fun road trips for friends

33 Fun Things To Do On A Road Trip With Friends

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Road trips should always be full of memorable moments and fun experiences! Whether you are planning the next journey with your pals or you are already on the road and need to make it more interesting, below you’ll find 33 fun things you can do on a road trip with friends!

Going on a road trip can be a nice way to bond with people and deepen your relationship. On this list there is a bunch of different activities: some are supposed to make you laugh together, others may give you the opportunity to be more authentic and really talk to each other. And of course, there are some silly ways to spend time on the road that you’ll all remember for years to come!

Because this is what road trips are all about, right? Being silly together, sharing amazing experiences, handling various issues that may come up, and being there for each other for all the good and not-so-good moments. That’s what friends are for.

How to make road trips more fun

Three core things that make every road trip fun and special are people, surprises, and memories. Take a couple of good friends or meet new ones along the way. Plan some fun activities but allow for unexpected things to happen. And take a ton of photos to remember your amazing trip!

You are the one responsible for making sure you have fun!

Always start with a positive mindset and prepare for emergencies so they don’t ruin your experience. Have a plan but make it flexible enough to be open to the opportunities that may be waiting along the road.

Surround yourself with things and people that make you happy. For someone, it may be a group of active enthusiastic friends, for someone else a peaceful beautiful location is more important for having a good time. Find out what fills you up with positive energy and make sure to have it with you on every road trip!

Road trip essentials for adults checklist

Many things can happen on a road trip, so you gotta be prepared. Even if you don’t get to use half of these things, it’s better to have them handy just in case. Traveling is not always 100% predictable and you never know what could go wrong.

By packing all the essentials, you can handle any mishaps along the road without stressing too much about it. Traveling with friends usually shows different sides of people, especially in unexpected situations. Even Mark Twain had something to say about this:

I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.

Why not minimize the potential negativity by putting a bit more thought into the preparation phase, right? Here is my list of important things to pack for a road trip, whether you go with friends or alone.

• Drinking water
• Healthy snacks
• Travel-size hand sanitizer
• Car power universal charger
• Foldable car garbage can
• First aid kit
• Tampons – if there are girls on a trip
• Natural pills for motion sickness relief

Useful things

• Car seat organizer
• Reusable coffee cup or a foldable one
• Memory foam travel pillow
• Road trip discussion prompts
• Electric car blanket
• Seat cushion for the driver
• Portable hammock – if nature is in the picture
• Waterless mini toothbrush

33 fun things to do on a road trip with friends

Regularly spending quality time with friends is crucial for building long-lasting relationships. Going on a fun road trip together is one of the ways to keep your connection strong and, hopefully, forever.

Whether it’s getting lost together, engaging in cool adventures, or simply talking in the car about life, you are bound to get closer after spending hours on the road!

With that said, prepare to have a great ride with your friends and have lots of joy together by using this extensive list of fun road trip things to do!

1. Let your hair down

Going on a road trip means detaching from your daily reality for a little bit and doing something different.

I’m not saying you should get wild and end up in jail or something, but let yourself get loose a little! Mix up your routines, try to be more spontaneous, say yes to more things, and be open for new opportunities to come your way.

And the most important: have fun!

2. Ride without navigation

Isn’t it fun to get lost together? This is likely an adventure you’ll always remember!

If you are used to always coming on a trip with a strict plan, maybe try to offer more freedom this time. If organizing everything is important to you, include being spontaneous to the plan! It may mean to only plan the big destination points without binding them to time intervals or to have chunks of the plan with no specific route.

In other words, plan your road trip well but allow for unexpected detours. Allow yourself and others to be more flexible and let the road give you more fun adventures!

3. Get inspired with some quotes about traveling with friends

Are you already in a car or just thinking about organizing a road trip? In any case, here are some fun quotes about trips with friends that will inspire you and get your mood up! Share a few favorites with your road trip buddies and discuss what they mean to you both.

A weird but true fact: sometimes other people can express your feelings more than you can express them yourself. Especially when they are writers and public speakers who know their ways with words, right?

4. Ask fun road trip questions

The main idea behind going on road trips with your friends is not only to relax and have fun but also to deepen your connections. Asking each other interesting questions, even silly ones, may result in having a discussion on subjects you’ve never touched before.

If you think you know your friends too well for this, these conversation starters can easily prove you wrong!

5. Listen to a podcast

When you are tired from all the talking from the previous point, a good idea is to shut up for a bit and listen to someone other than each other. Thankfully, it’s 2021 and you are not limited by the radio stations as people were before. While people on the radio often talk about random things, consider listening to a podcast dedicated to a specific topic that interests all of you.

Here is a good selection of podcasts to listen to during a long road trip.

6. Stop for a picnic

Instead of inevitably eating super unhealthy things like burgers or hot dogs at gas stations or in the car, why not plan a picnic as a part of your journey!

Find a beautiful spot while driving and pull over to have a bite together in a nice setting. You can prepare some food and snacks at home or get takeout on the way (preferably not your typical junk food – maybe grab a salad instead this time?). You can even combine this with ideas #23 or #31 from this list if you want!

If that’s something you may enjoy, don’t forget to pack an outdoor blanket and a pack of eco-friendly bamboo utensils instead of plastic ones. This picnic may also be a good time to play “Exploding kittens” or “Unstable unicorns” if you are into board games like me!

7. Play Would You Rather

I obviously didn’t invent this game, and you likely played it already if that’s not your first ever road trip.

In any case, you can still make it fun and unique every time by using different sets of questions. For example, here is a whole book with more than 500 Would-You-Rather questions you can ask each other.

Some of them are silly (“Would you rather have three arms or three legs?”), while others may lead to deeper conversations (“Would you rather make a small difference in the lives of ten people or a massive difference in the life of one person?”).

This is the kind of game that may uncover new sides of your friends for you, even if you know each other for ages.

8. Get out of the car and walk around

Unless you are on a highway, nothing stops you from pulling over once in a while to walk around and stretch your body. Your muscles likely get stiff after all the sitting so you’ll feel wonderful to get out of the car. At least stop for a coffee and don’t have it inside the car!

These five to ten minutes out will let the blood flow better inside your body and will give a refreshing feeling to all your muscles. This can also be a good time to have that picnic from idea #6 and get some fresh air and food at the same time!

9. Take a group photo that is special to this road trip

Instead of the usual selfie, try to capture something more special and unique this time. Maybe it’s a beautiful location, the feeling of happiness on your friends’ faces, or an interesting group activity you don’t usually do. Try to incorporate the mood of this road trip into your fun pictures.

If there are more than two or three of you on the road, consider taking a selfie stick or a tripod with you to make sure everyone can fit nicely in group photos. It gives you some flexibility when you can capture more than just your heads!

Put some thought into it cause these photos will remind you of your friendship and make you smile even decades later! How nice is it to find a picture you haven’t seen in years and immediately feel the wonderful atmosphere from that trip!

You can even print a mini photo book later with your photos from a road trip (and give it as a gift to everyone who was in it!).

10. Read a book out loud

When exactly was the last time you read a book aloud? Did you ever do it as an adult?

I always bring either a book or my Kindle when I’m traveling but I never actually considered reading aloud to a person who is with me. Maybe it’s because I’m a shy introvert and don’t wanna bother other people. Or maybe our tastes in literature are too dissimilar…

Sometimes I read the best parts aloud to a person next to me but I’ve never thought about reading something together! I should probably consider it for my next road trip as well.

Anyway, if you have a book and others only have their phones, offer to read to them! You can take turns in reading so nobody gets too tired, just don’t involve the driver. Such a nice way to kill time together!

11. …or Listen to an audiobook

Not everyone is a very talkative person, especially when your road consists of many long hours. More often than not you just want to sit back, relax, and enjoy something pleasant. Instead of everyone reaching for their phones and getting lost in scrolling social media, better listen to a good book and then discuss it together!

Depending on your road trip length, you can probably listen to a whole book, or even a few, during your journey. If you have an Audible subscription , you can choose from a variety of great books or switch to listening to another one if you don’t enjoy the current one.

Make sure to choose something that every one of your friends will enjoy too! While it may not be as easy with fiction genres, you may still try finding something in recent Amazon bestsellers . Or listen to an uplifting non-fiction book like You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero that will definitely improve everyone’s mood.

12. Play I wish I didn’t know

Wanna do something funny? How about a world’s filthiest trivia game ?

This is definitely not for kids. In fact, it has a 17+ age restriction on the cover! But play with a group of adults, and you’ll all get to learn many new things about the world that you’d rather not know.

There will be a lot of laugh, a lot of hope, and likely a lot of screaming “ewww, gross!”. But you want an unforgettable road trip experience, right?

13. Lock up your phones

While that’s not a fun activity by itself, it’s a prerequisite to having more fun together!

You probably heard by now about these smartphone containers that help people cope with digital addictions. If your friends are often distracted by their phones when you are trying to have a conversation, a safe like this may be a good solution!

You can all agree to take a break from social media and put all your devices in a box for a specified time interval. You can try it for an hour and see how it goes. I wouldn’t recommend blocking phone access for the whole trip ’cause there may be some situations when you’ll need them. For example, to pay for something if you are out of cash or to make a call in case of emergency.

Eliminating digital distractions like that is a great way to connect with your friends and spend more quality time together instead of endless scrolling.

14. Wear matching road trip shirts

If you want to make this trip more special, order a bunch of matching themed shirts in advance!

It can be a shirt with a special message like on this picture above, or a fun travel-themed T-shirt that everyone could wear more than just this one time.

Don’t do it for every trip or it stops being special. But do it at least once so everyone has something at the end to remember this particular journey. Also, the photos from your road trip will be much cooler if you all are wearing awesome matching shirts!

15. Find little souvenirs to remember this trip

You can be as creative with this as you want!

Postcards and fridge magnets are the most common things to bring back as souvenirs. I also used to collect sugar packets from cafeterias around the world.

If something especially interesting happens to you on this trip, think about something related to the situation that will remind you about it back at home. As long as it makes you smile, reminisce, and brings out warm feelings for your friends, take it as a souvenir!

If you travel to another country, a good idea can be to get a wall art piece. It can be a beautiful painting from a local shop or a minimalist photograph that would look nice in your room. Or you can print your own photo from this road trip on a canvas if you capture something worth being on the wall.

When it comes to souvenirs, it can literally be a little something from a gas station you stopped at. It doesn’t even need to mean anything to anyone other than you and your friends!

Whatever you decide to take, make sure it’s not illegal. For example, taking sand from some beaches is against the law so do your research in advance to avoid the trouble!

You May Also Like: 36 Long Distance Friendship Gifts For Your Far Away Best Friend

16. Stretch together on the go

Sitting in a car for many hours at a time can feel very uncomfortable.

Don’t make it seem like another workday behind the desk! This may give your brain the wrong associations and make the trip impression much less fun.

The human body is meant to be active, and being in a limited space is not an excuse. There are a lot of things you can do to move around even in a moving car. Make sure to talk your friends into stretching with you so you aren’t the only one doing weird moves.

Here is a good example of the stretching poses you can do in the car (unless you are a driver):

17. Make a fun road trip playlist and sing along

Driving with feel-good music is usually more comfortable than listening to the radio, news, or going in silence. Fun songs help to tune the overall mood of your trip into a more positive one, and make you feel more energized.

Make a selection of your favorite songs that you can all sing along to together or find a ready-made playlist in a genre you prefer. Aim to choose uplifting and positive songs instead of depressing or sad ones, even if that’s what you are used to listening to. Remember that you want to make everyone smile on a trip, not cry!

Here is an example of a good playlist on Youtube specially made for road trips:

18. Meet new people

Even when you travel with friends , you can always meet more good people along the road. Be nice and friendly and allow for your path to cross with someone else’s. Who knows what might come out of it!

If you are visiting a new area, meeting locals can be very beneficial. Even if you don’t become instant friends, they may show you some local gems and add an unexpected spark to your trip. Literally even talking for a minute with someone can give you new ideas and place recommendations you never considered before!

You May Also Like: 82 Positive Affirmations For Lasting Friendship And Making New Friends

19. Count colorful cars

Watching cars is a fun simple game you can play with adults or kids.

Each person picks a color and whenever you pass a car of that color, you get a point. You can play till 10 or 50, or 100 points, or just play till the next stop and see whose color wins by comparing the points you all got.

This works very well to kill some time when everyone is tired and not really up for more intelligent games and deep conversations.

20. Answer some road trip trivia questions

If you have a growth mindset, you know that you can learn new things and continue to develop your intelligence at any age. A road trip is a very convenient place to expand your horizons by playing a trivia game that fills the knowledge gaps you may have.

There are all kinds of trivia question sets available online, for example, here on Amazon . Some are general knowledge questions, some can be more specific around one topic or location, and there are some tricky question sets that are especially fun to play with a group of close friends.

Here are some trivia cards that are good for the road trip:

• Good Guess: A Social Trivia Game
• I should have known that!
• Brain Quest for the Car

21. Make an Instagram contest

If you all like taking photos, come up with some kind of a photo contest for the trip. Aim to create one amazing photo each and then share all of them on Instagram and make people vote on the best one!

You can even decide on a prize for a winner to make it more interesting and competitive. And don’t forget to use some of the best friendship hashtags for more exposure!

22. Eat something unusual

With friends or not, road trips are meant to be different from your usual life!

One way to experience something new is to eat something new. We all have to eat every day anyway, so the only thing you need to do is to be more open-minded with your meal choices.

Before leaving for your trip, explore the target areas online: look through the restaurant reviews on Tripadvisor or find a few local gems that you will be passing. Try to not order anything that you usually order. For example, if you always eat pizza, then have pasta, or go to a Thai restaurant instead of Italian. Or try to find the food you haven’t tasted before! This will give you another new thing to remember about this trip.

As an alternative, make a new tradition with friends to eat something specific on a road trip! Whether it’s sharing a pizza, enjoying tacos, or indulging in oysters, why not let it become your special group thing?

23. Brew your own coffee in the wild

If you are a coffee lover like I am, you would enjoy making coffee outdoors for a change!

I once saw a video from one of my favorite videographers on Youtube and I have this idea in mind ever since. This is what I’m talking about:

Doesn’t it look amazingly cool?

The process doesn’t have to be as hard either: there are many great portable espresso machines designed specifically for camping and travelers so you can have a fresh cup of coffee wherever you are. This will impress your friends, too!

24. Catch up on sleep

Unless you are a designated driver, take some time in a car to catch up on your sleep. Especially if you aren’t sleeping the healthy 8-9 hours every day (who does?), this may be a good time to relax and have a nap.

Far away, in the middle of some unknown road, you can’t make yourself busy with a bunch of tasks like you would at home. That’s why there is no need to feel guilty even if you take a nap at midday. Call it a siesta, and enjoy it like Spanish people do!

To make sleeping in a moving car more comfortable, always bring an inflatable pillow to support your head. A sleeping mask and earplugs will also come in handy so others can talk without disturbing your sleep.

25. Take funny photos of sleeping friends

If you have a really long road trip, there will be time when some of you are sleeping. Many people sleep in funny poses, especially when there isn’t much room in a car. You can spend some time “decorating” them with whatever stuff you have at your disposal and taking a few pictures just for fun!

But please, please, don’t post those pics anywhere. It’s one thing to laugh together, but embarrassing them in front of other people may easily do harm to your future relationship. Chances are, they won’t ever go on another road trip with you!

If you are immature enough to paint your friends’ faces for fun, make sure to not use a permanent marker like Ross did to Rachel!

You May Also Like: 111 Best Relatable And Funny Quotes About Annoying Friends

26. Share your dreams

When was the last time, if ever, that you talked to your friends about your dreams and goals?

Unless you go on a trip with a bunch of strangers with whom you don’t feel comfortable sharing personal stuff, bring up the dreams subject somewhere along the way.

What would you do if money/society/age/physics/etc wasn’t an issue? What is the specific idea of a dream life for you and why does it seem unrealistic to you? What about your friends? Discussing these things may be very therapeutic because some things aren’t as impossible as you may think. By brainstorming together, you may share different perspectives and maybe come closer to achieving your dreams!

You May Also Like: 120 Heart Touching Quotes About Long Distance Friendships

27. Exercise your creativity with friends

There are many ways to be creative together on a road trip! Here are a couple of my random ideas:

• Create an interesting story together. One person starts with an opening sentence, the next one continues the story with another sentence, and so on. You can go as many circles as you want and come up with crazy plot twists. The fun part is to add an unexpected turn of events and make the next player look for the way out! And nobody knows how it ends until it does!
• Draw an unusual creature together. This is the one the driver should probably sit out because it’s too distracting. Take a piece of paper and a pen (or a tablet if you didn’t do #13) and draw a base of a character. It’s easier to start with some kind of geometrical or abstract shape to be your creature’s body. Then pass it on to someone else to add something to the picture, and so on. In the end, you should get a really fun and unique character in the creation of which each of your participated equally!

28. Participate in a silly dance together

Remember that road trip playlist from idea #17? Wait for an especially uplifting song and dance, even if that’s just with the upper part of your body. Engage the others and learn silly moves from each other to have more fun.

This is also a nice way to stay somewhat active during a long drive!

By the way, if you haven’t seen this guy dancing, I’ll just leave this video here for good vibes!

29. Talk about something deep

When you are driving in the dark and just can’t laugh anymore, it may be time for some deeper bonding with your friends. You may think you know who they are and what they are all about but in reality, you never know all of it. Humans are complicated beings, after all.

More often than not, we only see the top layer of someone’s life, personality, and feelings. If you are interested to see the rest of their icebergs (and let them see yours), deep conversation starters may be very helpful. Or just ask them how they feel and discuss each other’s long-term goals. You may be surprised!

30. Play magnetic chess or checkers

Stuck in the back seat and getting bored while friends in the front are talking without you?

Pull a travel chess board out of your bag and invite one of your friends to play with you! Make sure to bring a magnetic travel version so your pieces don’t get flying all over when the car jerks on a pebble.

If you aren’t sure whether your friends can play chess, consider bringing a 3-in-1 set with checkers and backgammon to have more options.

31. Watch a sunset

Beautiful pinky-orange hues of sunset always make the world more beautiful!

If your timeline allows for it, make a stop someplace nice to watch a sunset and spend some quiet time in nature surrounded by people you love.

Sunrise may also work but everyone is more sleepy and sometimes cranky, and it’s usually colder early in the morning, so personally, I prefer sunsets. But if you are on the road anyway and the sky starts to look especially beautiful, make a stop and let yourself enjoy it!

32. Catch little moments and make a video after

You don’t have to be a professional videographer to make fun videos these days. People do it every day with entry-level vlogging cameras or even in a form of Instagram reels captured with a phone.

I love taking photos but with videos, you get to capture much more of the mood and details of your journey, as opposed to a bunch of still moments. Shoot movement, landscapes, your friends having fun, and beautiful surroundings that give you the feeling of what that place is all about.

Here is an inspirational video for your road trip with friends. Try to make your own like that!

33. Enjoy the journey

Last, but not least, of my road trip tips with friends, is to enjoy every minute of it!

Don’t focus on the destination alone: you have hours in the company of great people, so why not make the most of it? Use the ideas from this list or do something completely different next time to stay away from boredom. Engage other guys in conversations and learn more about each other while you are stuck in a small metal box for all those hours!

Have an awesome road trip with friends!

These were my 33 fun ideas of what you can do on a road trip with friends. Keep this list handy for your next adventure so you never get bored and always have plenty of fun adult things to do together!

What is your favorite thing to do on a trip like that? How do you manage to stay active and prevent other people in the car from getting bored? Tell me in the comments if you have some fun road trip experiences or more ideas to share!

More fun resources for building warm friendships:

• 84 Travel Quotes With Friends To Inspire Your Next Adventure
• 82 Positive Affirmations For Lasting Friendship And Making New Friends
• 120 Heart Touching Quotes About Long Distance Friendships
• 125 Best Friendship Hashtags For Instagram In 2024
• 85 Hilarious Quotes About Crazy Friends

Juliet Hunter is an introvert who had a tough time making friends after relocating across the world at the age of 30. As she went on a journey to become more social, she launched Gifts Of Friendship to empower others with her proven strategies and resources and to show that finding your people is way easier than it seems.

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50+ Boredom-Buster Things to do on a Road Trip

Oh the places you’ll go when you hit the highway for a road trip this year. There are plenty of things to do on a long car ride, but when the kids are whining and you’ve been driving for five hours already, you may forget what those are.

You may also just need a few fresh ideas to throw into your standard things to do on a road trip mix.

Tried and tested things to do on a road trip

As we drove from DC to North Dakota this summer, we tested out various games and activities to see which ones were the most fun, and kept the grumpy bug at bay in both adults and kids.

After all, my kids aren’t the only ones who get antsy in the car; I just about lose my mind some days (hours?) during long periods of driving. And I can’t count on the fact that my kids will fall asleep in the car anymore, even when I want to take a nap.

Things to do on a long car ride

When it came to what to do on a long car ride, I wanted to find the best apps, crafts, games and rest stop activities. We needed to pass the time as we drove for hours on end to get from point A to points B, C and even D, E and F.

We didn’t want to get bored or hear the kids whining, as I’m sure you can relate.

So, here is what we found that worked for our crew.

A-Z: Letters of the Alphabet Game

The ultimate fall back for our family is the “A-Z game.”

What is it? You have to find all 26 letters of the alphabet in road signs, billboards and even license plates. It’s a great idea to pull out this game when you first start out the day while everyone is fresh.

As you drive through your day, yell out the next letter you find. Letters “V” and “U” are surprisingly hard.

Planning a road trip? Grab our Road Trip Packing List !

License Plate game

The License Plate game is pretty much an all day affair. You can’t expect to find all of the states (or countries if you are embarking on an international road trip ) in 15 minutes.

Print out all of the license plates (50 states, EU countries, etc.) that you can look for during the long drive throughout the day. The youngest person starts off the game. The person with the most by the end of the day (or trip) wins an extra treat.

Everyone can have their own sheet, like a bingo game, or you can use different colors for each person in the car to make check marks next to the state name.

Don’t want to make a License Plate Game? Buy it on Amazon.com

Another great road trip game that doesn’t require a pad of paper is I Spy with My Little Eye . This is particularly great with little kids who can look out of the car window, but have a small attention span.

Here’s how I Spy works on car trips:

Stick with shapes or colors if you have toddlers playing. The more complicated the thing you spy, the more frustrated a toddler or five year old may become if they can’t get it after two guesses.

Do not pick an object that is moving or you pass and never see again. You have to be able to spy something the entire time you are playing the round.

• “I spy… something blue.” The sky!
• “I spy… something round.” The wheel of a truck!
• “I spy… something furry.” The dog in your car!

The best thing about I Spy is that you can play a round or two and then pick it up later.

DON’T WANT TO Come Up with your own? BUY IT ON AMAZON.COM

20 Questions

Like I Spy , the 20 Questions game is something you can do at anytime, anywhere on a long car trip. This is not the game to play with toddlers and younger elementary school kids who get frustrated very easily. It is perfect for tweens and teens.

You can either pick something at random from your head as the answer to 20 Questions, but we like to put a bunch of words into a jar or Tupperware to pick from on the trip. It causes less arguments and no one can cheat by changing their mind about the answer halfway through.

Trust me, it happens. Just ask my boys.

There is also a preprinted card deck you can pick up to leave in your glove compartment to bring out at anytime, even just on a quick trip to the grocery store.

Buy it on Amazon.com

Road Trip Bingo

I picked up a stack of Road Trip Bingo sheets before our last trip. Each has things like a stop sign, cows, corn, pink car and gas station on it. We try to get Bingo in one sitting, or throughout the day. It all depends on our mood.

Buy Road Trip Bingo on Amazon.com

Easy road trip card games

Yes, you can play a card game in the car. You will need a backseat organizer with a dropdown tray (we like these ), center console or lap desk to make it work though.

UNO is our family’s ultimate card game no matter where we are in the world. I always have a deck in my purse. We play at restaurants, on road trips and stormy nights up at the lake in New Hampshire .

The boys love to play all of the versions-

Somehow, the boys have figured out how to play Pokemon. I still don’t even understand the game, but with their trays, they can keep their decks organized, sort new decks and play each other.

Get your PokemOn starter kit on Amazon.com

Magic: the gathering.

My oldest is obsessed with Magic: The Gathering and is teaching his little brother how to play. They can throw down spells on our center console or their trays without cards scattering on the floor.

Buy a Magic: The Gathering starter set on Amazon.com

Pen and Paper Games

If you have kids in the car or friends and other family members, you can play a lot of great games just with a pen or pencil and pad of paper.

We have the Grab and Go Game Pad , which makes it easy to get started. Sheets of blank paper work too.

Easy Road Trip Games

• Tic tac toe
• Bulls and Cows
• Close Your Eyes Drawing Game
• Homemade Mad-Libs (or buy a booklet )
• Doodling by Category (you may want a jar of topics for this one)
• Dots and Boxes

Other great Car Games for Kids

• Scavenger Hunt
• Guess in 10: Animal Planet
• Loaded Questions on the Go
• Rubberneckers
• Dots and Mazes

Read a Book

Remember books? We do. Although we try to download most of our books, especially the thick books when we travel, we still bring paper books for the kids to flip through and enjoy.

Dr. Seuss, graphic novels ( Legend of Zelda manga, Star Wars: Jedi Academy and Avatar: The Last Airbender  are favorites at the moment) are easy to read in the car.

We also carry around LEGO manuals (the big ones that dive into Star Wars, Harry Potter and other big set collections) and The Complete Official Guide to Zelda: Breath of the Wild (it’s really big, but keeps the kids entertained for hours).

Audiobooks via Audible are my go-to for long road trips. I get very bored in the car, so I need something to entertain me.

If I’m driving, I need a book that I’ve read before so it doesn’t totally distract me. I don’t mind reading or listening to the same book over and over again, so it’s not a big problem for me. My husband likes new books, so I keep a mix of both on my phone via the Audible app .

Kid-friendly audio books for the whole family

• Harry Potter series
• The Princess and the Goblin series
• Percy Jackson series
• Tristan Strong and other Rick Riordan Presents series
• Anne of Green Gables
• Little House on the Prairie
• Artemis Fowl
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid

All of these books are FREE with an Audible trial.

Knitting and Crochet

When I know we will be going on a long car ride, my nonstop crochet projects comes out. I learned how to knit and crochet as a teenager. It’s something I can do with my hands when I get antsy and bored.

I’m going to try to get the boys to join me, perhaps make a Hogwarts house scarf, inspired by the Harry Potter books. It’s easy, and something they can pick up and put down at will.

Write letters or postcards to friends and family

Who doesn’t love getting mail that has nothing to do with bills? When the kids start to whine, I tell them to write letters or draw pictures for their great grandmother or grandparents. They all love to hear from the kids, follow along on their adventures and stay in touch.

Don’t forget your Sport Gear at Rest Stops!

Besides the car, you also have to remember that you and your kids may need to run off some energy. Throw a soccer ball, beach ball or frisbee in the car, where it can be easily accessed.

We will do a quick scrimmage while we stop for lunch or toss a baseball back and forth to get the “wiggles” out.

Parent’s Guide to Screen time in the car

Yes, we have screen time in our car. I’m not an unplugged mom, but I have learned that the kids have to have it in moderation.

If the boys have unlimited screen time, especially video game time, they go insane when we unplug them. They also miss all of the cool things we see during our long car ride.

When we moved cross country , it took us a few days to learn the no-unlimited screen time lesson. We stopped at Bryce Canyon and my oldest lost his mind when we unplugged him. He had no interest in getting out of the car and was super grumpy.

After that, we started limiting the amount of time both boys got on every trip.

Now, the kids get one hour of screen time and then one hour of no screens for other activities. Rest stops don’t count. If they whine, they lose their next hour of screens. Movies, Kindle games and the Nintendo Switch all count as screen time.

The only exception is if we need to wind down a bit at the end of the day and still have a lot of driving to do. Then I let the kids finish a movie before bed.

I love watching movies with my boys. It can be difficult to do in the car though, as my husband needs music to drive.

TIP: Grab a multiple headphone jack adapter for your trip so multiple people can watch a movie together.

I always pick family-friendly films to watch, usually from my childhood. It’s fun to educate the kids on the “classics,” like Goonies, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, Legend, Willow, the original Disney cartoons, Swiss Family Robinson, Herbie Goes Bananas , etc.

Since the kids have nowhere to go, they are a captive audience for movies I want to watch. If they want the extra screen time, they watch what mama wants to watch without complaint.

Planning a Road Trip? Don’t miss Reading our Road Trip Checklist !

Nintendo Switch

When we got a Nintendo Switch, I knew the kids would want to play it nonstop, and also fight over it. If they want to play Nintendo, they each get 30 minutes in their one-hour time screen-time slot. They can choose to have one hour each, but most of the time they can’t wait that long.

There are multiplayer Nintendo Switch games they could play together, but they find the screen too small for that in the car. Their seats just aren’t close enough.

Grab a list of our favorite Nintendo Switch Games for Kids

Kindle fire tablet.

We all travel with a Kindle Fire tablet filled with games, movies and books on it. The boys mostly load up on games, especially my oldest who also have a Kindle Paperwhite for all of his books.

Minecraft is the game of choice at the moment, but there are loads more they enjoy. They can also pull any movies they like off of our Amazon Prime video account to watch.

Check out our list of Kindle Fire Apps for Kids

I pack up my Apple iPad filled with movies, but also Microsoft Word and other productivity apps for both me and the kids.

The Apple iPad has a keyboard attachment, so the kids can work on homework, write to friends or watch a movie with me too.

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About The Author

Keryn Means

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25 Fun Things To Do on A Road Trip With Friends

Last Updated on January 30, 2023 by Rose Morah

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my  disclosure  to learn more.

Is it just me, or do you also hate those prolonged weird, and awkward silences on long road trips with friends?

Ever noticed how uncomfortable it can get?

But of course, there are times you need your quiet moments to rest, which is okay because having constant conversations during the trip can be tiring.

However, those long awkward silence moments can be boring.

It is time to shift to something fun and interesting on your next friend’s road trip!

This article covers fun things to do on a friend’s road trip.

1. Make regular fun stops

2. don’t just listen to music, freestyle.

• 3. Strategically document your friends' road trip 

4. Laugh at mistakes you make along the way

5. play fun question games, 6. play the license plate game, 7. play the top 5, 8. rekindle previously watched movies, 9. take turns to drive, 10. take time to interact and bond, 11. reminisce over past good memories, 12. interact and have a good time with the locals, 13. collect souvenirs from every place you visit, 14. use different means.

• 15. Take Road Trip Detours

16. Do a temporary change of names

17. attempt different challenges along the way, 18. create and listen to a playlist, 19. listen to fun and interesting podcasts, 20. record a road trip podcast, 21. get a great audiobook for the road , 22. watch funny videos on youtube, 23. set up a camp along the way , 24. you do not need to stick together, 25. help the needy.

To enjoy and have a memorable trip, there is a need for flexibility and spontaneity. There is no need to rush to reach your destination if you are looking to have fun on a road trip.

Whether you are stopping to take a toilet break, for a gas refill, or to grab some snacks, making regular stops allows you to catch some fresh air and stretch instead of being cramped up together in the car all the time.

Some of the fun things you can do during stop-overs include taking photos and sightseeing.

A road trip planner app can also help you find rest stops with exciting things to do on your friends’ road trips.

It helps you find incredible places to visit, from the national parks, and roadside attractions, to culture and weird museums.

To turn a friend’s road trip into a fun adventure that is full of laughter, I would recommend you try this;

• Play some beats with no music. The best place to find great beats is on Spotify.
• Once you get a good beat, you can either decide to either pick your best song to freestyle or randomly freestyle anything that comes to mind.

This usually gives you the freedom to be stupid without your friends judging you and it is also a chance to have fun and be silly.

You will be surprised how this can turn a boring road trip with friends into a fun tour.

