Turning the Crickets to Conversations
We've all been there: a 20-minute car ride that feels two hours long because there's nothing to fill the silence. Whether you're road-tripping with old classmates, carpooling with coworkers, or picking someone up for a first date, a boring ride can make the entire drive agonizing. But don't fret—we're here to make sure there's no awkward silence in your car. Here are 20 fun conversation starters to keep the chatter flowing the next time you're on the road.
1. Describe Yourself in Five Words
You might think this question sounds a lot like you're sitting someone down for an interview, but trust us—it makes a good ice breaker when you're in the car with someone new, such as when you're on a first date. Plus, it gives them a chance to be creative with their answer, which can lead to some interesting follow-ups.
2. What Would You Rate the Last Thing You Watched?
Whether it's a movie, TV show, or even a music video, this question can also make for some fascinating conversations. What made them watch it? Why did they give it that rating? Would they recommend it to anyone else?
3. Name Your Favorite Celebrity
Even if they don't exactly have a favorite celebrity, you can also ask them to name someone famous that they admire or wish they could swap lives with (which is another question you could ask, as you'll see). Or, if they're not into entertainment and Hollywood, you can ask them to name their favorite athlete or sports team.
4. How Many Countries Have You Visited?
Considering you're in a car and traveling somewhere, it's not so out of place to spotlight, well, travel. Plus, people typically have lots of interesting stories to share about the places they've visited around the world, so it's always a great question to ask.
5. What Would You Do If You Won the Lottery?
Let's face it: if either of you were rich, you probably wouldn't be driving—you'd have a personal chauffeur. So, what would you do if you won the lottery today? What would you do first? What's the most expensive thing on your wishlist? Would you, if ever, keep your win a secret?
6. One Show You'd Recommend & One You'd Never Wish on Anyone?
Going back to the TV shows and movies for a moment, a natural follow-up question you could ask is what their recommendations are. It's also more fun to ask what they wouldn't recommend, since people can get pretty heated (and passionate) about their dislikes, too.
7. Funniest Travel Story
As mentioned earlier, people often have funny and interesting stories to share about their travels, so this topic always makes for a good conversation. Maybe they've bumped into a celebrity before, tried bungee jumping for the first time, or hiked up an active volcano. Maybe they made a translation error once, and the embarrassment from that still sticks with them even now.
8. Do You Believe in the Paranormal?
If you're driving at night, there's no better time to shift the conversation into spooky territory. To start it off, why not ask if anyone in the car believes in the paranormal? If you have any hardcore skeptics riding with you, that'll only make the discussion even more entertaining.
9. Spookiest Ghost Story You Have?
And of course, the best way to follow up after asking if anyone believes in the paranormal is to prod them for ghost stories. Even skeptics sometimes have experiences they can't explain, despite remaining adamant that they weren't paranormal. Whatever the case, you're bound to get some creepy tales.
10. What's Your Opinion on AI?
Given the rapid growth of AI (artificial intelligence) and how reliant we've quickly become on it, this is another interesting conversation topic to bring up. You never know, you might hear some diverse opinions and perspectives that make you view technology differently.
11. Name Your Biggest Passion
When people talk about their passions, they—unsurprisingly—get super excited. Their eyes light up; their speech speeds up. Plus, you might even learn of hobbies you've never heard of (whittling, anyone?) or you'd never try yourself (definitely dumpster diving).
12. What's Your Favorite Quote?
Whether it's from a movie, TV show, or novel, we all probably have one favorite quote that has stuck with us. So, what is it? Some great follow-up questions you can ask are: What about that particular quote resonates with you? If you could say anything in reply to that quote and the person who said it, what would it be?
13. What Makes You Nostalgic?
There are dozens of things that can spike nostalgia in us: old CDs, VCR tapes, video game consoles we played with when we were young, snacks we used to eat in elementary school, songs we used to listen to. Plus, asking this gives you an excuse to look back on your childhood and all the things you enjoyed growing up.
14. Something You Want to Try But Don't Have the Guts To?
Unless you're in the car with Superman or someone brave enough to do anything at least once, this question is bound to spark a fun discussion. From skydiving to spelunking, there are plenty of things that most of us probably wouldn't dare try, but would be cool if we were able to get past our fears.
15. Who Would You Want to Switch Lives With?
Remember the celebrity question? If your car buddy named someone in particular, let this be your follow-up question. Would they want to swap lives with, say, Rihanna? Or maybe the richest person in the world? Maybe the smartest person in the world? Whoever they choose—why?
European Commission - Photographer: Lukasz Kobus on Wikimedia
16. Name Your Current Favorite Song
And if your car buddy is a music lover, then why not ask them about their current favorite song, or even their top five picks? Building on that, you might even want to go into who their favorite artist is, what genre they listen to the most, or what genre they would never put in their playlist.
17. Biggest Pet Peeve as a Driver & Passenger?
Whether you're the one behind the wheel or the one in the passenger seat, you probably have some pet peeves. So, what are they? As a driver, maybe you don't like it when cyclists zip through the roads without giving you a prior warning; as a passenger, maybe it's when the person driving tailgates. Whatever they are, they'll definitely reveal some interesting quirks and preferences.
18. Best & Worst Thing You've Ever Eaten?
From fried cockroaches to duck embryos, there are some strange eats offered around the world—and some you might have even tried before. But beyond the weird, there's the good, too, and you likely have a dish you can't stop raving about no matter how long it's been since you've had it. So, why not talk about it?
19. If You Had Three Wishes, What Would They Be?
Ah, the classic genie in a bottle question. Sure, some (or a majority of) people would say they wish to be rich, beautiful, and famous, but you never know—you might get some interesting answers. What would your three wishes be?
20. What's Your Biggest Goal in Life?
Instead of asking your car buddy where they see themselves in five or 10 years (which just makes you sound like an interviewer), ask them about their biggest goal in life. Maybe they've already started working toward it (in which case you can ask about their progress), or they've yet to. Either way, it'll spark an interesting conversation.
