‘ARE WE THERE YET?’
A Road Trip Survival Guide
By Pam Molnar
If you are headed out on a family road trip this year, you are not alone. According to The Vacationer.com Summer Travel Survey in 2025, more than 75 percent of families plan to travel to their vacation destination via car. Although those families are saving money on getting there, they are also increasing their travel time.
For some families, the idea of sitting in a car together for eight hours does not sound like a vacation. Yet for other families, getting there is half the fun. If you are looking for ways to make your next road trip more enjoyable, check out these eight survival tips:
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Play a Game
Choose a classic road trip game that you played as a child – 20 Questions, Road Trip Bingo or the License Plate Scavenger Hunt. Pack board games like Trouble or Battleship (where the pieces stay in place) or card games like Apples to Apples that can be played without a table. Bring a small dry erase board and play Pictionary. Place five dice in a clear sealable container to keep them from getting lost while you play Yahtzee.
Get Creative
As you pass each mile and the rush of everyday life falls away, give your kids an outlet for their creativity. Purchase sticker scenes to create their own beach, farm or dinosaur scene. Foam sticker mosaics are the less messy version of paint-by-numbers. The kids can even decorate the car windows with Crayola’s special washable window markers and stencils.
Listen to Books on Audible
Take a break from electronic stimulation and let your child use his imagination while listening to a story. Find something the whole family will enjoy. While your family might like a fiction series, don’t overlook non-fiction books. Check out true stories about inspirational teens, sports heroes or a person who ties into your vacation destination. Audiobooks are available through Libby for free when you have a library card.
Start a Conversation
Families are so busy these days that they often don’t have the time to catch up. Not sure how to start the conversation? Get a little help from games like ‘Would You Rather?’ or ‘Never Have I Ever…’. If you need a ready-made version, consider the board game TableTopics or the This or That? book series. You will be amazed at what you learn about each other and yourself.
On the Hour
Everyone gets tired of being in the car, so adding something new to do every hour can be fun. Pack some new or new-to-them toys or books to hand out to the kids (or bring for yourself) at the top of every hour. Coloring books, Matchbox cars or simple crafts work well and are inexpensive. As your kids get older consider magazines, sleep masks or mosaic stickers.
Snacks
Throughout the year, we try to encourage healthy eating choices. But when we are on vacation, we allow a little junk in our diets. Pack some special treats – the things you usually say no to during the year.
Make the Most of Stops
Kids and parents alike need to run out some sillies after being in the car too long. Try stopping at a restaurant with a play place or a rest stop with playground equipment. Pack a Frisbee, a small ball, a bottle of bubbles or a pack of sidewalk chalk and take a 30-minute break. A little fresh air and space to run will make it a better trip for everyone.
Allow Movie Time
Even the perfect road trip needs a break from looking out the window. Let everyone choose something that they could watch alone or together with everyone. Download movies on your tablet device ahead of time to save on data usage. Watching movies gives everyone some wind down time after lunch and helps them get through the last leg of the trip.
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Game Apps to Play Together:
1. 2 Player Game: The Challenge – Play games like ping pong, air hockey and billiards on the same device.
2. What Would You Choose? – This or That on an app!
3. Road Trip! State Trivia, Games – This app includes general and state trivia, bingo and name that song.
4. License Plate Game – The classic game of spotting different license plates as you drive.
5. Logo Quiz – Play alone or with family to guess the logo in a variety of themes like sports or companies.
6. Do You Know Me? – Answer questions about yourself and then pass the device to someone else to see how well they know you.
7. Words with Friends 2 – Spell out words in this digital version of Scrabble.
8. Guess Word – Players work to get you to say the word on the screen you are holding on your forehead.
9. 5-Second Rule – Challenge your family to name three shades of blue and other questions in less than five seconds.
10. Wheel of Fortune – Who is the better game show player? Challenge your family to find out.
