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Road trips with tweens are great! I really think it’s the sweet spot for road trips with kids, seriously. They don’t need a ton of extra stuff, are capable of holding their bladder for more than 10 minutes, AND they’re willing to eat things that aren’t chicken nuggets. The thing, however, that makes road trips with tweens so fun is that despite all that maturity, they are still young enough to see the world as new and exciting. They are always down for roadside stops such a Bigfoot museum or the Sea Lion Caves!

 

Mid-Winter Vacation

This school year, the school scheduled a real mid-winter break and I was thrilled! Northeast Coasters are probably wondering what the big deal is, as they’ve had a mid-winter break (aka “ski break” or “Florida break”) for decades, but here in the PNW, the idea has been slow to catch on. Really slow.

A mid-winter break is perfect for us, though. There isn’t a garden to worry about yet, the chicks are small enough to not really need anything but food, water, and warmth and the weather is too bad for any new projects around the house. Plus, we can finally take advantage of off-season pricing and small crowds! We packed up the car and hit the road.

Packing for the trip

I let the kids pack for themselves. Road trips with tweens – or anything with tweens – are much better when they have a hand in the planning and packing. They had a checklist of items to pack, but anything extra was up to them. (I did have to remind them about toothbrushes… sigh). 

At the ripe old age of 10, they should be responsible for most of their own entertainment. Electronics are a given, but they also chose to pack library books, matchbox cars, coloring supplies and stuffed animals. They may claim to have outgrown these toys, but the toys always make a comeback without the usual access to cable and gaming systems.

Having the kids pack for themselves also meant that I don’t have to guess what would keep them occupied. My list has pared down to ensure that everyone has something to do, wear, sleep with, eat/drink and stop the bleeding with… not six different options of each of those things. And if something is forgotten, they learn to roll with the punches. Life skill win!

Road Trip with tweens Packing List

I have a list of what to be sure to have on hand in the car. Most of it was already in the car, but there are a few things I need for long drives. Like food and snacks, because there is nothing more annoying than the hunger whines. Food is one of those things that you should go overboard on – there is nothing worse than sitting in standstill traffic watching everyone around you enjoying their snacks and drinks, while you get hunger whines. Of everything, however, the most important item was headphones… they are tweens! Click the image to get your free copy!

Car Games For Tweens

Of course, the main event in a road trip is the driving. Trapped in a vehicle with anyone for an extended period can make anyone a little nutty. Unless you have something to do! Books, video games, and movies are always good options, but what happens when the batteries run out? Road games may get a bad rap, but they are fun and will save everyone’s sanity.

Would You Rather is fun question game can be introspective or funny. One person asks another a question asking which of two options would the person rather do or have. The choices can be easy or really difficult, and they lead to some really interesting conversations. Here’s a printable list of questions!

We also play “The Minister’s Cat”. In this game, the players describe a cat using adjectives in turn. Each adjective starts with a different letter, following the alphabet. Each player must repeat in order all of the previous adjectives in order before adding theirs. Watch out for Q!

My kids still like to look for different state license plates. This scavenger hunt printable was also pretty entertaining. We’re still watching out for that elusive Arkansas license plate.

Roadside Attractions

When the kids were younger, I used the McDonald’s app extensively to map out every playland along the way. Now that they’re tweens, the activities they enjoy are little more varied and far more interesting. Roadside museums, short hikes and other types of attractions that give us a chance to stretch our legs and learn something new. The history of Bigfoot or what kind of creatures can be found in local tide pools are great stops along the Oregon Coast. Have the kids pay attention to signs along the road and shout out if they seem something interesting.

What don’t you leave home without?