How to Pass Time During a Long Journey

When traveling on long journeys, sometimes it feels like the hours are just dragging by. But using some of these steps, you can kill time.

Steps

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    Get a pen and some paper. You can use these simple things to play all kinds of games such as Tic-Tac-Toe, Hangman and many more. If you don't have anyone to play with, try doodling. Also, try to find a small, fold-away travel game such as chess, which you could play with someone else.[1]
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    Bring magazines or newspapers along or read the in-flight magazine or sales catalog if you're on a plane.[2]
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    Bring along an MP3 player or iPod and listen to your favorite songs. On long and crowded plane or coach trips, you could use music to drown out background noise and help you get to sleep.[3]
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    Bring a portable DVD player to watch a movie.
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    Bring a portable gaming system or cell phone to play games. If you are a gamer, buy a new game or two before you go and start them during the trip.
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    Bring your laptop. It is perhaps one of the best items to take, as you can do so many things on it.
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    Do some crosswords or puzzles. Not only will you pass time, but you will also be exercising your brain.
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    Look out the window and enjoy the scenery.
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    Sleep! It is the best way to pass time, especially on long flights.
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    Count the number of a certain thing as you travel if you're in a car. (yellow cars, fast food restaurants, Volkswagen's, or license plates from different regions) If you're in an airplane, count how many people walk down the aisle, count the clouds, etc.
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    Play car games like the "ABC" game where you try to find each letter alphabetically as you travel on (i.e. signs, license plates, anything outside your car or vehicle).
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    Listen to an audiobook. If you love a good story but reading makes you feel carsick, or if you're the one driving, this is a great alternative.[4]
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    Have a conversation with someone you are traveling with.[5]
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    If you are the driver, get a CD of a musical and sing along to the entire show. It passes at least an hour and you can work on your vocal and acting talents!
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    While listening to your MP3 Player, picture the singer (or if you don't know what the singer looks like, make one up) in the window singing the song. Use your imagination, picture them running up to the car, or just singing without moving. Your friends won't even know!
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    Play small pranks on people you are traveling with.
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Sample Travel Activities

Community Q&A

  • Question
    Would playing "Would You Rather..." be fun?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    It depends on whether or not you personally find that fun, but if so, then yes! Games in general can be a great way to pass the time.
  • Question
    How do I pass time on a six hour road trip to Disneyland at night?
    Sabes
    Sabes
    Community Answer
    Bring personal belongings that you may find enjoyable, such as games ,a laptop, et cetera. If you start to get tired, try to take a long nap.
  • Question
    Is it illegal for the driver to watch TV or a movie?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, but the driver can still set up a movie for their passengers to watch.
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Warnings

  • Avoid distracting the driver.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • If you are the driver, focus on driving first.
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  • If you are listening to music on a portable music player (an MP3 player or iPod), make sure that the volume is low enough that other people can't hear it and you can still hear a car honk.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • If you watch a clock/wristwatch, time will drag more. Turn your watch off!
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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Things You'll Need

  • Paper and pen
  • MP3 player
  • Movie with VHS or DVD player
  • Phone/phone charger
  • Book, magazine, or reading material of your choice
  • (Depends on what you're doing)
  • A pillow to take a nap on
  • Electronics (like a computer to play games on)

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.playworks.org/resource/fun-paper-and-pencil-games-to-play/
  2. ↑ https://bucketlistjourney.net/things-to-do-on-a-long-haul-flight-to-cure-boredom/
  3. ↑ https://www.chimuadventures.com/blog/2016/01/29-ways-beat-boredom-long-haul-flight/
  4. ↑ https://www.airhelp.com/en/blog/fun-things-to-do-on-a-plane-long-flight/
  5. ↑ https://www.airhelp.com/en/blog/fun-things-to-do-on-a-plane-long-flight/

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 53 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 243,051 times.
57 votes - 65%
Co-authors: 53
Updated: July 20, 2021
Views: 243,051
Categories: Travel Entertainment
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