11 Best Things to Do on a Road Trip with Friends
Because the memories you make on the road matter more than the destinatio
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The open road is the ultimate friendship amplifier. It takes the shared boredom of a backseat, the collective wonder of a new horizon, and the inevitable wrong turn, and forges them into inside jokes and stories you’ll tell for years.
Forget the destination; the magic is in the curated chaos of the journey itself. After one too many drives fueled by gas station coffee and singalongs, my friends and I have perfected the art of the group adventure.
Here are the 11 best things to do on a road trip with friends that guarantee your drive becomes the main event.
First thing’s first: your ride. Secure the perfect vehicle for your crew and adventure.
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Table of contents ⇅
1. Assign Epic, Not-Annoying, Road Trip Roles
Before you even hit the highway, turn logistics into fun. Instead of just having a “driver” and a “navigator,” create thematic roles for each leg. Assign a “Snack Master” (in charge of curating the perfect mix of salty and sweet), a “DJ of the Desert” (creates a playlist for the current landscape), and a “Chief Curiosity Officer” (responsible for finding the weird roadside attraction mentioned later on this list).
Rotating these roles keeps everyone engaged and turns necessary tasks into shared fun things to do on a road trip.
Why it works:
It gives everyone ownership, minimizes arguments, and builds anticipation for each person’s “shift.” It’s the foundational thing you need for a road trip for harmony.
Use a physical map (yes, a paper one) for the navigator. It’s a fun, tactile activity that helps everyone visualize the journey and spot interesting detours you’d miss on a phone screen.
Pro Tip
2. Chase a Sunrise from a Famous Vista Point
Commit to one brutally early wake-up call. Research the most stunning sunrise spot on your route—whether it’s over the Grand Canyon, from the top of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia, or across the Badlands. Pack thermoses of coffee and blankets, and make the pilgrimage in the pre-dawn dark.
The shared, quiet awe of watching the world light up together is a bonding experience like no other. It’s a moment that often becomes the trip’s defining memory.
Why it’s a must:
It earns you a stunning, crowd-free experience and gives you a huge sense of accomplishment before 8 AM. The photos are unbeatable.
A good thermos is key for these chilly mornings. The Zojirushi Stainless Mug keeps drinks hot for hours and doesn’t leak—a road trip essential.
3. Find the Weirdest Roadside Attraction
The best road trip attractions aren’t always the majestic ones. They’re the wonderfully weird ones. Make it a mission to find the oddball landmarks: the giant ball of twine, the UFO museum, the shoe tree, or the world’s largest pistachio.
These stops break up the monotony of the highway, create hilarious photo ops, and give you a story that’s uniquely yours. The quest to find them is half the fun.
Why it works:
It embraces the spontaneous, quirky soul of the American road trip. It’s a shared laugh and a memory you’ll reference for years.
How to Find Them:
Apps like Roadtrippers or the Atlas Obscura website are perfect for plotting a route past the bizarre and wonderful.
4. Cook a Meal Together, Not at a Chain Restaurant
Skip the drive-thru for one meal. Find a scenic picnic area at a state park, a rest stop with a grilling pit, or even just a pull-off with a great view. Have one friend man the portable camp stove, another chop veggies, and another set the “table” on a blanket.
Cooking a simple pasta, grilling burgers, or making tacos together is a collaborative, satisfying thing to do on a road trip that saves money and tastes better.
Why it’s a must:
It’s a team-building exercise that results in food. It’s healthier, more memorable, and turns a meal into an event.
What You Need:
A portable camping stove, a cooler, basic utensils, and a plan. A good cooler like this Coleman model is a game-changer for keeping ingredients fresh.
Where to Stay:
For a night, book a campsite or a cabin through sites like Hipcamp to make this dinner the evening’s main activity.
5. Create a Collaborative Trip Soundtrack (Not Just a Playlist)
Move beyond a pre-made playlist. Use a platform like Spotify that allows collaborative playlists. Have each friend add 5-10 songs with a rule: each song must remind them of a memory, a specific landscape you’ll drive through, or just be a current obsession.
As you drive, the soundtrack becomes a living diary of your collective tastes. The person who added the song gets to explain their choice when it comes on.
Why it works:
It’s deeply personal and reveals new things about your friends. You’ll forever associate certain songs with specific stretches of highway.
6. Take a Detour for a “Group Challenge” Activity
Intentionally plan a stop that gets your blood pumping together. This could be a short, beginner-friendly whitewater rafting trip, a guided canyoneering adventure, renting side-by-side ATVs on dunes, or even just a challenging but rewarding hike to a waterfall.
Shared adrenaline and accomplishment create incredibly strong bonds.
Why it’s a must:
It breaks the passive nature of sitting in a car and creates a shared story of “Remember when we all did that?”
