Best Road Trip Games, Audiobooks, Snacks, and Songs [The Complete Guide]
Whether you're traveling solo or with friends and family, having a list of fun games, entertaining audiobooks, delicious snacks, and feel-good songs will enhance your journey.
In this blog post, we're sharing our top road trip entertainment suggestions, plus we asked some family and friends to weigh in too, so you get ALL the road trip essentials in one place.
Buckle up because it’s about to get seriously fun… Here’s the RTL Guide to the best road trip games, audiobooks, podcasts, apps, songs, snacks, and essentials!
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15 Classic Road Trip Games
No road trip is complete without some good old-fashioned games. These timeless favorites are perfect for passing the time on the road, and most require no phones, no printables, no paper or pens, or anything else!
Here are some classic road trip games to play during your next trip:
"I Spy": This one needs no introduction… Take turns spotting objects and describing them using the phrase, "I spy with my little eye, something that is... blue!" Prefer a more competitive game of “I Spy”? Grab a deck of cards like this one, then pick a card and see who can spot the object first.
License Plate Game: Try to spot license plates from different states and keep a tally. See if you can get all 50 states. Work together or compete against one another… all’s fair in love and road trips!
The Alphabet Game: Starting with the letter "A" and working your way through the alphabet, find words on signs and billboards that begin with each letter. The first person to complete the entire alphabet wins! (Make sure to decide in advance… Does spotting an Xterra car count?) Other ways to play the Alphabet Game include merging it with “Categories,” such as animals or famous people. Taking turns, start with A and work your way to Z (and back if no one gets stumped yet).
20 Questions: Think of a person, place, or thing while the other players take turns asking yes-or-no questions to determine what it is within 20 questions. The person who guesses correctly gets to choose the next object. (My family’s favorite question to ask growing up was, “Is it bigger than a breadbox?”)
Name That Tune: I can’t play this game with Jon (see “Best Road Trip Songs” below to know why he always wins!), but this is a fun playlist-focused game for your road trip. Create a playlist of your favorite songs (or use ours below) and take turns playing a song. Be the first to guess the song title and artist correctly.
Categories: Choose a category, such as animals, foods, or movies, and take turns naming items within that category. Keep naming until someone can’t come up with anything that hasn’t been said. Want to take this up a notch? Make a subsequent item start with the last letter of the previously named item. For example, if the category is "countries," one person might say "Spain," and the next person would have to come up with a country that starts with the letter "N," such as "Norway."
The Celebrity Game: Similar to the Categories game above, one person starts by saying the name of a famous celebrity (e.g., Taylor Swift). The next player has to come up with a celebrity whose first name starts with the first letter of the previous celebrity's last name (e.g., Selena Gomez). Keep going until someone gets stumped or repeats a name.
Family Fued Road-Trip Edition: Take turns asking a question and alternating answers until someone gets stumped. For example, you might ask: “Name a word that rhymes with cat” or “Name a fruit that is typically yellow” and alternate answers until someone can’t think of one. (We say to give about 5 seconds per answer, then BUZZ!) Give yourself a point when you’re not the one to get stumped, and whoever reaches 10 points first wins!
The Picnic Game: Want to test your memory while roadtripping? Start by saying, "I'm going on a picnic, and I'm bringing..." followed by an item that starts with the letter "A" (e.g., apples). The next person repeats the sentence, includes the "A" item, and adds an item that starts with the letter "B" (e.g., bananas). Keep going, adding items alphabetically. It gets trickier as the list grows; see who can remember the most items!
Padedo: This road trip game was created by Jon’s mom growing up. Every time you see a car with a light that’s out, call “Padedo!” Whoever has called the most by the end of the trip wins… and here’s where things get really interesting… loser has to carry in the bags!
The Quiet Game: This classic game was a favorite of my mom and is probably best for parents to keep in their back pocket. Who can stay quiet the longest? Mom says this is great when the kids are in the car and fighting… not that she would have ever encountered this with us, of course! Let us know in the comments below: What’s one of your favorite car or road trip memories with siblings? One of my favorites is my brother convincing my sister and me that pushing a certain button in the car would lead to immediate seat ejection from said car. Needless to say, we kept our hands to ourselves for years to come! How about you?
Rank It: Take turns picking topics, then let the friendly debate begin as you rank different things, like basketball players, baby names, or states you want to visit next.
