Are you tired of always hearing the same chorus of “are we there yet?” every time you are on a family road trip?

Whilst a few rounds of eye-spy and nursery rhymes might cut it for road trip entertainment with your under 5’s, as your kids grow older, there are far more exciting and challenging games you can play in the car.

One of the best ways to pass the time on a family road trip is by playing trivia games.

Playing trivia games on a long drive will keep everyone in the family entertained and help improve everyone’s cognitive skills and problem-solving abilities, making you and your family mentally strong.

Having a list of trivia games and apps ready for a long car ride is one of our family road trip essentials!

All of these will help you stimulate conversations and provide hours of fun for the journey ahead.

Trivia Game Apps You Can Download

Road trip games have come a long way, won’t you agree?

If you are on a family journey, and that boredom is creeping in, it sounds like it’s time to mix things up and get the whole family involved.

With all the evolving technology has done, you now have a million games at your fingertips with your phone (and yes, some of them are offline, just in case you are headed to the mountains and out of wifi range)!

Your phone app store has a lot of games to choose from for road trip entertainment. To help you narrow it down, these are the 5 top-rated trivia games we think will be ideal for a family road trip to suit different family interests and game styles.

You can play them on your iPhone, iPad, or any Android digital device.

Here are some of the best trivia mobile apps you can download before your journey: 

1. Jeopardy! World Tour (Google Play Store | Apple App Store)

Recommend for ages 4+ (PEGI 3)

Jeopardy is one of the latest mobile apps and one of the greatest trivia games of all time. With the World Tour game, you don’t have to worry if your phone loses service as it has an offline mode.

How This Game Works

This classic game allows you to go head to head with players worldwide or in the same car. It features a multiple-choice question format with various difficulty levels.

With Jeopardy! World tour, you will be taken for a ride across the globe, testing your game show trivia in different cities, squaring off against other opponents while unlocking better prizes and rewards.

2. SongPop 2: Guess The Song Game (Google Play Store | Apple App Store)

Recommended for ages 12+(PEGI 16)

No road trip is complete without some top tunes playing in the background. With this app, you can have an online audience as you compete.

How This Game Works

This game allows you to take a musical quiz as you play online with other players worldwide. The app randomly selects songs from all musical styles, and it’s your job to guess them. Get the song right, and you score a point.

3. Popcorn Trivia (Google Play Store | Apple App Store)

Recommend for ages 12+ (PEGI 16)

Are you on a road trip with movie buffs? Then this trivia for car rides game got you! Popcorn Trivia is free to play and features a vast library of movie trivia questions from different genres.

How This Game Works

In popcorn trivia, you compete with friends by answering questions from films/ genres. You get to win with every correct answer, earning ranks and climbing from a lowly cleaning crew member to a powerful studio head!

Points you get earn bonuses that you can use on lifelines for those extra hard questions.

4. Psych! Outwit Your Friends (Google Play Store | Apple App Store)

Recommended for ages 12+ (PEGI 12)

Get psyched with this classic, fun car trivia game. Psych is a great and simple game to play online with friends.

How This Game Works

In Psych, you must come up with the craziest answers to your friends’ wacky queries or make up fake answers to real trivia questions to score. It is a fun guessing game that involves everyone on the road but the driver.

You can also connect your smartphones to play this hilarious game that swiftly makes the hours go by.

5. Trivia Crack (Google Play Store | Apple App Store)

Recommended for ages 4+ (PEGI 3)

Looking for an ideal companion while on the road with your family? Trivia crack has quizzes and games that will keep your family entertained on the journey.

How This Game Works

This fun trivia question for a car ride is adjustable for different levels. The trivia crack is meant to test your knowledge on a wide range of topics like; pop culture, history, geography, arts, science, and sports. You get to prove you are the smartest by not only answering the trivia queries but also by suggesting multiple quiz questions.

The first player to correctly answer the questions in all six categories is crowned the winner.

Road Trip Trivia Games You Can Buy

Road trip trivia games are lots of fun and the best way to pass the time on a long journey. If you don’t want to worry about network reception or want to keep your road trip screen-free, then try these are great games you can purchase in advance of your road trip and keep as part of your road trip entertainment pack:

As Amazon Associates, we earn a commission from qualifying purchases made on this page.

1. I Should Have Known That!

Does your squad think they are brainy? In this trivia, game green will tell who the master is. This trivia game will involve everyone in the car and has a contrast. Instead of members gaining points when they answer correctly, points are distracted for every incorrect answer you give.

The last person with the least deducted points wears the crown. It is a matter of time before a player goes, “ahh, I should have known!” it’s an addictively entertaining game that includes 110 cards with more than 400 hundred questions.

Recommended for ages 14+

Buy it on Amazon

2. Do You Really Know Your Family?

Do you really know your family? It is a great trivia car game that promises lots of laughter and getting to learn from each other.

This trivia game will sparkle exciting conversations as you answer questions about each other. It is also full of silly challenges that you perform together.

It’s a game that will keep everyone entertained during the road trip.

Recommended for ages 8+

Buy it on Amazon

3. Pressman Charade For Kids

Is your squad a little younger and bored to their last wits whenever you have car rides? Boredom will be a thing of the past with this excellent trivia game that involves them.

This classic game has cards that have clues with pictures ensuring your non-readers also get to be entertained. It includes three levels of play; therefore, even your elder kids will not be left out of the fun.

With this game, they will also be able to kill the muscle tension that tends to build up while traveling, including moving around as they act out clues.

Recommended for ages 4+

Buy it on Amazon

4. Family Feud Trivia Box Card Game

This trivia box version will ensure time flies; you have reached your destination before you all know it. With this spin master game, you can play the popular tv show in real life!

It includes 203 game cards with instructions and toys, i.e., stop light, sound electronic, game answer buzzer, and a countdown timer.

Recommended for ages 8+

Buy it on Amazon

5. Spin Master Hedbanz Picture Guessing Board Game

The picture-guessing board game is a fun road trip question game that will engage the whole family and elicit lots of excitement. When it’s your turn to play, you have to flip over the timer and start asking yes/no queries to figure out the card shown in your headband.

It includes 13 scoring badges, three sample question cards, six headbands, 69 picture cards, a one-timer, and instructions.

Recommended for ages 6+

Buy it on Amazon

Use Your Imagination: DIY Trivia Games For Road Trips

So you’ve got no internet and no games with you? Fear not; there are still loads of imaginative trivia games you can play with no props or prompts.

We have researched and compiled a list of 10 road trip trivia games you can play with the kids to ensure the car adventure seems like a breeze.

1. Would You Rather?

Here’s a kid-friendly exercise that can be an absolute blast with the adults involved. It’s a game that requires car ride trivia questions that you can either take turns answering or direct the query to one person.

Each question must follow the “would you rather format”, ensuring that the question presents a severe dilemma – real-life or utterly absurd and imaginary. With this ultimate either-or-question game, you learn more about each other.

You can find a great set of “would you rather?” questions perfect for kids of all ages to download here.

2. Name The Artist

The first person to name the artist when a song gets played on the radio earns a point.

You will need a great playlist that will probably serve a significant portion of the journey. The person with the most points at arrival is the winner.

3. The Bad Movie Plot

Do you all love movies? Then this game will make the long car ride bearable.

In this game, the host thinks of a movie and describes it in the worst way possible. The first person to guess the film correctly becomes the host.

4. Two Truths And A Lie

Two Truths and a Lie is a classic road trip trivia question that is always entertaining and a great game to get to know your family members. One passenger starts off the game by giving three statements. In the statements, two are true, while one is a lie. Everyone tries to determine which information is wrong, and the first to get it wins.

5. Spelling Bee

Who doesn’t want to prove that they are the best at spelling? Not me! With this game, you get to set a timer for the one assigned to spell. There is a host who gives out the words and starts off the timer.

The best part of the spelling bee game is that all ages can be involved as the host switches from hard to easy spelling words.

6. 21 Questions

21 Questions is a classic game everyone on the road will surely enjoy. It is a game of deduction that requires the other passengers to guess the place, thing, or person the host player is thinking of. The guessing has a maximum of 21 questions to determine the answer correctly.

As the rest of the players ask up to 21 questions to determine what the host player thinks of, the host responds with a simple yes/no to each question.

The one who guesses correctly within the 21 questions becomes the host.

7. The Movie Game

Most families have movie nights; bring all that “action” to your road trip to kill the boredom. The movie game will offer tons of fun for your movie-loving squad.

In this game, members will take turns naming movies and their actors until one of the participants is stumped.

The first assigned player starts the game by naming a movie, the next in line must name an actor in the film, and the next player must name another movie in which the named actor also stars.

This continues until one who can’t think of an actor or movie is eliminated. The last player standing is the winner.

8. Category ABC

Category ABC is a straightforward game for car rides that will entertain your little ones. You have to choose a player that will start off the game. The first player must select a category and name something that begins with the letter A.

The following person in line also does the same. Only their answer should begin with the letter B. The next person is in charge of letter C, and this goes on. For example, if the category were “food,” it would be Apricot, banana, cake, and so on.

9. Fortunately, Unfortunately

Looking for a game that requires imagination and will involve the young ones too? Fortunately, unfortunately, will do just that! It is a fun and easy game that requires crazy and imaginative minds.

The first player makes a statement that has to begin with the word “fortunately.” The next player must follow that statement with a statement starting with “unfortunately.” This goes on becoming crazy until there’s a member who cannot come up with a statement.

10. The Name Game

Pick your category and see how long you can keep naming things or places until you run out of ideas! The next word must begin with the last letter of the word before, without any repeats.

For example, you could choose animals; person one says “Cat”, person two says “Tiger, Person three says “Rabbit” – person four cannot say Tiger, or they’re out; the game keeps going until no one can think of a new word.

If you’ve exhausted animals, try countries, cities, actors, band names, the list goes on!

We hope you’ve found something here that will kill some hours on the road and keep your brains stimulated and perhaps get to know your friends and family you’re traveling with a little better!

Don’t forget we’ve got a huge list of road trip toy ideas over here too, and our selection of the best podcasts for family road trips – great for listening to as a family or on individual listening devices.

What are your favorite trivia games for the car? We’d love to hear your suggestions too.

Don’t miss all our favorite road trip apps over here
Love a good story? These are our family-friendly audiobook picks for road trip entertainment
Teens in the car? Here are all our suggestions for keeping teens engaged on long road trips
And for your younger ones, don’t miss our complete guide to the best road trip toys for toddlers

© Family Road Trip 2026

The post Awesome Road Trip Trivia Games appeared first on Family Road Trip.

