25 Road Trip Games for Families, Couples, & Friends
The right mix of road trip games can turn hours in the car into some of the best memories of the trip! Whether you’re planning a family road trip, a couples getaway, or a cross-country drive with friends, these fun car ride games will keep everyone entertained mile after mile.
Table of Contents Show
Affiliate Disclosure: When you click some of the links on this page and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission. This comes at no cost to you! By using our affiliate and Amazon affiliate links, you get the inside scoop on our favorite items and support Road Trip Locals at the same time. We can’t thank you enough for that!
1. I Spy
A classic road trip game for kids that never gets old. Take turns spotting something outside the car and describing it. “I spy with my little eye, something that is… blue!”
Want to make it competitive? Try a printable I Spy sheet or an I Spy card deck for a fun twist.
2. License Plate Game
See how many states you can find before the trip ends. Grab a states bingo card to mark off as you go or use an acrylic board to keep track. Play as a team, or compete individually for bragging rights.
3. The Alphabet Game
Spot words on billboards, signs, or trucks that start with each letter of the alphabet. The first to finish wins! Pro tip: Decide in advance if spotting an “Xterra” car counts for the letter X 🤔
4. 20 Questions
One person thinks of a person, place, or thing. Everyone else asks yes-or-no questions to guess what it is. Simple, screen-free, and perfect for both kids and adults. My family’s go-to question: “Is it bigger than a breadbox?”
Guessing card games (like Guess in 10) are other fun, question-based games that work well in the car!
5. Name That Tune
Play a few seconds of a song and see who can name the artist and title first. Great for music lovers on long drives. Here’s an on-the-go version if you want some musical prompts to get started.
6. Categories
Pick a category (movies, foods, animals) and take turns naming something that fits. Great for group travel games that get everyone thinking. Keep going until someone gets stumped. For an extra challenge, make each word start with the last letter of the previous one.
7. The Celebrity Game
Start with a celebrity (like Taylor Swift). The next person has to name someone whose first name starts with the first letter of the previous person’s last name (like Selena Gomez). Keep going until someone repeats a name or gets stumped.
8. Family Feud: Road-Trip Edition
You don’t need an official board game to play, just a list of fun, survey-style questions. Before your trip, jot down a few prompts like:
“Name something you pack for every road trip.”
“Name a snack you’d find at a gas station.”
“Name an animal you might see out the window.”
“Name something people argue about on long drives.”
Have one person act as the host and ask each question. Everyone else takes turns guessing answers until no one can think of more.
If you’d rather not make your own, you can grab a travel-size version like The Ultimate Road Trip Game Bundle. It includes a similar trivia-style setup that’s perfect for long drives.
9. The Picnic Game
This fun road trip game is a memory challenge. Start with the letter A: “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing… apples.”
The next person repeats it and adds a “B” item: “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing apples and bananas.” Keep going through the alphabet to see who can remember the most.
10. The Quiet Game
This one’s a classic and parents’ favorite car trip game. Whoever stays quiet the longest wins. A great option when the backseat energy gets a little too high.
11. Rank It
Take turning picking categories and ranking your top five road trip snacks, dream destinations, NBA players, etc. There are no right answers, just great debates!
13. Would You Rather
Silly or serious, this one never gets old. Would you rather teleport or time travel? Hike every national park or visit every country? This one works for families, couples, or friends.
Bonus: There are plenty of Would You Rather? card games on Amazon if you want someone else to come up with the questions!
14. Who Am I
Think of a famous person or fictional character and let everyone ask yes-or-no questions to figure it out. If you’re a fan of the classic Guess Who? board game, there’s now a travel-friendly card version.
15. License Plate Scramble
Use the letters on a passing license plate to make a phrase. “ABC 123” might become “All Bears Camp 1-2-3.” It’s silly, but surprisingly fun.
16. The Jeep Game
Like Punch Buggy, but with Jeeps (and without backseat punches). Whoever spots one first gets the point. Bonus: Pick a color to earn double points.
17. Road Trip Trivia
Print out a list of trivia questions or bring a travel-friendly trivia deck. Mix it up with geography, music, and movie trivia to keep everyone engaged.
Want to switch it up a little bit? Try this fun trivia game about all the little things you should know (but probably don’t).
18. Questions Game
Ask thoughtful prompts and take turns answering.
Here are some questions to get started. They’re perfect for long drives and family trips:
What’s something you’ve done that you’re really proud of?
What’s one decision that changed the course of your life?
