Gifts for the road trip - teen addition 😆

[Squishie]

Ten years+ ago, we always made the road trip fun for our kids. It’s a 15 hr trip so I would pack small dollar tree fun things for each state we entered. Stickers, coloring books, cheap stuff but exciting and fun. They would get one or two things each time we crossed a state line.

The kids are teens now and I would love to make it fun with a throwback, but they obviously aren’t into the exact same things. . I need some new ideas that won’t break the bank - cheaper the better! But also not just junk, ya know?? Ages are 18 and 16, boy and girl. Also have a tween boy I need ideas for!

Anything else you know of to make the long trip fun - let me know!! It will be all drive no play - as straight through as we can.

 

[fla4fun]

Ten years+ ago, we always made the road trip fun for our kids. It’s a 15 hr trip so I would pack small dollar tree fun things for each state we entered. Stickers, coloring books, cheap stuff but exciting and fun. They would get one or two things each time we crossed a state line.

The kids are teens now and I would love to make it fun with a throwback, but they obviously aren’t into the exact same things. . I need some new ideas that won’t break the bank - cheaper the better! But also not just junk, ya know?? Ages are 18 and 16, boy and girl. Also have a tween boy I need ideas for!

Anything else you know of to make the long trip fun - let me know!! It will be all drive no play - as straight through as we can.

It’s funny you should post this. My sister and I had specific traditions when we went on road trips as kids, and they still stand out in our memories. So much so that when she and my BIL didn’t give me any birthday suggestions, and knowing they were going on a stressful road trip with three days of driving on either end, I made up a “Road Trip Fun Pack” for them to take along. As kids we got coloring books, games, puzzles, snacks, and things like that. So I bought two adult coloring books (one for each in their specific interests), colored pencils, a manual pencil sharpener, Mad Libs (Google if you aren’t familiar), some Kind Bars, a Cracker Barrel gift card, and a packing cube with a handle to put it all in. They were so pleased! It didn’t cost me much (in fact, I gave them other gifts too) but it was fun and appreciated.

So my suggestion is to think about what your kids liked best from the past and adapt it to a more mature version of the item. If they like tech, maybe give them a small gift card to download a new movie, game, or app to use on the road, or a new bag to organize everything in so things don’t get lost or left behind at hotels. Do they need new cables or chargers? Take their favorite snacks and drinks, or give them gift cards to their favorite roadside restaurants so they can buy and choose for themselves.

 

[Squishie]

It’s funny you should post this. My sister and I had specific traditions when we went on road trips as kids, and they still stand out in our memories. So much so that when she and my BIL didn’t give me any birthday suggestions, and knowing they were going on a stressful road trip with three days of driving on either end, I made up a “Road Trip Fun Pack” for them to take along. As kids we got coloring books, games, puzzles, snacks, and things like that. So I bought two adult coloring books (one for each in their specific interests), colored pencils, a manual pencil sharpener, Mad Libs (Google if you aren’t familiar), some Kind Bars, a Cracker Barrel gift card, and a packing cube with a handle to put it all in. They were so pleased! It didn’t cost me much (in fact, I gave them other gifts too) but it was fun and appreciated.

So my suggestion is to think about what your kids liked best from the past and adapt it to a more mature version of the item. If they like tech, maybe give them a small gift card to download a new movie, game, or app to use on the road, or a new bag to organize everything in so things don’t get lost or left behind at hotels. Do they need new cables or chargers? Take their favorite snacks and drinks, or give them gift cards to their favorite roadside restaurants so they can buy and choose for themselves.

This is awesome!! Thank you so much!! I hadn’t thought about madlibs - I bet they would laugh so much together doing them.

 

[GinnyBear's_mom]

The Cracker Barrel gift cards are a fantastic idea for a road trip- thank you!

