14 Classic Travel Games Kids Don’t Play Anymore
These classic travel games used to entertain kids for hours on the road, but most have vanished in the age of screens.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
Before smartphones and tablets, road trips were filled with games that sparked imagination and passed time. Children once played simple, interactive games using just words, paper, or things seen out the window. Today, many of these are forgotten or rarely played during travel.
1. I Spy
Senior Airman Tinese Treadwell on Wikimedia Commons
“I Spy” was a guessing game where one person picked an object they could see and others guessed what it was. It helped kids focus on their surroundings and sharpen observation skills. The game was quiet, needed no tools, and worked well with any age group. It’s now mostly replaced by videos and mobile games.
2. The License Plate Game
GIZMOFY on Wikimedia Commons
This game challenged players to spot license plates from as many states as possible. It encouraged awareness, memory, and geography knowledge. Families often kept checklists and got excited about rare state plates. Today, kids rarely look up from their devices long enough to notice them.
3. Punch Buggy (Slug Bug)
Lothar Spurzem on Wikimedia Commons
Kids would yell “Punch Buggy!” and lightly hit a sibling’s arm when spotting a Volkswagen Beetle. It was playful and competitive, making car rides more exciting. Arguments over what counted were common but part of the fun. Now, with fewer Beetles on the road and screen distraction, it’s nearly forgotten.
4. The Alphabet Game
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Players searched for each letter of the alphabet on road signs and billboards, starting from A to Z. It required patience and attention to detail, especially for harder letters like Q and Z. This game could go on for hours on long highways. Most kids today don’t even notice road signs anymore.
5. 20 Questions
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One player thought of something, and others asked up to 20 yes-or-no questions to guess it. It built logic, curiosity, and teamwork between siblings or friends. People could play it endlessly without needing anything at all. It’s now rarely used, even though it was perfect for filling quiet travel time.
6. Categories
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Someone would name a category (like animals or cities), and players took turns naming something in that group. The game was simple but tested memory and vocabulary. It often turned into laughs and debates over answers. With phones and tablets available, this verbal challenge is no longer a go-to game.
7. Hangman
Cmglee on Wikimedia Commons
This classic word game was played on paper or even just fogged-up windows. It helped kids learn spelling and vocabulary while staying competitive. Players had to guess the word before the stick figure was completed. Now, most kids play word games on screens, if at all.
8. Tic-Tac-Toe
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Often drawn on napkins, notebooks, or the backs of receipts, this game needed only a writing surface. It was fast, easy, and could be played over and over again. Kids often played it when bored at rest stops or restaurants. Now it’s seen more on phone apps than in real life.
9. Connect the Dots
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This game turned a page of dots into a challenge of creating boxes and claiming the most space. It taught turn-taking and a simple strategy. Many kids played it with siblings to pass the time while riding or waiting. Few children today play it without a screen.
10. Who Am I?
paurian on Wikimedia Commons
Players asked yes-or-no questions to figure out which famous person or character someone was thinking of. It made people think critically and creatively. It worked for many age groups and could last for a while. It’s mostly disappeared now, with trivia games moving online.
11. Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournaments
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Kids would go beyond one quick game and turn it into a long tournament. It involved quick thinking and luck, and was a favorite among siblings. Players created scores, rounds, and even prizes for the winner. Now, it’s mostly just used to settle quick arguments.
12. Road Trip Bingo
Lord Belbury on Wikimedia Commons
Kids had bingo cards filled with common sights like cows, bridges, or stop signs. As they spotted items, they marked off their cards, trying to get five in a row. It added excitement to long, flat drives. Most don’t even know the game existed unless it’s sold as a novelty.
13. Counting Cows
Wowan1978 on Wikimedia Commons
Children would count cows on their side of the car, trying to beat the other side. If they passed a graveyard, all cows on that side were “lost.” It was fun, simple, and oddly intense on long drives. It’s been nearly wiped out in the digital age.
14. Story Chain
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One person would start a story with a sentence, and others added to it one by one. It was great for building imagination and hearing wild, funny stories. Families could turn a dull ride into something creative and silly. With headphones in every ear now, this shared activity rarely happens.