10 Great Travel Games for Kids!

Keeping the kids entertained in the car is one of the first things that most parents worry about when planning family road trips. I think road trips are more successful when the kids have lots of options- including books to read, paper and pens for writing or drawing pictures, a deck of cards, as well as some fun travel games to play together. Here's our list of 10 great travel games for kids!

When kids are younger, Mom or Dad have to be much more involved in keeping them entertained in the car- coming up with games, doling out snacks, singing songs, etc.

The good news is- the younger your kids are when you start taking road trips, the better car-riders they become! (So it does get easier!)

Once you hit the tween years- they are pretty much self-sufficient. I find that my kids enjoy the “time out from life” that a long day in the car gives them, and the chance to spend hours on electronic devices that Mom normally enforces time limits on!

But I also find that a few hours into the trip, after they've indulged in movies or downloaded Netflix shows for a while, that they enjoy taking a break from the screen, and playing travel games for a while!

Travel Games for Kids: 

1. Would You Rather? / You Gotta Be Kidding!

“ Would You Rather This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. ?” is a fun card game with questions that everyone in the car can answer and debate as you put the miles behind you (recommended for ages 12+).

Or you can skip the store-bought game and download our free Would You Rather game here.

If you are looking for a tween version of the card game, try “ You've Got to Be Kidding This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. !!” game- perfect for kids ages 7 and up.

2. Apples to Apples

Apples to Apples This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. is another great card game that is fun to play on road trips. Players are dealt cards with nouns on them and have to select one of their cards that they feel best matches up to the judge's adjective card.

There are several different versions of this game- including a Junior edition This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you.  which is better suited for younger players.

3. Battleship

This classic game is perfect for a road trip because all of the little pegs you use to play are firmly stuck onto the board (keep the ones yet to be used in a small baggy if you are worried about kids bumping the board and the pegs flying everywhere!).

Battleship This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you.  works best for two kids who are seated next to one another!

4. Travel Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Make looking out the window fun again! This Travel Scavenger Hun This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. t gives kids something specific to look for- a red car, a license plate with the letter “Z,” etc.

5, Mad Libs on the Road!

Didn't you love playing with mad libs when you were younger? This road trip version This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you.  will have you interview a family member asking them for nouns, adjectives, actions verbs, etc.- which you then plug into a story and it is sure to get tons of laughter when read aloud!

6. Loaded Questions

Loaded Questions This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. a fun card game where players have to answer sometimes silly sometimes thought-provoking questions that are sure to get everyone in the car talking and laughing- “If you could only eat one kind of candy for the rest of your life, what would it be?”, “What is the rudest thing you've ever done?”, etc.

7. Rubberneckers

Rubberneckers This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. is a card game whose focus is to get the kids to interact with their surroundings- spotting satellite dishes or weathervanes, looking for phone booths, and getting another drive to wave to them. Kids will enjoy seeing who can score the most points!

8. National Geographic Road Trip Atlas

I love this atlas This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you.  especially for multi-state road trips so kids can read up on the states you are visiting or even passing through.

Filled with fun facts, and wacky roadside attractions, and maps- your kids will be telling you all about the places you'll be visiting!

9. Everything Kids Travel Activity Book

This is a great travel activity book This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you.  to keep tweens entertained on their own- filled with puzzles, quizzes, fun facts, etc.

10. Travel Drawing Set

I am always a fan of providing kids with paper and markers and letting them create. I love this travel set This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you.  which includes a carrying case. Challenge them to draw something they've seen along the way- or imagine what your destination will look like.

Packing for a road trip?

You might want to check out these other posts that offer tips and advice on planning and packing for road trips:

• How to Plan a Great American Road Trip
• Packing for a Road Trip: How to Pack the Inside of Your Car
• 8 Must-Have Road Trip Essentials!

And if you are looking for some cool family road trip destinations:

• 10 Great Things to Do in Atlanta with Kids!
• 8 Things to Do in Williamsburg VA with Kids
• Washington DC with Kids
• 7 Reasons to Visit Lake Placid with Kids

Do you have any other favorite travel games for kids?