Taking a family road trip soon? Nobody, not even an adult, can sit in a car for hours on end without SOMETHING fun to do!

Whilst we have dozens of hot tips for road tripping with kids, simply nothing (other than maybe a good supply of snacks!) will help you through long-distance driving quite like a great selection of travel toys for the car.

The best toys for car trips are ideally:

• Fairly quiet (i.e. won’t distract the driver!)
• Do not have small parts which can be easily lost (or swallowed)
• Can easily attach to the car seat (if you are traveling with a baby or toddler)

Electronics such as small tablets, smartphones, or portable DVD players can play a part in your road trip entertainment arsenal, but there are plenty more boredom busters you can pack on your next family road trip that don’t require batteries!.

We have rounded up for you here a selection of the most fun toys for road trips, broken up into age groups so no matter what age your child is, there is something on the list for them!

As Amazon Associates, we earn a commission from qualifying purchases made on this page.

Classic Baby and Infant Toys For Car Trips

Babies and infants need surprisingly simple toys to keep them occupied during long car journeys. In fact, from traveling with a newborn through to those toddler years, all they really want is YOU! But when having an adult seated with the baby in the back doesn’t work, try these simple, engaging car toys for babies.

Toe Time Infant Car Seat Toy

Car seat toys make the perfect travel toys for babies. You can hang them on the back of the seat, and they can play with the soft toys attached to the mat. The great part is, they can’t drop them!

Buy it on Amazon

Funky Toy Keys

As you take your road trip, letting the baby play with your real keys isn’t a safe option, but you can give them their own playset of keys. The set has 4 car sounds that come from the purple remote and realistic keys for them to play with.

Buy it on Amazon

My First Road Trip Book

An 8-page soft book for babies, this soft activity book from Melissa & Doug will let your little one enjoy the colors and shapes in the book. It’s also great for toddlers, so the book will work for both young and older babies for hours of travel entertainment.

Buy it on Amazon

Winkel Rattle & Sensory Teether Toy

Made for tiny hands, this little teether toy is soft and shaped like a maze. Your little one will be mesmerized as they play with the teether and look at the colors of the tubes; it’s always been one of our favorite travel toys.

Buy it on Amazon

Plush Elephant Music Toy

This cute little elephant is not just cuddly, it lights up and plays music, making it a great toy for babies and younger children and will entertain them as they ride along during a long road trip.

Buy it on Amazon

Hanging Rattles Toy

Attach these rattles to a crib, car seat, or stroller so that your little one can have fun on the go; these are one of the best baby toys for the car.

You can easily transfer this toy to all three so you can take it wherever you go on your family road trip.

Buy it on Amazon

Teething Rattles

This fun set of silicone teething rattles makes for one of the best travel toys for infants, keeping them entertained and comforted throughout the trip.

The teethers are made of non-toxic material and have smooth polished edges for safety. Lots of pieces, so if one does get lost or dropped, you’ll always have a backup!

Buy it on Amazon

Cloth Books

A fun and educational soft toy for ages 3 months and up, these cloth books are soft in touch and make the crinkle paper sound that babies love.

Your baby can chew, crinkle, and play with the colorful books as you travel, with handy clips for attaching to car seats and strollers.

Buy it on Amazon

Pink Glo Worm Stuffed Lullaby Toy

This cute little pink glo worm will sing soothing melodies to your little one as you travel. When his belly is pushed, the glo worm’s face lights up and will sing gentle lullabies, ideal if you need to rock your baby off to sleep in their car seat while you’re on the move.

Buy it on Amazon

Soft Silicone Teething Toys

Another teething toy set that’s perfect for road trips, these silicone toys are shaped like tools. They also attach to a clip so that you can keep them close no matter where you go.

Buy it on Amazon

You can find even more inspiration for baby car toys over here

Top Tip: If your baby’s toys don’t come with a clip, you can still buy these toy teethers to easily attach them to your infant car seat and stop the dropping game once and for all!

Best Road Trip Toys For Toddlers

Your toddler is ready for some more interactive games and activities in the car, but they still need to be safe for your tot to handle unsupervised while your eyes are on the road. All of these road trip toys make great interactive and sensory distractions for toddlers on long drives:

Busy Board Toddler Backpack

Your toddler will love playing and manipulating each and every aspect of this fun toddler busy board backpack.

What’s great is they can even fit a few of their other favorite toys inside too for their very own travel bag.

Buy it on Amazon

Squishy Drawing Pad

Filled with sensory beads and non-toxic gel, this drawing pad will allow your young toddlers to make an endless number of creations throughout the trip with just the touch of a finger, no other tools required.

Buy it on Amazon

Search and Find Game

While your toddler is enjoying the ride, keep them busy with this fun search-and-find game. The double-sided activity mats will keep your older toddler entertained for hours.

Buy it on Amazon

LCD Writing Tablet

Your toddler can use a fun doodle pad board (aka sketch board) throughout the trip to draw and engage in imaginative play, perfect for small hands gaining dexterity.

Buy it on Amazon

Popit Fidget

Fidget toys are perfect as toddler travel toys, keeping little hands entertained. Such a simple game, they come in lots of fun shapes and colors, and they take up very little packing space.

Buy it on Amazon

Wooden Activity Cube

This small wooden activity cube will help keep your toddler’s hands busy for hours. They can move the different pieces and work on various motor skills with the toy.

Buy it on Amazon

Smart Teddy

Take this interactive smart teddy with you on your road trip to keep your toddler entertained. The app on your phone can control what’s on the teddy and the kids will have fun listening to stories and other learning activities.

Buy it on Amazon

Reusable Sticker Pad

Stickers are always a winner with little kids. Your toddler will love giving the farm animals different faces as they play with this reusable sticker book. The pad contains 10 different farm scenes and 76 reusable cling-style stickers to make the face.

Buy it on Amazon

Magnetic Maze Puzzle Game

As you are traveling in the car, your toddler can have fun trying to move the ball in the maze with the attached magnetic pen. It has a colorful sea theme to it which will make it easier to hold their attention throughout the trip and an easy carry handle.

Buy it on Amazon

Buckle Pillow Toy

This cute owl pillow is not only soft and cuddly, but turns him around, and there are several different activities your toddler can play with on your family road trip.

Your toddler will be able to snap, button, and buckle the different items on the pillow, making this buckle toy perfect for problem solving and cognitive skills.

Buy it on Amazon

You’ll find even more road trip toy ideas for toddlers over here

Best Road Trip Toys for Preschoolers

Your preschoolers will have more dexterity, and toys can hold their attention span for longer periods of time.

We’d recommend on a long journey you also invest in a car seat travel tray so that your child has a comfortable play space with a play surface they can spread all their toys out on, and handy pockets to stop items rolling away.

Disney Eye Found It Card Game

As they explore the different Disney scenes when trying to find the character and scene images, your preschooler will not only be working on hand-eye coordination but also counting on the road trip. The perfect educational preschooler toy to pack for a road trip.

Buy it on Amazon

Preschool Busy Book

This busy book is perfect for entertaining your little one throughout the car ride. It’s a sturdy book, so you can easily take it in the car, and your preschooler will have fun working on the activities while honing their fine motor skills using the erasable marker pens.

Buy it on Amazon

Fire HD Tablet

You can’t go wrong with a tablet when it comes to traveling in the car! So much can be done on the tablet and your little one will love watching shows, playing games, and more. Just make sure you’ve downloaded what you need before setting off in case you don’t have wifi!

Buy it on Amazon

Color Wonder Mess Free Coloring Pages

A coloring book with a difference! Available in a variety of different designs, as you travel in the car, your little artist can color the sheets of paper without you having to worry about a mess.

Each kit contains 18 Blippi coloring sheets and five magic markers.

Buy it on Amazon

Go Fish Alphabet Card Game

Go Fish is a fun game for any age, and this set helps your preschooler learn the letters of the alphabet, both capitalized and lowercase.

Card games are great travel toys that your younger children can also play with older siblings, helping them out.

Buy it on Amazon

Town Maze Magnetic Puzzle

Need an activity your child can really focus on? Your preschooler will have great fun trying to get the colored balls in the matching garage with the magnetic pen. This is a great option if you’re seeking a more challenging STEM toy for car travel or anywhere you’re heading on vacation.

Buy it on Amazon

Dot to Dot Workbook

A quiet but fun road trip activity your preschooler can do throughout the ride, this dot-to-dot workbook is fun and educational.

Ideal for the 3 to 5-year-old age group where critical thinking is involved, and they have a fun coloring page to complete, too once the dot-to-dot is complete.

Buy it on Amazon

Travel Memory Game

Seven double-sided cards are included in this memory game. Each card has different images so your preschooler can stay entertained throughout the trip. An ideal car game if you have siblings who want to play along together.

Buy it on Amazon

EZDesk Travel Activity Kit

Full of fun activities your preschooler can do while in the car, this activity kit will have them coloring and designing a variety of different things.

With it’s own carry case and handle its the ideal travel toy than can come from car to roadside stop.

Buy it on Amazon

Travel Tangram Puzzle

Mix, match, and style the different pieces in this fun travel tangram puzzle.

This is a fun travel game, and it allows children to get creative with shapes, ideal for the older preschooler with magnetic pieces that (shouldn’t!) get lost!

Buy it on Amazon

Best Road Trip Toys for Elementary School Age Kids

A wonderful age for road-tripping with kids – though you’ll need plenty of ideas to stave off the chorus of “are we there yet”. Try these wonderful travel toys and educational games, perfect for your slightly older kids on your next family road trip:

Handheld Game Set

This small little game system is a powerful little portable machine that has 100 preloaded classic retro games to play. If you don’t want the expense or arguments of a full-size tablet, this is a wonderful hand-held compromise.

Buy it on Amazon

Fashion Design Sketch Portfolio

If your child loves fashion and creating their own style, they will love this fun fashion sketch pad with stencils and stickers. It comes in plenty of different designs from clothing to bedroom design or even design your own unicorns.

Buy it on Amazon

Flashing Cube Memory Game

Even though your child is stuck in the car throughout the road trip, doesn’t mean they can’t have fun! This flashing cube has 4 quick-fingered games that they can learn to master on the ride.

Buy it on Amazon

Nintendo Switch Lite

A fun game system for on-the-go, the Nintendo Switch Lite is a popular road trip accessory. On the go, they can play their favorite games as they wait to get to their destination, in a small and lightweight unit (don’t forget a storage case too!)

