The Road Trip Entertainment Guide: Best Games, Snacks, Audiobooks & Songs

When you think back on your best road trips, it’s usually not just the destination that comes to mind. It’s the music you sang at the top of your lungs, the snacks that kept you fueled, the car games that got way too competitive, or the audiobook that made the miles disappear. Those little moments become part of the adventure.

That’s why road trip entertainment matters. It’s not just about filling the time between point A and point B. It sets the mood, brings people together, and makes the journey as memorable as the destination. This guide is packed with everything you need for a fun drive: the best games to play, audiobooks that keep you hooked, snack ideas, sing-along playlists, binge-worthy podcasts, and even apps that make life on the road easier. Each section gives you a solid starting point, and if you’re ready for more, we linked our detailed guides so you can go all in!

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Best Road Trip Games

Car games are the most classic form of road trip entertainment. They work without screens, keep everyone engaged, and often spark fun conversations that you’ll be laughing about years later.

Here are a few of our favorite road trip games that are always a good time:

• I Spy: Call out something you see and give a clue using the phrase, "I spy something that is... {insert clue, like ‘blue’}." Everyone else in the car guesses what you see until someone gets it right. This is a simple but entertaining road trip game, especially with younger kids. And if you prefer a more competitive game of “I Spy,” you can grab a deck of cards. Pick a card from the deck and see who can spot the object first!

• The Alphabet Game: Start with the letter "A" and work your way through the alphabet, finding words on signs and billboards that begin with each letter. The first person to complete the entire alphabet wins. (Pro tip: Decide in advance: Does spotting an Xterra car count for letter “X”?) Other ways to play the Alphabet Game include merging it with “Categories,” such as animals or famous people. Taking turns, start with A and work your way to Z (and back if no one gets stumped).

• 20 Questions: One person thinks of a person, place, or thing. The others get 20 yes or no questions to figure it out. The person who guesses correctly gets to choose the next object. (Pro tip: We played this game all the time growing up, and our go-to question was: Is it bigger than a breadbox?)

• Categories: Choose a category, such as animals, foods, or movies, and take turns naming items within that category. Keep naming until someone can’t come up with anything that hasn’t yet been said. Want to take this up a notch? Make a subsequent item start with the last letter of the previously named item. For example, if the category is "countries," one person might say "Spain," and the next person would have to come up with a country that starts with the letter "N," such as "Norway."

• The License Plate Game: Track how many states you can spot as you drive. Bonus points if someone spots Alaska or Hawaii. You can work together or compete against one another… all’s fair in love and road trips!

If you want more road game ideas, including group games, trivia, and creative options for couples or families, find a full breakdown of our favorite road trip games here: 25+ Best Road Trip Games for Families, Couples & Friends.

Best Audiobooks for Road Trips

Audiobooks are one of the easiest ways to pass the time on the road and one of our personal favorite forms of road trip entertainment. A good story fills the hours between destinations and gives everyone in the car something to share. Choosing the right audiobook can depend on who you are traveling with. Families may want something lighthearted and funny, while solo drivers may lean into a thriller.

Some audiobook categories we recommend for road trips include:

• Book Series: Long drives pair perfectly with long stories. The Harry Potter series, Percy Jackson, or The Hunger Games can carry you through hours of driving. (We listened to every Harry Potter book during our 2021 Travel Season!)

• Thrillers and Suspense: Fast-paced thrillers are perfect for road trips because they keep you hooked and make the miles fly by. Authors like John Grisham, James Patterson, or Gillian Flynn are always reliable for high-stakes plots and plenty of twists. If you like edge-of-your-seat suspense, you will also love options like The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides or Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris. Not every trip calls for that much intensity, though. Sometimes it is nice to mix in a cozy mystery, something light, clever, and fun that still keeps you guessing. We’re fans of Benedict Brown’s Lord Edgington Investigates series, which pairs witty banter with clever puzzles. Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano is another road trip favorite. It is quirky, funny, and full of twists without being too heavy. Other good options include Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club or anything by Alexander McCall Smith if you want something gentle but engaging.

• Comedic Memoirs: A funny story read by the author, like Tina Fey’s Bossypants or Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime, can lighten the mood instantly.

• Historical Narratives: If your road trip takes you near a famous landmark or historic site, an audiobook tied to the region makes the experience more meaningful.

Check out all of our favorite road trip audobooks, organized by genre and style, in our full post here: 20 Best Audiobooks for Road Trips and Long Drives.

💡 Pro tip: Download Audible, Libby, or Hoopla before your trip so you have a full library of audiobooks ready to go offline.