Would you rather? Pose random "Would you rather…?" scenarios and see where the conversation goes! For example, when it’s your turn to pose a question, you might ask… "Would you rather be able to speak and understand all languages or be able to talk to animals?" Or even, “Would you rather have the ability to teleport anywhere or have the power to time travel?"
Who Am I: One player thinks of a famous person, real or fictional, and provides clues about that person's identity. The others have to guess who they are by asking yes-or-no questions.
License Plate Scramble: Take note of the letters and numbers on a passing license plate. Players have to create a phrase or sentence using those characters as acronyms. For example, if the license plate reads "ABC 123," you might come up with "Amazing Banana Cream Pie, 123 times!"
Jon and I are also fans of the “Jeep Game,” which is similar to the “Punch Buggy Game” and simply involves spotting a jeep on the road before your companion. Whoever spots the most wins! We play this with jeeps because there tends to be the perfect amount on the road to keep things interesting but not obnoxious, but pick whichever vehicle you’d like.
5 Road Trip Games for Families, Couples, & Groups
These games do require something you’ll need to have or purchase ahead of time, but these can be fun too, especially when traveling with a group.
Road Trip Game for Families — Road Trip Trivia: My family plays Christmas Trivia every year, and although Jon and I have yet to win (there are some big Christmas fans in our fam!), we love it. Try a more general trivia game like this one, or compile a list of road trip-specific trivia before your trip and bring it with you! Take turns asking the questions and award points for correct answers. The person with the highest score at the end of the trip wins the road trip trivia crown 👑
Thought-Provoking Road Trip Game for Couples or Friends — Questions: Make up your own questions or pick one from a book like 3000 Unique Questions About Me, and ask one another, “What one word in the English language would you like to lock in a box before throwing away the key?” or “What are the three things in your life you’re most proud of?”
Travel-Related Brain Teasers for Geography Fans — Guess That State: Pick a card and ask your road trip companion questions until they can Guess That State!
Fun Road Trip Game for Groups, Families, or Friends — Shotgun: Whoever’s riding shotgun gets the special job of being the card reader... Pick a card, read the prompt, and play!
Perfect for Kids — Road Trip Kit with Dry Erase Boards and Reusable Markers: This all-in-one kit comes with fun road trip games like Tic Tac Toe, Connect the Dots, and Connect 5. Have easy access to multiple games in one place for hours of entertainment.
4 Entertaining Audiobook Genres for Road Trips
Audiobooks are an excellent way to entertain everyone during long stretches of driving or multi-day road trips. Audiobooks are probably our favorite way to enjoy time on the road.
Consider these categories of audiobooks for your next road trip.
Book Series (like "Harry Potter" by J.K. Rowling): We love finding a book series to listen to during road trips, especially when we’re on the road for a while. (We listened to all 7 Harry Potter books during our Colorado & Utah road trip in 2021!)
Suspense Novels or Thrillers: Jon’s parents are big audiobook fans while driving, and they give us suggestions often. Generally, we all enjoy suspense novels or thrillers, anything by David Baldacci, James Patterson, and John Grisham.
Historical Audiobooks: Consider biographies or audiobooks about the history of the places you’re visiting. My sister-in-law shared that she listened to a book on the history of Rome and Germany before a visit, and it helped her make sense of what she was seeing. (She also likes historical fiction, which can be fun to pair with a location too!)
Comedian’s Audio Books: These can be especially great when you’re riding with other people, as these tend to come with lots of laughs along the way!
18 Podcasts Great For Day Trips
If you prefer podcasts over audiobooks or want multiple options for your next trip, this one’s for you.
Here are some podcasts to check out on your next road trip:
"Serial": This was one of the first podcasts we (Jonathan & I) ever listened to on a road trip.
“Crime Junkies”: If you enjoy true crime podcasts and want one-off episodes to listen to during your next road trip, check out Crime Junkies.
"Dr. Death": This podcast follows the shocking story of a neurosurgeon and his patients.
"Dirty John": This well-known podcast (turned into a TV series) unravels the story of John Meehan and his relationship with Debra Newell. (Also, check out the Survivor Squad Podcast, co-hosted by Terra Newell.)
"The Shrink Next Door": This shares the story of a psychiatrist who manipulated and controlled the life of one of his patients for decades.
