34 Fun Things To Do On A Road Trip
Going on a long car ride and looking for what to do to combat boredom? This post will show you all the fun things to do on a road trip!
Road trips are a fun way to travel! They are filled with memorable experiences and exciting adventures, and they’re a great way to bond with the special people in your life, whether they’re friends or family.
However, long car rides can easily become problematic, especially when you are traveling with young children. Even adults could also use some tips to bust that boredom on the road.
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If you’re going on a long road trip and worried about what you’ll do the entire ride, you’re in luck! Here is a list of road trip activities that will keep you occupied on the road and keep the boredom at bay.
Whether you’re planning a road trip within or outside your country, make sure to take note of these fun things to do on a road trip for the next time you hit the road.
Psst… Before going on a road trip, make sure that you have all these road trip essentials for a fun trip.
Fun Things to do on a Road Trip
1. Vlog Your Road Trip
You can use your smartphone or a video recorder to record the details of your road trip.
To make it more memorable and meaningful, try to capture the small moments and details.
If there is anything interesting along the way, be sure to document that in the video too as it could be the memento for your trip.
2. Trace Your Route on a Map
Technologies like GPS have enabled travel to become easy and efficient. It is easy to find locations via Google Maps while traveling.
However, you can go back the old-fashioned way by grabbing a physical map and using it to find and trace your route.
It will make your travel experience extra lengthy but it will surely add to the excitement.
You can even go ahead and put dots with a marker on every stop you make along the way as a keepsake to look back on when the road trip is done.
3. Take Memorable Photos Along the Way
If you find a unique attraction or something that has caught your attention, stop for a while and take a photo with the group.
This will be a nice break from the usual selfies and these photos will help you relive the memories you had during the trip.
4. Reminisce About Past Road Trips
Whether you go on road trips often or it has been years since the last one, you can reminisce about those past experiences with the group while driving to your next destination.
You can talk about the whole experience or specific moments that stood out. It is sure to inspire a sense of nostalgia.
5. Talk About Future Travel Plans
While on your way to your destination, use the time to plan your next vacation or road trip.
You can discuss potential destinations that you can go to and the activities you can enjoy while there.
Get everyone’s opinion about what they would like to do or see so you can consider that for your next adventure.
6. Listen to Podcasts
Road trips can be tiring, especially if you’ve been driving for hours. When no one has the energy to talk, you can stay quiet for a bit and listen to your favorite podcast.
There are millions of podcasts out there to choose from so, find one that will pique your interest and keep you engaged.
7. Watch a Movie (or TV Series)
Is there a movie or TV series that you’ve wanted to watch but didn’t have the time for? Now is the time to see them!
You can catch up on your favorite TV show or movie by watching them in the car during your road trip.
Whether you have a TV in the car or prefer streaming them on your phone, it’s a great choice for in-car entertainment.
Psst… If you love the outdoors and looking for ideas on what to watch next, you can check out this list of the best movies about hiking.
8. Sing Karaoke
If you are going to play music in the car, you might as well sing along to it! Create your own version of Carpool Karaoke and sing to the beat of your favorite music.
You can do a simple sing-along or take it to the next level with props and costumes. This is one of the fun things to do on road trips in the car with both your family and friends.
9. Take Detours & Go Sightseeing
If you have a few days planned for the trip, take your time and go on a detour. Explore off-the-beaten-path destinations and experience new sights along the way.
Take time to soak in the sights and sounds around you as this is one of the best ways you can truly have an adventure on the road.
10. Research Your Next Stop
Even if you don’t plan on going on a detour, you can use the time in the car to learn more about your next stop.
Look for basic information such as opening times, must-do activities, and more. This will help you maximize the time spent there and get the most out of each stop.
11. Stretch it Out
Sitting in the car for several hours can be uncomfortable and exhausting. If you start to feel your muscles aching, you can pull over and do some stretching or light exercises.
You can also walk around the car or just do something to get the body moving!
12. Read a Book
Do you need to catch up on some of your book reading? A long road trip is a perfect excuse to do that.