Some of the rules that we gave ourselves on our last friends’ road trips when freestyling included:

• You had to be loud enough. There were penalties for those not loud enough.
• You were allowed to be goofy.
• Everyone was allowed to laugh out loud/hard.
• No hard feelings.

3. S trategically document your friends’ road trip 

Documenting a trip can help capture unexpected memorable moments that happen along the way .

During our road trips with friends, I love recording everything on the camera or phone.

Being an introvert, when I find myself traveling with extrovert friends it can sometimes be very overwhelming because I feel the pressure to keep up.

However, when I’m behind the camera, I get to enjoy and have fun recording the road trip. I also don’t have the pressure to interact and keep up with them as they do their things.

This way no one feels left out or no one thinks that you are boring.

There is genuinely no better memory than one shared with your close friends when done right.

Road trip memories are made of – the crazy challenges you attempt along the way, the sick and not-so-funny jokes, the highway attractions, the unexpected detours, the road mishaps-  and the list is endless. 

25 Best Travel-Size Family Games (Recommended by Most Families) .

Fun Games to Play With Friends on a Weekend Night .

See also: How to Get High-Speed Internet While Traveling .

Mistakes on the road are inevitable. You will likely make a ton of mistakes along the way, no matter how well you planned the trip .

Some of the mistakes you made on the road trip may look silly and hilarious when you look back and talk about them.

I mean, picture this, for instance:

You are pretty psyched up for an event. The radio keeps reporting long queues at the event. You start getting worried that if you don’t make it on time, you might end up being locked out, or miss the event altogether.

To get there on time, you leave for the event much earlier than you had planned, only to get there and find just a few people.

And to make matters worse, the event is not even close to getting started.

That’s when you realize that you fell for the hype on the radio.

So, you decide to hang around for an extra couple of hours and wait for the event to begin officially.

What a waste of time!

Deep down, you wish you spent those hours sleeping or doing something constructive.

Some of the mistakes that you make on the road are quite frustrating at first.

However, when we finally get over the sting of what happened, these mistakes end up making hilarious stories.

You will be laughing when you sit and talk about them. 

You might also like 15 Things To Do In Downtown Los Angeles .

On most of my road trips with friends, we normally turn the awkward silent moments into fun moments by playing fun question games that involve asking awkward/silly questions.

In this game, you ask the questions and the rest find a way to answer them in the best way possible.

Some examples of the questions could be;

• Can I eat it? 
• Do you want one?
• Have I met them?
• Will it be mad if we gave it a bath? and e.t.c.

When it comes to random games to play on a road trip with friends, this is one of the best.

You can challenge each other to make phrases from the front car’s license plate acronym.

For example, one person could interpret BASP as Bring A Sweet Pizza. The next person should be guided by the next license plate when responding to this statement.

NOTE: To make it even more interesting, there should be a timer for the person playing.

Try this and you will be surprised how fun your road trip will turn out.

See also: Things To Do With Friends On The Weekend .

The top 5 games are best for people who have been friends for a longer period of time. 

The game is played by asking each other five top things that you like. These can be your top 5;

• Restaurants.

What makes this fun is the fact that the questions always end up building interesting conversions, making it very impossible to finish one round at a time.

Additionally, you get to know each other even better. Some of the things that you end up knowing will surprise you.

If you and your friends love watching movies, then this can be a great opportunity to rekindle previously watched movies on a boring road trip with friends.

• Describe a small plot of a movie.
• Then have them guess the name of the movie and name one of the actors from the movie.
• The one who gets it right will then have to describe another movie.

This is a fun way to enjoy interesting conversations with friends from those movie scenes and actors that intrigued you.

My favorite part about this is that it reminds you of some old movies that you loved to watch a few years back. 

Driving in turns can make a boring road trip fun for everyone, of course, provided that each of you can legally drive.

This is because most people love being in control.

The good thing is, taking turns to drive relieves the pressure off the primary driver from long hours of driving.

This means that the main driver is able to rest or take a nap while the other person takes on the wheel.

And by so doing, this prevents the risks of sleeping behind the wheel and slow reaction time when faced with an emergency situation on the road.

From my experience,

Happy drive = Happy passengers.

Driving for long hours, whether solo or in the company of your friends, can be dangerous.

This is due to the risks of sleeping behind the wheel or running out of gas in an unfamiliar location.

So, how many hours a day should you drive on a road trip?

Generally, you can drive for up to about 9 hours a day and take at least 15 minutes breaks, after every two hours. 

But more importantly, don’t drive when you are fatigued.

How often should you let your car rest on a road trip?

Cars don’t necessarily need a rest. However, you must constantly monitor your engine’s temperature, especially when driving for long hours in hot weather.

See the 11 Best Cars To Sleep In (Tips From Avid Campers) .

You might have known your friends for a long time, but there are many things you’re yet to discover about them.

The amount of time you spend together is an excellent opportunity for heart-to-heart conversations.

You get to know their opinion on specific topics and politics. You talk about your careers, ambitions, and goals.

And perhaps even get to know their childhood story.

Reminiscing is a fantastic way to pass time with friends on a road trip.

It is oddly fulfilling, especially in the company of friends from your childhood where you get to talk about the good old days.

There is possibly no greater way of drawing us together, than the laughter and stories that begin like, “Do you remember when….”

Whether you are having a conversation about your old childhood memories, intoxicating college and celebrity crushes, or past adventures that you’ve shared, this will no doubt be a great way to pass the time on a road trip with friends.

Be sure to give everyone a voice to narrate, then sit back and get ready for warm and fuzzy feelings of nostalgia as you share the fond memories, and perhaps even get to play your old songs again.

Spending time with the locals should be on everyone’s to-do list whether you are traveling locally or abroad.

• Because it gives you a rare glimpse into the local way of life.
• It allows you to get some cool recommendations of places to visit off the beaten path.
• Spending time with the locals allows you to participate in their local activities or festivals when you have the time.
• It allows you to have a taste of their local cuisines.
• You get to engage in great conversations about the history of a place and make new friends.
• It is fun when done in the company of some good friends.

Souvenirs leave us with the memory of the places you pass through during the road trip.

Whether you’re collecting spoons, shells, travel posters, art, figurines, or rocks, it pays off to collect with friends due to the memories you will be able to keep for years to come.

They also act as evidence of our visit to a place when narrating to others. You will be reminiscing about the trip that you took with friends.

Taking a road trip by car is fun. But traveling on motorcycles, bicycles, or scooters is more fun . 

This allows you to experience and see the world differently. It is an excellent way of turning a dull trip into an exciting and fun-filled tour.

If you decide to use scooters, avoid freeways and major highways due to their lower speed. Instead, use the back roads, which are more fun, or stick to short trips.

But if your main goal is to reach your desired destination on time, then perhaps a scooter might not the best alternative.

Want to try riding a motorcycle on your next road trip?

Get our beginners’ best tips for going on a road trip with a bike .

1 5. Take Road Trip Detours

Road trip detours are a perfect way of creating some exciting road trip memories.

Those predestination diversions along the way always lead to discoveries. And that’s what makes a road trip with friends spectacular.

The secret lies in being flexible and never missing a road trip detour.

That being said, check out some excellent road trip detours here

Doing a temporary name change on a friend’s road trip can be fun.

Depending on the activities that you intend to carry, where you will be staying, or camping along the way, you could spice up the trip a little bit by temporarily ditching your real names.

You can then acquire other names related to your activities, destinations, or even personalities.

And this being a friend’s road trip, I bet you already know each other’s different personalities. It also works better if you are traveling as a group.

Think about it this way – if you are camping or taking a hike, you could acquire nature-related names based on your different personalities – e.g., The Hawk-Eye, The Quick Hatchet and etc.

Let’s look at a few other examples depending on the activity:

The self-proclaimed intellects, or friends who always seem to have a say on almost any topic, their best temporary names could be Shine Stein, Dexter Fakester, or Sheldon Cooper (from Big Bang Theory).

Folks who always seem to bring bad luck, those who are in the wrong places at the wrong time, hence causing losses during the trip (We love them, though 🙂 ) Their temporary names could be Jonah or Lord of Jinx.

To sum up, you will need to be creative and ensure that everyone in the group is okay with the idea. But remember: this is purely intended only for entertainment during the trip.

Wouldn’t it be great if you used challenges to brighten a dull trip?

I bet that will be amazing.

You could come up with challenges that each one of you must participate in. One that no one will be allowed back not until they have completed them.

Consider this a fun way to introduce yourself to unfamiliar situations that will likely make you feel uncomfortable.

And the end goal? –  to face your fears and to help you discover yourself. 

You need to come up with a list of challenges you can perform during stops.

So, you should try to make the list before you leave.

Let’s look at a few examples:

If you are camping in the woods or a mountain area, you could challenge yourself to sleep in separate locations, each of you in a hammock.

Would you dare sleep alone in the woods in a hammock?

You could give this challenge a name, perhaps associated with the wild, such as Dare the Wild challenge. Doing this challenge is meant to test your survival instincts in the wild. 

Let’s assume you’ve come across an abandoned house/ structure, or a ghost village along the road, what would be the best challenge in this case?

However scary, ghostly, or sad the place might look, you could challenge yourselves to pop in and have a look inside. (Perhaps you might discover something.)

To sum up, think of a place or something you fear that you have never gone to or done. Going to the place or doing it would generally make you uncomfortable. Then challenge yourself to go and do it! 

A road trip would be incomplete without a playlist.

Come to think of it.

Would that even be possible?

I bet that would be unimaginable.

But to begin with, you first need to let everyone be involved in the process of compiling and suggesting the playlist songs.

Depending on your tastes, ensure you develop the top favorite tunes that everyone will love.

Whether classic rock & roll, a mixture of evergreen classics, rap, soul, or pop, it’s all up to you and your crew. 

And remember, the best way to enjoy a playlist is to turn up the volume and sing along. 

In case you are looking for playlist inspirations, Spotify, YouTube, and SoundCloud would be excellent places to start.

Listening to podcasts comes as no surprise, considering how inspiring they can be on a road trip.

Listening to podcasts with friends on a road trip is definitely a fun way to spend time together.

It ignites conversations about the topic in discussion.

And depending on the topic, it offers a great opportunity to discuss some of the major takeaway key things you’ve captured from the podcast.

In the end, the entire crew stays motivated and in high spirits throughout the journey. 

Be sure to also check out this list of great podcasts on your next road trip.

Here are a few examples of free podcast apps:

• Google Podcasts.
• Podcast Addict

Instead of listening to other podcasts, you can record your road trip podcast with your friends.

This can be interesting because not much is required of you. 

All you need is a phone and a topic that everyone will feel comfortable contributing to.

And if are you worried about editing your podcast, you need not.

There are many apps today that allow users to record, edit instantly, and publish immediately.

Here are a few of the best free podcast-making apps for mobile:

• Podbean Podcast.
• Speaker Studio.

Much like podcasts, audiobooks can be a great choice if you are looking for things to do on a road trip with friends.

Audiobooks are better when shared with friends with whom you have shared interests and like to consume similar content.

This could be in terms of what they like to read or listen to.

They, too, will similarly spark up conversations based on their topics, at least once in a while during the road trip.

And depending on how enjoyable the audiobook is, the entertainment from the audiobooks would be enough to keep the crew entertained throughout the journey with minimal distractions.

And besides, you can’t compare an audiobook to reading an actual book.

Quite frankly, reading a book can be tedious and could make you miss the scenic views. 

Watching funny videos on YouTube makes the road trip fun and unique, and helps you avoid those awkward silent moments in a car.

This also certainly creates a special bond between friends.

Setting up a camp on the beach, in the woods, or on the roadsides with friends for a night and getting around the campfire is fun and exciting.

It is a great way of getting to know each other better, telling stories, playing catch up, and discussing other future road trip plans.

But here is the thing:

If you are making camping plans, consider reserving the campsites before departure. This saves you the trouble of finding a place for the night during the trip.

There are great camping apps that help you check available campsites, both wild and established, along your route.

One such App is ioverlander. The app gives you the current prices and the available facilities in those campsites.

See also: 28 Best and Must-have Road Trip Car Accessories .

Going on a friend’s road trip doesn’t mean that you have to spend the entire time together.

You don’t have to do similar activities either.

You can spend your day how you like and then meet up after a specific time, during the road trip.

This way you will not feel like you are dragging them along and vice versa! It is also the best way to avoid conflicts with friends and make your road trip fun.

How To Plan A Solo Road Trip (Solo Road Trip Tips) .

How To Entertain and Keep Yourself Busy On A Long Car Ride (10 Tips) .

Once in a while, you’ve probably come across some needy people or animals and have felt the urge to assist or help make a difference.

Now imagine what it would be like to help the needy while on a road trip with friends. You can plan a visit or even make an unplanned detour along the road.

Sounds like an amazing thing to do on a road trip.

That sure does sound good to me.

The most exciting part is where you get to meet and interact with new people.

Those you touch with your gifts or donations form an important part of your journey.

And again, not only will the trip be fun, but it will also be quite fulfilling in the sense that it made a difference in the lives of others.

Hello there! My name is Rose. I’m passionate about electric cars and clean energy. My adventurous spirit and journalistic pursuits make each day fascinating and far greater. I consider traveling not just about the grandeur moments, but the little elements that transform the whole experience.

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Road Trip with Friends in the USA: 20 Best Stops!

Posted on Last updated: February 13, 2024

Planning a road trip with your besties? Well, you are in the right place!

With countless amazing destinations to choose from, I have collected the top stops for your road trip with friends through the United States.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure  here .

Key West, Florida

Recommended by Cami from Travel Cami

Key West is the perfect destination for a road trip with friends. Since it is located on the last of the Florida Keys, to get there you will have to drive through the world-famous Seven Mile Bridge, which makes for one of the most scenic and epic drives in the United States.

Along the bridge, there are several cool stops to make. The coolest are the islands of Islamorada and Key Largo. Once you get to Key West, there is a handful of awesome things to do, like going to the beach, pub crawling, going on a classic Key West sunset sail, and even snorkeling with dolphins.

 Also, from Key West, you can go on a day trip to Dry Tortugas, one of the most remote and unique National Parks in the country. You can read about more awesome things to do in Key West here . Another great thing about Key West is all the great dining options it offers.

Make sure to grab a bite at Lobster Shack, Santiago’s Bodega, and Blue Heaven (which has the best brunch ever!) Regarding places to stay, the best choices are Parrot Key Hotel & Villas, Marquesa Hotel, and Ocean Key Spa and Resort.

Related: Dry Tortugas National Park

Mt Shasta, California

Recommended by Sumeeta from Sumeeta Seeks

Any road trip with friends in Northern California should include a stop in the town of Mt. Shasta.

Nestled five hours north of San Francisco and an hour south of Oregon, it’s the perfect destination with friends, either as a standalone trip or as part of a West Coast adventure.

Mt. Shasta is a treasure trove of stunning nature and tons of fun things to do . Best of all, it isn’t overrun with tourists so you can feel like you have the place all to yourselves!

Skiing and winter sports are abundant in the winter, and in the other seasons there are a ton of great hikes for hiking lovers.

Some of the best include hiking from Castle Lake to Heart Lake, hiking to Castle Dome in Castle Crags State Park, and hiking any of the awesome trails on the mountain of Mt. Shasta itself.

If you and your friends prefer relaxation, you can have epic picnics and swim in gorgeous spots including Mossbrae Falls, Hedge Creek Falls, and Lake Siskiyou.

You can then finish up an awesome day in nature during your road trip with friends with some spirituality and an incredible meal.

Be sure to check out the Gateway Peace Garden where you can say a prayer or meditate. Afterwards grab some food at one of the best eateries in town – Seven Suns for vegan fare, Lily’s for café grub, Crave for Mexican and BBQ, or Bistro No. 107 for burgers and a great selection of microbrews and wines.

Mt. Shasta is a hidden gem you and your friends are sure to love!

Burlington, Vermont

Recommended by Karen from Outdoor Adventure Sampler

Burlington, Vermont is a must stop if you are planning a road trip with friends through New England.

This vibrant city is located on Lake Champlain with the backdrop of the Adirondack Mountains across the lake. Stroll through Waterfront Park to soak in the beauty.

For more active exploration, rent bikes on the Burlington Bike Path. Ride to some of the beautiful beaches along the trail. North Beach or Leddy Beach are perfect destinations.

Burlington is a foodie town with excellent craft breweries and Mad River distillery. The gang might have a blast tasting their way around town. Foam Brewers on the waterfront is very popular.

The next stop is a visit to the open-air pedestrian mall of Church Street. With its unique stores, street performers, and restaurants with outdoor seating, you can spend a whole afternoon there. Grab a table at Honey Road on the mall for scrumptious Eastern Mediterranean small plates to share with friends.

In the evening, check out the arts and music scene before heading back to Waterfront Park for a magnificent sunset over Lake Champlain.

Have a nightcap at upscale Hen of the Woods before retiring next door to the Garden Hilton Inn with rooms with views of the lake.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Recommended by Debbie from World Adventurists

Las Vegas is one of the most popular destinations in the USA to visit for some fun with friends. The glitz, glamour, and neon lights of Vegas are absolutely intoxicating.

Las Vegas is known as the entertainment capital of the world. With its variety of entertainment options that include shows, museums, exhibits, pool parties, casinos, and themed hotels, you’ll never run out of things to do.

Each hotel will transport you to somewhere different. You could spend an entire day just wandering the hotels and soaking it all in.

The Venetian Resort brings Venice to the heart of Las Vegas through its detailed replicas. The Bellagio is a Las Vegas Landmark that draws inspiration from European villages.

The hotel also features the famous Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden.Do not be afraid to venture  beyond the Las Vegas Strip .

Free-fall from the sky, take a helicopter ride, ride along in a race car, or go hiking. The sky is the limit for what you can do and experience; it is what keeps people flocking to Vegas all year-round.Las Vegas is a foodie paradise.

You won’t find as many celebrity chefs anywhere else. However, if you don’t fancy spending an entire paycheck on a meal, you can have a great time at Tacos El Gordo, Secret Pizza, Robert Irvine’s Public House, or Nacho Daddy.

It also isn’t a perfect road trip with friends to Vegas without a group photo in front of the famous Welcome to Las Vegas sign!

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Recommended by Meg from Fox in the Forest

Set just an hour away from Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the best destinations in the USA for a road trip with friends if you’re into nature and keen to explore one of the most  beautiful places in Colorado .

Boasting over 110 hiking trails, gearing up for a day spent hiking is one of the best things to do here (options are aplenty for both newbie and seasoned hikers).

Think crystal-clear alpine lakes, rugged ridgelines, and unbelievable awe-inspiring landscapes to get a picture of what hiking here is all about!

If you and your friends would prefer not to break a sweat, another option to explore the park is to go on a scenic drive to hit all the best viewpoints.

The Trail Ridge Road and the Peak-to-Peak Highway are considered two of the most beautiful roads in Colorado!

Eating options are aplenty in the nearby Estes Park. Some of the best eateries to grab a bite are The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern (hearty food to get you ready for the adventure), Trailhead Restaurant (classic American), and Estes Brewery (hand-crafted beer, pizza, burgers, and delicious sandwiches).

There are many lodging options close to Rocky Mountain in the nearby Estes Park (Della Terra Mountain Chateau and Estes Hotel are both great options).

For more budget-friendly choices during your road trip with friends, consider driving a bit further away on your road trip with friends to Lyons or Boulder.

Moreover, there are five campgrounds in the Rocky Mountains if you’re feeling up for an adventure!

Charleston, South Carolina

Recommended by Dymphe from Dymabroad

A great stop on a road trip with friends in the USA is Charleston. Charleston is a great city to visit and there are many things to do and see there.

You find Charleston in South Carolina along the east coast of the United States.

The city of Charleston has a very rich history and culture, which is great to experience. One of the best things to do in Charleston is exploring the French Quarter.

You find here many beautiful streets that are great to wander around at with friends.

These beautiful places also make for great places for photography in Charleston .

For example, Rainbow Row is a street with many colorful houses. You could go here with friends to take photos together.  

Another great thing to do in Charleston is to go to one of the rooftop bars in the city. This is the perfect place to have a drink and watch the city from above.

Another great activity is to go to the beach. Folly Beach is a great beach near Charleston, with many fun water activities.

A great place to have food with friends in Charleston is CO on Lower King Street. Furthermore, a good place to stay is The Spectator Hotel.

Rainbow Springs, Florida

Recommended by Rebecca from Whatever Packs Your Bag

Rainbow Springs State Park, Florida is a great underrated stop on a road trip with friends. It is located in Central Florida, right outside Dunnellon, Florida.

The natural spring produces over 490 million gallons of beautiful clean fresh water daily! 

It has a very interesting history, in the 1930’s it developed into a road side attraction, with submarines to view the water and wildlife.

It had a full zoo with exotic animals, however the interstate, and the new Disney parks soon made tourists dwindle. It was closed, and then donated to Florida.

Florida developed it as a state park as it remains to this day. You can go swimming in the swimming area, for an entrance fee of $2 per person. 

The real fun comes from tubing the Rainbow Springs River, there are several local options, but doing it at the state park supports the preservation efforts.

The tube and tram fee is $20 per person, and covers the ride down to the launch point as many times as you wish to go. You exit at the parking lot. You can bring your own tube and pay a slightly smaller entrance fee for just the tram.

It is super important to remember sunscreen as the sun will be pretty strong as you float down the river. It is relaxing, and the water is 72 degrees year round. It is the perfect road trip with  friends stop in Florida.

Leavenworth, Washington

Recommended by Chantelle from Flannels or Flip Flops

Leavenworth Washington is an amazing stop on a road trip with friends! There is so much to do in this tiny Bavarian Town that no matter what time of year you and your friends visit you will have so much fun! 

Leavenworth is just over 2 hours from Seattle and makes an excellent road trip destination, or a stop along  Washington’s most beautiful road trip the Cascade Loop.

The town of Leavenworth is a Bavarian themed town that oozes charm around every corner. It sits at the base of mountains so large, you’ll swear your are on a Hollywood Movie set!

You and your friends will enjoy wine tasting, and microbreweries up and down the main street.  There is also great food and super fun shopping! 

In the summer months, the town is beautiful for a road trip with friends with the Wenatchee River flowing through it.

There is excellent hiking, rafting, and biking in and around Leavenworth! In October, Oktoberfest is so much fun in Leavenworth. During the Christmas season, the whole town is sparkling with lights and has a nightly tree lighting ceremony.  

There are many Bed and Breakfasts located in and around Leavenworth, as well as airbnbs and hotels.  The most popular are the Bavarian Lodge and the Enzian Inn.

You’ll want to book your accommodations early, especially during Oktoberfest or the Holidays.  If you can’t find lodging in Leavenworth the nearby town of Wenatchee is a more affordable and not too far away choice.  

Rachel, Nevada

Recommended by Erin from Pina Travels

Rachel is a tiny town out in the desert of Nevada, about a 2 hour drive from Las Vegas. It’s the perfect stop on a road trip with friends because of it’s quirky reputation.

With a population of around 70 people, this little town is known for being a destination on the famous Extraterrestrial Highway (Nevada State Route 375).

It’s a 98-mile stretch of road that runs alongside the famously secretive Area 51, a classified United States Air Force facility that is off-limits to civilians.

The idea that Area 51’s secretive military base is a cover for alien research has become a popular part of pop culture alien lore.

Space enthusiasts believe that it’s possible to spot aliens and UFOs when you drive out into the Nevada desert on the Extraterrestrial Highway!

Because of all this alien lore, driving the highway out to the town of Rachel is a hilariously fun road trip with friends.

Along the way there are lots of alien-themed stops you can make for fun photo-ops. Be sure to stop at E.T. Fresh Jerk, the Alien Research Centre, and the Extraterrestrial Highway Sign!

When you get to Rachel on your road trip with friends, you’ll find the famous cafe, the Little A’Le’Inn. It’s an eccentric little bar, restaurant and motel full of alien themed kitsch and memorabilia.

There, you can have a drink and a meal (try the Alien Burger!) while chatting with locals who are likely to drop by and tell you their wild stories about Area 51 and alien sightings. If you really fall in love, you can check into the Little A’Le’Inn motel for the night.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Recommended by Martina from PlacesofJuma

New Orleans is a really cool city for a road trip with friends. Located in Louisiana, this city is famous for its vibrant nightlife and the really cool music scene.

Also culinary you can experience a lot: The cuisine of New Orleans combines the French with the African and American – and so you will find many amazing food to try!

Every year the legendary Mardi Gras takes place here, a huge carnival party, but the city is also worth seeing outside this time.

New Orleans is the city of music, and you can feel that at any time of the day or night! So you experience with your girls a really cool flair and you can switch off from the stressful everyday life optimally.

As soon as the sun goes down there is dancing in the city, there are countless possibilities for live music and nightlife. Perfect if you want to party all night long with the girls.

But also during the day you can experience a lot of amazing things. New Orleans has a beautiful historic old town (“French Quarter”) with numerous buildings in Spanish and French colonial style.

Interesting is also, that New Orleans makes it consistently to the list of the most haunted cities in America!? So if you believe in the paranormal you should definitely book yourself and your girls a spooky room in one of the haunted hotels!

Washington DC

Recommended by Cynthia from Sharing the Wander

Washington D.C. is an easy stop on a road trip with friends. All major routes down the East Coast pass through here and there’s tons to do, a lot of it free.

The DC Metro is clean and fast and makes it easy to move around the city.  Have kids in tow? Washington DC is also fabulous for families. Check out How to Have the Most Fun in Washington D.C. with Kids .

Toss down a picnic blanket on the National Mall, and hit up the various food trucks. There’s a great selection of trucks that park across from the National Museum of the American Indian.

This museum also has a terrific native café. Relax in the sun and people watch, or wander through the various monuments.

Catch the DC Circulator to the Tidal Basin to see some of the newer memorials including the stunning Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and the FDR Memorial.

In the Spring, this area has an amazing concentration of cherry blossoms.

Catch up with your besties while you stroll through the National Portrait Gallery to check out the Obamas’ Official Portraits, or check out the original Declaration of Independence at the National Archives. Feeling adventurous?

Head to the International Spy Museum, where each of you will be given a secret mission and you can test your spy skills.

Ready to head out for the evening? Head to U Street, the birthplace of jazz legend Duke Ellington. There are lots of options, from upscale dining to Ben’s Chili Bowl. On the Eastern end of this area, you’ll find Little Ethiopia. There are lots of bars and music venues, from jazz clubs to live DJs.

Houston, Texas

Recommended by Gabby from Office Escape Artist

If you’re unfamiliar with Houston, you may think of Houston as a concrete jungle with hurricanes and oil companies.  Besides NASA, it isn’t really famous for anything touristy like Austin or San Antonio.

Don’t let these misconceptions fool you.  Houston is an underrated gem in Texas and is well worth a stop on a road trip with friends.  

If you’re spending the night, you’ll want to stay “in the Loop”. Houstonians call the I-610 loop the “Inner Loop” and that’s where the best and trendiest activity happens. For a quick trip, most of the action is west of I-45 in the Loop.  

If you’re a fresh college graduate and want to party, definitely check out the Midtown neighborhood during your road trip with friends. For young professionals still interested in the bar scene, Washington Avenue might be a better neighborhood for you.

If you’re looking for a neighborhood vibe with awesome restaurants, either the Heights or Montrose would be great for you.  Luxury travelers can’t miss either the Galleria or River Oaks neighborhoods but museumgoers should stay closer to the Museum District.

For a quick road trip stop, the best way to experience Houston is through the restaurants.  Houston’s dining scene is truly world-class, but still affordable and non-pretentious – really similar to Houston itself. Take your friends to get some amazing Tex-Mex at either El Tiempo or Ninfa’s on Navigation (and definitely  try the margaritas). 

Experience real BBQ Pinkerton’s and taste Viet-Cajun crawfish at Crawfish and Noodles (as seen on Netflix’s Ugly Delicious!)  

Dine at Beyonce’s favorite steakhouse, B&B Butchers, or enjoy  omakase  sushi at Uchi.   Houston has so many amazing restaurants so you won’t go wrong planning your road trip around food.

San Francisco, California

Recommended by Stéphanie from Bey Of Travel

During a road trip with friends in the USA, you should absolutely make a stop to enjoy  some time in San Francisco . Located in the north of the state of California, San Francisco is a peninsula on the Pacific Ocean. Reserve two to three days to enjoy your stay to the fullest.

Book a room in the InterContinental San Francisco located close to all of the city’s highlights. San Francisco is home to different backgrounds and cultures and the city embraces the hippie & LGBTQ communities. You will see the colorful rainbow flags all over the city. 

Rent a bike and head over to the Golden Gate Bridge, an absolute must while in the city. Take the time to explore the nearby Golden Gate Park. Fisherman’s Wharf should also be high on your USA bucket list , besides the many good restaurants you will see many sea lions sunbathing along the pier.

Take a boat ride to visit the world-famous Alcatraz, the place where many famous gangsters have been kept prison. In addition, there are plenty of beautiful parks to visit, beautiful streets to explore and art stores to visit. In need of some Sun? Enjoy a relaxing day on Ocean Beach.

Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Recommended by Lina from Bucket List Places

Picture a spa getaway surrounded by mountains in a picture-perfect town in Colorado. Add a natural hot spring in the middle of the river in town.

Pagosa Springs is a destination to add to any Colorado road trip itinerary .Located on the Continental Divide, this quiet town is fed by mineral waters from the deepest hot spring in the world.

Famous for its sunshine, you can choose whether you prefer to visit one of the several luxurious spas or if you prefer the budget option, you can soak for free in the natural pools in the river right in town.  

If you are planning a road trip with friends during the winter, the area is also famous for Wolf Creek, the ski resort with the most amount of snow in Colorado.  

The surrounding San Juan mountains offer more than 2.5 million acres of hiking trails in the national forest. Other activities in the area include kayaking, rafting, waterfalls, biking and more.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Recommended by Ellie

If you are planning your road trip with friends in the Midwest, you are definitely going to want to add Minneapolis to your itinerary!

Minneapolis has long been a popular travel destination– whether visiting to explore the Mall of America or discover Minnesota’s natural wonders. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to explore this fascinating city on a budget.

There are dozens of fun and free activities in Minneapolis . Start off by strolling down the scenic Stone Arch Bridge while snapping some awe-inspiring photos of you and your friends.

Later, head over to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden to explore the iconic red cherry and spoon. If you are looking for an urban natural escape, check out Minnehaha Falls Regional Park. This beautiful park boasts over 190 acres of natural land filled with limestone bluffs, river outlooks, and a 53-foot-tall waterfall.

A great way to spend time in Minneapolis on your road trip with friends is trying out some of the local-favorite restaurants! I actually grew up around 20-minutes south of Minneapolis, and can honestly say that Minneapolis boasts some of the best restaurants ever!

If you are into Vietnamese food, check out Hai Hai. If you prefer tasty cocktails and seafood, head over to Martina. Whatever you choose, I guarantee you will love what Minneapolis has to offer.

For places to stay during your road trip with friends, the Ramada located around 3 miles outside of downtown is far more affordable and comfortable than any hotel you would find in the heart of the city!

Joshua Tree, California

Recommended by Jacqueline from Your Travel Flamingo

In recent years, Joshua Tree National Park has exploded with popularity, namely with the influencer crowd.

It’s become an Instagram hotspot, and upon arriving here, it’s not hard to see why. Aside from being extremely photogenic, Joshua Tree is also a place like no other. Set in the Mojave Desert, this place is the ultimate playground for wild adventures in the untamed desert.

But it’s also a serene place for sundowners by the pool, nights spent stargazing, and admiring the dreamy lavender and pink hued skies during sunset. 

As a California native, I can tell you this is a local favorite pit stop for road trips with friends and outdoor adventures.

Things not to miss while here are hiking to Skull Rock, The Arch Rock, Cholla Cactus Garden (best photo spot during Golden Hour!) and Barker Dam. Also, a great activity to do with friends, is just having a do-it-yourself photoshoot.

For the best photos, shoot during golden hour right before sunset. The iconic photos usually are with a native Joshua Tree, and you will have no trouble finding one of those guys!

