+1 for elaborate one-time or multi-use sticker books that will keep kids busy for hours finding and placing the stickers.

Also "Where's Waldo" style hunt-for-details-in-a-picture books.

We did not have luck with roadside observation bingo/license plate bingo.

Op here. They are 9 and 6. My ipad has no data plan, what can they do in the car ride? They are not carsick but just they are bored from looking at same scenery (trees, farms and a few houses) along the highway.

How old are your kids?

Audio books, podcasts, kid-friendly music, tablets.

Are they old enough to read? Then things like mad libs and spotting state license plates can help.

Not reading? - sticker books, water wow, the markers that only work on special paper, anything that could go in a “busy bag”.

Young enough to nap? Try to time some driving stretches to nap time. If all of your kids are 3 or under, you could also have a parent sit in the back with them.

Put them in PJs, put on audio book, and drive at their bedtime. Or just accept that it won't be peaceful. Bickering with siblings in the backseat is a time-honored tradition.

Valium

We always do audio books in the car, both long and short drives. I think the kids were around 2-3 when we started and they have surprisingly long attention spans for it. It's actually a little annoying now that as soon as we get in the car they are nagging me to put on the current story.

My kids get tons of screen time, but car rides are actually a time when I prefer to hold off a bit. I realize that this is largely because there's nothing else I'd really be doing with my time, either (I can't scroll my phone when driving). So we have really embraced audiobooks and playlists.

How old are your kids? Mine are 5 and 7 and this has really only worked for the past year or so, but it's worth trying to find a communal activity and not giving into the whining if possible. Especially for a 3.5 hour car ride.

That said, it's also not the end of the world if you resort to screens.

Can you leave really early so that they’re still tired at the beginning? Other than that I agree with the others regarding watching movies, listening to music, snacks they don’t usually get, games, etc.

Just use iPads. Long car rides and airplanes are not the time to be self righteous about screen time. I promise you they’ll be ok. And you’ll have a much better trip.

I have one kid who gets car sick looking down. So we mount the iPad on the back of the front seat headrests. A ziplock bag would also probably do this in a pinch.

Download movies to the device the night before and get some headphones. Enjoy your many hours of silence while the kids veg out. It's 100% better than whining and being upset the whole time.

I try to make it to lunch with games and chatting and music and audiobooks. After lunch, it's iPad time.

I also allow plenty of bored eating. Some fun things and lots of cut/easy fruit or crunchy veggies (which I pair with the salty things like chips).

My kids are little but pretty good for car trips. We mainly do audiobooks and curated playlists (which they love making). We only allow iPad use to watch a movie or a few shows for a long trip, such as over 5-6 hours. We also bring markers, crayons, and paper to draw.

What ages? And are they even slightly carsick? Basically they need to be amused, so if they’re not independent readers yet or reading makes them feel sick, you need to help. Screens are great and easy of course (again assuming won’t make anyone carsick), but if you want to go more old school, be prepared with music, audio books, license plate bingo, I spy, 20 questions, etc. Assume you will be carrying on kid-level conversation the whole time unless they’re absorbed in a movie/book/game.

Screens and devices duh.

The farest we have driven with kids was 1.5 hours one day. We tried 3.5 hours one way last week, and it was all drama. With 2-3 stops, tje drive became 5 hours drive one way with kids whining for being bored in the backseat.

We are doomed. We did it one time 2 years ago, and we broke the 3 hours drive into half by making an overnight stay at hotel in between. We thought they could manage it this year, and we over- estimate them. Any tips for car drive with kids in the back?