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Despite my urging them not to, my kids are growing up (way too fast if you ask me) and doing really fun things like going on road trips with friends and their families WITHOUT ME! I’ve always made them little road trip bags so them growing up is definitely not going to stop me. Here’s a fun DIY bag I made recently and then filled with road trip essentials for my teen.

DIY road trip bag for teens - fun items and a few essentials for a road trip

Since this is a DIY bag you’ll want to figure out how bit to make it first. I like to buy all the road trip “essentials” first and then make up a bag to fit exactly what I bought. Here are some things you can put into a road trip bag for a teen:

  • headphones
  • external charger
  • headphone splitter (to watch movies/vlogs or listen to podcasts with their friends)
  • small fun toys or games (I try to be respectful of the other parents and not get noisy obnoxious “toys”)
  • cards
  • new sunglasses
  • lip balm
  • iTunes gift card to buy new music, movies or apps
  • travel pillow
  • snacks
  • drinks
  • candy
  • Extra® Gum (I found this new Extra® 35-stick pack that comes in a durable/recyclable container with more gum to share!)

DIY road trip bag for teens - fun items and a few essentials for a road tripWhat I love about this packaging is that once he’s done using and sharing all the gum he can use it to keep some of his cords!DIY road trip bag for teens - fun items and a few essentials for a road tripI thought these packs were perfect, so I bought 2 – one for him and one to give to his friend (Extra® Gum Spearmint and Extra® Gum Polar Ice®) and they’ll have plenty to offer the family along the way as well! The could even split them up between their suitcases and backpack to save some for later. My son LOVES gum, especially on road trips so I love how easy it is to send him with the 35-pack so he has plenty!DIY road trip bag for teens - fun items and a few essentials for a road tripHere are all the little things I added. I ended up doing food and drinks separately so he could pick out what he wanted.DIY road trip bag for teens - fun items and a few essentials for a road tripTo make your bag, once you have everything you’re wanting to put inside, find a box around your house that would fit everything in nicely. You’re going to use the box as a form or template.

Start with any paper – scrapbook paper, wrapping paper, or an old map!DIY paper bag from a mapWrap the paper around your box and secure the paper together with tape.DIY paper bag from a mapFold the bottom up like a present.DIY paper bag from a mapTape to secure.DIY paper bag from a mapRemove the box and add some tape to the inside of the bag as well (you can trip the top of your bag at this point as well).DIY paper bag from a mapSince this was going inside another bag I didn’t add handles but you could add ribbon or string handles at this point.DIY paper bag from a map DIY paper bag from a mapFill with all your goodies, close and secure. I used a clothespin so he could use it for his headphones later!DIY road trip bag for teens - fun items and a few essentials for a road trip DIY road trip bag for teens - fun items and a few essentials for a road tripI actually found most everything at Walgreens (easy in, easy out and they have a great variety).aftm-extra-walgreens - 2My boys loved this bag so much they ended up making a few more out of the leftover parts of the map I had. They’re so easy to make, I think we’ll make a few more for birthday parties coming up!DIY road trip bag for teens - fun items and a few essentials for a road trip

Author

Allison Waken is the founder, writer, photographer, and content creator of All for the Memories and All for the Boys.

4 Comments

  1. I LOVE these bags!!
    You could use them for so many different things, but what a fun way to pack surprises for a road trip! #client

  2. Genevieve

    These are PERFFECT!! I’ve made them so many times!!!

  3. I love it some of the stuff is expensive but no biggy