35 Road Trip Games for Couples That Are Super Fun

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The best games for couples to pass time on a long road trip

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IN THIS ARTICLE

1 20 Questions

2 Alphabet

3 License Plate Anagrams

4 The Picnic Game

5 Desert Island

6 Hum That Tune

7 Two Truths and a Lie

8 Never Have I Ever

9 Would You Rather

10 Atlas

11 Hot Seat

12 Compliment Giving Game

13 The Newlywed Game

14 Kiss, Marry, Kill

15 Truth or Dare

16 Spicy Storytelling

17 Junk Reminiscing

18 Who Are They?

19 Fortunately, Unfortunately

20 The Question Game

21 Degrees of Separation

22 Sorry I Was Late

23 The Movie Game

24 Lyrical Connections

25 Speak in Song

26 License Plate Decoder

27 License Plate Mathematician

28 Slug Bug

29 Strip Padiddle

30 Odd Color Car

31 Road Trip Bingo

32 Road Trip Trivia

33 Mystery Stop and Shop

34 Count Your Steps

35 36 Questions to Fall In Love

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Co-authored by Sophie Burkholder, BA Reviewed by John Keegan

Last Updated: May 6, 2024 Fact Checked

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Road trips are great for couples: seeing romantic scenery, duetting your favorite songs, and spending quality time with your significant other. You can use the miles to get to know each other better, improve your intimacy, or spice things up—and this list of games will help you do all that. If you’re packing up for a road trip with your boyfriend, girlfriend, or significant other, try these games to grow closer to your partner in the most fun way possible!

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1

20 Questions

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1. Ask your partner to think of anything like an animal, place, person, or thing. Then, ask your partner yes or no questions to try and guess what they’re thinking. If you don’t guess correctly within 20 questions, you lose! Some good starter questions to ask are:

   • Is it a living thing?
   • Is this person alive?
   • Is this person famous?
   • Can this animal fly?
   • Does this animal eat meat?
   • Is this object smaller than a breadbox?
   • Can I see this object in the car now?
   • Is this place somewhere I’ve been to?
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2

Alphabet

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1. Work together to find something on the road that starts with every alphabet letter in order. Take turns or work collaboratively to find an object for each letter. For example, “American flag” for “A,” “bus” for “B,” “cow” for “C,” etc.

   • For an added challenge, only use words you see that start with each letter. Look for words on road signs, street signs, or bumper stickers.

3

License Plate Anagrams

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1. 
   Read the license plates of the cars around you. Try to make as many words as possible from each license plate. For example, the license plate “2GATOH” has the words “hot,” “goth,” and “toga” hidden in it.
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4

The Picnic Game

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1. Start by saying, “I’m going to a picnic and bringing ____.” Beginning with the letter “A,” choose something to bring to a picnic, like “artichoke hearts” or “ants.” You and your partner then take turns naming items that start with each letter of the alphabet until you reach the end of the alphabet or someone gets stumped!

5

Desert Island

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1. 
   Tell your partner you’re going to a desert island. They can come, but they have to bring something that fits your secret rule. Tell your partner what you are bringing to the desert island before they give some ideas. Tell them whether they can bring that item based on your rule. Continue playing until they run out of ideas or correctly guess your rule.

   • One example rule is everything has to have a double letter in the word. Start with, “I’m going to a desert island and bringing a lollipop.” Your partner can bring “rolls,” “spoons,” or “spaghetti,” but they can’t bring “lemons,” “forks,” or “sushi.”
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6

Hum That Tune

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1. Take turns humming the rhythm of a song you both know. Your partner must try to correctly guess the name of the tune. When the right song is guessed (or revealed), switch off! Depending on your musical skills, this game can result in a lot of giggles.

7

Two Truths and a Lie

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1. Say three statements about yourself, two that are true and one that is false. Your partner must guess which statement is the lie. Once the truth has been revealed, switch!

   • Make all the statements about your relationship or mutual friends for a more personal touch.
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8

Never Have I Ever

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1. 
   Hold up 10 fingers and take turns saying something you’ve never done, like “Never have I ever…ghosted someone.” If you’ve done it before, you must put down a finger. Once all your fingers are down, you lose.

   • Turn this game into a storytelling activity by telling each other the story behind what you have done.
   • To spice this game up a little more for couples, kiss each other or take off an item of clothing for each thing you have done.

