Staying Entertained on Road Trips Without Overloading on Gadgets

Table of Contents

1. The embarrassing truth about my first “digital detox” road trip

2. Why we can’t seem to sit still without a screen anymore

3. My accidental discovery: boredom is… kind of fun?

4. Classic road trip games that still hold up

5. Low-tech tricks to make hours fly by

6. Weirdly wholesome ways to bond with people in the car

7. When silence becomes the main character

8. The travel gear that actually helps (without turning you into a tech zombie)

9. Final thoughts and a small challenge for you

1. The embarrassing truth about my first “digital detox” road trip

Okay, so full disclosure: I once bragged to my friends that I could totally survive a road trip without checking my phone every five minutes. You know, just like the “good old days.” The plan was to drive from Munich to Lake Como, a scenic six-hour stretch with two friends—let’s call them Jonas and Mia. Jonas is one of those annoyingly optimistic people who says things like “It’s about the journey, not the destination,” while Mia… well, she brought three different power banks “just in case.”

I, of course, made a grand speech at the gas station about going gadget-free, tucked my phone into the glove compartment, and immediately realized I had no idea where we were going. No GPS. No playlist. Just static radio and the sound of Jonas chewing chips like it was a competitive sport.

The first hour was painful. I’m not even being dramatic—well, maybe a little. I tried staring out the window, but my brain kept begging for something to scroll. Anything. By hour two, I started humming the same verse of a song I didn’t even like just to stay sane.

2. Why we can’t seem to sit still without a screen anymore

It’s wild, isn’t it? We carry these tiny glowing rectangles that basically babysit our attention spans. The second boredom hits—boom!—we’re refreshing feeds or checking weather apps we already looked at ten minutes ago.

But something weird happens when you can’t do that. You start noticing stuff again. Like, actual clouds. Road signs. The way the light changes when you drive through tunnels. It’s almost poetic—except for the part where you realize your attention span is shorter than the line at a highway McDonald’s.

It’s not our fault, really. We’ve trained our brains to expect constant stimulation. But a road trip is the perfect time to practice just… being. And trust me, it’s more fun than it sounds once you get past the initial “what do I do with my hands” phase.

3. My accidental discovery: boredom is… kind of fun?

At some point during that Lake Como drive, Jonas suggested we play “20 Questions.” You know the one—someone thinks of a thing, and everyone else tries to guess it. Mia picked “an avocado.” We guessed “a turtle,” “a bowling ball,” and “that weird lump in the glove box” before giving up. It was stupid, but we laughed until our faces hurt.

That’s when it hit me. Boredom isn’t the enemy. It’s the doorway to creativity. When your brain stops being spoon-fed content, it starts making its own.

We ended up spending the next few hours playing car bingo, I Spy, and this ridiculous game we invented called “Snack Time Trivia,” where you could only answer questions if you had food in your mouth. Don’t ask.

4. Classic road trip games that still hold up

You don’t need gadgets to have fun on the road. You just need a little imagination—and maybe a good attitude (which, fine, I didn’t always have).

Here are a few favorites that never get old:

1. License Plate Game – Spot as many different regions or countries as possible. Bonus points if you make up stories about the drivers.

2. Alphabet Game – Find road signs or billboards with each letter of the alphabet. “Q” is always chaos.

3. I Spy – Simple, timeless, and somehow still fun at 30.

4. Car Karaoke – Pick a theme (80s hits, breakup songs, guilty pleasures) and sing until someone threatens to open the window.

5. The Travel Scavenger Hunt – Make a list of random things to spot, like a cow, a yellow car, or someone eating ice cream at a gas station.

Oh, and 20 Questions deserves another shoutout. It’s easy, free, and turns everyone into a philosopher after a few rounds.

5. Low-tech tricks to make hours fly by

When the games get old, that’s when creativity kicks in. I’ve started bringing a small paper notebook and a few pens on long drives. Sometimes I journal, sometimes I doodle, and sometimes I just write down the weird things people say (“Did that tree just wink at me?” is still in there).

