23 Car Games for Kids: Exciting Ideas for Toddlers & Teens

Look for license plates from all 50 states while you cruise down the highway. This game passes the time and teaches geography. You can print a map beforehand and have your kids color in the states as they spot them.

This game works best on very long road trips. You might not find all 50 in a single day. However, a multi-day cross-country trip offers plenty of opportunities to spot them all.

This classic game never gets old. It works for toddlers and older kids alike. One person says, “I spy with my little eye, something…” and describes the color. The other passengers must look around the car or the road to find the object.

Make it harder for older kids by using letters. Say, “Something beginning with [choose a letter].” This helps children practice spelling while they search.

One person starts the round with a random word. The next player says the first word that pops into their head based on the previous word. The chain continues rapidly. It might go: “Water,” “swim,” “pool,” “summer,” “hot,” “sun,” and so on.

You can also play a cooperative version. Two people say a random word at the same time. Then, they must both think of a connecting word to say simultaneously on the count of three. If they do not match, they use the new words for the next round. The goal is to eventually say the exact same word at the same time.

This word game suits kids aged 8 and up with decent spelling skills. One person says a word. The next person must say a word that begins with the last letter of the previous word.

A round might sound like this: “Jam,” “milk,” “kite,” “elephant,” “tiger,” “run.” The game ends when someone repeats a word or cannot think of a new one.

Prepare a list of questions before the trip starts. Print them out or save them on your phone. Pass the questions to a passenger or the kids in the back. You can categorize them by interests like Disney movies, animals, or history. This keeps everyone engaged and learning.

This memory game eats up time on family road trips. Kids as young as 6 can play if they know the alphabet. The first person says, “On my vacation, I brought…” and names an item starting with “A.”

The next person repeats the phrase and the “A” item, then adds a “B” item. The game continues through the alphabet. Everyone must remember the entire list. It is a great mental workout.

Everyone searches for road signs, billboards, or license plates containing the letters of the alphabet. You must find them in order, starting with “A” and ending with “Z.” You can play cooperatively as a group or competitively to see who finishes first.

Play music in the car and pause it randomly. The first person to sing the next correct lyric wins a point. To make it harder, play just the intro of a song. Players must guess the song title before the lyrics start.

Look for license plates with three letters. Take turns inventing funny phrases for what those letters stand for. For example, “503 MLH” could turn into “Monkeys Love Hats” or “My Little Hamster.”

This game encourages creativity and silliness. The person who comes up with the funniest phrase wins the round.

Think of a character or a real person everyone in the car knows. State three facts about that person. If you chose Elsa from Frozen, you might say: “I am a queen, I have ice powers, and I have a sister named Anna.” The first person to guess the character gets a point.

If your kids have a lap tray, let them roll dice. Story cubes feature images rather than numbers. Players roll the dice and create a story connecting the pictures that land face up. It prompts creativity and storytelling skills.

Print out a scavenger hunt list before you leave. Include items like a yellow car, a stop sign, a cow, a bridge, or a police car. The first person to spot all the items on the list wins. You can decide on a small prize for the winner, like picking the next song or snack.

Pick five “forbidden” words at the start of the trip. Good choices include “bored,” “hungry,” “are we there yet,” or common words like “car” or “look.”

If someone says a forbidden word, they get a point. The goal is to have the fewest points by the time you reach your destination.

This is a classic guessing game for a reason. One person thinks of a person, place, or thing. The other passengers have 20 chances to ask “yes” or “no” questions to figure out what it is.

Start broad with questions like “Is it a person?” or “Is it alive?” If the group cannot guess correctly after 20 questions, the thinker wins.

Highway travel bingo sets are perfect for cars. The cards usually feature sliding shutters, so you do not need loose markers or pens.

Kids look out the window to find items pictured on their card, such as a truck, a barn, or a speed limit sign. The shutter system keeps the game mess-free and easy to reset for multiple rounds.

Carpool Chaos is designed specifically for travelers. It suits kids aged 8 and up. The box includes 160 cards featuring challenges, hypothetical scenarios, and games. It is an excellent choice for families with mixed age groups, from big kids to teenagers.

One person hums the theme song of a popular TV show or movie. The other passengers must guess the show. Whoever guesses correctly takes the next turn. This is a fun way to revisit favorite shows and see who has the best musical memory.

Create a collaborative story. Start with “Once upon a time…” and finish the sentence. The next person adds a sentence, and so on. The story usually takes silly and unexpected turns. This works well for toddlers and parents alike since there are no wrong answers.

Turn the car ride into a friendly competition. Give each child a word to spell. Start with easy words like “cat” or “ball” and gradually increase the difficulty. If a child spells a word wrong, they are out for the round. The last person remaining wins.

Sometimes you need quiet time. Car crafts keep hands busy and mouths quiet. Look for mess-free options like knitting or a simple embroidery kit. Ensure the tools are safe for car travel and avoid sharp needles if the road is bumpy.

This game sparks hilarious conversations. Ask a silly question like, “Would you rather have spaghetti for hair or sweat maple syrup?” Kids take turns answering and explaining their reasoning. You can buy a prompt book or just make up the questions as you drive.

Choose a category, such as Disney movies or ice cream flavors. One player lists as many items in that category as possible within a set time limit (like 30 seconds). The next player tries to beat that number with a new category.

You can also play continuously where players take turns naming items in a category until someone gets stumped.

The Games on the Go pack is a lifesaver for parents who run out of ideas. It is a portable deck attached to a ring, so you won’t lose cards under the seat. It includes memory games, guessing games, and word challenges suitable for various ages.