Best Podcasts for Road Trips

When you want something new, podcasts are a great way to change up the entertainment. They give you a chance to learn, laugh, or dive into a great story. Unlike audiobooks, podcasts are usually shorter, so they are perfect for day trips or filling a smaller stretch of time.

Some podcast recommendations to get you started:

• Crime Junkie: Bite-sized true crime stories told in a way that keeps you hooked from the first minute.

• Serial: The podcast that put podcasts on the map and one of the very first podcasts we ever listened to on a road trip. Each season unravels one in-depth story, and it is so entertaining that hours on the highway feel like nothing.

• Dr. Death: Follows the shocking story of a neurosurgeon and his unsuspecting patients. Chilling but fascinating.

• Dirty John: A true story that became both a podcast phenomenon and a TV series. (You might also like Survivor Squad, co-hosted by Terra Newell from this very story.)

• The Shrink Next Door: A gripping account of a psychiatrist who slowly took over his patient’s life. It sounds unbelievable, but is true.

• This American Life: Everyday stories told with heart, humor, and thought-provoking detail. Always a safe bet for long drives.

• Revisionist History: Malcolm Gladwell dives into overlooked ideas, people, and events and flips the way you think about them.

• The Amelia Project: A quirky audio drama about a secret agency that helps people fake their own deaths. Offbeat, funny, and surprisingly moving.

• Radiolab: Science, philosophy, and big ideas presented in a way that is easy to follow and often mind-blowing.

• Stuff You Should Know: If you like random trivia, history, or just quirky facts, this one will keep conversation flowing long after the episode ends.

For a longer list covering all genres, see Best Podcasts for Road Trips. You might also love searching for podcasts related to the place you’re visiting. During a road trip to Gettysburg, my sister found several podcasts on the area and said it made her more excited and interested in what was ahead on her trip!

Road Trip Songs and Playlists

The right playlist sets the tone for the entire drive. A good mix of sing-along classics, feel-good hits, and nostalgic throwbacks can turn even the longest stretches of highway into memories. Plus, we believe no road trip is complete without a little car karaoke!

Some must-have songs to add to your list:

• “Good Life” — Kanye West ft. T-Pain

• “Don’t Stop Believin’” — Journey

• “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” — The Proclaimers

• “Chicken Fried” — Zac Brown Band

• “I Want It That Way” — Backstreet Boys

• “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” — Whitney Houston

• “Holiday” — Green Day

• “Best Day of My Life” — American Authors

• “Uptown Funk” — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

• “Summer of ’69” — Bryan Adams

• “Cruise” — Florida Georgia Line

Every road trip crew will have their own go-to songs, and half the fun is debating which ones make the cut. For a curated list of 50+ songs and our custom Spotify playlist, head over to Road Trip Playlist: Top Songs to Sing Along To.

Road Trip Apps

From navigation to food stops to entertainment, a few smart downloads can make life on the road smoother.

Some of our favorite road trip apps include:

• Hoopla or Libby, by Overdrive: Allows you to borrow audiobooks from your local library or connect to your library’s digital collection. (We use Hoopla for all of our audiobooks; it’s amazing!)

• Audible or Spotify Subscription: We rotate between audiobooks, playlists, and podcasts. Whatever you choose, just remember to download entertainment for offline use before heading into no-service zones.

• Roadside America: A quirky app that points out oddball attractions near your route. Think: giant roadside sculptures, historic markers, or “world’s largest” type stops. Great for breaking up a long stretch with something memorable.

• Waze: We love Waze for navigating traffic jams and saving time on our road trips when possible.

• AllTrails: Perfect for finding hikes when you need to stretch your legs.

• Trivia Crack: A competitive trivia app that is easy to play in pairs or teams, making it a fun way to settle debates and pass the miles.

See our full list of favorites here: Best Road Trip Apps for Navigation and Fun.

Road Trip Snacks and Food

Road trip snacks are more than just food. They’re fuel, comfort, and part of the tradition. My brother swears by sour cream and cheddar potato chips as his go-to road trip snack. My sister-in-law always gets a blizzard on the way, or makes a stop at Friendlys. My sister’s go-to is Extra Toasty Cheez-Its and Twizzlers, along with a WaWa sub or Dunkin coffee.

Here are a few of our favorite road trip snacks to start with:

• Trail mix: A mix of nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate or granola is classic road trip fuel. (Kirklands is a great brand of Trail Mix, so is Kars.)

• Fig bars or protein bars: Bars are some of our favorite quick and easy snacks on road trips. Nature’s Bakery fig bars are great for adults and kids alike. We also like Bobo’s Oat Bars (my go-to) and Clif Bars (Jon’s favorite).