Audiobooks and podcasts are also lifesavers when you want some quiet entertainment that doesn’t involve staring at a screen. There’s something oddly comforting about listening to a murder mystery while driving through endless fields.

If you’re traveling with others, try story-building—one person starts a story, and everyone else adds a sentence. It usually goes off the rails by the third turn, but that’s part of the fun.

And don’t underestimate the power of music. Make a travel sing-along playlist before you go. No streaming required—just download your favorites. (Though be warned: once Jonas hears “Sweet Caroline,” there’s no turning back.)

6. Weirdly wholesome ways to bond with people in the car

This is where the magic happens. Once everyone stops scrolling, real conversations sneak back in. You start asking questions you wouldn’t normally think to ask.

Like:

• What’s the weirdest job you’ve ever had?

• What’s a smell that instantly takes you back to childhood?

• If you could live in any movie universe, which one would it be?

These little conversation prompts can turn a boring ride into a memory. I once found out that Mia used to collect spoons from every country she visited. Actual metal spoons. She has over sixty now. Why? Even she doesn’t know.

You also start noticing each other more. When someone’s tired, or hungry, or zoning out. It’s this small, human thing that tech sometimes makes us forget—connection without Wi-Fi.

7. When silence becomes the main character

There’s a moment on every road trip when everyone just… stops talking. No music. No podcasts. Just the hum of the tires and the occasional cough. It feels weird at first, but then it becomes peaceful.

I used to think silence meant boredom or awkwardness. Now I think it’s a sign that everyone’s comfortable. You don’t need to fill every minute with noise. Sometimes the best part of the trip is just watching the scenery roll by and letting your mind wander.

That’s where the real reset happens—the kind that no gadget can give you.

8. The travel gear that actually helps (without turning you into a tech zombie)

Alright, let’s be honest. You don’t have to go completely gadget-free. A few smart choices can make things easier without ruining the vibe.

For starters, a good travel pillow changes everything. I’ve tried both memory foam and inflatable ones, and I’ll never go back to those sad neck-crunching U-shaped things from airport kiosks. A solid pillow means better naps, less neck pain, and fewer grumpy passengers (you’re welcome, Jonas).

Also: snacks. Always snacks. But not just the mindless kind. Pack a few weird ones—like gummy bears mixed with pretzels or dried mango with chili. Make it a mini tasting session.

And bring a small sketchbook or doodle pad. You’d be surprised how much random drawing or journaling passes the time. I once filled an entire page with stick figures of cows because I was convinced they were judging us. They were.

9. Final thoughts and a small challenge for you

So yeah, that first gadget-free road trip was messy, awkward, and kind of uncomfortable. But it was also one of the most fun weekends I’ve had in years. We got lost twice, sang until we were hoarse, and came back with inside jokes that still make no sense to anyone else (“Never trust a duck near a toll booth” … don’t ask).

The point is, you don’t need gadgets to have a good time. You just need to give your brain some breathing room. The next time you’re on a road trip, try this: put your phone away for just one hour. No music, no GPS (okay, maybe keep that), no scrolling. Just be there.

See what happens.

Oh, and if you’ve got a secret car game or travel ritual that keeps you entertained, tell me about it. I’m always looking for new ideas that don’t involve a charging cable.

If you liked this rambling mess, maybe check out my other stuff? No pressure though.

Author Profile

Hi, I’m Florian Werner, the founder of FLOWZOOM. The idea for FLOWZOOM started during an unforgettable trip around the world. After spending what felt like forever on long flights, I noticed just how tough it is to stay comfortable while traveling.

I tried every travel pillow I could find, hoping for some relief—but nothing worked the way I needed it to. That’s when I decided to create my own. At FLOWZOOM, we focus on designing pillows that actually do what they’re supposed to: keep you comfortable and supported while you travel.

I’ve spent years figuring out what makes a great travel pillow. My goal is to make every trip easier for people who, like me, want to enjoy their journey without the aches and pains. I’m proud to share what I’ve learned through FLOWZOOM’s products and tips for better travel.

Here’s to making every trip a little more comfortable!