Road trips: 10 apps to keep your kids entertained

No more "Are we there, yet?" For your next family road trip, check out some of these fun apps. Whether they're blowing up virtual balloon animals or tracking the weather outside, your little ones will be very busy—and you'll have some peace and quiet when you need to focus on the road.

If your child prefers to color than to paint, this app takes the experience to a new level. As one of Apple's top picks for kids, this is the perfect road trip companion. There are more than 200 colouring pages, but the download doesn't stop there. This app talks back so your kids can get positive reinforcement as they colour. On the iPad version, there are also a variety of world maps that can help with some basic geography lessons while you all zoom down the highway. 

Ages: 3-6
Platform: iOS, $2

Read more: Ultimate guide to family road trips in Canada>

Every child loves balloons, but they're not something you want them playing with in the backseat while unattended. Thanks to Balloonimals, your kids can create balloon animals in a safe and fun way. On the iPhone, just blow into the microphone to inflate a balloon and start shaking to bring it to life. There are also sound effects and screen snapping tools so your children can save their creations.

Ages: 4-8
Platform: iOS/Android, $2

While it's too messy to take real paint on a road trip, this app is an excellent substitute. Thanks to realistic digital oil paint, your kids can create art in the backseat for hours. Whether they choose a blank canvas or template, a small brush or a large brush, finger painting on a device has never been so much fun. 

Ages: 3-6
Platform: Windows, Free

While this app might be a little pricey, it's worth it's weight in gold for long road trips. Speaking of gold, your young ones will love digging for it as they create their own block-based mega-universe. The goal of this game is to build, so your kids don't need to be connected to the Internet to go on exciting adventures (think Lego for the digital generation).

Ages: 6-12
Platform: iOS/Android, $7

Driving in the United States this summer?  Don't forget to download this road trip app to plan your pitstops. There are more than 6,000 restaurants with play structures listed in this delicious little download. From McDonald's to Chuck E. Cheese, you'll be able to find a place for your wee ones to burn off energy. There are also more than 2,000 rest stops archived, so it's easy to find a place to get out of the car, stretch, and have a family picnic.

Ages: 3-9
Platform: Android, $5

Sometimes kids just wanna have fun. This casual physics-based game will help to pass time on the road. With more than 350 different levels and cute little characters, there is no end to the Cut the Rope amusement. Thanks to the app's main character, Om Nom, your children will have fun finding and feeding him all the candy he can eat.  The download has won a number of awards, a definite winner among kids (and their parents, too!).

Ages: 6-12
Platform: iOS/Android, $1

Kids love watching weather, so let them follow the weather around you while they travel with their own special app. When you search for weather in a specific city, the avatar will be dressed in the type of clothing that's suitable for that location. Plus, there's a cool educational element thanks to weather trivia, facts, and records.

Ages: 6-12
Platform: iOS, $2

This interactive puzzle game is both fun and educational. If your kids are getting bored in the car, this app will challenge them to build block-based shapes such as trains and submarines (and put their hand-eye coordination to work). Once they finishing building, the quirky characters inside the blocks will sing and dance. The app doesn't cost anything, but there are sponsored messages (to turn them off, there is a one-time fee for an ad-free experience).

Ages: 3-6
Platform: iOS, Free

Story-making apps have come a long way. With Scribble My Story, your wee ones can dream up their own interactive book. There are six story templates within the free version of this download, from a mermaid tale to a vacation adventure. With dozens of colourful markers for drawing and the ability to record audio, this app inspires kid-friendly creativity.

This new Dr. Seuss app is fun for young children who want a book read to them or for school-aged children who are just learning to read. Thanks to three modes (read to me, read it myself, and auto play), this download serves a few different age groups. For a long road trip, kids can record their own voices to add to the storyline as King Bitram of Binn searches for his red stilts.

Age: 3-8
Platform: iOS, $4

The coolest apps for kids

From art and activities to music and games, we’re up to date with all the best apps for your kids. Check back each month for the newest additions to the list!