"Alice Isn't Dead": Join a truck driver on her journey to find her missing wife, Alice. (We haven’t listened to this one yet, but it’s on our list for our next trip… though granted, it’s one we’ll be listening to only in daylight as most of the reviews label it “haunting”.)
"The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel" or “Six Minutes”: Two more podcasts we haven’t listened to but are in the queue for our next trip. These are scripted, family-friendly series!
"The Amelia Project": This comedic audio drama revolves around a secret agency that helps people fake their own deaths and start over.
“Revisionist History”: In this thought-provoking podcast, host Malcolm Gladwell challenges conventional narratives and sheds new light on a historical event. My sister-in-law shared this with us, saying it’s super interesting and leads to a great conversation!
“The Robcast”: This podcast by Rob Bell offers deep conversations on spirituality, faith, and personal growth. (If you enjoy this, also consider his book “How To Be Here”.)
“PedsDocTalk” and “Fearless Mom”: Two options for the parents out there, recommended by parents!
“The Daily” by the NYTimes or “First Thing” with Kevin Manno for your daily dose of what you need to know even on the go.
“This American Life”, “Heavyweight” and “Radiolab” for episodes you can binge or listen to one at a time.
In addition to these specific podcasts to check out, you might love to search for podcasts related to the place you’re visiting (similar to the suggestion with audiobooks above). During a trip to Gettysburg, my sister found several podcasts on Gettysburg and said it definitely made her more excited and interested in what was ahead on her trip!
8 Helpful Apps For Your Road Trip
Home of our favorite apps to download before your next road trip.
Hoopla or Libby, by Overdrive: Allows you to borrow audiobooks from your local library or connect to your library’s digital collection. (We use Hoopla for all of our audiobooks; it’s amazing!)
Google Maps: A new Google Maps feature allows you to download offline maps of national parks so you can navigate more easily, even without service. (Google Maps is also helpful when looking for destinations right off the road to break up your road trips.)
Waze: We love Waze for navigating traffic jams and saving time on our road trips when possible.
GasBuddy: Use this app to find the nearest gas stations and compare fuel prices to save money on your road trip.
Spotify: Great for ready-made road trip playlists to keep you entertained during long drives!
BonvoyMarriott: We’re partial to Marriott, so we use the app to find lodging and hotels when we need somewhere to stay during our drive but don’t want to book in advance, not knowing how far we’ll get. (If Marriott’s not your choice, try HotelTonight to book accommodations on the go.)
TripAdvisor: A good travel app with user reviews, recommendations, and ratings for hotels, restaurants, attractions, and activities along your road trip route. (We like TripAdvisor for reviews on activities, restaurants, and dog-friendliness. We also look to BringFido for dog-friendly ideas.)
AllTrails: Our favorite app for finding hikes and places to stretch our legs during road trips.
20 Awesome Road Trip Songs For Your Playlist
Drumroll, please… DJ GRAPE JUICE is on the line!
Did you know that Jon was a DJ in college? And his DJ name was (wait for it) DJ Grape Juice. (Pop a comment below when you get the reference!)
We’re bringing DJ Grape Juice out of retirement to share his pick for 20 of the best road trip songs to add to your next playlist. (What would you add to this list? Share with us in the comments below!)
“Good Life” by Kanye West and T-Pain
"Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey
"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers
"Chicken Fried" by Zac Brown Band
"I Want It That Way" by Backstreet Boys
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody" by Whitney Houston
"Holiday" by Green Day
“Best Day of My Life” by American Authors
"Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
"Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams
"Cruise" by Florida Georgia Line
“Ridin Solo” by Jason Derulo
“Levels” by Avicii
“My Love” by Route 94 and Jess Glynne
“Am I Wrong” by Nico & Vinz
“Counting Stars” by OneRepublic
“Rather Be” by Clean Bandit and Jess Glynne
“Give Me Everything” by Pitbull and Neyo
“Still Into You” by Paramore
“There’s Nothing Holding Me Back” by Shawn Mendes
The RTL Playlist on Spotify
Listen to even more of our favorite road trip songs on Spotify here. This road trip playlist is perfect for long summer nights and open roads!
7 Easy & Delicious Road Trip Snacks
Road trips and snacks are as synonymous as road trips and songs, amirite?
