With summer in full swing, many families are hitting the road—and that age-old question returns: “Are we there yet?” But road trips with kids don’t have to mean boredom and whining. With a little planning, you can pack your car with fun, screen-free activities that engage your children’s minds and imaginations.
Here are some of our favorite road trip games for kids—simple to prep, full of learning potential, and fun for the whole backseat.
DIY Travel Game with a Twist: The Burner Cover Chalkboard
Megan, formerly of Brassy Apple, came up with a clever road trip hack using a 50₵ burner cover. With chalkboard paint and magnets, she turned it into a dual-purpose lap game: one side for doodling, the other for Tic Tac Toe.
The lip of the burner cover keeps the chalk from rolling away, and the whole thing stows easily in a seat pocket. It’s mess-free, portable, and fun!
The original tutorial is no longer live, but you can still view it via the Wayback Machine.
No More Lost Dice: Travel Games in Mini Containers
Card games and dice games are great—until the dice go flying under the seats. Casey Orr, over at Cardigans and Curriculum, came up with a smart solution: use itty-bitty storage containers to keep dice sealed in place.
Kids can shake the container and “roll” the dice without ever removing them. It’s a simple trick that makes nearly any dice-based game road-trip friendly—and mess-free.
Printable I Spy Bingo (No Screens Required!)
Classic games like I Spy get an upgrade with this fun printable from Macaroni Kid Lowell. Just print the I Spy or Bingo board, hand your kids some dry-erase markers or crayons, and let the game begin.
As they spot road signs, vehicles, animals, or other objects, they mark them off. First to complete a row, column, or diagonal calls out “Bingo!” Bonus points for small surprise prizes at the next gas stop.
It’s easy to print, totally screen-free, and fun for all ages.
Countdown Goodie Bags for Milestone Moments
One of our favorite road trip ideas? Countdown goodie bags—a fun way to break up a long journey with little surprises along the way. The idea is simple and brilliant, as shown in this tutorial from It’s Always Autumn.
Before your trip, prepare brown paper bags with small toys, snacks, or activity items. Label each bag with a city, mileage point, or time of day. As your family reaches each milestone, your child opens a bag and enjoys the reward.
It’s exciting, interactive, and educational too—helping kids understand time, distance, and geography without even realizing they’re learning.
Bubble Wrap Spotting Game
What child doesn’t love bubble wrap? With a bit of creativity, it becomes an engaging car game that’s part scavenger hunt, part sensory fun.
Create a template with pictures of things your child might spot on the road—traffic lights, cows, gas stations, stop signs—and tape a sheet of large-bubble wrap over the template. As your child sees each item, they pop the matching bubble. It’s hands-on, satisfying, and helps sharpen observation skills.
You’ll find full instructions in this recycled bubble wrap tutorial.
Pro tip: Make a few versions before the trip so your kids can switch them out along the way.
And Don’t Forget the Kars4Kids Safety App
Whether you’re going across the state or cross-country, don’t leave home without downloading the Kars4Kids Safety App. It’s a simple tool to help prevent hot car tragedies and protect your most precious passengers.
Road Trips for Kids: A Little Creativity Goes a Long Way
Road trip games for kids don’t have to involve screens or expensive gadgets. With a few basic materials—like paper bags, bubble wrap, and chalk—you can create hours of educational fun that’s rooted in creativity and connection.
So buckle up, map out your stops, and pack a few surprises. You might just find your kids don’t want the ride to end.
Bon voyage!
About Varda EpsteinVarda Meyers Epstein serves as editor in chief of Kars4Kids Parenting. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Varda is the mother of 12 children and is also a grandmother of 12. Her work has been published in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, The Learning Site, The eLearning Site, and Internet4Classrooms.