For dining, head to Joshua Tree Town, where you’ll be transported back into the days of the wild west. Some of the buildings here resemble historic saloons, reminiscent of old cowboy movies.

A great place to eat is Joshua Tree Saloon, a quirky and lively restaurant serving up juicy steaks and burgers.

As for accommodation during your road trip with friends, there are endless options on Airbnb in Joshua Tree, from rustic cabins, to luxury glamping sites. The best way to enjoy Joshua Tree is by going out in the mornings and afternoons to avoid the heat, and relaxing at your chic cabin during midday. 

Recommended by Megan from Red Around the World

Moab is one of the best places to stop on a friends road trip, especially for outdoor lovers.  There is so much to do there, it’s crazy.  

If you’re on a budget, consider the Lazy Lizard Hostel (it’s not glamorous at all but it’s fun, even if you don’t stay, I’d highly recommend reading the Google reviews).  If you want to spend a little more, the Slickrock Quality Inn is good.  

As for food, there are tons of delicious options.  The Spoke, Josie Wyatts, Quesadilla Mobilla, and Tacos El Gordo (in the food truck park) are some of my favorites.  Now for the good stuff, all the awesome things to do in Moab.

Make sure to visit Arches and Canyonlands National Parks on your road trip with friends.  

Dead Horse Point is a state park with amazing canyon views, Potash Road has petroglyphs and some arches, hike to Corona Arch, drive the Colorado River Scenic Byway, or check out some of the amazing rock art in Moab.  

If you want to do something more adventurous, join a canyoneering, ATV, Jeep, or off-road tour.  And if you’re feeling super adventurous, sky dive over Canyonlands!

Savannah, Georgia

Recommended by Brittany from Travel by Brit

Savannah, Georgia, is an unforgettable stop on a road trip with friends—the charming city offers haunted history, fabulous restaurants, and stunning architecture.   

Since the entire city is walkable, Savannah is the perfect destination to spend some time out of your vehicle, stretch your legs, and explore during a long road trip. Also, Savannah is one of the only cities in the United States with open container laws, so you can sip on a drink while you stroll through Historic Savannah.   

During your time in the city, you can’t miss the opportunity to go on a haunted ghost tour, stroll through Forsyth Park, tour a historic home,  or explore City Market and River Street.   

Savannah is a foodie city, so one of the best things you’ll do during your road trip with friends is eat tons of delicious southern food!

You’ll discover tons of  excellent restaurants in Savannah , like The Olde Pink House for upscale, southern dining, Leopold’s for classic, homemade ice cream, and Huey’s along the river for fresh-baked, doughy beignets!   

Choose accommodations in Historic Savannah to be close to the action during your road trip with friends. You’ll love the DeSoto Savannah  for a classy, centrally-located hotel, The Hamilton-Turner Inn  for a charming bed and breakfast experience, and The Marshall House for a historic (and spooky!) setting.  

Solvang, California

Recommended by Olivia from the Girl With Blue Sails

The quaint city of Solvang, California is one of the best stops on a road trip with friends in the USA.

Often referred to as “a little slice of Denmark in Southern California,” you will feel like you’ve stepped into another country as you walk down streets filled with rural Danish architecture and windmills. No matter the length of your road trip,  planning one day in Solvang, California is a must do. 

The most popular things to do in Solvang include eating Danish pastries and wine tasting while you window shop.

Notorious for its decadent bakeries, Solvang has many to choose from, but one local favorite is Mortensen’s Bakery. Having a fresh bear claw or Danish kringle with your coffee is the perfect way to start the day. 

Embarking on a wine tasting journey is easy to do, as Solvang has tasting rooms set up in the center of town. The city is surrounded by lush wine regions, so there are plenty of local wineries featured.

The tasting rooms are used to groups of friends passing through, so they all have pre-selected wine flight recommendations from which to choose.  

When planning where to spend the night, location is everything. Highly recommended is The Landsby. The look and feel of this hotel is contemporary with a hint of traditional Scandinavian design.

Located right in the heart of town, it is the perfect place to settle down with your friends and toast the quaint town of Solvang.  

Seattle, Washington

Recommended by Karee from Our Woven Journey

Seattle is a perfect place to stop on a road trip with friends. There’s so much to do, you’re sure to find something of interest for everyone in your group to enjoy!

Start your day at the famous Pike Place Market where you’ll find fishmongers doing what they’re most famous for—throwing fish! They often put on a show for customers that draws quite a crowd.

Pike Place has over 500 shops and booths, so you’ll have plenty to explore besides flying fish. You’ll find fresh flowers, local artisans, quirky museum pieces and much more.

You’ll also want to spend time wandering the nearby area where you can add your contribution to Seattle’s Gum Wall (it’s as disgusting as it sounds) and stop by the original Starbucks store.

There’s no shortage of food at Pike Place Market, including those that serve local seafood. You can choose whether to snack your way through the day or stop for lunch at one of the many restaurants.

From there, make your way to the iconic Seattle Space Needle and treat yourself to an amazing view of the city. (Pro tip: if the sun is sunsetting early enough, time your visit to be there for it!) You can visit the beautiful Chihuly Glass Museum at the base of the Space Needle when you’re done.

For dinner, head on over to the Fisherman’s Wharf and have dinner at the Crab Pot, then wrap up your evening by taking a ride on Seattle’s Great Wheel!

Brevard, North Carolina

Recommended by Megan from Virginia Travel Tips

There are so many incredible stops along the famous Blue Ridge Parkway that winds through a couple of states on the East Coast, but one of the most underrated (and best) is the charming town of Brevard, North Carolina.

It is the ideal stop on a road trip with friends!There are so many cool  things to do in Brevard  but one of the absolute best reasons to visit the North Carolina town is to explore Pisgah National Forest and all of the waterfalls that naturally occur in the region!

Some of the most notable waterfalls near Brevard are Rainbow Falls, Looking Glass Falls, Sliding Rock, and more!

Another reason to stop in Brevard on your Blue Ridge Parkway road trip with friends is that there are some wonderful hikes there.

The Art Loeb Trail is one of the most notable extreme hikes on the East Coast and it is a perfect place to visit from April until November.

If nature isn’t your cup of tea, there is a plentiful craft beer scene in Brevard.  Be sure to check out the Brevard Brewing Co as well as Ecusta in nearby Pisgah Forest.

While the Blue Ridge Parkway is home to plenty of awesome stops, Brevard is often overlooked in favor of Asheville – but, stop at both!

Kansas City, Missouri

Recommended by Alexa from Travel in Missouri

Kansas City is known for a lot including the Kansas City Chiefs super bowl win in 2019 and of course some of the best BBQ & Jazz in the United States.

With more than 100 BBQ restaurants throughout the city and a history dating back more than a century, visitors simply can’t go wrong with KC barbecue. Kansas City is most famous for its burnt ends, no matter the meat.  

Some of the best places to stop for BBQ on a road trip with friends through Kansas City, Missouri are Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Slap’s BBQ. Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque, Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue, Q39, Jones BBQ, Plowboys BBQ and Gates Bar-B-Q. 

Beyond BBQ, Kansas City, Missouri is also known for its music; rhythm and blues, big band and most of all, its jazz. There are many great clubs and joints to hear great jazz music in Kansas City. A few favorites are The Phoenix that features live music from local jazz bands and has a Saturday jazz brunch.

Another fun choice is the Blue Room which is a jazz club inside the American Jazz Museum, located in the historic ’18th and Vine Jazz District’ area of Kansas City where Kansas City jazz originates from.

Downtown Kansas City is a great choice for accommodations during your road trip with friends. There is an abundance to do and an easily walkable city.

There is also a free street car that runs from Union Station to the River Walk and the oldest farmers market in the city. Hotel Indigo Kansas City Downtown is a great choice for those looking to make their Kansas City road trip a weekend adventure. 

Dripping Springs, Texas

Dripping Springs, as one of the cutest Texas towns , is a fabulous stop to add to your road trip with friends itinerary! Located just 23 miles west of the world-renown city of Austin, you and your besties can explore a wide array of fun outdoor activities at a fraction of the cost.

Whether taking a refreshing dip in the beautiful Hamilton Pool Preserve (shown above) or exploring the unique olive trees at the Texas Hill Country Olive Company, Dripping Springs offers amazing activities and attractions as a fantastic stop on your road trip with friends.

Another great area to explore is the limestone cliffs found around Dripping Springs’ Pedernales River. This spot is perfect for adventurous rock climbing and picture-opts with your best friends.

If you and your besties are looking to go horseback riding or fishing during your friend road trip, make sure to head over to Reimers Ranch. Here, you can enjoy 3 continuous miles of pristine riverfront coastline to explore.

If you are looking for an affordable place to stay on your road trip with friends, I highly recommend checking out the Holiday Inn Express & Suites which is found not far from the center of Dripping Springs.

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Home » Roadside Attractions Blog » Road Trip Planning » Taking a Road Trip with Friends (Tips + Fun Things To Do)

Taking a Road Trip with Friends (Tips + Fun Things To Do)

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Windows down. Music blasting. Sunglasses on. It’s time to take a road trip with friends.

Sometimes when people picture cross country road trips they might think of a tired family packed into a station wagon sporadically chanting, “are we there yet?” while driving endlessly from home to their destination. But road trips are anything but that.

Road trips are an amazing way to see the country, even if you’re just seeing a small part of it. There is no better vacation freedom than packing up your car, going where you want to go, and stopping where you want to stop. And, if you’re bringing along friends: even better.

Taking a road trip with friends makes for a fun vacation and epic adventure. It allows you to spend more time with the person or people who mean the world to you, create a lasting memory, and get plenty of Instagram photos along the way.

Before your bestie calls shotgun, here are some helpful tips for taking a road trip with friends, fun things to do on a road trip with friends, and some suggestions for routes and destinations to take together. Ready to hit the road?

Road tripping with friends?

Tips for taking a road trip with friends, fun things to do on a road trip with friends, where to go on a road trip with friends.

Make this book your third wheel!

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book features 100 activities to play in the car, at your hotel, or at stops along your route. It’s a must-have book for a road trip with friends. Create a road trip hashtag, complete a TikTok-inspired challenge, curate the perfect gallery, and record every turn of the wheel.

You love your best friends to pieces, so of course you should take a road trip with them! Right? Well… maybe. Or maybe not. Just because you get along with your best friend in daily life doesn’t mean you’ll still feel so chummy after being cooped up in a car together with no breaks for days on end. No matter how much you and your friends get along, be prepared for a fight or two with your road trip friends and some hurt feelings along the way. I’m not saying here don’t take a road trip with friends. Actually, quite the opposite. Traveling with friends can be an amazing, fun, memorable adventure. But only if you’re prepared. Here are our tips to make sure your best friends road trip is the best it can be.

Make Sure You’re on the Same Page

When taking a road trip with friends it is vital to have a conversation beforehand and make sure everyone is on the same page before you decide to journey together. Even best friends might have different travel styles. One person might be a strict planner while the other a more go-with-the-flow type. One person might be a night owl and the other an early bird with an early (and loud) morning alarm. One person might love living off the land and camping while the other might only order room service in five-star hotels.

Before making any concrete decisions make sure you and your friends are road trip compatible. There should always be room for everyone to compromise a little, but if your ideas on how to travel are wildly different it might be a better idea to travel apart. Here are some things to make sure you discuss beforehand:

• Who is coming on the road trip?
• How early or late do you want to start your day?
• Whose car are you taking?
• Who will be driving? Will you take turns? How often will you switch?
• What is your budget?
• What level of accommodation are you comfortable with?
• Are you OK sharing a bed and/or room?
• Do you prefer air conditioner or open windows in the car?
• What types of stops do you want to make?
• How often will you stop?

Make a Road Trip Route, Itinerary, and Plan

When traveling with other people it is always a good idea to have a plan. It doesn’t have to be an iron-clad itinerary no one is allowed to stray from. In fact, you should definitely plan to be at least a little flexible. But, with multiple opinions, tastes, and travel styles, figuring out your road trip route and itinerary before leaving will allow you to plan a trip with input from everyone in the car and agree on stops beforehand.

Need a little extra help with how to plan a road trip with friends? Join our challenge! Sign up below and in just five days you can have your entire route planned!

Road Trip Road Map

Five days to a better road trip route.

Take your road trip planning to the next level  join our five-day road trip planning challenge!  Over the next five days we will show you our method for planning a road trip route that will get you from point A to point Z without missing a letter in between. Sign up for our email list today and get ready to hit the road!

Decide How You’re Going to Pay and Make a Spending Spreadsheet

With road trips come lots of expenses: hotel bookings, gas, national park admissions, snacks. When traveling with friends it’s important to determine how you’re going to be paying for everything you need to pay for. You want to be fair to everyone and make sure everyone is paying equally. Sometimes one person will put everything on her credit card and others will Venmo that person their share. Sometimes everyone will pay for a different things until it balances out. There is no right or wrong answer, you just want to make sure that everyone on your road trip agrees to a method. No matter what you decide it’s a good idea to start a spending spreadsheet to track those expenses so you can make sure everyone paid their fair share.

Assign Roles

It isn’t necessary for everyone to take on roles, but sometimes it just makes sense. If one person is driving, another should be in charge of music. If one person is the impeccably organized planner in charge of keeping the itinerary on track, another should be in charge of sandwiches and snacks . Not everyone has to have a specific role, but you want to make sure one person isn’t booking all the hotels, driving, making the route, AND bringing the Cheez-Its.

Set Boundaries

While a roadtrip with friends will often come with a lot of compromise, it is also OK to set boundaries. If you haven’t driven since 2010 and aren’t comfortable driving someone else’s car, say no. If you’re an introvert like me and need some alone time at the end of a long day in the car, tell your friends you need to go hang out by yourself for a bit. Establishing boundaries is one of the most important road trip rules for friends.

Who says car rides are boring? Especially when you’re traveling with friends. You’re sure to have an amazing adventure that is fun on its own. But, just in case you need a few ideas on how to occupy your time in the car and in the hotel room, here are 25 fun things to do on a road trip with friends.

Stop at Some Roadside Attractions!

Whether you’re near the world’s largest strawberry , a fun muffler man , or a giant pink elephant , pull over at one of America’s best roadside attractions! Roadside attractions are fun stops for everyone and make great Instagram selfies. Use a website like ours here at Silly America or an app like the Roadside America App or Roadtrippers Plus to find fun road trip stops!

Make a Group Playlist

Before leaving on your road trip, start a group playlist with your friends. This will give everyone a chance to contribute their favorite songs. Shuffle the playlist and enjoy fun music your whole trip long. Need inspiration? Check out our list of the Best Road Trip Songs to Blast in the Car !

Play a Classic Road Trip Game

Road trip games are classic for a reason: they are easy, fun, and keep you entertained while stuck in a car. There are many road trip games to choose from so gather a few and pack them in your car. Here are some of the best classic road trip games to play in the car :

• License Plate Game
• Road Sign Bingo
• Road Trip Scavenger Hunt

For even more inspiration find our lists of 55 Road Trip Games for Adults , 25 Best Road Trip Games for Two , and Games to Play in a Hotel .

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation. The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book features fun and engaging journal prompts. plus 100 activities and games to play in the car, at your hotel, or at stops along your route.

Buy Gas Station Snacks for the Car

For a fun twist on gas station snacks, have everyone go into the gas station one by one and get snacks for the whole car. Either go in with a no rules except buy one for everyone approach or assign everyone a different category: salty, sweet, breakfast, drinks, hot, cold, etc. Need inspiration? Check out our list of the Best Junk Food Road Trip Snacks .

Sing some Car Karaoke!

Move a step beyond just blasting music in the car to becoming a highway superstar. Sing along to the car stereo at the top of your lungs! Or, better yet, get a wireless car karaoke microphone and take runs passing it around (to anyone who isn’t driving, of course).

Buy Funny Souvenirs

Funny souvenirs abound at gas stations and roadside stands across the country. There are magnets, mugs, t-shirts, hats, keychains, and so many other options to choose from. Make it a game to always find souvenirs printed with your names or a contest to find the weirdest souvenirs you can find on your road trip.

Record the Journey

Roadtripping with your friends will be an experience you will never want to forget. So be sure to record the journey. Take plenty of iPhone photos and post lots of Instagram stories , but if you want lasting memories, go one step further. Consider buying a road trip journal for everyone to contribute to. Or get an instant camera for instant souvenirs.

Take a Hike

Make time to get out of the car and stretch your legs. Taking hikes (whether multiple miles or easy strolls) is a great way to get some exercise in in the middle of a long drive.

Reminisce Over Memories

If you’re taking a road trip with friends, you’re probably pretty close. And if you’re pretty close, you probably have a lot of memories together. Spend some time in the car reminiscing over some of your best shared memories. You might even remember something special that you’ve forgotten!

Make a Road Trip Hashtag

#BestiesOnTheRoad Commemorate your road trip with your own hashtag Use it across social media when posting online about your road trip to organize your pics and to reminisce about the trip later.

Get Matching T-Shirts

Show the world you’re on a road trip together! Get matching road trip t-shirts! Matching t-shirts is a great way for a big group of friends to show the world they are traveling together. And they make for fun group photos!

Get Matching Tattoos

Want a more permanent reminder of your road trip with your friends? How about getting matching road trip tattoos! Stop somewhere along your route and get something to remember each other and your epic trip together.

Play Truth or Dare

Truth or Dare is a fun game for friends to play on a road trip. Have everyone take turns either answering a personal question or doing a small dare that can easily be done from the car. Something like, text your ex or blast classical music for the next ten miles. Just be safe: no daring the driver to swerve into oncoming traffic or anything that could get you hurt or a traffic ticket.

Make TikTok Videos

A fun way to pass the time on a road trip with friends is to make TikTok videos ! Find the perfect trending sound to film in the car or your destination. Or start a trend of your own!

Relax at the Hotel Pool

After a long day of driving and stopping at roadside attractions and other fun road trip stops, you deserve a little time to relax! Grab your bathing suits and go hang out by the hotel pool.

Listen to a Podcast

If you want to take a break from blasting tunes, try listening to a podcast in the car. If you all are addicted to the same true crime podcast, play the latest episodes. Or, have everyone in the car pick their favorite and take turns sharing.

Put Away Your Phones

For at least part of your road trip, have everyone put away their phones. It is easy to get distracted by social media or start texting with friends who are back at home. But spend some time with your full attention on each other, the amazing stops you’re making, and the road.

Eat Something New

Have you ever tried Rocky Mountain Oysters? Here’s a hint: they aint oysters. Make a pact to taste test local delicacies wherever you go. Sure, some might be weird (or seemingly gross) but you might just find your new favorite cuisine!

Stop at a Hot Spring

Hot Springs are often an overlooked road trip stop . But they are a super fun road trip stop, especially for a group of friends. Relax in a scalding hot pool while, often, overlooking nature, and give your weary muscles a break after being cooped up in a car.

Ask Each Other Questions

You’ll be stuck in the car for hours with your friends on a road trip, so use that time wisely. Ask each other questions and get to know each other even more! Ask things you’ve always wanted to know, silly scenarios, or a list of road trip questions .

Have a Picnic

Instead of stopping at yet anther fast food drive through, pack up a cooler with sandwiches , snacks, and drinks and have a picnic. Find a park, rest area, or even dine under a world’s largest thing.

Go Camping (Or Glamping)

If you’re the type of friends who feel more comfortable in nature over a four star hotel, go camping! Spend at least one night of your trip sleeping under the stars, starting a roaring fire, toasting hot dogs and marshmallows for s’mores, and telling ghost stories. If your style is a little more refined or you’re not quite into roughing it, give glamping a try!

Listen to an Audiobook

For another alternative to music, listen to an audiobook in the car. Pick a favorite amongst your friends, a current New York Times Best Seller, a steamy romance novel, a cheesy YA novel, or anything you all want to hear read! Try Audible Premium Plus and Get Up to Two Free Audiobooks.

Play Would You Rather

Would You Rather is another fun road trip game to play with friends! Give each other hypothetical scenarios where you have to choose if you world rather do one or the other.

Take Lots of Photos

Don’t forget to take lots of photos! If you’re taking a road trip with your friends it’s most likely because you love them, want to spend more time with them, and enjoy being together. Commemorate your epic travel adventure by taking lots of photos of your surroundings, stops, food, and, of course, each other.

If you’re taking a road trip with your friends, you can go anywhere you want! Travel as far or stay as close as you want. See the things you want to see. Eat where you want to eat. And do what you want to do. The sky is the limit when it comes to choosing a road trip route (or, OK, maybe the ocean). But what are some of the best places to road trip with friends? Here are some ideas for fun road trips to take with friends.

Route 66 is a classic road trip route and the perfect road trip to take with friends. The iconic road spans 2,400 miles from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California. Though the official road was decommissioned in 1985, road trip loves from around the world still flock to the Mother Road for a sense of nostalgia and the thrill of the open road. At every turn of the journey that takes you through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California you’ll find plenty of fun things. There are weird roadside attractions, muffler men, national parks and monuments, classic diners, historic motels, museums, souvenir shops, and more. Ready to hit the Mother Road? Check out our list of the top must-see attractions on Route 66 or plan a Route 66 road trip !

Pacific Coast Highway: Highway 101 & Highway 1

The Pacific Coast Highway is the ultimate road trip for friends. Drive Highway 1 from San Francisco to San Diego or take the entire stretch from San Diego to Seattle. This West Coast Road Trip is full of breathtaking sites, beaches, forests, mountains, delicious food, and plenty of sun. You’re guaranteed to have an amazing adventure with your friends.

Themed Road Trip

Not every road trip has to follow a particular route. Sometimes it is most fun to chase a theme. I LOVE roadside attractions so I will often pick a state and find all the roadside attractions in it I can, no matter where it takes me. Here are some ideas for road trip themes you can take:

• Roadside Attractions
• Amusement Parks

National Parks

Looking for fun places to go on a road trip with friends? Consider building a trip around National Parks. Experience beautiful nature, natural formations, and scenic trails while bonding with the people you love most.

Disney World

A lot of times road trips are more about the stops along the way than the actual destination. But, sometimes, they are more about the destination. Disney World (Or Disney Land) is a fun destination for a girls trip. If you all love Disney spend the trip blasting your favorite soundtracks, pack some ears, and end up at the happiest place on Earth.

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Valerie Bromann

Founder & road trip expert.

Valerie Bromann is a a website manager, content creator, and writer from Chicago, Illinois (currently living in Dallas, Texas). As an avid road tripper who has visited hundreds of roadside attractions, Val always pull over for a world’s largest thing. Founder of Silly America and author of The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book , she visits, photographs, and writes about all the weird tourist destinations she visits and offers road trip planning advice and inspiration based on her own travels so you can hit the road for yourself.

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Last modified: December 21, 2023 Category: Road Trip Planning

Kansas Route 66 Map

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Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip!

By valerie bromann.

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

The road trip you’ve been dreaming of starts here! Journal about your stops and get to know your fellow passengers with activities and exercises designed to pass the time and bring you closer together. Instead of “Are we there yet?” you’ll find yourself asking, “We’re there already?”. Complete with prompts you can turn to while driving between locations, this journal will one day be a memento of your life-changing trip.

Silly America

Silly America is a roadside attractions blog designed to help travelers find unique stops for their next road trip. The website is a tribute to the great American road trip, devoted to all that is odd in America: roadside attractions, tourist traps, peculiar destinations, bizarre events, road food, fun festivals, and more! It’s a travel website and trip planner for those seeking an offbeat road trip.

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17 Fun Trips to Take With Friends

Traveling with friends can be a life-changing experience. Check out this list of fun trips to take with friends and create a lifetime of memories!

From weekend getaways to New York City to long-haul adventures across Southeast Asia, traveling with friends can be an unforgettable experience. You not only learn a lot about each other but also about yourself. You also create great new memories that are sure to last a lifetime! It’s a time when you can focus on self-care and reflection and think about how lucky you are to have so many great people in your life.

We know how important and meaningful traveling with friends can be. So, we’ve put together a list of fun trips to take with friends. These adventures around the world can be done with just your bestie or with a whole heap of friends!

Enjoying Precious Time With Let’s Roam

If you’re interested in fun trips to take with friends, bonding must be on the brain! Let’s Roam is dedicated to helping you enjoy every precious moment of time you have with friends and family. It doesn’t matter if you’re hanging out at home or exploring the world! With hundreds of great scavenger hunts in cities across the globe, expertly designed scratch-off adventure books full of fun activities, and virtual games that are perfect for both kids and adults, Let’s Roam gives you plenty of great ways to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary!

Great Travel Experiences to Enjoy With Friends

Below, you will find a long list of travel ideas you can do with friends. Since we know some of these places may be a bit far to travel to from North America, we’ve included some additional adventures. You can include these in your trip to make the most of your travel time! We’ve also included some useful travel tips for traveling with friends based on our own decades of travel experience. 

1. Go snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef.

Roughly the size of 70 million football fields, the Great Barrier Reef off of the eastern coast of Australia is big. Like, really, really big. It’s the world’s largest coral reef system and is home to millions of colorful fish, turtles, sharks, sea snakes, dolphins, seabirds, eels, mollusks, sponges, and, of course, coral. Thanks to this incredible biodiversity and how easily accessible it is from cities like Sydney and Melbourne, it’s high on the bucket lists of many travelers. So, why not take a trip with a great group of friends?

You can choose to visit the Great Barrier Reef on a day trip from Cairns. These boats tend to be big and crowded. It can be difficult to explore the reefs without having a lot of other people around. Alternatively, you can book a spot on one of the liveaboard diving boats that go out for a few days at a time. This is a great option if you have the time and the budget. It allows you to experience the reef with significantly fewer people, and it gives you the chance to spend the night floating above this breathtaking natural landscape.

Expert tip: While you’re underwater, you’re very likely to hear a chomping sound, like someone or something is taking a big bite of something crunchy. That’s actually the colorful parrotfish eating algae off the coral. They’re an important part of the reef’s ecosystem. It’s one of my favorite parts of snorkeling, and I love watching the fish happily chomp away on the coral. 

Additional Adventures in Australia

After you’ve snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef, you can continue your Australian adventure by heading up through northern Queensland to the Daintree Rainforest. This is the oldest rainforest in the world at a whopping 135 million years old. You can visit as a day trip from Cairns or spend the night in one of the many lodges located nearby. There are many different hiking trails within the rainforest that let you get a closer look at the unique flora and fauna there. 

2. Spend a weekend visiting the historic bars of New York City.

New York is a fascinating city, and many tourists barely even scratch the surface of what it has to offer. For many people, their first visit to the Big Apple includes highlights like Times Square and Broadway, Central Park, and the World Trade Center. However, if you want to see how New Yorkers really spend their time and learn more about the cultural fabric of the city, why not spend a weekend bar hopping through some of the city’s historic dive bars? 

The many dive bars scattered across the island of Manhattan are a treasure trove for history buffs looking to get a peek at old NYC. Some of the most popular historic bars, like McSorley’s, Rudy’s, and Jeremy’s Ale House, still have much of their original decor. If you look closely, you can often see the ornate woodwork, colorful flooring, and vaulted ceilings of yesteryears. To make it even better, the drinks are often much, much cheaper than what you would pay at some of the trendy bars of the Meatpacking District or Midtown. 

To help break up your day of drinking a bit, we suggest taking the time to see some of the many attractions located near the bars, especially ones off the beaten tourist path, such as the many tiny parks hidden amongst apartment buildings and niche museums that you had no idea even existed. 

While you’re there, don’t forget to check out one of the Let’s Roam New York scavenger hunts ! These hunts are expertly designed to help you get off the normal tourist trail and see some of the lesser-known sights. From the public art of Chelsea to the ghost of Greenwich , there’s something to fit the unique tastes of every traveler!

3. Check out the nightlife of Hong Kong.

With buildings that reach high into the sky, sparkling seas, and emerald-green hills, Hong Kong is one of the world’s most photogenic mega-cities. It’s also one of the most vibrant. While New York is often considered the city that never sleeps, Hong Kong can easily be considered the Big Apple’s sister from another mister. 

Additional Adventures in Hong Kong

If you don’t have a Chinese visa but still want to combine your trip to Hong Kong with another nearby destination, we highly recommend taking the ferry to Macau. Once a Portuguese colony, Macau is now the Las Vegas of Asia with tons of casinos, grandiose hotels, entertainment venues, and bars. You can still see vestiges of its colonial days in the downtown area as well as some of the original Chinese casinos built there. This creates a fascinating juxtaposition that you can’t find anywhere else and makes it well worth the trip.

4. Take a road trip across Patagonia.

With wide open spaces, rugged mountains, crystal-clear lakes, and charming mountain towns, Patagonia is the ultimate destination for a road trip. You can begin your journey in Santiago and head south, crisscrossing the border of Chile and Argentina. Or, head straight down to Ushuaia, the end of the world, and work your way north from there. 

When you’re planning your journey, make sure to leave plenty of time for hiking. This region is home to some of the world’s most magnificent hikes, including the incomparable W Trek in Torres del Paine National Park. This five-day trek takes you high into the Andes Mountains, offering breathtaking views and breathtaking ascents along the way! 

Additional Adventures in Chile and Argentina 

The lands of Patagonia take a surprisingly long time to get to from the United States, so if you have the time, we definitely recommend staying a bit longer to see other great destinations. Check out the enigmatic Easter Island, the beautiful city of Buenos Aires, or Iguassu Falls, one of the world’s biggest waterfalls. Domestic flights are relatively inexpensive, which makes it easy to travel around. There’s so much to see that you may find yourself wishing you had many months to spend there!

5. Say hello to Lady Luck in Las Vegas.

Will luck be a lady tonight? This is something you can only find out by organizing a fun getaway to Las Vegas ! Las Vegas, Nevada, has come a long way from its days as the original Sin City. Besides what feels like an endless line of slot machines and over-the-top casinos that make you feel like you’re in some weird version of Disneyland, Las Vegas offers some of the world’s best hotels, entertainment venues, bars, and restaurants just waiting to show you a good time (and to take some of that hard-earned money off your hands!). It’s even the temporary home to some of the country’s most famous musical artists who have long-running residencies there. 

This fun combination of activities makes it the perfect spot for weekend getaways for anyone wanting to spend the day lounging by the pool with a colorful cocktail in hand, trying their luck on the slot machines, and watching their favorite musicians sing their hearts out.

6. Hit up the all-inclusive resorts of the Yucatan Peninsula.

While it’s fun to DIY your own trip, sometimes nothing beats a week at an all-inclusive resort with your best friends. Gone is the stress of having to pick a restaurant, call a taxi, or find a bar to go to. Instead, you have everything you need all under one roof! All-inclusive resorts range from intimate affairs with a handful of restaurants and idyllic poolsides to full-blown resorts with tons of restaurants, pools, and activities to choose from. These ones are usually a bit better suited for groups of friends, but to each their own, right? The beauty of going to an all-inclusive resort lies in the lack of planning you need to put into it. You can simply show up and be you!

While you can find all-inclusive resorts scattered across the Caribbean and Southeast Asia, we love going to the ones in the Yucatan simply because there is so much to do around them! Not only is the peninsula blessed with gorgeous white sand beaches and marvelous weather most of the year, but it’s also dotted with ancient Mayan ruins, fascinating sinkholes that are perfect for swimming in, and colorful colonial towns. This gives you the chance to easily learn more about the history, culture, and geography of this amazing country! 

Some of the most popular areas to stay in include Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum, but you can find high-end resorts dotted all along the coastline. 

7. Swim with whale sharks in Mexico.

Mexico is famous for having good food, beautiful scenery, great weather, and friendly people. However, if you still need another reason to visit this amazing country, we have one more for you. Mexico is also one of the few places in the world where you can swim with whale sharks.

Whale sharks are the biggest fish on the planet, measuring more than 40 feet in length and weighing as much as 47,000 pounds. Their mouths alone can stretch up to five feet wide with 300 tiny teeth. Although they’re considered sharks, they’re not dangerous to humans. In fact, these gentle giants eat only plankton. Swimming with whale sharks is an incredible experience. Although you get just a few minutes in the water with them due to strict conservation rules, it feels like a lifetime as you watch their muscular bodies glide gracefully below you.

