If you're looking forward to a lengthy upcoming road trip, then you'll want some great entertainment to make the time fly by!
You certainly won't be alone considering that 66% of Americans planned to travel during the summer of 2017.
Road trips are an excellent way of taking a break on a budget, but this comes at the expense of enduring a longer travel time than if you had booked a flight.
This does give you a great chance to spend more time with loved ones, but the good times can quickly become sour if there isn't enough good entertainment to enjoy. Fortunately for you, we have six reliable choices below that are sure to make a long drive more enjoyable!
Podcasts
Podcasts are an excellent choice because you have so many options. A podcast is a talk show that typically features multiple episodes about a specific topic.
These tend to vary in length, but you can find podcasts that are anywhere from 20 minutes to 3 whole hours! What's great about them is that there are usually multiple episodes, meaning you'll have several hours of great content to listen to.
The quality of a podcast will depend on who is hosting it. Well-known podcasters tend to have higher production value and will often feature guests to offer another perspective on the topic.
It may take some time to find a good podcast to listen to, but you can find ones that focus on just about any topic you can think of.
Anything from sports, politics, or even video games can serve as a good podcast topic. Niches tend to get very specific, so there's a good chance you can find one that focuses on the exact information you're looking for.
Audiobooks
Audiobooks are another solid choice due to their versatility. As the name suggests, an audiobook is a spoken version of a book.
Reading is a classic form of entertainment, but simply burying your nose in a book is an individual action and isn't an option when you're behind the wheel.
On the other hand, an audiobook allows you to enjoy a good story without needing to divert your eyes. It's also accessible to everyone in the car, meaning that everyone can follow along with the story at the same time.
Audiobooks are particularly appealing because they can add another level of interest to a story. Reading words on paper requires you to infer what emotions are being portrayed in a scene, but an audiobook with a good reader will do it for you!
Movie Soundtracks
Movie soundtracks are a less common choice, but they're still a great option, especially if you have younger kids!
The whole purpose of going on a road trip as a family is to have a good time together. There's nothing that stimulates this better than a group singalong to a movie that everyone enjoys!
Even better, a good movie soundtrack can make the drive feel like you are in a movie! Many great movies have excellent soundtracks and this should come as no surprise.
Music is a great way to invoke emotions and feelings, which can add to the depth of a movie scene. Take these songs with you on the road and you'll truly get absorbed in your road trip!
Custom Radio Stations
Customized radio stations are another superb option. Good music is certainly a no-brainer, but your car radio might not be the best option here.
At home, you likely know the right radio channels for your local stations. If you've ever been on a road trip before, then you know that these channels change as you enter different broadcast locations.
Not only will you struggle to find good music on your car radio, but it just might not suit the trip very well. There's a good solution for this - customized radio stations!
A music streaming service like Pandora is great for this. Select a song that you know you love and have the service generate similar songs for you.
Alternatively, you can try the digital alternative to CDs in the form of music playlists. CDs have always been a great choice for road trips, but they're limited to what is already on the CD.
Digital playlists are far more diverse and allow you to pick the exact songs you want to hear. Turn the music up, put the windows down, and feel more alive than you have in months!
Audio Tours
Audio tours are likely the choice here that you haven't yet heard of. That doesn't make them any less worthwhile, though!
The main point of traveling is to relax and have a good time, but it's also a great time to learn new things about cities you've never been to! There's a lot to explore and see on a road trip, but simply seeing sights is only half the fun.
An audio tour is a digital tour guide that will provide useful tidbits of information as you're driving. Passing by the Grand Canyon? You can be sure an audio tour will tell you more about it so you can understand just how amazing the canyon is!
If you're the type of family to go on guided tours in-person, then an audio tour is the perfect way to add extra engagement to your road trip!
Games
One final source of entertainment that stands the test of time is games. Not the kind you play on a phone or console, but the type that requires you to keep your eyes peeled on the road and landmarks nearby.
There are several different games you can play, like eye spy, slug bug, the license plate game, and the alphabet game. These all require you to pay attention to sights outside of the car.
Games are a fun way of keeping everyone engaged and having fun. Keeping everyone looking out of the car is a great way to appreciate nature and see landscapes you aren't used to.
Closing Thoughts
Road trips are a great way of going on a family vacation, but being stuck together in a car with no entertainment is a quick way to ruin a trip!
For your next road trip, make sure to plan for plenty of entertainment that everyone can enjoy.
If you want something interesting to listen to, bring along some good podcasts or audiobooks.
For some great music, pick up a movie soundtrack or create a customized radio station.
For added engagement in the trip itself, use an audio tour or play games that require you to look outside.
There are several good options for keeping your family entertained during a road trip, so consider trying multiple or all of these to keep the trip interesting!
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