Buy it on Amazon

Secret Decoder Activity Set

Kids will love cracking the codes by uncovering hidden clues and secret messages throughout the pages. It’s also a fun way to encourage problem-solving and critical thinking, bound to keep them occupied for many hours while you’re on the road.

Buy it on Amazon

Scratch Paper Art

The magic rainbow scratch-off paper kits are fun for kids of all ages, but they work best for your elementary-aged child.

This kit has everything you need for hours of fun, including 50 pieces of scratch paper and 4 stencils to follow, or create your own colorful designs.

Buy it on Amazon

Wax Craft Sticks

Get creative in the car by designing some cool things with wax. This fun set is perfect for road trips and will allow your child to get creative with their hands, even on the go.

No sticky mess, you get over 300 sticks in a set of different lengths so the only limit is your child’s imagination!

Buy it on Amazon

Travel Board Tic Tac Toe and Checkers

This set is perfect for traveling with friends or siblings. The magnetic game board will let your children play checkers and tic tac toe throughout the car ride. Super simple family games that never go out of fashion!

Buy it on Amazon

Colorful Tangram Jigsaw Puzzle

While on the road, children can have fun with this challenging jigsaw game puzzle. The 40-piece game set will keep them busy for hours as they put together the puzzle.

Designed with road trips in mind, they include clues for everything you will likely encounter on your family road trip!

Buy it on Amazon

Travel Scavenger Hunt Card Game

Scavenger hunt games are always fun for kids and this card pack will keep them entertained as they search for the objects found on the cards.

Buy it on Amazon

Best Road Trip Toys For Tweens and Teens

Don’t want your older kids simply plugged in for hours on end? Plenty of fun and creative road trip toy ideas are perfect for all those family members 10 years+ who still need busy hands and minds.

Flipslide Handheld Game

Flip, slide, and match the cubes as you are timed with this travel game. The game has 4 game modes, each with a different level of challenge, perfect for passing the time on car rides.

Buy it on Amazon

Triangle Peg Games

Remember the wooden strategy game we played at some of our favorite restaurants?

These pegboards can be taken anywhere so that your tweens and teens can play anywhere they go. Great for strategizing and stretching the mind.

Buy it on Amazon

Nintendo Switch

A Nintendo Switch can be a lifesaver when it comes to killing time while your tween or teen is traveling in the car.

They can use the same game system they use at home with portable remote controls that simply clip in to have some fun on their road trip adventure. Don’t forget a carry case to keep their console and game chips safe.

Buy it on Amazon

Travel Blurt Game

This is a game that siblings can play together, or you can get the whole family involved during the road trip. It’s hilarious and fun to see what kinds of things will be blurted out.

Buy it on Amazon

Handheld Magnetic Word Game

A travel edition of our favorite word game. Magnetic toys always make a good road trip toy. This set even includes a travel storage pouch to carry it anywhere. A great brain teaser toy for your tweens and teens looking for road trip activities that engage the brain.

Buy it on Amazon

Boredom Buster Activity Pack

This activity book for teens has 180 different brain games and puzzles they can do while in the car. Each brain game is challenging but fun and pitched at your older child.

Buy it on Amazon

The Ultimate Magnetic Puzzle Game

Nothing beats the feeling you get when you solve a challenging puzzle. This magnetic puzzle game is an impressive game that can be played in the car for some challenging fun.

Buy it on Amazon

Fast Sling Puck Game

This fast-sling puck game is a portable hockey game that fits on the table while you are taking a break at a roadside stop. Depending on the room you have in the car, it might be able to fit on their lap while in the car.

Buy it on Amazon

Magnetic Board Game Pack

This pack includes 12 different retro fun games that your tween or teen can take on any family vacation. It’s great for elementary-aged children as well, but we like it more for tweens.

Buy it on Amazon

World’s Largest Word Search Book

If your child enjoys doing word search puzzles, they will love working on this activity book while on a road trip.

With over 1,000 puzzles, your teen or tween will have plenty of puzzles to help them pass the miles.

Buy it on Amazon

We hope you’ve managed to find something in this road trip toy selection to suit every member of your family.

Other Ways To Pass Time In The Car

In addition to all the incredible games we’ve covered in this guide (yes, over 50 road trip toy ideas!) you may also want to prepare for your next family trip:

• Download some audiobooks that all the family can listen to together or a podcast series suitable to your age group.

• Family singalong. I know, I know, the 17,000th rendition of their favorite nursery rhyme might be driving you around the bend, but little kids love nothing more than mom and dad joining in. Change the words, and sing in a funny voice; it’s bound to get some giggles from the back. (Psst, there’s quite possibly an age limit on this one though, you don’t want your tweens and teens disowning you at the next roadside stop)

• Easy word games. You don’t need a fancy toy to keep the kids entertained all the time. Plenty of imaginative games in the car can be played verbally without any props. Try “would you rather” questions, alphabet listing games, or good old I-spy!

• Older kids can easily engage in road trip trivia games – from quizzes to conversation starters, easy apps you can download, or DIY games you can make up as you go.

What are your go-to toys and games for a family road trip?

© Family Road Trip 2026

The post 50+ Unbeatable Road Trip Toys For Long Car Journeys appeared first on Family Road Trip.

Whether it’s just around the block to get the milk or taking on a much longer family road trip with your tot, keeping your baby entertained in the back of the car while you drive is essential.

We have traveled by car extensively with our three kids and had easy-going through to incredibly rambunctious and difficult-to-please babies along the way!

There are important safety considerations to take into account, too, when you are giving a baby a toy that you cannot directly supervise – so look out for our top toy-choosing tips below!

Here are the baby road trip toys we love best – we hope they’ll help you get through those baby road trip years!

Got slightly older kids? Head over to the best road trip toys for toddlers

As Amazon Associates, we earn a commission from qualifying purchases made on this page.

Best Baby Toys for the Car

BeeSpring Hanging Rattles Spiral Car Seat Toy

We recommend hanging toys for babies in the car if your infant is very young. The spiral design of the BeeSpring Hanging Rattle allows you to easily take it on and off without your bub being able to pull it down. Several eye-catching toys also dangle down within easy tugging distance for engaging play on the go.

Buy it on Amazon

Fat Brain Toys Original Dimpl

The Yowell Sensory Silicone Toy has been one of our favorite infant car seat toys because it’s so simple yet provides hours of entertainment. Even my older children love to play with it! The frame contains five different sizes of silicone bubbles that push in and out. The whole toy is BPA-free and non-toxic, so your baby can gum it as much as he likes.

Buy it on Amazon

LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book

Older babies will enjoy this educational words book from LeapFrog, even if it’s only for the joy of being able to turn the pages and hear the sounds. Each page has a different word category, and when your baby touches the words, the book reads them aloud and plays music.

Buy it on Amazon

Manhattan Toy Winkel Rattle & Sensory Teether Toy

This sensory car toy packs a lot of entertainment value in a compact size. It’s perfect for when your bub is teething, as you can pop it in the fridge before traveling to provide soothing relief to sore gums. In addition, an interior rattle is loud enough to entertain your baby without distracting the driver.

Buy it on Amazon

BEST LEARNING My Spin & Learn Steering Wheel

The Spin & Learn Steering Wheel is one of the best baby toys for the car because it’s both interactive and educational to help your baby’s cognitive development. Once your bub is old enough to be able to grasp toys firmly, they’ll love “driving” along with you or learning about colors, shapes, and emotions. Since it is a hard toy, I recommend these silicone toy safety straps to prevent any unwanted drops.

Buy it on Amazon

Battat Combo Set – Light & Sound Phone + Keys

Although we could never fool our children into believing their toy keys and phones were the real deal, they still loved and played with them. The Battat car keys and cell phone make realistic sounds at a reasonable volume, and their chunky design makes them easy to grasp.

Buy it on Amazon

Baby Einstein Glow & Discover Light Bar Activity Station

Great minds start little. Colors, animals, lights and melodies are right at a baby’s fingertips during tummy time or sitting play. Toy bar lights up when baby touches the colorful sections or spins the rattle drum. Stimulate a baby’s sense of sound with three different modes including animal sounds, colors, and xylophone sounds. There are 3 language option settings for hours of engaging play.

Buy it on Amazon

Buckle Toys: Mini Buster Square

The cuddly and colorful Mini Buster is perfect for older babies who are developing their fine motor skills. The travel-sized buckle toy displays both numbers and shakes and has several brightly colored buckles to help your bub learn problem-solving skills as well. We love that it’s small enough to take anywhere and provides hours of engaging play.

Buy it on Amazon

Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Pull-Back Vehicle Set

Usually, we wouldn’t suggest giving your baby toy cars to play with in the car because they’ll more than likely get chucked against the window. However, these K’s Kids vehicles are soft enough to prevent damage, and your older baby can play with them during stops along the way. In addition, the colorful pull-back vehicles are suitable for babies nine months and up and help them work on several developmental skills.

Buy it on Amazon

Bright Starts Oball Rattle & Roll Sports Race Car Toy

We love the flexible, baby-friendly design of this Rattle and Roll Race Car. The webbed design of the cab makes this baby car toy easy for your bub to grab and hold on to. The tires are filled with beads, so the race car doubles as a rattle for added entertainment value. 

Buy it on Amazon

Infantino Hug and Tug Musical Bug

The adorable Infantino Hug and Tug musical bug is an ideal hanging toy for babies, and you can take it with you wherever you go. Your baby can pull down on the bug to hear stimulating music, and the bug also moves and offers several simple activities. Additionally, the songs only play for 90 seconds, which is tolerable for most car rides.

Buy it on Amazon

Baby Soft Hanging Rattle Toys 

These hanging baby toys are jam-packed with eye-catching colours and patterns to instantly captivate your baby whilst riding in their car seat. The washable rattle toys have built-in jingles so that you’re not stuck listening to endless rounds of the same songs, and they also crinkle when squeezed to encourage hearing and touch.

Buy it on Amazon

BENBAT Double Sided Car Seat Activity Arch 

Babies love to move and groove in their car seats, which is why this Penguin Play and Kick car toy is a perfect travelling companion. The soft kick mat is gentle on your bub’s feet as they move their legs, and the toy itself is compatible with both rear-and-front-facing car seats. You can also adjust the height of the mat with simple Velcro straps.

Buy it on Amazon

Manhattan Links to Go Car Seat Set

These simple ring link toys are ideal in-car toys for babies, especially because you can use them in many different ways. For example, connect several links to go across your child’s car seat or create hanging chains for your bub to tug on. They’re easy to clean and store, and you can attach them to strollers, cribs, or anywhere your baby needs some added entertainment.

