Choosing the perfect gift for a tween is not always easy. Selecting a gift for children between 9 and 12 years old can be challenging because they now have their own preferences on what they do and don’t like. So, if your tween is into traveling or has an upcoming family vacation, choosing one of these travel gifts for tweens is the way to go!
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Traveling with tweens is a great way to encourage exploration and learning. There are many benefits to raising kids who love to travel and see the world. Tweens who travel have a better understanding of different cultures, cuisine, history, architecture, and more. It is very important to show your child(ren) the world. Choosing the best travel gifts for tweens will help to instill in them a desire to travel, explore, and seek adventure.
In this in-depth article, we discuss where to travel with tweens, and provide insight into the 50 Best Travel Gifts for Tweens. This includes a list with affiliate links to the products. Followed by more detailed descriptions and images of the items so you can learn more about travel accessories for tweens, tween travel essentials, travel bags for tweens, and travel gear for tweens. Plus, what to pack for tweens on a plane, more popular gift ideas for tweens, and a consideration of what to do instead of traveling with gifts.
Other related articles
You may also be interested in our articles about The 10 Most Popular Travel Gifts for Dad, our Holiday Travel Gift Guide for Mom, or Choosing The Best Travel Gifts for Kids. Maybe you’re event looking for Non-Toy Gift Ideas For Kids or how about Road Trip Activities for Kids Age 9-12 years.
In the meantime, let’s keep reading to learn more about Travel Gifts for Tweens that they will actually love and use!
Where to Travel with Tweens?
Let’s start with looking at why and where to travel with your tween.
Once your child(ren) hits the tween years, you enter a sweet spot where travel can become a lot of fun. The world is opening up to them, they have a greater appreciation of visiting new places, and they will remember the experience for the rest of their life. Traveling with tweens is much easier than traveling with a baby, toddler, or preschooler.
Providing your tween the opportunity to travel is a gift. However, not all families choose or can travel with their children. Planning to travel with your child(ren) provides the benefit of spending time together on a family trip. It will help strengthen your family bond and allows you the space to make special memories with the people you love most. Therefore, planning a family vacation is the greatest travel gift for parents of a tween.
Therefore, if you are looking for ideas about where to travel with tweens, check out these articles about the Top Family Vacation Destinations in the US, the Best Spring Break Destinations for Families, or Popular Fall Break Destinations For Families. We also have Multi-Generational Travel Ideas For Families, which are perfect when traveling with grandparents. You may also consider going River Tubing with Children or Snow Tubing with Kids, which is great fun for tweens and the whole family!
What are the 50 Best Travel Gifts for Tweens in 2022?
We have the best travel gift ideas for parents of a tween or anyone looking to choose travel gifts for tweens. We have a tween in our home, so all of these gift ideas are tween approved!
These travel gifts for tweens make the perfect travel gifts for Christmas, birthdays, Easter, Hannukah, or any gift-giving occasion. If you are wondering what to give to students as gifts, then choose one (or more) of these kids’ travel gifts which also make the perfect travel gift for a family vacation.
Here are our favorite gifts for tweens who travel. Don’t miss number 38 – it’s a hilariously inappropriately appropriate game for mischief makers!
Top 50 Travel Gifts for Tweens
If you need a quick gift guide for tween approved travel gifts check out this list with affiliate links to all the items. Keep reading the article below for images, links and more detailed descriptions of these travel gifts for tweens.
- Volume Limiting Headphones for Tweens
- Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
- Instant Camera
- Nintendo Switch Lite
- Apple Airpods
- Passport Cover
- International Travel Adapter
- Mini Jewelry Travel Case
- Seasonal Lip Balm
- Period Underwear
- Toiletry Bag
- Character Suitcase
- Harry Potter Suitcase
- Lightweight Carry-on Suitcase for Tween
- Overnighter Duffel Bag
- Travel Backpack
- Rolling Backpack
- Mini Backpack Purse for Tween Girls
- Crossbody Purse
- Waist Pack
- Small Travel Tote
- Luggage Tag
- Packing Cubes
- Reusable Water Bottle
- Thermos for Hot Food
- One-Person Table Set for Camping
- Waterproof Stickers
- Binoculars
- Headlamp
- Travel Pillow
- Coloring Books for Girls
- Books for Tweens
- Riddle Book for Tweens
- Jewelry Making Kit
- Would You Rather Game
- Games on the Go!
