Road trips are such a great accessible way to take a vacation, plenty of teens hope to get out on their own on a road trip. There are lots of concerns that parents have, but there are also laws to consider.
It is legal for any 16 year old with an unrestricted licence to travel by car across state lines, so a 16 year old can go on a road trip. Teenagers should take plenty of safety precautions for their car and their person. State driving laws vary widely, and many states have curfews for drivers and pedestrians under the age of 18, so arrive at your destinations early.
How should a teenager get ready for a road trip?
What are the nuts and bolts of a teenage road trip? Be sure to check all these things to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip.
The Car
Teens should begin the prep with a visit to the mechanic.
You want to get the basics covered:
Oil Change
Check Tires
Check Belts
Tune Up
Spare Tire
There are lots of things to check on the car before a trip and I am no expert mechanic, so I would head over to Car and Driver to see their checklist.
Get familiar with your insurance policy’s roadside assistance offerings and be sure you have the correct phone number to call in case you need it.
If you do not have good roadside assistance with your normal insurance, add AAA or another roadside assistance program. This is crucial for dead batteries and flat tires. If you have help available it can be fixed easily.
The bottomline is that you need to take every precaution against a mechanical failure on the road.
Pack
Be sure to grab a paper map, I like this one from Rand McNally which is really affordable on Amazon, or you can grab it at most Walmarts or gas stations.
If you find that you lose service or your phone dies, you wont be stuck.
Consider some basic self defence as well, not guns, it is illegal for a 16 year old to carry one in most states and you do not want to cross state lines where laws may be different.
Consider carrying pepper spray, taser, keychain alarm or stun gun. Be practiced with those implements and be sure they are easy to grab in the unlikely case you may need them.
Make sure you have plenty of water. This seems basic, but it is a big deal to have enough water while you are driving. It is easy to get dehydrated on vacation when you are eating new foods, and if you are spending time in the sun you will dry out fast!
I keep a big bundle of water bottles in the trunk and I am glad I do.
Plan
Make sure someone knows where you are at all times.
My family uses Location Sharing on Google Maps. Keep it turned on until you get home. It is important that if anything happens someone knows EXACTLY where you are.
There are other apps like Life360, that will give you more features, but I find them unnecessary. Google Maps works fine for us.
Do not try to drive for more than 2 hours without stopping and pull over if you get tired.
You may find that you can go up to 8 hours of driving in a day, but you should stop every two hours at a well lit gas station or restaurant so you do not become fatigued with the driving.
Plan where you will sleep. This will save you money and keep you safe. Last minute accommodations are more expensive and harder to find.
I have this list of 11 alternatives to a traditional hotel. You may want to discuss your lodging plans with a trusted adult so they can help you make a safe choice.
At this age, the best bet is to go visit friends and family who you love and trust. This is going to be the safest choice in most cases.
If you feel unsafe, trust your gut and get to safety. Have a backup plan and an emergency fund. Carry a credit card or $100 in cash in case you need to make an emergency change of plans.
Arrive Early
There is an old road trip rule 2/2/2 or I have also heard it 3/3/3.
This means drive 2 hours, arrive before 2 and stay 2 nights. Plan to arrive before 2 or 3 pm. Years of travels have proven this to be the best way to have a low stress vacation.
If you are a teen driver this is even more important because many states have a curfew for teenagers. You do not want a fine or a ticket when you are in a new place.
Check the chart below so you are not surprised by these local laws.
State Curfews
In some states you can be pulled over for driving after curfew if you are under 18. These laws are enforceable even if your home state does not have a curfew.
In these situations you are not able to drive home from the traffic stop and must abandon your car and find another ride.
This is terribly inconvenient if you are on a road trip, so check your destination below and avoid that mess.
While a statewide curfew may be midnight to 5, some cities have their own curfew laws, so play it safe.
| State | Curfew for Teenagers |
| Alabama | If you are under 17.5 you may not drive between 12am and 6am |
| Alaska | Under 16 may not drive between 1am and 5am. |
| Arizona | Under 18 may not be in public between 12am and 5am |
| Arkansas | Under 18 may not be in public between 10pm and 5am Sunday through Thursday, 12am and 5am Friday and Saturday. Drivers under the age of 18 may not drive a car between 11pm and 4am even if accompanied by an adult over 21. |
| California | You can not drive between 11pm and 5am with a provisional license. Your license is provisional for the first 12 months you hold it, or until you turn 18. Curfew for teenagers under 18 is between 10pm and 6am. |
| Colorado | Drivers in their first year of license may not drive between 12am and 5am unless accompanied. There is no statewide curfew, but some cities have their own laws for minors. |
| Connecticut | 16 and 17 year olds cannot drive between the hours of 11pm to 5am |
| Delaware | Drivers under 18 may drive between the hours of 6am and 10pm, but must be at a private residence or with a parent or guardian after 10pm. |
| Florida | Florida is very complex:16 year olds cannot drive after 11pm until 6 am 17 year olds must be off the road between 1am and 5am |
| Georgia | 11pm on weekdays and 12am on weekends until 6am anyone 16 or under is considered to be loitering unless accompanied by an adult. |
| Hawaii | Restricted licence holders cannot drive between 11pm and 5am |
