40 Long Distance Date Ideas to Feel Close From Miles Apart

The best long distance date ideas have you experiencing the same thing at the same time: cooking the same recipe over video, starting a movie in sync, playing an online game, reading the same book or taking on a shared challenge. Between those real dates, small daily gestures like a doodle that shows up on their home screen, an alarm in your voice or a quick love note keep the closeness going. Here are 40 concrete ideas for long-distance couples.

Whether you're split by college, a job in another state or an ocean, distance changes the shape of a relationship, not its need for shared moments. The most common mistake is relying only on the nightly "so, how was your day?" call. Those calls matter, but they don't create memories on their own.

Why shared activities matter so much long distance

When you live in the same city, memories happen almost by accident: dinner, a walk, a movie. Long distance, you have to create them on purpose. A shared activity gives you:

• Something to talk about besides logistics (flights, time zones, the next visit).
• The feeling of doing things together rather than just reporting what you each did separately.
• Rituals that structure your week and give you something to look forward to.

For the bigger picture on keeping things healthy, read our guide on how to make a long distance relationship work.

Video dates, done right

Video is the foundation. The trick is making it feel like a date, not just another check-in.

1. Cook-together dinner: pick the same recipe, shop separately, and cook with your phones propped up on the counter.
2. Dress-up date: get ready like you're going out, light a candle, pour a real drink.
3. Synced movie night: hit play on the same "3, 2, 1" and stay on a call, or use a group watch feature if your streaming service offers one.
4. Sunday breakfast date, even if it's lunchtime for one of you.
5. Virtual museum tour: many major museums put their collections online. Each of you picks a favorite piece and explains why.
6. Question night: pull from our list of questions for couples, or try the 36 questions from Arthur Aron's 1997 closeness study.
7. Video karaoke, bonus points for an audience of roommates.
8. Quiet company: both read or work with cameras on, just to share the space.

Synced activities without a shared screen

You don't have to be on a call to be doing something together.

9. Two-person book club: same book, same chapters per week, debrief on Sunday.
10. Watch a show in parallel: one episode each on your own time, then talk about it.
11. Shared playlist you both add to throughout the week.
12. Fitness challenge: the same running or yoga plan for a month, cheering each other on.
13. Learn a language together, ideally one connected to one of your families.
14. Take the same online class: drawing, photography, cooking, guitar.
15. Phone walk: each of you walks around your city and describes what you see as if the other were there.
16. Same sunset: both send a photo of the sky at the same moment.

Online games for long-distance couples

Playing together brings lightness, which long-distance relationships often need. Our roundup of games for couples includes more ideas you can play online.

17. Co-op video games where you actually have to talk to win.
18. Online chess, with a slow game that lasts all week.
19. Word games on your phones, taking turns.
20. Online trivia, against each other or as a team.
21. Pictionary over video with a shared whiteboard.
22. Digital versions of board games: many popular board games have online editions.

Care packages and surprises

Getting something physical makes the other person present in a real way.

23. Handwritten letter, sent the old-fashioned way.
24. Care package with their favorite snacks, a book, a hoodie that smells like you.
25. Food delivery timed for your video dinner.
26. "Open when" letters: "open when you're sad," "open when you can't sleep"…
27. Printed photo book of your best moments.
28. Flowers delivered for no reason at all.
29. A postcard from every city you visit without them.
30. A recorded playlist with a short voice message between songs.

Small everyday rituals

These are often what actually hold a long-distance relationship together: small, regular proof that you're thinking of each other.

31. The morning message: a sweet note to read when they wake up.
32. The daily doodle: a quick sketch, even a bad one, sent to them.
33. A custom wake-up: they wake up to your voice.
34. The countdown to your next visit.
35. Photo of the day: each of you shares one ordinary moment.
36. The goodnight call: five minutes before bed, even when it's short.

Planning the next visit

Planning your reunion together is a date in itself. It gives you something to look forward to.

37. Build the itinerary for the next visit: restaurants, walks, activities.
38. Make a wish list of things to do together, like a mini couples bucket list.
39. Book a weekend in a city halfway between you.
40. Plan your "closing the distance" date, even if it's still far off.

How Lomly helps long-distance couples

Lomly, a couples app available on Android and iOS, is built for the little moments that matter when you're apart:

• Home-screen widgets: draw on a shared canvas and your drawing shows up right on your partner's home screen, without them opening the app. The widget also shows your partner's battery level, the distance between you and what they're listening to on Spotify.
• Voice alarms: set your partner's alarm and attach a voice message recorded in your own voice, so they wake up to you even from 1,000 miles away.
• Date matching: each of you swipes date ideas, including activities you can do long-distance. When you both like the same one, it's a match.
• Love notes and shared notes: you get a notification when your partner leaves you a note.
• Shared calendar: keep track of call times, video dates and the day you'll finally see each other again.

Tips for long-distance dates that work

• Respect time zones. Find a slot that isn't a constant sacrifice for one person.
• Plan ahead. An improvised long-distance date often turns into a tired phone call.
• Mix up the format. Alternate video dates, parallel activities and mailed surprises.
• Don't turn every call into a status report. Sometimes you just want to laugh together.
• Allow for space. Being long distance doesn't mean being reachable 24/7.

FAQ

What can long-distance couples do at night?

You can cook the same recipe over video, start a movie at the same time, play an online game or simply read with your cameras on. The goal is to share an activity, not just recap your day.

How do you watch a movie together long distance?

The simplest way is to count down and press play at the same time while staying on a call. Some streaming services and apps also offer group watch features.

How can I surprise my long-distance partner?

A handwritten letter, a care package with their favorite snacks, open-when letters or an alarm in your voice all make your presence feel real. Small, regular gestures often mean the most.

How often should long-distance couples have a date?

One real date a week, on top of everyday texts and calls, is a good starting point for many couples. Adjust it to your schedules and time zones.

How do you feel close in a long-distance relationship?

Combine planned dates, small daily rituals and a shared goal like the date of your next visit. Consistency matters more than how long your calls last.