The car is packed tighter than a can of sardines, the playlist has already been vetoed twice, and someone just asked, “Are we there yet?” before you even merged onto the highway. Holiday travel is a special kind of adventure, a test of patience and snack-distribution skills. But road trip games are here to save the trip.
The best games are those that don’t require batteries, a Wi-Fi signal, or a single tiny piece that can get lost under a seat. These games are great for long-haul drives, turning a car full of screen-zombies back into communicating humans. They force everyone to look out the window, get a little creative, and maybe even learn something new about the person sitting next to them.
Here are six classic games to make the journey as much fun as the destination.
1. The License Plate Game
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This game is a road trip staple for a reason. It turns the mind-numbing traffic into a geographical treasure hunt. The objective is simple: spot license plates from as many different states as possible. Appoint one person as the official list-keeper, or let everyone fend for themselves in a ruthless battle for bragging rights. It’s surprisingly addictive trying to find a plate from the happy state of Hawaii or Alaska when you’re stuck in Ohio.
The License Plate Game encourages observation and gives everyone a shared purpose. It also provides a stealthy geography lesson. You can add layers to the game by trying to create sentences or phrases from the letters on the plates. A plate reading “4G8-BTR” might become “Forgot butter!” This adds a creative writing element to the mix and can lead to some truly ridiculous results.
2. 20 Questions
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Here is a game that relies entirely on clever deduction and the ability to ask good questions. One person, the “answerer,” thinks of an object, person, place, or concept. The other players have up to 20 yes-or-no questions to figure out what it is. The first question is almost always, “Is it an animal, vegetable, or mineral?” to narrow things down.
You can make it easy for the youngest siblings by choosing simple objects inside the car, or you can make it devilishly hard for the adults by choosing abstract concepts like “democracy” or “yesterday.” It forces players to think critically and work together, piecing together clues to solve the puzzle before the questions run out.
3. The Alphabet Game
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This is the ultimate “look out the window” game and can cure a case of highway hypnosis. The rules are straightforward: each person must find every letter of the alphabet, in order, on signs outside the car. This includes billboards, road signs, business names, and even logos on passing trucks. When a player spots a word with their needed letter, they call it out.
To keep it fair, players must find their letters sequentially. You can’t claim a “B” until you’ve found an “A.” This simple rule turns a peaceful drive into a surprisingly competitive hunt. The search for the less common letters like Q, X, and Z can get intense, with everyone’s eyes scanning the horizon for a “Quality Inn” or “Exit” sign. It’s a simple, engaging contest that requires zero setup.
4. Name That Tune
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For a car full of music lovers, Name That Tune is the perfect way to pass the miles. One person hums, whistles, or sings the “la la la” version of a song, and the other passengers race to guess the title and artist. The first person to guess correctly gets a point and chooses the next song to hum.
This game can be tailored to any musical taste. You can establish categories like “80s rock ballads,” “Disney movie soundtracks,” or “songs that were one-hit wonders.” It often leads to spontaneous car-wide sing-alongs when a beloved classic is guessed. Be prepared for some truly awful humming, which is half the fun. It’s a lighthearted game that can reveal everyone’s hidden knowledge of pop music history.
5. Would You Rather
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This game requires no points, no winner, and no loser. It is just a fun-filled exploration of absurd hypothetical situations. One person poses a “Would You Rather” question with two equally strange or difficult choices, and everyone else has to pick one and defend their answer. For example, “Would you rather have hands for feet or feet for hands?”
The discussion that follows each question gets people talking, laughing, and justifying their bizarre choices. There are no right or wrong answers, just opinions. The questions can range from silly to thought-provoking, making it a great way to learn how your fellow passengers think. It’s a conversation starter disguised as a game.
6. The Picnic Game (I’m Going on a Picnic)
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This is a memory game that starts simple but quickly becomes tricky. One player begins as the rule maker. They start by saying, “I’m going on a picnic, and I’m bringing…” followed by any item of their choice, like “artichokes.” The other players must repeat the phrase and the first item exactly as said, then try to add their own item. The rule maker decides which items are accepted and which are rejected. For example, they might accept “blanket” but reject “banana,” without explaining the rule at first.
Each new player must repeat the entire approved list in order and then add a new item. The game continues around the circle, with the rule maker secretly deciding what fits the rules. Players must pay close attention to patterns and try to figure out why some items are allowed and others aren’t. The chain grows longer, and remembering the approved items becomes increasingly challenging.
Turning Miles into Memories
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Holiday travel doesn’t have to be a boring slog from point A to point B. The time spent together in the car is part of the vacation, and these games can make it a genuinely enjoyable experience. They spark laughter, friendly competition, and conversations that you wouldn’t have otherwise.
Before you head out on your next journey, make a mental list of a few of these games. When the inevitable lull hits somewhere in the middle of nowhere, you’ll be ready to turn the mood around. You might find that a heated round of The License Plate Game becomes one of the trip’s best memories. Have a safe drive, and may your travels be argument-free.