20 Surprisingly Fun Things to Do in a Car When Bored
Long drives can be peaceful—until boredom kicks in and you’ve already counted every tree outside your window. Whether you’re on a road trip, stuck in traffic, or just waiting in the parking lot, it helps to have a few tricks up your sleeve.
That’s where this list of things to do in a car when bored comes in handy. From fun games and creative ideas to relaxing solo activities, there’s something here to make the time pass faster. So if you’re feeling restless on the road, try a few of these ideas and turn idle time into fun time.
1. Play “I Spy” With a Twist
Take the classic “I spy with my little eye…” and give it a creative update. Instead of spying random objects, pick a specific category like road signs, license plate letters, or only things outside the car. Make it competitive by setting time limits or giving small rewards for correct guesses.
You can also rotate themes—like only spying items of one color or shape—to keep things fresh. It’s a fun way to stay engaged with your surroundings and great for kids and adults alike.
2. Listen to a New Podcast Series
Turn your car into a rolling radio theater by queuing up a podcast series. Choose something immersive and easy to follow, like a true crime series (Serial), a fictional thriller (Passenger List), or a comedy (My Dad Wrote a Porno).
Download episodes beforehand so you won’t have to rely on spotty data. Listening together invites conversation and makes the miles fly by, while solo listeners can dive into entire seasons and feel like they’re on an adventure of their own.
3. Create a Shared Playlist
Use a music app like Spotify or Apple Music to build a collaborative playlist. Let each person in the car add five songs—no judgment allowed. Choose themes like “Throwback Jams,” “Songs That Make You Sing,” or “Road Trip Anthems.”
If you’re driving solo, create a mix to match your mood: calming tunes for relaxing, energetic tracks for staying alert, or a mix of both. Listening to a customized playlist adds a soundtrack to your trip—and makes it more memorable.
4. Try a Tongue-Twister Challenge
Challenge your passengers (or yourself) to master notoriously tricky tongue-twisters like “Irish wristwatch” or “Toy boat” repeated five times. You can print a list in advance or use a mobile app to generate random ones. Compete to see who can say each one three times without stumbling.
The result is usually lots of laughs and a surprising workout for your brain and mouth. It’s great for improving articulation—and even better for passing the time with humor.
5. Invent Stories About Other Drivers
Pick a nearby car and start imagining who the driver is and where they’re going. “That guy in the black SUV? He’s a secret agent on his way to deliver top-secret tacos.”
Encourage passengers to build on each other’s stories and turn it into a mini improv game. It’s a great way to stretch your imagination, spark spontaneous laughter, and make traffic jams or long highway stretches far more entertaining.
6. Learn Words in a New Language
Bring out an app like Duolingo or Babbel and challenge yourself or your fellow passengers to learn as many new words as possible in 10 minutes. Choose a language you’re curious about—maybe French, Japanese, or Italian—and then try using your new phrases in mock conversations.
You can even create flashcards or quiz each other on basic vocabulary. This activity isn’t just fun; it gives you a skill you might actually use on a future vacation.
7. Play “Would You Rather?”
“Would you rather have fingers for toes or toes for fingers?” The beauty of this game lies in its randomness and the conversations it inspires. You can find free apps or printable lists online, or just make them up as you go.
Take turns asking each other increasingly absurd or difficult “Would You Rather” questions. It’s an ideal boredom buster because it works for all ages and guarantees surprising, and often hilarious, responses.
8. Record Voice Memos or a Fake Podcast
Use your phone’s voice recording app and pretend you’re podcast hosts on a road trip special. Assign roles: host, guest, producer. Topics can range from reviewing snacks, doing celebrity impressions, telling ghost stories, or sharing ridiculous “hot takes.”
This is a unique and personal way to capture memories, and it’s even more fun if you save the recordings to listen to later or share with friends when the trip’s over.
9. Watch Downloaded Shows or Videos (For Passengers Only)
Before your trip, download a mini binge-worthy series, movie, or playlist from Netflix, Disney+, or YouTube. Pack noise-canceling headphones, a phone stand, and a power bank to stay fully charged.
Go for light-hearted content like The Office, Nailed It!, or travel vlogs to keep the mood fun and breezy. Just be sure to take breaks to avoid screen fatigue and soak in the scenery between episodes.
10. Draw or Doodle in a Notebook
Pack a sketchbook or blank journal and let your creativity loose. Draw caricatures of your fellow passengers, sketch the landscape out the window, or try Zentangle-style doodles that promote calm and focus.
If you’re not into drawing, try creative journaling or writing poetry. These simple acts of creation can be incredibly grounding and give you something tangible to remember the trip by.
11. Rate New Snacks
Hit a gas station before you hit the highway and buy a few snacks you’ve never tried—pickled chips, foreign candy bars, random soda flavors. Try each one and rate it from 1 to 10 based on taste, texture, and weirdness.
Record your scores in your phone or create a “road trip snack awards” category. It’s a great way to make snack time more interactive—and maybe even discover your new favorite guilty pleasure.
12. Call or Text a Friend You Miss
Use this quiet window of time to reconnect with someone you care about. Call a relative you haven’t spoken to in a while or send a quick message to a friend just to say hello. Hearing a familiar voice—or sending a thoughtful note—can brighten someone else’s day as much as it brightens yours.
13. Listen to an Audiobook Together
Pick a book the whole car can enjoy and stream it from Audible or Libby. Choose a thriller for suspense, a memoir for laughs, or a fantasy tale for escapism.
Audiobooks make time pass quickly and can spark interesting conversations during breaks. For solo travelers, they offer an immersive, screen-free escape that turns the road into a storytelling theater.
14. Memorize Song Lyrics
Play a high-energy song like “Bohemian Rhapsody” or “Rap God” and challenge yourself or others to learn it by heart. Rewind and sing until you get the timing right. This mini music mission adds excitement to the ride and turns into a performance challenge by the end of the trip.
15. Play Mobile Puzzle or Word Games
Download offline-friendly games like Wordscapes, Flow Free, Monument Valley, or Two Dots. They’re ideal for quick mental stimulation. If you prefer competitive play, try Heads Up or QuizUp with passengers. These games challenge your brain, reduce restlessness, and keep you engaged even when you’re not moving.
16. Try a Guided Meditation or Deep Breathing Session
Use apps like Calm or Headspace to listen to short guided meditations. Passengers can close their eyes and follow along with breathing exercises, body scans, or even visualizations.
If you’re the driver, do a 3-minute breathing routine during a rest stop. These moments of mindfulness can reset your mood and help reduce travel stress.
17. Plan a Dream Vacation or Bucket List
Open your Notes app or a journal and list all the places you want to visit, foods you want to try, or experiences you want to have.
Turn it into a group activity by brainstorming together and explaining why each item made your list. This not only kills time—it fills you with excitement for the future.
18. Take Funny Photos or Videos with Filters
Use Snapchat, Instagram, or TikTok to try out funny filters and effects. Recreate memes, lip-sync to trending sounds, or pretend you’re travel vloggers documenting the “most boring road ever.” Save the results for a post-trip laugh or share them in a group chat as a surprise.
19. Play the Alphabet Game
Start with “A” and race to “Z” by spotting letters on signs, billboards, or license plates. First person to Z wins! To increase the difficulty, try finding words that start with each letter instead. It keeps everyone alert and tuned into the passing scenery.
20. Challenge Each Other With Trivia
Use a trivia app or search “random trivia questions” online. Choose categories like movies, science, history, or “weird but true.” Create teams and keep score or assign silly consequences for wrong answers (e.g., sing a song or do a dramatic reading of a fast food menu). It’s a great mix of competition, learning, and laughs.
