Taking a road trip across the country is a great way to bond with your family. But spending countless hours in a car can get a bit boring, even if you do have plenty of stories to share. Sure, naps help pass the time on your way to your vacation destination, but nothing beats working the brain and playing a fun game on the road.

With that said, here are five engaging road trip games that’ll keep the kids and the adults entertained for hours.

Road Trip Games

Treasure Bags: All Ages

To play this game you’ll need one large bag and one small one. First, fill the large bag with a deck of cards, books, and various toys. Then, on small strips of paper, write out hints describing each of the items you’ve placed in the large bag and put them in the small one. Have your child close his or her eyes and pick a hint out of the small bag. If he or she can guess what the item is, he or she gets to pick it out of the large bag and play with it.

This is the perfect game for parents who are traveling with young children for extensive miles, allowing them to alternative between toys while learning. Here are example hints you can write down o those strips of paper:

  • There are 52 of me and you’re a real joker if you can figure it out (deck of cards)
  • I love all letters of the alphabet (book)
  • Mark my words; I’m blue, red, or green (markers)

License Plate Bingo: Ages 12 and Up

When people hear the word “bingo,” they usually think of their grandmother or grandfather spending countless at the community hall trying to win a few extra bucks or bragging rights. Well, with this fun game, you can toss the stereotypes away and join in on the fun. Before you load up the car, make sure you print out enough license plate bingo cards for the family (and for multiple rounds) and bring something to mark them off with. Figure out some fun prizes to give away and mark off your cards every time you see the license plate. It’s that simple!

Hot Seat: Teenagers and Adults

Perhaps sharing stories and singing along in the car is something you’re family already loves to do, but perhaps you need to spice the conversation up by putting a little pressure on the one speaking. In Hot Seat, each person in the car is interviewed by everyone else in the car. The person in the Hot seat must answer five questions pertaining to anything and everything in their life, with an option to veto one question. If the person refuses to answer all the questions, they must complete a dare. If he or she does, the next person in line steps up and takes the Hot Seat.

Tomato: Teenagers and Adults

Questions games seem to be the most popular games people play in the car, so how about another one to add to the list. In this one, one passenger is “it” and asks everyone else in the car weird and silly questions. The other passengers can’t smile or laugh after the questions are asked and must reply by answering, “tomato.” If a passenger smiles or laughs, they’re out of the game. The last person eliminated is the next person to be “it.”

Casino Games: Adults

OK, so maybe you grown folks in the car would rather avoid the cheesy nonsense with the young ones and take advantage of a game on your smartphone or tablet. Although there are plenty of games out there to distract you, why not try making a bit of extra vacation spending cash in the process? If you’re in an adventurous mood and feeling a bit risky, you can find the best games to cater to your tastes. Just be sure you don’t spend the gas money doing it or you might find yourself in a nightmare rather than a vacation.

Have any other games you love playing in the car during a road trip?

Guest Contributor Amanda Brown is a freelance writer whom enjoys playing and coaching volleyball. She loves her friends and family including her dog, Charlie; as well as traveling all around the world.