9

Would You Rather

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1. Use a list of flirty Would You Rather questions or make up your own. Take turns answering and explaining your reasoning. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

   • Would you rather relax on a beach or climb a mountain?
   • Would you rather have more time or more money?
   • Would you rather get stuck in an elevator with someone you hate or be alone?
   • Would you rather never wear underwear or socks again?
   • Would you rather be the big spoon or the little spoon?
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10

Atlas

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1. Start by saying the name of a country, city, state, or any other geographical region. Your partner must say a new place starting with the original word's last letter. Play this game with virtually any category, like foods, sports teams, or names.

   • Atlas: “Spain” → “New Mexico → “Oman…”
   • Foods: “Peanuts” → “Shortbread → “Deviled eggs…”
   • Sports Teams: “Manchester United” → “Denver Broncos → “San Francisco 49ers…”
   • Names: “Roy Rogers” → “Sandra Bullock → “Keanu Reeves…”

11

Hot Seat

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1. 
   Set a timer for 1 minute and ask your partner as many questions as you can. They must answer your questions honestly, according to the game's rules. After their 1-minute round is up, switch up whose backside is in the symbolic hot seat! Try questions like:

   • Who is your biggest celebrity crush?
   • What song lives in your head rent-free?
   • Do you think aliens believe in humans?
   • What’s your favorite swear word?
   • What’s one of your guilty pleasures?
   • Do you believe in being monogamous?
   • What’s a secret that only your closest friend knows about you?
   • What piece of advice did you receive that changed your life?
   • Have you ever had a near-death experience?
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12

Compliment Giving Game

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1. Go through the alphabet and give your partner a compliment that begins with each letter. This game will both keep you entertained and bring you closer!

   • For example, “I love your ambition” followed by “You’re breathtakingly beautiful.”

13

The Newlywed Game

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1. Choose a question about yourself or your relationship. Write down your answer or have it in your head, then ask your partner the same question. If they get it right, that’s a point for them! P.S., you don’t have to actually be newlyweds to enjoy this game.

   • What is your partner’s dream job?
   • How does your partner like their eggs?
   • What color are your partner’s eyes?
   • Who is most likely to lose their temper in traffic?
   • What does your partner usually wear to bed?
   • When and where was our first kiss?
   • Who made the first move?
   • Who said “I love you” first?
   • Who is the better gift-giver?
   • Who gives better massages?
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14

Kiss, Marry, Kill

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1. Give your partner the names of three celebrities, characters, or people you know. They must decide who they would kiss, marry, and (kindly!) kill out of that group. Trade off giving each other trios to play with, but be careful not to hurt feelings!

   • Famous Justins: Justin Bieber, Justin Trudeau, Justin Timberlake.
   • Girl group members: Victoria Beckham, Camila Cabello, Beyoncé.
   • Fictional vampires: Angel, Edward Cullen, Damon Salvatore.
   • Disney princesses: Ariel, Pocahontas, Snow White.

15

Truth or Dare

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1. Ask your partner if they want a truth or a dare. If they choose a dare, challenge them to do something silly or saucy. If they choose a truth, ask them any question you want. You can make up a rule for if someone refuses a dare or truth, like having to treat their partner to coffee or a back massage later.

   • Truth: What is the grossest habit you have?
   • Dare: Lick whatever’s directly in front of you.
   • Truth: What did you think when you first met me?
   • Dare: Dance at every red light & make eye contact with the cars beside you.
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16

Spicy Storytelling

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1. The first person starts by saying a word or sentence. Then, each person trades off adding a word or sentence until the story is complete. Your story can be silly, personal, or for adults only!

   • For example, start with, “This morning, we heard a knock on the door.”
   • Your partner may continue, “When we went to answer it, no one was there.”
   • You respond, “I shrugged and closed the door, only to hear the doorbell ringing!”
   • This pattern continues until the story comes to a natural end.

17

Junk Reminiscing

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1. 
   Go through spaces in your car that accumulate junk, like the center console, glove compartment, or backseat pockets. Remember where certain receipts, matchboxes, or other random items came from…like that coaster from that diner you went to for your anniversary. This simple activity is especially good for couples that share a car or have been together for a long time.
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18

Who Are They?

