Road trips are a beautiful way to see the world and make every part of the trip an adventure. Taking the kids with you allows you to let them see the world and make new memories as a family. However, no matter the age of the kids, keeping young kids entertained in a car for multiple hours will bring its own set of challenges along the way.
You could bring all their favorite toys along with you but they may not be functional for use in the car and there is the chance they could be lost. Instead, consider some of these road trip activities for kids that are more suitable for traveling in the car. Use these ideas to keep your kids occupied and excited for the journey you all get to go on together.
11 Road Trip Activities for Kids
Car Games
Classics like “I Spy,” the license plate game, 20 Questions or the alphabet game (finding objects starting with each letter) can keep kids occupied for a while. There free and don’t take up any space, so even if they don’t keep the kids attention for too long, they are easy road trip activities for kids
Audiobooks and Podcasts
Find age-appropriate audiobooks or podcasts that the whole family can enjoy together. It’s a great way to pass the time and stimulate imaginations. Download the audio to your kids favorite bedtime stories or podcast versions of their favorite shows.
Interactive Storytelling
Getting a chance to tap into their big imaginations is a great way to keep kids entertained on the road. Create a collaborative story where each person takes turns adding a sentence or two. It’s a fun way to keep creativity flowing. Or go old school and bring along some Mad Libs books to come up with silly fill-in-the-blank stories for you.
Coloring and Activity Books
Bring along coloring books, activity pads or travel-sized games for some hands-on entertainment. The best activity books are the ones that have a variety of games and challenges for kids like, word searches and drawing, to flip through once they get bored of one. Also try car friendly crafts like kits with stickers, stamps or other small craft projects.
Sing-Alongs
Make a playlist of your family’s favorite songs and have a sing-along. You can even turn it into a karaoke session with a makeshift microphone. Put on fun dance songs for the kids to try to dance along to in the car and get out some of their energy.
Scavenger Hunt
Create a scavenger hunt checklist with items commonly seen on the road (like a red car, a cow, a billboard with a certain word, etc.) and see who can find them first. Or make the game even easier for you by purchasing a road trip bingo card set with sliding windows to cover each of the spaces.
Snack Time
Getting treats is always an activity kids get excited about. Plan some snack breaks with a variety of treats to look forward to. This not only keeps their tummies happy but also breaks up the monotony of the journey.
Educational Games
Tablets are an obvious option when it comes to road trip activities for kids, but this is a way to make them more productive and beneficial for your kid. There are many educational apps and games available for smartphones or tablets that can make learning fun. Look for ones that cover topics like geography, history or science.
Roadside Attractions and Rest Stop Challenges
Research interesting stops along your route, such as quirky landmarks, scenic viewpoints or local attractions, to break up the drive and stretch your legs. Or organize mini-challenges like races, jumping contests or seeing who can find the most unusual item in the rest area when you make a pit stop.
Dry Erase Boards and Markers
Bring along portable dry erase boards and markers for kids to draw, play tic-tac-toe or write stories. An endless amount of activities can come from this activity.
Magnetic Travel Games
Things like magnetic checkers, chess, or other board games work great in the car. It is a great way for kids to play their favorite games without losing the pieces. Also try magnetic drawing boards that allow children to create their own masterpieces and then erase them to start all over.
