Games to play in the car with children

Of course, you don't want to double your trip budget just to provide activities for them, which is why it's important to have a few free car games for kids in your back pocket. The good news? It's really easy to turn travel time into playtime. There are tons of fun things to do with your family while you're on the road that don't cost a single penny. We've rounded up 20 of the best car games for kids, and we've included something for every age.

Check them out before you gas up and head out on your next adventure! On any long car trip, you'll see plenty of road signs. While it's not that exciting to watch them fly by, you can easily set up a road sign scavenger hunt. This classic game is one of our favorite car games for kids. One person chooses an item, then everyone tries to guess it using only "yes" or "no" questions. Things can get off track pretty quickly in this silly car game! There are a number of ways to play this one.

The basic objective? Look for at least one license plate from each of the 50 states as the miles pass. You can even print out a map of the country and have the kids color them in as they spot each state. If you really need something impromptu, simply list each state on paper, then check it off as you go.

This is one of the best free car games for kids under five, who are often the hardest to keep entertained. Take some crayons and draw circles on a piece of paper using different colors. Then, have your kids look for cars that match each of those colors. For the youngest set, you can hand out stickers or other small prizes each time they successfully match a color. Got school-aged kids? Make it harder by adding colors like maroon, rust, and olive green.

We hope you enjoyed our list of road trip games to play in the car! Tag us in the fun! Check back in with us soon for more things to do with the family. Please refer to our Privacy Policy or contact us for more details. Main Site Categories. At the Lodge. What's New. Special Events. Your Guide to Great Wolf. Family Fun. Family Travel Tips. Fun on the Road. Making Memories. Vacation Prep. Special Guests.

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The games are available the minute you need them. Buy the annual subscription and the game lovers in your life will get ad-free access for an entire year. That means no game interruptions and no annoying ads. Plus, an annual subscription is the gift that keeps on giving all year long! The adults recite a list of things in the same color until the kids guess what color.

In this name game, the first player chooses a category and names something in that category that starts with the letter A. The next person answers something still in the category beginning with B, and so on, until someone is stumped. The variation we play most often involves just a little more strategy. Once again, the first person has to name something that fits a category — this time beginning with any letter they choose. The following person continues in the same category, naming something that begins with the last letter of the previous word.

This continues with everyone repeating all of the previous items, before adding an item that begins with the next letter of the alphabet. See if you can get all the way from A to Z, or who forgets an item the quickest! Are they counting quickly as they pass car after car on the highway? Is the counting consistently spread out, like they may be counting exit signs or traffic lights?

The rest of the players have to figure out what they are counting. It sounds like a variation on I Spy , and I think my kids will love it! Make a list ahead of time, or check out this adorable card version of a classic scavenger hunt — taken on the road!

Photo credit: Pixabay. The remaining players then have to wager how many items in the category they can name. Get creative inventing a family fairy tale! The first person starts with "Once upon a time This continues with each person until the story reaches a conclusion.

You can either set a time limit 15 minutes or wrap it up after each person has a chance to say three sentences. Consider recording the story on your phone and having someone transcribe it afterward, so you'll always remember this quirky road trip car game! There aren't many distractions in the car, so it's the perfect opportunity to bond with your children. Get them talking by asking some fun "get-to know-you" questions: What is the craziest thing you've ever eaten? What do you like daydreaming about?

What are three things you want to do this summer? Find more ideas here. One person chooses the right-hand side of the road, and someone else the left. Each player looks for letters of the alphabet that appear on signs or license plates on their side. The object of the game is to point out all the letters of the alphabet in order, from A to Z. The first person to spot the entire alphabet wins!

To start this road trip game, one person names an animal. Then each person in order has to name another animal no repeating! There are no winners or losers in this game. With older children, try the game with TV shows, or geographical categories such as cities or countries. One person secretly thinks of either a person, place, or thing. The other players then take turns asking yes-or-no questions, such as "Can it fly?

A child whispers a story to someone else in the car. That person whispers the same story—as close to a word-for-word recount as possible—to a third person, and so on.