increase the chances of a snooze. Think: dimming the lights (maybe even investing in one of these window shades), playing some soothing tunes, supporting their head and bringing a favorite toy along.
5. Play Mad Libs: Bring the Laughter on the Road
Another favorite that’s just as much fun to play now as it was when you were a kid. Before hitting the road, stock up on a couple of packs of Mad Libs and then take turns filling in the blanks for what’s guaranteed to result in plenty of laughter all around. (Psst: The Junior version is great for the under-8 set.)
6. Watch a Movie: Road Trip Entertainment for All Ages
Whatever guilt you have about screen time, leave it at home. A well-chosen show or film can save a disastrous road trip and make it into something actually enjoyable (for everyone involved). From short cartoons to laugh-out-loud comedies, here are our favorite family movies that you can rent or download in advance of your trip. Hey, you may even get that family sing-along you were dreaming about (to Let It Go, obviously).
7. Have a Snack: Keep Hunger at Bay with Healthy Options
A hungry toddler is a terror wherever you are—backseat of the car included. Be sure to pack a selection of healthy snacks for your trip and dole them out when you sense your kid is getting peckish. We like to whip up a batch of cherry-almond granola bars or mac-and-cheese bites before traveling but you can also buy a couple of pouches or string cheese to take with you. This will also help ensure you don’t go crazy at the gas station and load up on chips and candy (because a kid hopped up on sugar is never a good idea).
8. Connect with Each Other: Meaningful Conversations on the Road
Sure, you see each other every day but how often do you really sit down and open up to each other? Use this car ride as an opportunity to reconnect with one another. How? By asking thought-provoking questions that can’t be answered with a simple yes or no. Here are some ideas: What's the best thing that’s happened to you? What's the worst thing that’s happened to you? If you could make one rule that everyone in the world had to follow, what would it be?
9. Learn a Language: Make Your Road Trip Educational
OK, nobody believes that you’re going to teach your kids Mandarin on a three-hour car ride upstate. But if your kids have started learning a language at school, then why not take this opportunity to review what they’ve learned and maybe even teach them (and yourself) a few more words and grammar rules. Download an app (we like Stories By Gus on the Go for Spanish or Duolingo for more than 30 other languages) and go through it together. Vamanos.
10. Play a Travel Game: Keep Everyone Engaged
Once your brood has found all 50 states, you need another game to keep everyone occupied. From travel chess and connect 4 on the go to brain teasers and memory puzzles, these 21 travel games for kids will definitely help keep the “are we there yet?” questions to a minimum. Plus, it’s a great prelude to the family game night you’re sure to have when you arrive at your destination.
11. Let the Kids Decorate Their Windows: Creativity in the Car
Here’s an idea that your children will love: Give them window cling sets and washable markers and let them go nuts on their car window (while safely strapped into their seats, of course). They’ll have so much fun creating their masterpieces and if you pack a cotton cloth in the back seat, they’ll be able to erase their creations and start all over again.
12. Do a Scavenger Hunt: A Welcome Distraction for Kids
This one requires a little planning on your part but the pay-off is huge (i.e., a kid who doesn’t complain that he’s bored in the back seat). Make a list of items to search for before getting into the car so that your child can mark them off as you go. Here are some ideas to get you started: cows, churches, a firetruck, a yellow car, a stop sign, a dog…well, you get the idea.
13. Meditate: Find Calm on Your Journey
Does the idea of getting your high-energy kid to just breathe and relax seem far-fetched? When we talk about kids and mindfulness, the goal shouldn’t be to achieve an adult’s version of total relaxation or meditation, says Regine Galanti, Ph.D., author of Anxiety Relief for Teens: Essential CBT Skills and Mindfulness Practices to Overcome Anxiety and Stress. “What I like to think about with younger kids is giving them something else to do with their bodies that refocuses them,” she says. “It’s not necessarily about calming them down completely.” Here, seven mindfulness activities for kids, all designed to help them settle down.
14. Play 20 Questions: A Simple Yet Fun Road Trip Game
Here’s how: Think of a person, place, or thing. Then it’s time for everyone to take a turn to ask you a “yes” or “no” question until they guess what you are thinking of. This rainy day favorite is fun, easy and a great option for all ages.
15. Have a Sing-Along: Embrace the Road Trip Vibes
Come on, you know you want to.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to do when you are bored during a long car ride?
If you’re not one of the lucky ones who can read a book without getting carsick, let an audiobook come to the rescue. Still feeling restless? I recommend shifting gears to a less passive activity, like Mad Libs, scavenger hunts and language learning apps like Duo Lingo or Rosetta Stone. That said, the solution is sometimes as simple as rolling down the windows and truly taking in the scenery.
What is the 20-question car game?
The rules of 20 questions are simple and the game is as easy to play in a car as anywhere else. One person thinks of a person, place or object and the rest of the passengers take turns asking up to 20 ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions (i.e., Is it alive? Is it a household object?). The first person to correctly guess the thing before reaching their 20 question limit wins the game.
How to entertain yourself on a long drive?
When it comes to staying entertained on a long drive, audiobooks, podcasts and energetic playlists that encourage singing are all no-brainers. Other options include portable activities, like Mad Libs, crossword puzzle books and phone games. (I’m partial to online chess but there are no shortage of options when it comes to phone games.)
How do you stay active on a long car ride?
There aren’t many ways to be active when you’re buckled into a moving vehicle, which is why I suggest making periodic stops along the way so everyone can stretch their legs. Heck, you can even do jumping jacks and run in place while someone fills up the tank. There are some things you can do inside the car as well, like seated side bends, ankle pumps, knee lifts and glute stretches that can be done by simply resting the ankle of one leg on the lower thigh of the other and bending over. Long hours in the car also provide an excellent opportunity to work on one’s posture—and if yours isn’t great, then straightening your spine and rolling your shoulders back for a prolonged period of time is a lot more active than it sounds.
