Heading out on a road trip for two can be an exciting and memorable experience. But let’s also be honest that long hours on the road can sometimes lead to boredom. That’s where our favorite road trip games for two come into play.
Playing games not only keeps us entertained but also helps strengthen our bond. So, let’s explore various road trip games that two people can play together. Whether a couple, best friends, or siblings, there are games out there that every duo will enjoy.
Essential Road Trip Games For Two
In considering our favorite road trip games for two, it makes sense to start with the classics. From there, we will explore lesser-known games, but let’s start with the most well-known games, such as ’20 Questions.’
20 Questions
One of our favorite road trip games for two people is 20 Questions. This classic game has been around for decades and is perfect for passing the time on long rides. One person thinks of an object, person, or place, and the other person has 20 questions to figure out what it is. Remember to keep the questions ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and enjoy guessing the mysterious subject.
Two Truths and a Lie
A great game to get to know your travel companion better is Two Truths and a Lie. Each person takes turns stating two true statements and one false statement about themselves. The other person then needs to guess which one is the lie. This game can lead to interesting conversations and helps you both learn more about each other.
Would You Rather
Would You Rather is a fantastic road trip game for creating interesting discussions between the two of you. One person asks the other a question in a “would you rather” format, providing two different scenarios to choose from. For example, “Would you rather have unlimited time or unlimited money?” The other person answers and gives their reasoning, and then it’s their turn to ask a question.
Alphabet Game
The Alphabet Game is a classic road trip game that tests your memory and observation skills. The goal is to find words that begin with each letter of the alphabet, in order, on road signs, billboards, or license plates. Both participants play simultaneously, and the one who reaches the letter “Z” first wins.
License Plate Game
Finally, the License Plate Game is another fun way to stay entertained during road trips. The objective is to find license plates from different states or countries. You can make it more interesting by assigning points based on the distance of the state or country from your current location. Whoever has the most points at the end of the trip wins.
These essential road trip games for two are perfect for making your journey more enjoyable and memorable. Engaging in these activities not only helps pass the time but also strengthens your bond with your travel companion.
Word Games and Brain Teasers: Road Trip Games For Two
While the License Plate Game has its time and place, it’s also true that almost anyone can play. To take things up a notch, you might consider different types of road trip games for two that are more challenging.
For instance, consider these word games and brain teasers:
The Movie Game
The Movie Game is one of the engaging word games and a perfect choice for pairs on a long journey. To play, one person starts by naming an actor along with a movie title featuring the actor. The next person must name another actor from that same movie, followed by another movie title featuring the new actor. The game continues until someone cannot name an actor or movie. For example:
- Person 1: Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump
- Person 2: Robin Wright, The Princess Bride
The Name Game
In the Name Game, players are tested on their knowledge of famous figures from the worlds of film, music, sports, and politics. One person begins by saying the full name of a famous person, and their partner must respond with another famous person whose first name begins with the first letter of the prior person’s last name. For example:
- Person 1: Johnny Depp
- Person 2: David Beckham
The game continues until someone can’t come up with a name or repeats a previous name.
Guess the Song
Guess the Song creates a fun musical element on a road trip. One person hums or sings a part of a song while the other person tries to guess its title. To step it up a notch, you can restrict song choices to specific genres or time periods. For instance:
- Person 1: hums intro to “Sweet Child O’ Mine”
- Person 2: Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses
Word Association
Word Association is a simple yet entertaining game that allows players to explore their creativity and linguistic prowess. One player begins by saying a word, and the other player must follow with a word that is related or associated. For example:
- Person 1: Cat
- Person 2: Mouse
The game goes on until someone can’t come up with a word or repeats a word. A timer can be added to increase the difficulty.
Word Trail
The Word Trail challenges players to create a string of connected words based on their last letters. The first person says a word, and the second person must come up with a word that starts with the last letter of the previous word. For instance:
- Person 1: Elephant
- Person 2: Tangerine
Players continue the game until someone is unable to think of a suitable word or the conversation loops back to an earlier word.
Interactive Storytelling and Imagination-Based Activities
In considering the best road trip games for two people, there are other creative options worth considering. When the road gets long, try something new.
