Drawing in the Car: Road Trip Art for Kids
Long car trip with kids? Drawing keeps them busy without screens. Learn which drawing activities work in the car and how to avoid motion sickness.
Drawing works well on car trips when you choose the right activities: grid drawing and small, simple lessons that do not need constant looking up, with a clipboard and pencils (not markers). Take breaks if anyone feels carsick, and save bigger projects for rest stops.
Road trips with kids can be long. Drawing is a great screen-free option, as long as you plan for the bumpy, cramped conditions of a car.
Car drawing kit
- A clipboard or hardcover book as a surface
- Pencils and colored pencils (no markers, they leak and stain)
- A pencil case or zip bag
- A drawing book
- A few sheets of extra paper
Choose car-friendly drawing
- Grid drawing. Each square is a small, self-contained task, so bumps only affect one square.
- Short lessons. Quick wins between scenery.
- Doodle games. Easy, low-focus fun.
Draw by Grid: Cartoon Cats & Dogs is a great car book. Kids copy pets square by square, and if the car hits a bump, it is easy to fix one small square.
Car drawing games
- Roadside bingo. Draw things you see out the window.
- License plate monsters. Turn letters from license plates into creatures.
- Map the trip. Draw a map as you go.
- Pass the drawing. Siblings add to the same picture.
Motion sickness
Looking down at paper can make some kids carsick. Tips:
- Take frequent breaks to look out the window.
- Draw during smooth highway stretches.
- Stop if anyone feels unwell.
- Some kids do better drawing at rest stops only.
Make a travel journal
Ask kids to draw one thing from each day of the trip. It becomes a souvenir. See summer vacation drawing journal.
Questions parents ask
What drawing activities work in the car?
Grid drawing, short step-by-step lessons and doodle games work well. Use a clipboard and pencils rather than markers.
How do I stop my child getting carsick while drawing?
Take frequent breaks to look out the window, draw on smooth roads and stop if they feel unwell.
What should go in a car drawing kit?
A clipboard, pencils, colored pencils, a drawing book, extra paper and a pencil case.
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