Taking road trips can be great, especially if there’s something exciting at the end of it, like a long vacation in the sun, a camping trip, visiting family or simply just exploring a new place. However sometimes the trip itself can take a long time, which usually feels much longer when you’re super excited about what’s to come.
That’s why people often get bored on road trips and wish they had something to pass the time. Here are just some of the things you can do to make your long ride more fun:
I Spy
It’s perhaps one of the oldest games in the book, but it’s still a great time passer on a road trip, particularly if you have kids. Not only will this keep them amused as well as you, it’s something the driver can usually join in with too, as it doesn’t involve taking your eyes off the road or hands off the steering wheel. This can be a real eye opener and can also improve your attention and memory, especially if you are taking a trip through somewhere you’ve never seen before.
Car/License Plate Game
Both of these games are quite alike, and you can play both or just one depending on where you live. The license place game is a more USA specific game which involves marking off all the different state license plates you can see on your travels. Play in a group or compete against other travellers to find the most states or be the first to cross off the whole map. The car game is pretty similar, but can prove to be easier. Play against other people in the vehicle by each picking a different colour of car and counting up as many as you can over the duration of the trip. The winner is the one who’s car count is higher.
Bingo
There are two different variations of bingo you could play on a long car ride – one in which the driver can join in, and another in which he or she can’t practically participate. The bingo game in which everyone can join in involves everybody picking say 5 items you would expect to find at some point in your journey. Some items can overlap between each player, but nobody’s 5 items should be the same. Then when your journey starts, you look out for your items and call each one out as you see it. If you’re the first to get all 5 right, shout bingo and you’re a winner! Alternatively, all the passengers on the journey could connect to an online bingo website or app, and all play real 75 ball or 90 ball bingo against each other and strangers. Although the driver can’t play as his or her eyes wouldn’t be focused on the road, if you find the right app or site, some of the passengers may actually end up winning some cash on the ride!
20 Questions/Who Am I?
Another golden oldie, this game is great for involving everyone in the car at once. One person has to think of a person or object, whilst everyone else in the car has only 20 questions between them to guess correctly what or who the first player is thinking of. Questions must only have yes or no answers. The player who gets it correct then becomes question-master and thinks of a person or subject. However if nobody gets it right the original question-master stays on and selects a new object or person.
Be Creative
This is just a small selection of just some of the great ways you can pass the time during a particularly long road trip or ride, whilst almost always including everyone in the car. Maybe you should try some of them out on your next road trip, and before you know it, you’ll have arrived at your destination!