The best place to join a whale shark tour is in Isla de Mujeres, just a short boat ride from Cancun. This tourist-friendly island has a downtown area lined with budget-friendly accommodation options, souvenir shops, and restaurants. It’s a nice, laid-back spot to spend a few days before or after your trip, and it gives you a little taste of Mexico without having to deal with all the craziness of Cancun. 

8. Explore the Tuscan wine country in Italy.

While Napa Valley is considered one of the best wine regions in the US, why not think a bit bigger when it comes to having an awesome and memorable vacation with your besties? Just imagine yourselves sitting with a glass of Chianti, overlooking rolling hills lined with vineyards and dotted with historic farmhouses. Taking a wine tour of Tuscany is a great way to try a whole new range of mouthwatering wines that you normally wouldn’t have access to and learn more about Italian culture and heritage. 

The wine region of Tuscany in Italy is relatively easy to get to from major tourist hotspots like Florence, Rome, and Milan. Otherwise, you can base yourself in one of the smaller cities or towns nearby, like Sienna, San Gimignano, and Pisa. Here, you will find a wide range of accommodation options, including boutique hotels, charming B&Bs, and vacation rentals. There are also tons of different wine tours that you can choose from. Otherwise, you can create your own DIY wine tour and make your way to the wineries by train, car, or bike. Or go on foot for tours of the wineries and wine tastings. 

Additional Adventures in Italy

After you’ve tasted the nectar of the gods in Tuscany, why not visit the ancient delights of Rome or Pompeii? Check out the Renaissance masterpieces in Florence or pretend like you’re holding up a certain tower in Pisa. The comprehensive and budget-friendly train network makes it easy to get around!

9. Take the train across Canada.

All aboard! Epic train rides like the Orient Express may seem like a thing of the past, but in fact, they’re thriving in many parts of the world! The Blue Train in South Africa and The Ghan in Australia are still Mesmerizing riders today. But if you want to try something a little closer to home, you may want to consider riding the long-distance rails of Canada!

Train rides in Canada can range from multi-day adventures to shorter hops between destinations. Some of the most popular routes include Halifax to Montreal and the much longer Rocky Mountaineer that goes from Vancouver all the way to Banff. This luxurious rail journey takes you along the Canadian Pacific Railway in custom-designed trains complete with panoramic glass roofs. The daytime views along the way are breathtaking. At night, you can stop in towns like Whistler, Jasper, Lake Louise, and Quesnel.

10. Visit the honky tonks of Nashville.

Nashville has been THE place to go in the US for live music for decades. From the stages of the Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium to the bustling honky tonks of the Broadway Historic District, it’s easy to see why it earned the nickname “Music City.” If you and your friends love spending a night out on the town shaking your groove thing, Nashville has plenty of fun in store for you! 

One of the best ways to get the night rolling is with our Nashville Bar Crawl Scavenger Hunt ! This hunt will take you to some of the best bars and watering holes in Nashville, giving you plenty of chances to make new memories as you complete one quirky challenge after another!

During the day, you can either explore the many different museums on offer in Music City or head out for a day trip to Mammoth Cave National Park or to the Jack Daniel Distillery, both of which are about an hour and a half drive away. You can also combine it with a mini road trip to Memphis!

11. Go for a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia.

Famous for its fairy chimneys, Cappadocia looks like it’s straight out of a fairy tale. And there’s no better way to view these than from up above! There’s something quite magical about going on a hot air balloon ride. From feeling the heat of the fire to seeing the earth slowly melt away below you, hot air balloons have a special something that many other air activities don’t. It’s an even more memorable experience when you’re flying over something amazing!

Flights depart nearly every morning, weather permitting, and you only normally need to book a few days in advance. Make sure to wear plenty of warm clothes, as it can get pretty chilly up there, and have your cameras ready!

Additional Adventures in Turkey

Before or after visiting Cappadocia, make sure to spend some time exploring Istanbul. Straddling both Europe and Asia, this city truly is where east meets west. It’s a fascinating blend of cultures from all over the world. From there, you can head down to Izmir and begin a southwest Turkey road trip down toward Ephesus, one of the many ancient wonders left behind by the Romans. 

12. Island hop in the Aegean Sea.

Most of us have probably seen photos of the Greek Isles. The white-washed houses with their blue roofs surrounded by the sparkling Aegean Sea are the stuff that dreams are made of. This image has graced everything from mouse pads to coffee mugs. While islands like Santorini, Patmos, Mykonos, and Rhodes are incredibly beautiful, one of the best things about visiting them is just how accessible they are!

Although there are many cruises that roam the waters between the Greek islands, you can visit many of the islands simply by hopping onto one of the many ferries leaving Athens, Greece. While this does require a bit more planning than simply booking a cruise, this gives you the chance to spend as much time as you want on each of the islands. You can see what they’re like when the cruises leave. 

Additional Adventures in Greece

Once you’ve finished island-hopping, you may want to consider spending a few days exploring the ancient ruins of Athens or traveling up to see the sky-high monasteries of Meteora.

13. Unlock your inner mermaid at Miami Beach.

The beautiful shoreline and sunny weather of Florida have been attracting northerners for centuries, and Miami has long been at the top of the list of must-see destinations. From the white sand beach to the curvy Art Deco architecture, Miami Beach feels like a completely different city than the rest of Miami. By day, you can be lounging around in the sun or wandering up the cute residential streets. By night, you can go to some of the hottest clubs in the entire country. 

If you plan on spending the full day at the beach, there are places where you can grab beach chairs and umbrella rentals that allow you to get extra comfy, and don’t forget to bring plenty of sunscreen with you! Nothing ruins a great vacation faster than a painful sunburn. 

Travel tip: While you’re in Miami, don’t forget to visit Wyndood Walls. This collection of street art and murals spread across warehouses and shop exteriors resembles a long line of outdoor art galleries. The neighborhood is also home to a few microbreweries and pop-up restaurants, making it a great place for foodies and craft beer lovers who are in serious need of a break from the beach. 

14. Get weird in Austin, Texas. 

Located in the great state of Texas, Austin is unapologetically weird. Home to both the University of Texas’s main campus and the Texas State Capitol, the city has an interesting mix of government buildings and a fun, youthful energy. As you would expect from a city this diverse, there is a wide range of restaurants, bars, and cultural attractions to choose from. You can even do your very own pub crawl while you’re there! 

Austin isn’t just all culture-vulturing, though. There are plenty of unique activities to do here. During your stay, you can cool down at Barton Springs, a natural pool full of fresh water, watch millions of bats take flight at the Congress Avenue Bridge, take a stroll around Lady Bird Lake, or pick up your very own pair of authentic cowboy boots at Allen’s Boots, an Austin institution!

15. Enjoy a week of outdoor adventures in Iceland.

Iceland was once a bit of a hidden gem for outdoor adventure and other-worldly natural attractions. However, with the rise of low-cost airlines and a massive drop in their currency, Iceland became much more accessible as a vacation destination. Suddenly, it exploded onto seemingly every must-see list. While the excitement surrounding Iceland as a destination has abated a bit, this doesn’t mean that it is any less stunning than it was a few years ago. It simply means that you are likely to have many of the biggest sites all to yourself! 

Most people start their trip in the capital city of Reykjavik before venturing out for an epic road trip on Iceland’s famous Ring Road. Stretching 825 miles, this road takes you by some of the biggest natural attractions in the country, including Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, Dyrhólaey cliffs, and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. While the entire road can be driven in 24 hours, it is best to slow down and take your time so that you can truly enjoy all of the many waterfalls, glaciers, gorges, and hiking trails you see along the way. 

Before you leave, make sure to take some time to relax at the Blue Lagoon, which is conveniently located close to the airport. This will give you some time to reflect on your remarkable journey and all of the magnificent things you saw and did!

16. Get your jazz on in New Orleans.

Throughout the course of history, the city of New Orleans changed hands repeatedly. This wave of cultures left an undeniable mark on the city in terms of architecture, culture, cuisine, and, of course, music. New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz, so what better place could there be to spend a few evenings at a smoky jazz club listening to these lively melodies? Some of the most popular places to listen to jazz music include the historic Preservation Hall and the intimate The Spotted Cat, so one of these should be your first port of call regardless of whether you are a jazz aficionado or a new fan!

While New Orleans is famous for its nightlife, there is plenty to do during the day as well! You can explore the streets of the French Quarter, explore the wide boulevards lined with stately homes in the Garden District, or visit world-class museums, such as the National WWII Museum or the New Orleans Museum of Art.

Travel tip: If you plan on traveling to New Orleans during Mardi Gras, make sure to book your accommodation well in advance as places tend to sell out very quickly!

17. Explore the natural wonders of Costa Rica.

Thanks to the country’s focus on providing excellent ecotourism experiences, the country of Costa Rica has been a fantastic vacation destination for decades. With beautiful beaches, tranquil cloud forests, smoking volcanoes, and gushing waterfalls, Costa Rica provides the perfect backdrop for tons of great outdoor activities. During your trip, you can put some miles in on the hiking trails, go ziplining above the treeline, or spend your days relaxing on the beach, enjoying the sea breezes coming off the Caribbean.

Travel tip: Prices for hotels and activities have gone up substantially in Costa Rica over the past few decades, making it one of the most expensive travel destinations in Latin America. Make sure to double-check the prices of things before you book your hotels and flights to ensure you will be able to have the vacation you’re dreaming of without having to empty your bank account too much!

So, Ready to Roam?

We hope this list of fun trips to take with friends has given you plenty of inspiration! As always, we would love to hear your feedback, so please let us know if there are any great adventures you think should be added to this list!

If you would like to learn more about any of these destinations, make sure to check out the Let’s Roam Explorer blog , where you can find hundreds of travel guides, to-do lists, and blog posts about both domestic and international travel. You can also download the Let’s Roam app to find scavenger hunts near you as well as user-generated info on destinations around the world. 

Frequently Asked Questions

If you want to have a nice time, what about a weekend in New York or Las Vegas ? If you want to go further afield, Australia , Argentina , and Italy are great options for something unique and memorable!

To make a friends’ trip a bit more fun for everyone, why not try a fun-filled destination scavenger hunt ? With hundreds of hunts to choose from, there is sure to be one perfect for your group!

Mexico , Australia , and Costa Rica all have beautiful beaches and are easy to travel to with friends. Download the Let’s Roam app to see how the locals spend their time in these great spots!

If you want to ensure that you have a great trip with friends , try to schedule a mixture of unique activities like scavenger hunts with plenty of free time for people to explore on their own!

New York , Las Vegas , and Miami all have something unique to offer, making them great destinations for getaways with friends ! Get the Let’s Roam app to access travel tips for these locations and more!

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11 Fun Ideas For Road Trip Adventures With Friends

• Last updated May 07, 2023
• Difficulty Advanced

• Category United States

They say that a road trip with friends is one of the most fun and memorable experiences one can have. It’s a chance to escape the humdrum of daily life, bond with your pals, and explore new destinations. But what if you’re tired of the usual route and want to add some excitement to your journey? From quirky roadside attractions to adrenaline-pumping activities, we’ve got 11 road trip adventures that will keep you and your friends entertained and happy for miles and miles. So buckle up and get ready for epic thrills and unforgettable memories with these fun ideas!

What You'll Learn

Visit national parks, road trip through california's highway 1, camping in the rocky mountains, rent a beach house in florida, go on a brewery tour, visit amusement parks, ski trip in colorado, explore new orleans' food and music scene, hike the appalachian trail, attend a music festival, road trip through route 66.

A road trip with friends is a fun-filled adventure that allows you to create unforgettable memories. One of the best ways to spend quality time with your friends is by visiting national parks. Not only will you get to explore the great outdoors, but you'll also learn about the history and culture of the country. Here are some things to consider when visiting national parks on your road trip with friends.

Research National Parks

Before embarking on your road trip, decide on which national parks you want to visit. Research the parks, their locations, and history. There are 63 national parks in the US, each with its unique landscapes, flora, and fauna. Some popular national parks include Yellowstone, Zion, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and Acadia. You can also visit lesser-known parks that offer breathtaking views and attractions.

Plan Your Route

Once you have selected the national parks to visit, plan your route to ensure you cover all the places you want to see. Consider the distance between parks and the time it takes to explore each park. You can use travel apps like Roadtrippers or Google maps to plan your route, estimate travel time, and gas costs.

Hire A Shuttle Service

If you're going on a long road trip, consider hiring a shuttle service to take you around the national parks. This will allow you to relax and enjoy the view while a professional driver takes you from one attraction to the next. It also means you won't have to worry about renting a car or navigating through unfamiliar terrain.

Activities To Do

There are plenty of activities to do in national parks, perfect for a road trip with friends. You can go hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, or bird watching while exploring the natural landscape and wildlife. Each park offers guided tours or ranger programs that allow you to learn about the history of the park, conservation efforts, and the local community.

Camp or Stay in Lodges

National parks offer a variety of accommodation options, including campsites and lodges. Camping is an excellent way to immerse yourself in nature and save on accommodation costs. It's also a great way to bond with your friends over a campfire, cooking, and stargazing. National park lodges, on the other hand, offer more comfort and amenities, such as restaurants, gift shops, and hot showers.

A road trip with friends to national parks is an excellent way to explore the country's natural beauty and culture. Take the time to research the parks and plan your route, hire a shuttle service, and engage in activities such as hiking, camping, or guided tours. National parks offer endless adventure, and with a little planning, you can create an unforgettable road trip with your friends.

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Are you planning a road trip with your friends? Explore one of the most scenic routes in California, Highway 1, while enjoying breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Here are some things to do on a road trip through Highway 1.

Pack Snacks and Drinks

Before hitting the road, make a stop at a grocery store or a gas station to buy snacks and drinks. Fill up a cooler with fruits, sandwiches, water, and other beverages to keep everyone satisfied during the trip.

Stop at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is a perfect stop for nature lovers. Explore the coves and beaches and admire the rugged coastline and sea stacks. Don't forget to bring your camera to capture the stunning views.

Visit Monterey Bay Aquarium

If you want to add some fun and education to your road trip, make sure to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium. You will have the chance to see and learn about various marine life such as sharks, turtles, jellyfish, and penguins.

Drive the Bixby Bridge

Arguably one of the most photographed bridges in California, the Bixby Bridge is an iconic stop on Highway 1. Stop and take some pictures of the stunning view of the bridge against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean.

Explore Big Sur State Park

Big Sur State Park has a lot to offer for nature lovers. Take a hike or a stroll and enjoy the ancient redwoods, waterfalls, and wildlife. Don't miss the chance to see McWay Falls, an 80-foot waterfall that drops onto a secluded cove.

A road trip through California's Highway 1 can be a memorable experience. From hiking to exploring the marine life, there's something for everyone. With this guide as your reference, plan your next road trip with your friends and have a fantastic adventure. Don't forget to take plenty of pictures!

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If you're planning a road trip with your friends, camping in the Rocky Mountains should definitely be on your list of things to do. The Rocky Mountains, which stretch all the way from Canada to New Mexico, offer some of the most spectacular scenery in North America. With soaring peaks, sparkling streams, and dense forests, the Rockies are an outdoor lover's paradise.

To begin your camping trip, you'll need to decide on a campground. There are many scenic and well-equipped campgrounds in the Rockies, so you're sure to find one that suits your needs. Keep in mind that some campgrounds require reservations, especially during peak tourist season. It's always a good idea to book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Once you've chosen your campground, it's time to set up your tent and start exploring. Hiking is one of the best ways to experience the Rockies. There are countless trails that wind through the mountains, from leisurely strolls to challenging treks. You'll have the chance to see wildlife, stunning vistas, and wildflowers in bloom. Make sure to bring plenty of water, sturdy shoes, and a map of the area.

If you're looking for even more adventure, consider going rock climbing, mountain biking, or white-water rafting. The Rockies are a playground for adrenaline junkies, with opportunities for all kinds of outdoor activities. Just be sure to research the safety and equipment requirements for any activity you choose.

When you're not exploring the great outdoors, there are plenty of other things to do in the Rockies. Visit a local hot springs or spa for some relaxation after a long day of hiking. Take a scenic drive through the mountains to see some of the region's most breathtaking landscapes. Stop at small towns and villages along the way to sample local food and drink, or shop for unique souvenirs.

Finally, don't forget to simply relax and enjoy your time with your friends. Camping in the Rockies is a great opportunity to unplug from the stresses of everyday life and reconnect with nature. Sit around the campfire and share stories, or take in the stars on a clear night. Whatever you do, take the time to appreciate the beauty and majesty of the Rocky Mountains.

In conclusion, camping in the Rocky Mountains is the perfect way to bond with your friends on a road trip. With plenty of outdoor activities, stunning scenery, and opportunities for relaxation, there's something for everyone in this natural wonderland. So pack your tent and hit the road – adventure awaits!

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Road trips with friends are an ideal way to create unforgettable memories and experiences. Whether you're just taking a weekend trip or a long summer vacation, there are countless things to do on a road trip with friends. One of the best options is to rent a beach house in Florida.

With over 1,300 miles of coastline, Florida is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. A beach house rental is a fantastic option for those planning a road trip with friends. Renting a beach house will give you access to all the amenities you'll need for a relaxing and memorable vacation. From beach chairs and towels to large kitchens and outdoor grilling areas, a beach house rental ensures you and your friends will be comfortable and happy.

When you rent a beach house in Florida, you'll be able to spend your days lounging in the sun on the beach, playing volleyball or frisbee, and swimming in the ocean. You'll also be able to take in the sights and sounds of the scenic coastal towns that line the state's beaches. These towns offer plenty of dining options, nightlife, and attractions that make for fun day trips or nights out with friends.

Another great reason to rent a beach house on a Florida road trip with friends is the outdoor activities available. Florida beaches offer water sports such as parasailing, jet skiing, and paddleboarding, allowing you to add some adventure and excitement to your trip. If you're more interested in fishing, Florida is home to some of the best fishing spots in the world. You can even rent a boat and go on a deep-sea fishing excursion with your friends.

In conclusion, renting a beach house in Florida is a fantastic option for things to do on a road trip with friends. You'll have access to all the amenities you need for a relaxing and memorable vacation, while also having plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation and sightseeing. So pack your bags, grab your friends, and hit the road to sunny Florida!

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One of the most fun things to do on a road trip with friends is to explore local breweries. Whether you are a beer enthusiast or simply enjoy good company and a cold one, brewery tours offer a unique experience that combines education, entertainment, and of course, delicious drinks.

When planning your road trip, research the local breweries in the areas you will be passing through. Many offer guided tours that take you behind the scenes to see how beer is made, from the brewing process to the bottling and packaging. These guided tours are often accompanied by an informative lecture about the beer history of the area and the particular brewing process used by each brewery.

In addition to the tour, most breweries offer a tasting session where you can sample their signature beers, seasonal brews and experimental creations. This part of the tour allows you to discover new flavors, discuss your impressions with your friends and even purchase your favorite beers to take with you on the road.

Brewery tours are also the perfect opportunity to meet locals and fellow beer enthusiasts. You can socialize and exchange tips on your favorite beers and breweries, learn about local customs, and share your travel experiences. It's a great opportunity to make new friends and create lifelong memories.

However, it is important to keep in mind that beer tasting is a serious matter that requires responsibility. It is important to designate a driver who will refrain from drinking alcohol during the tour, or to arrange for transportation if possible. Driving under the influence of alcohol is not only dangerous but also illegal.

In conclusion, going on a brewery tour is a fun and educational activity to do on a road trip with friends. It offers a taste of local culture, an opportunity to explore new flavors and make new friends. Just remember to drink responsibly and enjoy the experience to the fullest!

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Road trips can be one of the best experiences ever- If you’re well-prepared and surrounded by good company, you’re guaranteed to have an unforgettable trip. One of the most exciting things you can do on a road trip with your friends is visiting amusement parks. Not only are amusement parks incredibly entertaining, but they also offer a lot of opportunities for bonding and memory-making, making it the ideal activity for a group of friends.

Here are some ideas for making visiting theme parks even better:

Choose the right amusement park

There are many different types of amusement parks out there, each with its theme and style. Decide what type of park everyone is interested in and choose accordingly. Some popular types of amusement parks include water parks, thrill parks or even Disney and Universal. Consider the distance to travel, opening and closing times, and what facilities they offer to make the best choice.

Once you settle on which amusement park you’re going to visit, make sure that you allocate enough time for the visit. Then, decide on what rides or attractions each person in the group plans on going on, and try to plan a few joint activities that everyone can enjoy, such as a roller coaster ride or a visit to the waterpark. Additionally, find out whether there’s any discounted ticket offers available or VIP passes to skip the queue, and book them in advance to avoid missing out.

Pack Properly

You don't want to get to the amusement park and realize that a critical item was left behind. Make a list of things to bring before leaving, so you’re prepared for the day - sunscreen, comfortable shoes, water bottles, and a backpack to store everything in. You don't want to your friend to end up with sunburn or become dehydrated from running around all day, so ensuring that you have everything you need will make for a much more enjoyable trip.

Enjoy The Scenery

Theme parks are often large and fantastic and provide a lot of opportunities for exploring. After enjoying the rides and thrills, take a walk around the park or enjoy a ride to enjoy the scenery. Parks usually have shops, restaurants, and other attractions, so take a break from the usual rides and explore. Some amusement parks have shows, and parades which are entertaining and visually pleasing to watch.

Take Lots of Pictures

Amusement parks are such a fantastic place to take photos. From that first virtual queue to the adrenaline-filled moments on the rides and attractions, capturing every moment with your friends is a no-brainer. Make sure whoever brought a camera, whether that be someone’s phone, a DSLR or GoPro, is charged up before you go in, so that you don’t miss that perfect moment.

In conclusion, visiting amusement parks during a road trip with friends is an excellent way to have fun and make unforgettable memories. Plan ahead, make sure to pack well, chose the right park, explore, take pictures, and overall have fun. Road trips are not only about the destination but the journey, and amusement parks make for one heck of an adventure!

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Winter is the perfect time to embark on a road trip with friends, and there is no better destination than Colorado for a ski trip. The state boasts some of the most picturesque and exhilarating ski resorts in the country, making it a top choice for winter sports enthusiasts. Whether you are a seasoned skier or a beginner, Colorado has something to offer for everyone.

Here's a list of exciting things to do on a ski trip in Colorado with your friends:

• Hit the Slopes – Skiing and snowboarding are the main attractions of Colorado's ski resorts. You and your friends can spend hours exploring the various slopes and trails at resorts like Aspen, Vail, Breckenridge, and Keystone. The resorts offer beginner, intermediate, and advanced trails, so be sure to choose the one that best fits your skill level.
• Ice Skating – Most of the ski resorts in Colorado have ice skating rinks, which can be a fun activity to do with friends in the evening after a long day on the slopes.
• Sledging – To add some laughter and excitement to your trip, consider trying sledging. Many ski resorts in Colorado have designated areas for sledging, where you and your friends can race down the hills on sleds.
• Hot Springs – After a long day on the slopes, ease your aching muscles by visiting one of Colorado's hot springs. Some of the popular ones include Glenwood Hot Springs, Ouray Hot Springs, and Pagosa Hot Springs.
• Snowshoeing – If skiing or snowboarding is not your thing, try snowshoeing. It's a great way to enjoy the scenic beauty of Colorado's winter wonderland with your friends.
• Nightlife – Colorado's ski resorts offer a wide variety of nightlife activities, including bars, nightclubs, and live entertainment. So, let loose, grab a drink, and have a great time with your friends.
• Dog Sledding – Experience the thrill of dog sledding and explore the backcountry of Colorado with your friends. This unique activity is sure to create unforgettable memories.

Colorado's ski resorts are well-equipped with all the amenities, including ski rentals, restaurants, and accommodations, making it an easy and convenient trip for you and your friends. So, pack warm, hit the road, and embark on an exciting ski trip to Colorado this winter season with your favorite people.

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There's no better way to bond with friends than taking a road trip together. Road trips allow you to explore different cities, landscapes, and cultures. If you're planning to take a road trip with your friends, exploring the food and music scene of New Orleans is a must-do. Here are some tips for experiencing this vibrant city to the fullest.

Try the local cuisine

New Orleans is a food lover's paradise. From gumbo and jambalaya to po-boys and beignets, this city will take you on a culinary journey like no other. To experience the local cuisine, head to the French Quarter where you'll find numerous restaurants and cafes. Don't miss out on trying the famous beignets at Cafe Du Monde or the po-boys at Johnny's Po-Boys. For a more upscale experience, book a table at Commander's Palace or August.

Catch live music

New Orleans is known for its jazz music and there's no shortage of venues where you can catch live music. Frenchmen Street is the place to be for live music, with bars and clubs offering a range of genres from jazz to blues to funk. The Spotted Cat Music Club and Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro are popular spots for live music. You can also catch street performances in the French Quarter.

Visit the museums

New Orleans has a rich history and culture, and visiting its museums is a great way to learn more about the city. The National World War II Museum is a must-visit for history buffs, while the New Orleans Museum of Art showcases local art and culture. If you're interested in voodoo culture, head to the Voodoo Museum.

Take a swamp tour

If you're looking for an adventure, take a swamp tour and explore the wetlands surrounding New Orleans. You'll get to see alligators, snakes, and other wildlife up close. There are several tour companies that offer swamp tours, including Cajun Pride Swamp Tours and Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours.

Party on Bourbon Street

No trip to New Orleans is complete without a visit to Bourbon Street. This lively street is lined with bars, clubs, and restaurants and is packed with both locals and tourists. If you're looking to party, head to Bourbon Street and experience the nightlife of New Orleans.

Overall, New Orleans is a city that has something for everyone. From its food and music scene to its museums and natural beauty, this city will leave you with unforgettable memories. So, grab your friends and start planning your road trip to New Orleans today!

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A road trip with friends is always an exciting adventure. While driving along the highways and byways, it's important to make the most of every stop to have an enjoyable experience. One of the best ideas for an outdoor activity on a road trip is hiking the Appalachian Trail.

The Appalachian Trail, also known as the AT, is a 2,200-mile trail that extends from Georgia to Maine. It passes through 14 states and offers stunning views of mountain ranges, forests, rivers, and waterfalls. The trail also features an array of wildlife, making it a nature lover's paradise.

Before starting on the hike, make sure to plan ahead and research the trail's topography, distance, and difficulty. This will prepare you for what to expect on the trail and help you decide what supplies and equipment to bring.

Here are a few tips for hiking the Appalachian Trail:

• Start small: If you are a novice hiker or have never hiked before, it's better to start with an easy section of the trail. You can gradually increase the distance and difficulty level as you gain more experience.
• Pack the essentials: Make sure to carry all the necessary supplies, such as water, snacks, a map, a compass, a first-aid kit, and appropriate clothing and footwear.
• Be aware of weather conditions: Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly. Be prepared for sudden changes in temperature and conditions.
• Stay on the marked trail: The Appalachian Trail is well-marked with white blazes, which guide hikers along the way. Make sure to follow these blazes to avoid getting lost.
• Leave no trace: Make sure to follow the Leave No Trace principles and carry out all trash and waste. Respect the wildlife and the environment by not disturbing the natural habitat.

Hiking the Appalachian Trail is not only a great way to get some exercise, but it also provides an excellent opportunity to bond with friends and enjoy nature. You'll be able to witness some of the most beautiful landscapes in the United States, experience personal growth, and make lifelong memories.

In conclusion, hiking the Appalachian Trail on a road trip with friends is a perfect way to enjoy the great outdoors. It's essential to do proper research, plan ahead, and follow the necessary safety measures to ensure a safe and unforgettable experience. So, gather your friends, pack your bags, and hit the trail!

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Heading: Attend a Music Festival

When it comes to planning a road trip with friends, one activity that should definitely be on your to-do list is attending a music festival. Not only is it a great way to experience some amazing live music, but it is also an opportunity to connect with new people, explore different cultures, and make unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime.

Here are some reasons why attending a music festival should be at the top of your itinerary:

• Variety of Music: Music festivals offer a variety of musical genres such as rock, pop, country, EDM, hip-hop, and more. You can pick and choose which artists you want to see, and there’s always something for everyone.
• Unique Experiences: Music festivals are more than just concerts - they are a unique experience that takes you to another world filled with art, food, and culture. From colorful art installations, food vendors, and interactive exhibits, the festival grounds are a place to explore and discover.
• Make New Friends: Music festivals bring together people from different parts of the world who share a common interest in music. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, make friends, and network with people who share similar passions.
• Party Atmosphere: Music festivals are known for their party atmosphere. The festival grounds are filled with people dancing, singing, and having a great time. It’s a perfect place to let loose, forget about your everyday life, and create amazing memories with your friends.
• Travel Destination: Many music festivals are held in popular tourist destinations. So, attending a music festival not only gives you a chance to enjoy live music but also explore a new city, state, or country. You can extend your road trip and visit some of the nearby attractions before or after the festival.

In conclusion, attending a music festival should be a priority on your road trip with friends. From enjoying live music, making new friends, exploring different cultures, and creating unforgettable memories, a festival is an experience you don’t want to miss. So, go ahead, pack your bags, and get ready for an epic road trip filled with great music, good times, and new experiences.

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A road trip with friends can be an exciting adventure that creates long-lasting memories. And one of the most iconic routes to take is the famous Route 66. It's a classic American road trip that spans from Chicago to Santa Monica, California. So, pack your bags, grab your best buds, and let's hit the road!

Here are some ideas of things to do on a road trip through Route 66:

• Rent a convertible: What better way to travel down the Mother Road than in a classic car? Take advantage of the open sky and rent a convertible to experience what it was like to travel on Route 66 back in the day.
• Visit the Illinois Railway Museum: Located in Union, Illinois, this unique museum has a variety of railcars and locomotives on display. Learn about the history of trains and how they influenced the development of Route 66.
• Explore the city of St. Louis: From the iconic Gateway Arch to the famous Soulard Farmer's Market, St. Louis has a lot to offer. Take a detour from the route and spend a day or two in this bustling city.
• Check out the Route 66 Association Hall of Fame and Museum: Located in Pontiac, Illinois, this museum celebrates the history and culture of Route 66. See vintage cars, signs, and artifacts that showcase the iconic route.
• Try some road food: What's a road trip without some classic road food? From diner burgers to corn dogs to shakes, there are plenty of culinary treats to try on Route 66.
• Hike in the Grand Canyon: While it may seem like a detour from Route 66, the Grand Canyon is not to be missed. Take a day to hike or explore this natural wonder that's not too far from the Mother Road.
• Visit Cadillac Ranch: Located just west of Amarillo, Texas, Cadillac Ranch is a quirky art installation featuring ten Cadillac cars buried nose down in the ground. Take some fun photos and leave your mark with some spray paint.
• Drive through the ghost town of Oatman: This former gold-mining town in Arizona is now a popular tourist attraction. Watch the wild burros roam the streets and take in the unique vibe of this historic town.

A road trip on Route 66 is an adventure that should not be missed. With a variety of sights, sounds, and tastes to discover, it's the perfect trip to take with good friends. Pack your bags, buckle up, and get ready for an unforgettable journey!

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Frequently asked questions.

There are several fun games to play with friends on a road trip such as car karaoke, 20 questions, the alphabet game, Never have I ever and the license plate game.

Some must-visit attractions to see on a road trip with friends include national parks, roadside diners, scenic drives, amusement parks, and beaches.

The best way to plan and organize a road trip with friends is to create a detailed itinerary, set a budget, designate a designated driver and have a plan-B in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Items to pack for a road trip with friends include snacks, water bottles, sunglasses, sunscreen, portable charger, maps, first aid kit, camera, and a portable Bluetooth speaker.

