Planning a family road trip can be both exciting and challenging, especially when it comes to keeping kids entertained during long drives. Parents often wonder, “What are the best things to do for kids on a road trip?” The key to a smooth journey is to have plenty of activities prepared to keep children engaged, reducing boredom and ensuring a more enjoyable experience for everyone. In this article, we’ll explore a wide range of fun and interactive activities for kids of all ages, as well as tips on how to make your road trip stress-free, fun, and memorable.
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Why Planning Road Trip Activities for Kids is Essential
Road trips offer a great opportunity for family bonding, but without the right activities, long hours in the car can lead to restless kids and stressed parents. By planning ahead and having a variety of activities at your disposal, you can create a more enjoyable journey for everyone. Keeping kids entertained not only helps pass the time but also prevents meltdowns and keeps their minds active.
A well-thought-out plan will make sure your road trip is filled with laughter, fun, and fewer “Are we there yet?” questions.
Best Things to Do for Kids on a Road Trip by Age Group
Every age group has different needs when it comes to road trip activities. The key is to tailor activities based on the age and interests of your children. Below are suggestions for engaging kids across different age brackets.
Car games like “I Spy,” DIY travel bingo, audiobooks, personal activity kits
Tweens and Teens (11+)
Audiobooks, road trip journals, mobile games, car photography contests, scavenger hunts
Toddlers and Younger Kids (Ages 2-5)
For toddlers, engaging their senses and keeping their hands busy works wonders. Try these activities:
Coloring Books and Crayons: Keep a small set of coloring books and washable crayons to help them stay busy.
Interactive Toys: Busy boards, magnetic puzzles, and simple interactive toys are great for motor skills development.
Sing-Along Songs or Nursery Rhymes: Download a playlist of kid-friendly songs for a fun family sing-along.
Printable Road Trip Activity Sheets: Print out simple activities like mazes, matching games, and coloring pages before your trip.
School-Aged Kids (Ages 6-10)
School-aged kids are a bit more independent and can handle longer, more complex games. Here are a few ideas:
Interactive Car Games: Classics like “I Spy,” the “License Plate Game,” and “20 Questions” can keep them entertained for hours.
DIY Travel Bingo: Create custom bingo cards or download printables with categories like road signs, animals, or vehicles.
Story-Making Games: Use prompts to create silly or imaginative stories together.
Audiobooks and Podcasts: Choose age-appropriate stories to listen to during the drive. This also doubles as a screen-free activity.
Activity Kits: Bring along kits with drawing supplies, stickers, and small travel games to keep them busy during the ride.
Tweens and Teens (Ages 11 and Up)
Tweens and teens are more independent but can still engage with family activities. Some great options include:
Podcasts and Audiobooks: Choose engaging series or books that cater to older children.
Road Trip Journals: Encourage them to write about their trip or document their experiences through journaling or sketching.
Photography Contests: Give them a camera or smartphone to document the trip, challenging them to capture creative photos of their surroundings.
Car Scavenger Hunts: Create lists of items for them to find, from specific road signs to unusual vehicles.
Fun Games to Play on the Road (No Screens Required)
Screen-free activities are essential to keep kids’ minds active and promote family interaction. Here are some fun, no-screen-required games for the road.
Classic Car Games
I Spy: A guessing game where players take turns describing an object they see.
20 Questions: One person thinks of an object, and others ask yes/no questions to guess what it is.
The Alphabet Game: Spot words in alphabetical order from road signs, billboards, or license plates.
License Plate Game: See who can spot the most state license plates.
DIY Travel Bingo
Create or download travel bingo cards. These cards can feature things you might see on a road trip, like animals, road signs, or landmarks. Printable versions are also widely available online.
Car Scavenger Hunts
Create a list of items that children can spot outside the car. This can include specific cars, animals, road signs, or even unusual buildings. You can print out pre-made scavenger hunts or create your own before the trip.
Printable Road Trip Activities for Kids
Printables are a great way to keep kids entertained without needing electronics or messy supplies. These activities can be customized for different age groups and are easy to use in the car.
Types of Printable Road Trip Activities
Coloring Pages and Mazes: Simple, mess-free activities for younger children.
Word Searches and Crosswords: Ideal for older kids who enjoy a challenge.
Travel Bingo Cards: Easily downloadable and printable cards featuring various road trip themes.
Road Trip Journals: Pre-made journal pages where kids can write about their travel experiences.
Free Resources for Printables
Websites like Pinterest, Etsy, and educational resources often offer free or affordable printables. Customizing these to your child’s interests will make them even more engaging.
Activity
Best for Age Group
Coloring Pages
Toddlers
Travel Bingo Cards
Ages 6-10
Word Searches
Ages 6-10
Road Trip Journals
Tweens and Teens
Technology and Gadgets: Balancing Screen Time
While technology is a useful tool, it’s important to balance screen time with other engaging activities. Use educational apps, audiobooks, and podcasts to provide a screen break during the trip.
Audiobooks and Podcasts
Audiobooks are perfect for the whole family. Choose stories or series that everyone will enjoy, such as classic children’s literature or kid-friendly podcasts like Wow in the World.
Educational Apps for Road Trips
Apps like Geography Drive or Math Bingo are both fun and educational, making screen time productive. Just remember to set limits and take regular breaks.
Creative Craft Ideas for Road Trips
Crafts are a great way to engage kids, even on the go. These simple, mess-free projects can be done with minimal supplies.
Travel Journals and Scrapbooking
Encourage kids to document their road trip through journaling or scrapbooking. They can write about interesting places, draw pictures, or collect small mementos.
DIY Travel Kits
Pack a small kit with markers, stickers, and papers to create postcards or collages. These activities allow kids to be creative while staying tidy.
Conclusion
Keeping kids entertained on a road trip doesn’t have to be stressful. With a little planning and a variety of fun activities, you can turn those long car rides into a memorable family adventure. Whether you’re playing car games, using printable activity sheets, or listening to audiobooks, there are plenty of things to do for kids on a road trip to make the journey just as enjoyable as the destination.
This author’s life has been an adventure. He has visited over 30 countries, and lived in four different states. He is a traveler at heart, but he also loves exploring the outdoors on his bicycle or hiking with his canine companion.
