Road trips are full of excitement and adventure, but there is also a lot of downtime. Therefore, finding things to do in the car is essential.
One way to get the conversation going and keep your brain engaged is with some road trip trivia questions.
Sure, you can grab a set of trivia pursuit cards or download a trivia app, but we thought it would be fun to put together some intriguing questions specifically about road trips and US travel facts.
These road trip trivia questions will get you thinking and give you a few things to chat about during those long stretches of highway.
Let’s dive in!
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Road Trip Trivia Questions
1. Who Went on the First Road Trip?
Bertha Benz
Yes, that Benz. Bertha was the wife of Karl Friedrich Benz, whose name you might recognize from the Mercedes-Benz brand.
As the legend goes, on August 5th, 1888, Bertha took the Model III Patent Motorwagen, one of Karl’s early internal combustion vehicles, without permission. She only left Karl a note saying she was taking their children on a trip to see their grandmother.
Her trip was 60 miles long but likely took quite a while since the car went a maximum of 10 miles per hour.
2. What is the Unofficial Race Across the United States Called? Hint: There is a movie about it
Cannonball Run
This legendary race got started in the 1970s. There are no rules about the specific routes for the race or regulations about the numbered drivers or vehicle types. It’s a gentleman’s agreement about who can make it the fastest from the Red Ball Garage in New York City to the Portofino Hotel in Redondo Beach, Los Angeles.
The current world record for a solo driver was set in October of 2021 by Fred Ashmore, who drove the Cannonball Run in just over 25 hours. That’s definitely not enough time to stop and see the World’s Largest Corn Cob! Ashmore averaged a speed of 108 mph on his trip.
The Cannonball Run is not a sanctioned race because it would require you to break a few laws to clock the fastest run.
3. What State is Home to the Least Traveled US Highway?
Alaska
Alaska State Route 11, which stretches over 400 miles from Fairbanks to Deadhorse, is one of the US’s rural routes.
This fact was determined by a geolocation company called Geotab who sought to find the loneliest highway in each state. Check out more of the quietest routes in each state here.
4. What is the Longest Continuous Road in the World?
Pan-American Highway
This highway stretches over 19,000 miles from Prudhoe, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina.
Taking a road trip along this road requires a serious time commitment.
Even if you average eight hours of driving per day, it would still take you over three months to conquer the Pan-American Highway. Most adventurers take their time, and road trips down this road last between six and 18 months.
5. What is the Highest Highway in America?
Mount Evans Scenic Byway
The Mount Evans Scenic byway, located in Colorado, is 14,130 feet above sea level. While it’s only 28 miles from start to finish, it’s the highest you can drive in America.
6. What is the Longest River in the United States?
The Missouri River
This river stretches 2,331 miles from the Rocky Mountains in Montana down to St. Louis.
The best car ride trivia questions are the ones that inspire your next journey. You can take a road trip down the Missouri River, commonly called the Lewis and Clark Road Trip, or you can test the waters with the much shorter National Parks Services’ Middle Missouri River Driving Tour.
7. What is the Most Isolated City in America?
Glasgow, Montana
There are a few ways to measure this, but we’re looking at the distance from other cities for our car ride trivia questions.
Glasgow, Montana, is the most isolated city in the United States. It’s about a five-hour drive in any direction from Glasgow to reach the next neighboring city.
8. What is the Longest Road Trip in Hawaii?
The Hana Highway
Made up of Highway routes 36 and 360, the Hana Highway is Hawaii’s longest continuous road trip.
Also known as the Road to Hana, this highway is only 60 miles long, but we’d recommend taking at least two days on the drive to soak up some of the country’s most beautiful tropical scenery.
9. Can You Still Drive Historic Route 66?
YES
Even though this highway was officially removed from the United States highway system, portions were preserved. The original length runs over 2,700 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles, and many states along the way have maintained their sections of this historic road.
10. What is the Largest Lake in the US?
Lake Michigan-Huron
Many people consider Lake Michigan the largest lake entirely in the US, but it’s only half the answer. Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are technically the same body of water. This is because the flow of water through the straights keeps their water levels in overall equilibrium.
Lake Michigan—Huron covers over 45,300 square miles.
11. What is the Hottest Place in the US?
Death Valley
Death Valley is a national park in the Mojave Desert in Southern California. It hit a record high of 134 degrees Fahrenheit in recent years.
You can take a road trip through Death Valley on a stretch of road that is only 120 miles long, but that two-hour drive can feel like days in 130-degree heat.
12. What’s the Oldest Mountain Range in America?
The Appalachian Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are the biggest, but no one beats the Appalachian Mountains when it comes to age. The Appalachian Mountains are roughly 480 million years old! That’s back in the Ordovician Period before life on Earth figured out the whole “living on land” thing.
13. What is the Newest National Park in the United States?
New River National Park and Preserve
This West Virginia national park is situated along one of the oldest rivers in the world was designated a National Park in 2020.
If you love outdoor adventures, this national park is for you. Known for its whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and mountain biking, you’ll be sure to find an activity to get your adrenaline pumping.
Check out our full post on Things To Do in New River Gorge.
14. What State is the “Extraterrestrial Highway” in?
Nevada
Nevada State Route 375 runs right past the military base you may know as Area 51.
Area 51 is famous for drivers spotting UFOs along this route. And even if you don’t experience a UFO sighting, you can still indulge in some alien-themed jerky and check out a UFO bar-cafe. The night skies are also known to be phenomenal.
15. What State has the Most National Parks?
California
With 9 National Parks, California leads the US for the number of National Parks in their state. These parks include:
- Channel Islands
- Yosemite
- Death Valley
- Joshua Tree
- Kings Canyon
- Lassen Volcanic
- Pinnacles
- Redwood
- Sequoia
16. What is the Oldest Building in the United States?
Taos Pueblo
Built in 1000 AD – 1450 AD, the Taos Pueblo buildings are a group of homes and ceremonial spaces initially inhabited by the Puebloan People and located in Taos, New Mexico.
These buildings are still inhabited today and are believed to be one of the oldest communities in the United States. In 1992, the Taos Pueblo buildings were designated as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
17. What State is the Largest Forest in the Entire US Located?
Alaska
Tongass National Forest is roughly the size of West Virginia and is the largest intact temperate rain forest in the world.
18. What was the First National Park?
Yellowstone
In 1872, Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act, and the first National Park was born.
19. What National Parks are Collectively Known as the “Mighty 5”?
Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches
These five parks located in Utah are must-do for any road tripper. These parks provide varying landscapes and adventures fit for most travelers.
20. What is the Deepest Cave in the United States?
Tears of the Turtle Cave
Located in the Bob Marshall Wilderness area in Montana, this cave is 1,863.8ft deep.
