Best Road Trip Crafts and Activities

Long road trips provide the perfect opportunity for creativity, learning, and fun! Children can sing songs, count how many different types of cars they see, play road trip bingo, and play cards or tic-tac-toe. But if it’s a really long car ride, you might want to fuel up on some fun ideas to prevent boredom. So, while you’re packing your suitcases and snacks, don’t forget to bring a bag of crafts, printables, activities, and books, too. This bag of goodies will make the next road trip your best!

Here are a few of our favorite craft and activity ideas that are perfect for entertaining your children during a road trip. Print out a few activity pages, pack some supplies, and you’re ready to go!

• Choose a few books from the library to take with you. Need inspiration? Check out booklists on any theme or this one related to travel.

• Make up a new song together to pass the time. Or listen to your favorite songs from “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.”

• Listen to a PBS KIDS podcast and talk about what you learned
  

• Download your favorite PBS KIDS videos and games. Here are a few of our favorites from “Wild Kratts” and “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.” Then, talk about them as you go!

• Make a heart frame and play “I Spy” with your child. What little things can you notice on your trip that make you smile?

• Design heart necklaces for the family to wear while you travel.

• Fold Flores de Papel (paper flowers) to decorate your space or to give as a gift to someone when you arrive at your destination.

• Make ”thinking of you” bracelets for friends you miss at home.

• Take the PBS KIDS Summer Activity Book with you to color on the go, at a rest stop, or when you’re out to eat at a restaurant or family picnic.

• Design your own bookmarks inspired by your favorite PBS KIDS shows like “Wild Kratts” and “Arthur” so you never lose your place when you reach a rest stop.

• Play a card game, such as Go Wild! or Lyla’s Card Came.

• Color and make puppets to tell the story of what you will do using your favorite PBS KIDS characters.

• Write a story inspired by your trip or make a book that captures memories you made.

• Write thank you notes to those you met and visited on your trip.

Discovering the perfect travel-friendly crafts and activities for your family might take some trial and error. But each time you embark on a road trip, you can bring along the activities your family enjoys most and add a few new ones as a surprise to keep things fresh. With these engaging options, your children will not only stay entertained but also learn and create, making your road trips memorable and enjoyable. Get ready to hear your children ask you, “When is our next road trip?”