If you are bored at wit’s end, simply grab a book of your choice and get lost in that fantasy, fictitious world for a while. Before you realize it, you’ll have arrived at your destination.
13. Fill Up With Healthy Roadtrip Snacks
Before you embark on a road trip, make sure to pack up healthy snacks that you can enjoy and munch on.
It is common for most people to pack unhealthy snacks such as chips, sodas, and other types of junk food, however, you can indulge without guilt by opting for healthier snacks such as nuts, granolas, and fruits.
14. Dine at Local Cafes or Restaurants
If you need to grab something to eat, stop by a local café, diner, or restaurant. This would even be a much cooler experience if you are traveling in smaller, rural communities.
It’s a great way to dine as the locals do instead of eating at major fast-food chains, as well as get the opportunity to meet locals.
15. Play 20 Questions
The game of 20 Questions is one of the quintessential road trip games. It is one of the most fun things to do on road trips and it’s easy to play.
In this game, you must pick a category everyone is comfortable with. Everyone in the group will then ask a series of 20 yes-or-no questions to try and guess what the other person is thinking.
And if you run out of ideas, you can use my list of road trip questions to keep the conversation going. But if you’re a couple, this list of road trip questions for couples will be more suited for you.
16. Play Video Games
For the video game buff, make sure to pack your favorite video game on the road.
If you are looking for things to do on a road trip to keep you entertained, then playing your favorite video game will surely keep you occupied for hours.
If you’re up for it, you may even use this opportunity to try out a new game.
17. Have a Picnic Stop
Instead of eating your food in the car, why not stop for a picnic? Find a beautiful spot along the way and take your food out so you can enjoy it together as a group.
It is also a great way to get some rest from driving. Make sure to pack an outdoor picnic blanket like this one and utensils for your picnic.
18. Listen to a Road trip Playlist
Listening to feel-good music while driving can make the road trip more bearable. Create a road trip playlist before you set out on your journey so that you can play it (and sing along) while on the road.
It will help keep everyone energized and in a feel-good mood.
19. Play the Quiet Game
There comes a time during your road trip when all you want to do is stay quiet.
There is only so much room inside the car and when things get too loud, it can become overwhelming.
To play the quiet game, the one who stays quiet for the longest will win! Even if it’s just for bragging rights, everyone will be up for it!
20. Play Road Trip Trivia
This one will require a bit of preparation and research. Before you leave, gather a few road trip trivia by doing research online.
This can be general trivia or based on one specific topic. You can share this trivia with the group and ask them a few questions to get them engaged.
It’s a fun way to kill boredom on the road trip while testing everyone’s knowledge on certain topics.
21. Play Fun Music Trivia Game
If you’re a music buff, here’s a great game for road trip entertainment. Test your music knowledge by playing a fun music trivia game.
You can download a music trivia app and play that into your car speakers. This way, everyone can play along and answer the trivia questions.
22. Play Crossword Puzzles
Crossword puzzles never get old. They’re a classic choice for those long road trips. This is a great thing for the kids to do, especially if you want to keep them busy and quiet in the car.
You can find an assortment of crossword puzzles that are suited for kids of all ages. You can browse for your favorite crossword puzzles for kids here or those for adults from here.
23. Get Crafty
Chalk this up as one of the best road trip activities for kids to enjoy. Kids love taking part in craft activities and making something out of nothing.
Be sure to stock up on essential craft supplies; from coloring books to crochet supplies, you can be as creative as you’d like here.
However, this is not just for kids, even adults can get creative and make some craft items along the way.
24. Play the Waving Game
This is an easy game and one of the best ideas for a road trip. To play, simply wave at any passing vehicles or people you spot along the road and see if they wave back at you.
You can even turn it into a game by seeing who gets to get the most people to wave back at them.
25. Write In Your Journal
If you love to write, a long road trip is an opportune moment to do some journaling.
Long car rides will give you the opportunity to think and reflect about life, as well as spark new ideas.
The journey can inspire your next journal idea so be open to everything you see along the way as potential journal prompts.
