Counting games can be a fun way to pass the time while on a long bus trip. Choose something outside the bus such red barns, blue cars, stop signs or motorcycles. The first person in your group that sees them gets to count them and at the end of the game the one with the most wins and gets to pick the next item to look for and count. Another counting game is the license plate game. Each person is assigned a state. The object of the game is to count license plates on passing vehicles that are from your assigned state. The one who gets the most is the winner.
Electronics are another way to stay occupied while on a bus trip. These can include hand held gaming systems such as Play Station Portables, Nintendo DS and Gameboys. There are also many individual hand-held games on the market such as poker, blackjack, golf and pinball. Other electronics include CD players, portable DVD players, MP3 players and Ipods. All of these can operate on batteries, and most also include headphones so other travelers on the bus won't be disturbed. Many cell phones also feature a variety of games as well.
Many games that you have at home can be used as travel games. These include card games such as UNO, Phase Ten, Old Maid and regular playing cards. There are also games on the market such as magnetic checkers and magnetic bingo. This comes in handy while on a trip, as the game pieces are magnetic and will not fall off the boards while the bus moves.
Scavenger hunts can be fun while on a long road trip. The lists need to be made up ahead of time and should include items that can be found during the trip such as a flashing red light, signs in foreign languages, dogs, train tracks, barns, dirt roads, playgrounds, churches and grocery stores. The items should be checked off as they are seen, and the one to complete their list first is the winner.
