Fun Road Trip Games for Families Driving to the Smoky Mountains

Posted by Phil Rodgers in Travel Tips

A family vacation to the Smoky Mountains begins long before you see the first attraction in Pigeon Forge or catch your first glimpse of the mountains. For many families, the vacation really starts when everyone gets into the car and begins the drive toward East Tennessee.

Depending on where you're coming from, that drive might last a couple of hours or most of the day. Keeping children entertained can make the trip easier for everyone, and you don't need a bag full of toys or electronic devices to do it.

Old-fashioned road trip games are easy, inexpensive and surprisingly good at getting the entire family involved. Better yet, you can give some familiar games a Smoky Mountain twist as you get closer to Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Wears Valley.

Start With the Classic License Plate Game

The license plate game has been keeping families occupied on road trips for generations, and it works especially well when you're traveling to a popular vacation destination.

Have everyone watch passing vehicles and keep track of the different states represented by their license plates.

You can play individually or make it a family challenge. Keep a list on paper or on a phone and see how many states you can find before reaching your destination.

As you get closer to the Smoky Mountains, you may notice vehicles arriving from many different parts of the country.

Play the Alphabet Sign Game

Another easy game requires nothing more than looking out the window.

Start with the letter A and try to find each letter of the alphabet in order on road signs, business signs, billboards or license plates.

For example, someone might find an A on a highway sign, followed by a B on a passing truck. Continue until you reach Z.

You can make the game competitive by having each person work through their own alphabet, or everyone can work together to complete one alphabet before reaching the Smokies.

Try a Smoky Mountain Scavenger Hunt

This game becomes more interesting as your family gets closer to the mountains.

Before leaving home, create a list of things everyone might see along the way. Younger children can simply call out each item when they spot it.

Your Smoky Mountain road trip scavenger hunt might include:

• A mountain
• A river or stream
• A barn
• A Tennessee license plate
• A motorcycle
• A camper
• A cabin
• A winding mountain road
• A sign for Pigeon Forge
• A sign for Gatlinburg
• A goat

That last one might be difficult during most of the drive, but your chances improve considerably once you arrive in Pigeon Forge.

Play 20 Questions

Twenty Questions is perfect for a road trip because it requires absolutely no supplies.

One person thinks of a person, place, animal or object. Everyone else takes turns asking questions that can be answered with yes or no.

The goal is to figure out the answer using no more than 20 questions.

For a vacation-themed version, require every answer to have some connection to Tennessee or the Smoky Mountains.

Possible answers could include a black bear, mountain, cabin, hiking trail or goat.

Create a Smoky Mountain "Would You Rather?" Game

"Would You Rather?" can lead to some entertaining family conversations.

One person gives everyone two choices and asks which they would prefer.

Try questions such as:

• Would you rather explore a mountain trail or take a scenic drive?
• Would you rather see a waterfall or a mountain sunset?
• Would you rather have a picnic beside a stream or overlooking the mountains?
• Would you rather visit Pigeon Forge in the summer or fall?
• Would you rather see a bear from a safe distance or watch goats climbing above your head?

There are no wrong answers. The fun comes from hearing why everyone makes a particular choice.

You might even learn which activities your family is most excited about before you arrive.

Tell a One-Sentence-at-a-Time Story

This game can become as silly as your family wants to make it.

One person begins a story with a single sentence. The next person adds another sentence, and everyone continues taking turns.

For a Smoky Mountain version, begin with something like, "One morning, we opened the cabin door and discovered something unexpected on the porch."

From there, anything can happen.

Maybe the family discovers a mysterious map. Maybe they go searching for a hidden waterfall. Maybe a goat somehow becomes the hero of the entire adventure.

There is no need for the story to make sense. In fact, the less predictable it becomes, the more entertaining the game usually gets.

Guess the Animal

The Smoky Mountains are home to an impressive variety of wildlife, making animals an easy theme for another guessing game.

One person secretly chooses an animal and begins giving clues.

For example:

"I have four legs. I can climb. I have hooves."

The rest of the family tries to guess the animal.

You can include animals found in Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as familiar farm animals.

If seeing wildlife is part of your vacation plans, our Great Smoky Mountains National Park Guide can help you learn more about exploring the park responsibly.

Play "I'm Going to the Smokies"

This memory game becomes increasingly difficult as it continues.

The first person says, "I'm going to the Smokies, and I'm bringing..." followed by an item beginning with A.

The second person repeats that item and adds something beginning with B. The next player repeats both items and adds something beginning with C.

Continue through the alphabet for as long as everyone can remember the growing list.

By the time you reach the later letters, remembering everything in order can become quite a challenge.

Have Everyone Choose a Vacation Favorite in Advance

This isn't really a competitive game, but it can be one of the most useful activities during the drive.

Ask each family member to name one thing they hope to do during the vacation.

One person might want to see a waterfall. Someone else may want to explore downtown Gatlinburg. Another family member might be most interested in scenic mountain views.

Children might have completely different priorities.

Writing down everyone's answer gives parents a simple way to make sure the vacation includes something special for each person.

Our Smoky Mountain Vacation Planning Guide can also help when you're deciding how to organize those activities into your stay.

Save a Special Game for the Final Stretch

Children often become most impatient during the last part of a road trip. They know they're getting close, but the destination never seems to arrive quickly enough.

That's a good time to start a special Smoky Mountain spotting game.

Ask everyone to watch for the first mountain they can clearly identify. Then look for the first cabin, the first Pigeon Forge sign and other clues that you've almost arrived.

Once you reach the Pigeon Forge area, the scenery and roadside attractions provide plenty to watch.

One especially unusual sight is waiting along Wears Valley Road. A visit to Goats on the Roof of the Smokies gives the family a chance to get out of the vehicle, stretch their legs and finally see some real goats after spending the drive searching for them.

Let the Games Help Build Vacation Excitement

The best road trip games do more than keep children occupied. They turn the drive itself into part of the vacation.

Games about mountains, animals and upcoming activities encourage everyone to start thinking about what they will see and do once they arrive.

If you're still deciding how to spend your time, our guide to things to do in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville can help you explore your options.

Make the Journey Part of Your Smoky Mountain Memories

Years after a family vacation, children may not remember every mile of the drive. They may, however, remember the ridiculous story everyone created together, the impossible letter they searched for during the alphabet game or the excitement of being the first person to spot the mountains.

Those little moments are part of traveling together.

So before handing everyone a screen for the entire drive, try a few simple road trip games. Look out the windows, talk about the vacation ahead and see who can be the first to spot the Smoky Mountains.

After all, getting there can be part of the fun too.

 

This content posted by Goats on the Roof of the Smoky Mountains. Visit our home page, goatsontheroofofthesmokies.com for more information on the goats and their coaster.

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