Are We There Yet? 10 Car Games to Keep Kids Happy and Busy

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Growing up, half of the fun of road tripping with my family was all the car games we used to play. From simple Punch Buggy (sorry, Mom) to Tamagotchi (which was mind-blowing technology for its time), the car games for kids were nothing short of excellent. Nowadays, you'd be hard-pressed to find kids familiar with the simple joy of searching for Volkswagen Beetles, knowing what comes next.

Car games for kids are the perfect gift to give your littles before they're sitting in the car for a few hours. They're a special little surprise that they're not expecting, and I think that's really sweet.

The Best Car Games for Kids

Today, it's all tablets and iPhones, and I, like so many other parents, would love to see my kids engage with something other than a screen for at least a little while. Heck, I’ll even spring for a McDonald’s meal if it means they’re off their phones for a hot second.

And with that goal in mind, I spent some time researching car games for kids to determine which ones will actually keep your children entertained. Some of my finds are brand-new, but a few of them are absolute classics you’ll likely want to get your hands on yourself. Whether your kids like to kick it old-school or are suckers for the hottest new toy trends, these are the best car games for kids.

Waterfuls — The Original Handheld Game

Ages: 3 and up

I am sincerely convinced that no one actually wins Waterfuls. Even all these years later, trying to tackle this classic game is still impossible — it's also still really fun to try.

Getting all the balls in the little spaces is one of those lofty goals like reading War and Peace. Sure, it may never happen, but you're going to try over and over again.

More: 40 Board Games for Families to Keep The Fun Going

Simon Handheld Electronic Memory Game with Lights and Sounds for Kids Ages 8 and Up

Ages: 8 and up

Potentially one of the world's most vexing games, your child should experience the utter irritation of getting to 10 moves and then completely blowing it. It builds character, or whatever.

This battery-operated car game for kids flashes lights in a pattern, and you have to replicate the light pattern. It's really hard but really fun. And who knows, maybe our kids will be way better at this game than we were.

Flipslide Game, Electronic Handheld Game

Ages: 8 to 15

I was wrong: this is the most vexing game. However, unlike Simon, I'm much less likely to become irrationally angry while playing it. The idea is that you match the colored blocks to the lights as different lights display. It's part Rubiks, part matching, and all fun.

Kanoodle Gravity Brain Bending Puzzle Game

Ages: 7 and up

If you haven't played one of the Kanoodle games, yet, you're missing out. They're wildly popular on TikTok, and this version happens to be the easiest to play in the car. They're all shape-matching games, and once you start, you won't stop.

Travel Tin Magnetic Dress Up, Unicorn and Mermaid

Ages: 3 to 5

I'm sorry, what? A dress up game/kit that is a gorgeous? Sign me up. This is one of those toys that your kid will want to play with no matter where they are. I foresee my child making dresses for these cuties when she's waiting for Shabbat dinner to be ready.

Kids Erasable Doodle Book Set

Ages: 3 to 6

Having an erasable surface is wonderful for long trips because your back seat won't be a paper graveyard. This set is really cool because it's bright colors on a black background in story book form. Your kids can write and illustrate a whole book going from Minneapolis to Chicago.

Scholastic Brainiac Game Tin

Ages: 6 and up

This is trivia for kids around sixth grade, though, to be fair, it's very much a Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? situation. It's a good way to keep your kids sharp while also humiliating yourself. Fun for everyone, but mostly for your kids because they will laugh at you.

The Wacky ‘Would You Rather’ Card Game

Ages: 7 and up

Most of us have played some version of Would You Rather?, but probably with more adult questions. This is a fun, kid-friendly version that asks those sorts of questions, but also asks about opinions and provides thought-provoking areas of inquiry.

Travel Tangram Puzzle

Ages: 3 and up

Subtle geometry and engineering make this car game for kids so fun. Tangrams is the classic problem game, encouraging children to use their artistic and logical minds to complete each puzzle.

This is a really nice set with a magnetic design that helps keep all the tans on the board ... and out from between the car seats.

Auto and Interstate Travel Bingo

Ages: 5 and up

I love travel bingo because it's great for kids with car sickness — it keeps them looking out the front window so that they can spot what's on their card first. The cards are reusable because they're tabs that close and not paper bingo cards that you mark. Four cards are included in this set.

Not included: The prizes you'll need for your vehicle's big winners.

LCD Writing Tablet

Ages: 3 and up

Do you remember those lame gray doodle boards with the lift-off sheet we all had for car trips? This is like that, only infinitely cooler. Kids use the stylus to write on this light-up LED drawing pad. It’s clean, it’s easy to use, and best of all, it’s terrifically quiet.

Educational Brain Games

Ages: 6 and up

Like so many brain games, this set gives your kids a fun way to think about problems in new and unique ways. Best of all, the cards are designed to be used over and over again with a dry-erase marker, keeping them entertained for countless road trips to come.

There are STEM-type problems, word problems, and puzzles, and none of them feel like extra homework.

Poo Pocalypse Card Game

Ages: 7 and up

Poop is the great equalizer of humanity, and now it’s a hilarious game. Somewhere between Old Maid and Exploding Kittens is Poo Pocalypse.

Comedians created it, so it’s as funny as it is strategic, and you’ll be doubled over with giggles playing this game.

IQ Fit

Ages: 7 and up

A lot of car games for kids are designed to achieve some level of puzzly frustration in the player, and this game is no different. It keeps kids interested and keeps them playing. This happens to be a game that is equally fun for adults, so you might want to pick up a few extra for you and any other adult who may be traveling with you.

The idea is to get all the 3D pieces on the board, fitting together. It's no easy task, but it is doable.

Would You Rather Travel Edition

Ages: 7 and up

This is strictly "would you rather?" with no additional questions, if that's your style. Would you rather eat a can of cockroaches or sleep in a bed of cicadas? Would you rather forget all your lines while performing on Broadway, or make an error in the last inning of the World Series?

Questions like these fill the pages of this book, and it will have your kids howling with laughter.

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