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Awesome Ideas and Helpful Tips for a Road Trip With Friends

by Danielle Owen | Apr 1, 2022 | Group Travel | 0 comments

A road trip with friends can be the experience of a lifetime. But it takes some planning to make a group trip as stress-free as possible. While spontaneity is one of the best parts of hitting the road, there are still some things that should be figured out in advance.

Troupe’s group travel planner is the perfect pre-road trip tool to help you sort out your adventure. Share ideas for destinations and let trip members vote on their favorites to help plan out your route. You can also suggest dates that group members can approve and Troupe will let you know which dates work before for everyone.

Check out these top tips and ideas for a road trip with friends:

Plan a road trip based on a shared interest

• Take the scenic route

Everyone plan a day

Rent an rv or camper van, leave some wiggle room in your schedule, have a plan for splitting shared costs, play car games to pass the time, take lots of photos.

• Don’t be afraid to split up

Share driving responsibilities

• Have a positive attitude (and a backup plan)

Fun road trip ideas for friends

Maybe you all love music and want to catch a show in each city you visit. Or maybe you’re avid hikers who plan on tackling bucket list hikes across the country. Whatever you all love, consider basing the road trip around a shared hobby or passion.

Simply take the scenic route

Half of the fun of a road trip with friends is the time you spend on the road, listening to music, laughing, and enjoying the drive. There’s nothing wrong with taking a road trip simply for the sake of taking a road trip. Choose a scenic route near you, whether that’s a coastal highway or a mountain pass, and hit the road.

If you’re taking a multi-day trip, consider planning out a general route and splitting it up into one-day chunks. Then let each person on the trip be responsible for planning a leg of the journey. You can even keep the plans a surprise to make them more exciting. Each person would choose the city to stop in for the night and an activity at that destination or along the route.

While road trips in cars are great and everything, a road trip in an RV is a next-level experience. You and your friends won’t soon forget the week you spent in your home on wheels.

Top tips for a road trip with friends

Don’t plan such a strict road trip itinerary that you don’t have room to stop and smell the roses along the way. Whether that’s literally stopping to enjoy a beautiful, flower-strewn vista or deciding that a quirky pitstop town is worth spending an extra night or two.

Make sure you have a plan in advance for how to split costs or someone will inevitably get the short end of the stick. Using apps like Splitwise and Venmo are great for calculating who owes who what and to send payments instantly. Check out more tips for splitting expenses on a group trip .

No matter how much good music you listen to or how beautiful the scenery is, you’re bound to become a bit bored after full days spent in the car. That’s where car games come in. Everyone knows the license plate game (keep track of all the out-of-state plates you see and try to spot all 50).

But you can also play more thought-provoking games to keep you alert. Try choosing a letter and a category (e.g. ‘C’ and animals) and go around in a circle naming items that correspond (cheetah, cockatoo) until someone is stumped.

Don’t hesitate to take photos. Everything about a road trip with friends is meant to be remembered. Take photos (safely) in the car. Pull over as often as you’d like to take pictures of the scenery. Just don’t forget to take it all in without the camera, as well. Snap a nice shot and then put the phone or camera away and just enjoy the view and time with your friends.

Very few people would be happy to get stuck behind the wheel for the entire trip. And it’s also not the safest way to take a road trip. Rotate drivers every few hours so you’ll all have a chance to kick back and you’ll be alert when it’s your turn to take the wheel.

Dont be afraid to split up for a while

If you and your friends only have one or two days at any of your destinations and some people want to do a grueling hike while others want to visit a museum, don’t stress! Everyone’s interests aren’t always going to align. As long as everyone feels safe on their own, don’t be afraid to split up for the day. Meet back up for dinner to share your different experiences.

Have a positive attitude and a backup plan

Things can, and will, go wrong at some point during a road trip even if it’s just bad traffic at some point along the way. Have a plan in advance for what to do in case of an emergency.

Does someone in the group have AAA? Is there a spare tire in working condition? Consider learning how to change it yourself if you don’t already know. Do you have chains in case of snowy conditions? Who is going to hold on to the spare set of keys?

You should know the answer to all those questions that are frequent road trip mishaps. In addition, remember to roll with the punches. When planning a road trip with friends, carefully consider who you invite to spend all those hours with. No one wants a fun sucker along for the ride.

Most importantly, have fun, be safe, and enjoy the time together with your friends. While you’re at it, start planning your next epic group adventure. Check out these articles for group travel inspiration.

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• Not sure where to go? Use this list of fun places to go with friends as a starting point.

The Coolest Road Trips to Take With Your Besties

Hit the road and make some amazing memories with your friends.

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There's nothing better than a road trip with your best friends. Hitting the road with your favorite tracks blasting while eating tons of snacks and planning fun stops is the perfect way to spend a school break. A road trip is one of the best ways to make memories, and while the journey can be just as much fun as the destination, picking an amazing spot to visit for a few days will make the trip truly epic. The best part of a road trip is you don’t have to even make it a huge deal — you could go for a fun day trip or make it a whole weekend (or week long) excursion depending on your sked and budget. The memories alone will be worth the effort, not to mention, if you pick the right destination and route, you’ll have plenty of amazing backgrounds for some epic selfies. Check out our favorite road trip destinations for you and your besties, and get ready to hit the road.

Universal Orlando

Annapolis, Maryland

A fun drive from the D.C. area, the waterfront city has so many fun things to do: tour the Naval Academy, try paddle boarding or go for a boat ride, tour the historic homes, or chow down on lobster rolls. Stay at the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel for amazing views of the harbor.

This west coast city has so much to offer, from good food (and coffee — it’s home to the original Sbux) to tons of Insta-worthy sites like the Space Needle, the “Gum Wall”, and the Seattle Great Wheel.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California

If you and your besties are in need of a mid-semester pick-me-up, there’s truly no better place to go. It’s not just for little kids. You’ll love going on the rides, checking out the attractions, and taking an obligatory pic of your ice cream cone with the happiest place on earth as the background.

D isney World in Orlando Florida

If you’re on the other side of the country, consider a trip Disney World. Make it a long weekend so you have time to hit up The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and if you can swing it, Animal Kingdom too. You and your bffs will have so much fun riding the rides (make sure to get the Disney Genie+ service to get Lightning Lane entrances so you can hit up the top attractions and rides without wasting precious time in lines), fueling up on all the IG worthy treats, and making TikToks and Reels everywhere you go. Stay at Disney's Contemporary Resort — it makes the perfect home base for exploring all the parks. The Monorail runs right through the hotel for easy access to the Magic Kingdom and other hotels and Epcot, and it's just a short shuttle ride to the other theme parks. Plus, you can catch the Magic Kingdom's nightly fireworks show right from the hotel, and there's an arcade, pool with waterslide and tons of food options on site (including Chef Mickey's if you're looking for some fun selfies with your favorite childhood friends and California Grill if you want to treat yourselves to a special dinner).

Grand Canyon, Arizona

This natural landmark is a must-see, and not just because the stunning vistas will look amazing on your Insta. You can explore this natural wonder by foot or horse, depending how much time you have.

Litchfield, Connecticut

Calling all fans of Gilmore Girls ! If you always wanted to visit Stars Hollow IRL, grab your crew and head to Litchfield, CT. Gilmore Girls show runner, Amy Sherman-Palladino has said the fictional town was inspired by Washington, Connecticut. After checking out the area and snapping some pics, there are several other towns to visit in Litchfield, each with their own charm and shops and restaurants to explore. The ultimate country escape, Litchfield is filled with chic boutiques, adorable cafes and restaurants, and lots of hiking spots. There’s even skiing and snowboarding at nearby Mohawk Mountain. Book a room or two at The Litchfield Inn , which is the perfect backdrop for your cottage core-inspired content. There are 32 rooms, 12 of which are themed rooms, and your stay includes a complimentary breakfast buffet every morning, with everything you could want, including an omelette bar and all the coffee. When you’ve finished a long day of exploring, you can come back to the inn for cookies and snacks, and there’s a fun outdoor space with a fire pit where you can hang out and play corn hole.

New Orleans, Louisiana

While Mardi Gras may seem like the obvious time to visit, New Orleans is amazing year-round. Consider going in the fall or winter, when the weather is slightly cooler and it’s not so packed.

Charlottesville, Virginia

This fun college town is the perfect southern destination. You have to check out UVA, Thomas Jefferson’s alma mater, and hit up downtown Charlottesville for tons of cool restaurants, shopping, and live music.

Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

You may have gone with your family when you were younger, but you’ll have a blast with your squad hitting up Noah’s Ark Water Park, going on a Duck tour, and of course, enjoying all the local fudge and delicious fried foods.

The Poconos, Pennsylvania

The Poconos may sound like a random destination from NYC, but once you arrive at Woodloch Resort , you'll understand why this spot made the cut. If you're looking for a resort that has everything you need so you never have to leave, Woodloch is it. The resort literally has everything you could want from a vacation — pools, go carts, a climbing wall, tennis, mini golf, water slides, beach activities, archery, boat tours, game rooms, shows and dance clubs, numerous food options... we could go on. Even in the colder months, there's still plenty to do both indoors and out, making it a year-round escape from the city. Suffice it to say, everything you could ever want out of a vacation is here.

Austin, Texas

Live music, street fairs, and tons of restaurants and shopping — there are so many fun things to do in this Texas hotspot.

Lake Placid, New York

If you're looking to spend some time outside, breathing in fresh mountain air, hiking and enjoying lake life at its finest, grab your crew and head to Lake Placid, New York. Lake Placid was the site of the 1980 Winter Olympics, and there's plenty to do there any time of year. Visit the Olympic Ski Jump Complex and test your fear of heights by taking the elevator up to see how far you can jump. You'll also want to check out The Olympic Center and museum. In the summer and fall, you can hike or head out on Mirror Lake or Lake Placid to fish, canoe, kayak, canoe, or paddle board. Or just spend some time along the lake reading the newest YA book. During the wintertime, you can ice skate, sled, or cross country ski before cozying up in front of the fire. The town is filled with restaurants and shops to explore. Stay at the Mirror Lake Inn . The location simply can't be beat — it's right on Mirror Lake with beach access and just a few minutes walk to town or Lake Placid. The rooms and interiors have that old school Adirondack feel, and the property has everything you need — an indoor and outdoor pool, an amazing spa, a private beach with complimentary boat rentals and lounge chairs and towels, as well as two on-site restaurants. If you're feeling fancy, hit up The View, which not only has the most amazing views of Mirror Lake but an incredible breakfast spread and dinner menu. For a more casual experience, hit up The Cottage for lunch or dinner. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is fun, and the views are amazing, too.

The Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota

If you and your besties favorite thing to do is shop, why not take a trip to the biggest mall in America? Save up because with hundreds of stores and over 50 restaurants (not to mention an arcade, aquarium, and more!) you won’t be able to leave without emptying your bank account.

Park City, Utah

While Park City is a popular wintertime destination thanks to its amazing ski mountains, it’s also an incredible place to visit in the summer or fall. Regardless of when you go, you'll have the best time bonding outdoors. Ski, snowboard, sled, hike, mountain bike, fly fish, horseback ride, or just take a chairlift up the mountain for some scenic selfies. And don't forget to enjoy all the shopping and good food along Main Street. Stay at the Lodge at the Mountain Village for easy access to all the mountain activities and town.

Cape Cod, Massachusetts

This popular summer destination is amazing in the fall when the weather is still beautiful but there aren’t huge crowds. The beaches are beautiful, so pack all those YA novels you’ve been dying to read, a cooler and some blankets. There are also really cute restaurants and shops to explore.

The Catskills, New York

The setting for Dirty Dancing , the Catskills are a fun place to explore if you live in the New York-area. There’s no prettier background for amazing photos — waterfalls, lakes, mountains and colorful leaves everywhere. Go canoeing or hiking, or just drive around and take tons of cool pics.

Now that you’ve got the destination nailed down, you’re almost ready to go. To plan a really epic trip though, you want to make sure you have the right set-up. That includes plenty of bevs and snacks for the road, cash for stops along the way, gas money, a number for road side assistance in case something happens (and make sure you have a spare tire and kit in the car), and of course a killer playlist.

Stay at Scribner's Catskill Lodge , and you'll have all your TikTok and IG vids on lock. The setting couldn't be more beautiful and the resort has a cool rustic modern vibe. The rooms are spacious and perfectly nail the cool Catskills aesthetic. In summer, there's tons of hiking all around, lawn games and a pool on site. And in winter, you can snow shoe, cross country ski, and skate at the on-site rink. Definitely make a reservation at Prospect, the delicious on-site restaurant. Go for dinner, but you're going to come back for breakfast and maybe lunch too — it's that good.

Kennebunkport, Maine

While a bit further of a drive from the city, Kennebunkport is definitely worth the trek. The coastal beach destination could not be more beautiful. Embrace the New England vibe and enjoy lobster rolls, hang out at the beach, bike ride to town, and check out the local shops and restaurants. Stay at the Nonantum Resort , a historic hotel located right on the water. The interiors and rooms embody coastal chic, and provide the perfect backdrop for a weekend of New England fun. The resort offers a private dock, where you can grab sailing and fishing excursions and lobster tours, and a secluded beach, and an outdoor heated pool. The Nonantum prioritizes sustainability, so you can feel good about your stay, too. Don't miss the breakfast buffet spread — you'll look forward to waking up to it every morning. For waterfront dining with a view, book a table at Latitudes, and for delicious casual fare, there's Heckmans bar. The resort is so scenic, you'll have plenty of places to capture content, and it won't be hard to see why so many people choose to get married right at the resort.

Kristin Koch is the Editor in Chief  of Seventeen, overseeing the content and editorial operations for all of Seventeen's digital and print efforts. Before coming to Seventeen, Koch held editor positions at Glamour, Vanity Fair, and The Knot. In 2016, she founded lifestyle blog, Closetful of Clothes, where she covers everything from style and interiors to travel. A Chicago native, Koch graduated from Colgate University with a degree in History. She loves pizza, rom-coms and HGTV. 

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Welcome to Epic Travel Plans!

Epic Travel Plans

Destinations that will leave you Breathless. Plans to make it happen

30 Best Trips with Friends! FUN Weekend and International Places to Go

But before you decide on a destination, be sure to keep the personalities and preferences of your friends top of mind. Some friends are awesome to lay on a beach with, but not so great for trekking through the jungle or road tripping through Europe.

My top tip: Embrace the personalities and preferences of who you’re traveling with, and let it guide your destination.

After getting trip ideas below, check out my travel planning guide to help you make it epic.

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links to excellent travel-related products. If you use the links below to make a purchase, we’ll receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

15 FUN Places to go with friends on the weekend

I highly recommend OFTEN taking fun trips with friends near where you live. Short and sweet trips are a great way to “test the waters” of traveling with friends without putting too much stress on a relationship. Especially if your travel styles are quite different.

Here are awesome places to go with friends on the weekend, including ideas across the US and Canada.

1. HOUSEBOATING near you

My very first BIG trip with friends was a houseboating weekend in beautiful British Columbia. It was perfect! 

We soaked in the hot tub and slid down the waterslide when we got too hot. Ate way too much ice cream. Met some cuties. And we even crashed. Yup, we did. There’s nothing like a little drama to pull you together! (Make sure you get insurance, ‘cause those boats are harder to steer than they look!)

Find the nearest pretty lake country near you, book a car and make it happen. It’s like camping but with a waterslide.

2. Fun LOS ANGELES weekend getaway for girls

A girls trip to LA is pretty classic. Strut your stuff like Pretty Woman on Rodeo Drive. Hit up the star-prone restaurants. And time it with the Oscars to experience the red carpet. It’s possibly THE most epic place to travel with friends on the weekend.

Or, if you’re not into the Hollywood mayhem, stay on beautiful Santa Monica Beach. Cycle The Strand bike path along the waterfront. Ride the ferris wheel on the pier. And people-watch while enjoying incredible beachfront restaurants.

Where to stay with friends in Los Angeles:

• Casa Del Mar resort and spa (Santa Monica): Right on Santa Monica Beach, with an outdoor pool, restaurants and live music on Sundays. Every room has a hydrotherapy spa tub and floor-to-ceiling windows, some with an ocean view.
• Beverly Wilshire (Beverly Hills): As close as you can get to Rodeo Drive, overlooking Rodeo Drive and the Via Rodeo fountain and steps. An epic place for a trip with friends to explore Rodeo Drive’s boutique shops and cafes.
• SIXTY Beverly Hills (Beverly Hills): Five blocks from Rodeo Drive along Wilshire Blvd, with a pretty rooftop pool and bar.

3. FLORIDA KEYS road trips with friends

A road trip from Miami to the tip of the Florida Keys is the perfect mix of beach and culture. It’s only about 3.5 hours, with plenty of time to stop along the way.

If you’re not from Miami, spend a day exploring its museums, Bayside Marketplace at the waterfront, or cultural neighborhoods like Little Havana.

Then, rent a car and head out to Key West. Along the way, stop to play with dolphins, feel the sand between your toes, and eat and drink with a view. Want more adventure? Where better to go skydiving with the girls than in Key West?!

Find all you need to plan your Florida Keys road trip with friends .

4. NEW ORLEANS weekend getaway with friends

Visiting the plantations in Louisiana would certainly make for a memorable travel experience with friends in the USA. Stay in a former plantation mansion, the elegant Nottoway Plantation that dates back to the 1850s. It’s the south’s largest antebellum mansion, located right on the Mississippi River. It features antiques and fireplaces in the rooms. Plus, an outdoor pool, hot tub, onsite dining and self-guided tours.

Plantations to visit near New Orleans, Louisiana:

• Oak Alley Plantation : Known for the stunning Oak-lined path entrance to this sugarcane plantation. Features tours of the “big house” (with a pretty wrap-around upper balcony), slave cabins, expansive garden and exhibits.
• Whitney Plantation : Famous for its ground-breaking slavery museum, with restored buildings and educational guided tours.
• Destrehan Plantation : Established in 1787, this sugar plantation was the site of one of the three trials following the 1811 Slave Revolt. Features interpretive tours, exhibits and pretty grounds.

5. Fun trips with friends to NEW YORK CITY

New York City can be anything you and your friends want it to be. 

Times Square and Fifth Avenue are perfect for high-end shopping, flashing lights and nightlife. Its museums, Broadway theater and The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts are epic for the culturalists. Foodies will love exploring Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn. And for those who love relaxation, Central Park, Staten Island and Brooklyn waterfront promise amazing views. I’d argue that NYC is one of the BEST places to travel with friends.

On my trip with friends to NYC, we stayed in a boutique hotel in the Upper West Side . Within a block, we had a small pastry shop, grocery store and plenty of cute cafes. We could easily walk to Central Park and Riverside Park (perfect for a You’ve Got Mail walking tour). And since we were surrounded by residential streets, I got to meet so many dogs out for their walk! Plus, easy subway access to everything else.

Find your perfect place to stay in Manhattan , Brooklyn , Staten Island , Queens and the Bronx (a 3-part series).

6. SEATTLE jazz weekend trips with friends

I love Seattle, Washington. Its Pike Place Market and waterfront restaurants. Plenty of jazz clubs. And lots of excellent shopping and coffee shops, too. Seattle has beautiful waterfront parks, artsy museums, Space Needle views, and boat tours to stay busy. Time it with a concert, too!

When I visited Seattle with one of my best friends, we LOVED the comfortable beds and pillows at the Staypineapple Maxwell Hotel . You simply cannot get a better sleep! It’s colorful vibe is super fun, too, and it has an indoor pool and bikes you can use. Price includes wifi.

Now, as much as I love the Staypineapple beds, you can’t get a better location than The Edgewater . It’s right at Pier 67, with fabulous views of Elliot Bay and the Olympic Mountains. Elegant rooms have fireplaces, cozy furnishings and spa bathroom. The property features an onsite restaurant, gift shop and coffee bar. Price includes wifi and downtown shuttle.

7. Fun LAS VEGAS weekend trips with friends

I’ll admit that Las Vegas is pretty low on my list of places to visit, but I understand the appeal – especially with friends. Awesome shows. Epic shopping. Sights you just won’t see anywhere else.

If you want to embrace the chaos, Las Vegas Strip is the place to stay. If you want to come up to breathe, consider a place like Tahiti Village Resort & Spa near the airport and outlet mall.

You’ll also find some incredible house rentals on VRBO , both near The Strip or near the mountains.

8. Epic CANYON road trips with friends

A great add-on to a friends Vegas trip, especially for the outdoorsy adventurers at heart, is a 2-day canyon road trip . Hike the amazing canyons of Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon North Rim and Antelope slot canyon.

You have some incredible options for places to stay, too. Under Canvas near Lake Powell has lovely tents with a cozy wood-burning stove and private balcony with canyon views. Or book the luxury Amangiri spa resort, tucked right into the rocks. It has an onsite restaurant, bar, concierge, sauna and spa. And the rooms look AMAZING.

9. AMUSEMENT PARK hopping trips with friends

Are you guys dare-devils? How fun would it be to go amusement park hopping together?!

Top on my list are Coney Island in New York City and Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. In Canada, Montreal’s Six Flags is lots of fun.

To visit a bunch on one trip, take a road trip through California or Pennsylvania. Yup, Pennsylvania! Check out this USA Today article for 17 awesome parks.

10. BEACH resort weekend getaway with friends

You can have an amazing beach resort getaway with friends even without leaving the continental USA. One of my favorite spots is about half an hour from downtown Jacksonville, Florida, at the lovely Ponte Vedra Beach seaside community. It’s also known as San Pablo Island, and is a great mixture of relaxing beaches and bustling Jacksonville nearby.

A wonderful place for a beach weekend getaway with friends is Ponte Vedra Inn and Club . Its beach and gardens are beautiful, with warm and comfortable rooms. Enjoy four heated pools, bikes, seven restaurants and lounges, and plenty of onsite shops and boutiques. Despite all of its amenities, it feels like a charming boutique inn.

Our equivalent for relaxation in Canada is Prince Edward Island. It’s super low-key and perfect for friends who just want to chill.

Dalvay by the Sea Hotel is classic and luxurious, located on the north shore. It’s inside a national park and has an onsite restaurant, bar, tennis courts and bike rentals. Or stay in one of many lovely historic inns in Charlottetown. I highly recommend the charming Fairholm National Historic Inn .

11. Fun ARTSY places to go with friends

Here are two very different types of artsy places to go with friends.

First, East Hampton Art Bed and Breakfast on Long Island. This sprawling property is perfect for art lovers and those looking for a refreshing getaway. Relax in the outdoor pool and jacuzzi while admiring the meditation garden, waterfalls, and lotus pond.

And second, head to Memphis to meet the king! If your friends are big music buffs, you’ll enjoy exploring the Memphis Rock ‘n Soul Museum, Gibson Guitar Factory, and Orpheum Theatre. And of course, the iconic Beale Street’s shops and restaurants. 

Stay at the Peabody Memphis with an onsite dining room, spa, indoor pool and luxurious bathrobes. And don’t miss Peabody’s “March of the ducks” tradition!

12. LAKEFRONT retreat weekend trips with friends

Head to Upstate New York for a weekend trip with friends at the lake. 

Inns of Aurora is a community of five lakefront properties. They’re beautiful and cozy, with wine tastings, yoga and painting classes. Plus, a private beach, lakeside firepits, paddling and bikes. Organic, fair-trade coffee and fresh scones in the morning. Farm-to-table restaurant during the day. Book a room with a fireplace and lake views.

13. Fun weekend trips with friends in TEXAS

There are plenty of beautiful resorts in Texas perfect for weekend trips with friends. One of my favorites is the JL Bar Ranch Resort and Spa in lovely Texas Hill Country. This estate is grand, with a full-service spa, outdoor pool and two restaurants. Plus, pretty gardens to explore, complete with a fountain. Rooms offer warm decor, with gorgeous dark wood accents, furnished patios, bathrobes and slippers. Price includes wifi.

Another favorite is Commodore Perry Estate in Austin Texas. Its manicured gardens are gorgeous, as is the massive library with floor-to-ceiling bookcases and plush couches. You’ll also spend plenty of time in its elegant tea room, pool, terrace and restaurant. Book a room with a terrace for pretty views. Price includes wifi and shuttle service.

14. WINE AND SPA getaways with friends

Do you girls love sipping wine and relaxing with beautiful views? One of the best places to travel with friends in the USA is Napa Valley, California. Napa Valley is about 1.5 hours northeast of the San Francisco International Airport. You’ll find more than 375 wineries, more than 150 restaurants, and beautiful weather year-round. Napa Valley is nestled among two mountain ranges, with incredible views wherever you look.

For weekend getaways with friends at Canadian wineries, choose from gorgeous views in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario, and Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia. All three locations have excellent wines, spas and views.

Where to stay for a wine and spa getaway with the girls:

• Auberge du Soleil Resort (Rutherford, California): This gorgeous resort is the ultimate friends weekend getaway, surrounded by a 33-acre olive grove. Relax in cabanas at the pool. Indulge at the spa and fine dining restaurant.
• Therapy Vineyards (Okanagan, BC): Suites overlook the vineyard and Okanagan Lake, with oversized windows, fireplace, patio and oversized tub. The property also has an outdoor fireplace and hot tub, and serves breakfast.
• Prince of Wales (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario): This elegant Victorian-style luxury hotel is the perfect base for exploring nearby wineries. Features an onsite spa and indoor pool. Enjoy traditional English tea at the onsite restaurant and local wines in the cozy lounge.

15. CRAFTING retreat with the girls

There’s something about a crafting getaway that screams “treat”! How often do you dedicate time to create together?

You can find accommodations that offer things like cooking classes or join a retreat that focuses on a particular craft, like painting. For me and my friends, we’d just bring our favorite crafting supplies to a cozy cabin retreat with a hot tub and views.

15 BEST Places to travel with friends in Europe and the world

Taking international trips with friends is a sure way to create lasting memories and bonds. But the stress of international travel will put pressure on your friendship. Make sure you choose a destination that complements your relationship and how you enjoy spending time together.

In Europe, my favorite place to look for accommodations is Plum Guide . You’ll find the coolest house rentals ever, all verified and not all ridiculously expensive.

Here are awesome places to travel with friends in the world, including Europe.

16. European CASTLE getaway with friends

Take your international trip with friends around Europe chasing castles! The biggest challenge will be narrowing your castle adventure to a geographical area, like England or France.

Pick the most iconic castle or area you most want to see and plan the rest of your friends vacation from there. Here are three ideas:

• Neuschwanstein Castle (Germany): The most classic fairytale-like castle nestled in the Bavarian Alps. Take in its stunning architecture, lush surroundings, and panoramic views. Other (relatively) nearby castles to visit include the medieval and mountaintop Hohenwerfen Fortress in Austria and 
• Château de Chambord (France): A Renaissance masterpiece with elegant French architecture and vast gardens. It’ll enchant you with its grand halls and intricate details. Other notable French castles to visit include the lovely Château de Chenonceau built atop an old mill and the opulent Palace of Versailles.
• Eilean Donan Castle (Scotland): A remarkably enchanting castle among many in Scotland, with its charming bridge and moss-covered walls near the entrance to the Isle of Skye. My other favorite castles are on the opposite side of Scotland: the grand Sterling Castle and romantic cliffside Dunnottar Castle.

17. International trips with friends to AUSTRIA

Austria is a captivating blend of stunning landscapes, rich history, and cultural experiences. Start your trip with friends in Vienna , the capital city. It’s a hub of art, music and architecture, with magnificent palaces, cathedrals and museums. Pick accommodations near City Center so you can walk to St. Stephen’s Cathedral for evening drinks.

Then, travel through the Danube’s Wachau Valley before heading south to Salzburg. Wachau Valley is a beautiful area of vineyards and cute villages along the river valley. I also highly recommend a stop at Stift Melk Abbey .

Roam the streets and hills surrounding the lovely city of Salzburg , the birthplace of Mozart and setting for the Sound of Music. It’s a charming old town with cobblestone streets, lovely gardens, and the iconic Hohensalzburg Fortress looming above.

18. ENGLAND road trips with friends

Take a road trip with friends through the English countryside. There are SO many romantic castles, parks and gardens. Quaint villages in the Cotswolds. Rugged rolling hills in the Lake District. And haunting mysteries of Rosslyn Chapel. Experience England’s beauty on a drive from London to Edinburgh .

If you’d prefer a relaxing group tour rather than driving yourself, check out excellent tours of England from Trafalgar . Include a tour of Scotland and Ireland, too.

Find amazing places to stay on PlumGuide.com .

19. EUROPEAN CRUISE vacation with friends 

A European cruise vacation with friends would be AMAZING. You have all the benefits of world-class service, entertainment and food. Plus the gorgeous cities, islands and rugged coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. Elegant spires off the Baltic Sea. Incredible history and the Cliffs of Dover off the North Sea. And then the more intimate cruise experience of exploring the Rhine or Danube.

Choosing your perfect European cruise option will be the toughest part. River cruises are quite unique, and an incredible way to experience Europe together.

20. Road trips through ITALY with friends

I’ve been to Italy only once and long to go back. There is SO much to see in Italy and it would be absolutely amazing to experience it with my best girl friends. Given the variety of sights to see, I recommend either getting a train pass for the time you’re there or renting a car.

On a road trip through Italy, start and stop in the vibrant city of Rome. Rome is a must-visit for historical landmarks like the Colosseum, Vatican City, and the Trevi Fountain. Stroll its charmings streets while indulging in pastas and gelato.

Then head up to Venice, a unique floating city built on canals. On your return to Rome, stop in Florence to see the famous Statue of David and beautiful churches. Then calm things down with a few days exploring the stunning Cinque Terre coastline and Tuscany wineries.

If you have more time, continue south of Rome to explore the historic ruins of Pompeii. It’s just south of Naples, another gorgeous coastal city. Sorrento and the Amalfi coast promise more spectacular views and memories for an epic trip with friends.

Find amazing home rentals on PlumGuide.com and hotels on Booking.com .

21. Explore ICELAND on a trip with friends

Iceland is a magical land of fire and ice, with waterfalls, the Blue Lagoon and ice caves. It’s an amazing trip with friends who love exploring nature’s wonders … and don’t mind a remote experience. There are no Starbucks in Iceland! But you will find other delicious coffee.

Visit the famous Golden Circle, which includes the breathtaking Gullfoss waterfall, the Geysir geothermal area, and the Þingvellir National Park. Take in the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and nearby Diamond Beach. Hike through the mesmerizing landscapes of Landmannalaugar or the volcanic region of Mývatn. Discover rugged fjords and black sand beaches, and then soak in the soothing Blue Lagoon geothermal spa.

If you want to explore Iceland’s famous ice caves or chase the Northern Lights, you must come in winter. Plan your friend’s trip between mid-November and mid-March.

22. Fun CARIBBEAN CRUISE trips with friends

A cruise is as easy as they come for trips with friends. Choose a destination, timing, and go!

A super easy cruise vacation for friends would be the Bahamas or Caribbean. Hop from beautiful island to beautiful island, all while enjoying luxury amenities, entertainment, and dining onboard.

A cruise is also a fantastic solution to taking trips with friends who have different interests. So long as you can agree on a cruise destination, you can go your separate ways in the afternoon and come back together at dinner.

Explore cruises on CruiseDirect.com .

23. INDIA adventure places to travel with friends

India is rich in cultural heritage, diverse landscapes, and unforgettable experiences for friends traveling together. Explore the bustling streets of Delhi and vibrant markets of Jaipur. Visit the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra. And take a spiritual journey in Varanasi.

But to see the best of India on your trip with friends, you need to leave the popular northern cities. Travel south to the popular Kovalam Beach and witness the breathtaking landscapes of Kerala’s backwaters.

Find incredible treehouses for your next best adventure with friends! Check out these treehouses on Booking.com , including in India, Chile, Costa Rica and more.

24. International trips with friends to THAILAND

Are you and your friends intrigued by Asian culture and finding the perfect secluded beach (like in The Beach movie)? Then I’m guessing Thailand is on your radar for international places to visit with friends. 