 

[Woodview]

Vidio Games & Headphones They are modern Teenagers

 

[Princess Melody]

Things I pack for my now teenager who used to get fun road trip bags when she was younger- new, long charging cable that can be used in the car (our charging ports are in the front seat), favorite non melting candy and some fun new candy/snacks, a new sketch pad or journal and some drawing supplies, a word search or other game book from dollar tree, a new book/graphic novel or two (even though it’s unlikely she’ll use them), a card game or a car bingo game, a small new stuffed animal. When she was a tween I’d do headphones but now she’s particular with which ones she uses & prefers to use her normal, better quality, noise cancelling ones. Small bracelet making or other craft kit if they are into that. Could also do a small travel pillow and/or blanket if they’ll use those things but we use existing ones from home. Small amount gift cards for places you may be stopping along the way or cash in an envelope stating what it’s for (ie if I know we’ll be stopping at Buc-ees I’ll do $5-$10 cash with a note it’s to be spent there). Or you can do $ or a gift card to download a new game or movie of their choice if they’d be into that. I hit up Five Below and see if they have any small fun stuff related to her current favorite interest. Mine honestly spends the majority of the time playing on her phone though even with the little extra stuff & road trips are so much easier than when she was younger. Snacks are key-pack lots and lots of fun new or favorite snacks!

 

[katyjeka]

Since they are older and no longer need entertained I would surprise them with things they can use when you arrive. A Disney gift card, pair of socks, removable disney sticker for their phone case, hair scrunchies for your daughter.

 

[MouseLover]

Check your local Burlington Coat Factory for actual park merchandise at cheap prices. My daughter has bought several sets of Minnie Ears for $4-7, Main Attraction plushies for $10, park tshirts, and official pins. Most recently she bought a pair of Tweedle Dee/Tweedle Dum pillows for $20. I don’t think these were park’s merchandise but might be welcome on a road trip.

 

[kwdw]

Snacks (sweet and savory) and gift cards for buying entertainment on their phones. I do think a Mad Libs book might be a hoot for all of you. Maybe a new electronic accessory they can use on the trip. I also think a small silly toy will be a winner - maybe a small brain teaser puzzle to figure out, or even a small stuffed animal or plastic car toy - reminding them of when they were little and you did that is sentimental - even to them. Wrap everything and don't let them open everything at once - stagger it on the trip (your state line thing still works at that age). We fought over "whose pillow is that" in hotel rooms as teens - so maybe a unique pillowcase to use in the hotel room? Maybe something that is a travel toiletry item that they might use again (a new dopp kit, travel storage), new toohbrush. Have fun with it!

 

[Beckyb3]

Ten years+ ago, we always made the road trip fun for our kids. It’s a 15 hr trip so I would pack small dollar tree fun things for each state we entered. Stickers, coloring books, cheap stuff but exciting and fun. They would get one or two things each time we crossed a state line.

The kids are teens now and I would love to make it fun with a throwback, but they obviously aren’t into the exact same things. . I need some new ideas that won’t break the bank - cheaper the better! But also not just junk, ya know?? Ages are 18 and 16, boy and girl. Also have a tween boy I need ideas for!

Anything else you know of to make the long trip fun - let me know!! It will be all drive no play - as straight through as we can.

I am actually trying to figure out ideas for my crew too for the plane and at restaurants. I was going to suggest mad libs too. My kids are a bit younger tween/teen but we have a lot of fun with that and there are so many different themed ones. Snacks are always a good choice. Maybe baseball cards if either of them collect them or a would you rather teen addition book that you can all play. There is a phone card game we got my niece that was fun too. They could play that in the car. It’s definitely so much harder (and more expensive) doing this as they get older!

 

[tinkerjo]

Travel games like Yahtzee, UNO, regular playing cards are always good. Snacks are always a hit!!! (And lots of them) BUT all that being said, my teens usually chose to sleep most the way down

 

[greeneyedchick]

My kids will play with rubiks cubes and all of the variations of them (pyramid, hexagon, etc.) We are a bit constrained due to car sickness. Books are out. Maybe a 1 month membership to audbile if they like audio books