6 Fun Games to Play in the Car
Stuck in the backseat on a long drive? Here are some classic (and free!) games to help travel time go by faster.
Already a seasoned traveler? Take our Summer Vacation Hot Spot quiz
LICENSE PLATE GAME
For long trips, the License Plate Game might be the thing. In this version, call out letters from the license plates you see, then make as many ridiculous phrases as possible. For example, AST = Aardvarks Singling Tenderly or After-School Trampolining. You get the idea.
ALPHABET GAME
The Alphabet Game is good along roads with a lot of signs. Find a word with an “A,” call it out, then look for a word with “B” and so on. First one to the end of the alphabet wins. You might want to skip trying to find “Q” and “Z.” Or not.
LINES AND DOTS
Use graph paper for a couple of travel games. With Lines and Dots, draw lines on the paper. Take turns drawing one side of a square at a time, trying to make boxes. When you complete a box, put your initials in it. Whoever makes the most boxes in 15 minutes or so wins.
INFINITE TIC-TAC-TOE
Another game with graph paper is Infinite Tic-Tac-Toe. In this game, the first person to get five in a row wins, and there are no borders except for the edge of the page.
Share these summer vacation jokes for a break between games
I SPY
In I Spy, pick out something you see nearby (that other players can also see), but keep what it is to yourself. Say, “I spy with my little eye …” and then provide one description of the object. For instance, with the windshield wipers you might say, “I spy something long” or “something black.” After each hint, players take a turn guessing what the object is.
ROCK-PAPER-SCISSORS AND 20 QUESTIONS
Rock-Paper-Scissors and 20 Questions hardly need explaining. There are variations of these games, such as Foot-Cockroach-Nuclear Bomb, and 20 Questions about movies you’ve seen or books you’ve read, instead of some random object.
we like to play the Gas Game, whoever spots the lowest (or highest) gas price wins 🙂
We like to play the license plate game like so: this mostly works on long interstates. We look for all fifty states on license plates. We have gotten almost everyone of them on some trips! Kids get excited to find one we haven’t found yet
fun games but not easy to play in the car
these games look fun! :p
the game is called popeye the game is simple you look for a car that has a one headlight out you get 1 point for a car 2 points for a truck you have to say popeye as you see it you can even play in the day light, happy travels
Nice Games 🙂
This was an outstanding website, in keep the kids entertained for the whole trip, cheers 🙂
I was on my way back from big bear today and we played game where you pick a category…we picked famous people.. the point was to say a persons name and the next person has to say another name but that name has to begin with the previous persons last name.. EXAMPLE: I start the game with, Christopher Walken…player b has to name a famous person starting with a W..like, Winona Ryder the next person names a name with the letter R…Reese Witherspoon.. and so on and so forth : )
Nice Game 🙂
Great for all ages to play when there is a long drive ahead!Games are great becasue it made my kids car ride go very fast with these easy games to play.Not only can you play these games in the car you can also play anywhere else!Keeps younger children busy!very good!
I used to play a game where someone in the car gives you a quiz about your family and if you get it right you get a point and who ever has the most points at the end gets to pick where they want to eat.
that game sound fun….any suggestions for questions?