Tired of Doomscrolling? Try These on Your Next Road Trip

There’s a special kind of existential dread that kicks in when you’re five hours deep into a road trip, stuck in the back seat, your legs are cramped, your phone battery is circling the drain, and you’ve already seen that same TikTok three times on different accounts.

That, my friends, is the moment you realize you’re deep in the digital hole known as doomscrolling. And sure, it feels like you’re doing something… but you’re really just melting into the upholstery while your brain turns to scroll-fed mush.

So how about we mix things up next time?

If you’re ready to shake up your backseat blues, here are a few other ways to stay sane (and maybe even entertained) on your next road trip.

1. Tune In, Zone Out: Audiobooks and Podcasts

You know what’s better than another endless scroll through sad news and rehashed memes? Getting pulled into a story that actually holds your attention.

Audiobooks are great for this. One second you’re in a stuffy car, and the next, you’re deep in a murder mystery, time-traveling saga, or spicy rom-com – whatever your thing is.

Not into fiction? Podcasts are gold. Whether it’s true crime, weird history, self-help, or a deep dive into 90s pop culture, there’s something for everyone. Plus, you get to feel smarter and entertained. Win-win.

2. Gamify the Ride

Sometimes all you need is a little friendly competition to make the hours fly.

Try this:

• License Plate Bingo (yes, it’s still fun)
• The Alphabet Game (spot signs or items starting with each letter of the alphabet)
• “Who Said It?” (celebrity quote guessing or family trivia if you’re brave)

You can even turn your snack situation into a draft-style showdown. Everyone picks one gas station snack at the next stop. Most creative combo wins bragging rights till the next state line.

3. Unbox the Unexpected

Remember that mystery box website idea? It’s like a modern treasure chest. You order it ahead of your trip, and somewhere along the way – maybe at a rest stop, maybe while stuck in traffic – you pop it open and see what you got.

Could be cool. Could be bizarre. Either way, it breaks up the monotony and makes for some fun car chatter.

Some of these boxes are themed (jewelry, tech, collectibles, even snacks from other countries), and they tap into the same brain chemistry that keeps gamers chasing loot crates. It’s the anticipation that makes it fun. And it definitely beats staring at your screen waiting for the next meme to hit.

4. Create Something (Even If It’s Bad)

Doodle in a sketchpad. Jot down fake Yelp reviews for every gas station bathroom. Write a bad poem about the weird smell coming from the cooler. Creativity doesn’t need a purpose – sometimes it just needs a captive audience and no internet signal.

Bonus: When you arrive, you’ll actually remember what happened between point A and point B.

5. Stop Just for the Hell of It

This might sound counterintuitive on a “fun things to do in the car” list, but hear me out: sometimes the best way to break up the boredom is to physically break up the trip.

That weird roadside museum? Go. Giant fiberglass dinosaur? Pull over. Food truck in a gas station parking lot? Worth the gamble.

You might not remember the playlist or the snacks. But you will remember when you stopped to pose next to a 20-foot corn cob in Nebraska.

Travel Boredom Is Real – But Fixable

The back seat doesn’t have to be a mind-numbing purgatory of Reddit threads and FOMO. With a little planning and a willingness to look up from your phone, you can actually enjoy the downtime.

Bring a book. Download a podcast. Crack open a mystery box. Play a game. Stop somewhere ridiculous just because you can.

Because if you’re gonna spend six hours trapped in a vehicle with people who chew too loudly, you might as well make it weird, fun, and just unpredictable enough to be worth remembering.

also read: Why Is Outsourcing to South Africa a Smart Move for Your Business?