Thanksgiving & holiday road trip games for the drive to Grandma's

By the Freewheel team · Updated November 13, 2026

Thanksgiving and the December holidays are some of the busiest driving days of the year, which means long hours, heavy traffic and a car full of people who'd rather be there already. These games turn that stretch into part of the celebration. All of them are spoken, so nobody has to read in the car and the driver can join in.

Holiday car games

1. The Thankful Alphabet

   Go around the car naming something you're thankful for, in alphabetical order. A is for Aunt Maria, B is for buttery rolls, all the way to Z. Silly answers welcome.

   Great for Thanksgiving

2. Holiday 20 Questions

   Someone thinks of a holiday dish, movie, song or character. Everyone else gets twenty yes-or-no questions. "Is it a side dish? Is it orange? Is it sweet potato casserole?" Here's how to play 20 Questions.

   All ages

3. Festive Would You Rather

   "Would you rather eat only pie for a week or only stuffing for a week?" Take turns asking and explaining. More in our Would You Rather list.

   All ages

4. Name That Holiday Song

   Hum a holiday tune and see who names it first. Everyone gets a turn as the hummer.

   No supplies

5. Family Trivia

   Quiz the car about your own family: "Who was born in another state?", "Which cousin broke their arm skateboarding?", "What did Grandpa do before he retired?" Kids learn family stories, and grown-ups get competitive.

   Big laughs

6. Holiday Movie Chain

   Name a holiday movie. The next person names an actor in it, then another holiday movie with that actor. Break the chain and you're out.

   Best for teens and adults

7. Guess the Feast

   One person describes a dish without naming it ("it's red, it's tart, it sometimes comes in a can shaped like the can"). First to guess it describes the next one.

   Great for Thanksgiving

8. Holiday Highway Bingo

   Before you leave, list things to spot: an inflatable snowman, a car with a tree on the roof, a turkey sign, a wreath on a truck. First to spot five wins dessert first.

   Needs a little prep

Holiday trivia questions with answers

1. Which U.S. president proclaimed a national Thanksgiving holiday in 1863? Answer: Abraham Lincoln
2. What was the name of the ship that carried the Pilgrims to New England in 1620? Answer: The Mayflower
3. In what year did the first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade take place? Answer: 1924
4. What sport is traditionally played (and watched) on Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.? Answer: American football
5. What tart red berry is made into a sauce and served with turkey? Answer: Cranberries
6. In which month do Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving? Answer: October
7. In the TV special, which beagle hosts a Thanksgiving dinner with toast and popcorn? Answer: Snoopy (A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving)
8. Which reindeer has a glowing red nose? Answer: Rudolph
9. In the movie Home Alone, to which city does the McCallister family fly? Answer: Paris
10. Which green character tries to steal Christmas from Whoville? Answer: The Grinch
11. What do people traditionally hang by the chimney, hoping it gets filled? Answer: Stockings
12. How many candles are on a menorah used for Hanukkah? Answer: Nine (eight plus the helper candle)

Tips for holiday road trips

1. Avoid the peak. The afternoon and evening before Thanksgiving are usually the worst for traffic. Leaving early in the morning, or a day early, saves hours.
2. Pack snacks, not just the feast. Hungry kids are loud kids. Hand out snacks on a schedule.
3. Plan stops every two hours. A ten-minute stretch makes the next stretch calmer.
4. Keep games out loud. Reading or looking at screens in a moving car is a common trigger for car sickness. Spoken games keep eyes up and on the horizon.
5. Save a game for the slowest stretch. Holiday traffic jams are when a new game helps most.
6. Let a host take over. If the grown-ups are out of energy, a voice game app like Freewheel can run trivia or 20 Questions over the car speakers.

Frequently asked questions