Any tips for 3-5 teenagers going on their first road trip from new jersey to chicago to visit a friend?

Question

we don't plan on stopping at hotels during the way and just drive the whole 11-13 hours out.

Answer 1

Yes, stay in the slow lane and keep up with traffic and don't forget the toll card pass or a pocket full of quarters!

Answer 2

I have done this trip at least 25-30 times over the past 35 years.
i have done it in all seasons w/all kinds of vehicles
The biggest danger you will encounter is the fact that you have 3-5 teenagers in the vehicle.
That many people can and do create a lot of distractions
So it is critically important that you and your friends be aware of this and come to some kind of arrangement regarding distracting behavior.
When driving at high speeds on a major truck route-which I-80 is -life can go from very safe to very dangerous very fast
If you're sitting behind a semi that you can't see around and that semi changes lanes quickly . You too must change lanes immediately. The reason being is that here is only one reason a semi changes lanes: Because there is a slow moving vehicle in front of him which you can't see. At highway speeds you will have maybe 1-1.5 seconds from to time you see the mystery vehicle until you hit it.
Move with the truck !!!
If you need to pass trucks they're easier to pass uphill than down hill and PA is really hilly so you're going to have a lot of opportunities
This trip takes around 15-17 hours not the11-13 that you said and good old irresponsible mapquest suggested.
the real world average over the road speed for anything East of the Mississippi is 50 mph. This allows for traffic , call of nature and other things.
Get gas as soon as you get into PA , Youngstown Ohio and as soon as you get off the Indiana toll road-since gas is cheaper in IN than IL
Youngstown is also a good spot to grab a lunch break because from then on you will be on toll roads like the NJTPKE and the awful and expensive food that goes with it
It is safer driving from dark to light than light to dark so start your trip at 4:00 am and almost all of it will be in daylight
Changing drivers more than once is of dubious value. Find the two best long distance drivers in your group and let them do it-
Be careful and have fun

Answer 3

Rent a nice car to take up there: If it was just two, I'd recommend a Porsche 911 Targa 4, but for more I'd recommend a newer-model Honda Odyssey EX-L. Also, stick to the back roads whenever possible, and follow the speed limit. You'll have much more fun there then on the highway.

Don't forget to buckle up, take some food, and fill the tank before you leave. Have a great trip.

P.S. Make sure you have some sort of roadside assistance program like from a car manufacturer or through AAA. Nobody's parents are going to feel like driving 600 miles because you locked the keys in the car.

Answer 4

I would suggest having someone who is in AAA get a trip tick for you guys. Then make sure you pack some sandwiches, chips, sodas or waters, and some candy in case of car sickness. Have extra money or a credit card from someone's parent in case of emergency. Make sure you guys have a cellphone, spare tire in car is good ( somebody knows how to change it), don't talk to strangers, even strange girls, just be careful and have fun. If you guys take a cooler with food it's easier that way you can't get off the highway and turn around and get lost, plus you guys will save time by not stopping. Also, not sure baout gas usage, but when your tank gets to 1/2 I would stop in fuel up just to be safe. Have fun, it sounds like you guys will have a blast, just use your senses and pretend that someone's parent is only 2 cars behind you guys that way you won't get into too much trouble.

Answer 5

properly, i might say the dvd is an surprising concept at first. i might propose that in the process a heartbeat, yet seeing because it already has been..... i might make certain you have snacks and beverages for effective. a brilliant number of wipes. Then convey a bag with some prominent toys. And video games like vehicle bingo would be grat, even for the three 12 months previous. they might help locate issues alongside with something of them, if no longer have their very own card to play with. Card video games, like bypass fish and previous maid are sturdy. Then there is the aqua doodle shuttle pads and magnadoodles. There are those quite cool issues referred to now as bypass paint and that they have got particular packs somewhat for shuttle. So, that could be a sturdy concept, what youngster does not like to color. (back yet another sturdy rationalization for a brilliant number of wipes.) sturdy previous vogue paper and crayons and coloring books. purely books often are a sturdy concept. to your 3 12 months previous somewhat a clean e book approximately occurring a visit, no longer a foul concept for the 5 12 months previous the two. That way they might study slightly approximately occurring a visit. wish that enables slightly. If i think of of something quite sturdy i'm going to make it easier to be attentive to.

Answer 6

Don't. Teenagers don't belong on the road. They have poor attention spans, and poor judgement. Teenagers don't have any place that is that important for them to usually go to that requires them to drive. Three to five teenagers in a car for a road trip is not a good idea. Take the bus or train.

Answer 7

Don't get in a car accident. You could die that way. Seriously, switch drivers every couple of hours and make sure the driver isn't too distracted.

Answer 8

Always click your seat belt.

Never drink and drive.

Never have any alcohol in the car.

Never allow passengers to drink in the car.

Take money.

Answer 9

dont pick up hitch hikers, dont make fun of truck drivers--they might just end up killing you at a rest stop, drink only bottled water, not water from local taps, and bring plenty of road maps

Answer 10

becareful out there.....enjoy your trip. take lots of breaks and never let everyone sleep except that drive at anytime... this will make the driver more sleepy