Screen Free Road Trip Ideas for Families (Games, Books, Accessories, and More)

Jun 5, 2025

We love bringing our families along with us on our road trip adventures! There’s something so magical about getting to see kids and teenagers experience the great outdoors, and reconnecting with nature for some screen-free excitement. On today’s blog, we’re sharing some great activities for a peaceful, screen-free road trip with kids. From road trip games to coloring books to travel board games and more, you’ll find lots of ways to entertain your offspring without needing tablets or smartphones (well, for a little while at least.)

We’ve also included great gadgets that make entertaining kids on the go a real breeze, and what’s not to love about portable convenience and calm kids? Exactly! Check it out and let us know your fave ways to keep your kids cheerful and occupied in the car/while traveling in the comments on our social media!

Free Word Games to Play With the Whole Family

The Alphabet Game (No Purchases Required!)

Starting with the letter ‘A’, one passenger takes turns calling out a word that starts with that letter, and the next player’s turn responds with a word beginning with ‘B’ and so on and so forth until you get to the letter ‘Z’. If you’d like an extra challenge, subsequent rounds can have a theme such as “plants” or “animals” or “foods” to correspond with each letter.

Think Fast (No Purchases Required!)

One person begins by suggesting a category theme (ex: Food, Animal, Places. etc) and a second player will have until the count of 10 to say (or shout) the name of an item that corresponds with that theme. If the second player cannot think of something to name in the time it takes for a 10 count, they lose their turn and it passes to the next one. If they come up with a word, it’s their turn next to pick a category and count for the next player. For an added challenge you can use the rule of starting with alphabetical order “The Category is Flower, and you must use the letter A!” “Aster!” “The next category is Food and you must use the letter B!” “Blueberry” and so on until someone gives up, or you reach the end of the alphabet!

Same Letter (No Purchases Required!)

Begin with a category, just as you would with “Think Fast,” except this does not involve a count timer. One category chooses a word that matches that category, and the following player must follow-up on that theme using the last letter of that word as the first letter of their next guess. For example: “The Category is Birds!” “Seagull” “Lark” “Kestrel” “Lovebird” “Duck” “Kingfisher!” “Robin!” and so on until the group gives up and someone is stumped.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (No Purchases Required!)

Another great game that can be played with all car passengers and requires quick thinking, sharp memory, and alphabetical challenges A through Z. The starting player will use the letter A, and will say the phrase “I’m going on a bear hunt, and I am bringing [any item that begins with the letter A.] The second passenger will follow by repeating the first item, and adding a second with the subsequent letter (in this case, ‘B’): I’m going on a bear hunt and I am bringing an avocado and a blueberry! The third player will repeat those and add the next letter, and so on and so forth until you reach a point where someone cannot remember anymore, or you reach the end of the alphabet!

Budget Friendly Entertainment and Accessories for Your Family Road Trip

What Do You Meme?’s “Shotgun” card game is the perfect option for families on the go. Designed for players 12+, this game can be played with 2 or more players. Read the card aloud and follow the prompts until you reach your destination or stop at a rest stop. Game contains 200 cards and a convenient travel friendly carrying case. Priced under $20 on Amazon here.

The Road Trip Travels and Activity Journal for Kids has a plethora of more than 100 Games, Mazes, Mad Libs, Scavenger Hunts, Word Searches, and so much more. There’s also fun prompts to get your kids engaged with the road trip experience by writing about what they see and how they feel, and log their family memories. It’s a wonderful alternative to screen time and allows them to connect with creativity.

This National Parks Travel Edition for Yahtzee is perfect for planes, trains, and automobiles! Families will love this update featuring icons and imagery of some familiar National Landmarks in the Parks System with unlimited hours of family game night fun.

Families will love bonding with classic card games like Memory, Go Fish, Spoons, and more with the National Parks Playing cards, and parents will feel great knowing that funds from each sale of the minimalist Playing Card Deck go into helping fund America’s National Parks System. Their bright geometric designs make them an eye catching delight to any games collection.

The HeltekoBackseat Car Organizer comes in a set of 2 and fits over the back headrest of the front driver and passenger seating areas. It makes a great portable way to stow your kids and teens belongings as well as snacks and beverages. An easy to reach solution so parents can focus on the road in front of them instead of driving distracted by trying to reach toys. Everything will be right at your kids fingertips! Priced under $30 on Amazon here.

The Lusso Gear Kids Travel Tray for the car is a must-have for parents and guardians traveling with kids. This convenient, portable lap desk comes in multiple color ways as well as two packs. Priced under $40 for a pair and under $30 for singles, this lap desk and organizer can hold drinks, snacks, toys, coloring supplies, books, and more. Grab your travel lapdesk on Amazon here.

We also love the coordinating Lusso Gear Car Seat Organizer which fits in the center seat of your rear seating area. With 9 different storage compartments this really holds it all! From water bottles to stuffies to sunglasses to books and markers and more, you’ll have a convenient kid-friendly way to stow all their travel necessities. Available on Amazon in multiple colorways for under $30!

The National Parks Coloring Book by artist Wyatt Hersey features 12 parks from across the US and is sponsored by Parks Project, which benefits the National Parks Conservation Association! This 12×12 coloring book is perfect for kids, teens, and adults and priced affordably at $12.

The Backyard Nature Coloring Book features 42 illustrations of wildlife spotted in urban and suburban parks and backyards. You’ll find richly detailed illustrations with accurate features and characteristics. Creative minds of all ages will enjoy coloring in insects, mammals, birds, amphibians and more. Affordably priced at just $5 per copy.

The Science and Nature Coloring Book is illustrated by Rachel Ignotofsky, of the Women in Science and The Wondrous Workings of Planet Earth books. Featuring 40 charming and intricate illustrations across 80 pages that are as creative as they are informative, there’s plenty of educational content to color for all ages.

Protect Our National Parks Coloring Book by Lantern Press contributes 1% donation of sales of this project to the national parks. This collection is created by the Lantern Press team featuring original artwork and landscapes inspired by America’s National Parks System. Priced at $13.99 for a 64 page illustrated collection.