Long car journeys with kids are hard. We get it. We’ve found that a few car journey activities help the miles pass without always reaching for the tablet. It doesn’t work every minute—and that’s okay—but these ideas have saved our sanity more than once.

“I spy” and “I’m thinking of an animal” work well. We spot things: count red cars, find letters on number plates, look for animals in the fields. We sing together—nursery rhymes, favourite songs, made-up verses. Audio stories or music they choose can fill a good chunk of time. We pack a “car bag” with small toys, books, and a clipboard with paper and crayons. Snacks in easy reach cut down on constant stops. If we can, we break the journey: a short run around at a rest stop makes a huge difference. We set expectations—“we’ll be there after two more songs” or “when the story ends”—so they have a sense of progress.

Every family finds what works. Trial and error is normal. The goal is to arrive in one piece and maybe pick up a few new car games for next time. You’ve got this.