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1. Choose a nearby car or someone you see close by. Make a story about them, like where they’re from or headed. Get creative to keep everyone entertained for hours, even when stuck in a traffic jam!

   • Maybe you see a woman in the car next to you. You could say, “Her name is Marjorie Mums. She was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, and takes that cowboy hat everywhere. It belonged to her great-grandfather, but now she puts it on her dog, Frito, when she takes him for walks. Today, she’s on the way to see her long-lost lover that she met on a summer vacation to Greece.”

19

Fortunately, Unfortunately

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1. Begin with any sentence, like “One day, a young couple set off on a road trip.” Your partner then adds a sentence that begins with “unfortunately,” like “Unfortunately, the girlfriend didn’t put on deodorant and stunk up the whole car.” Then you'll add something fortunate, like “Fortunately, her boyfriend loved her so much that he didn’t mind.”

   • This silly game can go on for as long as you want, and you can take it in any direction you like!
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20

The Question Game

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1. Ask your partner any question. They must respond with a different question, without making any kind of statement or rhetorical question. Go back and forth until someone makes a mistake, hesitates, or repeats the question back. For example, you would be out if you responded to the question “Do you like fruit?” with:

   • ”Do YOU like fruit?” (Repetition)
   • ”I like fruit.” (Statement)
   • ”Um…” (Hesitation)
   • Instead, respond to “Do you like fruit?” with “Does fruit have seeds?” or “Is a tomato a fruit?”

21

Degrees of Separation

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1. 
   Give your partner two seemingly unrelated people, places, or things. Set a two-minute timer. They must find a connection in six or fewer steps. Try the same game with actors, linking the two in six steps or less based on what they’ve starred in.

   • Bumblebees and outer space: “Bumblebees are the main characters in Bee Movie, an animated film. Animated films are also made by Pixar and Disney, who made the movie Toy Story. That movie stars a character named Buzz Lightyear, a toy astronaut who dreams of going to outer space.”
   • Jessica Chastain and Rihanna: Jessica Chastain was in The Huntsman with Liam Neeson, who was in Battleship with Rihanna.
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22

Sorry I Was Late

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1. Start by saying, “Sorry I was late…” then give an excuse that matches the plot of a famous film. For example, say, “Sorry I was late; I found a little alien and had to take him home on my bike to meet my siblings.” See if your partner can guess what movie you’re describing.

23

The Movie Game

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1. Start by naming a famous actor. Your partner must name a movie the actor has starred in. Then, you have to name another actor in that movie, and your partner has to name a movie that this new performer starred in. Play continues like this until someone is stumped!

   • For example, you could name Zendaya. Your partner could name Dune, which Zendaya starred in.
   • You then must name another actor in Dune, like Timothée Chalamet or Stellan Skarsgård.
   • If you say Stellan Skarsgård, your partner could say Mamma Mia or Good Will Hunting. Play continues until someone can’t name another movie or actor.
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24

Lyrical Connections

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1. Sing or speak the lyrics from a song you and your partner know. When you stop, your partner has to sing the next lyric. If they’re successful, you must continue from where they left off. Keep playing until someone doesn’t know the next line or you finish the song!

   • Start with a line like, “Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?”
   • Your partner must continue, “Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality.”
   • Keep alternating lyrics until someone messes up.

25

Speak in Song

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1. Speak only in song titles for as long as you can. You have to respond to the other with a well-known song title, and whoever messes up first (or pauses too long) is the loser. This game can end with many laughs, but the only other rule is no singing!

   • “Where Have You Been” → “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” → “Wish You Were Here” → “Shake It Off…”
   • “Who Let the Dogs Out?” → “It Wasn’t Me” → “I Gotta Feeling” → “Boy’s a Liar”
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26

License Plate Decoder

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1. Read the license plates around you and use the letters to make full sentences or stories. These are probably going to be pretty silly and nonsensical, but fun! For example, “CSU S4E” could be “crazy Santa understudy scares 4 elves” or “GTGE9F” could be “got to go, eating 9 frankfurters.”