My main tip for visiting Thailand is to get out of Bangkok as quickly as possible. It’s busy, smoggy and not especially friendly. Instead, head north to Chiang Mai to experience the floating markets . Climb an ancient temple and brush up against an elephant. Then indulge at a beach resort at Phuket or the Phi Phi islands . Bask on white sand beach, surrounded by gorgeous limestone peaks and perfect turquoise waters.

Interested in a guided group tour? I highly recommend Intrepid small group tours for an incredibly rich, “local” experience. They have tours into Northern and Southern Thailand, including food and beach tours!

You may also like 5 Charities in SE Asia Tourists Should Visit .

25. Epic CAMBODIA trips with friends

Ancient temples, jungle and Tomb Raider. And an incredibly resilient people that carry an awful history of genocide. Cambodia is a place that will touch your soul and guarantees a friends trip you’ll never forget.

You’ll want to visit both the capital of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, home to the famous temples. In Phnom Penh, visit markets, temples and gardens. But hold onto your food, because those monkeys are gutsy! And my opinion is that tourists should pay their respects at the genocide sites . How else can we begin to appreciate what their people have been through?

In Siem Reap, explore the gorgeous temple ruins of Angkor Wat, Bayon Temple and Ta Prohm. A local guide can also take you to lesser-known temples you can climb with a jungle view all to yourself. Be sure to have a drink at The Red Piano and ask for a Tomb Raider drink. Cheers!

When I was in Siem Reap, my sister challenged me to do more than visit, so I will challenge you. Read about my experience of donating blood in Cambodia . (Yes, it was safe.)

26. JAPANESE MONASTERY places to travel with friends

I’ve only had a taste of visiting Japan on a layover in Tokyo on our way to Vietnam, but they completely charmed me with their hospitality! Japan is now on my bucket list, and specifically the zen experience of staying in Japanese monasteries.

Two iconic Japanese monastery communities to visit on a trip with friends include Kōya-san (Mount Kōya) and Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion). Mount Kōya is in a mountainous region about 7 hours southwest of Tokyo. It’s home to over a hundred temples including the famous Kongōbu-ji. Stay in shukubo (temple lodgings) with traditional Japanese-style rooms, vegetarian meals, and the opportunity to participate in morning meditations.

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) is right in Kyoto. It’s known for its stunning golden exterior, and creates a breathtaking view as it reflects off the surrounding pond. Explore its exquisite gardens and the historic tea house inside the complex.

27. Fun AUSTRALIA beach road trips with friends

Australia is known for powdery white-sand beaches. So, rent a car and go beach-hopping on a road trip with friends!

Fly into Sydney and start your trip with friends at the iconic Bondi Beach . It’s known for its vibrant atmosphere, excellent surf and coastal walks. Take in the lively beach culture as you sample the many beachside cafes.

Then, head south for about 3 hours to Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay. It holds a Guinness World Record for having the whitest sand. Swim and snorkel at these beautiful clear waters and enjoy the laid-back coastal vibe.

Along the way, stop at the coastal Royal National Park and inland Heathcote National Park . They offer rugged hiking and other adventures that balance nicely with beach-bumming!

28. International trips with friends to BRAZIL

Have you heard of Iguazu Falls? Iguazu Falls is the world’s LARGEST waterfall, made up of a massive 270 separate falls! Check it out for yourself in the best virtual tours of waterfalls around the world . Iguazu Falls is right on the Brazil and Argentina border. 

Along with Iguazu Falls, experience Brazil’s beaches, rainforest and Rio de Janeiro. Make the epic climb up to Christ the Redeemer for epic views.

If you’re interested in a guided tour, check out Trafalgar’s tours in South America . This would be an easy way to explore the best sights on a trip with friends.

29. COSTA RICA best places to travel with friends

I SO want to experience the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in Costa Rica. And stay in treehouse resorts. It sounds incredible.

Costa Rica is a tropical paradise known for its incredible biodiversity and natural wonders. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve offers breathtaking views, misty forests, and the chance to see rare wildlife. The nearby Arenal Volcano National Park provides thrilling hikes and hot springs for relaxing afterwards. 

For a beach experience, head to Manuel Antonio National Park. Manuel Antonio National Park is renowned for stunning beaches and lots of wildlife, perfect for relaxing and snorkeling. It’s on the Pacific Ocean and accessible by road.

With its lush rainforests, stunning coastlines, and eco-friendly practices, Costa Rica offers a memorable and sustainable travel experience for friends.

30. Fun MEXICO beach trips with friends

There’s a reason why North Americans flock to beautiful Mexico! Mexico has some of the world’s finest beaches, best preserved Mayan ruins and fascinating, colorful cultures. But with all the options, where should you travel with friends? I suggest two. 

First, Cancun is an obvious choice. It’s a world-class destination with something for everyone. Exquisite beaches, first-class hotels, a more authentic downtown area, Mayan ruins and fantastic weather year-round. For an incredible trip with Mom to Cancun, stay at the adults-only all-inclusive Le Blanc Spa Resort . 

A second, quieter choice is Playa Maroma. About 30 miles from Riviera Maya, Playa Maroma has arguably the best beaches in the world. Plus rainforests and snorkeling right off the beach. A beautiful all-inclusive resort to check out is Catalonia Playa Maroma .

You may also like:

• How to travel with friends: Trip planning
• How to find better accommodations
• Trips with Mom and Trips with Dad

Featured photo: Priscilla Du Preez from Unsplash.

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23 Incredible Road Trips in the U.S.

Whether you’re looking for sweeping views of the pacific ocean or a multiday adventure through national parks, these road trips provide plenty of opportunities to explore the united states..

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Glacier National Park is one of many scenic places you can visit on an American road trip.

Photo by Zack Frank / Shutterstock

In a country as large as the United States, there’s no shortage of destinations and detours to explore by car . Whether your idea of the perfect American road trip entails an epic, cross-country journey or a shorter jaunt through a few of its most iconic national parks , your options are as large and varied as the country itself.

Even if you don’t have the time to drive cross-country, there are plenty of road trip routes (ranging from three days to a week or longer): classic California itineraries , New England routes that shine especially well in the fall, scenic East Coast adventures, and a variety of Midwest journeys for folks farther from the coasts.

No matter your mode of transportation—be it van, RV, motorcycle, or four-door sedan—these are 21 of the best road trips in the nation to consider.

Plan your next Route 66 trip around thirst-quenching stops.

Photo by Peek Creative Collective/Shutterstock

There are many ways to do a cross-country road trip in the USA, but these two itineraries will take you through some truly iconic American places.

1. Chicago to Los Angeles: A Whiskey Road Trip on Route 66

It doesn’t get more American than a 2,000-mile drive along the entirety of Route 66. There are endless ways to take this legendary trip (including an EV version —but to take your cross-country road trip to the next level, we recommend exploring another American pastime: whiskey.

Starting in Chicago and ending in L.A., you’ll stop by some of the leading craft distilleries in the United States, like Few Spirits in Chicago, Still 630 in St. Louis, and Red Fork Distillery in Tulsa. In between tastings, make time for detours to natural attractions, like the Grand Canyon, and quirky roadside curiosities, like Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. Just remember to drink responsibly—this is a road trip after all.

Plan your trip

The full itinerary: Put a New Twist on Route 66—Make It an American Whiskey Road Trip

No cars are allowed on Mackinac Island, so you need to park before taking the ferry to this spot.

Photo from Shutterstock

2. Bangor, Maine, to Seattle, Washington: The Great Northern on U.S. Route 2

Covering both the U.S. and Canada, a cross-country trip along U.S. 2 is ideal for anyone who wants to experience the vast diversity and expansiveness of North America. This drive runs the entire top border of the U.S. and showcases otherworldly natural wonders like Acadia National Park in Maine, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin, and Mackinac Island in Michigan. The route also passes through Canada, taking road-trippers through Ontario into Quebec—this route may focus on nature, but you won’t want to miss a stop in Montreal or Ottawa.

You’ll also get to explore Montana and Glacier National Park ( reservations may be required ) before passing the Columbia Plateau and ending in the Pacific Northwest’s largest city, Seattle. Don’t miss spending time in the Olympic Peninsula (home to Olympic National Park) for a peek at one of the most scenic places on the West Coast.

3. Dana Point to San Francisco: Driving California’s Pacific Coast Highway

The seemingly endless views of the Pacific Ocean along Highway 1 (also known as the Pacific Coast Highway) are what road trip dreams are made of, and exactly what makes this California road trip so popular. However, with so many stops along the 655-mile stretch, we pulled together a list of the ones well worth pulling over to view. Don’t miss the perfect surfing waves in Santa Cruz, seasonal cuisine in Malibu, an afternoon a the boardwalk in Santa Monica, or a night in Big Sur as you drive between Dana Point (just south of Los Angeles) and San Francisco.

• The full itinerary: The Best Stops for a Road Trip on the Pacific Coast Highway
• The AFAR Guide to San Francisco

The seaside town of Monterey was the setting for John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row .

Photo by Denise Lett/Shutterstock

4. Big Sur to Mono County: A Literary Road Trip Through Northern California

Yes, this itinerary requires you actually put down your book to drive, but seeing some of the pivotal places that shaped American authors will be so worth it. Follow in the footsteps of writers like Jack Kerouac, Maya Angelou, and Amy Tan on this road trip that takes you through literary landmarks in Northern California, such as Caffe Trieste, a meeting place for Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Alan Watts, and other bohemian writers and thinkers. This 12-stop itinerary is perfect if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area because you’ll be able to stay make these trips in one or two days.

The full itinerary: The California Road Trip All Book Lovers Should Take

Arizona may take its nickname from the Grand Canyon, but the state has far more natural wonders than just that one.

Courtesy of Shutterstock

5. Phoenix to the Grand Canyon: An Iconic Arizona Road Trip

This 240-mile Arizona road trip takes travelers along some of the state’s most iconic highlights, including its most famous one, the Grand Canyon. A great itinerary for first-time visitors and returning travelers alike, it offers plenty of opportunities for scenic drives, hiking, and biking—as well as tasty food along the way. Hike the 2,704-foot-tall Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale or take in the beautiful red rocks of Sedona on a hike to Cathedral Rock while exploring the Grand Canyon State.

• The full itinerary: The Classic 5-Day Arizona Road Trip
• Grand Canyon guide: The First-Timer’s Guide to the Grand Canyon
• Where to eat in Phoenix: A Chef’s Guide to the Best Restaurants
• Where to stay: The Best Hotels in Arizona ; The Best Airbnbs in Sedona

The Delicate Arch living up to its name in Utah’s Arches National Park

Photo by tusharkoley / Shutterstock

6. Zion to Grand Canyon: A National Parks Road Trip in the Southwest

If you’re looking to visit as many national parks as possible in one road trip, this southwestern itinerary is for you. This journey through Utah and Arizona lets you hike Angel’s Landing in Zion, feel tiny under Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, explore Fairyland Loop Trail in Bryce Canyon, and, of course, raft down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Most visitors to the Grand Canyon remain on the rim, but take at least four days to venture within the canyon and take advantage of the trails and river rafting.

• The full itinerary: The Ideal Road Trip Through U.S. National Parks
• Utah’s 8 Best National Parks and Monuments
• 10 Best National Parks and Monuments in Arizona
• The First-Timer’s Guide to the Grand Canyon

Stop and admire the winding roads of the San Juan Skyway.

Photo by Anh Luu/Shutterstock

7. San Juan Scenic Skyway Road Trip: An Adventure Through Southwestern Colorado

This Colorado trip takes you along the 232-mile loop of the San Juan Scenic Skyway, where you will see plenty of alpine forests, mining towns, and craggy peaks. And for anyone looking to enjoy refreshments after a long day of driving, this route features many opportunities to stop at some of the best breweries in Colorado , such as Ska Brewing Co. in Durango.

• The full itinerary: The Ultimate Southwestern Colorado Road Trip
• Five Classic Colorado Road Trips To Take This Year

In small-town Buena Vista, the riverfront Surf Hotel offers front-row seats to Colorado-style adventure seekers.

Courtesy of the Surf Hotel

8. Denver to Montrose: A 420-Mile Road Trip Through Colorado

Want to explore even more of the Centennial State? Head out on this weeklong road trip where you can fish for salmon in Colorado’s largest reservoir, visit numerous small towns, like Paonia and Crawford, with thriving art scenes along the Colorado Creative Corridor , and explore Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, one of the least visited national parks in the nation.

• The full itinerary: Art Stars, High-Altitude Wines, and a Remote National Park: The Ultimate Colorado Road Trip
• Where to stay: The Best Hotels in Colorado
• The AFAR Guide to Denver

Portland may be Oregon’s largest city, but with a population of some 652,000 (or 2.5 million in the larger metropolitan area), it isn’t intimidatingly large.

Photo courtesy of Travel Portland

9. Portland to Astoria: An Oregon Coast Road Trip for Outdoor Lovers

If you love the outdoors, then this six-day road trip along the coast of Oregon is for you. After driving to Coos Bay from Portland, travelers will meander along Oregon’s dramatic, rocky coastline, discovering some quintessentially Pacific Northwest vistas along the way: evergreen forests, seaside dunes, and marine ecosystems. Between stops, there are ample opportunities to stretch your legs hiking, kayaking, or strolling around the region’s small towns—like the historic old town in Florence.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an Oregon road trip without a stop (or three) at a craft brewery, such as Fort George Brewery in Astoria, or cozy coffee shop, like Bread & Roses in Yachats.

• The full itinerary: An Outdoor Lover’s Road Trip on the Oregon Coast
• The AFAR Guide to Portland

The State Capitol Building in Nashville marks the end of this road (trip).

Photo by photo.ua / Shutterstock

10. Seneca Falls, New York, to Nashville, Tennessee: Follow the Path of the Women’s Suffrage Movement

Starting in New York’s Finger Lakes region and ending at the State Capitol Building in Nashville, this road trip traces the route of the national women’s suffrage movement. Highlights include stops at the Susan B. Anthony Museum & House ; Union Square in New York City, which was the site of the first suffrage march; and the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument in Washington, D.C.

• The full itinerary: Celebrate Women’s Suffrage on an Epic, Self-Guided Road Trip
• Where to stay: The Best Hotels in Nashville
• The AFAR Guide to Nashville
• The AFAR Guide to Washington, D.C.

Asheville is one must-stop on a North Carolina road trip.

Courtesy of ExploreAsheville.com

11. Charlottesville to Asheville: A Scenic Road Trip Through Virginia and North Carolina

The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most scenic drives in the country. Beginning in the soft hilly meadows of the Appalachian Mountains from Shenandoah National Park down into the Blue Ridge Mountains, then into the Great Smoky Mountains, this five-day road trip is best done at a slower pace, which is perfect for admiring the dramatic outlooks and green plateaus. This eclectic itinerary features stops at an art museum, a dairy farm, and plenty of hiking trails.

• The full itinerary: The Ultimate Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip
• Where to stay: 12 Dreamy Blue Ridge Mountain Cabins You Can Rent on Airbnb and Vrbo
• 8 U.S. National Park Road Trips to Take in Your Lifetime

Dowa:kwe dance group from Zuni Pueblo in 2019

Courtesy of Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

12. Albuquerque to Las Cruces: Discover New Mexico on This Three-Day Road Trip

This route steers you away from New Mexican tourist hot spots like Taos and Santa Fe and instead takes you on a three-day adventure with places that teach you about Pueblo history. You’ll stop at Indian Pueblo Kitchen (formerly known as Pueblo Harvest), a restaurant inside the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center that features Indigenous cuisine ; pick up peppers at Three Brothers in Hatch; and slide down the dunes in White Sands National Park.

• The full itinerary: This New Mexico Road Trip Is the Perfect Introduction to the Land of Enchantment

Historic Fort Martin Scott is one of the places travelers can visit to learn about Fredericksburg’s history.

Photo by Mark König/Unsplash

13. A Five-Day Scenic Road Trip Through Texas Hill Country

This Texas road trip starts and ends in San Antonio with stops in small towns like Bandera, Boerne, and consider a stop in Fredericksburg, which is one of AFAR’s best places to go in 2024 ). Over five days, you’ll find opportunities to stroll in a Japanese tea garden in San Antonio, relax along the Sabinal and Frio Rivers by inner tube, and eat as many tacos as you want. Seriously: You could eat tacos for every meal on this road trip and not get tired of them.

• The full itinerary: Tree Houses, Tubing, and Tacos: The Ultimate Texas Hill Country Road Trip

Mount McKinley looms large on a drive through Denali National Park.

Photo by warnsweet / Shutterstock

14. A Weeklong Road Trip Through Alaska’s Most Majestic Sights

This weeklong drive in Alaska starts and ends in Anchorage. You travel along four scenic byways; explore Wrangell–St. Elias wilderness, the largest U.S. national park; catch sight of Denali, the tallest peak in North America; and enjoy the surprisingly stellar food scene of McCarthy, a one-road town with only a couple dozen residents.

• The full itinerary: Glaciers, Mountain Peaks, and Organic Farms: The Ultimate Alaska Road Trip
• Which Alaska National Parks Should You Visit?

More than geothermal pools, Kirkham Hot Springs features a piping-hot waterfall.

Courtesy of Idaho Tourism

15. Boise to Sun Valley: Explore Idaho’s Scenic Byways

Even a short road trip can be packed with adventure, good food, and scenery, which is exactly what this trip from Boise to Sun Valley along Idaho’s Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway offers. Although the drive only takes six hours, we recommend taking a few days to explore all the stops and detours along the way. One can’t-miss spot is the Kirkham Hot Springs , where you can stand under a waterfall that will splash you with 135-degree mineral water year-round.

• The full itinerary: The Little-Known Idaho Road Trip You Need to Drive
• Things to do: The Best Outdoorsy Things to Do in Idaho

Grand Portage State Park is the only state park jointly managed by a state and a Native American band.

Photo by Shutterstock/QZ

16. Duluth to Grand Portage State Park: A Scenic Minnesota Sampler

Although there are many appealing road trips throughout the Midwest, this 143-mile, three-hour circuit, which starts and ends in Duluth, Minnesota, is worth keeping in mind. Meandering north on MN-61 with this itinerary, you will enjoy prime views of Lake Superior and towns like Grand Marais, as well as Grand Portage State Park, home to waterfalls, hiking trails, and opportunities to learn about the Ojibwe community who occupy the land today. Once back in Duluth, enjoy a beer at Canal Park Brewing Company before checking into the waterfront Canal Park Lodge nearby.

• The AFAR Guide to Minnesota

Wind your way through colorful foliage in New Hampshire.

Photo by Shutterstock

17. Kancamagus Highway: A Quintessential New England Drive

Yes, you can take a road trip in New England at any time of the year , but this region shows off its best colors in the fall, when locals and tourists alike head out into the country to view the changing colors of the trees. Join other admirers of fall foliage on this popular, 34.5-mile road trip along New Hampshire’s Kancamagus Highway, colloquially known as the “Kanc,” for picturesque ponds, hiking trails, and scenic overlooks.

• Plan Your Fall Getaway With This Peak Foliage Prediction Map

Ogunquit is home to the small, postcard-perfect harbor of Perkins Cove.

Photo courtesy of QualityHD / Shutterstock

18. Maine’s “Lobster Trail”: Travel Route 1 Along the Coast

Traveling Route 1, affectionately known as “the lobster trail,” along Maine’s jagged coastline is an exercise in indulgence. Sample lobster dishes in all forms—buttered, steamed, on a roll, or even in a decadent mac-and-cheese.

The trip starts in the quaint small town of Ogunquit , with its rare (for the area) 3.5 miles of white-sand beach. Make your first lobster of the journey count, steamed with a side of drawn butter at Barnacle Billy’s in picturesque Perkins Cove harbor. Stop at Big Daddy’s for a cone on your way to the shipbuilding center—and summer home of George H. W. Bush—Kennebunkport. Stay at the recently redesigned 150-year-old classic White Barn Inn , and consider a sailing trip for an afternoon. With lobsters cooked in ocean water, the legendary lobster roll at the Clam Shack is a must.

• 8 Scenic East Coast Road Trips to Take This Year

Throughout North Carolina’s Piedmont region, innovative restaurants, shops, and restaurants like Leah & Louise in Charlotte, above, are creating a buzz.

Photo by Peter Taylor Photography

19. Raleigh to Charlotte: A 4-Day Trip Through North Carolina’s Reinvented Core

North Carolina’s Piedmont region extends from the coastal plain to the Blue Ridge Mountains, and includes farmland and rolling wooded hills, especially on the 1-40 stretch near Hillsborough. Starting in Raleigh, drive the short distances to Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Charlotte to see how these cities are innovating through art, food, and a celebration of the past. Take your time—four days should do—to experience downtown arts districts, James Beard Award–winning restaurants, and civil rights museums that speak truths. Plan your trip

• A Road Trip Through North Carolina’s Reinvented Core

Scenic South Walton is part of the Emerald Coast of Florida.

20. Scenic Highway 30A: A Sunday Drive Through South Walton, Florida

Florida is full of places to cruise with the top down, but it’s hard to beat a Sunday (or any day) drive along Scenic Highway 30A through northwest Florida, home to a postcard-perfect stretch of seaside towns known as South Walton.

The roughly 28-mile route through South Walton County kisses the coast for nearly all its length, taking you through gorgeous residential Gulf-front communities like Rosemary Beach, Grayton Beach, and Blue Mountain Beach . Roll down the windows and let the emerald-hued views in.

Pull over to explore, too—maybe to admire the New Urbanism architecture in Alys Beach or to swim in the clear waters at Grayton Beach State Park . (The beach here has been lauded among the best in the world.)

• The full itinerary: The Florida Road Trip You’ve Been Missing

Stand-up paddleboarding is just one way to enjoy a Florida Keys sunset.

Shutterstock

21. The Florida Keys: An Island-Hopping Getaway

For a sunny road trip itinerary in Florida, skip Miami and head farther south. Beginning in Key Largo and ending in Key West, the Florida Keys Scenic Highway is often overlooked for more well-known routes up north, but it is well worth going out of your way to experience.

As the name suggests, this route is very scenic, so plan to spend at least a few days exploring it and numerous stops along the way. Some highlights include driving across the impressive Overseas Highway, stopping to admire art in the town of Islamorada, and enjoying the historic sites, food, and (of course) beaches in the city of Key West.

• The full itinerary: How to Road Trip in the Lesser-Known Florida Keys

Sun Studio in Memphis was the site of the famous Million Dollar recording session that brought together Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash.

Photo by f11photo on Shutterstock

22. Memphis to Bristol, Tennessee: A Music-Driven Adventure

If you have about a week to spare and a deep appreciation for music, take a road trip from one side of Tennessee to the other, starting in Memphis and ending in Bristol. The eastbound trip spans genres, including rock ( Graceland ), blues ( Beale Street) and, of course, country (did you really go to Tennessee if you didn’t go to Dollywood ?). Nashville serves as the halfway point on your journey—so consider penciling in an extra 48 hours to fully explore the state capital’s greatest hits.

• The full itinerary: 5 Great American Road Trips For Music Fans

The stunning coastline near Cueva del Indio has been the backdrop of star-studded films.

Photo by Alexsf.gr/Shutterstock

23. Arecibo to Condado, Puerto Rico: A Lesser-Known Side of a Well-Loved Island

In the minds of many, trips to Puerto Rico bring images of stunning beaches , delicious foods , and maybe a bioluminescent bay or two . But there’s plenty of history to be found here, too, as Puerto Rico was home to an Indigenous population known as the Taino, a heritage many Puerto Ricans embrace. That history can be explored via a road trip. Starting in the northern town of Arecibo, travel south to Ponce, then back north to Condado—along the way you’ll encounter petroglyphs, Indigenous sites, and breathtaking natural spots.

• The full itinerary: A Puerto Rico Road Trip That Puts Indigenous Culture First

Additional road trip planning resources Picking the route for your road trip is only one part of your planning. From what snacks to pack to which podcasts to listen to, these additional resources will help you prepare for your next adventure:

• Best road trip snacks
• Road trip planning apps
• Podcasts and audiobooks to download
• What to pack for a road trip

This article originally appeared online in August 2020. It was most recently updated on April 4, 2024, to include current information. Additional reporting by Jessie Beck, Erika Owen, Ray Rogers, Terry Ward, and Sheryl Nance-Nash.

30 Best Road Trip Games That Are Super Fun

Road trip games can make any journey more enjoyable and fun whether you're going on a long drive across the country or spending a few hours in the car with the kids.

Our list of the 30 of the best road trip games will provide entertainment for children and adults alike, ranging from music-related games and foodie challenges to word contests and devious pranks.

You will never have to think of what to do on a long car ride again! The following is the ultimate list of games you can play on a road trip.

1. The Story Game

Entertaining for adults and kids alike, this is storytelling with a twist - you go round the car and each passenger adds just one word following on from the player before.

See how crazy you can make the story, and get someone to record it on their phone so you can listen back to the hilarious progression of the plot as you make way along your road trip. You could go from sunbathing in Spain to training alpacas in Chile in a matter of seconds.

Trust us, you're in for a laugh with this one and if your passengers are good, these stories can get seriously long!

2. I'm Going On A Road Trip

This road trip game requires a bit more brain power than some of the others, but is still really entertaining and great for all ages. To play, passengers take it in turns to state 'I'm going on a road trip and I'm bringing…' followed by an item of their choice.

The next person has to repeat the phrase, saying the last person's item and adding one of their own and so on - eventually you'll have a really long list of crazy items to try and remember, and it's always amusing watching people try and get it right a few rounds in.

Be sure to throw in a few weird and wonderful items to confuse the rest of the players!

3. The Quiet Game

This game is a bit of a joke for the adults who want a few minutes of peace and quiet from their squabbling kids. The rules are hilariously simple - just say 'who can stay quiet the longest?' and breathe as the competitive siblings fall instantly silent.

Just a word of warning though: don't expect it to last very long, so have another kid-friendly car game lined up for when they get bored.

4. The Banana Game

This game is all about the color yellow and is super simple - points are awarded whenever a passenger spots a yellow vehicle.

Come up with a scoring system for different types of vehicle (e.g. one point for a car, two for a van, and three for a lorry) and whether you saw it parked (one point) or in motion (two points). Add any extra rules you fancy, and prepare to get competitive about who saw it first.

5. Never Miss A Beat

This game may be more of a singalong than a game, but it's still awesome!

Never miss a beat offers another chance to show off your singing skills and unusually gets everyone playing together rather than against each other.

All you need to do is stick on your family's favorite song or a song everyone knows the words to and start singing. Someone then needs to turn it down for 10 seconds whilst everyone keeps singing, before turning it back up again to see if you've kept the beat and stayed in time.

This game is mainly just a bit of fun, but you could always turn it into a competition by splitting into teams!

Another classic you've probably played a thousand times before but never get bored of.

Passengers take it in turns to find an object either inside or outside the car and say "I spy with my little eye something beginning with…" the first letter of whatever the object is.

The other passengers must then try and guess the answer (clues can be given if it's really hard), with the winner taking the next turn. This is an easy car game to play with kids and always a great one to keep bored passengers entertained for a surprisingly long time.

7. 20 Questions

This classic road trip game probably doesn't need much of an introduction - simply choose one passenger to start by thinking of a random object, and the other passengers take turns asking 20 yes-or-no questions to guess the object.

Whoever finds the answer first gets to think of the random thing in the next round, but if the object has everyone stumped, they get to keep their role for the next round.

There are no rules on the object you can pick, but lying in your answers is strictly forbidden!

8. Car Bingo

This kid-friendly game takes a little prep before you set off, but it's well worth it if you need to keep the kids entertained on a long journey.

Make a list of things the children might see along the road trip route - e.g. cows, a tractor, a red car etc, to give to them when you get into the car.

As you drive they can cross things off as they see them, not only distracting them from boredom but also encouraging them to look around and learn about the places they're visiting.

Make the list as specific to the place you're going as you want. In Texas you might have anything mentioning the Lone Star and in Wyoming you might be on the lookout for elk!

You can tailor the difficulty and number of things to find depending on the age of your children.

9. Sweet Or Sour

The rules of this road trip game are super simple: passengers take turns waving at passing pedestrians or people in nearby cars. If they wave back they're sweet, if not they're sour. You win a point for every sweet passerby you get, so aim to find as many friendly people as possible along the way.

For obvious reasons, the driver should opt out of this one, but it can be extra fun if they divert the car through a busy area of town to rack up some extra waving opportunities!

Remember not to distract other drivers!

10. Secret Place Race

Make use of that old road map that sits in the car seat pocket to entertain the kids. All you need to do for the secret place race is pick a place they're unlikely to know such as a tiny village, river, or mountain, and see how long it takes them to find it on the map.

This can be incredibly entertaining in a Where's Waldo kind of way, except their mission in finding the village can be made critically important for the driver to be able to find the right way!

Have a reward on hand if they're able to find it in less than 5 minutes, and watch as they're completely engrossed in the task. A simple yet satisfyingly effective game.

11. Punch Buggy

First gaining popularity as part of one of Volkswagen's marketing campaigns in the 1960s, the aim of this game is to give your fellow passengers a playful punch whenever you see a VW Beetle drive past.

This is one of those road trip games that is universally loved by children (as long as you monitor the punching to avoid disaster), although we don't see why the adults wouldn't enjoy it too.

Granted - in some parts of the world, seeing a Beetle is incredibly rare, so if you're struggling to see many Beetles, you could always choose a specific color of car or another funny model as the target instead to make it a touch easier.

12. Regional Car Pantry

One for the foodies. Stretching across the full duration of your road trip, collect as many local snacks as you can at every stop along the way to build up your car pantry.

Make sure you take pictures of each snack (or buy duplicates if they'll keep) so you can see what you've managed to collect at the end of the trip, and be sure to take some weird and wonderful treats home for friends and family to try.

Do some research beforehand and make a list of all the foods you want to find, or just wing it and see what local delicacies you stumble across as you go.

13. The License Plate Game

You'll need pens and paper for this game so make sure you've packed some before you head off. The aim is to spot license plates from as many different countries or US states (depending on where your road trip is taking place) as possible.

Write a list of the places you've seen and compare it with the other passengers at the end of the drive. This is the ideal game for those long stretches of boring motorway where you'll probably rack up a surprisingly long list, and the person with the most countries gets to ride shotgun for the next leg of the journey.

The end of this road trip game can get very controversial - if you spot a real game winner, photographic evidence is a good idea so get your phone out and take photos in secret!

14. The Fortunately - Unfortunately road trip game

This is similar to the Story Game (see #1 above), however players get a little more control and creativity. You can say more than one word this time!

One player starts off with a 'fortunately' sentence, and the next has to follow with an 'unfortunately' sentence to build a story of luck and misfortune. For example, one player might start with 'fortunately, the sun was shining' with the second player adding 'unfortunately they had a long drive ahead of them' and so on.

This game can make it a little easier to remember the long string as everything has to be either fortunate or unfortunate! Get as creative as you can and you'll find yourself at your destination in what seems like no time at all.

15. The Complete Food Menu Game

This is the perfect road trip game to play if you're passing through a few towns on your way although roadside restaurants and chains will do just fine.

Print out a sheet with all the food types you can think of in a grid against the names of people in the car.

Every time you drive past a restaurant of some kind, the first person to spot it gets to collect the tick for the food type it serves. Steaks and pizzas should be easy to collect by everyone, but you might just win if you're the only one who spotted the seafood restaurant in the middle of Oklahoma!

16. The Name Game

This is another simple game that keeps your brain occupied during a long drive without being too strenuous. One person simply says any name they can think of and the next person must say another name that begins with the last letter of the name before, and so on.

For example if passenger one says Tom, passenger two might say Mary. If you've made any friends during your road trip, try and include their names to make it a tad more topical.

Obviously adding the rule of not repeating the same names once they have been mentioned makes this a whole lot more interesting as the game progresses although you're guaranteed to have a disagreement over whether a name has or has not been mentioned already!

17. Guess The Song

If you're comfortable in your musical knowledge you'll definitely want to suggest playing this one. The rules are simple: get the front passenger to play the first few seconds of a song and whoever can guess the artist and song title the quickest wins a point.

