Road trips are usually just as much about the journey as it is about the destination. Itâs one of those awesome things that puts you and your friends in cramped cars for a long period of time but everyone is happy because they are with friends experiencing something new.
When it comes to road trips, there is usually music, food, and maybe a bit of alcohol.
The destination may be important, but thereâs always a chance that you have a good time along the way.
And of course, there are some people who will try and find ways to make the road trip more interesting.
Whether youâre building up a collection of fun games on your phone or putting together a scavenger hunt list for your friends to complete, here is a list of great things to do on a road trip with friends!
What's covered in this post
- 1. Play car games
- 2. Listen to good music
- 3. Tell jokes
- 4. Make up stories about the lives of strangers you see on the road.
- 5. Learn a new language
- 6. Share stories about your lives
- 7. Sing along together to the radio.
- 8. Choose a different fork in the road
- 9. Go on a road trip scavenger hunt.
- 10. Meet new people
- 11. Plan what youâre going to do when you get to your destination.
- 12. Have a picnic along the way
- 13. Stop at a theme park or water park along the way.
- 14. Find a place to set up camp
- 15. Keep track of all your activities
- 16. Donât forget the souvenirs
- In conclusion: Things to Do on a Road Trip With Friends
1. Play car games
There are a lot of car games you can play on your road trip, and the list goes on and on. Here are a few of our favorites:
- The Alphabet Game â This is a classic car game that will help pass the time when there are long stretches of nothingness in front of you. Similar to Trivial Pursuit, this game requires players to name something starting with each letter in the alphabet.
- 20 Questions â This version is similar to Guess Who?, but without all those pesky faces! Instead, itâs just asking yes/no questions until someone guesses whatâs inside the box!
- I Spy â This game involves picking an object (or person) out in nature or around town and describing it as best as possible while everyone else tries to guess what it is before time runs out!
- License Plate Game â Another way to keep things interesting while driving down an open road is by trying to see how many different license plates from different states you can spot during your trip! Itâs fun for everyone involved since there could be some funny ones along with some boring ones too (if weâre being honest). You never know whoâll see something cool first!â
2. Listen to good music
Listening to music is one of the most fun things to do on a road trip.
Bring your own playlists, and make sure everyone has a chance to choose some songs.
If you have a passenger who loves country music and another one who only listens to rap, you can have them bring their favorite music too!
Itâs nice if everyone is given an equal opportunity in choosing what they want to listen to (even if they may not agree with each other).
Make sure that all passengers are included in the mix so no one feels left out or like theyâre being forced into listening to something they donât like!
3. Tell jokes
Get each of the passengers to prepare a list of jokes beforehand.
This is an excellent way to keep each other entertained and make the long arduous drive ahead seem like a piece of cake!
There are a ton of websites out there where you can find these jokes, so make sure you take notes!
Not forgetting that this is a perfect way to channel your inner comedian or prepare to be one!
4. Make up stories about the lives of strangers you see on the road.
You and your friends can create a running list of stories about the people you see driving or walking along the road.
If there are other drivers, write down their license plate numbers and make up stories about who they are and what their lives are like.
5. Learn a new language
This is an excellent time for you and your friends to pick up a new language, or simply be goofy trying to do so!
With so many hours spent together, a road trip presents a great opportunity to learn something new and practice with each other.
Better yet, if one of you speaks another language, have that person become the teacher!
Share some of your own childhood memories, or talk about how much you hope to accomplish in life.
Be open and talk about your dreams and where you see yourself going in a few yearsâ time.
The magical thing about such conversations is that it often leads to more discovery about each other and potential opportunities to explore together.
7. Sing along together to the radio.
Whether youâre in the car or on a plane, singing together is a great way to pass the time.
The music can be loud enough to annoy your fellow passengers, but not so loud that theyâll want to punch you in the face.
The only downside is that some songs can get stuck in your head for days.
Obviously, if you are the organizer, you would want to find out some of the common songs between the passengers so that you can all enjoy it together!
8. Choose a different fork in the road
You guys might have planned a certain route, but whatâs stopping you from taking a small detour and checking out somewhere that you have not planned for.
Such detours can often bring about unexpected surprises and maybe become a future travel destination for some of you!
Road trips, and in fact most vacations, should be kept free-flowing and flexible. Itâs all about adventure and discovery, so why not try this out!
9. Go on a road trip scavenger hunt.
Make a list of things to look for on your road trip scavenger hunt. It could be simple things like road signs, billboards, or a particular landmark.
Wanna make it competitive? Assign points for each item found and allow teams to compete against one another (if youâre in a car, this means making sure that no one is driving while playing).
Try not to get too distracted by looking at everything around you; keep safety in mind when participating in the game so that everyone makes it home safely!
10. Meet new people
Whoâs to say that you need to limit your interaction to just that few of you?
Each new place that you visit offers plenty of opportunities to get to know the local people and understand what goes on there.
Itâs the best way to get to know a place fast, with all the insider local knowledge.
You never know what you will discover!
11. Plan what youâre going to do when you get to your destination.
Plan what youâre going to do when you get to your destination.
Itâs important to plan ahead of time because if you donât, it could end up costing time and money that could have been avoided.
The planning process can be fun and done while you are in the car and not necessarily before setting off.
For example, when my friends and I were in Washington DC, we planned out our entire trip: where we wanted to eat, how much food would cost us at each restaurant (and what type of food), how long each activity would take us (e.g., a day trip or an overnight visit) right there during the road trip.
This way we could make sure that we got the most out of our trip without spending too much money or getting bored with no activities planned for us.
12. Have a picnic along the way
Sometimes it can be pretty difficult to find a good place to eat when you are on the road, especially when you are heading into uncharted territory.
If that is your concern, you could easily plan a picnic along the way.
Not only is it a fun and engaging activity, but you could also potentially save a few bucks and have more stories to tell!
Check out this road trip food list for some inspiration!
13. Stop at a theme park or water park along the way.
Theme parks and water parks alike can be great places to stop for a restâand because theyâre typically located near major highways, theyâre easy to get to.
Stopping at one of these during the middle of your trip is probably best, as it allows you some time away from the car.
If possible, try stopping either early on in your trip so that you will have enough time to reach the next pitstop!
14. Find a place to set up camp
Yes, Iâm talking about real camping, not a place to call it a night.
There is something wonderful about being able to sleep under the stars, uninterrupted by the bright lights of the city.
There are many camping locations all across the United States as well as in many parts of the world, so be sure to check them out before you set off!
15. Keep track of all your activities
Sure, we all have mobile phones these days to take pictures and videos, and you definitely should do that to capture all the amazing moments.
What you can do to take it one step further is to document the whole trip with a notebook too!
Each person will get a chance to scribble their thoughts and feelings, and I can assure you this will make a much more meaningful memory for every single one of you!
16. Donât forget the souvenirs
We have a habit of buying a fridge magnet everywhere we go, but it can also be something else like a tee-shirt, ornament, or any little trinket that will instantly bring back the memories.
Quite often, each city will have something unique that they can call their own, so that could be where you gravitate towards.
Having a similar souvenir with your bunch of good friends is a great way to bring the bond closer!
In conclusion: Things to Do on a Road Trip With Friends
Road trips are so much fun, and that is multiplied when you have a group of your closest friends with you.
Your options are endless, so keep that adventurous spirit in you and make the most of your road trip vacation!
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