I still remember my first real date as a teenager. I was fifteen, nervous as hell, and we went to see a movie because that’s what everyone said you were supposed to do on dates. We sat in awkward silence for two hours, shared a bucket of popcorn without making eye contact, and then his mom picked us up. It was painfully uncomfortable, and I spent the whole time wondering if this was what dating was supposed to feel like.
Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. I just had no idea what else to do.
Now, as a married mom with two boys who are rapidly approaching their teen years (help me), I look back at my teenage dating years and wish someone had told me that dates don’t have to follow some script. They don’t have to be expensive or elaborate. They just need to be something where you can actually talk to each other, have fun, and not feel like you’re performing some weird ritual because that’s what movies told you dating looks like.
The best teenage dates I had were the ones where we did actual activities. When we played mini golf and could laugh at how terrible we both were. When we walked around downtown just talking about everything and nothing. When we baked cookies at my house and made a complete mess of the kitchen. Those dates felt natural, not forced.
So if you’re a teen trying to figure out what to do on a date, or a parent trying to help your teen plan something (hi, future me), here are 55 date ideas that are actually fun, not too expensive, and give you something to do besides stare at each other in uncomfortable silence.
Beach and Water Dates
1. Spend a Day at the Beach Bring towels, sunscreen, snacks, and just hang out. Swim, build sandcastles, play in the waves, walk along the shore. The beach is perfect because there’s always something to do and the atmosphere is naturally relaxed.
2. Have a Beach Bonfire If your beach allows fires and you can get permission, this is incredibly romantic. Bring marshmallows, make s’mores, watch the sunset, listen to the waves. Just make sure an adult knows where you are.
3. Go Boogie Boarding or Bodyboarding If there are waves, rent or bring boogie boards. It’s fun, active, and you’ll laugh a lot when you wipe out.
4. Have a Beach Picnic Pack sandwiches and snacks, bring a blanket, set up above the tide line. Eat while watching the ocean. It’s simple but really nice.
5. Play Beach Volleyball or Frisbee Bring a volleyball or frisbee and play in the sand. It’s active, fun, and you can joke around while playing.
6. Go Tide Pooling If you have rocky beaches with tide pools, exploring them is fascinating. Look for crabs, sea stars, anemones. It’s like a free aquarium.
7. Watch the Sunrise or Sunset at the Beach Sunrise requires getting up early but it’s magical. Sunset is easier and just as beautiful. Bring blankets, sit together, and watch the sky change colors.
8. Take a Beach Walk Walk along the shore, collect shells, splash in the waves, talk about everything. Beach walks are perfect for long conversations.
9. Go Kayaking or Paddleboarding If you can rent these or have access, being out on the water together is an adventure. Just make sure you’re both comfortable with water safety.
10. Have a Sandcastle Building Competition See who can build the best sandcastle or work together to build something elaborate. It’s playful and gives you a project to work on together.
Free or Super Cheap Dates for Teens
11. Go for a Walk in a Park This sounds boring, but it’s actually perfect. You’re moving, which makes conversation easier. There’s stuff to look at when you need a break from eye contact. You can sit on swings and talk for hours. No pressure, no cost, just time together.
12. Have a Picnic Pack sandwiches or snacks, bring a blanket, find a nice spot. It’s romantic without trying too hard, and you can make it as simple or elaborate as you want.
13. Stargaze Find somewhere away from city lights, bring blankets, lie down and look at the stars. Download a stargazing app to identify constellations. It’s peaceful and gives you a reason to be close together.
14. Play Basketball or Shoot Hoops If one of you plays or you both do, hitting a court together is fun. You can talk between shots, be a little competitive, and it’s active without being awkward.
15. Go Thrift Shopping Set a budget like five or ten dollars each and see who can find the best treasure or the weirdest item. It’s entertaining, you’ll laugh a lot, and you might actually find something cool.
16. Walk Around Downtown Just explore. Window shop, check out stores, grab coffee if you have money, people-watch. The movement and variety keep things interesting.