Here are 7 delicious and convenient options for snacking on the road!
Trail mix: A combination of mixed nuts, dried fruits, and chocolate treats feels like classic road trip fuel.
Fresh fruit: Apples, grapes, oranges, cherries, or pre-cut watermelon can all be great road trip snacks.
Turkey or PB&J Sandwiches: Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are great for longer roadtrips. For shorter road trips, also consider turkey and cheese or chicken salad sandwiches for delicious, filling meals on the go.
Granola Bars, Power Bars, or Fig Bars: Bars are one of our favorite quick, easy snacks while on road trips. (We love Bobo’s Oat Bars.) Fig bars can be great for adults and kids alike.
Individually-Wrapped Snacks: Peanut Butter Crackers, 100-Calories Snack Mixes, Grandma Cookies, and Snack-Size Chips or Goldfish all make great, convenient road trip snacks.
Beef Jerky or Sunflower Seeds for an easy on-the-go snack with protein.
Breath Mints, a Bag of Tootsie Pops, or Hard Candies (like cinnamon candies or Fireballs)… something that lasts a while and keeps you awake.
Also, remember to pack or pick up plenty of water. We like to pick up a gallon of water to easily refill our water bottles on the road. And I always pack liquid IV to help me stay hydrated (lemon-lime is my favorite!) on long travel days without having to drink as much water (or make as many bathroom stops).
Share with us in the comments below: What is your go-to road trip snack?
I asked my family, too. My brother said, “Sour cream and cheddar ruffles potatoes chips are the classic road trip snack!” My sister-in-law said, “I’ll always get a blizzard on the way if possible or Friendlys.” My sister’s go-to? “Extra Toasty Cheez-Its and Twizzlers.” (She also loves Wawa subs and Wawa or Dunkin coffee.) Share your go-to snack below!!
17 Road Trip Essentials (Kinda)
Having the right gear can make your journey much more comfortable and enjoyable.
Consider including the following items on your road trip checklist.
Car phone mount: Keeps your phone visible and secure for navigation or entertainment.
Portable charger: Ensures your devices stay powered up on the road. (Pack an extra charger for the passenger, or get something like this power inverter to keep all of your gear charged.)
Roadside emergency kit: Includes essentials like jumper cables, a flashlight, and a first aid kit.
Sunglasses!!!!
Travel-size hand lotion & hand sanitizer: Pick whatever lotion you want, but we’ve found lotion in driver or passenger’s car door is a MUST-HAVE.
You can click here for a list of gear we recommend packing for your roadtrip (including dog-friendly essentials, things to help you work from the road, etc.), but in this post, we’re sharing more of the fun, random road trip finds that can make your trip more comfortable.
These aren’t actually essential by any means, but they could add some ease and convenience to your trip.
Here are 12 more road trip finds to consider bringing on your next trip.
Backpack cooler or insulated bag: Keeps drinks and perishable snacks fresh and cool.
Window Shades (good for pets or babies during road trips)
Mini Soap Sheets (great for road trips, camping, and hiking)
Headrest Hooks for Bags (good for space-saving and keeping items you need close by)
Something to hang a cell phone over the back seat so kids can watch videos on the phone (My brother and sister-in-law said this is really helpful around the 3-hour mark of being in the car… just download episodes before you leave!)
Dog Seat Cover and Dog Seat Extender
RainX (to improve wet weather driving conditions)
Car Trash Bag (like this one, or just remember to grab an extra grocery bag!)
Car Tissue Holder (one like this for the visor or one like this if you’re not a fan of tissues hanging over your head)
Sleeping Bag, Pillow, and Pillow Carrier (especially if you’re a car camper!)
Odor Resistant, Non-Wrinkle Clothing (& LAYERS… since it’s a road trip rule that in order for any one person to be comfortable, someone else in the car must either be very hot or very cold)
Any random road trip finds you’d add to this list? Let us know in the comments below!
Happy Road tripping!
Road trips are our favorite way to travel, explore new places, create lasting memories, and annoy bond with loved ones.
By incorporating classic road trip games, entertaining audiobooks, delicious snacks, and essential gear, you can elevate your journey into next-level enjoyment and comfort. So pack your bags, and let’s hit the road!
Still need to plan your road trip? Check out our Ultimate Road Trip Planning Guide here.
