15 Road Trip Traditions Kids Loved in the ’60s

The family road trip of the 1960s was a unique experience that existed long before the era of digital screens and handheld games. For a child, the backseat of a large station wagon was a private world where the passing landscape became a backdrop for endless activities. Without the distraction of modern technology, siblings had to find creative ways to entertain themselves using only what they could see through the windows. These traditions were passed down through families and became a familiar part of every summer vacation spent on the open road. This decade of travel was built on the simple joy of discovery and the close bond of a family sharing a very small space for many days.

1. Spotting License Plates

One of the most popular ways to pass the time was to look for license plates from as many different states as possible. Each child would keep a handwritten list in a notebook or on a piece of paper, checking off each new state they spotted. Finding a plate from a distant place like Alaska or Hawaii was considered a major victory that would be talked about for the rest of the day. The bright colors and different slogans on the plates made them easy to identify even from a distance on the highway. This game turned every passing car into a potential prize and kept eyes glued to the window for hours. It was a simple way to learn geography while sitting in the backseat of the car.

2. Playing Punch Buggy

Whenever a Volkswagen Beetle appeared on the road, the first child to see it would shout out the color and give their sibling a gentle tap on the arm. This game required constant alertness because those small cars were very common but could appear at any moment. There were often debates about whether a specific car counted if it was a different model or if it was parked on the side of the road. It was a high-energy tradition that kept everyone engaged with the traffic surrounding the family vehicle. The thrill of being the first to spot the bug made the game last for hundreds of miles without getting old. It was a classic piece of car culture that every kid understood.

3. Alphabet Road Signs

This game involved finding every letter of the alphabet in order by looking at the text on road signs, billboards, and truck logos. You had to start with the letter A and could not move on to B until you saw it printed somewhere outside the car. Some letters, like Q or X, were incredibly difficult to find and could leave the whole family stuck for an hour or more. This required everyone to read every sign out loud, which often led to a lot of laughter and shouting. It was a great way for younger kids to practice their reading skills while contributing to the group effort. The game finally ended when someone spotted a Z on a distant warehouse or a construction sign.

4. Singing Folk Songs

Without a working radio in every car, families often passed the time by singing popular folk songs and campfire tunes together. Everyone knew the lyrics to classic tracks about working on the railroad or traveling through the mountains. These sing-alongs helped to drown out the drone of the engine and made the time feel like it was moving much faster. Parents would often take the lead, teaching new verses to the children as they drove through scenic areas. It created a sense of unity and joy that made the cramped space of the car feel much more comfortable. These songs became the unofficial soundtrack of the summer and left a lasting impression on everyone who joined in.

5. Counting Cows

In the rural stretches of the country, kids would compete to see who could count the most cows on their side of the car. The rules were simple until you passed a cemetery, which meant you had to lose all your points and start over from zero. This added a sense of tension to the game, as everyone looked ahead for the white headstones that would ruin their score. It was a way to stay focused on the beautiful farmland and rolling hills that stretched out for miles. Sometimes the groups of animals were so large that it was impossible to count them all, leading to friendly arguments over the final number. It turned a quiet drive through the country into a competitive sport.

6. Reading Paper Maps

Before the invention of GPS, children would often act as the assistant navigator by holding a large, crinkly paper map. They would trace the red and blue lines with their fingers to see which towns were coming up next on the route. Learning how to read the legend and calculate the distances between cities was a valuable skill that made the kids feel important. They would announce the names of rivers and mountain ranges as the car crossed over them, providing a live commentary of the trip. The map was often so big that it would cover the entire backseat and require two people to fold it back up correctly. It was a tactile way to connect with the physical world outside.

7. Waving at Truckers

Kids would spend a lot of time looking out the back window and pumping their arms to encourage truck drivers to honk their loud air horns. When a driver finally responded with a deep and booming blast, it was a moment of pure excitement for everyone in the car. Most truckers were happy to oblige and would give a friendly wave as they passed the family station wagon. This interaction made the children feel like they were part of a secret club of travelers on the highway. It was a simple gesture of goodwill that broke up the silence of a long afternoon on the road. The sound of the horn would echo through the cabin and stay in their minds for many miles.