17. Have a Photoshoot Use your phones to take photos of each other or together. Find interesting locations, try different poses, be silly or serious. You’ll end up with memories and probably some good profile pictures.
18. Visit a Dog Park Even if neither of you has a dog, watching dogs play is entertaining and gives you something to react to together. Plus, you can discuss which dogs you’d want to adopt.
19. Go to the Library I know this sounds nerdy, but hear me out. Browse together, show each other books you love, sit in the reading area and talk quietly. It’s cozy and free.
20. Explore a Nature Trail Find local trails and just walk. Being in nature is beautiful and gives you tons to talk about. Pack water and snacks.
Teenagers Active and Outdoor Dates
21. Go Hiking Pick an easy trail if you’re not experienced. Being in nature is beautiful and gives you tons to talk about. Pack water and snacks.
22. Ride Bikes Together Explore your town or a bike trail. You can ride side by side and talk or just enjoy being outside together.
23. Go Rollerblading or Skating Whether it’s a skating rink or just around your neighborhood, it’s fun and you have an excuse to hold hands for balance.
24. Play Frisbee or Catch Simple but enjoyable. Bring a frisbee or football to a park and just toss it around while talking.
25. Try Geocaching Download the app and search for hidden caches around your area. It’s like a treasure hunt and gives you an adventure together.
26. Go Sledding (Winter) Find a hill, bring sleds or even just cardboard, and fly down together. The crashes are half the fun.
27. Play Tennis or Pickleball Most parks have free courts. You don’t need to be good, just willing to chase balls around and laugh at yourselves.
28. Go Ice Skating (Winter) Hold hands, help each other stay upright, laugh when you fall. It’s classic and romantic in a low-key way.
29. Have a Water Balloon Fight (Summer) Get cheap water balloons, divide into teams or go one-on-one, and battle it out. It’s playful and fun.
30. Go to a Skate Park If either of you skates or wants to learn, skate parks are fun to watch or participate in. The culture is usually welcoming to beginners.
Creative and Cultural Dates
31. Visit an Art Museum Many museums have free or discounted days for students. Walk around, discuss what you like and don’t like, learn something together.
32. Go to a Local Play or Musical High school productions, community theater, or small venue shows are usually cheap. Support local arts and experience something live together.
33. Attend a Poetry Reading or Open Mic Night Coffee shops often host these. You’ll hear interesting performances and have plenty to discuss afterward.
34. Take a Free Class Libraries and community centers often offer free workshops. Cooking, art, music, whatever interests you. Learn something new together.
35. Visit a Farmers Market Walk around, sample things, look at handmade crafts. The atmosphere is fun and you can grab something to eat.
36. Go to a Bookstore Browse together, show each other your favorite books, sit in the reading area. If you have money, buy each other a book.
37. Make Art Together Buy cheap supplies at a dollar store and paint, draw, or craft together. It doesn’t have to be good, just fun.
38. Have a Photoshoot in Cool Locations Find interesting spots around your town like murals, cool architecture, or pretty nature spots and take photos of each other.
39. Go to a Festival or Fair County fairs, food festivals, cultural celebrations. There’s usually entertainment, food, and activities. Great atmosphere for a date.
40. Visit a Historic Site or Museum Learn about local history together. It’s interesting and gives you conversation material.
Fun and Playful Teen Dates
41. Go Mini Golfing This was one of my favorite teenage dates. It’s silly, mildly competitive, and you can talk between holes. Plus, everyone’s kind of bad at it, so there’s no pressure.
42. Go Bowling Classic date activity. You can chat between frames, be competitive or collaborative, and those rental shoes put everyone on equal footing.
43. Visit an Arcade Play games, try to win tickets for ridiculous prizes, be competitive or team up. The activity takes pressure off conversation.
44. Go to a Trampoline Park These are everywhere now and they’re ridiculous fun. Jump around, play dodgball, act like kids. Just be careful not to hurt yourselves.
