Okay, I realize that an article called "Road Trip Games" doesn't really belong under Holidays but I didn't have a better place so thought I would throw it in!
Road trips don't have to be filled with frustration, boredom, and anger. Put the DVD's away and use your imagination!
License Plate Tally
On one vacation, we kept track of all of the license plates that we saw. You could write down every time you see a new State represented or for older children tally each time you see each state.
Candy Sucking Contest
For a quiet game, give each person a piece of hard candy. See who can keep the candy in their mouth the longest without it dissolving. The only rule is that the candy must stay in your mouth the entire time.
Padiddle (A Night Time Game)
When you see a car with only one headlight say "Padidde" and tap the roof or dashboard of vehicle you are riding in. Whomever taps first, gets the point. A car or truck with a "Padidde" is worth 1 point, a bus is worth 5 points, an 18 wheeler is worth 10, and a police car automatically wins the game. The game is usually played to 25, but can go on for how ever long you want.
I am Thinking of...
A person thinks of an animal. Other players then take turns asking simple questions that can be answered with a "yes" or a "no." (For example: Does it live in water? Does it hop? Can it be a pet?)
Slug-bug
In the classic Slug-Bug, the player who first saw the Volkswagen Beetle and called it was allowed to punch their seatmate in the arm. This part of the game probably doesn't need to be repeated but adaptations would be fun. Count one point for a newer Bug and two points for older ones. If a players calls one wrong, they lose a point.
Car Color
Every guessing the color of the next car you will see in oncoming traffic. Each person who is correct, gets a point.
The Alphabet Game
There are numerous variations to this game making it adaptable to any age. Each person must spot a letter in alphabetic order. First one to "Z" wins. For example: Yield Ahead would give the player the letter "A". Road signs, billboards and even other cards on the highway count.
The Picnic Game
One player starts by saying "I went to a picnic, and I brought..." then says an item that begins with the letter A, such as apples. The next player must repeat the same phrase, including the A word as well as adding a B word. "I went to a picnic, and I brought apples and bug spray." Variations on the game include "I went to a concert, and I heard...", or "I went to the zoo, and I saw...", or "I went on vacation, and took along a..." or "I went to the grocery story, and I bought...".
The Never Ending Story
The story lasts as long as your imagination keeps it going. One person starts a story and stops at an exciting point. The next person continues the story to keep it going. For a fun twist, the person who has just finished their part of the story names a word that must be used by the next person in their section of the story.
Some ideas taken from "Get Your Game On: Discover the magic of road trip games" by Cher Smith and Go RVing Game Ideas
