Tips When Taking A Road Trip With Teens And Tweens

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Last week I shared some of my road trip plans and dreams for the next year. I am really trying to pack those adventures in at the moment. The boys are growing up fast, and I know they won’t be traveling with us forever. Especially Jack! We have had so many adventures as a family and if I have totally honest I don’t want it to stop. 

But then saying that I am also looking forwards to Chris and I being able to book a cheeky last-minute holiday in school term time. I know I will feel like such a rebel the first few time ha ha.

But for now I am making the most of the precious travel time we have with our gorgeous boys. I am sure they will partake in one holiday a year as they get into their late teens purely for the free travel factor. The key here is keeping it fun.

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Tips When Taking A Road Trip With Teens And Tweens www.extraordinarychaos.com

Tips When Taking A Road Trip With Teens And Tweens www.extraordinarychaos.com

So here are my top tips for planning a road trip with teens. 

Pre Trip

Get them involved in the planning; I have found the more the boys are involved the keener they are about a trip. It’s that old ownership thing isn’t it? If you tell Jack, “Right that is where you are going” he automatically finds reasons not too. If he thinks he is making decisions he is fully co-operative. You could put Joe in a field with a tent at the moment and he would be happy, so lets hope it stays that way for a long time.

Plan stop off adventures, fishing, horse riding and climbing are faves for our adventure mad two. Or even just beach walks and chilled out evenings with dinner and a stay over.

I try to have family conferences over dinner discussing travel wish lists, and really try to consider their choices.

Obvious I know, but ensure you have read up on local rules and regulations for the country you are traveling in. And ensure you have rac multi car insurance. We have multi car and on the times I have used it I have thanked my lucky stars I was covered. Like the time I was stranded in the snow with the boys. I was so glad to see that recovery vehicle. But trust me a teen in a broken down car is not funny.

Tips When Taking A Road Trip With Teens And Tweens www.extraordinarychaos.com

Tips When Taking A Road Trip With Teens And Tweens www.extraordinarychaos.com

Horse Riding In Burgundy,Tips When Taking A Road Trip With Teens And Tweens www.extraordinarychaos.com

 When on the trip:

Make sure they have plenty to do. Sadly the days of colouring books are long gone. Present Jack with a colouring book he would run for the hills. If they have iPad’s check they are charged. Teens never do this! And have power packs as back up or in-car chargers.

Ensure they have a film downloaded to watch on the trip. I make the boys have different films so they can swap. This doesn’t always work as I wont allow to Joe to watch 15s, but if they are similar age it works a treat.

Carry travel sickness pills, bags and wet wipes in case of emergencies. You know for when hubby takes a detour on a country lane saying it’s a short cut that never ever turns out that way.

Also ensure you have a good collection of snacks, boiled sweets and a picnic is also great idea as it gives you a reason to stop and take a breather, let everyone have a stretch and recharge their batteries, especially if they start to get grumpy.

Let them take their pillows, if they are comfy and get the odd nap hey are happy. Teens are like toddlers they need loads of sleep. This is wonderful on car journeys, as like toddlers they get sleepy in the car.  I am often tempted to take Jack for a drive ha ha.

So there you have it, my mini survival techniques for a road trip with teens, and I will continue developing strategies as a long as I can keep these crazy guys in the Christie travel crew.

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My Tops Tips When Taking A Road Trip With Teens

32 thoughts on “Tips When Taking A Road Trip With Teens And Tweens”

    • Ha ha yes I have made this error before, but if you are organised it makes it so much easier doesn’t it ? x

      Reply
  1. I definitely took my pillow with me everywhere. It seems wrong to do that now as an adult even though I love my pillow. I think getting teens involved in the planning is great. My parents always just planned it and I went along, not knowing where we were going. #MondayEscapes

    Reply
    • Yes i know exactly what you mean, I love my pillow too. And yes getting them involved seems like the way forward x

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  2. Great tips – my daughetrs are 11 and 9 now and already I can start to see my eldest not wanting to do things with us anymore. I;m clinging on to my 5 year old to be my companion still. Sarah #MondayEscapes

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    • Ah its funny Jack was so adamant last year he didn’t want to travel with us, but now seems to be coming through that x

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  3. I’m just about ready to do a road trip with my kids. I think they have to be old enough to be a little bit self sufficient, and actually, I think teens are well-suited, given the variation and the activities to prevent boredom reminding them that they are not supposed to like hanging out with their parents 🙂

    Love love love the top photo!

    Reply
    • Ha ha yes we are actually quite cool. But yes if you plan it well then the experience is just so much better x

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  4. Love these tips and I feel a bit like I’m looking into my future with two teen boys 🙂 iPads and sticker books work a treat right now but I know they won’t forever. I already have to let Z “make the decision” by giving him two choices (one atrocious one so I know he’ll go for the other!).

    Reply
  5. Involving them in the choice of destination is a great idea – and a tonne of technology to keep them entertained! You look like you had a wonderful time, I’m pleased to see the teens still like fishing with Dad and doing some family activities. I hope mine do when we get to that point! #MondayEscapes

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  6. I feel like your tips are applicable to people doing a road trip together (not only to teens). I pack tons of snacks, make sure I have good music and charge all my devices. I try to keep electronics to a minimum on road trips but sometimes they are needed. #MondayEscapes

    Reply
  7. I think travelling with teens is much the same as travelling with toddlers! They still need entertainment, snacks, loo stops and naps haha! I agree, get them involved in the planning too. My son is 21 and still comes away with us for the odd trip – you won’t get rid of them that easily 😉
    #mondayescapes

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  8. we travelled 4000 miles in 3 weeks in America with 4 kids aged 8, 11, 14 and 18 in 2007, we had all the above in place for the kids, but forgot us, if i was doing it again i think i’d invest in a good pair of noise cancelling headphones for my turn as a passenger and maybe invest in a taxi style vehicle with a glass window so i could shut the noise off
    #mondayescapes

    Reply
  9. Like you Sarah I have found that having things to do is essential. My teens are not up for just sitting and sunbathing. They need a plan and lots of activities. Our road trip to the US was great for that as there was lots to see and do. Other than that our must have is a charger for the car for their IPads so they can watch movies whilst we admire the scenery and chat! Great tips. #MondayEscapes

    Reply

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