If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be?
What’s something you want to learn this year?
If you could relive one moment from your life, what would it be?
What snack would you choose if you could only eat one on every road trip?
If you could only pack three things for a road trip, what would they be?
What’s your go-to gas-station snack combo?
Who in the car would survive longest in a zombie apocalypse?
What’s your weirdest travel habit?
What’s a family tradition you hope never ends?
If you could plan a dream family vacation, where would it be?
What’s one thing you admire about the person sitting next to you?
What’s your favorite memory from past road trips?
What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened on a trip together?
What’s one place you’ve been that you’d recommend to everyone?
What’s something you always forget to pack?
What’s your ideal road trip playlist opener?
Keep a list of these in your Notes app or on index cards. Mix in a few from 3000 Questions About Me, Do You Really Know Your Family?, or Road Trip Conversation Cards to balance deep reflection with spontaneous fun.
19. Dry-Erase Games
Pack dry-erase boards, markers, and reusable road trip games like Tic-Tac-Toe, Hangman, and Connect the Dots. Low-mess and endlessly reusable.
You can DIY your own version or pick up a premade kit. These reusable dry-erase disks clip together with a carabiner and come with all the classics.
20. Never Have I Ever (Car Edition)
You’ll learn a lot about your crew with this road trip game!
Need ideas? Try these “Never Have I Ever” prompts for your next drive:
Never have I ever fallen asleep on a road trip.
Never have I ever forgotten my toothbrush on a trip.
Never have I ever accidentally left something at a hotel.
Never have I ever eaten an entire bag of road trip snacks in one sitting.
Never have I ever seen a bear, moose, or bison in the wild.
Never have I ever run out of gas on a road trip.
Never have I ever been to a drive-in movie.
Never have I ever been through more than three states in a single day.
Never have I ever camped overnight in a car.
Never have I ever made everyone stop just to take a photo.
Never have I ever been stuck behind a herd of bison or cows on the road.
Never have I ever packed for a trip the morning I left.
Never have I ever eaten breakfast at a gas station.
Never have I ever stayed up all night to drive straight through.
Never have I ever spotted a celebrity while traveling.
Never have I ever driven more than 12 hours in one go.
21. Road Trip Board Games
Bring compact travel editions of your favorite games, like Spot It!, Magnetic Checkers, Wordsnap, or Road-Trip Scavenger Hunts.
22. Road Trip Bingo
Before the trip, print a few bingo cards with things like “RV,” “tunnel,” “cow,” “state border,” or “stop sign.” The first one to get a bingo wins! You can also grab pre-made bingo boards on Amazon.
23. Road Trip Video Games
If you’re traveling with older kids or teens, handheld consoles can save the day on long stretches.
24. Road Trip Riddles
A deck of road trip riddles is an entertaining way to pass the time on long drives. It’s small, travel-friendly, and an easy way to keep the whole car engaged.
Here are some fun, family-friendly road trip riddles you can read aloud in the car:
What has a face and two hands but no arms or legs? Answer: A clock.
The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I? Answer: Footsteps.
I go through towns and over hills, but never move. What am I? Answer: A road.
What has many keys but can’t open a door? Answer: A piano.
What has to be broken before you can use it? Answer: An egg.
I have cities but no houses, mountains but no trees, and water but no fish. What am I? Answer: A map.
What runs around a backyard but never moves? Answer: A fence.
What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years? Answer: The letter “M.”
What five-letter word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it? Answer: Short.
I start with “e,” end with “e,” and usually contain one letter. What am I? Answer: An envelope.
25. Shotgun! Road Trip Car Game
This road trip card game comes with 200 cards of hilarious prompts and challenges. The person riding shotgun reads each card aloud, sparking quick-fire laughs, mini competitions, and memorable moments along the way. It’s one of the best road trip board game alternatives for anyone who loves fun games for the road without needing a table or screens.
Keep Planning
👉 Not sure what to pack? Check out our Road Trip Packing List for the exact things we use and love on every trip.
👉 Need to plan your next adventure? Explore our Free Resource Library for road trip itineraries, planning guides, and stories from the road.
👉 And if Yellowstone’s on your list, don’t miss our Yellowstone Travel Guide: your step-by-step companion to planning an unforgettable trip to Yellowstone National Park!
Related Posts
Collecting souvenirs is a wonderful way to capture memories and experiences from your travels. Here are 9 cool and unique travel souvenir ideas for your next road trip, bucket list adventure, or family vacation!