27

License Plate Mathematician

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1. For each license plate you see, try to find a mathematical equation that fits its numbers. For example, the license plate “5J9301” could be 5 = 9 - 3 + 0 - 1. Keep track of who finds the most successful calculations!
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28

Slug Bug

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1. Keep your eyes out for a Volkswagen Beetle car. When you see one on the road, you must be the first to say “Slug Bug!” before smacking your partner on the arm. Add other vehicles to this game with a “PT Cruiser Bruiser,” “Jeep Beep,” “Copper Bopper,” “Dodge Ram Bam,” or “Cadillac Whack.”

29

Strip Padiddle

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1. When driving at night, look for cars with one burnt-out headlight or brake light. These vehicles are known as “padiddles.” Play by smacking each other every time you see a padiddle, or spice it up by removing one piece of clothing for every padiddle. It's a good thing you can only play this at night!
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30

Odd Color Car

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1. 
   Before you drive off, each person picks a unique car color, like pink, yellow, or light blue. Try to spot your car color as much as possible. Whoever sees the most cars of their color by the end of the trip wins! And you and your boo can decide on the prize.

   • To level up this game, remove an article of clothing whenever your partner spots their chosen car color.

31

Road Trip Bingo

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1. Give a Bingo card to whoever is in the passenger seat and have them mark off their card until they have 5 squares in a row. Play together as one of you drives and one of you crosses off what you see.

   • Make your own bingo sheets ahead of time or buy some premade road-trip-themed Bingo cards.
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32

Road Trip Trivia

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1. Designate whoever isn’t driving as the host. They can ask their significant other questions about the country, state, or city you're driving through on your trip. Alternatively, ask questions about each other or a topic you’re both interested in!

   • Google these questions as you go or make a list ahead of time.

33

Mystery Stop and Shop

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1. When you stop at a gas station, rest stop, or roadside attraction, find a silly or sweet gift for your partner. This could be something as simple as their favorite candy, a souvenir shot glass, or a postcard of wherever you are. This is a great way to add excitement to your stops and have more mementos of your time together!
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34

Count Your Steps

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1. Every time you stop for a gas, snack, or bathroom break, set a time for 3-5 minutes. Use a step-counting app or tool and walk (safely) around the parking area. Whoever gets the most steps is the winner! Although you might look a little goofy to the other road-trippers passing by.

35

36 Questions to Fall In Love

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1. 
   Ask your partner these questions shown to increase intimacy in a relationship. Be honest and reflective, and make sure to answer the questions yourself too!

   • Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?
   • Would you like to be famous? In what way?
   • Before making a telephone call, do you ever rehearse what you are going to say? Why?
   • What would constitute a "perfect" day for you?
   • When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?
   • If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?
   • Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?
   • Name three things you and your partner appear to have in common.
   • For what in your life do you feel most grateful?
   • If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?
   • Take four minutes and tell your partner your life story in as much detail as possible.
   • If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?
   • If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future, or anything else, what would you want to know?
   • Is there something that you've dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven't you done it?
   • What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?
   • What do you value most in a friendship?
   • What is your most treasured memory?
   • What is your most terrible memory?
   • If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?
   • What does friendship mean to you?
   • What roles do love and affection play in your life?
   • Alternate sharing something you consider a positive characteristic of your partner. Share a total of five items.
   • How close and warm is your family? Do you feel your childhood was happier than most other people's?
   • How do you feel about your relationship with your mother?
   • Make three true "we" statements each. For instance, "We are both in this room feeling..."
   • Complete this sentence: "I wish I had someone with whom I could share..."
   • If you were going to become a close friend with your partner, please share what would be important for him or her to know.
   • Tell your partner what you like about them; be very honest this time, saying things that you might not say to someone you've just met.
   • Share with your partner an embarrassing moment in your life.
   • When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself?
   • Tell your partner something that you like about them already.
   • What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?
   • If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven't you told them yet?
   • Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?
   • Of all the people in your family, whose death would you find most disturbing? Why?
   • Share a personal problem and ask your partner's advice on how he or she might handle it. Also, ask your partner to reflect to you how you seem to be feeling about the problem you have chosen.
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Tips

• Road trips become even more romantic if you choose the destination wisely, so pick a route with stunning and memorable views. There are plenty of romantic road-trip routes in the United States and all over the world!
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• Preparing for a road trip (and packing for one) can be stressful, so pack some conversation cards or other couples road trip games so your focus can be on each other the whole time.
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• Other ways to stay entertained on road trips include reading a book to each other, listening to podcasts, and visiting kooky roadside attractions.
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