Simple ideas to keep them happy on the road

Why We All Need Travel Games

It’s easy to rely on iPads, cartoons, and endless scrolling to get through a long car ride. Screens feel convenient, but they keep kids passive. Travel games, simple challenges, and hands-on activities work differently—they keep the brain active, encourage problem-solving, and support healthier habits for long stretches of travel.

When kids use their hands, imagination, and senses, they stay more regulated, more alert, and less irritable. Activities like drawing, puzzles, fidget boards, magnetic mazes, or simple question games help develop fine-motor skills, strengthen memory, encourage creativity, and reduce restlessness. They also naturally break up the monotony of the road, which means fewer meltdowns and fewer “Are we there yet?” moments.

Here are some easy, low-prep travel games that work for toddlers, big kids, and everyone in between. You can mix these with a few favorite travel toys or activity books (I’ll add Amazon links at the end).

{This post contains affiliate Amazon links. That means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you—if you choose to make a purchase through one of these links. I only recommend products I genuinely love, have personally used, or have thoroughly researched and would confidently use for my own family.}

1. Alphabet Window Hunt

A classic game you can play anywhere.
Each child looks out the window and tries to find something that starts with each letter of the alphabet, in order—A, then B, then C, and so on.
Examples:
A — airplane, advertisement
B — bird, bus
C — cow, construction sign

If your kids love competition, make it a race. If they prefer cooperation, let them fill the alphabet together.

2. Color Collector

Choose a color and give the kids one minute to spot as many things of that color as possible.
You can switch colors every round or give each child their own color to “collect.”
Great for younger kids who aren’t ready for alphabet games.

3. The “Yes or No” Riddle

One person thinks of something they can see outside or inside the car. Everyone else can ask only yes-or-no questions until they figure it out.
You can set a timer or limit the number of questions for older kids.

4. Mystery Sound Challenge

Without warning, make a sound—tapping the seat, zipping a jacket, opening a snack bag—and kids must guess what it is.
Then they take turns making mystery sounds while everyone else guesses.

5. Backseat Artist

Give each child a small sketchpad or a clipboard with blank paper.
Options:
• Blind contour: they must draw a simple object without looking at their paper.
• Five-line challenge: each person uses exactly five lines to draw something.
• Mirror drawing: draw on the left side of the paper, then try to copy it on the right.

6. “Would You Rather?” Road Trip Edition

Prepare a list of silly or meaningful questions:

Would you rather live in a treehouse or on a boat?
Would you rather have a pet dragon or a pet dolphin?
Would you rather be able to fly or become invisible?
Would you rather eat only crunchy foods or only soft foods for a week?
Would you rather read minds or talk to animals?
Would you rather travel to the moon or to the deepest part of the ocean?
Would you rather never have homework again or never have chores again?
Would you rather always be too hot or always be too cold?
Would you rather have super speed or super strength?
Would you rather spend a day in the past or a day in the future?
Would you rather have a robot helper or a magic wand?

7. License Plate Landmarks

Pick a state license plate and think of one thing that state is famous for.
For older kids, make it harder: they earn a point only if they can name a city or a historical fact about that state.

9. Silly Shape Clouds (Works through the window)

Kids look at clouds and try to find shapes—animals, objects, letters.
If it’s a clear sky day, play the same game with tree shapes or building outlines instead.

10. Repetition Memory Game (Chain Game)

One person starts with a single word.
Example: “Cat.”

The next person repeats that word and adds a new one:
“Cat – clown.”

The next person repeats both words and adds another:
“Cat – clown – road.”

Keep going until someone forgets a word or says them out of order.
Great for memory, listening skills, and fast thinking.
Works with objects, animals, foods, or random silly words.