Whether you are taking a road trip to a city a few hours away, going to another state, or driving from Phoenix, Arizona to Olympia, WA (a distance of 22 hours), I would highly recommend going with your best friends! I can promise you to an uncomfortable ride if you take four teens in a ford ranger, but you will bond and learn to be very patient. Road trips are one thing when you are a kid and your parents beg you to sleep through the whole thing, but once you’re on your own-it’s a whole new adventure!

1. So much music

So much music of every kind, sing-a-longs especially. Don't forget about creating your own music videos to capture the goodness of tired voices in the odd hours of the night pretending we can actually sing! There is plenty of time to yourself while the others are asleep. Use that time to listen to a church sermon or even some stand-up comedy. " Music choices range from Disney music, country, rap to literally everything in between because 22 hours is a lot of songs…

2. Patience

Road trips teach you to have patience with each other. Most importantly you need to learn to have patience with the amount of hours you’re going to be stuck in a vehicle. As the man on a plane once told me, patience is a virtue. And I recommend you keep this virtue in-check.

3. Junk food

The go-to road trip snack of course! I mean who doesn't love some potato chips and licorice so you can have licorice fights while you're stuck sitting in dreaded, unavoidable traffic. Plus, it just seems fitting to have food you don't need to refrigerate when in the car for over 12 hours!

4. The fun way to travel

A plane is convenient and cold but who would want that? I mean a tiny car with multiple bodies and many hours of traveling sounds more adventurous! Taking turns driving and getting an unlimited amount of hours to chat with your best friends is by far better than a two hour flight where it's awkwardly silent because the older folks are playing sudoku. Plus making stops at home-towns, and new food places is by far way more fun! The memories you make, pictures you take and inside jokes will have everyone jealous of your extremely random adventure!

5. Appreciation for your own bed

By all means, most teenagers don't have a problem sleeping at any given moment when in desperate need. But, hours squished in a car causing a crook in your neck and back and every muscle in your body to ache will soon be relieved by the presence of your very own bed. A bed where you can spread out (maybe not so much in the dorm beds) but still it's your own space that won't kill your back or make you sore. These hours on the road will honestly bring out a new profound love and appreciation for your bed, I promise.