- Bananagrams
- Not Parent Approved Card Game
- Family Talk Car Travel Game
- Tween Coloring Book
- Single Person Game
- Fidget Toy
- Flashing Cube
- Rainbow Scratch-Off Craft
- Travel Journal
- Trip Planning Guide
- Scooter
- Travel Necklace
- Journal Notebook
- Snorkeling Gear
- Packable Hammock
Travel Accessories for Tweens
These travel accessories for tweens are electronic gift ideas that tweens will love and use while traveling. Some of these are higher priced items for older children who are more responsible not to lose or damage electronic gifts for tweens.
1. Volume Limiting Headphones for Tweens
A PopTime Wireless Headset offers tweens an extended safe audio session with two listening settings to choose from – Safe Mode (85dB) and POP Mode (94dB). This is the ideal headphone to use while traveling and to protect the hearing of the next generation.
2. Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
The JBL Flip 4 is a waterproof Bluetooth speaker for up to 12 hours of wireless streaming. It is portable, durable and includes noise-cancelling speakerphone and voice assistant. A Bluetooth speaker makes the ideal travel gift for tweens who want to rock it out on the beach, at the campsite, or in their hotel room.
3. Instant Camera
The Kodak Printomatic Instant Camera is a popular travel accessory for tweens that instantly prints vibrant 2×3″ photos. The photo prints are durable, water-resistant, tear resistant and smudge free. The compact design fits neatly in your tweens pocket making the camera easy to carry while traveling. Comes in Variety of Fun, Bold Colors. Instant cameras are the perfect travel gifts for 10 year-olds who are looking to capture memories on their travel adventures.
4. Nintendo Switch Lite
Tweens will appreciate the portability and long battery life of the stylish handheld Nintendo Switch Lite. Your tween will be more than a little excited with a Nintendo game console. Preteen boys make this the top of their travel list and it is one of those travel gifts for tweens that is useful for long travel days.
5. Apple Airpods
If your tween is mature and responsible enough to keep up with a small electronic item, then the Apple AirPods is a popular travel accessory. These wireless earbuds are Bluetooth headphones for an iPhone, they are sweat and water-resistant with up to 30 hours of battery life.
Tween Travel Essentials
Tweens would love to travel will need these travel essentials that include a passport cover and travel adapter for international adventurers. There are more affordable travel essentials for tweens that make great stocking stuffers. These are practical travel gifts for tweens that they will actually use on their vacation.
6. Passport Cover
This mint stripe Passport Cover Holder and Luggage Tag Set is one of the tween travel essentials for any kid heading overseas. A half-size pocket slot on the inside left holds essential documents. Passport covers make great travel gifts for tweens who are taking a travel adventure. Available in a variety of colors and designs for boys and girls.
7. International Travel Adapter
An International Travel Adapter will let your tween charge their devices overseas without frying them! Unidapt travel adapters cover over 160 countries with US/UK/EU/AU plugs, allowing your tween to charge up to 4 devices at once. A travel adapter is the perfect gift for a tween world traveler in the making!
8. Mini Jewelry Travel Case
This small, lightweight, portable, and easy-to-carry Mini Jewelry Case is ideal for travel. It will help your tween to organize their jewelry, including rings, earrings, and necklaces. A travel-sized jewelry case will never go out of style and is a travel essential they will use for years to come! Available in a variety of colors.
9. Seasonal Lip Balm
Travel-sized toiletries make handy travel gifts for 10-year-olds and older. This holiday flavor Burt’s Bees Lip Balm set is a perfect gender-neutral stocking stuffer for tweens.
10. Period Underwear
Period Panties make great travel gifts for teenage girls and tweens who get their period. Thinx Period Underwear is lightweight and leakproof, it comes in many designs, colors, and styles. It is reusable, making it an eco-friendly travel gift for tweens.
