9 Travel Games to Keep You Sane (and Actually Have Fun)
Long trips can drag – whether it’s a never-ending bus ride, a delayed flight, or a road trip where every hour feels like three.
Sure, we could listen to music or dive into a book, but let’s face it: reading in a moving vehicle is just a motion sickness headache waiting to happen. And holding a phone for hours? Not exactly ergonomic, especially when your elbow keeps bumping into the seat next to you.
That’s where these travel games come in. Most of them don’t require screens, making them perfect for motion-sensitive moments or when you want to give your eyes (and hands) a break. A couple might involve a phone, but they’re quick, easy, and fun enough to make it worth it.
These games add just the right amount of travel fun to any journey – whether you’re travelling solo, quietly passing time, or reluctantly engaging with others.
From rewards that make you smile to light-hearted punishments that’ll keep everyone laughing, they’re here to make the journey as memorable as the destination.
1. Geo-Guessing Challenge
Best for airports, long train rides, or waiting for a delayed flight.
How to play:
Open Google Maps or a geo-guessing app.
Drop yourself into a random location on Street View.
Look for clues – signs, landscapes, or architecture – and guess where you are. Closest guess wins!
Optional twist:
Reward: Winner gets to pick the next snack.
Punishment: Loser has to share their most embarrassing travel story.
You’re staring intently at a winding dirt road surrounded by palm trees. “Are those coconuts? Maybe this is Thailand?” Suddenly, someone yells, “It’s Brazil!” and chaos ensues.
Why it’s fun: It’s a mix of exploration, education, and just enough challenge to keep things interesting.
2. Road Trip Bingo
Best for scenic road trips – avoid highways with limited views.
How to play:
Create or download bingo cards with route-specific items (e.g., a red truck, a barn, a gas station sign).
Mark them off as you spot them.
First person to get Bingo wins!
Optional twist:
Reward: Winner gets shotgun for the next leg of the trip.
Punishment: Loser has to pump the gas or clean the windshield at the next stop.
You’re holding a marker, scanning the roadside like a hawk. “Did that count as a barn?” you whisper, only for someone else to shout, “Bingo!”
Why it’s fun: It turns the journey into an adventure, especially if the route is packed with quirky sights.
3. Colour Spotting Challenge
Best for city driving or urban environments – not endless highways.
How to play:
Pick a car colour (e.g., yellow) and count how many you spot in a set time.
The person who finds the fewest has to complete a dare, like wearing their hat backward for the next round.
You’re locked in an intense car-colour hunt when someone yells, “There’s another yellow car!” and you’re left wondering how you missed it... again.
Why it’s fun: It’s simple, adaptable, and gets everyone (even introverts) looking out the window.
4. Who Am I? (Travel Edition)
Best for layovers, train rides, or small group road trips.
How to play:
Someone else writes a famous landmark, city, or travel item (e.g., a passport) on a sticky note and sticks it to your forehead.
Ask yes/no questions to figure out what you are.
The faster you guess, the better your score!
Optional twist:
Reward: Winner picks the playlist.
Punishment: Loser has to carry the bags or buy the next round of snacks.
A sticky note reading “Eiffel Tower” is stuck to your forehead. “Am I tall?” you ask. “Am I French?” Yes and yes. It all clicks: “Am I the Eiffel Tower?!” Bingo.
Why it’s fun: It’s low-stakes, silly, and perfect for filling time without much effort.
5. Travel Trivia
Best for flights, train rides, or waiting in long lines.
How to play:
Come up with trivia questions about your destination or general travel knowledge.
Take turns answering.
Most correct answers wins.
Optional twist:
Reward: Winner picks the dinner spot when you arrive.
Punishment: Loser has to be the group photographer for the day.
You’re mid-flight, stumped by a question: “What’s the capital of Australia?” Someone guesses Sydney. Nope. It’s Canberra. You all groan and laugh.
Why it’s fun: It’s educational and makes you even more excited about your destination.
6. Music Memory Lane
Best for solo travellers or close-knit groups.
How to play:
Play songs that remind you of past trips or dream destinations.
Share the stories tied to the songs, or quietly reflect.
Optional twist:
Reward: Best story gets to pick the next playlist.
Punishment: Worst story means buying snacks for everyone.
You’re sitting by the window, headphones on, as that one song takes you back to a sunset in Santorini. The breeze on your face, the laughter – it’s all there again.
Why it’s fun: Music has a way of making travel feel even more magical.
7. Would You Rather: Travel Edition
Best for any form of travel.
How to play:
Take turns asking travel-themed “Would you rather” questions.
Example: “Would you rather hike Machu Picchu or scuba dive in the Maldives?”
If someone refuses to answer, they owe a dare.
“Would you rather explore a rainforest or a desert?” sparks a heated debate as everyone shares their travel preferences and fears.
Why it’s fun: It sparks meaningful conversations about dreams and preferences.
8. Emoji Pictionary: Travel Style
Best for texting or sitting around with friends.
How to play:
Use emojis to describe destinations, activities, or travel essentials. Example: 🗽✈️🍕 = New York City.
Others guess what you’re describing.
Keep score, and the winner gets a small prize.
Optional twist:
Reward: Winner gets to skip carrying bags for the day.
Punishment: Loser has to act out their favourite travel moment in charades.
You’re texting your friend a string of emojis: 🏰🍷🍇. “Disneyland?” they guess. Wrong. “It’s Tuscany!” you reply with a smug grin.
Why it’s fun: It’s creative, simple, and doesn’t require a lot of interaction – unless you want it to.
9. Travel Story Chain
Best for long layovers or extended downtime.
How to play:
Start a travel story with one sentence: “Once, I got lost in Paris.”
The next person adds a sentence to continue the story.
Keep going until the story becomes ridiculous (and hilarious).
Optional twist:
Reward: Best storyteller gets to pick the next game.
Punishment: Worst storyteller has to tell an actual embarrassing travel moment.
“Once, I got lost in Paris.” Someone adds, “Then a pigeon stole my baguette.” By the third person, the Eiffel Tower is somehow on fire.
Why it’s fun: It’s part creativity, part chaos.
Make Travel Fun
Whether you’re flying solo or travelling with others, these games can turn the dullest moments into something memorable. Travel isn’t just about where you’re going – it’s about the little moments you create along the way.