This is much easier if you can connect your phone to the car for the road trip and play songs from there so you can easily search and pause the music.

The person with the most points after half an hour gets control of the music for the rest of the journey, so there's a lot at stake...

18. Sing The Next Line

A variation on the Guess The Song game above, except this game relies on your vocal chords.

Instead of just guessing the song after a few seconds, players have to rack their brains and try and sing the next line, and the person who successfully remembers it first wins a point. Think of a reward for whoever wins, and if you attempt it but get it wrong you have to do a forfeit chosen by the driver.

19. Radio Roulette

This game's a little less hands-on but no less entertaining. Use your road trip driving time to discover all the local radio stations of the place you're visiting by re-tuning every ten minutes and choosing a new station at random.

You'll probably find some pretty wacky programs and get to know traditional and popular music in that country - a great way to appreciate culture even when you're between destinations.

If you a radio station that is really wacky, let us know!

20. Would You Rather

This road trip game can be be as PG or as outrageous as you like depending on the age of the passengers.

Take turns asking the car whether they would rather do one thing or another (e.g. 'would you rather go to France or Spain?') and see what they answer. Make it as difficult as possible to choose between the two options for maximum entertainment value, whether that's making them equally amazing or equally horrible, it's up to you…

You can see how this game can get as interesting in group of adults as with kids - answering the question is compulsory and providing reasons is where it gets fun!

21. Car Rules Road Trip Game

Everyone in the car gets to make up a silly rule, e.g. whenever we cross a bridge everyone has has to touch their nose, or whenever we stop at a red light everyone has to touch the roof of the car.

The last person to join in when an action is enforced gains a point, and the person with the most points at the end of the drive loses. Get as creative as you like with the rules and try and catch people out where possible so you can take the victory.

The loser has to go pay for parking or buy ice creams at the next stop!

22. Hot Seat

If you're that nosy friend that wants to find out all of your companions' deepest secrets then you'll like this one. Passengers take it in turns to be in the hot seat and are asked 5 questions, one of which they're allowed to veto and the other four must be answered honestly.

This is best played in an adult-only car (questions get notoriously cheeky) and is the ideal way to pass the time finding out some interesting new facts about your road trip friends.

You can use it as a warm up or a step up from the car version of Truth or Dare (see #27 below) depending on how close your friendships are!

23. People Watching

Someone picks a car full of people that everyone can see (this works best if you're stuck in traffic), and together you make up a story about the people - who they are, where they're going, what they do for a living. The funnier and more far-fetched the story, the better - just make sure you're not staring too obviously at your subjects or it might get a little awkward...

Use your imagination to make the stories controversial and see how far you can go with making things up!

You might just surprise yourself how the most innocuous of road trip games will make you spot things you would never otherwise see just by looking at the cars around you.

24. Kiss, Marry, Avoid

Another one for the older crowd. Take turns listing three famous people and the other passengers in the car have to choose which person they would kiss, which they would marry, and which they would avoid.

Make it really hard to decide so that everyone has a bit of a laugh, and try to predict each other's answers to add an extra twist to the game.

If you want to add a little spice to the game, use people you all know or move to people in the car!

25. While You Were Sleeping

There's nothing more tempting than pulling a prank on a passenger who falls asleep en route, and whilst we don't dispute the whole drawing-a-mustache classic, we've got something even craftier.

Whilst they're taking a nap on the road trip, have a brainstorm with the awake members of the party and come up with an epic story or scenario of something that they missed during their nap.

The aim of the game is to get them to believe the story, so make sure nobody laughs or breaks character (come up with a forfeit if they do), and keep the lie going for as long as possible. If you manage to pull it off this is far better than a DIY mustache... but by all means, draw one on for good measure.

This classic road trip game can really take a turn for the worse if you want it to. A simple horror story about a truck that followed the car for miles that you just managed to pull away from before getting a flat tyre can go a long way as you're parked on the side of the road. Peer into the rear view mirror in horror and watch their face when a random truck appears on the horizon!

26. Categories

Popular with kids and adults alike the world over, Categories can be an awesome game to play on road trips as well.

The premise is simple - somebody picks a category which can have multiple different answers. Fruit or Beatles' songs can both be great options.

Players have to then take turns to name one item from the category at a time. Players are eliminated when they can't name one until there's one winner. Either the winner or the next person in turn gets to choose the next category.

That brings our list of the best road trip games to an end. Do you have other games you enjoy? Get in touch to let us know and we'll add it to our list!

27. Truth Or Dare (The Car Edition)

The old classic can and should be played on road trips! Players take turns to either answer an embarassing question truthfully or perform a dare set by other players.

The dares obviously have to be contained to the realms of the car or the roadside so you'll have to get creative.

Needless to say, this game is very different when played with kids as a family or with adult friends and is equally great in both cases!

28. 6 Degrees of Separation

This is a road trip game that will require some imagination and provide plenty of topics for conversation.

Take turns and pick two people who you may know or make them up (e.g. a Shaolin monk). The more different the background and location of these people the better!

Then proceed to discuss how these two people are connected through 6 connections or less. You don't have to know the whole chain - that's actually where the fun is.

How is a gaucho from a remote farm in southern Argentina connected to Prince Charles? The gaucho must know his ranch's boss (1). The boss knows the boss of the company that buys beef from local producers (2). That company has a liaison manager in a UK-based Argentinian beef importing firm (3). This manager has a colleague who imports fine wines from around the world for the same company (4). The colleague personally provides the fine wines to the Royal sommelier (5) and the sommelier personally knows Prince Charles (6). Bingo!

29. The Stop Joker Card road trip game

If you're going on a long trip and you're going to be driving all day or even longer than that, this is a great way to give everyone in the car, kids included, a way to have a bit of control.

At any point during the trip, each person can enact their Stop Joker Card - this means the car has to stop wherever they are passing and spend some time there doing an activity or just relaxing.

Your kids might see something really fun halfway along and use their card to break up the journey and everyone gets to have their stop along the route!

30. Pick One Car road trip game

This one is a game of patience and opportunity. Every person in the car has one chance during the journey to pick a car that you can see on your way as their ultimate One Car. The objective is to pick the coolest/fastest/most amazing car possible.

Once you've chosen a car, you can't change it - you only have one go so you better make it count - if you're passing something that is decent but not stellar, you might have to make a tough choice.

The game is made even more difficult by the fact that the first person to call the car out gets to have it so you have to be alert and on the lookout if you haven't got one yet.

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Here Are 7 Unique Day Trips In Idaho That Are An Absolute Must-Do

Super-rad musician, scholar, photographer, and traveler. The Mountain West and larger PNW = home, but can be found wherever there's adventure.

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While extended road trips over weekends are always an adventure, sometimes a long excursion simply isn’t possible. Instead, a quick day trip or outing with the family is your destiny. So instead of obsessively planning, forget about those other complicated vacations and hit the road to enjoy these quick, easy, and inexpensive day trips from nearly every major city. Or, mini-vacays, if you will. If you’ve ever Googled “road trips near me in Idaho”, today’s your lucky day!

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Do you want to make your day trip last even longer? Take this historic road trip or check out this unique backcountry drive . Have any ideas for more ultimate road trips in Idaho? Tell us about them in the comments!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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What are some of the best road trips in Idaho I can take?  

You know, Idaho gets a lot of flak. People refer to it as a “flyover” state, which implies that it’s boring -- and that notion couldn’t be further from the truth. There’s plenty to do – especially if you’re a lover of the open road like we are. Basically, if you can dream it, you can probably drive it. You can spend time traveling the Magruder Corridor, which is a beautiful, scenic drive you’ll never forget. You can drive the famous “road to nowhere” or make a whole thing out of visiting the most haunted places in the state. We also suggest making a whole trip out of Idaho’s spectacular waterfalls. If you’d like more inspiration for the best road trips in Idaho,  take a peek at this list .   

Where are the must-visit places in Idaho?   

There are several places that come to mind as definitive, iconic “must-do” activities. For instance, it’s imperative that you visit the incredible Shoshone Falls as soon as you can (if you haven’t already). Explore a dormant volcano at Craters of the Moon National Monument, where you’ll have an out-of-this-world fun experience. You won’t believe the surreal beauty on display at Sawtooth National Recreation Area, and Twin Falls is a wonderful place to come to on a hot summer day. Lake Coeur d'Alene, in northern Idaho, is also a must-see – and don’t forget to bring a camera! These locations are all ridiculously photogenic, and we’re sure you’ll fall in love with them as quickly as we did.   

Where can I find unique attractions in Idaho?  

Believe it or not, Idaho is a state with plenty of unique and otherwise oddball attractions to check out in your spare time. You can explore any number of the interesting (and a bit eerie) ghost towns all over the state, like Custer ghost town, near Stanley, and Burke ghost town, near Wallace. It wouldn’t be Idaho without a museum dedicated entirely to the potato, and Blackfoot, Idaho, has that taken care of. You can also sleep in a giant potato in Boise. In Arco, Idaho, you’ll find the world’s first-ever nuclear power plant. And did you know the center of the universe is a manhole in Wallace? Well, at least they think so...

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Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

19 Unique And Fabulous Experiences In Moscow

• Destinations

Thinking of visiting Russia? When visiting such a famous city, one must, of course, visit the iconic landmarks first. Moscow has plenty of those, most of them in the center of the city, which is very well-planned for tourists. Once you’ve seen the sights that are on most travelers’ lists, it’s time to branch out and visit some of the lesser-known sites, and there are some fascinating places to see and things to do.

I know this list is long, but I just couldn’t help myself. You probably won’t have the time to see them all. But that’s okay. Just scroll through the list and choose what sounds the most interesting to you. Where possible, make sure to book in advance, as things can get crowded, especially during high season.

1. The Red Square, Kremlin, And Surroundings

Red Square (Krasnya Ploshad) is the heart and soul of Russia, and where much of the country’s history has unfolded. This is the most famous landmark in Moscow and indeed the whole country, it’s an absolute must-do! The square is always full of people and has a rather festive atmosphere!

Saint Basil’s Cathedral

This is the famous church with the rainbow-colored, onion-domed roof. The cathedral was commissioned in the 1500s by Ivan the Terrible and according to legend, the Tsar thought it was so beautiful, that he ordered that the architect’s eyes be cut out afterward, so he could never build anything more beautiful! He wasn’t called Ivan the Terrible for no reason!

Lenin’s Mausoleum

The “love-it-or-hate-it” of tourist attractions in Russia. A glass sarcophagus containing the embalmed body of Russian revolutionary, Vladimir Lenin. It may seem a bit bizarre to display the mummy of a person, but it has been there for almost half a century and the 2.5 million visitors who come each year, clearly feel the queuing and thorough body search are worth it, to be in Lenin’s presence.

Pro Tip: no photos and no loud talking are allowed inside the Mausoleum.

Eternal Flame

There is an Eternal Flame in honor of an unknown soldier on the left side of Red Square. The hourly changing of the guards is worth seeing.

The Kremlin is the official residence of the Russian president. You can see it from the outside, or you can take an excursion to one of the museums located inside. This is the biggest active fortress in Europe, and holds a week’s worth of attractions! Once behind the 7,332-feet of walls, there are five squares, four cathedrals, 20 towers, various museums, and the world’s largest bell and cannon to see. Worth a special mention is the Armory Chamber that houses a collection of the famous Faberge Eggs.

Pro Tip: You can only go inside the Kremlin if you are part of a tourist group.

2. Bolshoi Theatre

Bolshoi Theatre translates to “The Big Theatre” in Russian, and the building is home to both the Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera — among the oldest and most famous ballet and opera companies in the world.

Pro Tip: It’s hard to get an inexpensive ticket, so if you’re reading well in advance of going to Moscow then try buying tickets on the official website . Last-minute tickets cost around $250 per person. If this is out of your budget, about an hour before a performance, you can try buying a ticket at the entrance from a reseller. Most can speak enough English to negotiate the price.

Tour the Bolshoi Theatre: You can take a group guided tour of the Bolshoi Theatre which focuses on the history and architecture of the theatre and behind the scenes. There’s an English language tour that lasts 2 hours and costs around $300 for a group of up to six.

3. Luxury Shopping At GUM And TSUM

Russia’s main department store, GUM, has a stunning interior that is home to over 100 high-end boutiques, selling a variety of brands: from luxurious Dior to the more affordable Zara. Even if shopping is not on your Moscow to-do list GUM is still worth a visit; the glass-roofed arcade faces Red Square and offers a variety of classy eateries. TSUM, one of the biggest luxury malls in town, is right behind the Bolshoi and GUM. It’s an imposing building with lots of history, and worth a visit just for its design and its glass roof.

4. Christ The Savior Cathedral

This is one of Russia’s most visited cathedrals and is a newer addition to the gorgeous array of Muscovite cathedrals, but don’t let its young age fool you. After perestroika, in the early 90s, the revived Russian Orthodox Church was given permission to build a cathedral on this site. It did the location honors and built the largest temple of the Christian Orthodox Church. The façade is as grand as you’d expect, but it’s the inside that will mesmerize you, with its domes, gold, gorgeous paintings, and decor!

The cathedral is located just a few hundred feet away from the Kremlin and was the site of the infamous Pussy Riot protest against Putin back in 2012.

Pro Tip: Bring a shawl to cover your hair as is the local custom.

5. Gorky Park

Moscow’s premier green space, Gorky Park (Park Gor’kogo) is the city’s biggest and most famous park. There is entertainment on offer here for every taste, from outdoor dancing sessions to yoga classes, volleyball, ping-pong, rollerblading, and bike and boat rental in summer. In winter, half the park turns into a huge ice skating rink. Gorky Park is also home to an open-air movie theater and the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art. There is also Muzeon Art Park, a dynamic contemporary space with a unique collection of 700 sculptures. It is located right in front of Gorky Park.

6. Sparrow Hills Park

If you take a walk from Gorky Park, along the Moscow River embankment, you’ll end up in the city’s other legendary park, Sparrow Hills. Although the park doesn’t offer as many activities as its hip neighbor, it has a great panoramic view of the city

Pro Tip: You can take a free walking tour to all of the above attractions with an English-speaking guide.

7. River Cruising

One of the best ways to experience Moscow, and see all the famous landmarks, but from a different angle, is from the Moscow River. Take a river cruise. Avoid the tourist crowds. There are little nameless old boats that do the cruise, but if you are looking for a more luxurious experience take the Radisson Blu cruise and enjoy the sights with some good food and a glass of wine.

8. Metro Hopping

Inaugurated in the 1930s, the Moscow Metro system is one of the oldest and most beautiful in the world. Started in Stalinist times, each station is a work of art in its own right. I’d recommend touring the stations between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. This way, you’ll be able to properly see it without the crowds. Ideally, I’d recommend taking a tour with a knowledgeable guide with GuruWalk, who will tell you stories of forgotten stations and how the history of the country is interconnected with the metro development. If going by yourself, then I definitely recommend checking out: Mayakovskaya, Ploschad Revolutsii, Kievskaya, Kropotkinskaya, Kurskaya, and Novoslobodskaya stations.

Visit the free Moscow Metro Museum: For real train enthusiasts, located in the southern vestibule of Sportivnaya station is a small free museum. Here you can take a peek into the driver’s cabin, see a collection of metro tokens from different cities, and see different models of a turnstile, traffic lights, escalator, and more.

9. Moscow State University View

In his effort to create a grander Moscow, Stalin had seven skyscrapers built in different parts of town; they’re called the Seven Sisters. The largest of these buildings and the one with the best view is the main building of the Moscow State University. Although this is a little outside the city center, the view is more than worth it.

10. Izmailovsky Market

Mostly known for the city’s largest flea market, the district of Izmaylovo is home to a maze of shops where you can get just about anything, from artisan crafts to traditional fur hats, handcrafted jewelry, fascinating Soviet memorabilia, and antiquities. It’s also one of Moscow’s largest green spaces. There are often no price tags, so be prepared to haggle a bit. Head to one of the market cafes for a warming mulled wine before continuing your shopping spree.

The History of Vodka Museum is found here, and the museum’s restaurant is the perfect place to sample various brands of the national drink.

Once you’ve covered the more touristy spots, Moscow still has plenty to offer, and the places below will also be full of locals! So for some local vibes, I would strongly recommend the spots below!

11. Moscow City

With a completely different vibe, Moscow City (also referred to as Moscow International Business Center) is like a mini Dubai, with lots of impressive tall glass buildings. Here is where you’ll find the best rooftops in towns, like Ruski Restaurant, the highest restaurant both in Moscow City and in Europe. Moscow City is great for crowd-free shopping and the best panoramic views of the city.

12. Tretyakov Gallery

Tretyakov Gallery started as the private collection of the Tretyakov brothers, who were 19th-century philanthropists. They gave their private collection to the government after their deaths. If there is just one museum you visit in Moscow, I recommend this one!

13. Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve

Tsaritsyno was a residence of Catherine the Great more than two centuries ago. It became derelict during the Soviet era but has now been fully renovated. With its opulently decorated buildings, gardens, meadows, and forests, Tsaritsyno Park is the perfect place for a green respite in Moscow.

14. Kolomenskoye

A 10-minute metro ride from the city center is Kolomenskoe Museum-Reserve, where you can get an idea of what Russia looked like 200 years ago. You’ll find ancient churches (one dating back to the 16th century), the oldest garden in Moscow, and the wonderful fairytale wooden palace of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich, father of Peter the Great.

15. Ostankino TV Tower

Built in 1967, Ostankino TV Tower was the tallest free-standing construction in the world at the time, it’s still the 8th tallest building in the world and the highest in Europe. It’s also the best observation deck, with a glass floor and 360-degree views. The speedy elevators take you 1,105 feet in next to no time.

Pro Tip: You need to book in advance; entrance is based on specific ticket times and the capacity is limited and only a certain number of tourists are allowed per day. Don’t forget your passport, you’ll need it to get through security.

16. Zaryadye Park

Zaryadye is a newly opened, landscaped urban park so new you won’t find it in a lot of tour guides. The park is near Red Square and is divided into four climatic zones: forest, steppe, tundra, and floodplains, depicting the variety of climatic zones in Russia.

These last three suggestions are a little quirky, but all are really worth checking out.

17. Museum Of Soviet Arcade Games

Release your inner child playing on 66 arcade machines from the Soviet era! What a great way to spend a couple of hours when tired of visiting museums and palaces. The staff speaks excellent English and are happy to explain how the games work.

18. Moscow Rooftop Tour

Take a 1-hour private Moscow rooftop tour with an experienced roofer. I can just about guarantee none of your friends will be able to say they’ve done it! For your comfort, I recommend wearing comfortable shoes. Take your camera, there are some amazing photo opportunities out there!

19. Sanduny Banya

This classical Russian bathhouse opened its doors in 1808 and is famous for combining traditional Russian banya services with luxurious interiors and service. If you enjoy spas and saunas, then you should experience a Russian bathhouse at least once in your life! Go with an open mind and hire a specialist to steam you as it’s meant to be done — by being beaten repeatedly with a besom (a leafy branch)! This is said to improve circulation, but is best done by a professional!

So there you have my list of things to do in Moscow. I could have gone on and on and on, but I didn’t want to try your patience! There are so many things to do in this vibrant city that you’ll definitely need to allocate several days for exploring.

Here are some other reasons to visit Moscow and Russia:

• 7 Reasons To Put Moscow On Your Travel Bucket List
• Russia 30 Years (And 30 Pounds) Ago
• Massive Mysterious Craters Appearing Again In Siberia

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, before moving to Africa at the age of 21, Sarah Kingdom is a mountain climber and guide, traveler, yoga teacher, trail runner, and mother of two. When she is not climbing or traveling she lives on a cattle ranch in central Zambia. She guides and runs trips regularly in India, Nepal, Tibet, Russia, and Ethiopia, taking climbers up Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro numerous times a year.

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The best things to do and places to visit in Moscow, Russia

Updated On 14th October, 2021

While Moscow isn’t always at the top of everyone’s Europe bucket list , it’s certainly one of the best places to visit in Europe if you’re looking for a more alternative adventure! In this blog post I plan on sharing some of the free things to do in Moscow, as well as the best places to visit in Moscow, so that you can enjoy some of the best things to do in Russia! 

Moscow, the capital of Russia, sits in the European part of the country. It’s an incredibly beautiful city, which I personally found to be more beautiful than Saint Petersburg (which is often people’s preference). The capital is certainly a lot busier, and less laid back than Saint Petersburg , but it’s a much more colourful and vibrant city, full of stunning and unique architecture.

Visiting famous landmarks such as The Kremlin and St Basil’s Cathedral, enjoying some of the green space in Gorky Park, watching a ballet in the Bolshoi Theatre… these are just a few reasons that you should visit Moscow! On top of that, because of visa restrictions (we’ll get onto that later), it’s also one of the most unique destinations in Europe. 

There is a common misconception that Moscow is a dangerous city, but now that I’ve visited, I don’t believe this to be true. I would say the same rules apply here as to other large cities: avoid walking in dark areas alone at night, keep an eye on your belongings on public transport, and be streetwise. There’s no reason to avoid visiting this energetic city and miss out on these amazing things to do in Moscow! 

It would take months if you wanted to truly explore Moscow because it’s a huge city, but I’m going to share some of my favourite things to do in Moscow and places to visit in Moscow so that you can prepare for your upcoming adventure! Even if you’re only there for a few days, you should be able to fit in these highlights from my trip. 

Other blog posts you might be interested in...

• The best things to do in St Petersburg
• A 2-week Norway road trip
• A complete guide to Helsinki
• A complete guide to Tallinn
• Europe: the ultimate travel guide
• The best capital cities to visit in Europe
• The best things to do in Europe: the ultimate Europe bucket list

Where is Moscow?

If you’re wondering ‘Where is Moscow, Russia?’ then you’ve come to the right place! Moscow in in west Russia, the European part, and it’s the capital city. 

How do you get to Moscow?

Getting a visa for moscow:.

To get into Russia, you need to get a visa. The processing time is approximately 20 days, and you’ll need to have your fingerprints taken at a visa centre in London , Edinburgh or Manchester. You can find out more about getting a visa for Russia here.  

Getting to Moscow:

Once you’ve got your visa, the easiest way to get to Moscow from the UK is by flying. Direct flights between London and Moscow take just under four hours, and with an airport layover you’re looking at a 6-7 hour trip. You can also fly in from many other major European and international cities. 

Top tip: Check out flights to and from Copenhagen on  Skyscanner here.

Check out how to pack a weekend away in a carry-on suitcase here.

16 best places to visit in Moscow...

1. st basil’s cathedral.

The most iconic building in Russia and one of the most iconic buildings in the world. St Basil’s Cathedral is one of the best places to visit in Moscow, if not the best! 

St Basil’s is situated on Red Square, where you’ll also find many other popular places to visit in Moscow. In my opinion this still stands out against them all. There’s something about the multi coloured domes against the Moscow skyline that I found quite spectacular. 

Although I’d already been in Russia for several days, it wasn’t until I was at this amazing piece of architecture that I really felt I was in Russia.

The cathedral was built by order of Ivan the Terrible, and apparently after the architect completed it, Ivan blinded him so that he could never build anything more beautiful. Whether or not this story is true, it certainly adds a bittersweet feeling as you stand admiring the beauty of St Basil’s Cathedral.

Inside is a museum displaying many historic items once used at the cathedral, which costs 700 rubles to enter. In my opinion it’s worth the entry fee, as simply seeing the ornate interior walls is a spectacle in itself.

2. The Kremlin

This historic fortress that sits on Red Square is probably the largest landmark and one of the most popular places to visit in Moscow. It’s the official residence of the President, although he doesn’t actually live there. It’s been rebuilt many times since it was first constructed in 1147 out of wood, before Ivan III the Great ordered it to be made from stone, which is the Kremlin you’ll recognise today. 

This place is huge, and there’s quite a lot to see. The first problem I had was finding where the entrance was. Even though I had a pre-booked ticket, I was then told I still had to visit the ticket office to exchange it for another ticket. I also needed my passport, so make sure you have yours if you plan to visit the Kremlin. After a lengthy queue I finally had a ticket I could use to enter the Kremlin, and had to go through security. The security here is thorough, so make sure you don’t take too much in with you. I had my pockets full, and it was a nightmare emptying them and explaining each item, before I was finally allowed in. Once inside you can pay for extra tickets to visit the various museums, however there’s also quite a lot to see simply on the grounds if you don’t want to spend too much. 

See more tips for travelling on a budget here. 

There’s so much to see here, including The Assumption Cathedral, Ivan the Great Bell Tower Complex, the Grand Kremlin Palace, the Armoury Chamber and Diamond Fund. There is also the Tsar Cannon (a huge artillery cannon), and the Tsar Bell. The Tsar Bell is the largest bell in the world. An incident with a fire and water being poured over the bell caused it to crack and for a slab to break off from it, which can now be seen propped up next to it.

As you walk around the grounds you’ll hear the sound of whistles. The guards patrolling the area will blow a whistle at anyone walking where they shouldn’t. Even if it’s just on the grass, or towards more restricted areas. This can sometimes be funny to watch, as often the tourists will be in a world of their own whilst a guard is blowing a whistle at them. Sometimes a guard will be stood face to face with a tourist angrily blowing their whistle before the tourist realises they need to get back onto the main path.

This is perhaps one of the more unusual places to visit in Moscow! Gum is a huge department store situated on Red Square. It’s an interesting department store to walk around, with several levels, although the shops inside are certainly quite pricey. It’s a beautiful building when it’s lit up at night, and it seems to fit in nicely amongst the other famous sights on Red Square. Even if you don’t plan to buy anything here, one of the best things to do in Moscow is to take a quick look inside, although bear in mind there are usually security checks before entering.

4. State Historical Museum

The large crimson building on Red Square is now the State Historical Museum. It was originally the first pharmacy in Russia, and later a University before finally becoming the museum it is today.

Unfortunately I didn’t go inside as my time was limited and there was so much else I wanted to see, but if you have the time I think it would be one of the best things to do in Moscow. There are items dating back to the 6th century, and maybe even further. There’s also a library inside storing many ancient manuscripts and the largest coin collection in Russia. 

5. Bolshoi Theatre

Bolshoi means big in Russian, so it roughly translates to large theatre. The Bolshoi Theatre is one of the foremost ballet companies in the world. The exterior of the building is an impressive sight, one of the most beautiful places to visit in Moscow, and it’s certainly worth admiring from the outside. There are guided tours of the interior, but if you really want to experience the theatre, one of the best things to do in Moscow is to watch a ballet here.

I was torn between booking a seat, but the ballets were very expensive. I’d have liked to have seen “Swan Lake”, (as at least I may have recognised some of the music). Unfortunately there were no performances on the days I was in Moscow, so I decided to pass. But if I return to Russia, then watching a ballet will be on my list of things to do.

6. Sparrow Hills

If you want a good view of the city, then Sparrow Hills is one of the best places to visit in Moscow. It’s a bit of a trek outside of the centre, but if you have the time then it offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of the busy city. There’s a viewing platform here which gives you fantastic panoramic views of Moscow.

Nearby you’ll see the magnificent Moscow State University building, which is one of the seven sisters of Moscow.

7. Seven Sisters

Whilst in Moscow, you’ll no doubt notice these magnificent soviet skyscrapers dotted around the city. At the time of construction they were the tallest buildings in Europe, Moscow State University being so until 1997. There are, as the name suggests, seven in total, which are: Hotel Ukraina, Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Apartments, the Kudrinskaya Square Building, the Hilton Moscow Leningradskaya Hotel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Moscow State University, and the Red Gates Administrative Building.

If you visit Sparrow Hills, then you’ll come across Moscow State University, but I’m certain as you explore the city, you’ll see more of these giants against the Moscow skyline. One of the best things to do in Moscow is to see if you can locate all seven as you wander round the city! 

8. Nikolskaya Street

The start of this street is found by Red Square. It’s one of the most prominent pedestrianised streets in Moscow, filled with shops, restaurants and bars, so one of the best places to visit in Moscow if you’re looking for a bite to eat or some souvenirs!

What makes this street extra special are the thousands of bright lights in the sky above. After dark it looks simply magical with the many colourful lights overhead as you walk beneath them. One of the best things to do in Moscow is to visit Nikolskaya Street after dark and see them for yourself. It almost feels like Christmas in London!

There is another street nearby which also features similar lights, “Kuznetskiy Most”, which is also quite beautiful, but I thought “Nikolskaya Street” was ever slightly more impressive.

9. Izmailovo Kremlin and Izmaylovskiy Bazar

Did you know that The Kremlin in Red Square is not the only Kremlin in Moscow? Kremlin actually means a type of fortress, so there are many in Russia.

The Izmailovo Kremlin is a fairly new addition to the city, having been built in 2007 as a cultural centre. With its multitude of colours and historic style, it has a real fairytale feel to it. There are several small museums here for you to explore, devoted to subjects such as Russian folk art, vodka and bread (yes, bread). Visiting these is definitely one of the more unique things to do in Moscow! 

It’s a little way out of the centre, but it’s an interesting place to visit in Moscow to see something a little bit different, and it won’t be as overcrowded with tourists. 

Next to the Izmailovo Kremlin is the best market in Moscow for souvenirs. You’ll find good and poor quality items, but you’ll certainly pick up a bargain if you take your time and haggle for a good price. Many of the items here you’ll get for half the price you would in souvenir shops in the city centre. It’s here that I picked up several Matryoshka dolls for a very good price. I think I’d have paid more than double, or possibly even triple if I’d have bought them elsewhere.

10. Izmailovsky Park

Not too far from Izmailovo Kremlin you’ll find this huge park, one of the prettiest places to visit in Moscow. It’s easy to get lost here, so try to make sure you keep track of where you entered if you plan to go back the same way. There’s a lot to see in this park, a round pond, ferris wheel, playgrounds and sports grounds, shooting galleries, cinemas and a skate park.

There are often festivals, concerts and exhibitions at the park, on top of firework displays and dance parties.

The main reason I chose to visit the park was to find the painted trees. A local artist “Yevgenia Khlynina” has been painting on trees in this park, and one of the best things to do in Moscow is to explore the park looking for them. One of the most famous pieces of hers is the “Hedgehog in the Fog” from a famous soviet cartoon.

11. Gorky Park

The most famous park in Moscow is named after the writer “Maxim Gorky”. Although it’s likely you’ve heard it mentioned in the song “Wind of Change” by “The Scorpions”. 

There’s lots to do and see in the park with sports facilities and exhibitions. During the summer months this is one of the best places to visit if you’re looking for things to do in Moscow; there are often open air concerts and an open air cinema. There are many statues and sculptures in the park, including a small sculpture park area which features many interesting pieces.

One piece of advice: don’t visit Gorky Park or any other parks on 2nd August if you’re in Russia. 2nd August is Paratrooper day, which usually encourages a lot of drinking in the park, which is not always very welcoming.

12. Arbat Street

One of the oldest and busiest streets in Moscow, and the most famous pedestrian street in the city. Arbat is one of the most popular places to visit in Moscow. There are several shops including many dedicated to souvenirs, but although these will have a good range of goods, they will be quite expensive . You may see street performers and buskers, and there are often poets reciting famous works, if not their own works.

It’s within walking distance from the Kremlin, which should only take around 10 minutes.

There are actually two streets with this name, Old Arbat Street and New Arbat Street. Old Arbat Street is where you’ll find the pedestrianised area. New Arbat Street is a separate street which runs alongside a main road, filled with many bars and restaurants.

13. Metro station art

The best way to get around Moscow is by using the metro, and the metro is a tourist attraction in itself.

Although I obviously didn’t visit every metro station, I believe that every single station is unique in its own beautiful way. Many of the stations I passed through were impressive, quirky or simply jaw dropping. You’ll more than likely pass through many of them on the way to other sights, but I’d recommend the following:  Komsomolskaya, Novoslobodskaya, Mayakovskaya, Teatralnaya, Arbatskaya, Prospekt Mira and Ploschad Revolutsii (be sure to pet the dog statue for good luck).