11. Toiletry Bag
A Travel Toiletry Bag is another tween travel essential needed by boys and girls. This foldable, portable and lightweight bag is suitable for travel and easy for your tween to take wherever they go. The hassle-free drawstring bag can be used to organize toiletries, brushes, art supplies, toys, or small items needed for travel. Available in 4 colors.
Travel Bags for Tweens
Ultimately, your tween needs somewhere to pack these travel items, whether a suitcase, a backpack, or even a small bag for day trips. These are also suitable gifts for teenage travelers and something your tween will use for many years. And don’t forget to add a tracking device to your bags such as Apple AirTag to avoid lost luggage.
12. Character Suitcase
This Disney suitcase is the ideal gift for a tween headed to Disney on a family vacation. It is a lightweight 20-inch carry-on spinner rolling suitcase that tweens can pack and maneuver themselves. These hard-sided character suitcases are available in various popular designs that tweens love.
Add our Disney World Planning Guide to help parents plan the perfect Disney vacation for their families.
13. Harry Potter Suitcase
This Hogwarts Express Hard-Sided Suitcase is an excellent travel gift for tweens who love Harry Potter. It is a 21 inch spinner rolling carry-on suitcase for kids and pairs well with the Harry Potter Luggage tag we detail in the section below.
14. Lightweight Carry-on Suitcase for Tween
It may not be as fun as a character suitcase, but Travelpro luggage is very good quality and a useful travel gift for tweens that they will use for many years to come. First recommended to us by a friend whose husband is a pilot, Travelpro is the brand of choice for frequent travelers and flight crews worldwide.
Our favorite 21-inch carry-on suitcase in the Travelpro Platinum Elite-Softside Expandable Spinner. This would be one of the most used travel gifts for tweens that would also be appreciated by their parents.
15. Overnighter Duffel Bag
Tweens love having options that let them do things their own way, and this kids duffle bag for travel gives them just that! Each duffle bag for traveling comes complete with a removable padded shoulder strap, for those times when your tween wants to sling it over their shoulder and be on their way. The kids overnight duffle bag also has two durable carrying straps at the top for children who prefer a hand-held design.
An overnight duffle bag is the perfect travel accessory for tweens headed to a sleepover, traveling to grandmas, or for a short family trip. Available in a wide selection of colors, designs and styles.
16. Travel Backpack
This stylish High Sierra Loop Travel Backpack for Tweens is ideal for a weekend getaway, an airplane carry-on bag, or a day pack for your family vacation. Most tweens love the independence of carrying their own stuff, and now they can do it in style! Available in over 30 color options in various sizes and styles suitable for girls and boys.
17. Rolling Backpack
The Volkano Backpack with Wheels is a padded and breathable rolling trolley bag. Its 27-liter capacity makes it an ideal casual daypack for tweens that can also double as an overnight bag for a short family getaway. These travel bags for tweens are suitable for girls or boys and available in pink or blue.
18. Mini Backpack Purse for Tween Girls
A small backpack purse for tween girls is ideal for day trips and short travel. It can hold a wallet, keys, cell phone, makeup, and other small accessories.
19. Crossbody Purse
A crossbody purse is a great travel gift for 8 year old girls and preteens to carry around everything they need. This machine washable purse for tweens with a zipper closure can fit a wallet, lip balm, phone, snacks, and a couple of other small items. With an adjustable strap it is comfortable for tweens to use everyday, for travel, sightseeing, as an airplane personal item, or for a weekend trip. Available in a selection of colors and designs.
20. Waist Pack
An adidas Originals Sport Waist Pack is a trendy and practical travel gift for tweens. This product is made with recycled content as part of an ambition to end plastic waste. The multiple zippered pockets give your tween plenty of storage space, and there is interior earbud and charger storage. This festival bag with an adjustable waist strap is ideal for travel, on an airplane, at amusement parks, or for sightseeing in a city. This is a trendy gift for 9-year-olds and is available in a variety of colors suitable for boys for girls.
21. Small Travel Tote
A small make up bag is an ideal gift for a tween girl who needs to organize toiletries, hair accessories, carry-on items or event to carry small items like cords or toys. Available in a variety of designs.
