“Are we nearly there yet?” is ringing in your ears? We’ve all heard it before, and we probably asked the same question some years ago.
Travelling with kids is such a rewarding experience but long car journeys and road trips can come with their own set of challenges.
7 Best Car Games For Kids
We have compiled a list of fun boredom busting car games that are not the only budget-friendly but don’t need any (or barely any) preparation time.
They will not only keep the kids entertained but will also have you losing track of time and enjoying life on the open road.
Before you set off however make sure to get some tips for cleaning your car windows – you’re going to need them to be spotless to play some of these car games.
Here are our recommendations for the best vacations games for kids for long road trips:
1. Windmill
This is a classic and easy game to play with the whole family. Especially when you’re road-tripping around Australia.
Everyone simply scans the landscape for windmills and as soon as you see one, shout ‘windmill!’.
The first person to spot one and shout it out gets the point. The first player to get 5 windmills wins the game. It’s a great way to get kids engaged with their surroundings.
You could also substitute windmills for buses or any other objects that can be found frequently on the road trip you are taking.
2. I Spy
I spy with my little eye… is a fun guessing game to play with children of all ages as you can adapt the game.
You can use colours or the first letter of the word you want people to guess.
You can either make use of the scenery outside or items inside the car. For example: “I spy with my little eye something with the colour green”.
Everyone has to guess what item the person referring to is. It might be the grass outside or a green cup inside the car.
3. The Name Game
This is how it works: Decide on a category such as flowers. The first person may say sunflower, then the next person has to use the last letter of the word (in this case “r”) to start their own word. In this example, the next person could say rose, and so it continues.
4. The Memory Game
This is also a fun game to play together. The first player uses the phrase: “I’m going on a road trip and I’m packing: A pair of socks”.
Second person: “I’m going on a road trip and I’m packing: A pair of socks and a tent”.
Third-person: “I’m going on a road trip and I’m packing: A pair of socks, a tent, and an umbrella”.
This goes on until a person can’t remember all the items that have been packed.
5. Bingo: The Road Trip Edition
This game takes a bit of prep work. You will only need a pen and paper though. Create a list of things you might see on the way.
The bingo list can be as long as you want it to be.
Give each passenger a slightly different version of the list. For example, one list might be: Red van, windmill, budgie, bridge, eucalyptus tree.
The other list could look like this: windmill, shearing shed, budgie, red van, silo. The first person to spot all things on their list wins the game.
6. Name the Animal
Each person gets to describe an animal. So you could say: “I’m tall, brown, and I can jump high. What animal am I?” In this instance: A kangaroo.
The designated driver can also join in with this game.
7. Rhyming Word Game
Simply start with a word of your choice. The next person has to come up with a word that rhymes for example the first person says the word tree, a rhyming word would be free, the next person could choose the word glee and so on until the list of rhyming words have been exhausted.
After that, you can start again with a new word.
Vacation Car Games Alternatives
Of course, these games can be played anywhere. You don’t have to be in a car.
If you’re about to take your kids on a flight then take a look at 11 Essential tips for flying with kids to give you some inspiration and make the whole experience run a bit smoother.
If your kids are exhausted from all the car games. Then a great alternative to keep them entertained and give everyone a break is audiobooks.
1. Audiobooks
Audiobooks are also a great way to keep the whole family entertained.
You could either have a book playing from the car stereo or each kid can have their individual audiobook to listen to with headphones. Great for a bit of peace and quiet.
2. A Travel Journal for Kids
Another great alternative to a car game is a travel journal for kids.
This way your kids can peacefully indulge in fun travel activities, scribble, journal, go on treasure hunts and play some fun games as well.
