30 fun things to do on road trip: complete activity guide

In need of some fun things to do on your road trip? When you’re driving, there’s nothing worse than the relentless “I’m bored” soundtrack from your fellow passengers. Kids, teens and even adults can’t help but become restless on the road. But what can you do about it?

Well, you’re in luck! Our travel-savvy team at Camplify have created a list of fun things to do on a road trip for the whole family. Whether you’re travelling with kids, teenagers, other adults or even pets - we’ve thought of plenty of things for you all to do when you get bored on your long car rides.

30 fun things to do on a road trip

1. Enjoy an Audiobook

The average adult now listens to more than 8 audiobooks a year. They are perfect for long road trips, with the average audiobook being about 11 hours long. And the best part is, everyone can listen and get involved. Not only are they entertaining, but you might just learn a thing or two along the way as well.

The hardest part will be choosing a book that everyone likes. But subscription services such as Audible are fairly affordable these days (less than $20 a month). Make the most of the free trials on offer if it’s a one-off. You can even share your library with family members.

Tip: Download your book before you get on the road so it’s available offline. No data required and no annoying buffering!

2. Listen to a Podcast

If you’re looking for a bit of mental stimulation, you can’t beat a good podcast. The best thing about listening to a podcast on your road trip is that it creates a topic of discussion for everyone in the car. And if you find a funny one, a good laugh is always a great way to keep yourself alert on longer drives.

You probably already have your favourites - but if you don’t, why not search Google for podcasts that your favourite celebrities have done? You can find a range of great podcasts on Spotify or the Apple Podcast app for free. Again, make sure you download an episode in advance in case you come across data blind spots.

3. Sing-Along to Music

If there’s one thing that road trips are good for, it’s a sing-along! Put together a great playlist before you leave or whilst you’re on the road. Don’t forget to mix things up every now and then so that it doesn’t become too repetitive. Or if you really want to shake things up, tune into the local radio stations to hear what the locals enjoy.

There are a tonne of music streaming services to choose from, but Spotify and Apple Music tend to be the most popular due to the size of their back-catalogue.

4.Watch a Movie or Show

These days, everyone has access to a world of movies and TV shows on their phone! Make the most of it and catch up on some of the episodes or films that you’ve missed. A road trip is the perfect opportunity to escape reality and enjoy your favourite forms of entertainment. When you get back to the office, you’ll be up to date with the gossip and spoilers about the latest season.

If you’re worried about chewing through your mobile data, streaming services such as Netflix allow you to download episodes via WiFi before you leave.

5. Try Exotic Foods and Snacks

Foodies will find this one of the most fun things to do on a road trip. On your holiday, you are bound to come across weird and wonderful foods and snacks that you have never heard of before. If you don’t try just a few of them, you aren’t making the most of your travel! Make a habit of checking out the different snacks available at the service stations.

When you stop for lunch, order something that you wouldn’t normally go for. You never know what kind of new cuisines you might enjoy. (Plus, you can keep track of your culinary adventures in your food passport).

6. Create a Food Passport

We love the idea of a food passport. It makes it really easy to keep track of all the exciting and exotic foods that you tried whilst travelling. As you stop to eat on your road trip, note down the restaurant, date, rating, the food’s country of origin and a few little comments. In years to come, you’ll look back on your food passport and remember all the amazing dishes and cultures you explored.

7. Start a Photo Diary

Another one of the most fun things to do on a road trip? Start a photo diary! Recording your road trip is easy when you do it in photo format. Try to make a habit of taking at least one photo every day. This way, you can capture all your favourite moments and memorialize them forever in a photo journal.

If you like, you can wait til you get home and then print all your photos out for a physical journal. Or you can keep a digital journal by using an app such as Day One or Momento.

8. Keep a Travel Journal

If you prefer the written sentiment, it is worth keeping a travel journal whilst on your road trip. Nothing is as rewarding as looking back on your journal in years to come and reflecting on all the thoughts that you had at the time. Again, you can keep your travel journal in a physical diary or try a free app such as Evernote or Notion. If you’re finding yourself bored at night or whilst on the road, why not just open your journal and pop down your thoughts.

