Keeping kids occupied in the car is one of the biggest struggles, if not the biggest struggle, of going on vacation. It's enough to make even the most laid-back parents question whether they really need a family vacay this year anyway. Honestly, road trips can be fun for fleeting moments, but they can also be full of stress. Kid boredom makes that all too real.
Sure, you could hand your kids iPads and devices to pacify them for hours. But battery power only lasts for so long. Plus, there are actually some really cool low-key activities your kids can do in the car. You just need to be in the know.
These games are tried-and-true and practically guaranteed to grant you a few hours where you don't have to hear "Are we there yet?" on repeat. The same probably doesn't go for "Baby Shark" requests, but hey, we're not magicians here.
Here are eight games to keep your kids occupied on road trips:
1. Monster Mix & Match Art Pack
This adorable monster art pack is so much fun because it lets kids create different monsters every time they use it. They can use colored pencils to rub over top of their paper and make cool patterns, trace using stencils, and add stickers. Parents will also love how easy it is to pack up and put away, making it perfect for road tripping. It's easy to use for kids ages 5 and up, but it's also a really engaging craft that lets kids get as creative as they want.
2. MindWare Unbored Road Trip Activity Set
It's all in the name with this car game. Unbored is the absolute perfect activity kit for road trips because there are so many different things to do all in one box! It includes drawing and mapping pads, bingo pads and stampers, conversation cards, sticker sheets, and so much more.
3. Go Fishing
This super-cute take-and-play game from Walmart lets kids go fishing on the go. They'll use the magnetic fishing poles to catch fish and put them in their boats. It's great because anywhere from two to four players can play at once, and there's really no mess to clean up with this one!
4. Melissa & Doug License Plate Game
$21.49
from
Melissa & Doug
Company founders Melissa and Doug are pretty much the masters of creativity, which means there are tons of great road-tripping games on their site. The license plate game is an old classic, but this reusable board will help kids learn all 50 states. They'll also begin to recognize their plate designs, and they'll have fun while they play.
5. Froggy Lab Dissection Game
A froggy you can cuddle and dissect? That's pretty much perfect for kids who love animals and also love learning about them. This game allows kids to figure out which body parts are making froggy sick. It's fun and adorable, but when it's time to rest, froggy also makes a great snuggle buddy.
6. Plush Mermaid Play Set
$29.98
from
HearthSong
This adorable plush play set is perfect for travel. For one, the cute sea-loving mermaid and her friends come in a super-portable carrying case, but it's also a minimalist toy, meaning there aren't a ton of pieces. It's washable, soft, and great to bring just about anywhere.
7. Mega Maze
This super-fun game is portable and easy to play. It's a maze game with tons of options — 50 different mazes, to be exact! That means there's a pretty great chance kids won't get bored when playing. Plus, it's a total steal.
8. Color Your Own Storybook Pillowcase
$20
from
Uncommon Goods
Coloring in the car is pretty much a given, but coloring a pillowcase is way more exciting. This adorable craft project from Uncommon Goods it's perfectly suited to help keep squirmy kids occupied in the car because the storybook pillowcase comes with 10 markers and a very inspiring design.
Psst: If you choose to purchase an item from this post, LittleThings may receive a small cut. Each item is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the selection may be different at a later date.
*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, LittleThings.com may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