Fortunately/Unfortunately
One of the most entertaining road trip games for two is the Fortunately/Unfortunately game. In this game, one person begins by telling a story, starting with a positive sentence, such as “Fortunately, we found a beautiful beach.” The other person then adds a negative twist with “Unfortunately,” like “Unfortunately, it started to rain.” The story continues to alternate between fortunate and unfortunate events. This activity sparks creativity and encourages friendly banter between players, making it a go-to choice for trips.
While You Were Sleeping
Another entertaining game is “While You Were Sleeping.” The premise of this game is simple — one person pretends to have fallen asleep during the road trip, and the other person describes all the exciting, funny, or unusual events that occurred while the first person was “sleeping.” This activity allows for endless creativity and can become increasingly entertaining as players invent more elaborate scenarios. It is an excellent way to pass the time, especially on longer journeys.
The Singing Game
For music lovers, “The Singing Game” is a fun and engaging road trip activity. In this game, one person sings a line from a song, and the other person then has to sing a line from a different song that starts with the last word of the previous line. For example, if player one sings, “We will rock you,” player two might respond with, “You are my sunshine.” The objective is to keep the flow going without pausing or struggling to think of a song. This game can lead to laughter and discovering new music while on the road.
All of these activities, including story games like Fortunately/Unfortunately and While You Were Sleeping, as well as fun car games like The Singing Game, can make your road trip more enjoyable and entertaining. By engaging in interactive storytelling and imagination-based games, you and your travel partner can create lasting memories while exploring new destinations together.
Adaptable and Quick Fun Games
Are you still looking for more options? Awesome. We have more suggestions. Here are more road trip games for two people, all of which you should try.
What Color Is It?
One of our favorite quick games to play during a road trip is “What Color Is It?” This is a simple and adaptable game for two people. The game begins with one player selecting an object within sight and asking the other player to guess its color. The second player gets a limited number of attempts, depending on the difficulty level you choose, to successfully guess the color. This game can continue with the roles reversing, making it an engaging and lighthearted activity for both players.
The Alphabet Game (the other type)
Another game you might find entertaining during a road trip is the “Alphabet Game” (the other type). This variation differs from the classic Alphabet Game, as it involves picking a specific category, like animals or movie titles. Players then take turns naming items within the category, starting with “A” and moving through the alphabet until they reach “Z.”
For example, if the category is animals:
- Player 1: “Aardvark”
- Player 2: “Baboon”
And so on. This game can be challenging but also delightful, as it brings out your creativity and tests your knowledge in various topics.
What if?
The last game we want to mention is “What If?” If you’re looking for a game that sparks engaging conversations and encourages you to explore hypothetical scenarios, this is the perfect choice. One player starts with a “What if” scenario, and the other player responds with their thoughts and suggestions.
For instance:
- Player 1: “What if you could time travel to any period in history? Where would you go and why?”
- Player 2: “I would travel to ancient Rome to witness the construction of the Colosseum and explore their advanced civilization.”
This game is not only entertaining but also provides insight into your travel companion’s thoughts, experiences, and general worldview. Moreover, it’s easily adaptable and can be tailored to match the personalities and interests of both players.
The Ultimate Road Trip Games For Two
Road trips are a fantastic way to explore and an even better way to bond with your travel companions. In fact, unexpected bonding is one of our favorite road trip benefits. Traveling with just one other person might feel intimidating. After all, what will you talk about?!?
We recommend you keep this list of road trip games for two people handy. You never know when you might need a new distraction to pass the time, and a little road trip planning goes a long way. That is especially true on a long road trip.
My Favorite Road Trip Games For Two People
All of the games listed above are fun. And the right road trip part will go a long way toward a good time. Still, as I think about my favorite road trip games for two people, there are a few clear winners.
The License Plate Game is my favorite classic road trip game. It keeps your mind busy and gives you added reason to engage with your surroundings mentally. Plus, looking at various license plate designs is just fun.
Beyond the License Plate Game, I also recommend that you consider playing the Alphabet Game. You can play the Alphabet Game anywhere, but it is even more fun on a road trip.
Regardless of which road trip game for two people you prefer, we hope you enjoy the open road!
