Best Places in Amarillo to Teach Your Teen How to Drive

Every city has them, and Amarillo is no different. I'm talking about student drivers. Eventually, these kiddos reach the age where they can get behind the wheel of a car and take off on their own. However, you have to learn to crawl before you can walk, right?

I've got a kid who's just a couple of months away from that magical age of 15, and all he has talked about for the last year is being able to learn how to drive and get his permit. However, there are a couple of things holding us back from allowing him to get that magical piece of plastic. Sooner or later, I know I have to teach him how to do it, though.

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Know Where You Are And Where You're Going

One of our biggest rules for him is that he must know where he is, how to get to where he's going, and how to find his way out when he's lost...without a maps app telling him where to go. Hey, networks go down (see Verizon a couple of weeks ago), and if that happens, you're stuck. He's TERRIBLE with knowing his surroundings and how to get somewhere.

I feel this should be a rule for all kids. Yes, technology is great, and not to date myself, but I didn't have an app to tell me how to navigate. I had to know where I was and how to get to where I was going. Yes, I was around for the introduction of Mapquest...but it wasn't on my phone.

Best Places For Kids To Learn How To Drive

The next thing is finding an area that's wide open and allows you to learn all sorts of different things. So, where are those places in Amarillo? Well, a spacious parking lot is always a good place to start. There are plenty of those around town, and they're a great place to learn while minimizing the chances of an accident or something bad happening.

Another place I noticed someone mentioned was the DPS office after hours. There you will find the plastic posts they'll use for the driving test, so giving them the chance to learn there can be very beneficial. Word is it can get a bit busy there, so you may have to wait your turn, but it's a great place to learn.

Other Good Places To Learn

A few other places have been mentioned, and I don't disagree with them. Driving through Thompson Park is a great place. There are one-way roads, stop signs, speed bumps, etc., and the speed limit through the park is super low, minimizing risk.

Llano Cemetery is another one. Sure, maybe a LITTLE creepy to learn how to drive there, but there are a lot of turns to navigate, and not a lot of traffic that comes through there. Maybe save that one until they figure out how touchy the speed pedal can be, so they don't lose control and take out headstones, though.