Buy it on Amazon

VTech Peek & Play Baby Book Toy

The plush and oh-so-cute Peek and Play Baby Book is a favorite infant car seat toy because there are so many interactive features for your baby. The pages are filled with fabric lift-the-flaps, and there are also buttons and crinkly features as well. You can connect the book to your baby’s car seat so they’ll always have it within reach, and it has over 50 different songs and sounds that play with the push of a button.

Buy it on Amazon

---

Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Take-Along Shape Sorter

Although we suggest that most baby toys for the car don’t have many separate parts, we couldn’t resist adding the Melissa & Doug Shape Sorter, especially since it’s so versatile. You could prevent a potentially messy situation by setting this on a car seat travel tray for your older baby to play on. The soft case has two different activity sides so that your bub can see what’s under the crinkle flaps or work on shape sorting.

Buy it on Amazon

---

Manhattan Toy Baby Whoozit Activity Toy

Your baby will instantly fall in love with the goofy features of the Whoozit, a cute and cuddly baby car toy that engages multiple senses and offers hours of grasping, pulling, and hugging. Each of the Whoozit’s arms crinkles, rattles, or squeaks, so your baby will constantly be surprised. The big red nose also lifts up to reveal a surprise mirror.

Buy it on Amazon

---

Crinkle Cloth Books for Babies

We love the 3D design of this soft cloth activity book with baby’s first words. The washable pages are filled with various textures and designs, so your baby can find a new feature with each turn. You can also securely attach the book to a seatbelt or car seat handle to prevent it from getting misplaced.

Buy it on Amazon

---

Infantino Big Top Discovery Cube Development Toy

The best baby car seat toys are ones that encourage your baby to develop different skills, which is why the Infantino Discovery Cube is an ideal choice. This squeezable square contains a soft toy ball inside, which helps babies work on their problem-solving skills to find it. A clacker ring and mirror are also attached for additional play opportunities.

Buy it on Amazon

Important Safety Features for Baby Car Toys

As you’re looking for the best baby toys for the car, make sure you keep a few safety features in mind. Whilst most toy manufacturers follow strict guidelines when it comes to child safety, it’s always smart to double-check before setting out on the road.

Avoid Toys With Small Parts

We all know how babies love to put EVERYTHING in their mouths! And if your bub’s not covering his toys in drool, he’s throwing them everywhere. So make sure all baby car toys are constructed well so that a few hits against the car window won’t dislodge any parts. Also, avoid toys with small removable pieces your bub can choke on.

Softer Toys are Best

One of the most nerve-wracking things for parents is hearing toys constantly being banged against the car window. It certainly competes for your attention, which is never a good thing while driving! Plush car seat toys for babies are a smart move, and they’ll also relieve your fears that your bub will bite down on sharp edges.

No Long Ropes or Strings

Have you ever looked away for 10 seconds, only to turn around and see one of your children wrapped up like Houdini in your bathrobe tie? Somehow little ones get themselves tangled in all kinds of things, so avoid baby car seat toys with loose ties and strings.

More Baby Travel Tools & Tips

• Check out all our best advice for traveling with babies and newborns by car.
• Traveling in the winter? Make sure your baby is warm in their car seat without overheating by layering them correctly.
• Feeding baby on the go, you might want to try these portable bottle warmers, ideal for road trips, along with our top tips for transporting pre-pumped breastmilk.

Disclosures: We are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. You can read our full terms of use and privacy policy here.

© Family Road Trip 2026

The post 20 Best Baby Toys For The Car – Ideal For Road Trips appeared first on Family Road Trip.

Heading out on a long road trip with your toddler soon? Or heck, even an hour-long journey down the road can feel like a million miles when there’s a little one in the back crying out for your attention AND to be entertained.

Before you embark on a long car journey with a toddler, you need to check out this guide to the most appropriate toys for toddlers in the car.

What Makes a Great Road Trip Toy for a Toddler?

Toddlers really are a tricky bunch to travel with. This age and stage really brings back the best and worst of all our family vacation memories for us!

The memories are undoubtedly beautiful, and we wouldn’t change those moments for the world. However, don’t be mistaken; traveling with a toddler takes careful planning.

Whilst yes, we do recommend you pack toys for a toddler, you don’t need to go overboard – there’s only so much room in your diaper bag! And at the end of the day, all your toddler really wants is YOU!

Before we dive into our list of the best travel toys, make sure any car travel toys you buy for toddlers:

1. Are safe for your toddler to play with without direct supervision (particularly if you cannot directly reach your infant in the car).
2. Not too small, so no risk of being swallowed or disappearing off between car seats.
3. Won’t distract the driver – we’re talking those horribly noisy ones – or even worse, a tablet being played at full pelt and no headphones!!

On this toddler toy list, we have deliberately ignored electronics. Yes, in theory, you could start introducing a small kids tablet at this age or passing them your device to get them through a tough moment.

But there are still so many other wonderful and engaging toys for this age group, you really don’t need to resort to electronics and screen time just yet (car toys for big kids, though, we’d definitely consider this!)

As Amazon Associates, we earn a commission from qualifying purchases made on this page.

Our Top 15 Favorite Toddler Toys for Road Trips

We’ve selected here 15 great travel toys that have been tried and tested with our teams’ toddlers, and we are happy to recommend them as the perfect toddler travel toys for long road trips.

1. Manhattan Toy Soft Activity Book

Soft Activity Books have hands down been one of our favorite travel toys over the years. Children can independently explore with a variety of different scenes to choose from.

A great option in the car as all the parts attach to the book, so there is no need to fear missing parts, and you can even teether the book to their infant car seat so it doesn’t fall down. And no problem if it ends up in their mouth as it’s machine washable.

Buy it on Amazon

---

2. Buckle Toy – Buster Square

Buckle Toy Buster is another of our all-time favorite toddler road trip toys. Buster is a small soft, foldable lovie, ideal as a toddler toy for family road trips. There are six different clasps and buckles, allowing for several different activities that can be undertaken independently and help your tot with those fine motor skills.

Buster now has some beautiful colored friends too, like the Pink Bella, and Bright Yellow Bongo. You’ll be pleased to know they are easily machine washable too!

Buy it on Amazon

3. Learn to Dress Kitty

For a toddler that loves a huggable lovie, Learn to Dress Kitty is a wonderful, cuddly plush toy with 11 different activities for small hands.

From ties to zips and buttons, they are a guaranteed car seat entertainer without any small parts to go missing, making them the perfect road trip toy for a toddler that loves imaginative play.

Buy it on Amazon

4. Billy Bear Busy Board Toddler Backpack

One of the best toddler travel toys, Billy Backpack Bear (from the same makers as Buckle Buster) is a great way for your toddlers to store a few of their small possessions with them on your next road trip.

As a toddler backpack, it’s small and light (13″ x 8″) with the added bonus of plenty of fine motor fun, plus, Billy has his own belly clock – perfect for answering that question, “are we there yet!”

Buy it on Amazon

5. Crinkle Baby Books

Crinkle Baby Books are perfect travel toys for younger children in the car, as they come with lots of added extras, including sensory touches that are soft, chewable, and satisfyingly crinkly!

They’re still super light and come in different designs, so an easy inclusion to keep one or two of these in your luggage, and yes, machine washable!

Buy it on Amazon

6. Montessori Quiet Book for Toddlers

Quiet Books are another great road trip toy for toddlers without parts that can go missing, everything your toddler needs is sewn into this soft activity book.

Plenty of bright colors and engaging activities, from zips to snapping and tying. It even comes with it’s own machine washing bag, so small parts don’t get damaged in the wash.

Buy it on Amazon

7. Magnetic Drawing Board

As your toddler’s dexterity improves, we love introducing a Magna Doodle Magnetic drawing board. We’re starting to get a little chunkier now than the soft toys, so keep it to toddler lap size and watch the appropriate age group.

The pens on Magna Doodle products normally attach, but the stamps and other attachments may not!

Buy it on Amazon

8. Alphabet Water Cards

Alphabet Water Painting is such a great travel toy for toddlers. They are super easy to fit in your bag, and far less messy than normal paint or coloring pens. You only need a few drops of water, and your little artist is ready to go.

We love that the Alphabet water cards come clipped together, so the parts don’t go missing, making them the perfect toddler toy for the car. You can also get these water painting cards and numbers.

Buy it on Amazon

9. Hide & Seek Alphabet Pop-Up

This Hide-And-Seek Alphabet Pop-Up has 50 shapes, colors, and letter push flaps for interactive activities.

Made with sturdy BPA-free plastic, it’s again getting on the larger chunkier side for small children but guaranteed hours of self-guided fun to suit your toddler’s attention span.

With its own carry handle, your little one can take it everywhere with them on your road trip.

Buy it on Amazon

10. Take Along Shape Sorter

This classic Take Along Shape Sorter toy by Melissa & Doug in a soft version with a handle can be a great entertainer for little kids in the car.

A chance to work on their fine motor skills and problem-solving skills as they play with the different shapes; it does have the issue that it comes with parts that can become detached. However, they are fairly chunky and easy to find if they do go missing in the car; it’s still one of the best toys for travel.

Buy it on Amazon

11. Window Stickers

Keeping little fingers busy on the go, these reusable cling-on farm animal window stickers are great to help younger children pass the time.

Unlike sticker books, where the fun goes as soon as the sticker is in place, the best part is these reusable gel cling-ons can be used over and over! In the car or in your hotel room, window stickers make a great travel toy for young children.

(NB suitable for older toddlers/preschoolers due to the risk they will put them in their mouth!)

Buy it on Amazon

12. Magnetic Busy Book 

If you’d rather not see stickers all over your car, the next best thing is magnets! Again, you’ll want this for your slightly older toddler, who is not prone to putting everything in their mouth!

With an easy carrying case handle, this Magnetic Busy Board is the perfect car toy for the toddler stage that can come into restaurants and roadside stops with them to keep hands and minds busy creating their own activity scene and independent play.

Buy it on Amazon

13. Montessori Busy Books for Toddlers

Take-along busy boards for toddlers are the ideal toy for a long car ride or long flights where you want to keep your little one engaged for extended periods.

With 72 different learning accessories in one kid-proof case, this is a great travel toy for the 1 to 4-year-old age group. Your young kids can be happily working on fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination while you’re passing the miles.

Buy it on Amazon

14. Suction Cup Spinnerz

These creative little spinner fidget toys are a fabulous addition to your toddler’s carry-on bag. They can be used on any flat surface such as the car window – or on a travel tray to keep hands busy.

