No. We’re Not There Yet. (But With These 6 Road Trip Games, It Won’t Take Long)

Believe it or not, there was once a time when there were no DVD or video game consoles installed in the back of passengers seats to keep the younger members of the family entertained on long road trips. Back then, kids had to entertain themselves by keeping an eye out for the billboards that counted down the miles to the next Stuckey’s.  Sometimes they rolled down the windows and mooed at the cows in the fields as they sped by. They also set their own comfort zones by drawing invisible lines on the seats for their siblings not to cross.  Sometimes they got to sit “shotgun” – up front in the passenger’s seat – to see where they were going; others were fortunate enough to have a station wagon with a seat in the “way back” that faced the road behind and they could see where they had been.

And sometimes, they played games.

In-car games are a great way for families to pass the time on long road trips; oftentimes, they create some good quality family bonding time, too, and make memories that will last a lifetime. So, when you venture out on your next road trip with the family, why not have the kids turn off their consoles and mobiles, put down their game controls and play a road trip game together as a family? Here a few to get you started:

1. The Alphabet Game

Start off by choosing a topic – let’s say animals, for example. The first person starts their turn by naming an animal that starts with an A. The second player names an animal that starts with B, and so on until you’ve reached Z, at which time you pick another subject.  If you want to make the game a little more challenging, try asking each person to repeat all of the animals that have been named so far. “Alligator, Bear, Cat, Dog…and I have E for elephant.”

2. The License Plate Game

Spot as many different state license plates as you can on your trip. You can keep a list or download a checklist  of one before you go.

3. Picture Us.

Every kid has their own smartphone these days, so tell them to take photos and videos of anything of interest they see along the way. After the trip, download one of those photo story apps and have each child create their own digital storybook about their travels.

4. Travel Bingo 

It’s bingo, but for traveling. You can pick up a set of travel bingo boards at your local Stuckey’s or get them here, free, from none other than the Travel Channel. Choose your subjects from vehicles to road signs and more! Winner gets a Stuckey’s Pecan Log Roll at the next Stuckey’s stop!

5. Counting Blue Cars

Give each family member something specific to count – police cars, American flags, campers, Volkswagen beetles – then add up their at every Stuckey’s stop to see who has the most points.

6. Roadside Attractions and Tacky Tourist Traps

Before you go, let each person traveling with you pick one wacky or tacky spot they’d like to stop at on your adventure – an unusual souvenir stand; the world’s largest pecan, a quirky roadside museum, or maybe even a diner in the shape of a hot dog. A quick stop at a fun spot can break the monotony of a long road trip and add a bit life to the conversations during the rest of your journey.  Keep an eye here on our blog for suggestions. (And don’t forget to plan a few Stuckey stops along the way, as well.)

Board Game Bonus: Did you know that back in the early 1970’s Stuckey’s had an in-car game of their own? Happy Highways was a promotional board game that Stuckey’s gave to kids for free. The goal of the game was to be the first to reach “Lucky Lake” at the “Last Resort”.

Beginning at “Home” the player rolled the dice, moved the appropriate number of spaces, and picked up a card that read “Forgot Suitcase. Return Home Again.” or “Advance to the next Stuckey’s”.  On the way from “Home” to “Lucky Lake”, you passed places like “Funny Forest”, “Dusty Town”, “Camp Gitchi-Gouch”, “Moon Mountain”, and no less than three Stuckey’s locations. The winner was the first one to reach the “Last Resort” and its “Lucky Lake”.

Did you play “Happy Highways” as a youngster on a family road trip? What games did you play on long road trips?  Let us know in the comments.

We’re not playing games when we tell you that you don’t have to drive through the “Funny Forest” or “Camp Gitchi-Gouch” to find highway happiness at any of our Stuckey’s locations near you. In fact, you don’t have to go anywhere because you can order our famous Stuckey’s pecan log roll or other pecan candies and Stuckey’s merchandise right from the comfort of your own home at www.stuckeys.com.