45. Have a Scavenger Hunt Create one for each other or find one online for your area. Make it adventurous and fun.
46. Go Kart Racing If you have a go-kart place nearby, this is thrilling and fun. Race each other and see who’s actually competitive.
47. Play Laser Tag Team up or compete against each other. It’s active, exciting, and gives you something to laugh about afterward.
48. Go to a Petting Zoo Sounds childish but it’s actually sweet. Plus, baby animals are adorable and give you something to react to together.
49. Visit a Candy Store Pick out candies for each other, try weird flavors, reminisce about childhood favorites. Simple but fun.
50. Play Board Games or Cards Set up at one of your houses or a coffee shop and just play. Pick games that are fun and not too serious.
Food-Related Dates
51. Have a Baking Date Cookies, brownies, cupcakes, whatever. Make a mess, laugh at failures, eat the results. One of my favorite dates ever was baking with a boyfriend in high school.
52. Make Homemade Pizza Buy dough or make it from scratch, set up toppings, each create your perfect pizza. It’s interactive and delicious.
53. Have a Cooking Challenge Each make a dish with the same ingredients or try to recreate a recipe from a show. Judge each other’s results.
54. Try a New Restaurant If you have money, pick somewhere neither of you has been. Trying new food together is bonding.
55. Go to a Coffee Shop Order drinks, find a cozy spot, and just talk. Coffee shops are perfect for long conversations.
What I Wish I’d Known About Teen Dating
Looking back at my teenage dating years, I wish someone had told me a few things. First, dates don’t have to be expensive to be special. Some of my best memories are from free dates where we just spent time together doing something simple.
Second, the best dates are ones where you can actually talk and get to know each other. Movies are fine occasionally, but they’re not great for building connection because you’re just sitting in silence. Do activities where conversation can happen naturally.
Third, it’s okay to be nervous, but don’t let nerves stop you from being yourself. The person you’re on a date with is probably just as nervous as you are. When you can both relax and just have fun, that’s when the date actually becomes enjoyable.
Fourth, group dates can be great when you’re starting out. Less pressure, more comfortable, and you can see how they interact with other people. There’s no shame in preferring group hangouts to one-on-one dates, especially at first.
And finally, pay attention to how you feel during the date. Do they make you feel comfortable or anxious? Are they respectful? Do they listen when you talk? Do you have fun together? These things matter way more than whether they picked the perfect activity.
Advice for Parents
Since I’m writing this as a parent-to-be-of-teens, here’s what I hope to remember: help them plan dates that are age-appropriate and safe without making them feel like you’re controlling everything. Offer to drive them places without hovering. Give them some money for dates if you can, but also help them understand that cheap or free dates can be just as fun.
Most importantly, make your home a welcoming place for dates. If they want to bake cookies with their date or watch movies in the living room, let them. Having dates at home where you’re around (but not hovering) is safer than sending them out with no idea what they’re doing.
And remember that teenage relationships are practice for adult relationships. They’re learning how to treat others, what they want from a partner, and how to navigate disappointment and joy. The dates themselves matter less than what they’re learning about relationships.
Read also 50 Winter Date Ideas That’ll Make You Fall in Love with the Cold
Making It Work
The thing about teenage dates is that they don’t have to be perfect. They just have to give you time together to figure out if you actually enjoy each other’s company. Pick something from this list that sounds fun to both of you. Don’t stress about impressing anyone. Just show up, be yourself, and try to have a good time.
Some of these dates will be amazing. Some will be awkward. That’s normal. The awkward ones make for good stories later. And the amazing ones create memories you’ll keep forever.
Dating as a teen is supposed to be fun, not stressful. So pick activities that actually sound enjoyable, not what you think you’re supposed to do. Be kind to each other. Communicate about what sounds fun. And remember that the whole point is getting to know someone, not performing some perfect version of a date.
Whether you choose something active, creative, cozy, or adventurous, make it about connection. That’s what matters. That’s what you’ll remember. And that’s what makes a date actually worth going on.