Fun, colorful and available in a multitude of different character shapes, these are always a good choice for long trips. The perfect size, you can also slip them in your day pack bag to pull out when some distraction is needed!

Buy it on Amazon

15. Car Seat Toddler Travel Tray

As your little one starts to grow, it’s a good idea to level up their car play space!

A Car Seat Travel Tray works great for your older kids who are moving on to the next stage of travel toys, where some of the best toys include coloring books and higher concentration level games that need a flat surface.

Look for features such as built-in water bottle holders and a handy carry strap when choosing a car travel tray for your toddler.

Buy it on Amazon

More Road Trip Activities for Toddlers

Whilst toys that engage your little one will most definitely help, remember the most important thing your little one wants is YOU!

Now we know driving the car from the back seat really isn’t practical, but here are a few more ideas on how to engage your toddlers on long road trips, even if you’re the driver:

Songs – a singalong in the car to their favorite nursery rhyme is bound to put a smile on your little one’s face. Allow yourself to have fun and be goofy! Mis-singing their favorites and add your own words (maybe about your destination) always gives our toddlers a giggle

Imagination games – I’ll admit I’ve always found this one tough; I simply think I was born without this creative bone! But you can do it!!! Once you get started your little ones will help keep the creativity flowing. Start with a sensible story, then each of you has to add a silly twist.

Audiobooks – When you’re all done with the talking, a great way to pass the hours on a long car journey. A wonderful non-toy gift you can suggest to family & friends is to give something like Audible a try.  They have a great range of kids’ storybooks to choose from – as well as adults; a few you could try:

• Amazing Animal Adventures (suitable for 2 to 5-year-olds)
• Llama Llama Red Pajama (a really cute collection of 20 stories from Anna Dewdney)
• Beatrix Potter: The Complete Tales (great introduction to these classic childhood characters, the older ones can read along with Kindle Book)

Snacks – We cannot emphasize enough how important snacks are for a long journey – they are half the event in themselves, never mind what’s happening out the window! Do take care with toddlers, though; if they are in the back unaided, it may be sensible to pull over for snack stops, a good chance for you to all stretch your legs.

Got children in different age groups? You may also want to check out next:

• Top Tips for Road Trips With Newborns – things you’ll want to know before setting out on your very first family drive

• Fun Road Trip Toys And Entertainment For Babies – younger infants need only simply sensory toys for the car

• Road Trip Essentials With Kids – We never leave home without these items in our car.

• Entertaining Teens on Road Trips – a whole new level of stir-crazy can happen with teens in the car! Tips and tricks we’ve learned on the road to keep the peace.

Disclosures: We are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. You can read our full terms of use and privacy policy here.

© Family Road Trip

The post 15 Essential Road Trip Toys For Toddlers in 2026 appeared first on Family Road Trip.

Ready to hit the road but simply dreading the impending hours you’ll be stuck in the car with your little one?

Road tripping with a toddler can be a daunting task. On top of trying to maintain their normal routine, it’s not easy to entertain a little one when you’re not in easy arms reach, and they’re strapped into their car seat.

Toddlers are far more alert than babies; more vocal in their needs than older children and have wire-thin patience for sitting still and doing nothing!

Ahead of any road trip with a toddler, you need to be prepared with not just toys but interactive activities to keep your toddler entertained in a car. Toddlers have short attention spans, so having multiple activities lined up that they can quickly jump between is the best strategy.

Read on for some awesome car activities for toddlers and toys that will keep your toddler entertained.

As Amazon Associates, we earn a commission from qualifying purchases made on this page.

Car Activities For Toddlers – Perfect For Long Family Road Trips

1. Songs

Have your toddler’s favorite tunes cued up for a sing-along? Singing along to your toddler’s favorite hymns makes them happy. You can also try being goofy to spice up the song and bring that wide smile that always melts your heart in the rearview mirror.

2. Imagination Games

Most toddlers have a knack for unscripted games! Why I can not tell. You can try by starting with a “knock, knock,” and then letting them answer the door. They often come up with creative answers, and the silly twist will keep spiraling.

You can also try these excellent family road trip games – though most your tots need to be a little older to join in.

3. Audio Books

Listening to kid-friendly audiobooks is one of the best toddler road trip ideas. After everyone is tired from talking and singing along, you can all tune in and listen to your toddler’s favorite storybook.

You will need to practice patience as the storybook can be repeated a zillion times before your young one thinks of listening to the next. An example of an excellent audio storybook is Amazing Animal Adventures.

Buy it on Amazon

4. Snacks

Road trip activities for toddlers are not complete without boxes of snacks.

Snacks are what will make your car trip with toddlers bearable. They are the backbone of your road trip – they are so much more than just food! But remember that you do not need to have many sugary snacks as these will give your young one high energy levels, which you can not handle on a road trip.

With snacks, there will be a lot of spilling; you can curb this by either deciding to have snack stops where you can all stretch a bit. Or you can get your toddler a travel tray or a spill proof cup to minimize the spilling.

Another fun snack idea is making cereal strings. This is a great option if you’ll be making some early starts and need to have breakfast on the move (but be warned, it may cause crumbs!!) – they’re guaranteed to keep your toddler busy for the first leg of your trip at least!

Buy it on Amazon

5. Water Painting

Water painting will help entertain your toddler during a road trip, making it one of the best car trip activities for toddlers. Melissa & Doug Water Wow! has been a lifesaver for our tots with reusable water coloring books and a refillable water pen that stores on the cover.

You only need to put a little amount of water in a cup in your child’s cup holder on their car seat, hand them the activity pad, and let them color away their thoughts. These water paintings are mess-free, so you don’t need to worry too much about keeping the interior of your car clean.

Buy it on Amazon

6. Puzzles And Shape Sorters

Puzzles that do not include many pieces are great toddler car activities. They will keep your toddler entertained while working to improve their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Or even better, opt for shape sorter toys, Melissa & Doug have done it again with this brilliant take-along bag sorter toy, ideal for car journeys and keeping your toddler entertained at your destination.

Buy it on Amazon

7. The Color Car Game

Your toddler may be too young to play the license plate game in the car, but they are the perfect age for playing along with the color car game. In this color game, you will tell your little one to look for a specific color in other cars. You can ask them to spot the color “red.”

Anytime they see a red car, they will point it out, and you try to reach a certain number before you can switch the color. It’s a great road trip idea for toddlers.

8. Wikki Sticks

Wikki Sticks are great car activities for older toddlers that even your tweens and grown-ups will love. The imagination opportunities are endless, and they can stick to most smooth surfaces.

They come in a handy carry case for travel and scrapbooking. What’s more, they have I.D stickers to personalize the case. No more fights!

Buy it on Amazon

9. Magformers

If you’re looking for great car activities for three-year-olds, the Magformers got you! They are great STEM toys that will entertain your young one as they build the classic magic ball.

With the Magformers set, you do not have to worry about your little one dropping pieces on the car floor as they stick together, making them a great road trip toy for toddlers.

Buy it on Amazon

10. Felt Boards & Felt Books

Remember felt boards, anyone? OK. Your toddler’s imagination will come to life as they layer simple felt shapes and wiggly eyes onto a child-sized felt board. It’s a no-mess and travel-friendly toy that your toddler will love as they make up stories—a great road trip idea for toddlers as it will allow them to explore their creativity.

The other option is a take along felt book, this is ideal if you’ll also be making plenty of road side stops and need something small and light for them to take along.

Buy it on Amazon

11. Window Clings

Window Cling Stickers are another excellent car trip activity for toddlers. These window cling stickers will offer your toddler all the fun they create fun dinosaur stories, or why not try an under the sea theme if you’re heading to the beach?

For your toddlers to enjoy this fun activity as they road trip, they need to be next to the car windows (though it’s safest in the middle), so you should ensure your child lock is on, or you have an older sibling at the back while traveling.

Buy it on Amazon

12. Small Toys

If you have been road tripping with your toddler, you must have learned that the vehicle’s heavy toy trains and cars can act as unfortunate missiles to the other passengers sitting in the car. Toys are great for your toddler.

Therefore miniature toy trains like Thomas and Friends Minis and sensory fidget toys make for the perfect road trip toy. These best car activities for toddlers should not be too small as you do not want toys that choke in the car.

Buy it on Amazon

13. Pom Pom Fine Motor Activity

14. Road Trip Bingo

A road trip bingo card is a perfect road trip activity for kids. Road trip bingo is a versatile game that will allow your toddler to play repeatedly. It’s a great game involving the driver calling for relevant objects they spot.

The passengers must find the called-out object on their grid and cross it. This is repeated until one passenger crosses all the things in a row.

This can work well in a mixed-aged group as you can have easier things to spot on your toddler’s bingo card and a harder list of things to spot or more items for your pre-schoolers and grade schoolers.

Coming soon – our printable road trip bingo cards for toddlers & preschoolers!

15. License Plate Road Trip Game

Another one that’s great for your older toddler who is learning their numbers and letters. When playing the license plate road trip game, your toddler will be awarded points for spotting license plates from different countries/states. The game’s objective is to spot license plates from as many origins as possible.

The license plate coloring game will keep your toddler busy on a road trip. It involves your little one’s coloring and checking things off as they occupy their minds.

16. Tablets and Educational Apps

OK, we went there. Even if you are normally an electronics-free family at home, you may find long road trips are the ideal time to bring in some screen-based entertainment.

We found it best to wait until our children were of an age where they could comfortably wear volume-controlled headphones before introducing screen-based activities – primarily as they can cause a distraction to the driver if tablets are played out loud.

Some favorite toddler apps to download include KidsBeeTV, Hopster TV, and Toddler Fun Learning.

Remember, you may not have Wi-Fi on your journey, so ensure all the apps and videos you would like to use are pre-loaded before your journey commences.

Do use the screen sparingly, though, especially with toddlers. Have it saved up as a special treat and start with setting boundaries for screen use – starting healthy screen habits early on will last through their childhood years.

Buy it on Amazon

More Tips for Your Toddler Road Trip

• Beyond just the entertainment, make sure you check out our complete guide to road tripping with your toddler. It contains loads of handy advice for parents, including items you need to make your child’s journey more comfortable, and our top tips for timing your road trip.

• Never forget an important road trip item again! Be sure to download our ultimate road trip checklist to help you prepare your car and pack for your next family adventure.

© Family Road Trip 2026

© Family Road Trip 2026

The post 16 Awesome Car Activities For Toddlers appeared first on Family Road Trip.