Travel Gear for Tweens
When looking for kid travel gift ideas choosing practical travel gear is something your tween (and their parents) will find helpful. And at least you know you are purchasing travel gifts for tweens that will get used on a trip and not get lost under their bed!
Essential travel gear for tweens on a family vacation includes luggage tags, packing cubes, water bottles, neck pillows, backpacking gear and more for travel and camping with kids.
22. Luggage Tag
This Harry Potter Platform Nine And Three Quarters Luggage Tag is a great gift for Harry Potter fans. A fun luggage tag will make spotting your tween’s luggage much easier. This travel gear for tweens is something they will use, which makes a luggage tag the ideal travel gift for tweens.
23. Packing Cubes
Using packing cubes while traveling is a helpful way to keep everything organized and the mesh top panel makes it easy to identify the contents. This is an essential travel accessory for tweens and all travelers, especially if you’re traveling with a carry-on suitcase or small backpack. Packing cubes can hold individual outfits, or you can use them to organize by day, by type of activity, or by type of clothing. Available in a variety of colors and sizes.
Do you need help packing for a family vacation with a baby, toddler, or kids? Use these Printable Packing Lists for your next family road trip, beach vacation, or flight with children.
24. Reusable Water Bottle
A Reusable Water Bottle is the ideal gift for tweens who travel. This 16 oz container is available in MANY different colors and designs. It is an insulated 12-hour cold drink stainless steel thermos, and the BEST part… it does not sweat when filled with ice!
Our family has these Thermos Funtainer water bottles in various sizes and colors for the entire family, and we use them at home and on the go. This reusable water bottle makes the perfect family travel gift for tweens.
25. Thermos for Hot Food
This 17 oz Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Lunch Container helps keep food hot or cold for a long time. With a built-in soup spoon, this is a leakproof thermal food jar that tweens can use at school and while camping or traveling.
26. One-Person Table Set for Camping
This table set is easy to pack, stack, and carry for all your tween outdoor dining needs. The lightweight dinnerware washes up easily and can be conveniently stored in the included mesh bag. A one-person table set is a practical gift for tweens who love camping and exploring the outdoors.
27. Waterproof Stickers
A packet of cute stickers for tween girls is a fun way to decorate laptops, water bottles, hydro flasks, skateboards, helmets, notebooks, luggage, scooter, locker, and more. Waterproof Stickers are affordable and a popular gift for tweens they will love and use (especially to decorate their travel gear)! Available in a wide variety of sticker designs for tween boys and girls.
28. Binoculars
A pair of Binoculars are the perfect gift for tweens who travel, because they are compact, lightweight, and excellent for learning. Use binoculars for airplane games and exploring on family adventures. Available in 6 colors, binoculars are popular travel gear for boys and girls.
29. Headlamp
An LED Headlamp is the perfect travel gift for tweens who want to take night hikes, explore a campsite at night, read after dark, or even for a shadow puppet play. Choose a headlamp that is lightweight, waterproof, and with a comfortable headband.
30. Travel Pillow
A Neck Pillow for Travel provides your tween with support to their head, neck, and chin, in any sleeping position on flights or in the car. A comfortable airplane travel pillow is amongst the essential travel gear for tweens, making it one of the best travel gifts for tweens.
What to Pack on a Plane for Tweens
When flying with tweens, or even when taking a family road trip, your journey should include travel games, craft or activity sets, coloring, printable travel games, fidgets or small toys, books (including podcasts and audiobooks), screen time, movies, music, and kid-friendly travel snacks.
Here are our travel gift recommendations to help you know what to pack on a plane for tweens. These travel gifts for tweens will also come in useful on a family road trip. For more ideas, check out these Road Trip Activities for Kids Ages 9-12 years.
31. Coloring Books for Girls
This coloring book is about building a girl’s imagination, confidence, and spirit! The 22+ coloring pages encourage girls to think beyond social conventions. It will inspire conversations with adults about what it means to be confident, beautiful, and brave.
32. Books for Tweens
Do you know a tween who wants to impress their friends and family with useful, worthless, and interesting facts? The Interesting Facts For Curious Minds book has 1,572 random but mind-blowing facts about history, science, pop culture, and everything in between. This book makes the ideal travel gift for 8-year-old boys and girls who are tweens.
