8 Fun Road Trip Games That Don’t Involve Screens

No matter how well-planned your family holiday is, the reality of a road trip can test even the most patient parents. Long hours in the car, restless kids, and patchy signal can turn the journey into a slog, unless you’ve packed a few clever distractions. The good news? You don’t need gadgets or Wi-Fi. Sometimes, the best way to make the miles fly by is with old-school road trip games that everyone can join in on.

Here are 8 screen-free games that bring back the fun and actually get the whole car talking.

1. The Licence Plate Challenge

Best for: Kids who like collecting things

How it works: Each passenger tries to spot licence plates from different counties or countries, depending on where you’re driving. In Ireland, you can tick off counties (DL for Donegal, MH for Meath, and so on); abroad, keep an eye out for international plates.

Tip: Set a time limit or add bonus points for rare plates.

2. Would You Rather?

Best for: Stirring up laughter and debate

How it works: One person asks a “Would you rather…” question (e.g. “Would you rather have a pet dinosaur or a flying carpet?”), and everyone in the car answers and explains why. It’s fun, often ridiculous, and sparks conversations that last longer than the questions.

Tip: Let kids take turns coming up with their own.

3. The Alphabet Game

Best for: All ages

How it works: Players race to find words on road signs, billboards, or shop fronts that begin with each letter of the alphabet, from A to Z. The first to complete the set wins.

Tip: Limit it to one category, like animals, foods, or countries, or go backwards from Z to A for a tougher challenge.

4. Name That Tune

Best for: Music-loving families

How it works: One person hums or whistles a song, and everyone else tries to guess the title. If you have a Bluetooth speaker or pre-downloaded playlist, you can also play snippets and race to name the song and artist.

Tip: Make it a tournament! Keep score over the course of the trip and crown a winner by the time you arrive.

5. 20 Questions

Best for: Sharp thinkers

How it works: One person thinks of a person, place, or thing. The others ask up to 20 yes-or-no questions to figure out what it is. The catch? They have to guess correctly before question 20.

Tip: Stick to a theme, like holiday destinations or animals, to keep it fresh.

6. Road Trip Bingo

Best for: Younger kids

How it works: Create bingo cards before the trip with common sights (tractor, roundabout, wind turbine, cow, yellow car). Kids check off boxes as they see them. First to get five in a row shouts “Bingo!”

Tip: No printer? Use a notebook and list items manually. They’ll enjoy helping you come up with ideas.

7. Story Chain

Best for: Creative types

How it works: One person starts a story with a sentence (“Once upon a time, in a town full of goats...”), then each person adds a sentence to continue the tale. It gets wild quickly, and the more dramatic the better.

Tip: Set a timer and try to reach a satisfying ending before the clock runs out.

8. The Quiet Game 

Best for: When everyone needs a breather

How it works: Challenge everyone to stay silent for as long as possible. The first to talk loses. Surprisingly effective, especially if there’s a small prize for the winner.

Tip: After an hour of story chains and singalongs, silence can feel like a luxury.

Before your next family adventure, tuck these ideas into the glovebox. You might find that the journey becomes the best part of the holiday.