9. Mark Your Map

There’s something so cool and fun about pulling out an old school map and marking your road trip using a highlighter or texter. To see exactly where you have gone and how far you’ve come can be a rewarding exercise. And when you finally return home, the map makes an awesome wall poster. However, if you can’t be bothered having to fold and unfold a map every day, you can try websites like Rome 2 Rio or travel planning apps like Polarsteps.

10. Plan Tomorrow’s Travel

If you’re bored on your road trip, it might be that you are not stopping enough to smell the roses. Use your downtime in the car to research and plan exciting attractions and rest stops to visit tomorrow or in the coming days. Breaking up your day makes the driving stints easier.

11. Take An Unexpected Detour

Don’t be afraid to get off the main roads and highways. Sometimes, the most exciting adventures are the ones that other people miss. That’s what makes them special to you and your road trip companions. Try and get in the habit of taking an unexpected detour every day or so, because they often make for the most memorable moments. Just make sure that the road is safe and you’re heading in the right direction first!

12. Read and Write Reviews

It’s always entertaining reading the reviews of places you’re planning to visit or even places you’ve already been to. See what other people have to say about the attractions, accommodation and eateries that you’ll be visiting. That way you’ll know what to try and what to avoid. And if you particularly enjoyed somewhere that you’ve visited, why not leave a friendly online review yourself?

13. Choose a Lunch Spot

Is there anything worse than a long car ride when you’re starving? Don’t let it happen to you or your family because you’ll never hear the end of it! Instead, plan ahead and research the best restaurants or picnic areas in the towns that you’ll be passing through.

Pick somewhere that accommodates everyone's taste buds. This way, you’re bound to have a few yummy meals that you won’t forget in a hurry.

14. Find the Perfect Camping Spot

After a long day of driving, you’re going to want a comfortable spot to kick back and relax for the night. Don’t pull into the nearest hotel or motel, because the chances are that you’ll be missing out on the best accommodation in town.

Instead, do your research whilst on the road and find a campsite that has all the amenities that you want and need. Most importantly, you’re probably going to want a site with showers, toilets and an awesome view if possible.

15. Start Planning Your Next Trip

Another one of the most fun things to do on a road trip is to plan your next adventure! It’s easy to catch the travel bug when you’re on the road. You’ll find a tonne of inspiration on your travels to start planning your next road trip. Other people will tell you about their adventures and you’ll hear about other destinations that you want to check out.

So why not make a list of them and start planning your next trip now. While you’re at it, you can search for the perfect van or vehicle to take you on your next adventure.

16. Start a Collection

Whenever you go away on holiday, people always beg you to bring them something back from your travels. But have you ever thought about bringing something back for yourself? A lot of people collect stickers, postcards or patches from the destinations that they travel to. This way, they can show off where they’ve been. Alternatively, you might prefer to pick up a souvenir that is unique to the place you’re visiting.

17. Learn Fun Facts About Your Destination

If you don’t learn a little bit about the destinations that you travel to, you’ll never get a full appreciation for what makes them unique. Before you arrive at a destination, try to do a little research and read up about its history, culture and significance. Your family and friends will be impressed by your knowledge when you return. And your life will be enriched by the lessons that you learned on your road trip.

18. Quiz Your Companions

Once you’ve learned a little bit about your destination, quiz your road trip companions on what they’ve learned and compare your knowledge. This is a good way of reinforcing what you’ve learned and training your memory. Make a game out of it and see who is crowned Road Trip Trivia Champion!

19. Meet the Locals

What’s the point of going on a road trip if you don’t learn a little about the local cultures that you visit. And who better to learn from than the locals themselves. Whenever you stop at a destination, make a habit of forming conversation with some friendly local folk. Restaurants, campsites and sightseeing spots are normally good places to meet the locals.