33. Riddle Book for Tweens
The Difficult Riddles For Smart Kids book is a #1 best seller. This book for tweens age 10 plus is a collection of 300 brain teasing riddles and puzzles. Encourage your tween to think and stretch their mind. This is a popular travel activity for kids, and ideal for someone who is wondering what to pack on a plane for tweens.
34. Jewelry Making Kit
Craft kits are great travel activities for tweens. This Friendship Bracelet-Making Kit allows your tween to make at least 15 bracelets for their closest friends. A portable jewelry-making kit is convenient for storage and easy to bring with you on the go. This is a trendy gift for 9-year-olds.
35. Would You Rather Game
The classic Would You Rather Game with over 200 questions and 600 answers. Tweens love Sussed? because it is a wacky travel-sized game that will fill your journey with funny conversations.
36. Games on the Go!
Turn family road trips and moments of in-between time into great family fun. Games on the Go is a collection of 50 games and activities that can be played anywhere at any time. This portable card game is ideal for tweens and will be enjoyed by the whole family.
37. Bananagrams
While this game is easy to play, Bananagrams is also educational. Teach your tween how to spell words and have fun at the same time. This anagram game will drive you bananas as you race against each other to build crossword grids. Bananagrams doesn’t take up much space like other board games and brings tons of fun while traveling.
38. Not Parent Approved Card Game
Not Parent Approved is a fun card game that brings kids, tweens, teens, and everyone in the family together for a good time. This is a great travel gift for 8 year old and up. It is loved by boys and girls, and will liven up a family gathering making it perfect entertainment while traveling on a family road trip.
39. Family Talk Car Travel Game
Family Talk is a creative and engaging game that allows for hilarious conversations and discussions to spark with every question in seconds! This portable travel game is a fun choice of travel gifts for boys and girls. It can be taken anywhere for family fun, no matter where the day may take you, whether at the park, dinner table, in the car or on a plane.
40. Tween Coloring Book
This coloring book incorporates a variety of detailed designs and creates hours of coloring fun for the older color enthusiast! Suitable for girls and boys, a coloring book is an ideal gift for tweens who love to travel.
41. Single Person Game
SmartGames IQ XOXO is a travel game featuring 120 challenges for tweens and older. This single person game is travel-friendly with its compact size and portable travel case. Help your tween build concentration skills, problem-solving abilities, spatial insight, logic, and planning skills.
42. Fidget Toy
POP, POP, POP! The original infinite popping toy for kids and tweens. Squashing the buttons with their thumb or fingers helps your child calm down and regain focus in even the most stressful situations. A fidget toy is small and lightweight and an ideal distraction during what could be a stressful situation such as traveling or flying.
43. Flashing Cube
Flashdash offers 4 quick-coordination games in a unique light-up cube design. This handheld game is great for travel and helps improve memory, brain skills and hand-eye coordination. The volume is adjustable and can be muted entirely so your tween won’t disturb other travelers. This flashing cube is a fun travel gift for tweens up to 12 years old.
44. Rainbow Scratch-Off Craft
Your child can use these scratch art supplies to swipe the wooden stylus from a black surface to reveal the color below and draw pictures according to their imagination. The Rainbow Scratch-Off Craft is safe and non-toxic. It is a compact and no-mess craft ideal for entertaining your tween while they travel.
Popular Travel Gift Ideas for Tweens
We have covered a wide selection of travel gear for tweens, including tween approved travel accessories and tween travel essentials for flying or road trips. Here are more miscellaneous items that are popular travel gift ideas for tweens.
45. Travel Journal
Whether you’re traveling by car, plane, train, or hot-air balloon, family trips are bursting with fun memories in the making! Now your tween can record their adventures in The Ultimate Travel Journal. Guided prompts encourage kids to write about their hopes for the trip, their favorite moments, new discoveries, and much more!
46. Trip Planning Guide
This travel guide is filled with fun facts and information about Paris. It will show kids ages 7 to 12 how to have a memorable vacation in Paris. The Paris Travel Guide will guide them in planning their visit and point out things they will enjoy doing. This travel gift for tweens will help them to become engaged and excited about their upcoming trip to Paris.