Always book with reputable, insured outfitters. Don’t attempt dangerous activities without a guide if you’re inexperienced.
Safety Tip
7. Stargaze in a Designated Dark Sky Park
If your route takes you away from city lights, plan an evening around the cosmos. Find a International Dark Sky Park or a remote Bureau of Land Management (BLM) area. Lay out blankets, turn off all phones and headlights, and just look up. Download a stargazing app to identify constellations.
The profound quiet and shared wonder under a blanket of stars is a humbling and peaceful counterpoint to a day of driving.
Why it works:
It offers a moment of quiet reflection and awe that’s rare in everyday life. It’s a free, spectacular show.
What You Need:
Red-light headlamps (to preserve night vision), warm layers, and a star chart or app like SkyView.
8. Host an In-Car Oscar Night for GoPro Footage
If you’re filming your trip with phones or a GoPro, make an event out of reviewing the footage. At the end of each day or the trip, connect to the hotel TV or a laptop and watch the highlights.
Create silly award categories: “Best Scenic B-Roll,” “Most Dramatic Snack Reaction,” “Worst Navigation Moment.” It’s a hilarious way to relive the day and ensures the footage doesn’t just sit on a memory card forever.
Why it’s a must:
It guarantees you’ll actually watch and enjoy the videos you take, cementing the memories while they’re fresh.
A GoPro Hero with a suction cup mount for the dashboard is perfect for capturing hands-free, high-quality road footage.
9. Sleep Somewhere Unforgettable (At Least Once)
Break up the motel chain routine with one night of unique lodging. This could be a vintage Airstream trailer, a yurt in the woods, a rustic fire lookout tower, or a quirky roadside motel with themed rooms.
The novelty of the accommodation itself becomes a core memory and a major road trip attraction. Sites like Airbnb and Glamping Hub are perfect for this.
Why it works:
It adds a sense of adventure to your overnight stop and gives you a story beyond “we slept in a bed.”
Find a unique, memorable place to rest your heads. Book treehouses, cabins, and cool hotels for your road trip nights.
10. Collect a Physical Souvenir from Each State
Instead of generic keychains, agree on a cool, consistent item to collect. It could be a state park patch, a vintage postcard from a local shop, a unique rock from a notable stop, or a sticker for your cooler.
The act of hunting for the item in each new place makes you engage with local shops and gives you a tangible, curated collection to display afterward.
Why it works:
It’s a purposeful, low-cost way to create a physical timeline of your journey that you can all contribute to.
11. Embrace the Unplanned “Mystery Stop”
Build in flexibility. Leave one afternoon or morning completely unplanned. When you see a sign for something intriguing—a local farmers market, a minor league baseball game, a promising hiking trail—take a vote.
If the majority says yes, take the exit. Some of the best amazing places on earth you’ll discover are the ones you never planned to see. This is the golden rule of road trips.
Why it’s the most important rule:
It honors the true spirit of adventure. The unplanned mystery stop often becomes the story you tell the most.
Essential Things You Need for a Road Trip with Friends
- A Clear Financial Plan: Use an app like Splitwise to track shared gas, food, and lodging costs in real time to avoid end-of-trip awkwardness.
- Communication Ground Rules: Discuss driving shifts, music veto power, and personal space needs upfront.
- Emergency Kit: Include a portable jump starter, a first-aid kit, extra water, and blankets.
- Offline Entertainment: Download podcasts, audiobooks, and playlists for areas with no service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do we split costs fairly on a road trip?
Use a group expense-tracking app. Agree upfront on what’s shared (gas, tolls, group groceries, lodging) vs. personal (souvenirs, solo snacks). Settle up daily or midway to keep it manageable.
What’s the best type of car to rent?
Prioritize comfort and space over style. An SUV or a minivan with plenty of legroom, cup holders, and charging ports will keep everyone happier than a cramped sedan. Consider an RV for the ultimate mobile basecamp.
How do we avoid arguments on a long drive?
Pre-set driving shifts (2-3 hours max), establish a “no complaining” rule during the driver’s music shift, and schedule regular stops to stretch. Most arguments stem from fatigue and hunger—prevent both.
What’s one thing everyone always forgets to pack?
A portable phone charger/power bank for each person. With navigation, photos, and music, your phone battery will drain fast. A multi-port car charger is also a lifesaver.
How do we find cool, local places to eat?
Avoid chains near highway exits. Drive 5-10 minutes into a town and look for crowded parking lots at lunchtime. Use apps like Yelp or Google Maps filtered for “local favorites.”
The best things to do on a road trip with friends aren’t about ticking sights off a list; they’re about designing shared experiences that turn miles into memories. It’s about the weird, the wonderful, and the wonderfully unplanned moments that happen between point A and point B.
So plot your route, pack your patience and your sense of humor, and hit the road. Your adventure—and the stories you’ll be telling for decades—is waiting