Father's Day Would You Rather: 50 Questions for the Cookout
These Father's Day would you rather questions give your backyard cookout a game the whole family can play between burgers, with 50 funny dad-themed picks about grilling, sports, road trips and dad jokes. Read one while the grill heats up, let everyone pick a side, and let Dad decide whose reason wins.
Father's Day cookouts tend to have a lot of waiting built in. Waiting for the coals. Waiting for the burgers to flip. Waiting for the cousins to arrive. That waiting time is perfect for a quick question game. Nobody has to sit down, nobody needs cards or a board, and the questions can be answered with a spatula in one hand.
The 50 questions below are sorted into five groups: the grill, the game, the road, dad jokes and dad life, and a final set of heartfelt picks for when the sun starts going down. After the list you will find easy ways to play at a cookout, a table for picking questions by crowd, mistakes to avoid, and a short FAQ.
The 50 Father's Day Would You Rather Questions
At the Grill
- Would you rather eat a perfect burger or a perfect hot dog?
- Would you rather grill in the rain or grill in a heat wave?
- Would you rather have Dad's secret barbecue sauce or Dad's famous potato salad?
- Would you rather eat corn on the cob or a baked potato with every topping?
- Would you rather be in charge of the grill or in charge of the music?
- Would you rather have a cookout every Saturday all summer or one giant cookout with the whole neighborhood?
- Would you rather eat watermelon or a big bowl of strawberries for dessert?
- Would you rather flip burgers with a spatula that is too short or tongs that are too long?
- Would you rather have s'mores around a campfire or ice cream sandwiches on the porch?
- Would you rather eat the first burger off the grill or the last one, which might be a little crispy?
Game Day and Sports
- Would you rather play catch in the backyard or shoot hoops in the driveway?
- Would you rather watch a ball game at the stadium or on the couch with snacks?
- Would you rather be the coach of a team or the star player?
- Would you rather play a round of mini golf with Dad or race him in a three-legged race?
- Would you rather go fishing at sunrise or play baseball at sunset?
- Would you rather catch the winning home run ball or get a high-five from your favorite player?
- Would you rather play a family game of kickball or a family game of horseshoes?
- Would you rather have Dad cheer the loudest at your game or coach from the sidelines?
- Would you rather win a game by one point or win by a landslide?
- Would you rather go camping in a tent or go fishing on a boat?
Road Trips and Adventures
- Would you rather go on a road trip where Dad picks all the music or where Dad picks all the snacks?
- Would you rather take the scenic route or the fastest route?
- Would you rather visit a national park or a famous ballpark?
- Would you rather stop at every roadside attraction or drive straight to the destination?
- Would you rather have Dad read the map or trust the navigation app?
- Would you rather sleep in a cabin in the woods or a tent under the stars?
- Would you rather go on a hike to a waterfall or a bike ride along a lake?
- Would you rather have a family road trip with no phones or a family road trip with no snacks?
- Would you rather build a treehouse with Dad or build a go-kart with Dad?
- Would you rather explore a cave or climb to the top of a lighthouse?
Dad Jokes and Dad Life
- Would you rather hear a new dad joke every morning or never hear a dad joke again?
- Would you rather have Dad tell jokes during every meal or sing along to every song in the car?
- Would you rather have Dad's toolbox skills or Dad's grilling skills?
- Would you rather watch Dad dance at a family party or watch Dad try a new video game?
- Would you rather have a dad who mows the lawn in perfect stripes or one who grows the biggest tomatoes on the block?
- Would you rather have Dad say "Ask your mother" or "We'll see" for a whole day?
- Would you rather have Dad fix everything in the house or never need anything fixed?
- Would you rather wear matching shirts with Dad at the cookout or matching sunglasses?
- Would you rather hear Dad's story about "when I was your age" or his story about how he met Mom?
- Would you rather have Dad's sense of direction or Dad's sense of humor?
Heartfelt Picks for the End of the Day
- Would you rather spend the whole day with Dad doing his favorite thing or teaching him yours?
- Would you rather give Dad a handmade card or a coupon book for chores?
- Would you rather have a framed family photo or a jar of notes saying why we love Dad?
- Would you rather go back to your favorite day with Dad or plan a new adventure together?
- Would you rather learn Dad's best recipe or Dad's best life advice?
- Would you rather have Dad's patience or Dad's work ethic?
- Would you rather start a new Father's Day tradition or keep the one you have?
- Would you rather watch the sunset with Dad or the fireflies come out with him?
- Would you rather have a special handshake with Dad or a special nickname from him?
- Would you rather celebrate Dad once a year or have a little Father's Day every weekend?
How to Play at a Cookout
The simplest way: someone reads a question out loud, everyone shouts or points to their choice, and Dad picks the best reason. It works standing up, sitting down, or while waiting for the next round of burgers.
A few ways to keep it moving:
- Grill master reads. Whoever is at the grill reads a question each time they flip. It gives the cook a role in the game without leaving their post.
- Lawn sides. Point to two spots in the yard, like "the fence" and "the picnic table." Players walk to the side that matches their answer. This is great for kids who have energy to burn.
- Dad guesses. Before anyone answers, Dad predicts how each family member will choose. One point for each correct guess. See if Dad really knows his crew.
- Team picks. Split the cookout into two teams. Each team must agree on one answer and give a single reason. The other team votes on whose reason is better.
