Be prepared. If you have children, bring age-appropriate distractions in case they get bored. For younger children, coloring books and puzzles work well. Older children may find that reading magazines or doing a crossword puzzle can relieve boredom. Always bring a pad of paper and crayons, as most children enjoy coloring. If you're traveling solo, bring a book, laptop, puzzle book, magazine or iPod.
If you are driving, play a car game that involves the whole family. Keep a list of the different state license plates you see. Play 20 Questions: one person thinks of a person, place or thing and the other players try to guess what it is by asking yes or no questions. Play Nice or Mean: wave at people in the other vehicles. If they wave back, they are nice; if not, they are mean (it does not count if they do not see you).
Create a scavenger hunt in advance and bring rewards for the winners. If in the car or on a train, make a list of things to find, including a gas station, a bus, landmarks, a farm, types of animals, the same vehicle as yours, a convertible, highway signs, billboards and other objects. If traveling by plane, try to find things like a package of peanuts, pilot, over-sized luggage, a child traveling alone, another airplane, someone wearing a team shirt/logo, a traveling pet and other objects.
Listen to an audiobook. Audiobooks are available to check out at most libraries or for purchase at bookstores. If you find yourself particularly bored while traveling, listening to an audiobook may help keep your mind off of the monotony of traveling.
