Road Trip Activities That Won't Make Your Kids Feel Sick
Family road trips can be fun and create memories that last a lifetime, but if you don’t plan for how to keep your kids from getting carsick, these trips can be memorable for all the wrong reasons. While there’s plenty of information across our website on the best motion sickness prevention for kids, one prevention tool can actually help play a part in the fun—road trip activities.
The best road trip activities for motion-sick kids are the ones that keep their eyes up and looking out the window, not down on a screen or book. Games like I Spy, the license plate game, and audio-only entertainment work because they don't force your child's eyes to focus on something stationary while the car is moving, which is exactly what triggers that “I don't feel so good” moment from the backseat.
Why Screens and Books Can Cause Motion Sickness
Car sickness happens when your child's inner ear senses motion, but their eyes tell their brain something different. The body senses the movement of the car, but the eyes are focused on a stationary screen or book. This mismatch in signals to the brain can lead to an upset stomach, cold sweat, tiredness, or vomiting. It's why the activities you plan for your kids matter just as much as how far you're driving.
Kids are less likely to feel sick if they're looking straight ahead at the horizon rather than to the side of the car, so sitting in an age-appropriate car seat positioned in the middle of the back seat helps. Books and screens require looking down while the vehicle is moving, which can bring on motion sickness or make it worse. So, the goal for road trip entertainment isn't “no fun” — it's fun that keeps your child's eyes up, out, and forward.
Nausea-Free Games That Actually Work
Window-spotting games. I Spy, the alphabet game, and the license plate game — where kids look for certain colors or objects, letters on road signs or storefronts, or license plates from all 50 states — work because they naturally direct a child's gaze outward and toward the horizon instead of down. These games are easy to start with zero prep, plus you can scale up or down the difficulty depending on your child's age.
Audio-only entertainment. Music, podcasts, and audiobooks played through headphones are solid options because they don't require looking down at anything. Listening to music through headphones can help soothe a confused vestibular system, so if your kids are old enough to wear low-volume, over-the-ear headphones (check with your child’s doctor), load up a playlist or a few audiobook chapters before you leave so there's no fumbling with electronics mid-drive.
Verbal storytelling and singing. Take turns building a story one sentence at a time or belt out road trip songs together. Singing and other deep-breathing activities can actually help decrease motion sickness symptoms.
Seat positioning matters too. The middle back seat tends to be the sweet spot, since it gives kids the clearest forward view. No matter where they’re seated or what they are doing in the car, encourage them to take breaks and look at the forward horizon rather than down at a book, tablet, or phone.
Napping. Try and time your trip so your kids are more likely to nap, like late night or early morning. When their eyes are shut, there are no confusing visual signals being sent to the brain so the chance of motion sickness is much less.
What to Skip (Even Though It's Tempting)
Handheld games, coloring books, and tablets are easy road trip go-tos — and also the classic triggers. Reading books, watching movies, and playing hand-held video games during car travel are activities pediatricians commonly recommend avoiding for motion-sensitive kids. If a screen is truly the only thing keeping the peace, some parents have found that mounting it to the seatback in front of the child can help because it makes them look up and forward.
Bring Backup for Added Motion Sickness Prevention
Even with the right games and activities in rotation, some kids are simply more prone to car sickness than others. If road trips have been rough despite your best efforts with games and seating, it's worth talking to your child's doctor about additional options. Discuss whether an age-appropriate OTC product like Dramamine® can fit into your travel routine.
Dramamine® for Kids chewable tablets taken 30-60 minutes before leaving can help prevent motion sickness and nausea. Know that this medication can make kids drowsy. If you want non-drowsy relief for kids aged 6 and up, try non-medicated Advanced Herbals® Kids Gummies.* Be sure to read and follow the package instructions for dosing information and age recommendations.
Taking preventive steps before you hit the road, the same way you'd pack snacks and load the playlist, can make the difference between a smooth trip and a stressful one. And, if your road trip destination is an amusement park, check out our tips for preventing motion sickness on amusement park rides.