Check out these other Kid’s Travel Guides to popular destinations, including Rome, London, Washington DC, New York, and more. Also, our Disney World Planning Guide helps you plan the best Disney vacation for your family.
47. Scooter
Skidee scooters have adjustable handlebar height that can expand from 31.5” – 41” and has four adjustment levels allowing your tween to modify the height. The foldable handlebar and weight of only 10 lbs mean the small compact size makes it easy to carry from place to place.
This is an ideal travel gift for tweens if you are taking a family road trip and your child can use it at your destination. For example, at a campground, beach vacation rental, hotel, resort, or near a family member’s home. Since this scooter is adjustable, it grows with your child into their teenage years and beyond, making this scooter the perfect transportation vehicle for your tween. Available in a variety of styles and colors.
48. Travel Necklace
Life is an adventure when you walk, dream, and achieve your goals. This sterling silver travel necklace is a compass to remind your tween to enjoy the journey.
49. Journal Notebook
This Sequin Girls Journal for Kids is 8.5 x 5.5 inches with 160 lined pages and can be used by tween girls as a travel diary and notebook. Available in a selection of colors and designs, which makes an affordable travel gift for tweens.
50. Snorkeling Gear
Popular travel gifts for tweens who love swimming include snorkeling gear. This snorkel set will help your tween explore the underwater world. It is suitable for snorkeling, swimming, body surfing, boogie boards, and more. Perfect for snorkeling vacations at the beach, and also fun for tweens at the pool or lake.
51. Packable Hammock
Whether your tween is relaxing by the fire, sleeping under the stars, or just lounging around. This packable camping hammock has everything your tween needs to stay comfy and covered throughout the night for a camping, hiking, or beach trip. This hammock is suitable for even just lounging in the backyard or patio on a hammock stand! Lightweight and convenient this portable hammock weighs only 24oz, making it an ideal travel accessory for tweens.
What to do instead of traveling with gifts?
There are many non-toy gift options for children if you prefer to avoid traveling with gifts. Do you prefer to focus less on stuff and more on memories?
Consider giving more travel-friendly presents which are less about physical items and more about experiences. We have provided some ideas below, but the type of kid’s travel gifts you choose will depend on your child’s age.
Travel-friendly gifts:
- Membership or Annual Pass, e.g., museum, zoo, aquarium
- Magazine or Book Subscription
- Movie Tickets or Movies
- Audiobooks
- Monthly Subscription Box
- Classes, e.g., soccer, piano, guitar, ballet, gymnastics
- Gift Cards for a favorite store, restaurant, or activity
- Experiences on Vacation, e.g., character breakfast, swimming with dolphins
- Activities, e.g., amusement park, skiing, swimming, bowling, painting
- Cash to use on vacation
- And remember, the vacation itself can be an amazing gift!
Travel Gifts for Tweens Wrap-up
We hope you have found this article helpful, and how have plenty of ideas for tween-approved travel gifts. Wondering what to gift someone going on a trip? Use this tween gift guide to help you choose the best travel gifts for kids age 9 to 12. These travel gifts for tweens are certainly items that they will use and love!
For more about family travel, check out these posts:
Travel Gifts for Mom: Holiday Gift Guide
10 Most Popular Travel Gifts for Dad
Non-Toy Gift Ideas For Kids: Less Stuff, More Memories!
Travel Gifts For Kids: Guide To Choosing The Best Gifts
Road Trip Activities for Kids Age 9-12 years
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Ruth Hutchins grew up in England and now lives in North Carolina with her husband, Doug, and their two young daughters. They always loved to travel, but once having children everything changed because family travel is more complicated. Traveling with a baby may feel overwhelming to new parents. Travel with a toddler can really test your patience, and traveling with kids can lead to utter chaos. However, travel with your little ones doesn’t have to be that stressful or exhausting. On the BE Family Travel blog Ruth shares her parenting wins, and even epic failures about traveling with kids. She provides resources to help you feel empowered to plan a family vacation and travel with your children.