Are you hoping you don’t have to hear the dreaded, “Are we there yet?” on your next RV vacation? To make sure your family enjoys their trip to the fullest, here are five fun ways to keep your kids busy in the car and prevent boredom from setting in. From classic car games to modern technology, you’ll find something that will be sure to keep your kids smiling while they’re in the car. 

Play I Spy

Long before Ipads and laptops, I Spy was one of the only ways to keep kids content on long car rides. The game doesn’t require any materials, so it’s always convenient. The rules are simple: one person picks an object they see and says, “I spy with my little eye, something that is blue.” The other players then take turns guessing what the object is until someone correctly identifies it. Then, the correct guesser gets to be the next spy.

Playing I Spy in an RV rental can be even more fun because there are so many interesting objects on the way. Encourage your kids to pick things that are both inside and outside the vehicle to keep things interesting. It’s a great way to pass the time on long drives and get everyone involved, even a pouting teen or a hyper toddler.

Have a Moving Movie Theater

One way to keep kids busy is to host a moving movie theater. Before the trip, download the same movie to all of your children’s devices. If they don’t have tablets, consider buying a second-hand DVD player. Mount it from the driver’s headrest so the kids can watch the same film. If you’re traveling in a class C with a TV in front of the seating, you can play the movie from there.

Pack some of your kids’ favorite movie theater snacks, like popcorn and jellybeans. Instead of them each getting lost in their own devices, your kids can watch the same movie together. You can build up anticipation by picking a movie no one has seen yet.

Throw a Dance Party

Because road trips mean sitting in a car for an extended period, kids often get antsy and complain. But, if you throw a car dance party, you can let them get their energy out before you hear any whining. Before your vacation, make a playlist of everyone’s favorite catchy tunes.

You should also gather up some props, like scarves and hats. When you’ve been in the car for an hour or longer, pass out the props and turn up the music. The kids can do their best dance moves from the comfort of their seats. As an added bonus, the movement relieves stress. The activity doesn’t just pass the time but also keeps everyone from fighting.

If anyone seems reluctant to let loose, offer a prize to the best dancer. The winner might get a special dessert, a trophy, or a nice souvenir. Meanwhile, you could make the person who moves the least wear a silly hat all day. 

Play Road Trip Bingo

Here’s a low-tech classic car game. If you haven’t already played road trip bingo, you should know that it’s easy. You can buy bingo cards or make your own. In every grid on the card, there’s a picture of something you might see on the road. Every time someone sees an item in real life, they cross it off on their bingo card. The first person to mark off a full row or column yells “Bingo!” and is the winner. 

Although this game is similar to I Spy, it’s a little more educational. If you make your own bingo cards, you can pick sights that teach the kids about the location. Use the game as a learning experience and the kids can learn more about the area they’re in. For instance, in parts of Florida, people use old school buses to transport watermelons. You can have conversations about all things unique and wonderful!

Make It Story Time

Stories bring families together and keep kids entertained during road trips. And with audiobooks, you can enjoy story time without getting car sick. Before your RV vacation, download a few interesting audiobooks. You can find books about everything from classic children’s literature to newer titles that are sure to capture their imaginations. 

After you listen to a book in the car, have a discussion about it. You can make it like a book club. Talk about the characters in the story and the main message of the book. Depending on the length of the book, story time could take up more than an hour of your road trip. 

Other Tips and Tricks for Your RV Vacation

Driving with kids is no easy task. After only 30 minutes, they could start to lose interest. Fortunately, there are other ways to keep your kids entertained. For one, you should bring a variety of snacks. Even the fussiest of toddlers stay quiet for a short time if you have the right snacks. Make sure you make them easily accessible, or you’ll be stopping every hour to get more food from your trunk.

Another way to keep the kids happy is to pack a few toys from the dollar store. A few days before you travel, take a trip to the dollar store. Let each kid pick out five or six toys that they can use in the car. Things like coloring books, simple crafts, and dolls work well for road trips. Although you might be tempted to open the toys ahead of time, wait until the road trip to open them. Part of the fun is in opening the toys, and this helps kill time.

Finally, try to stay calm. When you’re en route to a campground or RV resort, you might feel rushed and overwhelmed. But kids sense that negative energy. Try to release any stress before you get in the car, and maintain a level head. In the end, your kids feed off your energy. If you’re happy and follow the tips above, you can get to your RV vacation destination with as little stress as possible.