How to Play Road Trip Bingo

Road Trip Bingo is a travel-friendly spotting game where players check off items they see while on the road — from road signs to animals to unusual vehicles. The first player to mark off a full row, column, or diagonal on their bingo card shouts “Bingo!” and wins the round.

When I was a kid, my sister and I grew up in the pre-device era. We didn’t have tablets, streaming, or endless playlists. We’d stare out the window at the lines on the road and call it “watching TV” — because, well, it was the only thing moving besides us.

Our kids are growing up in a different world — one where back seats come with built-in screens and everyone has a device in their pocket. But that’s exactly why I love Road Trip Bingo. It’s a device-free way to connect, look out the window, and share laughs together while making the miles fly by.

It’s perfect for keeping kids entertained on long drives, encouraging observation skills, and turning travel time into game time.

Objective

Be the first player to spot and claim enough items on your bingo card to complete a winning line (row, column, or diagonal).

Number of Players

2+ players.
The more players, the more competitive and fun the spotting becomes.

Age Range

Ages 5+
(Easy-to-spot items work well for younger kids; older players can handle harder categories.)

Game Length

5–15 minutes per round, depending on the card size and the variety of items.

What You Need

• Bingo cards with pictures or words for road trip items
• Something to mark spots (pencil, crayon, marker, or reusable cards with sliding windows)
• A way to keep score for multiple rounds (optional)

Skills Built

• Observation: Sharpens attention to detail.
• Focus: Encourages players to watch for multiple things at once.
• Memory: Helps recall what’s been seen vs. what’s left to find.

Why We Like It for Kids & Families

Road Trip Bingo makes travel time fly by. Kids stay engaged, arguments over “are we there yet?” disappear, and parents get a quieter, happier ride. You can make custom cards to match the route, season, or region — spotting cactus in Arizona, ferries in Washington, or cows in rural areas.

How to Play Road Trip Bingo in 6 Steps

1. Grab your players and supplies

Grab at least one friend (or your family) and bingo cards for each player. You can:

• Buy premade sets on Amazon (search “Road Trip Bingo Cards” — reusable slide-window sets are especially popular).
• Use GameOnFamily printable templates (linked below).
• Make your own DIY version with paper and markers.

You’ll also need something to mark the items as you see them — pencils, pens, crayons, or bingo chips.

2. Hand out the cards

Each player gets one bingo card. Cards can be premade or homemade, with either pictures for younger players or words for older ones.

3. Start the trip (and the game)

As you drive, everyone keeps an eye out for the items on their card.

4. Spot it & shout it!

When you see an item from your card — like a yellow school bus or a windmill — call it out loud so everyone knows you spotted it.

Rules:

• You must be able to point to the item or clearly identify it for others.
• Only the first player to call it gets to mark it — nobody else can.
• If two players shout at the same time, the driver or an agreed judge decides who was first.

5. Call “Bingo!”

The first player to mark a complete row, column, or diagonal yells “Bingo!” and wins the round. Some versions also allow four corners or blackout (filling the entire card).

6. Play more rounds

Swap cards for a new challenge or play blackout for a longer game. Keep score if you want a grand champion at the end of the trip.

Road Trip Bingo Rules Recap

1. You must spot the item yourself and call it out loud.
2. Only the first caller marks the item.
3. First to complete a row, column, or diagonal wins.
4. Optional: Add blackout or four corners for variety.

Variations

• Themed Cards: Animals, road signs, vehicles, landmarks.
• Blackout Bingo: Fill the whole card to win.
• Timed Rounds: See who can spot the most items in 10 minutes.
• Team Play: Pair kids with adults for shared spotting.

Tips for Winning

• Keep scanning both sides of the road — and ahead.
• Be quick to call out items before someone else does.
• Learn what’s common on your route so you can grab those spots early.

Homemade Road Trip Bingo Printable

Make a 5×5 grid on paper or in a spreadsheet. Fill each square with items you might see on your trip. Include a FREE center space if you like.

Here’s an idea bank to help you make cards for any route:

Vehicles

• Red car
• Semi-truck
• Motorcycle
• School bus
• Police car
• Fire truck
• RV / Camper
• Convertible
• Tow truck
• Tractor

Road Signs & Symbols

• Stop sign
• Speed limit sign
• Exit sign
• Deer crossing sign
• Railroad crossing sign
• “Welcome to [State]” sign
• Construction zone sign
• Yield sign
• No U-turn sign
• Mile marker with the number 5

License Plates

• Your home state
• Neighboring state #1
• Neighboring state #2
• Neighboring state #3
• A state from the opposite coast
• A Canadian plate
• A specialty / vanity plate
• A plate with all numbers the same
• A plate with a letter Z
• A plate from a state you’ve never visited

Buildings & Landmarks

• Barn
• Water tower
• Gas station
• Fast food restaurant
• Bridge
• Billboard with a person’s face
• Church steeple
• Playground
• Rest area
• Historic marker

Animals

• Cow
• Horse
• Dog in a car
• Bird on a wire
• Deer
• Squirrel
• Roadside animal statue
• Sheep or goat
• Cat
• Wild bird of prey (hawk, eagle)

People & Clothing

• Someone wearing sunglasses
• Someone wearing a hat
• Someone riding a bicycle
• Someone running
• Someone walking a dog
• Person wearing sports team gear
• Road construction worker
• Motorcyclist in a leather jacket
• Tourist taking a photo
• Someone carrying a backpack

Miscellaneous Fun

• Windmill
• Train
• Construction cone
• Hot air balloon
• Airplane in the sky
• Flag on a pole
• Billboard with food on it
• Camper trailer
• Giant roadside sculpture
• Helicopter

Pro tip: Create themed cards for different regions (mountains, desert, coast) or seasons (winter holiday, summer road trip). This keeps the game fresh for repeat trips.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Buying & Finding Cards

Q: Where can I buy Road Trip Bingo cards?
A: Amazon has reusable slide-window versions and themed decks. You can also find printable sets from Etsy, toy stores, and some bookstores. You can get these already made no-fuss versions from Amazon: Auto Bingo, Interstate Bingo, and License Plate Bingo.

Q: Where can I get Road Trip Bingo printables?
A: You can download GameOnFamily’s free printable cards, or find others on sites like Etsy, Teachers Pay Teachers, and Pinterest.

Q: Where can I find Road Trip Bingo generators or play online?
A: Sites like MyFreeBingoCards.com and BingoBaker.com let you customize and print your own cards instantly.

Playing with Kids

Q: What are some Road Trip Bingo ideas for kids?
A: Use big, colorful pictures of easy-to-spot things — like stop signs, cows, fire trucks, bicycles, and playgrounds. Add silly items for fun, like “someone wearing sunglasses” or “a dog in a car.”

Q: Is Road Trip Bingo fun for all ages?
A: Absolutely! Younger kids love spotting pictures, older kids and adults enjoy the race to call items, and you can adjust difficulty for mixed ages.

Scoring & Variations

Q: What are some creative ways to score Road Trip Bingo?
A: Try double points for spotting rare items, “reverse bingo” (most marks without getting bingo wins), or “speed bingo” with short timed rounds.

Travel Bingo Video Tutorial

If you're not into DIY games, then check out the below Auto Bingo game from Regal Games.