8. The Car Cooler

Every morning, the family would pack a large metal or plastic cooler with ice, sandwiches, and bottles of soda for the journey. Reaching into the icy water to pull out a cold treat was a refreshing ritual that happened at every lunch break. The sandwiches were often wrapped in wax paper, which gave them a specific scent and texture that kids came to associate with vacations. Having a portable kitchen meant the family could stop at any scenic pull-off instead of waiting for a restaurant. The sound of the lid snapping shut was a signal that the break was over, and it was time to get back on the road. It was a centerpiece of the trip that provided comfort and fuel.

9. Sharing a Comics Pile

Parents would often buy a stack of new comic books before the trip to keep the kids quiet and entertained during the long stretches of highway. Siblings would trade issues back and forth until everyone had read every single story in the pile. These colorful pages offered an escape into worlds of superheroes and funny animals while the car moved through the desert or the woods. Reading in a moving car could sometimes make people feel a bit sick, so there were frequent breaks to look at the horizon. The comics were often worn out and tattered by the end of the week from so much handling. They were a precious resource that made the backseat feel like a private library.

10. I Spy Games

The classic game of I Spy was a constant presence on road trips because it could be played by children of almost any age. One person would choose an object inside or outside the car and give a small hint based on its color. The others would then take turns guessing what the object could be, ranging from a distant barn to a specific button on the dashboard. It required a keen eye and a bit of clever thinking to stump the other players for more than a few minutes. This game was perfect for when the car was stuck in traffic or moving slowly through a small town. It was a quiet way to keep everyone focused and engaged without needing any toys or equipment.

11. Sleeping on the Floor

In the large cars of the sixties, there was often enough room for a small child to curl up on the flat floor in the back. With a pillow and a soft blanket, they could hide away from the sun and take a long nap while the adults talked up front. The hum of the tires on the pavement and the gentle swaying of the car acted like a lullaby that made falling asleep very easy. This was a time before strict seatbelt laws, so moving around the cabin was much more common than it is today. Being tucked away in a cozy corner made the long journey feel much more like a sleepover on wheels. It was a comfortable way to pass the time during the night.

12. Finding roadside Statues

The highways were once lined with giant fiberglass statues designed to catch the eye of passing families and pull them into local businesses. Kids would scream with delight at the sight of a thirty-foot-tall lumberjack or a massive concrete dinosaur standing in a field. These landmarks were often used as markers of how far the family had come on its journey. Stopping to take a photo with a giant muffler man or a prehistoric beast was a mandatory part of the vacation experience. These oddities added a sense of whimsy and fun to the landscape that modern highways often lack. They were the stars of the road and the main subject of many family slide shows.

13. Eating at Drive-Ins

Stopping for dinner often meant pulling into a drive-in restaurant where a carhop would bring a tray of food directly to the window. The tray would clip onto the side of the door, allowing everyone to eat their burgers and fries without ever leaving their seats. This was a high-tech and exciting way to have a meal that made the kids feel like they were living in the future. Shakes were served in real glass metal tins, and the fries came in paper sleeves that would get greasy in the heat. It was a social event where you could see other traveling families and admire their cars while you ate. The experience was a highlight of the day that everyone looked forward to.

14. Collector Card Sets

Some gasoline companies and cereal brands gave out sets of collector cards that featured images of historic cars or famous national parks. Kids would collect these throughout the summer, trading their duplicates with friends or siblings during the drive. These cards were small enough to fit into a pocket and provided a lot of information about the places the family might be visiting. Looking at the pictures of the Grand Canyon or the Statue of Liberty made the long miles feel worth the effort. It was a way to bring a piece of the world home with you after the vacation was over. These small pieces of cardboard were highly prized and carefully kept in cigar boxes or special albums.

15. Writing in Journals

Many children were encouraged to keep a daily diary of their travels, noting down the names of the towns they visited and the things they ate. They would glue in ticket stubs from museums or pressed flowers found at a rest stop along the way. These journals became a personal history of the trip that could be shared with teachers and classmates once school started again in the fall. Writing down the funny things that happened in the car helped the kids process the experience and remember the details. It was a quiet activity in the evening at a motel or a campsite, after the sun went down. These notebooks are now cherished keepsakes that hold the memories of a much simpler time.

• Tags:
• 60s Travel
• family traditions
• Roadside Games
• Vintage Vacation
• childhood memories