26. Create a Travel Bucket List
Traveling inspires one to travel some more. When you are on a road trip, it is the perfect opportunity to dream up a few places you may want to go to.
Ask everyone in your group to write down their travel bucket list and then compare notes with each other.
Dream big and make a list of places you want to visit, regardless of how it is going to happen.
If you need some inspiration, I have a couple of bucket list ideas on my blog that will help.
From crazy bucket list ideas for adrenaline junkies, winter bucket list ideas, Europe bucket list ideas, Asia bucket list ideas, Africa bucket list ideas, France bucket list ideas, to Paris bucket list ideas if you’re all about the city of love.
27. Buy Local Souvenirs
If you are headed somewhere new for the road trip, don’t forget to buy local souvenirs along the way.
If you happen to pass by a local shop, go in there and check out unique items that remind you of this place. It will make for a great souvenir for this road trip.
28. Count Cars
This is a classic game idea that can be easily personalized and it is perfect for both kids and adults.
For example, you can pick a color and when a car of that same color passes, you will earn a point.
You can decide up to how many points you have to earn to win! It is a fun game for when everyone is tired and doesn’t have the energy for trivial games.
29. Create and Post About a Travel Hashtag
In this social media era, it is common for people to create unique hashtags that relate to a specific event or occasion. You can use this idea when traveling with friends on a road trip.
To make it more fun, you can even turn it into a contest. The photo with the most likes on social media will be declared the winner.
30. Take Photos of Sleeping Friends
This is another one of the fun things to do on a long car ride yet a classic idea for taking photos during a road trip.
Most people sleep in funny poses so you can use this opportunity to capture hilarious photos of them by “decorating” them with any items you can find inside the car.
If you dare, you can even go as far as painting their faces using temporary markers. Your friends will be annoyed at first but it is sure to give everyone a good laugh!
31. Go Camping
Aside from taking detours and going on a few stops, why not take it to the next level and go camping?
You’ll need to do a bit of research here to find camping spots in the area. If there is one on the way to your destination, you can camp for the night and enjoy the local scenery. This will leave you feeling refreshed for another day on the road.
However, as you plan to go camping, be sure that you have some knowledge about it. If not, you can check out this post about camping for beginners and the big camping mistakes to avoid.
On top of that, you should make sure that you carry all the essential camping gear to fully enjoy this adventure and if you get bored at night, try out these night camping activities to get everyone involved.
32. Take Turns Driving
Got a few people in the car? Divide the driving duty amongst yourselves so everyone can have their turn.
This is not only a great way to combat the boredom from driving but also gives everyone the chance to rest, be part of the fun road trip activities, or even get some sleep.
Plus, everyone gets the chance to experience the joy of being a passenger!
33. Stop at Weird/Odd Attractions
As you make it from point A to point B, never miss out on an opportunity to stop by unusual or weird attractions.
You’ll be surprised at what you find along the way when you look out for them. These attractions need not be on your itinerary either. The more roadside oddities you can find, the better.
34. Do Some Mindfulness Meditation
While you definitely have a few things to do in the car on a road trip to choose from, it’s fine if you’re not up to doing something.
You can go the opposite way and do some mindfulness meditation. Whether you meditate on your own or use a guided meditation app, it’s a great way to beat stress and feel rejuvenated.
Final Thoughts on the Fun Road Trip Activities
The best part about a road trip is the journey, not just the destination. With these activities and ideas for things to do on a road trip, you will surely have plenty of things to use your time with.
Keep this list handy and I guarantee that you will never be bored on a road trip again!
There are plenty of ideas here whether you are traveling as a family with little kids in tow or you are embarking on a road trip adventure with adult friends.
More posts to help you enjoy the outdoors
- How to plan a perfect road trip
- Big mistakes to avoid on a road trip
- What to pack for a road trip
- Best tips for camping with a dog
- Best Tents For Camping With Dogs
- Mistakes to avoid while hiking
- What to pack for a day hike
- Easy camping breakfast meals
- Essential items to pack for camping
- Tips for backpacking for beginner
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