- Joke penalty. If someone takes too long to answer, they have to tell a dad joke. This keeps things fast and silly.
If nobody wants to bring a printed list, the would you rather game on wouldyouratheronline.com deals questions one at a time on a phone, so anyone can host from the lawn.
๐ Play these and 500+ more Would You Rather questions free online โ no download needed
โถ๏ธ Play Free NowPicking Questions by Crowd
Every cookout crowd is a little different. Use this guide to choose where to start.
| Crowd | Best section to start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Young kids | At the Grill | Food questions are easy and fun to picture |
| Sports-loving family | Game Day and Sports | Everyone has a strong opinion |
| Grandparents and grandkids | Road Trips and Adventures | Sparks stories from past trips |
| Teens | Dad Jokes and Dad Life | A playful way to tease Dad kindly |
| Adult kids visiting Dad | Heartfelt Picks | Memory questions bring out real stories |
| Neighbors and friends | At the Grill, then Dad Jokes | Easy, light and no inside knowledge needed |
Mixing sections works well too. One grilling question, one sports question, one dad joke question, and repeat.
Why Father's Day Would You Rather Works So Well
Father's Day would you rather questions let families tease Dad and appreciate Dad in the same game, which suits most dads perfectly.
Plenty of dads feel a little awkward when the spotlight is on them. A long toast can make them squirm. A question like "Would you rather have Dad's toolbox skills or Dad's grilling skills?" honors him in a playful way, and he gets to laugh along.
The game also bridges generations. A grandfather and a grandson can both answer "fishing at sunrise or baseball at sunset," and the grandfather's reason might come with a story from fifty years ago. Those stories are what people remember long after the cookout is over.
And it fits the setting. Cookouts are loose and outdoorsy. People drift between the grill, the cooler and the lawn. A question game can pause and restart as people come and go without anyone losing track.
How This Set Differs from Everyday Parent Questions
Our year-round would you rather questions for parents cover parenting in general: bedtime battles, school mornings, carpools and family schedules. This page is built for one afternoon: a Father's Day cookout with the family outside. The topics are grilling, games, road trips and dad jokes, with a few sentimental picks for the end of the day.
If your family loves sports talk, our sports would you rather page has a full set of game-day questions. For more laughs, try our funny would you rather questions. And for a whole evening of family fun any time of year, see our family game night would you rather page.
Mistakes to Avoid
The most common mistake is making Dad the butt of every joke. A little teasing is fun. A whole hour of it is not.
Some other things to watch out for:
- Asking during the busiest moment at the grill. Wait until the burgers are on and there is a minute to breathe.
- Picking questions that leave someone out. Not every family loves sports, and not every dad grills. Choose the sections that fit your crowd.
- Keeping score too seriously. Points are fun, but nobody should feel like they lost Father's Day.
- Forgetting the quieter guests. Ask shy relatives directly but kindly: "Uncle Joe, which would you pick?"
- Being careful with tender topics. Father's Day can bring up feelings for some families. Choose questions that feel right for your table.
Ideas to Make the Day Memorable
A few small additions can turn a question game into a family tradition:
- Answer book. Keep a notebook just for Father's Day answers. Each year, read the old answers before playing again.
- Kid-made question cards. Let children write the questions on index cards and decorate them with drawings of grills, baseballs and fishing poles.
- Dad's question. Let Dad write one question of his own for everyone to answer.
- Prize from the grill. The best answer of the day gets the first plate of dessert.
- Group photo. After the final question, take a family photo with everyone holding up their answer to question 50.
Timing It Right
Father's Day in the United States falls on the third Sunday in June. Here is a simple plan:
- A few days before: Choose 15 to 20 questions and write them down or save the page on your phone. If the family is driving to Grandpa's, pack a few of our road trip would you rather questions for the ride.
- The morning of: Let kids decorate a jar or hat to hold the question slips.
- At the cookout: Start with the grill questions while food is cooking, move to sports and road trips while everyone eats, and save the heartfelt picks for dessert.
You do not need to finish all 50. If one question about a camping trip turns into a long story from Grandpa, let it run. That is the point.
๐ฎ Ready for round two? Let the free game pick the next question for you
โถ๏ธ Play Would You Ratherโ Frequently Asked Questions
What are good Father's Day would you rather questions for kids?
Young kids do best with simple, picture-it questions like "burger or hot dog," "s'mores or ice cream sandwiches," and "catch in the backyard or hoops in the driveway." Older kids enjoy the dad joke and dad life questions where they get to tease Dad a little.
How long does the game take at a cookout?
You can play for five minutes or an hour. Most families get through 15 to 20 questions over the course of a meal. Since players come and go at cookouts, you can stop and restart whenever you like.
Can we play if Dad does not grill?
Yes. Skip the grill section and start with road trips, sports or dad life. You can also swap in questions about Dad's real hobbies, like gardening, woodworking or reading.
Is this game good for a big family gathering?
It works very well. Split into teams or use the "lawn sides" version so everyone can see the results. Big groups often produce the funniest debates.
What if Dad cannot be there?
Send him a few questions by text through the day, or play over a video call. He can share his answers and the family can compare later.
How do I keep the game fun and not awkward?
Mix silly questions with heartfelt ones, keep the pace light, and let anyone skip a question. The goal is laughs and good stories, not a test.