| Idaho | Minors cannot be out, driving or walking between midnight and 5am |
| Illinois | Under 18, Weekdays curfew is 10pm to 6amWeekends 11pm to 6am |
| Indiana | Under 18, weekday curfew is 11pm to 5am and weekends 11pm to 5am |
| Iowa | 16 and 17 year olds have a curfew of midnight to 5am |
| Kansas | Midnight to 6am for those 16 and 16. The curfew does not start till 1am on weekends, but still ends at 6am |
| Kentucky | No statewide curfew for minors exists, but cities may impose a curfew, Lexington minors have a curfew of 12 to 6am Henderson County has a minor curfew from 1am to 5am on weekends and 12am to 5am on weekdays. |
| Louisiana | Under 17: 11pm to 4am on weekdays, and midnight to 4am on Friday and Saturday night |
| Maine | Under 18: 10pm to 5am on Sunday – Thursday and 12:01am to 5am Friday and Saturday. |
| Maryland | Under 17: 11:59pm to 5am on weekends and 10pm to 5am on weekdays |
| Massachusetts | No statewide curfew exists, but cities impose their own curfew. In 2009 Mass decided not to arrest youth who violate the curfew, but you can still be fined $50-$300. Boston: 11pm to 5am under 17 |
| Michigan | Under 18: Saturday and Sunday 10pm to 5am, Monday-Friday 12am to 5am |
| Minnesota | 15 to 17 year olds: Weekends 12am to 5am and 11pm to 5am on weekdays. |
| Mississippi | Curfew for all drivers under 16.5 is 10pm to 6am unless driving to and from work. There does not appear to be a statewide curfew. |
| Missouri | State curfew is between 1am and 5am for those under 17, but cities can impose stricter curfews. St Louis curfew: 1am to 6am |
| Montana | Under 18: 11pm to 6am on weekdays and 12:01 to 6am on weekends |
| Nebraska | Under 18: Midnight to 6am |
| Nevada | Under 18: 10pm to 5am Las Vegas has a curfew of 9pm until 6am on the strip and 10pm in other parts of the city unless accompanied by an adult 21 years or older. |
| New Hampshire | 16-21 year olds have a youth license in the state of New Hampshire, those under 18 cannot drive between 1am and 4am.With this longer period of restricted driving, young drivers are more likely to be questioned when driving during late night hours. |
| New Jersey | No statewide curfew exists, but there are a lot of regional curfews that may even be announced by siren. Fines are high so be sure to look at the curfew for the city you will be visiting.Newark: 11pm to 5:30am Jersey Shore: 10pm to 5am |
| New Mexico | Midnight and 5am is the statewide curfew for minors, but may be adjusted in individual cities. |
| New York | Under 18: Between 10pm and 6am |
| North Carolina | North Carolina defines minors as those 13-15, so the curfew does not apply to 16-18 year olds statewide, be sure to check local laws. |
| North Dakota | 18 or under: 1am to 5am |
| Ohio | 16: 11pm to 6am 17: Midnight to 6am |
| Oklahoma | Under 18: 11pm to 6am on weekdays and 12:01am to 6am on weekends |
| Oregon | Under 18: 12am to 4am |
| Pennsylvania | 11pm to 5am for minors unless going to work. The fine is $83 plus $25 court costs if you are found breaking the curfew. |
| Rhode Island | Under 17: No driving between 1am and 5am |
| South Carolina | 16 year olds cannot drive alone after 6pm. This is the earliest driving curfew I found, so arrive early in South Carolina |
| South Dakota | Under 18: 12am to 6am |
| Tennessee | Under 19: 11pm to 6am on weeknights and 12am to 6am on weekends |
| Texas | Under 18: midnight to 6am |
| Utah | Under 18: midnight to 6am |
| Vermont | No statewide driving curfew, but cities may impose their own. Montpelier: 9pm to 6am |
| Virginia | Under 18: 11pm and 5am |
| Washington | Under 18: 9pm to 5am unless accompanied by an adult over 21 |
| West Virginia | Under 18: 10pm to 5am |
| Wisconsin | Under 18: Midnight and 5am unless driving to work or school |
| Wyoming | Under 18: 11pm to 5am |
Be sure that you understand all the limitations and rights of the current licence you hold.
Most states have adopted a graduated licence system that requires you to hold a licence for a number of months before you can travel unaccompanied or during certain hours.
Be sure you find the official information for your state at the state Department of Transportation Site.
How can I travel at 16?
If you have a license issued in any state you may drive legally in any other state. Be sure to be familiar with your state laws regarding any license restrictions as well as any curfew laws imposed by states you are visiting.
16 year olds can also fly, cruise, or travel by train.
Each method of travel has different regulations and restrictions for minors. While you may have been granted some rights and privileges in another state, you are still subject to the laws in the state in which you reside.
Many waive these restrictions if the minor is married.
Can a 16 year old go on a road trip alone?
Parents or guardians should gauge the maturity of their teenager to determine if they think a solo road trip would be a good idea.
Young teenagers are less experienced drivers so they should limit their driving to daytime hours. They should also be sure to share their location with a trusted adult at all times.
Consider safety and security as well as the reliability of their vehicle.
Ultimately the decision must be made with the teen and their parent or guardian. The two should discuss goals of the trip, and possible companions of the trip. Unless the license has restrictions, it is legal for a 16 year old to travel alone during daytime hours. Plan lodging ahead of time to secure a safe place to sleep.
Is it dangerous for a 16 year old to drive at night?
It has been shown many times that younger drivers are more likely to be involved in an accident at night.
States have imposed driving limits on younger drivers to help keep them safe and to prevent accidents.
The Center for Disease Control found in this report that one third of fatal crashes involving 16 and 17 year olds occured after 9pm and 6am.
The CDC recommends that states start the curfew at 9 at night for drivers 16 and 17 years old.
Most states start their curfew between 11 and midnight, but after analyzing the real crash data the CDC believes that driving after 9 shows an increased risk of injury or death.
