31 Fun Car Games For Kids

Fun car games for kids are absolutely essential if you’re going on any kind of road trip. Remember when everyone actually talked during long car rides, playing road trip games — you know, before portable DVD players and iPads? I do, and that’s the kind of road trip I’m determined to have with my own son. In fact, I can’t wait to teach him some of the car games for kids that I enjoyed growing up. (Yes, he’s just a baby, so I have a little time to plan, but still…) I was the master of Road Trip Bingo, so I am sure he will be a natural at that one. But, there are so many other fun car games that we can play, from some variation of “I Spy” to activity boards that we can DIY together before our trip.

Getting ready for your own spring break road trip? Check out this round-up of fun car games for kids and try a few with your fam.

More Ways to Entertain Your Kids on the Road:

31 Fun Car Games For Kids

Ice Cream Felt Board Activity Set

Felt sets are great for the car, because they are soft, easily contained, and stick together (so they don't make a big mess). With this one, your kids can play ice cream shop in the back seat.

See the project on At Home With Natalie
The Great Alphabet Race

This is an awesome little set for an "I Spy" game. Give the kiddos a set of alphabet cards and have them race to see who can find an object that matches all the letters first!

See the project on Handmade Charlotte
DIY Fabric Maze

Take the volume down in the back seat with these little fabric mazes, which are a great quiet time activity. Sew them together, and then let your littles track a marble through the fabric maze.

See the project on Twin Dragonfly Designs
Cat's Cradle

All you need is a long piece of yarn and you can teach your kids all of the classic finger string games. Cat's Cradle and Jacob's Ladder were a couple of my favorites.

See the project on If You Love To Read
Checkers Tin

I love when people turn small candy or mint tins into travel games. This one uses magnets and buttons to create a tiny checkers game.

See the project on A Girl and A Glue Gun
Paper Doll Kits

Pre-make a bunch of paper doll kits, and the kids can make a whole paper fashion show in the backseat.

See the project on Grey Luster Girl
Would You Rather?

This is a cute little booklet of questions, all about Disney. If you run out, or don't want to bring a little booklet, you can always make up the questions on the fly.

See the project on One She Two She
Q-Tip Travel Games

Here's a crafty way to use Q-Tips. This tutorial teaches you to make three fun travel games using supplies from your medicine cabinet.

See the project on PBS Kids
Printable Travel Game

These beautifully designed cards make an awesome little travel game. Everyone picks a card and the first person to spot their item on the road wins that round. Alternatively, you can print out two copies and play Go Fish with a travel theme!

See the project on The Art of Simple
DIY Magnetic Patterns Book

This creative activity takes tangrams to the next level, with kids creating intricate patterns and shapes using magnets. Plus, it is all in a self-contained book.

See the project on Say Yes
Matching Sticker Game

Have your littles work on their visual recognition skills by making mini matching games out of stickers.

See the project on Tinker Lab
Portable Lego Kit

Build them a mini lego workstation by turning a tin lunchbox into a travel lego kit. They can build their creations right onto the lid.

See the project on Mama Papa Bubba
Pie Tin Bingo

Another variation of an "I Spy" game, Road Trip Bingo has you print out bingo cards and mark off what you see along the road. First person to see all the items in a row wins. And, with this version you can keep it all together with magnetic buttons and pie tins.

See the project on Rhapsody of Cacophony
Felt Flower Button Snake

Help your toddler work on her handiwork by giving her a button snake. She can train her little fingers to get all of the flowers over the button and onto the snake.

See the project on Kids Activities Blog
Car Games Roundup

This is an awesome round-up of all the verbal games you can play in the car, from I Spy to License Plate Hunts.

See the project on This Reading Mama
Paint Swatch Game

This is a great game to help your littles learn their colors and work on their matching skills. Give them a stack of paint chips and a bag of matching clothespins and let them work out the puzzle.

See the project on One Little Project
Velcro Crafts Sticks

Turn some craft sticks into building blocks with a little bit of velcro. Then let your kids make shapes in the backseat.

See the project on Desert Chica
I Spy Bag

I Spy bags can keep a kid busy for hours. They get a picture with all the items in the bag and then have to move the rice around to find everything on their list.

See the project on Things For Boys
Learning Letters Plates

A great way to help kids learn their letters, take some paper plates and write the alphabet around the edges. Then when your kid finds a word that starts with that letter, he can fold down the letter.

See the project on No Time For Flash Cards
Friendship Bracelets

This is a roundup of a bunch of different friendship bracelet braiding techniques. Give the kids some thread and let them make as many as they want.

See the project on BuzzFeed
Geoboards with Patterns

Rubber bands and small peg boards make for a fun shapes game. You can give them specific shapes to make, or they can just be creative.

See the project on Testy Yet Trying
Magnetic Fishing Game

Mini magnetic fishing game! So cool and clever.

See the project on Doodle Craft Blog
Craft Stick Puzzles

These easy to make puzzles are great for littles and are super easy to store and travel with.

See the project on Motherhood On A Dime
Sewing Cards

These sewing card templates are adorable and will make them yearn for summer to come around again.

See the project on Kids Activities Blog
Magnetic Peg People

Make some magnetic peg dolls to play with. Have the kids help you design them and then they can play with their mini family on the drive.

See the project on Buzzmills
Miniature Memory Game

Mini memory game can be great fun, and if you use magnets, you can play on a cookie sheet in the backseat and never lose a piece.

See the project on Dandee Designs
File Folder Games

These brilliant file folder packs from Mr. Printables put really fun games all inside a single file folder. Print them out and your kids will love them.

See the project on Mr. Printables
Travel Board Games

Take your favorite board games on the road with you. Print out the mini board games and use magnets for pieces. If you need dice, put them in a tupperware container and you can roll them without losing them in the backseat.

See the project on Choose To Thrive
DIY Travel Coloring Case

Keep your kids doodling with a to-go container of crayons and sticky notes.

See the project on Family Fresh Meals
Tiny Tin Bedroom

Kids will love playing with a little tin bedroom set. It's like a DIY Polly Pocket!

See the project on Tea Rose Home
Felt Memory Game

One more felt game for the road, these memory game pieces are great for travel. Felt tends to stick together well, so the pieces won't go flying everywhere on a sharp turn.

See the project on Kids Activities Blog