Got a long drive ahead? Wondering how on earth your going to keep the kids entertained mile after mile? We all know that long hours on the road can be challenging, especially for your littlest passengers.

It simply isn’t a family road trip without some games up the sleeve. Family road trips with games are not only fun and exciting, but they also offer many incredible benefits. These benefits include:

• Promoting family bonding
• Building patience
• Enhancing language development
• Enhances visual skills etc

So, if you’ve got a family road trip ahead, play one of these fun games to keep everyone entertained during the long car ride. These family car games promise to dodge boredom – for a few hours at least (we still wouldn’t be scrimping on the toddler toys or snacks!)

As Amazon Associates, we earn a commission from qualifying purchases made on this page.

Best Family Car Games With Young Kids

The prospect of entertaining kids on a long road trip is enough to deter even the bravest parent from traveling. Young kids can stir crazy, whine incessantly, drop things a million times, and refuse to nap.

The deal is that you practice and prepare for fantastic road trips with even the most spirited of kids. The more you do it, the more your kids will know what to expect, and the more prepared you are as a parent with different kids’ car ride games for them to enjoy, then the more you can relax and enjoy the trip.

The best games for kids on road trips are simple, mess-free, and ones they can enjoy without supervision. Here are the best road trip games we have come up with for your young kids!

What Colour Is It?

The adults in the family get to list a bunch of things that are the same color. For example, the adults can shout “apples, fire engines, stop signs..” they keep going until the children figure it out and call “red!” The longer the list you have prepared, the better, as road trips are long.

I Spy

Keeping in mind that this classic game should fit your young kids, it is better to keep this “I spy” game to things that can be found inside the vehicle. The first person selects something inside the car without revealing what it is to the rest of the players in the car.

They must repeat the phrase “I spy something that begins with the letters c..” as it relates to the answer. The other passengers then try to guess what it might be.

If your toddlers and preschooler’s still can’t spell, why not do I-spy colors instead?

Category ABC’s

Category ABC is the most straightforward name game that is great for car trip games for kids. The first player chooses a category and names something that begins with the letter A, B, and so on until someone is stumped.

In My Suitcase

In my suitcase game, you will sprinkle a fun memory game into your car game for family road trips. The first player says, “I am going on a vacation, and I packed..” Finish with a sentence that begins with the letter C.

The second person repeats the sentence, repeats what the first person is bringing, and adds an object starting with the letter D. This keeps going with the alphabetical letters until someone forgets an item the quickest.

You can simply this activity for toddlers to join too.

The Alphabet Game

One passenger chooses the right-hand side of the road and the other the left side. Each of them keeps an eye out for road signs or license plates with letters of the alphabet. The objective of this game is to find a word for each sign or license plate you pass. The sign or license begins with each letter of the alphabet starting from the beginning.

Call them out as you drive by, and the first one who gets to Z wins.

Best Family Car Games With Tweens & Middle Schoolers

There’s nothing better than seeing your tween laughing and playing with their friends in the backseat of the car. This is mainly in the digital age that we live in, with many tweens spending soo much time on their phones and other electronic devices.

When raising a tween, you’ve got to take those bonding moments where you can get them, right? Try out these fun road trip games for tweens to keep your tween crew entertained.

20 Questions

Twenty questions are one of the fantastic games for car travel, especially if you are driving through long stretches of rural areas. The first person thinks of a person, place, or thing. Everyone in the car asks “yes” or “no” questions about what it is or who it is you may be thinking of.

No two people should ask the same questions, and no one can answer more than 20 questions. Whoever guesses the mystery first goes next.

Name That Tune

Most tweens love music, so challenge their knowledge by playing this radio game. The general rule of the game is that everyone in the car is competing to see who can guess the names of the most songs. Whoever guesses the most songs by the end of a round wins.

The Word Game

Bring some pencils and paper to play this fun word game with your tweens. Choose one person who will keep the time. The timekeeper will also pick the letter to be used to make the words. The chosen person shouts out the word, and everyone writes down as many words as possible that start with that letter.

Once the set time is up, whoever has the most words wins. Once the players have their group of words, spice up the game. Set the time for another minute. And each player must write a sentence with as many words from their list as possible.

Two Truths And One Lie

If the tweens in your car trip are new friends and trying to learn more about one another, then two truths and lies will set the pace. Each person takes turns to be “it.” That person says three things about themselves, two of them truth and one that is a lie.

The other players then hold up their fingers -one, two, or three to indicate which statement they think is a lie. The “it” person then reveals the answer, and someone else in the group becomes “it.”

Do You Really Know Your Family?

Do you agree that tweens can go mute on a road trip till you wonder what is wrong? This game will help eliminate those awkward hours that make you regret the journey. Do you really know your family creates hilarious family memories as you compete and perform silly challenges together.

It is a fun card game that is super easy to learn and play, allowing the family to bond and know each other while sparkling exciting convos.

Loaded Questions On The Go Card Game

Loaded questions on the go are one of the best card games to play in the car for families. One player chooses a card and reads one of the four questions on the card. The other passengers in the vehicle must then write their answers on the score card and pass them to one player ( not the player who read the question).

That player reads the answers to the card reader, who must match each response to the player they think wrote it. For each correct answer, the player earns a point. The first player to earn eight points wins.

Best Family Car Games For Teens And Adults

Even adults (grandparents) and teenagers begin to get tired and bored on long road trips. The next car games for families will keep you and your teen awake and entertained.

Fortunately, Unfortunately

In this family card game, one person begins with an, “unfortunately”, statement and the next with a “fortunately” statement. For example:

• “Unfortunately, I think he needs to use the restroom.” “Fortunately, we are stopping soon.” “Unfortunately, he is also hungry,” and so on.

Remember, the more bizarre the statements, the more fun this game becomes.

Never Have I Ever

Another adult road trip game that reveals something about the players is “never have I ever”. Each person takes turns and says the phrase “never have I ever….” The following person guesses whether the statement is true or false. The person with the most accurate guesses wins this game, or you decide to play for fun.

Hum That Tune

One player starts off the game by humming a well-known song. The first person to guess the song correctly gets to be the next “hummer.” While this game sounds super simple, it’s often trickier than it seems making it one of the best games to play in the car with the family.

Arkadium

If you happen to be traveling with your grandparents, remember that they also need a little distraction on a long car ride. Comes in Arkadium to the rescue!

It’s a company that offers a variety of popular games, including mahjong, crossword puzzles, word games, and solitaire, all designed for adults and teens. It can either be played on a phone or tablet, offering much-needed relaxation.

Once Upon A Time

Once upon a time is a fun game that involves using your imagination. Each player takes turns looking at a car and the occupant(s) and starts creating a fictional story about them. The storyteller should begin with “once upon a time.”

• For example, a teenager driving a red sports car might prompt, “once upon a time, a guy bought a car to impress his girlfriend.” The variation is for each passenger to take turns adding one sentence to the fictional storyline.

Before You Go – More Road Trip Entertainment Ideas!

Not found what you’e looking for yet in this selection? You may also want to try:

• The Best Road Trip Trivia Games
• Bordeom Busters; Keeping Teens Entertained on the Road
• 50+ All-Time Best Toys For Family Road Trips
• The Best Podcasts For All The Family To Tune Into On The Road
• Audiobooks For Every Age Group Perfect For Road Trips

© Family Road Trip 2026

The post Games To Play In The Car With Family appeared first on Family Road Trip.

Keeping families entertained when you hit the road this summer

When you’re planning a family road trip, it’s best to have a selection of entertainment available. This not only provides much-needed variety, but it also takes the different ages and interests of your family members into consideration.

If you’re like us, you may not want your bub to be glued to their tablet for the duration of the drive, and there are only so many DVDs you can bring with you in the car.

So, what other options are there to keep your children engaged and also help you maintain your sanity?

One of our favorite ways to make a long car journey more bearable is by listening to podcasts. Each of our family members has specific podcasts they enjoy listening to individually, and we also have several that we like to experience all together.

In this article, we’ll explore features to look for in different podcasts, things to consider when choosing podcasts, the best apps to use for listening, and a selection of the best podcasts for family road trips by age.

No matter their age, everyone in the family is sure to find a topic or series they’ll love.

Why Listen to Podcasts in the Car?

They don’t take up space

With podcasts, you don’t have to remember to pack anything besides your smartphone. Since most newer vehicles come equipped with Bluetooth, the most equipment you’ll require is an adapter cord.

You can also download episodes if you’re going to be traveling in areas with little or no cell service.

There’s a Wide Variety Available

There are many different types of podcasts out there in the digital universe, and they vary in both subject matter and length. Some of the most common kinds of podcasts are:

• Interviews
• Panel Shows
• Non-Fiction Narratives (Think true crime)
• Storytelling
• Solo Podcast
• Conversational

Podcasts vs. Audiobooks

While both podcasts and audiobooks are forms of digitally produced content, they are different in many ways.

Types of Content

Audiobooks are typically professionally recorded versions of books, and the narrator mustn’t vary from the original text.

Podcasts, however, can be hosted by many different people with diverse knowledge backgrounds. Going off script is often common, and it adds to the entertainment value of the show.

Cost

While most podcasts are free, many audiobooks must be purchased individually or with a subscription to a digital platform like Audible. There are free audiobooks, of course, but not on the scale of podcasts.

Although most podcast listening apps are free, many of them contain ads. Depending on the app, the ads may help you find additional podcasts to listen to. Or they may become annoying because of their frequency. Often, you can upgrade to a paid version to skip the ads.

Concentration Required

As with printed books, it’s often important to listen closely so as not to miss important events in the story. With podcasts, this is not quite as essential. You can still get value out of the content without having to hear every word.

Duration

Audiobooks last for the duration of the book, and sometimes that means hours of recording. Podcasts, on the other hand, are typically broken up into smaller chunks of serialized content.

What to Look For in a Good Family Podcast

If you’re looking for family podcasts that everyone can listen to, there are a few factors to consider:

Intended Audience

Yes, you are attempting to find a single podcast that will appeal to everyone in your vehicle. However, you’ll want to make sure that the podcast’s content is appropriate for younger ages. Some podcast hosts can get a little off-color, and you may be uncomfortable exposing children to that material.

One great thing about podcasts for kids is that the whole family can get something out of each episode, so those are often a solid starting point.

Subject Matter

If you’re searching for family podcasts for road trips, the subject, well, matters. An older child may be interested in true crime stories, while your youngest might currently be obsessed with dinosaurs.

