Road trip with the kids: 9 fun car games to play

1. I Spy

A road trip classic, “I Spy with My Little Eye” is perfect for young children. Need a refresher? One person spots something inside or outside the car and repeats the line along with a clue, such as “I spy with my little eye, something that is blue.” Everyone else takes turns trying to guess the mystery item. The 1^st one to correctly guess is the next to take a turn.

2. I’m Going on a Picnic

Another classic! The 1^st person says “I’m going on a picnic, and I’m bringing…” followed by an item that begins with the letter "A", like anchovies. The second player repeats the line with the first item, then adds a word beginning with the letter "B". The winner is the one who can recite the most items in alphabetical order.

3. Alphabet Hunt

Have everyone look for each letter of the alphabet using the road signs, licence plates and billboards that pass by. Begin with the letter “A”. The 1^st  person to get through the alphabet, in order, wins. (Alternatively, try and do the same thing with numbers.)

4. Spot the Licence Plate (or Car Model)

The person that spots different licence plates from the most Canadian provinces and territories or USA states wins. Or, see who will be the 1^st to spot a given number of different car models.

5. 20 Questions

This easy game is great for little ones. The 1^st  player thinks of a person, place or thing. Everyone else takes turns asking one question that can be answered with a simple yes or no. After each answer, the questioner gets one guess. The game continues until someone guesses correctly.

6. Once Upon a Time

Take turns creating a story together! The youngest person starts with the 1^st sentence, followed by the next youngest adding the next sentence, and so on. Add fun twists to the plot as you take turns crafting your own tale. You might want someone to record the fun on their smart phone, so you can all relive the tale when you arrive at your destination.

7. Word Follow Up

The 1^st player shouts out a word. The next player's word must start with the last letter of the previous player's word. For instance, if you start out with "towel," your child needs to come up with a word that starts with the letter "L".No repeating words! Add an extra twist by deciding on a theme before you begin, perhaps animals or countries (this game might not suit preschoolers).

8. Name That Tune

Before you leave the house, create a playlist on a digital device with songs everyone knows. Once on the road, play a few seconds of each song, the passenger then pauses it while everyone tries to be the 1^st  to guess the song. To up the challenge with older kids, try naming the song and artist. Mix it up with silly songs too, like “The Wheels on the Bus”.

9. Tic Tac Toe

This old standby is simple to play. You simply need 2 players, some paper and a pencil (but 2 might ease things up). Player 1 places an "X" on the grid, Player 2 then writes an "O". Turns continue until one player has 3 of the same letter across, down or diagonally. The minivan isar full of kids? Double the fun by having multiple games going on at once.

Turn a long drive into quality family time

Why settle for boring road trips and restless, whiny kids when you can play car games that make the journey enjoyable for everyone? Instead of hearing “Are we there yet?” from the back seat until you can’t take it anymore, you’ll enjoy peals of laughter and make great family memories.

For more on this topic, visit:

7 Car Games We Love

10 Fun Car Games to Play with your Kids

10 Top Car Games for Road Trips