25 Things to Keep Your Kids Busy on a Road Trip

Many families drive to Disney destinations and the struggle is real when tackling how to entertain restless kiddos. I asked our amazing team of agents for ideas on how they keep the littles busy and we compiled the list below. In addition to the typical ideas like videos, name that tune, and books on tape, there are some pretty creative ideas for kids young to older. I can’t wait to try some of these on our next road trip.

Give them each $10 at the grocery store before we go and let them pick out their own special snacks for the car.
Bring a football or soccer ball for rest stops so they can run around a little.
Play scavenger hunt games with different themes. The winner gets a special “treat” at the next rest stop.
Give an envelope that they open as you cross into each state. In the envelope, are fun facts about that state and a sweet treat too.
Plan an hourly present like the dollar packets with stickers crayons and coloring pages, a deck of cards, candy or snack, etc. As you get closer to the destination, make it a gift card or something useful for where you will be like a new pair of swim trunks or pool float or sunglasses depending on the destination.
Play a game called Skittles. When you see a yellow car, the first one to say “skittles” receives a point. If you see a police car the first person to say “busted” gets everyone’s points. You can make up other rules for different colors. Set a time limit, point limit or between stops.
Put together a plastic shoe box with car games and activity books for each child care according to age. Include small snacks that take a while to eat.
If you are traveling to Walt Disney® Resort, bring envelopes to decorate for “mousekeeping” and make treat bags for special cast members.
Make road trip Lego boxes
Print out road trip Bingo cards. Use stickers instead of Bingo markers.
Travel during hours they are normally sleeping
Make books with maps so the kids can follow where they are. Each page after the main map is an outline of the states in order of our travel. The options are endless. Young kids can color the state, older kids can draw things in like places stopped, things seen, history, journaling.
Make sewing cards in various shapes out of cardboard, punch holes in the border and give shoelaces or yarn to thread through.
Felt potato heads with all the pieces in a zipper pouch or paper dolls out of felt with clothes.
Play “what is in the cloud “game?
Instead of crayons which can easily melt in a hot car, pack colored pencils.
Play a game called “5 Things”. Someone has to ask a question and everyone has to give 5 examples. Ex. What 5 rides are you most excited for? What 5 snacks do you want to try? What 5 things should we do that we didn’t do last time? Then on the way back play “5 favorite things from that trip”.
Use a back of the front seat organizer. The kids can put various things in the pockets right in front of them. It keeps the car neat and the kids have everything at their fingertips.
Bring a basket of books for them to read and clipboards for them to use to color/draw/write.
Travel Mad libs
Window clings for decorating the back window. If you can find ones with letters, the older kids can write messages for passing cars.
Make up a story where one person starts and then another person jumps in. It keeps going back and forth until someone finally says “The End”.
Play the question jar. Type up a list of journaling prompts, conversation starters, and or questions. Cut them up them up and put them in a jar. Everyone gets to pick from the jar and has to answer the question they pick. You can make the questions trip related if you wish. But a lot can be learned by asking things like “what is your dream vacation?” “If you could live anywhere, where would you live and why?” “What is your favorite vacation memory?” “Who would you invite to dinner if you could invite anyone?
Play the game “Would you rather?’. You can find questions for this online as well. This can get really silly.
Magnetic tin tray games you can make yourself or find in the dollar section of Target are a great idea. Tic Tac Toe, Chess, Checkers and Bingo. Kids close in age can put the tray between them on the fold down cup holder/arm rest and play!