Try to find podcasts with a wide variety of topics to choose from to keep everyone engaged.

Family Podcast vs. Listening Individually

When looking for the best podcasts for road trips, some might be better to listen to as a family versus individually. This is why it’s important to take each person’s age and interests into account.

For example, if you have a teen who loves listening to math-based podcasts, but you also have a child in first grade, you may want to find a podcast that covers more general topics.

There also may be times on your road trip when you want younger children to nap, so it’s crucial that everyone is as quiet as possible. This would be another situation where it would be preferable for everyone to listen to their own material.

If you’re looking for devices and headphones that are best for listening to podcasts, we recommend the following:

Best Devices for Listening to Podcasts:

SanDisk 16GB Clip Sport Go MP3 Player

Smartphone

Tablet or Laptop

Buy it on Amazon

Buy it on Amazon

Buy it on Amazon

Best Headphones for Listening to Podcasts

When it comes to the best headphones for podcasts, almost any kind will do. We suggest choosing a comfortable wired pair for young children, as it may be a headache when Bluetooth is involved.

If you’re in the market for new headphones, here are our favorites for every age group:

For Toddlers and Preschoolers:

Noot Kids Wired Foldable Stereo On-Ear Headphones

Buy it on Amazon

For Grade Schoolers:

JLab Neon Bluetooth Folding On-Ear Headphones

Buy it on Amazon

For Tweens and Teens:

PurelySound E7 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

Buy it on Amazon

For Adults:

Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus True Wireless Earbuds

Buy it on Amazon

Best Podcasts for Family Road Trips

We’ve gathered some of the best podcasts for each age group, so you don’t have to look far in order to find the perfect podcasts for kids, teens, and the whole family.

Best Podcasts for Toddlers

Toddler-friendly podcasts tend to be quite short in duration as we know how long they can concentrate for before swiftly wanting to move on to the next activity!

Sesame Street Podcast

Average Episode Length: 5 minutes

Your toddler can join in songs and stories with the entire Sesame Street gang and learn valuable lessons along the way. Each episode is between five and six minutes long, so it’s perfect for keeping your bub’s attention.

Circle Round

Average Episode Length: 20 minutes

Folktales from around the world come to life in each of Circle Round’s episodes. We love the cultural diversity of this podcast for kids, and your toddler will love listening to each magical story.

Wow in the World

Average Episode Length: 28 minutes

Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas are the hosts of this wild and wacky podcast about the powers of science and technology. You can even browse episodes by age group and topic, so this is a fabulous option for older children as well.

Best Podcasts for Preschoolers

Story Pirates

Average Episode Length: 35 minutes

The best part about this podcast is that the stories featured in each episode are written by kids worldwide. Story Pirates is all about celebrating the creativity of young people and emphasizing the power of imagination.

Noodle Loaf

Average Episode Length: 10 minutes

Noodle Loaf definitely belongs on the list of best funny podcasts for kids. Each interactive episode is filled with silly yet educational songs from musician Dan Saks, and it’s impossible not to laugh when joining in with songs like Peck of Pumpkin Poodle and Funky Shades.

Aaron’s World Podcast

Average Episode Length: 10-20 minutes

If your preschooler loves dinosaurs, you should check out Aaron’s World, a podcast all about prehistoric creatures, time travel, and even robots! Each episode is both educational and entertaining.

Best Podcasts for Grade School

But Why? A Podcast for Curious Kids

Average Episode Length: 25 minutes

The whole family can learn something new from this educational podcast all about kids’ most burning questions. Each episode tackles a child’s question, and the discussions are both exciting and humorous.

Tumble

Average Episode Length: 17 minutes

Tumble is an educational podcast all about the wonders of science. It’s hosted by science journalist Lindsay Patterson and teacher Marshall Escamilla, and they explore topics from How to Name a Galaxy to The Science of Snot.

Stories Podcast

Average Episode Length: 20 minutes

If you’re planning on any nighttime driving, this is one of the best bedtime podcasts for kids when it’s just not possible to pull over and read a book. Your child can listen to familiar stories, such as Peter Rabbit and Snow White, as well as entirely original tales.

Best Podcasts for Tweens

Young Ben Franklin

Average Episode Length: 15 minutes

It’s hard to imagine Benjamin Franklin as a 13-year-old boy, but this historically-based podcast does just that. Your tween will love following young Ben as he and his friends solve mysteries and search for treasure in colonial Boston.

Six Minutes Podcast

Average Episode Length: 6 minutes

Your tween won’t be able to listen to just one episode in this riveting podcast series about a young girl’s extraordinary quest for truth and identity. Join Holiday and her super cool hoverboard as she begins to discover exactly what she’s capable of.

Treasure Island 2020

Average Episode Length: 28 minutes

A classic novel comes to life in this modern retelling of Treasure Island, where an ordinary boy embarks on an unforgettable quest involving time-traveling pirates and a portal to the past. 

The Unexplained Disappearance of Mars Patel

Average Episode Length: 15 minutes

Mars Patel and his friends find more than they bargain for when they set out on a search for two missing friends. If your tween loves mysteries, they’ll soon become obsessed with this serial mystery that middle-grade kids perform.

Best Podcasts for Teens

#WhoWouldWin Podcast

Average Episode Length: 60 minutes

Have you ever wondered who would win in a battle between the Muppets and characters from Sesame Street? This is precisely the sort of question that hosts James Gavsie and Ray Stakenas debate in each hilarious episode.

Dear Hank and John

Average Episode Length: 45 minutes

Fans of John Green’s novels will become obsessed with this podcast hosted by John and his brother, Hank. They explore hilarious and interesting questions in each episode, such as why crisp packet wrappers are so crispy and what happens when a cemetery goes bankrupt.

Teen Girl Talk

Average Episode Length: 20-60 minutes

If your teenage daughter is crying boredom, introduce her to this made-for-girls podcast hosted by Franklin and Susie Cota. They talk all about movies, tv shows, and books for young adults and often go off the rails into something else entirely.

You may want to preview the content yourself, as each episode may contain sensitive or triggering material for some teens.

Best Podcasts for the Whole Family

The Past & The Curious

Average Episode Length: 30 minutes

Whether or not everyone in your family is a history buff, everyone can find something interesting in this podcast series. Your kids will quickly add this to their list of best podcasts for long drives as they learn about little-known historical figures such as Typhoid Mary and how bloomers changed women’s lives forever.

Short and Curly

Average Episode Length: 20 minutes

Every member of your family will have an opinion on the topics explored in each of Short and Curly’s podcast episodes. Join hosts Molly Daniels and Carl Smith as they debate questions like, “Is it ever okay to fight back against a bully?” and “Can you trust a robot?”

Brains On

Average Episode Length: 30 minutes

Molly Bloom invites new co-hosts each week with this science podcast for the whole family. Join them as they discuss the answers to listener-based questions that everyone can learn from. There’s always something new, engaging, and often humorous.

Disclosures: We are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. You can read our full disclosure policy here.

© Family Road Trip 2026

The post Best Podcasts For Family Road Trips appeared first on Family Road Trip.

If you’re planning a family road trip with children of any age, you know that it’s best to have a variety of activities on hand. Digital versions of books are an excellent alternative to lugging a bagful for each child.

However, it’s not always possible to sit and read with your child, especially if you’re in the front driving and they’re in the back. There’s also the dreaded possibility of your child getting carsick due to reading, and that’s a mess that everyone wants to avoid!

The perfect solution we have found is audiobooks for our family road trips. The best thing about having the audio versions of our favorite books on our family vacation is that we can listen to them as a family or on our individual devices.

If you’re looking for listening recommendations for your next cross-country journey – or even the next town over -read on to discover our list of Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips. 

As Amazon Associates, we earn a commission from qualifying purchases made on this page.

Best Audiobooks for Road Trips – Tips and Suggestions

Finding and listening to audiobooks for road trips is fairly straightforward, but we do have some advice on how to have the best experience possible.

Family Audiobooks vs. Kids Audiobooks

Your child or children’s ages will ultimately determine what road trip audiobooks you choose, as it’s challenging for a toddler or early grade school to navigate a listening app and select something appropriate. You’ll likely need to plan on playing books for this age group aloud.

If your kids are in the higher elementary through high school ages, they may want to listen to books individually. However, we’ve found many great audiobooks for our whole family to listen to, and it’s fun to discuss what’s happening in each book and what we think will happen next.

Listening Devices and Headphones For Audiobooks

The most common way that many people listen to audiobooks is with their smartphone or tablet. One of the most popular and versatile tablets on the market is the Kindle Paperwhite, and several other Kindle variations are great for combining reading and audiobooks.

If your child is too young for a smartphone and doesn’t have a tablet, an MP3 player is an inexpensive alternative. You can download your favorite audiobooks for kids from your computer, and no internet connection is necessary.

When it comes to the best headphones for audiobooks, almost any kind will do. We suggest choosing a comfortable wired pair for young children, as it may be a headache when Bluetooth is involved. If you’re in the market for new ones, here are a few solid options:

For Toddlers and Preschoolers:

Noot Kids Wired Foldable Stereo On-Ear Headphones

Buy it on Amazon

For Grade Schoolers:

JLab Neon Bluetooth Folding On-Ear Headphones

Buy it on Amazon

For Tweens and Teens:

PurelySound E7 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

Buy it on Amazon

For Adults:

Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus True Wireless Earbuds

Buy it on Amazon

Best Listening Platform For Road Trip Audiobooks

There are several audiobook listening platforms to choose from, but our family has had the best luck with Audible. The Audible Books app is very user-friendly, and you gain access to millions of titles with only a small monthly fee. Audible even offers a generous 30-day trial period, which we’ve outlined below:

Audible Premium Plus Membership

• One credit a month for a premium title that’s yours to keep (2 credits for Amazon Prime members)
• Full access to the Unlimited Plus Catalog (audiobooks, podcasts, guided wellness, Audible Originals)
• Email reminder before trial ends
• A monthly fee of $14.95 is payable after 30 days
• Simple online cancellation if you don’t want to continue after your free trial

We started our trial three summers ago and thought we’d later cancel it, but it’s the gift that keeps on giving!

Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips

We’ve split our guide up to the best audio books into different age groups, plus those we think a family of mixed ages can also enjoy playing together.

Best Audiobooks for Toddlers

One of the best things about Audible’s narrated children’s books is that many of them come with actual illustrations, which your little kids can enjoy on their Kindle device while listening. This list of audiobooks is ideal for toddlers.