20. Learn a New Language

This is a great thing to do if you’re on a road trip in a foreign country. Use a language learning app like Duolingo or Babbel to learn at least the basics of the local language. That way, you’ll know how to greet and thank people when you ask them for things. Who knows, if you enjoy the country, you might even learn its language for life.

21. Play a Video Game

Some of my favourite road trip memories as a child involved me staring at my Gameboy. If you’ve got young kids or even teens, they still probably feel much the same way today about their latest Nintendo consoles or smartphone games. Video games are the easiest and quickest way to keep kids quiet and entertained on long car trips. And if you’re an adult gamer, they will probably work a treat for you too. Just try to avoid motion sickness.

22. License Plate Bingo

If you’re road-tripping through a country with different states, this is a really fun way to kill boredom and pass the time. Each person in the vehicle has to try and spot a license plate from every state. The first person to tick off all the states is the winner. Search online and you will find templates to print out and work off of.

23. Share a Few Jokes

There’s no better way to kill boredom than having a few laughs and sharing a few jokes. You can even make a competition of it if you like. Everyone in the vehicle has to share one joke. The person who gets the most laughs wins. Good times guaranteed.

24. Plan Some Games for When You Arrive

The fun doesn’t have to stop when you reach your destination. Why not plan some camping games for when you arrive at your next stop. Check out this great article that lists 10+ camping games the entire family can play whilst on holidays.

25. Pull Over and Stretch Your Legs

It’s really important that you take regular rest breaks when driving long distances on your road trip. It gives you the chance to stretch your muscles and gives your body an energy boost. This helps to ensure that you drive safely with your family and loved ones on board. Try doing a few simple exercises such as star jumps and squats. Plus, if you are travelling with your dog, it gives them the chance to get some much-needed activity as well.

26. Take a Nap

When you take a rest stop, it’s also important that you also take a quick nap if you’re feeling drowsy. Even a 20 minute sleep can make a world of difference to your levels of alertness. Think about opening a window slightly and putting on an alarm. Then, simply recline in your seat and fall into a slumber. Short and regular naps can make your whole road trip so much more enjoyable.

27. Meditate

There might be times throughout your road trip that feel more like a pain in the backside than a holiday. Whenever you’re feeling stressed, upset or anxious, consider taking some time to yourself and meditating for a few minutes. Try to clear your mind of all thoughts and emotions and focus on being present in that moment. It can help to focus on your breathing or the sensations in your toes and fingers.

28. Gaze at the Stars

There’s few things in life that are as wonderful as simply sitting under a starry night sky. During your road trip, this activity is probably best left for rest stops or when you arrive at your destination, but be sure to make the most of it. Particularly once you leave heavily populated areas and enter into more open landscapes. The lack of light pollution means that you can see every little detail in the night sky.

29. Chat with Your Family and Friends

Our lives are so busy these days. It’s rare that we ever get to sit down with our family and friends for long meaningful discussions. This is the perfect activity for a long road trip. Make the most of your time with loved ones in the car and find out what's really going on in their life. Are there things they’ve been wanting to discuss with you? Maybe you have something you’ve been meaning to say to them? Now’s your chance.

30. Catch Up with Friends and Family at Home

Maybe you’ve had enough of your road trip companions for now? Sometimes it can be nice to escape your travel bubble and chat with people at home. These days, social media makes this easier than ever. Call or message home, fill people in with what you’ve been up to and find out how they’re going.

Enjoy These Fun Things To Do On A Road Trip!

With this epic list of fun things to do on a road trip, you can start planning your next adventure! We've even put together a list of the best camping games for when you arrive at your destination!

If you’d like more fun things to do on your road trip, subscribe to the Camplify newsletter below. We’ll keep you updated with excellent itineraries for your future adventures. Plus, we provide you with tonnes of van tips to make road tripping even easier and more enjoyable.

Happy travelling, may you never get bored on your road trips!