Road trips are a fun and memorable thing to do as a family – and luckily, they’re often quite affordable compared to other means of family travel.
The only downside? If the kids are crammed into the backseat for extended periods of time, things could get a little out of hand if you don’t prepare first.
Make sure the car is trip-ready by planning ahead and finding ways to keep everyone occupied. Entertain the kids with these road trip games to play in the car!
1) Road trip scavenger hunt.
Take «I Spy» to the next level with a road trip scavenger hunt!
Before you hit the road, make a list of all the things you might expect to see during your travels – including a mix of basic and more obscure items – and provide each child with the list and a pen/pencil for checking things off.
If you’re feeling crafty, draw or print out images or icons for each line item on the list (you can find pre-made, printable lists online!).
Include items like a bridge, cow, motorcycle, barn, red car, various road signs, gas station, motor home, and more.
2) Hangman, Tic-Tac-Toe, or Pictionary.
Pick up a pack of washable window markers and the kids will be set for hours of fun!
Let them doodle on the glass, or play in a family-wide game of the classic Hangman, Tic-Tac-Toe, or even Pictionary — with a fun surface to write on, the children will have a blast. Let them take turns ‘running’ the games and being the one to draw and keep score on their window.
3) License plate coloring game.
Color your way across all the states! Print out a map of the U.S. and have the children color in a state each time they see a license plate from that location. Include a list of all states at the bottom that can be crossed off each time they color in a state. It’s fun, and also educational!
Discover more ways to keep children entertained on the road.
When the road trip is over, let the whole family unwind with a stay at one of our many extended stay properties in the US, offering kitchens, a dining area, large flat panel TV with premium channels, and high speed Internet access.
Road trips are a fun and memorable thing to do as a family – and luckily, they're often quite affordable compared to other means of family travel.
The only downside? If the kids are crammed into the backseat for extended periods of time, things could get a little out of hand if you don't prepare first.
Make sure the car is trip-ready by planning ahead and finding ways to keep everyone occupied. Entertain the kids with these road trip games to play in the car!
1) Road trip scavenger hunt.
Take "I Spy" to the next level with a road trip scavenger hunt!
Before you hit the road, make a list of all the things you might expect to see during your travels - including a mix of basic and more obscure items - and provide each child with the list and a pen/pencil for checking things off.
If you're feeling crafty, draw or print out images or icons for each line item on the list (you can find pre-made, printable lists online!).
Include items like a bridge, cow, motorcycle, barn, red car, various road signs, gas station, motor home, and more.
2) Hangman, Tic-Tac-Toe, or Pictionary.
Pick up a pack of washable window markers and the kids will be set for hours of fun!
Let them doodle on the glass, or play in a family-wide game of the classic Hangman, Tic-Tac-Toe, or even Pictionary — with a fun surface to write on, the children will have a blast. Let them take turns ‘running' the games and being the one to draw and keep score on their window.
3) License plate coloring game.
Color your way across all the states! Print out a map of the U.S. and have the children color in a state each time they see a license plate from that location. Include a list of all states at the bottom that can be crossed off each time they color in a state. It's fun, and also educational!
Discover more
ways to keep children entertained on the road.
When the road trip is over, let the whole family unwind with a stay at one of our many extended stay properties in the US, offering kitchens, a dining area, large flat panel TV with premium channels, and high speed Internet access.
