TL;DR
In-motion games: word games, verbal deduction, no-component games (Twenty Questions, Two Truths and a Lie). Rest stop games: compact card games (Love Letter, The Crew). Service station gaming: games under 30 minutes that fit on a picnic table. Pack: one ziplock bag of cards, maybe one compact game. Avoid: anything with boards, small tokens, or dice.
Four hours into a six-hour drive to Cornwall, my nephew asked for "something to do" for the fourteenth time. That's when I learned that road trip gaming requires entirely different thinking than home gaming.
Games that excel at home fail catastrophically in moving vehicles. Here's what actually works.
The Categories of Road Trip Gaming
Different journey phases need different games.
While Moving
- No loose components (catastrophic loss under seats)
- No need to see anything (driver can participate)
- Verbal-only interaction
- Interruptible (traffic, turns, announcements)
At Rest Stops
- Compact and quick setup
- Weather-resistant (may be outside)
- Works on uneven surfaces
- 10-30 minute play windows
Longer Breaks (Lunch stops, picnic areas)
- Can handle slightly more complexity
- 30-60 minute windows
- More stable surfaces available
- Everyone present and attentive
Games for Moving Vehicles
These require zero components—only voices.
Twenty Questions
Classic for a reason. One person thinks of something; others get yes/no questions to identify it.
Variants:
- Category-restricted (only board games, only foods)
- Infinite questions, fastest guesser wins
- Team vs. team format
Two Truths and a Lie
Each person shares three statements—two true, one false. Others guess the lie.
Why it works: No components, reveals fun facts, scales to any group size.
Contact
One person thinks of a word, gives first letter. Others ask questions trying to "contact"—if two people think of the same answer and say it simultaneously, the holder must reveal the next letter.
Why it works: Collaborative, thinking-intensive, no components.
Celebrity
Think of a famous person. Others ask yes/no questions to identify them. Limit of 20 questions.
Variant: Categories (only actors, only athletes, only historical figures)
Alphabet Games
Find letters of the alphabet on road signs, licence plates, or vehicle liveries. First to Z wins.
Cooperative variant: Everyone works together to complete the alphabet.
Story Building
One person starts a story. Each person adds one sentence, building narrative collectively.
Why it works: Creative, entertaining, involves everyone.
💡 Driver Participation
Verbal games let drivers participate safely. Visual games exclude them and create resentment. Choose games where eyes stay on the road.
Games for Rest Stops
These fit in pockets and play quickly on any surface.
Love Letter
Love Letter
10/10 for rest stops/10Sixteen cards in a velvet bag. Plays in 5 minutes. Perfect for quick service station breaks.
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
Cooperative trick-taking. Each mission is 10-15 minutes. Natural stopping points.
Skull
Bluffing game with coasters. Plays fast, encourages shouting.
For Sale
Two-phase auction game. Minimal components, 20-minute playtime.
Hanabi
Cooperative card game. You can see everyone's cards except your own.
Rest Stop Game Quick Reference
| Game | Players | Time | Components | Weather-Proof | |------|---------|------|------------|---------------| | Love Letter | 2-4 | 5 min | 16 cards | Yes | | The Crew | 2-5 | 15 min | ~50 cards | Yes | | Skull | 3-6 | 20 min | Coasters | Yes | | For Sale | 3-6 | 20 min | Cards + coins | Mostly | | Hanabi | 2-5 | 25 min | 50 cards | Yes |
Games for Longer Breaks
When you have a picnic table and an hour.
Jaipur
Two-player trading. Compact tin. Works on stable surfaces.
Hive Pocket
Abstract strategy with chunky tiles. No board—tiles create the playing area. Indestructible components.
Sushi Go!
Drafting card game. 20 minutes. Works with 3-5 players.
6 Nimmt!
Simultaneous card selection. Large player count (up to 10). Quick rounds.
What to Pack
Less is more. One ziplock bag beats a full game shelf.
The Essential Road Trip Kit
✓ Packing Checklist
- □Love Letter (16 cards)
- □The Crew (52 cards)
- □Standard playing cards (infinite games)
- □Small notebook and pen
- □Rubber band to keep everything together
All this fits in a pocket. Covers: quick games, cooperative play, classic card games, scoring needs.
The Extended Kit
Add if space allows:
- Hive Pocket
- Sushi Go! (tin)
- Compact dice (for decision-making)
Games to Leave at Home
These seem travel-friendly but cause problems.
Dice Games
Dice in cars roll under seats, into vents, and into oblivion. Not worth the risk.
Games with Boards
Even small boards shift on laps, slide on surfaces, and complicate everything.
Games with Many Small Tokens
Tokens escape. Constantly. Leave them home.
Games Requiring Flat Surfaces
If it needs a truly flat surface, it won't work on picnic tables, laps, or car bonnets.
⚠️ Warning
Never play games with loose components in moving vehicles. Brake checks send cards everywhere. Roundabouts create component tornadoes. Motion and games don't mix.
Special Situations
Long Motorway Stretches
Verbal games only. Everyone should be able to participate without looking at anything.
Best options: Twenty Questions, Contact, Story Building
Traffic Jams
Perfect time for quick verbal rounds. Distraction from frustration.
Overnight Stops
Full gaming possible. Bring one proper game for evening entertainment at hotels/B&Bs.
Children in the Car
Age-appropriate verbal games:
- I Spy (classic for reason)
- Alphabet games
- Story building (simple version)
- Simplified Twenty Questions
Driver-Only Participation
The driver can participate in verbal games safely. Avoid anything requiring visual attention. Never ask the driver to hold cards or look at anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can passengers play card games while driving?
Yes, carefully. Keep components contained. Accept that brake checks may scatter things. Don't expect driver participation.
What about motion sickness?
Reading/looking down worsens motion sickness. Verbal games work for prone individuals. Looking forward helps—minimise looking down at cards.
Are there good apps for road trip gaming?
Yes—Heads Up!, Jackbox (at stops with WiFi), various trivia apps. But physical games create shared experiences apps don't replicate.
How do I keep young children entertained?
Variety. Alternate: verbal games, songs, audiobooks, quiet time, screen time. No single activity lasts the whole journey.
What if no one wants to play?
Accept it. Forced gaming creates resentment. Offer, don't impose. Sometimes silence is okay.
Final Thoughts
That Cornwall trip? We discovered my nephew dominates at Twenty Questions. My partner is surprisingly bad at lying in Two Truths. My mother invented stories involving increasingly absurd barnyard animals.
The games didn't make the drive shorter. But they made it memorable. And no one asked "are we there yet?" more than twice.
Pack light. Play verbal. Enjoy the journey.
The Smoothie Wars Content Team creates educational gaming content. The team has played Love Letter at 47 different UK service stations and ranks Gordano Services (M5) as surprisingly pleasant.
