School Break Road Trips

Mess and Screen Free Activities for Kids

Whether you are headed somewhere this spring break, or maybe over summer break, a long road trip with kids can seem like forever when they become bored, tired and ready to be out of the vehicle. But – there are ways to pass the time and keep the kids engaged between the famous question, “Are we there yet?” Here are several ideas to keep your vehicle clean, your kids entertained and everyone happy!

Mess Free Activity Books 

Crayola makes mess free color wonder coloring sets for kids. Many are themed by characters like Bluey, Paw Patrol and Spidey. You can buy them ready to go with coloring pages and mess free markers. They also make a drawing board, too. 

Coloring books are also a great option of course, but coloring pencils are ideal so weeks later you don’t find melted crayons hidden beneath your seats. Word searches and educational activity books for your children’s ages are great to keep them learning while on the road. 

Games/Puzzles 

You can find many car-friendly games and puzzles to keep your kids engaged. From magnetic puzzles—to keep the pieces off the floor—to search and find books and memory matching and/or bingo game boards, there are tons of options available to pack up and bring along. You can even find a travel edition scavenger hunt game – thanks, Amazon! 

Search and Find 

When the kids are tired of holding activities books, games and puzzles in their lap, you can always turn to entertainment for the entire family to enjoy. Some ideas might be to play I-Spy where everyone searches for something inside the vehicle that’s a specific color, or going through the colors of the rainbow to find vehicles that are those colors as you pass by. Make up a game to see how many McDonald’s signs/restaurants you pass on the way to your destination. Something funny will always keep their attention. It’s also a great way to have kids see new things you can talk about as a family. Sometimes the best part about roads trips are the conversations we have together. 

Educational Podcasts/Kids Music 

There are many podcasts designed for kids that will keep them laughing but also educate them at the same time. This is a great way to help them sit back and relax for a little bit. It might not be the most entertaining thing to listen to for the parents, but if your kids are laughing and having fun thats all that matters.