Fun Family Car Activities for Holiday Road Trips
Holiday road trips can be an adventure filled with laughter, bonding, and the occasional “Are we there yet?” While the destination may be exciting, keeping the whole family entertained during the journey is just as important. To make your holiday trip memorable, here are some fun car activities that will keep everyone engaged and in the holiday spirit.
1. Holiday-Themed Trivia
Prepare a list of holiday-themed trivia questions to quiz your family on the go. Cover topics like Christmas movies, holiday traditions, festive songs, and winter history. For example:
• “What is the most popular Christmas song of all time?”
• “In what year was ‘Home Alone’ released?”
Offer small prizes for correct answers to keep things competitive and fun.
2. License Plate Game
Turn the drive into a scavenger hunt by spotting license plates from different states or countries. To make it festive, challenge everyone to find plates with holiday-related letters or numbers, like “25” for Christmas Day or “HO” for holiday cheer.
3. Car Karaoke: Holiday Edition
Nothing gets you in the festive mood faster than a sing-along. Create a playlist of holiday classics and let each family member take turns performing their favorites. Songs like “Jingle Bell Rock” and “All I Want for Christmas Is You” are sure to bring out everyone’s inner performer.
4. Storytelling Chain
Start a holiday story with one sentence, and then pass it around the car for each family member to add their own sentence. For example:
• “Once upon a time, a reindeer got lost on Christmas Eve…”
Let the story take twists and turns as everyone adds their creative spin.
5. Car Bingo: Holiday Edition
Create bingo cards with items you’re likely to see on a holiday road trip, such as:
• A house with Christmas lights
• A snowman
• A holiday billboard
• A red car
The first person to complete a row wins!
6. DIY Holiday Crafts on the Go
Bring along simple crafting supplies like pipe cleaners, beads, or pre-cut felt shapes. Kids can make mini ornaments, reindeer antlers, or holiday bracelets while seated. Just make sure to use mess-free materials for easy cleanup.
7. Guess That Holiday Tune
Hum or whistle a holiday song and let everyone else guess the title. For an extra challenge, try humming obscure parts of popular tunes or whistling at different speeds.
8. Road Trip Journal
Give each child a small notebook to document the trip. They can draw pictures of what they see, write about their favorite moments, or collect small items like tickets or brochures to glue into their journal later.
9. Alphabet Game: Festive Edition
Work your way through the alphabet by naming holiday-related items that start with each letter. For example:
• A = Angel
• B = Bells
• C = Candy cane
You can take turns or make it a race to see who can complete the alphabet first.
10. Holiday Snack Attack
Pack a variety of festive snacks like gingerbread cookies, candy canes, or trail mix with red and green candies. Turn snack time into a guessing game by having blindfolded participants guess the treat based on taste or smell.
11. I Spy: Christmas Edition
Play the classic “I Spy” game with a holiday twist. Instead of generic items, focus on festive themes like decorations, snow-covered trees, or cars with Christmas wreaths.
12. Window Art with Washable Markers
Let kids decorate the car windows with washable markers (or dry-erase markers if safe for your windows). They can draw snowflakes, Santa, or other holiday designs. This activity is easy to clean up and sparks creativity.
13. Would You Rather: Holiday Edition
Ask fun and silly questions like:
• “Would you rather ride in Santa’s sleigh or have a snowball fight with Frosty the Snowman?”
• “Would you rather eat only candy canes or only fruitcake for a week?”
This game is great for sparking laughter and conversation.
14. Holiday Podcasts or Audiobooks
Download family-friendly holiday stories or festive podcasts to listen to together. Classics like “The Polar Express” or humorous tales like “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” make for a cozy car atmosphere.
15. Surprise Gift Bags
Pack small, wrapped surprises for each child and let them open one every hour or after reaching certain milestones on the trip. These could include small toys, holiday stickers, or snacks.
16. Name That Holiday Movie
Recite quotes or describe scenes from popular holiday movies and have your family guess the title. For example:
• “This movie is about a boy who’s left home alone during Christmas.” (Home Alone)
• “A green character tries to ruin Christmas for a small town.” (The Grinch)
Holiday road trips don’t have to be boring or stressful. With these fun activities, your family can stay entertained, connected, and in the holiday spirit while traveling to your destination.
What are your favorite road trip games or traditions? Share them in the comments below and let the festive fun continue!