Fun for the Long Haul: Popular Road Trip Games to Make Long Drives Fun

If you aren’t road tripping right, long drives can quickly spiral into mind-numbing boredom. Awkward silences are tough to fill, and there’s only so long anyone can look at cornfields without feeling ready to snap. 

To make your on-road experiences just as enjoyable as the destinations themselves, try out the fun road trip games we’ve listed below. They’re sure to make your next adventure fun from beginning to end!

1. Two truths and a lie

How well do you know your fellow travelers? Even if the answer is “very well”, you’ll probably learn something new after playing this classic party game. The rules are simple enough that even the most focused drivers can participate, and no materials are required other than a firm memory. 

The name alone pretty much sums up this game: each player states two facts and one lie about themselves, and it’s up to everyone else to identify which is which.

This game offers a great opportunity to polish your detective skills, and it’s also the perfect chance to brag. Ever met a celebrity or gone skydiving in Hawaii? Slip this cool story in with your three statements, and watch as everyone in the car gasps in awe. 

Players earn points by successfully deceiving the group or correctly pointing out someone’s lie, so put on your thinking caps before starting to play. 

2. Would You Rather?

Played by kids, teens, and adults alike, Would You Rather? is a fun game that thrives on worst-case scenarios. This game involves giving players two terrible options (think: eating worms or only being able to brush your teeth once a week) and forcing them to choose between the two. 

Would You Rather? can swing wildly between gross-out humor and deep, thought-provoking questions, so be prepared for some mood whiplash if you decide to play. 

3. The Alphabet Game 

Think you can trust your fellow travelers? Think again. When you’re in the middle of a heated round of The Alphabet Game, all bets are off. 

To play this, each person must fight to spot the letters of the alphabet (in order!) on passing signs. Only one person can snag each letter appearance, so don’t be surprised when a competitor clamors to scream “J!” before you get the chance. 

The first person to see all 26 letters wins, and they’ll probably bring it up for at least the rest of your trip. If this game seems overly simple, just wait until you get down to X, Y, and Z. 

4. Never Have I Ever

Road trips are a blast! Checking out scenic views, stopping for gas station snacks, divulging your deepest, darkest secrets…Well, I guess that last one only comes up if you choose the right games. 

When it comes to Never Have I Ever, uncovering secrets isn’t merely a possibility: Secrets are in this game’s DNA, and sharing them is practically inevitable. 

Just hold up five fingers, and wait for one of the other players to issue a prompt. The prompts may range in tone, and they can be anything from “Never have I ever been outside of the country” to “Never have I ever stolen something from a friend.”

If you have taken part in the activity, put a finger down. The wildest ones in the bunch will be weeded out quickly, and the last one standing with fingers up wins. Just remember: while this game is often played with a healthy dose of alcohol, drivers need not indulge in this part. Stay safe, sober, and fully entertained on your next road trip! 

5. Create a story 

Different people shine at different games, and this one is perfect for the writers of the bunch. This starts with one person beginning a story with a sentence. For example, “Jerry was a yellow bird.” Then, each player adds on to the story with a sentence of their own. 

As everyone puts their personal spin on the tale, the narrative will unfold in funny and surprising ways. There are no winners or losers in this game, so players can keep on going until the story reaches a natural end. 

6. Guess the Song 

No road trip is complete without good music, and this game takes that concept to the next level. Whether you’re a country fan, a metalhead, or a pop aficionado, this game gives you a platform to share your unique tastes with friends and family. 

All you have to do is speak (or sing!) a lyric, and wait for someone to identify the song it belongs to. When someone guesses correctly, they receive a point. If you manage to stump the whole group, the point goes to you. By the end of this game, though, you’ll have more than just points. You’ll likely have a whole new playlist of new songs! 

7. The License Plate Game

This game’s a bona fide road trip classic, and we’d be remiss not to include it on this list. Specifically geared toward people traveling in America, this game is all about paying attention to license plates.

The goal is to survey other cars on the road and spot a license plate for each of the 50 states, with the game only concluding once all 50 have been found. This can be a group effort or a competition, so decide beforehand if you want to collaborate or fend for yourself. 

8. Restaurant Race 

When you’re driving down the highway on a road trip, chain restaurant logos are unavoidable. Every exit sign beckons you toward McDonald’s, Subway, and Taco Bell locations, so you might as well make a game out of it. 

To play this one, everyone in the car picks a chain restaurant of their choice. Once you’ve picked one, it becomes your job to spot as many as you can and keep a tally of the ones you see. The group sets a timer, with each person gaining a point each time they see a sign for “their” restaurant. Once the decided time frame has elapsed, the person with the most points is crowned the winner. 

Road trip with Transwest 

Before you can have the time of your life on the road trip, you have to have the right car. Safe, dependable, and affordable, the vehicles in our Transwest lots make driving a breeze. Stop by a location today or browse our inventory online to learn more.