There are of course many others for you to explore, but these are the ones I considered to be some of the most impressive places to visit in Moscow (even if they’re only metro stations!).

VDNKh is an exhibition centre with many monuments and museums. Now that it’s combined with the Botanical Garden and Ostankino Park, one of the best things to do in Moscow is to spend the day at this recreational centre enjoying a mix of nature and culture. The most popular museum in the complex which you shouldn’t miss on your trip to Moscow is the Museum of Cosmonautics.

15. Lenin's Mausoleum

Despite requesting to be buried with his mum in St Petersburg, it is at the foot of the Kremlin on Red Sqaure that you will find Lenin’s Mausoleum, where Vladimir Ilych Lenin has been frozen in time since 1924. It’s only open for a few hours a few times per week. Photography is not allowed, and you should line up on the western corner of the square (near Alexander Garden) to wait you turn to see the embalmed body. 

16. Novodevichy Convent

Novodevichy Convent, on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Moscow. Located south west of the centre you’ll find this stunning monastery. Inside you’ll find a cathedral and several churches, surrounded by high walls and 12 towers.

Where are your favourite places to visit in Moscow?

What about the best things to do in Moscow? Anything you’d add?

Love as always and happy adventuring…

I’m Spike! Solo traveller, cultural explorer and world adventurer! With 57 countries under my belt, I live and breathe travel. I never plan to stop exploring new destinations and experiencing new cultures.

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15 Fantastic and Easy Day Trips From Moscow

Is the hustle and bustle of Moscow starting to wear you down? No worries. There are multiple great day trips from Moscow that will let you see a different side of Russia that you won’t find in the metropolitan area. Each day trip I’ve listed below can easily be done by train from Moscow, and there are trains every day of the week.

The area surrounding Moscow is rich in cultural attractions and natural beauty. By traveling only a short distance, one feels far away from the crowds, and lines of the sprawling Russian capital. Since Russia is undoubtedly an expansive country it may take from half an hour to two hours to reach some of the landmarks on this list (by train or car) from the Moscow city center.

You can escape to the picturesque Russian countryside, visit war memorials, battlefields, admire onion-domed churches, and get insight into the local way of life. Easy day trips from Moscow include the incomparable white-stone Trinity Cathedral in Sergiyev Posad, the spectacular Cathedral of the Assumption in Dmitrov, and the Russian military aircraft in Monino. For those who love rural tranquility, Suzdal and Vladimir are a must-see. History buffs will appreciate the Patriotic War of 1812 reenactment that took place in Borodino on the first weekend of September.

Without further ado, here are 15 best day trips from Moscow that are well worth your attention.

The Best Day Trips from Moscow

There’s a reason Moscow is one of Europe’s most enigmatic destinations. It’s got culture, class, food, history, and more, but even better, is that it is the country’s main transport hub with so many attractions within a day trip from Moscow. While you can definitely spend days or even weeks in Moscow, it can, of course, be done in just one week. What can you do in Moscow in seven days ? Well, you can do a lot if you know how to plan a trip to a place you know so little about.

If you’re ready to get out of the city a bit and soak up the culture, fresh air, and enchanting architecture, I’ve rounded up my favorite day trips outside of Moscow. I often get asked: What are the best cities to visit in Russia? And these are places that I’ve been and loved.

My Favorite Easy Day Trips from Moscow:

Dmitrov Kolomna Zvenigorod Sergiyev Posad Yaroslavl Arkhangelskoye Estate Vladimir Suzdal Korolev Borodino Patriot Park in Kubinka Melikhovo Gorki Leninskie Kaluga Monino

1. Day Trip to Dmitrov from Moscow

Dmitrov may not be as popular as other cities in Russia, but the fact that the city was founded only 7 years earlier than Moscow makes for a great day trip. This small city some 90 kilometers from Moscow is particularly beautiful in the summer. As you walk the streets you can see sparkling fountains, charming centuries-old buildings, yachts and boats transiting through the canal and, of course, the Museum-Reserve Dmitrov Kremlin.

The Kremlin (castle) is the city’s main draw. The 10m high and about 1km long earthen rampart remained behind the wooden wall and gives an idea of how the castle looked like 400 years ago. The oldest surviving building on the Kremlin grounds is the 16th-century Assumption Cathedral with a unique five-tier iconostasis.

Not far from the Kremlin there is a compact 15th-century Borisoglebsky convent. Its main building – the 16th-century Cathedral of Sts. Boris and Gleb is open to the visitors only for services of worship. In the 1930s in the convent housed a labor camp, which contained the builders of the Canal named after Moscow.

Getting There: Dmitrov sits an easy hour and sixteen minutes by train from Savyelovskiy Rail Terminal. This cheap day trip from Moscow is a great chance to soak up the historic charm to be found in Moscow Oblast.

2. Day Trip to Kolomna from Moscow

Situated to the south-east of Moscow, Kolomna is a beautiful port city on the Oka River. This is one of the oldest Russian cities in the region. So you can discover the old history in museums and monasteries. Interestingly, the city was a site for important weapon factories under the Soviet Union. Although it was opened up in 1994 Kolomna is not as popular as other day-trip destinations in the region.

Nevertheless, it is a great place to visit with friends and family where you can explore the 15th-century Kremlin made of red brick, try incredibly sweet traditional pastila (marshmallow), and visit some of the cute little churches and 19th-century mansions.

Getting There: Take the express train (commuter line train) from the Kazansky rail terminal to Golutvin station. The trip lasts one hour and forty minutes.

3. Day Trip to Zvenigorod from Moscow

This one is usually a given due to its proximity to and ease of transport from Moscow. It’s one of the easiest day trips from Moscow by train. You can easily hop on the train from the city and land right in the town of Zvenigorod where you can visit the 14th-century Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery and sample the sparkly and refreshing kvass, a Russian specialty beverage that’s enjoyed in the summer months.

Zvenigorod is an adorable little town just under an hour away from the Moscow city and is an amazing place to visit as it will give a relaxing break from the hectic life of Moscow. Check this day trip if you don’t feel like planning.

If you have a sweet tooth, spend some time in the quirky Museum of Russian Desserts, where you can indulge in uniquely delicious treats and explore the intersection of food and culture.

Then you may want to pay the Zvenigorod Museum of History, Architecture, and Art a visit. The museum’s exposition is located on the territory of the Savvino-Storozhevsky monastery, or rather, in the 17th-century Tsaritsyny chambers, built for the wife of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Stroll through the museum halls to view the permanent exhibitions, which offer insights into various aspects of Russian history. The intricate museum’s building is adorned with a decorative porch, complex patterned elements, and looks very impressive in general.

4. Day Trip to Sergiyev Posad from Moscow

If you’re looking for cheap day trips from Moscow, Sergiyev Posad is a good choice at just a few dollar train ride away. Known as a major center of pilgrimage and home to one of the largest Russian Orthodox Monastery which has been here for hundreds of years, Sergiyev Posad is a fun day trip from Moscow and can be combined with Abramtsevo Museum Estate. As the only town in Moscow Region which is included in the Golden Ring of Russian cities, Sergiyev Posad is an incredible destination for a day trip from Moscow that packs UNESCO-protected Trinity Sergius Lavra, great museums, and gorgeous architecture into one day.

Make sure you see the six-pillared Assumption Cathedral that was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in mid-16th-century and go inside to marvel at the impressive iconostasis that features Simon Ushakov’s masterpiece, the icon of Last Supper. Enjoy a delicious lamb steak with wheat kasha, Ukha fish soup, or hand-made dumplings as you learn a lot about religious and cultural history.

Getting There: Known for its small-town charm and welcoming feel, you can get to Sergiyev Posad by train, by bus, or by car. Trains depart from Yaroslavsky Rail Terminal every thirty minutes, and the trip lasts about an hour and a half. Alternatively, you can hop on a bus at the ‘VDNKh’ metro station. A bus trip to Sergiyev Posad takes two hours on average but can be reached in 90 minutes depending on traffic. If you go by car expect to spend about an hour and a half attempting to traverse the congested Yaroslavskoye highway.

5. Day Trip to Yaroslavl from Moscow

Going from Moscow to Yaroslavl may seem like a really long day trip, but honestly, if you take the comfortable train, it only takes about four hours to reach the city, so making a Yaroslavl day trip is totally doable. Although I do recommend much more than one day in Yaroslavl, especially if it’s your first time.

Cultural tourists visiting Yaroslavl should start their exploration by strolling the historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A spacious 100-hectare area enclosed by Sobinova and Republican streets is home to most popular attractions – the 17th-century Church of Elijah the Prophet that survived almost exactly in its original form, and in contrast to it, the white stone Assumption Cathedral, restored in the 2000s.

If you walk a bit further passing the Holy Trinity sculpture and city’s foundation stone, you will find yourself at Strelka, a park on the cape, which offers panoramic views of the spot at the confluence of Volga and Kotorosl rivers. On the way back, there is a pleasant walk along the picturesque Volga embankment to the Governor’s Garden with shadowy alleys and an open-air Sculpture museum.

Getting There: Yaroslavl is about 280 km (173 miles) northeast of Moscow, so the best way to get there is to take a morning train from Yaroslavskiy Rail Terminal. A tour is also a great way to see the Yaroslavl without having to worry about driving or searching for trains. You can book a tour here.

6. Day Trip to Arkhangelskoye Estate from Moscow

Situated on the outskirts of Moscow and dates back to the late 18th-century, Arkhangelskoye Estate was the domain of the nobility for over a century until the Russian Revolution swept people who owned the estate out of the country. The estate was turned into a museum, which it remains today.

The Arkhangelskoye Estate Museum holds the largest rare-book collection. The exhibition also includes old manuscripts, historical documents, photos from the past, a vast collection of sculpture, paintings, engravings, and exceptional examples of decorative art. These art objects once belonged to Prince Nikolai Yusupov, the former owner of the estate.

Arkhangelskoye Estate is often referred to as the Russian version of Versailles because of the intricately manicured garden and beautiful 18th-century park. Famous Russian writers and poets such as Pushkin, Herzen, Mayakovsky loved to spend their free time here making long excursions in the surrounding area. Arkhangelskoye is a perfect place to appreciate the terraces decorated by delightful statues, exquisite vases, and busts.

Visitors can take tours, which introduce them to vibrant examples of Russian art and culture.

Getting There: To reach the estate it’s best to take a bus or a privately-owned minibus that departs from Tushinskaya metro station.

7. Day Trip to Vladimir from Moscow

Situated only two hours east of Moscow, Vladimir is absolutely one of the best places to visit near Moscow for a day trip. This splendid city dates back to the 12th century and has a very rich history. If magnificent Orthodox cathedrals and traditional white-stone architecture entice you, then this place is perfect for a day trip with your significant other.

First things first, you need to see the Golden Gate, which indicates the entrance into the old town. This 12th-century medieval masterpiece of military architecture is associated not only with Vladimir but with the Golden Ring tourist route itself. At the top of the gate, where once was the Church of the Deposition of the Robe, there is the Museum of Weapons. Great looking arrowheads and spear points date back to the Grand Principality of Vladimir, while the exhibition in an impressively majestic setting features a number of Batu-Khan related artifacts.

There’s a variety of attractions to put on your must-see list: the Old Believers Trinity Church right behind it, the Cathedral of St Demetrius, and Dormition (Uspensky) Cathedral. If you plan on shopping for souvenirs like birch-bark masterpieces of Kunov’s masters, drawings, carving, embossing, figures of people and animals, stop by the Lacquer Miniature, the Museum of Crystal, and the Gingerbread Museum. Many of the local attractions were added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites.

Getting There: The best way to visit this area is to catch an early train from Moscow and book a full-day tour of Vladimir in advance. This one includes the town of Suzdal as well.

8. Day Trip to Suzdal from Moscow

This gem of a little medieval town perched on a hill just a 30-minute ride from Vladimir is one of those places I’ve visited and could move there permanently and be happy! It’s a charming little piece of history that also has a Kremlin and visiting it feels like stepping back in time. if you’re a culture enthusiast you’ll be glad to know there are numerous churches, five monasteries, including Spaso-Yevfimiev Monastery in Suzdal. Check them out if you want to get a real taste of the country!

pend some time shopping at the Torgovaya ploshchad (Market Square), where you can buy baskets made of birch bark, ceramic handmade plates, honey or souvenirs and, of course, grab some afternoon tea!

Getting There: Trains leave regularly from Moscow’s Kurskiy Rail Terminal to Vladimir where you can hop on a bus to Suzdal. You can also take a bus from Moscow. In this case, it might take longer and you’ll probably encounter infamous traffic jams. If you go by express train the trip takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. There are slower trains of course, but I’d recommend going with the fast one and save a lot of time!

9. Day Trip to Korolev from Moscow

Located some 30 kilometers northeast of Moscow, Korolev has become arguably the most important space research center with skilled workers from across the Soviet Union who came here to expand the space program.

It became a leading institute dedicated to aerospace research in the country. Today, that tendency can still be clearly seen on the streets and in the buildings. When the Soviet Union collapsed, the city retained its status as the headquarters of Russia’s space surveillance network and now it hosts the Russian Mission Control Center, an analogue of the American Mission Control Center at NASA’s Space Center in Houston.

If you want to learn more about Mission Control Center and the former Russian Mir space station, book a tour with a knowledgeable guide who can clearly tell the history of this place.

If you’re not into space exploration there is also a Memorial Apartment Museum of Marina Tsvetaeva in Bolshevo. With a picturesque park next to the museum, it’s a great place for walking in the fresh air. The highlight of the park is memorial stones with quotes from Tsvetaeva’s poems.

Getting There: I’d recommend going by train. Catch one at Yaroslavskiy Rail Terminal that departs every 30 minutes to reach Bolshevo station.

10. Day Trip to Borodino from Moscow

The historic Battle of Borodino on September 7, 1812, took place just outside the small village of Borodino, about 140 km west of Moscow, and about 15 km from the nearest town of Mozhaysk. Although the French won the Battle of Borodino and went to capture Moscow, it was one of the bloodiest battles of the pre-twentieth-century that is also predetermined Napoleon’s defeat.

While it was a battlefield back then, not much remains today. It’s mostly a green and grassy field now with a few monuments of military honor, architectural objects dated back to 19th and 20th century, and fortification facilities scattered throughout the area. The largest of these is the 27-meter high obelisk located right at the heart of the former battlefield.

Every year the military and patriotic festival and theatrical performance take place in Borodino. Early September is considered to be the best for visiting. But if you just want to feel the spirit of the battle, it’s better to go at any other time of the year.

Getting there: Hop on a train from the Belorussky rail terminal, disembark in Mozhaysk, and then take a bus to the museum. The whole travel time is about 2 hours.

11. Day Trip to Patriot Park in Kubinka from Moscow

Once a Red Army tank training ground, now it’s a military Disneyland with history, structure, guns, and armored vehicles! The tank museum originally housed one of the world’s largest and rarest collections of tanks. In 2016 they combined the training grounds with the newly-created Patriot Park. Since then, some of the notable and rare items have been moved to the Patriot Park site, so you may want to combine both sites into one tour (only about 20 minutes apart).

The exhibition grounds include some very rare specimens that are must-see for any military enthusiasts out there. The staff is friendly, helpful and kind, while the museum has a small shop. As this site is part of an operating military base, they may ask you to show your passport, or provide them with a photocopy of the front pages. There are vending machines for snacks and drinks, and there are bathroom facilities. There’s plenty to see, so I recommend setting aside an entire day!

Getting there: Situated halfway between Borodino and Moscow, the best way to reach Patriot Park in Kubinka is by car. Alternatively, if you don’t want to rent one, consider car-sharing apps like Gett or UBER. The price of ride-sharing services is cheap enough to make them a viable proposition for choosing them.

12. Day Trip to Melikhovo from Moscow

Located some 80 km from Moscow, Melikhovo is one of the most important museums dedicated to Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. This renowned Russian writer and playwright acquired Melikhovo in 1892. He lived there with his parents and close relatives for 7 years before moving to the Crimea in 1899. Melikhovo is where he wrote his plays “The Man in the Case” and “The Seagull”.

The estate faded into oblivion right after the Revolution but in 1939 Anton Chekhov’s sister Maria and his nephew established a museum based on Chekhov’s place of living. The museum opened its doors to the public in 1941.

Today museum’s exhibition reveals the legacy of a celebrated writer and shows his path not only as a writer but as a doctor and public figure as well. The collection also features some of the best-known paintings by famous artists like Isaac Levitan and Vasily Polenov, who were Chekhov’s friends. When it comes to fun and educational day trips from Moscow, Melikhovo is a nice place for learning more about Chekov’s life and work.

Getting There: You can reach Melikhovo by train from Kurskiy rail Terminal. Disembark in the town of Chekhov and hop on a minibus that will get to the estate. Alternatively, hop on a bus that departs from the Yuzhnaya metro station.

13. Day Trip to Gorki Leninskie from Moscow

Once the realm of Russian nobles, Gorki Leninskie was turned into Lenin’s museum some 25 years after his death. The estate sits some 30-minute bus ride from the Domodedovskaya metro station and houses Soviet-era memorabilia and Lenin’s memorial flat recently transferred from the Kremlin, as well as his vintage Rolls-Royce.

Most people only associate this place with the name of the first communist leader. In fact, the name of the estate was first mentioned in documents dating back to the 16th-century. Throughout its history, the estate was owned by a number of prominent figures. It’s in fact one of the best museums that holds the country’s finest collection 19th-century furnishings and a unique collection of domestic items owned by nobles. Plus, ancient Vyatichi native tribe or East Slavs who inhabited a part of the Oka basin’s burial mounds and a few notable sculptures are hidden behind the avenues of lime trees in the park.

Getting There: You could, of course, hop on a bus from Domodedovskaya metro station. But it would be much easier just to use UBER or Gett. The estate isn’t that far from the Moscow Circle Road but going there by bus may involve some navigating.

14. Day Trip to Kaluga from Moscow

If you’re looking for an educational day trip from Moscow, look no farther than Kaluga! This beautiful city could really entertain you for more than just a day, but to get a taste of science, be sure to visit the Tsiolkovsky State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics. Or in other words, the Space Museum.

Visitors to the museum will learn more about the history of space exploration. In fact, this is one of the largest Space Museums in Russia, which opened its doors in Kaluga in 1967. Here you can see a prototype of the iconic MIR space station and a duplicate of the Voskhod rocket. The very same rocket that took the first man to space. There’s also a planetarium, which from the outside resembles a spaceship.

Kaluga is a totally walkable city. Make sure to spend some time strolling Teatralnaya street with the authentic 19th-century pavement that now marks the Kilometer Zero. Then walk across the 18th-century Kamenniy Most (the Stone Bridge) that somewhat resembles a Roman aqueduct. If you’re an architecture buff marvel at the Church of St. Cosmas and Damian.

It is assumed that the church was erected by one of the followers of Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli in 1794. The church resembles the Smolny Convent in St. Petersburg. With five church towers directed upward and six tiers of oblong windows give the exterior a sense of lightness and airiness.

Getting There: Trains from Kiyevsky Rail Terminal to Kaluga leave every 90 minutes. The trip takes about 2 hours and 35 minutes.

15. Day Trip to Monino from Moscow

Are you looking for great family & kid-friendly day trips from Moscow? If so, consider visiting the Central Museum of the Air Forces at Monino. This unique military open-air museum is home to over 180 Russian aircraft and 100 aircraft engines and the perfect place to go when your crowd is looking for a break from hectic city life. Check this tour if you don’t feel like planning.

This site was formerly an operational airbase from 1932 till 1956 and many of the Russian aviation Design bureaus have made a contribution to the operation and maintenance of the museum. Along with aircraft from the Second World War, there are the TU-95 Bear four-engine turboprop-powered strategic bomber and the TU-144 Charger a Soviet supersonic passenger airliner (which resembled the Concorde). The museum also has exhibits related to military aviation history such as the uniform of captured U2 pilot Gary Powers.

Getting There: This museum is located at Monino Town, about 30 km from Moscow. It is open on all days from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except Mondays and Tuesdays. To get there take a train departing from Yaroslavskiy Rail Terminal and disembark at Monino station. Alternatively, hop on a bus from Schelkovskaya or Partizanskaya metro station.

Final Thoughts on the Best Day Trips from Moscow

I hope this post has helped you discover some amazing day trips from Moscow. From imposing cathedrals, mighty fortresses and monasteries, there are a lot of incredible places to visit the Russian capital, and the best part is that getting there is always ways to get around on the cheap.

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Great article for visitors in Moscow , thanks for sharing

Marie Hernandez

I hadn’t considered traveling to Moscow until NOW! Fantastic post and ideas for visitors! Thanks!

Graham Marsden

Nice to see so many options outside of Moscow, but I have to say I wish this list had a recommendation for a hike or a beautiful natural areas or national parks. Maybe the next list!

I have to admit that I knew nothing about the area surrounding Moscow. This is definitely an inspiring list of places to go.

When I read this article about Moscow. I wanted to pack my bags and get there sooner. thank you for the great write up.

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25+ Awesome Road Trip Activities For Kids

A road trip is a right of passage for many American families. It is a time for families to spend hours on end enjoying one another’s company, playing road trip games, seeing new sights, and creating memories. My husband loves long road trips. We usually end up taking at least one road trip with kids each year and have learned which road trip activities for kids work, and which ones don’t.

*Disclosure: This post was written by family travel expert Kirsten Maxwell. It may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something we have recommended. Please check out our  disclosure policy  for more details. Thank you for your support!

25+ Awesome Car Games for Kids

The longest car ride with kids was from Chicago to San Antonio, and we have made several trips to Nashville and New York by car. Each time I swear I will never, ever, take a long car ride with three children again. However, we continue to take family road trips, so I’ve found some awesome road trip activities for kids to help pass the time.

To survive, I have researched for hours on end for the best travel games for kids. I think the kids would agree I have come up with some creative games and activities that make our road trips a success. We try to make an effort to entertain the kids without technology for as long as possible. 

We are not perfect, and devices do come out in emergencies. Screen time does happen, but we do our best to limit it on a long car trip. As we enter the road trip season, here are some fun ways to pass the time with these unplugged road trip activities.

Quiet Individual Road Trip Activities for Kids

1.   sticker books.

Kids of all ages love sticker books. Our kids love the ones where the stickers can be peeled and reused in the sticker book.

Some good options include this  “Moana” sticker book   and the  Star Wars Ultimate Sticker Book . This is a creative way to keep little hands busy, just make sure they don’t stick them on the car windows!

2.   Travel Etch A Sketch

I used to love this when I was a kid, and I love that there is now a travel-size version for my kids. It’s perfect for getting those creative juices flowing while you’re on the road. 

I bring a  Travel Etch A Sketch  for each kid so we don’t have any fighting. Another option is the  DoodlePro  which is just as fun.

3.  Magnets with a Cookie Sheet

A cookie sheet makes an excellent base for any magnet set or building blocks while riding in the car. It provides space for your child to be creative and keeps magnet pieces from getting lost. 

We think  magnet tiles  are pretty awesome. I love the magnetic tins because the magnets come with interchangeable magnetic scenes inside their own carrying case. Some of my favorites are a  Little Travelers magnetic tin  and this  Mudpuppy one .

4.  Silly Putty

Another throwback to my childhood, I prefer  silly putty  over playdough because it doesn’t seem to break up, dry out, or stick to everything. Make sure not to use it if you have just used hand sanitizer, for some reason this makes it turn gooey. 

This may not provide hours of fun, but every little bit of time passed is time closer to your destination!

5.  Perplexus

I would liken  Perplexus  to the Rubik’s Cube of the 21st Century. The object is to direct a small silver ball through a maze within a 3-D sphere by twisting and turning the larger ball around and keeping the smaller ball on the track within. 

This keeps my kids busy for hours and there are different versions of Perplexus, so once they have mastered the first level, they can try one of the other ones. I would definitely say this is one of the best road trip games we’ve found.

6.  Pipe Cleaners

Pipe cleaners are one of those items where creative possibilities are endless. Some kids will make jewelry, others will make stick figures, and then there will be the creations you can’t figure out. Pick some up at a craft store. They are inexpensive and kids just love to twist them around.

LOOKING FOR MORE ACTIVITIES? CLICK HERE FOR ROAD TRIP PODCASTS FAMILIES WILL LOVE!

7.  Coloring Books and Colored Pencils

Coloring books  are a wonderful option for entertaining toddlers and even young grade school children on a road trip. Be sure to bring colored pencils or washable markers.

The last thing you want to bring is crayons because if they get lost, they could melt in your car and cause quite a mess.

8.  Scratch Art Notepads

I sure wish I had invented these little moneymakers.  These scratch art notepads  come with blackened coloring pages and your child uses a wooden stylus or stick to reveal the hidden image below.

You can find these with farm animals, superheroes, or princesses. This road trip activity causes very little mess and takes up barely any room in the car.

9.  Maze Books and Boards

Children of all ages love mazes. There are wooden mazes to choose from for toddlers like the one from Melissa & Doug below or books of mazes such as this one from Everything Kids . These are guaranteed to help pass the time!

10.   Books – Audio, Read-Aloud, and Individual

I am the first to admit we have been blessed with three kids who love to read. Before each trip, we head to the local library to find new books for everyone to take along on the road trip. 

Our library has digital media players with books pre-loaded onto battery-operated devices that come with headphones. Each kid checks out a couple. 

I also choose a  read-aloud book  to break up the monotony of the trip and we let them choose two to three books they want to bring along. If they lose any of the books on the road, they replace them.

We’ve also found audiobooks to be a great way to break up a long trip.

DON’T MISS THESE AUDIOBOOKS FOR A ROAD TRIP WITH KIDS!

11.  A clipboard, white drawing paper, and a stamp set

Your child’s creative juices will start flowing with sheet after sheet of white paper to use as a blank canvas for their next masterpiece. 

Melissa & Doug make several different stamp sets with washable, non-toxic ink.  Get out the stamps  and let your child go crazy! (Just make sure to tell them where the stamps can’t go: their faces, the car seats, their siblings, etc.). These are great to add to road trip goodie bags as a fun surprise.

12.  Trip Journal and Postcards

This is one of my favorite road trip ideas. Have your kids brush up on their writing skills by having them keep a travel journal along the way. Give them writing prompts such as: “The best part of the trip was…”, “I can’t wait until we…”, “I am looking forward to visiting…”, or “I couldn’t believe…”. 

You could also stop and buy postcards at the gas stations along the way and let them write postcards to friends or a family member back home. Be sure to bring some stamps with you, and have their addresses handy. Kids love receiving mail and this is a great way to keep in touch with friends back home.

PLANNING A ROAD TRIP? DON’T MISS OUR ROAD TRIP PACKING LIST!

13.  Miniature Dry Erase Board and Dry Erase Markers

The kids can use this for so many fun things and even create their own car travel games. Free drawing, hangman, tic tac toe, dots, making mazes for siblings to solve, practicing math facts, the list goes on and on. This  dry-erase board   comes with a marker and eraser and is the perfect size for travel.

14.  Travel Magnet Chess or Battleship

A travel magnet chess set  or magnet checkers is perfect for older kids who understand the games or want to learn. The best part is that these games can pass hours on a car ride. I love the magnets so the pieces stay in place and they have a compact carrying case.

15.  Spot It!

My youngest loves playing  Spot It!  (and was a major cheater before we started reading the rules), and once we learned how the game was played, we were hooked too. 

The object of the game is to find the matching objects on the two cards that are flipped over at the same time. The person who says “Spot It!” first, wins the pair. The person with the most pairs, in the end, wins. 

What we learned was that our son was saying “Spot It” without really seeing the pair, to give himself time to find the pair. Smart kid. Now he has to say the item that he sees on the card with the match. 

There are other ways to play this fun game too. There is an instruction sheet that comes along with the game. It’s fun to play in the car and in a hotel as well.

Road Trip Games to Play as a Family

16.   mad libs.

We laugh so hard when we play  Mad Libs .  We have to explain nouns, adjectives, and verbs to our youngest, but this can entertain us for quite a while. If you’re looking for a fun road trip game, this is one of the best.

It can also distract the kids in a restaurant while waiting for food to be served. We usually buy a couple of different versions to last throughout the trip.

17.   License Plate Game

This game is easy to play since all you need is a pen and paper. Take it up a notch by printing out a map of the United States and letting the kids cross off each state as they find license plates from that state. A lesson in geography and the kids don’t even know it!

You can also download a free printable license plate game or hundreds of other printable road trip games. Just print them off and you’re ready to go!

18.  I Spy

There are a couple of ways to play this game. One person selects an item and says, “I spy something green, or starts with the letter “A”, etc….” and the others in the car try and guess the object.

This works as long as your child doesn’t change their answer (we have one that likes to do that). Another option is to make an I Spy printable sheet (you can Google “Road Trip Printables”) and give one to each child so they can play as you drive along. Think of it as a road trip scavenger hunt.

NEED SNACK IDEAS? DON’T MISS OUR FAVORITE ROAD TRIP SNACKS!

19.  G-H-O-S-T

We played this game on every family road trip when I was a kid, so it is only fitting that I now play it with my children. The first person begins a word by choosing a letter of the alphabet, then the next person adds a letter, then the next, etc. until the word is complete. You do not want to be the person to finish the word, or you get a “G”. The first person who spells G-H-O-S-T by ending the most words is out. 

Example: Dad says: “A”, mom says “P”, John says “P”, Fred says “L”, Joe says “E”. Joe completed the word APPLE, so he gets the letter “G” of G-H-O-S-T. Words must be longer than three letters to be valid. I don’t know who made the rules, but we have fun passing the time with this game and it’s great for the entire family.

20. The Question Jar

This is one of those tools every parent should have in their bag of tricks. It doesn’t have to be an actual jar, it can be a paper bag or any container. Before you hit the road, type up (or have your kids write out) 20-30 questions for road trips they would like to ask. Here are some sample questions:

1) What do you think your parents were like when they were young?

2) Do you like to snuggle? Who is the best smuggler in our family?

3) If you could have any gift in the world, what would it be and why?

4) Name three words that best describe you.

5) Is it better to give or to receive? Why?

You get the idea. These questions set the stage for some great conversations and as the kids get older, I can see them becoming a more important and meaningful part of our road trips.

Still looking for questions to ask your kids? Check out TableTopics , they are perfect for road trips and dinner time!

21. Deck of Cards

It can be difficult to manage playing cards while the car is moving, but some card games can be played on the go. Bringing along a   lap desk to use as a travel tray is a good idea to keep cards in order .  Consider playing a classic game like  Go Fish  or  Crazy Eights .

22. Road Trip Bingo

You can purchase travel bingo cards online or make your own at home. Some fun ideas include locating different road signs, identifying different shapes as you go along, finding signs in a different language, or even finding different cars, buildings, or animals.

Try this classic road trip game and we are sure time will fly by on the open road.

23. Pack a ball or frisbee

I wouldn’t recommend using these in the car, but they’re great to have when you stop at a rest stop, restaurant, or grocery store. Give kids a ball or frisbee or foam football and let them blow off some energy. After a long drive, they will appreciate an opportunity to run around and have some fun!

24. Alphabet game

This is a great game to play with all ages, especially if older siblings love a good competition.

Someone chooses a category. For example: candy bars, animals, food, movie titles, etc. The first person has to name something in that category that starts with the letter A. They have 5-10 seconds to come up with an answer. The next person has to answer with something that starts with the letter B, and so on.

If a person is unable to come up with a word in that category with their letter, they’re out of the game. This will make the time pass quickly as everyone is desperate to come up with the best ideas.

25. Guess that song

This is a fun one to play if your kids love music and like to sing along. Turn on the radio (or your playlist) and play a few notes from the song. The first person to name the tune gets a point and the first one to ten points wins. Some of the best road trips are made of laughter and this one is sure to be fun!

We hope you’ve found some travel activities that will entertain your whole family. Whether you’re traveling with younger kids or trying to engage with your teens, these are the best road trip activities out there. Be sure to bring these along on your next road trip!

Looking for more family fun? Don’t miss these 100 games to play on a family vacation .

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