This is one of the car traveling classics. Each family member gets a piece of paper and pen or pencil. If the driver is playing, then someone will be in charge of writing down his answers. Over the course of the trip, each player tries to call out as many license plates as they see from different states. The one who has the most states named by the end of the trip is the winner.
This game can be played with children's music, or the music found on any radio station. Each player takes a turn when a new song comes on. They are allowed to listen to the first 30 seconds of the song. During this time, the player should start singing along, at the 30 second mark (or the next time lyrics are being sung) the radio is turned off. The player must finish the phrase of the song. If they do, they get one point, if they do not, they do not get any points. The first player to seven points wins the game. If you are using a CD or MP3 player in the car, you can skip to the next song without waiting for a new one to start.
You can download free bingo cards from a resource online. You can then cut small scraps of colored construction paper to serve as number covers during the game. Write out each number on the bingo board (one to 75) on small pieces of paper. Place those pieces of paper in a paper bag. Select one person to be in charge of pulling numbers. The first player to get five spaces vertically, horizontally or diagonally is the winner. Remember to use the free space in the middle of the card. You can also play different variations of bingo, such as four corners or full card. Print extra bingo cards so you do not have to use the same cards over and over again.
You can use a deck of cards to play different games such as "Old Maid." Remove three of the four queens from the box and then deal the cards evenly among the players. Instruct the players to remove any pairs they have in their decks. (If they have three-of-a-kind, they must keep one card. Next, the players take turns offering their hand of cards to the person to their left (or over the back seat, if necessary). The player then draws a card from the offered hand, seeking to make a pair with what he has in his hand. This game continues until only the one queen or "old maid" remains. Players are also allowed to shuffle their card decks between offerings to confuse the other players.
