Are we there yet? When you’re taking a long family road trip, you could probably make up your own adult car game by guessing how many times that phrase will be uttered by your little ones! Family road trips make for wonderful lasting memories for all, but it can be a challenge to keep the troops happy and satisfied while they are so anxiously awaiting the final destination arrival. Car games and activities can help pass the time and ease their boredom which will in turn require less patience practice for you!

There are many games and activities, including favorites that never get old, and new innovative ideas that your kids will love to learn. There are individual car games and activities for them (and you) to enjoy some quiet and creative time; and other games and activities for the whole family to enjoy together. So depending on the length of your trip, you can pick and choose the right activities for the right portion of the journey.

The best part is, while movies and videos certainly pass the time, these car games and activities, will build creativity, thinking skills, and family relationships!

Conversation cards – This is one of my favorite games because it combines all of the above: creativity, thinking skills, and family relationships!

The License Plate Game is an old favorite that we still even play as adults. The goal being to locate a license plate along the way from each of the 50 states. Not likely you’ll find all 50 on one trip, but Minitime.com has printables for kids to keep track of those they find. This way they can continue looking for new ones on future trips!

Another old favorite is I’m Going on a Picnic, and this is another great game for the whole family. The idea is to take turns saying “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing......followed by a word that begins with A, like Apples, for the first person. The next person repeats what the first person says then adds an item with the next letter of the alphabet, like this: “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing Apples and Bananas. The third person repeats both A and B and adds C. And so on, through the alphabet. If a person misses one item in their repetition, they are out. A great memory game for kids and adults alike!

Create a Travel Journal like this one from Mom’s Minivan. This activity reinforces writing skills as well as the value of journaling, and helps preserve vacation memories!

There are many different types of car bingo games, but this Road Trip Bingo from Housing a Forest includes printable Bingo cards that the kids can color as well.

These Road Trip Drawing Prompts from Picklebums are great printables and a wonderful activity for creative imaginations.

Nothing says many hours of fun like a metal cookie sheet and a bunch of magnetic letters! Or puzzles…or paper dolls…or… You’ll find many more ideas at Playdate Crashers for keeping kids occupied with a metal cookie sheet in the car.

This fun idea from Quirky Bohemian Mama will keep the giggles and grins going as well! Find 50 original and funny would you rather questions here.

With a little advanced preparation you can make a Kids Travel Kit Binder like Living Well Mom. This page is filled with additional resources and printables so take your time with this one and you’ll have all you need for a productive road trip!

Lastly, you can buy a variety of car game and activity workbooks and puzzle books or use these printables from I Heart Naptime.