Does anyone know any good games to play on a long car trip?

Question

We are going to be in mostly rural MO!

We are leaving tomorrow, so I need answers now!

We are going on a float trip

Answer 1

At work we play a game--simply called "The Game"--that's similar to six degrees of separation.

You start off by just throwing out a screen actor's name, then the next person has to name a movie that actor was in and who he/she was in it with. Then the next person in line takes the second actor and does the same thing. The game is over when someone gets stuck and can't name a movie and/or actor.

example:

Joe: Bruce Willis
Sally: Bruce Willis was in "Pulp Fiction" with Samuel L. Jackson
Greg: Samuel L. Jackson was in "The Man" with Eugene Levy
Joe: OK Eugene Levy was in American Pie with Jason Biggs

It's a great way to pass the time. An eight hour work shift just flies by, so it should work for a car trip too.

Answer 2

There are some good Improv games that are adaptable to the car. For instance.
1) Have a conversation only with sentences starting (or ending) with alternating letters of the alphabet. So the first person says, "A dog bit me the other day." The second person says, "Bit you?! Did he really?". The first person then says, "Canine distemper... that's what caused it."... and so on.
2) If you have three people, try having a conversation among all three, where each person has to talk to the two others AT THE SAME TIME.
3) Play "What are you doing?" The game here is basically that one person does something random, and the other person has to ask "what are you doing?" The first person then says something he is NOT doing. The second person has to pretend they are doing THAT, and when the first person asks what THEY are doing, they have to say something they are NOT doing. The game ends when someone can't think of anything to say, or DOES what they say they are doing.
4) Improvise a song... usually the easiest are blues songs. These are easy because there are basically only two lines, and you get to ham it up. Most blues songs start with the same set of concepts, such as "Got a mean ol' woman", or "My baby left me", etc. Just add something, then try to pick a line that rhymes. For instance, "My baby left me... for a man with new blue jeans." (repeat a 2nd time)... then the next line needs to rhyme with that, for instance, "I don't know why she left, but I sho' ain't the man of her dreams." The point is, keep the song going... if you pause it, it ruins it. And the fact that you have to think on your feet makes it fun.

And so on...

Good luck

Try stopping at a Barnes and Noble and looking for books on Improv comedy.

Answer 3

Well everyone got most of the ideas I was going mention except I bring handheld games for our kids. Yahtzee, Connect Four, Battleship, Poker or whatever they have that they can play. The sound can be turned off on most of them (bonus!!) and they only cost about $10 each. Maybe even playing some Uno. That's pretty easy for most kids to learn or coloring books and crayons (just don't leave them in a hot car) but if you do that don't forget to bring a lap desk or clipboard or something like that. If you have the finances you could get a portable DVD Player that plugs into your cigarette lighter and let them watch DVD's (with headphones of course!). They even make splitter where two kids can listen on two different pairs of headphones in the same jack. Good Luck!!!

Answer 4

My kids and I made up a game. Someone will start singing a song and stop on a word- the next person will have to sing a song that has that word in it starting from that word. The'll stop and the next person has to figure out a song that has that word in it and sing the song from there and stop....

example:

First: There is a young cowboy, he lives on the range. His
horse and his saddle are his only companions. He works
Next: She works hard for the money- so hard for it honey
Next She's as sweet as tupelo honey..She's an angel of the first
Next The first time ever I saw your face etc, etc

We really like music- and it helps pass the time.

Answer 5

Yes, try counting the number of license plates from different states. I once managed to count 49 states on a ride between Chicago to New York. Even Hawaii. Never came across New Mexico for some reason.

Answer 6

yes, but this ones a toughy. Play with a parent or sibling. On the ride, look for signs. First you must find a sign that starts with an A. Then with a B. and so on, but the letter cant be in the middle of the word. Ex. (Alice's Icecream, Bedding Here!!, Caution, Etc...) And you cant skip letters. Its time consuming and fun!!

Answer 7

I like the Alphabet Game.

You spell the alphabet by getting letters fromt he signs.

You cannot use license plates, although graffiti is acceptable.

You have to identify the letter and the word and at least one other person has to see it.

The alphabet must be done in order.

(A clue "Jack in the Box" takes out "J" and "K" pretty quick.)

Answer 8

That old favorite, the license plate game. Riders try to spot license plates from as many states as they can.

Answer 9

There's this game where you get certain points for spotting certain things on or along the road. Can't remember what it's called though.

Answer 10

Translating license plates into college class abbreviations.