When your Game Boy batteries have gone kaput and you’re starting to feel nauseous from reading in the car, it’s time to entertain the family with some car games. Try these with your family next time you find yourself trapped on four wheels for hours at a time. Turn bickering into bantering, boredom into fun!

ABC

The alphabet game is simple. The object is to see who can complete the alphabet first by finding the letters (in order) on billboards, license plates and road signs. Once someone calls a letter, nobody else in the car can use that particular sign’s letter. The person who reaches Z first wins. A variation (especially with young kids) is to make finding the alphabet a group effort, in which case there would be no winner or loser.

Twenty Questions

One person in the car thinks of a person, place or thing commonly known to everyone playing. The others get to ask twenty yes or no questions to try to figure out who, what or where the thing is. Whoever guesses correctly wins and gets to be the "thinker" in the next round.

I’m Packing My Suitcase

Test your memory with this add-on game. The first person says, "I’m packing my suitcase, and I’m taking..." and then the person names one thing they’ll pack. The second person repeats it, and adds another thing to pack. It goes on, with each person repeating all of the items packed, in order. When someone forgets an item, they are out. The person with the best memory wins. A variation would be to name specific items for a certain vacation, such as a camping vacation might include things like a tent or sleeping bag. A Hawaii vacation might include suntan lotion and a big hat.

Name That Tune

One person hums a tune, and the others have to guess what the tune is. It’s fun to do this one with theme songs to TV shows or holiday songs. Another variation is that people in the car can say, "I can name that tune in 8 notes!" Even another variation is to try clapping out the song with no tune - it’s quite hard to figure out that way.

Name That Singer

Turn on the radio. When a new song comes on, the first person to correctly name the singer or group gets a point.

Animals

Take turns naming animals. The first person can name any animal, then the second person has to name an animal that starts with the last letter of the first animal. For example, bird (which ends in a D), then donkey (because it starts with a D). The next person would have to think of an animal that starts with Y since Y is the last letter in donkey. This game also works with places, famous people, or any other category you like.

Sing

Try to remember the songs from your childhood to sing. Holiday songs, rounds, nursery rhymes...it’s all fair game and everyone has to join in the fun.

American Idol

Each car contestant gets a chance to try out by singing a song of his or her choice. The others in the car must listen to the entire song. They then act as the judges, commenting on the quality of the singing. They also get to decide whether or not the contestant is going to Hollywood or going home.

Honk

Whenever a big truck drives nearby, make a fist and gesture to the truck driver to honk his or her horn. The person who gets the first honk wins.

Best Playground

Imagine and describe what would be on the most amazing playground, such as mile high slides, waterfalls, or whatever you think would be fun. Take turns adding rides and toys and equipment to the playground. Variations on this would be to describe your ideal amusement park, school, or vehicle.

Herbie

Whenever a Volkswagen Bug passes by, shout "Herbie!" Whoever shouts it first gets a point. Red ones get five points. See who gets the most points before you get to your destination.

Pop Eye

This one is for nighttime traveling. When you see a car that has a headlight or brake light out, shout "Pop Eye!" Then kiss your hand and put your hand on the ceiling of the car. Every time you get a Pop Eye, you get to make a wish. If it’s daytime, you can play a variation of this with Roadway Trucks - just shout "Roadway!" instead.

Riddles

My friend likes jack-o-lanterns, but not pumpkins. She likes jumping, but not skipping. She likes juice, but not milk. What does she like? Things with the letter J! Make up your own versions, using clues like things with double letters, things with wheels, things that fly, or whatever you can think of.

Round Robin Story

Take turns telling a made-up story. The first person begins the story, but stops at a crucial point. The next person adds to it, and so on.

Guess the Miles

The driver is in charge on this one. He or she will say "Go!" at the beginning of a mile. The others in the car try to judge when the car has gone one mile. The person with the closest guess wins.

Predict Your Dinner

This one is for if you’re headed to Grandmom’s house. Take turns trying to decide what she’ll be serving for dinner that night.

I Spy

Similar to twenty questions, someone says, "I spy something..." then they name a color or a shape or some other description. Players can ask yes or no questions to figure out what it is. The person who solves the puzzle gets to be the next spy.

Rock, Paper, Scissors

The driver probably shouldn’t play this one. Rock beats scissors, scissors cuts paper, paper covers rock.

Guess My Number

I’m thinking of a number between 1 and 50. Guess what it is? Then let the guessers guess, and give them more than/less than clues to help them figure out the answer.

There’s Your Boyfriend / There’s Your Girlfriend

Point out passengers in other vehicles nearby that qualify for boyfriend/girlfriend status for people in your car. You can make up your own rules for this one.

Acting Out

Agree on one emotion to act out, such as anger, sadness, glee, or whatever. Everyone in the car gets a chance to act out that emotion with as much gusto as possible. Whoever is the best actor wins.

Build a Word

Each person adds a letter to make a word, but they must have a word in mind. For example:

A - for apple

AL - for Alabama

ALC - for Alcohol

And so on, until someone gets to a point where they can’t add on to the word anymore.

When you're going crazy in the car, try one of these fun games, or make up your own. Have a good trip!