How to keep busy during a road trip

Road trips are a great way to see a country as you travel, and isn’t getting there supposed to be half the fun? Check out these four ways to keep fellow travelers entertained during a long car ride.

Mix tapes (Image: JinxiBoo)

Remember mix tapes? (Image: JinxiBoo)

Start with an awesome soundtrack.

Whether it’s a mix CD or Spotify playlist, the right songs can keep your fellow road trippers entertained for hours. Pick songs that are easy to sing along to — belting out your best rendition to the likes of “Bohemian Rhapsody” is half the fun. Also aim for classic songs from your youth that will spark memories and make you laugh. Need a little inspiration? Check out our ultimate travel playlist here.

Host a karaoke contest.

Speaking of music, you can inspire your road trip buddies to put their crooning abilities to the test by hosting a road trip karaoke contest. Make a playlist or CD with classic karaoke songs and have your car-mates take turns in the spotlight. How you judge the competition is up to you – you can have the driver be the judge, use a jury of your road trip peers or come up with another way to crown the winner. If you’re feeling extra creative, you can even make a small badge or medal beforehand to present to the karaoke contest champion.

Corvette on the highway (Image: squeaks2569 used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license)

Corvette on the highway (Image: squeaks2569 used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license)

Road trip games

Road trips simply aren’t road trips without a healthy dose of car games. Classics like Slug Bug, I Spy and 20 Questions are reliable standbys, and you can also make road trip-themed competitions, such as who can spot the most Corvettes or license plates with the letter “Z.” You might challenge your road trip buddies to make funny sentences where each word starts with the letter from the license plate in front of you. Or you might whip out a good old fashioned Mad Lib to bring on the laughs. Get creative with your road trip games; the wackier you can make them, the more entertaining they’ll be.

Highway sign (Image: james.thompson)

Highway sign (Image: james.thompson)

Be a shutterbug

Whether it’s taking silly pictures or making even sillier videos, documenting your road trip fun will keep you entertained with fond memories for years to come. Be sure to bring your camera and video camera to add a whole new level of entertainment to your road trip.

What are your best tips for keeping your road trip buddies entertained for the long haul? Let us know in the comments!

 

(Main image: reegmo used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license)

Related
12 tips for an on the road Friendsgiving

12 tips for an on the road Friendsgiving

Friendsgiving, forgoing family time in favor of a potluck meal with friends in honor of Thanksgiving, is gaining popularity as...
Lauren Mack
Tips for a worry-free road trip

Tips for a worry-free road trip

For decades, musicians and writers have waxed poetic about the open road; Willie Nelson’s song “On the Road Again” and...
Lauren Mack
66 steps to the perfect Route 66 road trip

66 steps to the perfect Route 66 road trip

An updated take on the classic American road trip There’s nothing quite like a classic road trip – a dog-eared...
Lauren Mack
Travel tips See all
Global Entry vs. TSA PreCheck: Which should you pick?

Global Entry vs. TSA PreCheck: Which should you pick?

Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or both? You’ve got options. To understand what’s better for you, your travel habits and your...
Paul Steele
How to fly with a pet

How to fly with a pet

How to fly with a pet and tips for a smooth flight Flying with a pet is a bit more...
Paul Steele