Long drives have a way of turning into long silences. The right road trip games fix that instantly — and the best ones need no signal, no setup, and nothing but the people in the car. Here are our favorites for keeping everyone entertained mile after mile, even in the middle of nowhere.
Why offline games win on road trips
The moment you leave the city, your bars disappear — and so do most app-based games. That's why the best car games are either fully offline or need no phone at all. Bonus: offline games keep the kids off streaming video and actually talking to each other.
1. Bardak (Alias)
Our pick for the car. Bardak is a fast party word game where you describe a word without saying it while your team guesses against the clock. It works completely offline once your word packs are downloaded, so it's perfect for tunnels, mountains and dead zones. Split into 2 to 4 teams and let the back seat battle the front.
First time playing? Here's how to play Alias in a minute.
2. The Alphabet Game
Spot something starting with A, then B, then C — first to Z wins. Uses road signs and billboards, zero prep, great for younger kids.
3. 20 Questions
One person thinks of a person, place or thing; everyone else gets 20 yes/no questions to guess it. Endlessly replayable and totally screen-free.
4. Two Truths and a Lie
Each person says two true things and one lie about themselves; the rest guess the lie. A surprisingly good way to pass an hour and learn something new about your travel buddies.
5. The Story Game
One person starts a story with a sentence, the next adds a line, and around the car it goes. The results get ridiculous fast.
Pack the car with fun, not boredom
You don't need a board, a deck, or a connection — just a few games and good company. For the one that fits in your pocket and never needs Wi-Fi, download Bardak free: it's 100% free, with no ads and no in-app purchases.
Want more ideas beyond the car? See the best party games to play with friends.