Fun Games for RVers of All Ages to Play on the Road

Part of the fun of RVing is taking off to new destinations or revisiting a favorite getaway. Traveling to these sites can be a quick jaunt outside of town or several hundred miles, one or two time zones away. If the latter is the case, there will come a period of time when the ride can become silent and down right boring. It’s times like these when having an arsenal of travel games is key to beat the long haul blues. Every RV family is unique in the number of passengers, age range, and interests. The following games can be modified to accommodate these varying aspects.

Alphabet Game
Just like I Spy, the Alphabet Game is an oldie but a goodie challenge. Passengers come up with words that correlate with a given category. The categories are limitless and can include recounting words from billboards/signs, bands, food, natural forms/objects, etc. The game starts off with a player finding a word/item beginning with the letter “A” that fits the chosen category. The next word to be called out should begin with “B” and continue until the the end of the alphabet. The winner is the person that finishes off with a word beginning with “Z.”

Players can keep track of the letter they are on by simply crossing off letters of the alphabet mentioned from a list. A modified version of the game has one passenger pulling out letters from a cup. The player that comes up with the word keeps the letter as a token. (Of course, for obvious safety reasons, someone in the party should be designated to collect the driver’s tokens.) The winner has the most tokens in the end.

Related Read: Easy to Store Games Every RVer Should Own

Sequence Game
Like the Alphabet Game, the Sequence Game can be played using assorted themes and orders items alphabetically. For instance, one sequence game we play starts off with the phrase, “We’re going on a trip and we’re going to bring a…” The first player begins with the phrase followed by an item beginning with the letter “A.” The next player repeats the phrase, followed by the word the first player came up with for letter “A,” and finishes off with their own word beginning with the letter “B.” This continues round and round. Each player must begin with the sentence and list each alphabetically sequenced item. A player drops out of the game if he/she misses a word or is incorrect in the sequence. The winner is the lone passenger that is able to state all items mentioned.

Related Read: Entertained On the Road

License Plate Game
This game involves players finding license plates from all 50 states. This can be played as a whole or separately. Players watch passing cars, glimpse the license plate, and record the state. Noted states can simply be crossed off or highlighted from a list. There are a number of companies that have created educational and printable versions of the license game including this magnetic board and color in maps for the younger generations to learn and enjoy.

The License Plate Game can be fast-paced depending on where you are traveling and the time of year. Popular tourist destinations over summer break beckon travelers from all four corners of our nation and neighboring countries.

Bingo
Whether you are stationary or in motion, Bingo has never lost its appeal with the young and young at heart. Bingo with marker pieces can be a bit of a challenge playing in a moving vehicle so utilizing magnets, velcro, or sliders like on these boards makes for a less taxing experience. Traveling themed playing cards are the best to use on road trips and can include street signs and types of cars or RVs.

Guess the Song
Listening to music always helps pep up a long drive. This guessing game requires at least one smartphone or music device. Each player thinks of a favorite song he/she would choose for dancing, singing in the shower, playing at his/her wedding, listening to after a break-up, falling asleep, etc. Categories can be as mundane or wacky as passengers make them and can be initially agreed upon before the game begins.

After selecting a favorite tune for each category, one passenger begins by playing one tune at a time for other players to hear. After each tune, players must guess the song’s category. One player can be designated as scorekeeper. The player that correctly matches the most songs/categories wins the round.

Stories of Passersby
It’s essential to be alert and observant on the road. This game challenges players to use this skill and then some. The rules are simple. Players peek into passing cars and take note of the occupants, objects within, and other noteworthy aspects of the vehicle. Players then devise and share a make believe story about the lives of the passersby, where they are headed, and what they will do there, as examples of content. The more unlikely the tale, the better.

Since this is a game that requires players to take their eyes off of the road ahead, it is not a game for the driver to participate in as a player. Instead, the driver can make the final decision as to whose story was the most creative in the group.

Convenience Store Foodies
One of the best things we love about RVing is combining our love of travel with our love for food. Each region of the country is unique in their environment which cultivates its own produce, entrees, and beverages. Many of these dishes famous to the area are found in local restaurants, grocery stores, and convenience stops like gas stations. This game focuses of finding these regional staples at gas station/convenience stores since many road trip stops include fuel ups and bathroom breaks.

The goal is to collect one snack item from each stop that is popular to the location/region. The player that collects the most food items at the end of the trip wins. Not only does this game foster competition, but it is a learning experience for all ages. Plus, it is always fun to try new food!

These are a mere handful of road trip games. Please share additional games you and your traveling crew play in the comments below.