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (Narrated by Buffy Allen)

Goodnight Moon

Length: 4 minutes

Margaret Wise Brown’s timeless classic about a little rabbit saying goodnight to all of his most-loved possessions is an excellent way to let your toddler know that it’s time for rest. Buffy Allen’s smooth narration is very calming and soothing, making it a good fit for a bedtime story. 

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (Narrated by Peter Schickele)

Where the Wild Things Are

Length: 5 minutes

Parents of all toddlers can relate to Sendak’s endearing story of a tantrum-throwing Max and his journey to an island full of Wild Things. Your child will love the background music and Schickele’s different voices as they listen.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle (Narrated by Gwyneth Paltrow)

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Length: 11 minutes

Bill Martin’s lyrical and repetitive text perfectly pairs with Gwyneth Paltrow’s voice in this book about Brown Bear and all of the different animals he sees. The Audible book also comes with a “turn the page” version, so your child can follow along with a digital copy of the book.

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson (Narrated by Owen Jordan)

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Length: 6 minutes

The power of one’s imagination is brought to life in the story of young Harold’s nighttime adventures with his purple crayon. The background music can become a distraction with this one, but Owen Jordan’s narration is a treat.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (Narration by Jane Harvey)

The Snowy Day

Length: 5 minutes

This touching story about a little boy’s excitement over a snowy day can be enjoyed year-round. This should certainly go on your list of best kids audiobooks to listen to over and over again.

Best Audiobooks for Preschoolers

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss (Narrated by Jason Alexander)

Green Eggs and Ham

Length: 5 minutes

If you’re searching for fun audiobooks for road trips, look no further than Seuss’s classic about Sam I Am’s attempt to persuade a picky eater that green eggs and ham are indeed delicious. The sound effects and background music are perfect, and Jason Alexander does a masterful job with the characters’ voices.

Llama Llama Red Pajama and 19 Other Stories by Anna Dewdney (Narrated by Anna Dewdney and Cassandra Campbell)

Llama Llama Red Pajama and 19 Other Favorites: Llama Llama Mad at Mama; Llama Llama Misses Mama; Llama Llama Holiday Drama; and More

Length: 47 minutes

We love it when we can find audiobook bundles like this one, and it includes 20 of Dewdney’s best-loved books about dramatic Baby Llama and his many adventures. These books are just begging to be read aloud, making them ideal for long road trips.

The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak (Narrated by B.J. Novak and Busy Phillips)

The Book with No Pictures

Length: 9 minutes

What book is better suited for an audiobook than one without any pictures to begin with? This book is filled with laugh-out-loud stories and sounds, and Novak and Phillips bring the words to life.

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin (Narrated by Adam Rubin)

Dragons Love Tacos

Length: 6 minutes

If your children love dragons, they enjoy this silly book about taco-obsessed dragons and the unfortunate consequences of spicy salsa. Rubin infuses humor and fun into his narration, and the music and sound effects greatly enhance the story.

Pete the Cat’s Super Cool Reading Collection by James Dean (Narrated by Teddy Walsh and Lewis Grosso)

Pete the Cat’s Super Cool Reading Collection

Length: 6 minutes

The cool adventures of Pete the Cat are a fun option for slightly older children, especially when they get to follow along with their own copies of the books. These stories work well as conversation starters about what Pete is doing and feeling, and you’ll arrive at your destination before you know it!

Best Audiobooks for Grade School

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams (Narrated by Richard Armitage)

The Velveteen Rabbit

Length: 24 minutes

Your child may just have a renewed interest in their forgotten toys after listening to Williams’s timeless classic about the journey of a snuggly velveteen bunny from beloved toy to the magical world of Rabbitland. Richard Armitage does an outstanding job with the narration and brings each character to life with his different reading voices.

The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dave Pilkey (Narrated by Len Forgione, Dazjon Freeman, and Ben D’Amico)

The Adventures of Captain Underpants

Length: 1 hr

Children of all ages will laugh out loud at the antics of fourth-graders George Beard and Harold Hutchins, two silly class clowns. Together, they create the superhero Captain Underpants. Freeman and D’Amico bring the books to life with their energetic narration of Captain Underpants’ adventures.

Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne (Narrated by Mary Pope Osborne)

Dinosaurs Before Dark

Length: 41 minutes

Immerse your children in the world of The Magic Treehouse, a mysterious place where anything can happen – even travelling back in time to the age of dinosaurs. Join Jack and Annie as they embark on the journey of a lifetime and attempt to make it back to their own time before dark.

Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo (Narrated by Ron McLarty)

Mercy Watson to the Rescue

Length: 19 minutes

This early chapter book introduces the reader to Mercy Watson, a one-of-a-kind pig who loves buttered toast and snuggling in bed with her owners. McLarty provides entertaining narration that meshes well with the music and storyline.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate and Patricia Castelao (Narrated by Adam Grupper)

The One and Only Ivan

Length: 3 hrs and 46 minutes

Themes of friendship, art, and hope are brought to life through the eyes of Ivan, a gorilla who has spent 27 years of his life in a glass enclosure at a shopping mall. Grupper’s narration tugs at the listener’s heartstrings and is a great conversation starter.

Best Audiobooks for Tweens

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson (Narrated by Bailey Carr)

Fever 1793

Length: 6 hrs and 12 minutes

Mattie Cook’s struggle to survive the historical impact of yellow fever in Philadelphia is eerily resonant given the current pandemic.  Carr highlights the strengths of Mattie’s character while also echoing the diverse accents in 1793 Philadelphia.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (Narrated by Graeme Malcolm)

The Tale of Despereaux

Length: 3 hrs and 30 minutes

Sometimes the most unlikely characters become the biggest heroes, as is the case with Despereaux Tilling, an extraordinary mouse. Despereaux, along with several other unique individuals, embarks on unforgettable adventures.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber (Narrated by Rebecca Soler)

Caraval

Length: 10 hrs and 36 minutes

The line between reality and illusion is blurred in the story of two sisters who get more than they bargained for when they attend the legendary Caraval performance. Your tween will be on the edge of their seat the entire time, making this one of the best audiobooks for road trips.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Narrated by Tatiana Maslany)

The Hunger Games: Special Edition

Length: 10 hrs and 35 minutes

Katniss Everdeen’s race for survival will keep your tween listening as she uses her wits, compassion, and determination to win the Hunger Games. Maslany breathes new life into Katniss’s character with her youthful and often lyrical reader of this dystopian hit.

Wonder by R. J. Palacio (Narrated by Diana Steele, Nick Podehl, and Kate Rudd)

Wonder

Length: 8 hrs and 6 minutes

August Pullman’s humorous yet heartwrenching initiation into the world of middle school highlights the necessity of kindness and empathy in everyone’s lives. Auggie’s narrator fully immerses herself into his character and gives the novel absolute authenticity.

Best Audiobooks for Teens

In this list of the best audiobooks for teens we’ll look at some nonfiction books as well as modern classics to get your teens thinking and engaged on something fun for your road trip.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (Narrated by Lauren Fortgang)

Shadow and Bone

Length: 9 hrs and 21 minutes

Good audiobooks for road trips draw the reader into different worlds, and there are few worlds more interesting than the Grishaverse. Alina Starkov discovers an unknown power within herself and suddenly becomes her society’s savior, but nothing is as it seems. Fortgang does well with the voices of different characters, especially the villainous ones.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han (Narrated by Ali Ahn)

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

Length: 8 hrs and 44 minutes

Your romance-loving teen will enjoy Jean Song’s misadventures in romance and the importance of the written word, making this an entertaining road trip audiobook. The narrator struggles a bit with distinguishing male voices, but not enough to detract from the audiobook’s overall value, overall a great listen for teen girls especially.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (Narrated by Trevor Noah)

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood

Length: 8 hrs and 44 minutes

We believe that nonfiction should always have a place on your list of good audiobooks for road trips, and Trevor Noah’s memoir is an eye-opening account of the injustices of apartheid in South Africa. Noah’s performance earned him the Audie Award for Best Male Narrator in 2018, and after a short listen, you’ll understand why.

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus (Narrated by Kim Mai Guest, MacLeod Andrews, Shannon McManus, and Robbie Daymond)

Length: 10 hrs and 43 minutes

We love that this audiobook for teens has different narrators for all of the major characters, giving it an added layer of authenticity and entertainment value. When five strangers come together, and only four make it out alive, you’ll want to keep listening until the mystery is solved.

Best Audiobooks for the Whole Family

Perfect for listening to altogether, these are the best family audiobooks to keep the whole family engaged on the road:

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (Narrated by Peter Coyote)

Hatchet

Length: 3 hrs and 42 minutes

Brian Robeson’s unforgettable story of resilience will captivate your whole family as he must use every bit of knowledge he possesses to survive in the Canadian mountains. Peter Coyote’s narration is both brilliant and poignant.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (Narrated by Jim Dale)

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Book 1

Length: 8 hrs and 18 minutes

Our list of best audiobooks for families wouldn’t be complete without the magical world of Harry Potter. Jim Dale’s unparalleled voice talent brings every single character to life, no matter how minor. This is an outstanding audiobook choice that every family should invest in; really long drive? Why not download the entire Harry Potter series?

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (Narrated by Michael York)

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: The Chronicles of Narnia

Length: 4 hrs and 21 minutes

It’s no wonder that C.S. Lewis’s beloved tale of four siblings and their adventures in Narnia is an essential audiobook for family road trips as well. Even though this book is the second installment in the series, it works well as a stand-alone listen.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (Narrated by Lynn Redgrave)

Inkheart

Length: 15 hrs and 34 minutes

Your family will love this novel where the characters in books actually do jump right off the page! Redgrave’s narration immediately draws the listener into the story, which only works to enhance the novel’s overall message.

More Road Trip Tips and Inspiration

Now you’ve got your family road trip audio entertainment sorted, you may also be interested in:

Best Healthy Road Trip Snacks – over 40 ideas for ideal snacks to pack on a family road trip

Road Trip Trivia Games – a great way to stimulate some family conversation and put minds to the test

The best road trip toys perfect for taking on long journeys for every age group

First Aid Kit for Road Trips – we highly recommend you keep these important items at hand when undertaking a road trip – plus why road trip insurance is important

Road Trip Essentials – never miss an important item again, work your way through our list of pre-trip checks to make on your vehicle through to comfort items for the whole family with our FREE printable checklist

Disclosures: We are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. You can read our full disclosure policy here.

© Family Road Trip 2026

The post Best Audiobooks For Family Road Trips in 2026 – Toddlers to Teens appeared first on Family Road Trip.