Ready to have some fun in the car on your road trip?
Whether this is your first time on the road or you’re a seasoned road trip adventurer, those long stretches on the highway can get a little monotonous.
So if you are looking for a list of fun things to do in the car on a road trip for adults, you’ve come to the right place.
This list will give you plenty of ideas on how to enjoy your time in the car and make some travel memories.
We’ve got fun games for couples, introspective activities for the solo road warrior, and adventurous ways to make surprising uses of the technology you already have.
Who says that doing fun things in the car on a road trip is only for kids?
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Listen to Music
If you’re headed out on a long adventure, make an exciting road trip playlist for you and your travel companions.
Here are a few tips for making an absolute banger of a playlist that will become a memory all on its own.
- Explore new genres and artists you normally wouldn’t listen to.
- Put on some of the tunes that were big in your high school days. Finding out which songs still hold up and which should have been retired is a daring journey in itself.
- Share DJ duty. Exploring music your travel companions love will give you a chance to get to know more about them. Who knows, you might find out that French pop songs from the 50s are your thing!
Play Carpool Karaoke
Want to live your very own James Cordon’s Carpool Karaoke like you’re on The Late Late Show? Carpool Karaoke lets everyone take center stage.
Carpool Karaoke gets better the more people you have on the ride. If you got a full van full of friends, then you were traveling with the band.
You can even throw in one of these Bluetooth microphones to take your carpool karaoke experience to the next level.
Listen to a Podcast
Podcasts are contemporary radio. You’ve got episodic fiction podcasts that keep you on the edge of your seat. And also informative shows that give you insight into the world you’re driving through. There’s a podcast out there for you, no matter what your tastes are.
Here are a few exciting podcasts that you can take on the road with you.
- The Black Tapes — This serialized fiction podcast takes a thriller spin on the NPR formula. You’ll follow a journalist as she explores not only her past but a globe-spanning mystery that gets more intense with each episode.
- Working People — This is a down-to-earth show with an eye towards important social issues. Journalist Maximilian Alvarez interviews everyday people, from construction workers to college professors, about their jobs and what’s important to them in their lives.
- This Paranormal Life — Join two “professional” paranormal investigators as they explore everything from UFO sightings to mysterious disappearances in this irreverent comedy podcast.
For even more podcast recommendations for a boredom-free road trip check out: Best Podcasts to Listen to on a Road Trip
Get Artistic
Even if you’re no Rembrandt, a road trip is a surprisingly good place to start exploring your artistic side.
Here’s a game with a spooky title that everyone on your road trip can enjoy: Exquisite Corpse. Each player takes a turn either writing a section of a story or drawing a section of a picture before passing it off to the next player, who then adds their contribution.
When it’s all said and done, you’ve got a unique piece of artwork made by everyone on the ride.
The Museum of Modern Art has a great primer on the history of the Exquisite corpse.
You can also pull over on the shoulder of the road and try your hand painting a beautiful sunset or pull out your phone and get in touch with your photographic side.
No matter which way you go, your next road trip is a great way to explore your hidden love of the arts.
If none of these podcasts strike your fancy, open up your favorite podcast app and take this as an opportunity to start exploring new shows you wouldn’t normally listen to.
Listen to an Audiobook
The open road is one of the best places to throw on an audiobook.
A little secret about audiobooks and road trips is that they give you something interesting to listen to as well as give everybody in the car a little break from socializing.
Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential is a great book for road trips. This book shares a chef’s behind-the-scenes view of restaurants. You’ll get to explore the unseen parts of the restaurant world while you explore the countryside.
For more audiobooks that will keep you entertained throughout your long drive check out our list of the best audiobooks for road trips.
Play a Trivia Game
Trivia games never get old when you’re on the road.
There are countless trivia games out there. When picking a trivia game, a solid piece of advice is to find a game or subject where no one is the clear expert.
These games are a fun way to test your knowledge and pick up new and exciting facts. They’re also a great way to start conversations.
There are some exciting trivia apps available on our smartphones that you can check out our list of the best road trip game apps.
Or if you want to test your road trip trivia knowledge, check out our 20 Intriguing Road Trip Trivia Questions.
Play the Question Game to Spark Conversations
If you’re looking to fill the silence, you can always try some fun and deep road trip questions.
Games like Table Topics present you with interesting questions designed to fire up a memorable conversation. Table Topics has a wide variety of additions, including one specifically for couples.
We also created an amazing list of road trip questions that both couples and friends can use.
Check it out here: Road Trip Questions: 149 Fun and Deep Conversation Starters
Play a Classic Road Trip Game
Now let’s talk about some classic road trip games.
These are timeless hits for a reason. When your phone is running low on batteries and you’re getting a little tired of The Epic Road Trip Playlist, you can always rely on these old throwbacks.
Games like 21 Questions and the License Plate Game are iconic staples of entertainment while on the road. They’re also a great way to relive the nostalgia of going on road trips as a kid.
Check out our list of 15 Ridiculously Fun Road Trip Games for more games to keep you entertained.
Find Fun Places to Stop on Your Road Trip
Part of the excitement of being on a road trip is giving yourself the freedom to stop whenever you want. While you’re out there on the road, your co-pilot can be looking for exciting places to stop.
Google Maps is a good place to start, but if you really want to see what’s out there, make sure to download the Roadtrippers app before you leave home.
Roadtrippers will help you find everything from great mom-and-pop diners to historic destinations that you can swing by on your road trip.
The whole point of a road trip is to get out there and explore and make memories. Years down the road, that photograph of the two of you standing in front of The World’s Largest Candle in Indiana is going to be worth its weight in gold.
Turn Off the Radio
Turning off the radio may be the opposite of what you think of when you are looking for activities to keep you entertained on a road trip.
Our lives have never been busier. And we don’t have many opportunities just to be.
So if you find those long stretches starting to get a little monotonous, turn off the radio and sit with your thoughts.
There’s something about the open road with the scenery rolling by that allows us to be honest with ourselves. Turning off the radio gives you the mental space to puzzle through those lingering thoughts.
While we love the quirky tourist traps and the adventures along the way, a road trip is also an opportunity to explore yourself and/or get to know your traveling companion.
Find More Road Trip Fun Here:
15 Ridiculously Fun Road Trip Games for Two People
Road Trip Questions For Couples: 149 Fun and Deep Conversation Starters