• Pretzels: A great alternative to chips with less grease. (For fun flavors and a vegan alternative, try Stellar Pretzel Braids. The Maui Monk flavor is the perfect salty & sweet treat!) We also love peanut butter pretzel nuggets on the road.

• Fresh Fruit: Grapes, apples, and oranges travel well.

• Sandwiches: Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are great for longer roadtrips. For shorter road trips, also consider turkey and cheese or chicken salad sandwiches for delicious, filling meals on the go.

• Sweet Treats: Twizzlers, butterscotch candies, or wintergreen mints to break up long stretches.

The trick is to pack a mix of healthy and fun, and don’t forget drinks. We always bring water, but Liquid IV is a secret weapon for long days on the road.

For a much longer list of 50+ snack and meal ideas, including options for kids and healthier twists, check out Best Food For Road Trips: 50+ Snack and Meal Ideas On The Go.

Road Trip Essentials

Entertainment is only part of what makes a drive fun. The gear you pack matters too. The right accessories keep everyone comfortable, cut down on little frustrations, and make it easier to actually enjoy all those games, playlists, and snacks you planned.

Think of this as your quick-start checklist for road trip gear:

• Car phone mount: Keeps your phone secure and visible for navigation without distracting the driver.

• Portable charger: A lifesaver for keeping devices powered.

• Backpack cooler or insulated bag: Perfect for keeping drinks and snacks cold, especially if you want to avoid constant gas station stops.

• Mini soap sheets: Great for quick handwashing at rest stops, trailheads, or campgrounds when running water is not guaranteed.

• Car trash bag: A small thing that makes a big difference. Even an extra grocery bag tucked into the console helps keep the car clean.

• Sauce and dip holder: Because fries on the road taste better when they have a proper dip.

• Headrest hooks: Free up floor space by hanging purses, backpacks, or jackets off the seatbacks.

• Backseat tablet holder: A lifesaver for kids. Download a few shows before you leave and let them watch hands-free.

Over the years, we have tested and loved dozens of clever road trip accessories, some that solve everyday problems and some that are just plain fun.

👉 Want the full deep dive? We put together a huge list of gear we actually use and love, from practical problem-solvers to fun extras. Check it out here: 40+ Road Trip Accessories You’ll Actually Use (and Love).

Or head here to browse our complete road trip packing list.

❓ Road Trip Entertainment FAQ

Q: What to do on a long car ride?

Long car rides are easier when you mix up activities. Try rotating between car games, playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks to keep things interesting. Break up the trip with snack stops, scenic pullouts, or a quick walk to stretch your legs. Planning a few surprise activities or treats along the way also helps keep the ride from feeling endless. 3000 Questions is fun for sparking new conversations, equal parts hilarious and unexpectedly deep.

Q: How to entertain someone while they’re driving?

The best way to entertain the driver is to keep the atmosphere upbeat without being distracting. Queue up a shared playlist, read trivia questions aloud, or put on an audiobook or podcast. Even something simple like telling stories or asking “would you rather” questions keeps the driver engaged and awake. Sometimes it’s helpful to have small candies nearby, such as cinnamon disks, wintergreen or peppermint mints, or butterscoth candies.

Q: How to entertain kids on a road trip without screens?

Screen-free entertainment for kids can be surprisingly fun. Classic games like I Spy, the Alphabet Game, or 20 Questions are simple and interactive. Travel-friendly activity kits with dry erase boards, card games, or coloring books are great for younger kids.

Some activity kits come with road trip bingo (spotting cars, animals, or roadside signs), while others feature classics like Tic-Tac-Toe and Hangman. There’s even a board for the license plate game and a road trip scavenger hunt! We love these because they don’t take up much room, don’t create paper waste, and can be used again and again.

Q: Fun things to do on a road trip for adults?

Adults can have just as much fun with road trip games, especially ones that spark debates or get competitive. Trivia, Name That Tune, or the Celebrity Game are always hits. Pair games with a well-curated playlist, an audiobook thriller, or a true crime podcast for variety. Planning a food stop at a quirky diner or local brewery along the way adds another layer of fun.

Q: Things to do solo on a road trip?

Solo road trips are the perfect time to catch up on things you never seem to have time for. Listen to an audiobook series, dive into a podcast you’ve been meaning to start, create a playlist that matches your mood, or enjoy calls with loved ones (using your car’s bluetooth). You can also use the time for reflection by recording voice notes or journaling at rest stops or scenic overlooks. The key is mixing quiet moments with engaging entertainment so the miles stay enjoyable. And always make a pitstop for one of your favorite treats!