For parents of children with autism, the idea of summer travel can feel more like a daunting challenge than an enjoyable getaway. I know this feeling all too well. 

I dreamed of a "normal" family outing with my son, free from meltdowns and chaos. One day, I decided to brave the Magic Kingdom theme park, hoping for a fun-filled day. Armed with snacks, toys, and a strategic plan, we made it through the entrance smoothly. But just as I began to relax, the unthinkable happened. In a flash, my son bolted off, drawn to a nearby pond. What followed was a parent's worst nightmare - a frantic search, a dramatic rescue, and being accused of kidnapping.

While I can laugh about it now, the experience drove home the unique challenges autism families like ours face in unfamiliar environments. But it also taught me a valuable lesson - with careful preparation, flexibility, and a shift in expectations, fun family travel is still possible.

In this article, I'll share practical tips and strategies to help your family achieve smoother travels. From planning ahead to managing sensory overload to maintaining routines on the road, we'll cover a lot of what I’ve learned about turning stressful trips into opportunities for joy and connection.

With the right mindset and tools, your family can create lasting travel memories together - no kidnapping plots required! Let's dive in.

Planning for the Journey

One of the most crucial steps in ensuring a smoother travel experience is thorough preparation. When my family first began planning trips, I learned the importance of familiarizing my son with what he could expect during our journey.

Traveling First Through Video

We started by watching travel videos together, showing him the sights and sounds he might encounter, like busy airports, airplane noises during takeoff and landing, and even the rumble of trucks on the interstate during road trips. These virtual experiences can help build a sense of familiarity and reduced his anxiety about the unknown.

Visual Schedules and Social Stories

Another game-changing tool in our planning arsenal was the use of visual schedules and social stories. I'd create a step-by-step guide to our trip, complete with pictures and simple phrases. Seeing the journey broken down into manageable pieces helped my son feel more in control and prepared for what lay ahead.

Find the Autism-Friendly Stops

I’ve been thrilled to see the growing number of autism-friendly travel stops and accommodations through the years. From sensory-friendly museum hours, quiet spaces in theme parks, to sensory rooms in airports, these accommodations can be true lifesavers for autism families. A quick search or call ahead to inquire about these offerings along your travel route often reveal support and understanding from staff eager to help make visits a success.

And don’t forget about the tried-and-true searches for simple stops like parks and libraries along the way.

Plan Where and How You’ll Eat Healthy (or you won’t)

Fuel is essential for any successful journey, and that means planning ahead for healthy meals. To avoid the stress of last-minute decisions when hunger strikes, I started researching and pre-planning our restaurant stops, noting menu items that fit our family's dietary needs. Some of my constant go-to’s to keep things easy, clean, and as healthy as possible are:

• Chipotle Mexican Grill
• Bolay Fresh Bold Kitchen (Florida)
• Cava Mediterranean Kitchen

For road trips, packing a cooler with pre-packed, familiar, wholesome meals is a great choice I always highly recommend. 

Snacks, Snacks, and More (Healthy) Snacks 🍿

Of course, no family adventure is complete without an ample supply of snacks. Having a variety of healthy, easy-to-pack options on hand was key to keeping everyone's energy levels up and meltdowns at bay. Some of our clean and healthy go-to’s: 

• Fresh fruit and veggie sticks
• Bars like IQBAR, Truvani’s The Only Bar, or Feel Protein Bars
• 100% Grass-fed meat stick’s like Archer or CHOMPS
• Organic, non-GMO popcorn like Lesser Evil
• Grain-free tortilla chips like Siete
• Nuts and trail mix
• Dried fruit

Your snack game is a crucial part of travel prep. Don’t neglect it!

Refresh Your Go-Bag

Packing a go-bag with your child's favorite comfort items, a change of clothes, and any necessary sensory tools and toys can provide a sense of security and preparedness. A longer trip is a great time to refresh your go-bag and make sure you have everything you might need.

Include Them in Planning

Involving your child in the planning process, like letting them choose a special toy to bring or pick out a new book for the car ride, can also gave a sense of control and excitement. Try it where you can.

By taking the time to plan ahead, you'll be setting your family up for a more relaxed and enjoyable travel experience. Remember, every child with autism is unique, so trust your instincts and tailor your preparations to your family's individual needs. With a little extra effort upfront, I have no doubt you'll be ready to embrace the journey ahead.

Maintaining Routine on the Road

As autism parents, we know that routine is the backbone of our daily lives. It provides a sense of structure and predictability that our children thrive on. So, when it comes to travel, it's no surprise that maintaining those familiar routines can be a key ingredient in the recipe for success.

Sticking to Sleep Schedules 💤

One of the most important routines to prioritize during travel is sleep. Even minor disruptions to sleep schedule can lead to major meltdowns and derail an entire day. To combat this, consider planning our travel times around usual sleep patterns, aim to arrive at destinations in time for a nap or bedtime. For shorter trips that cross time zones, consider keeping your child on your home time zone schedule to minimize disruption. If jet lag is a concern, gradually adjust your child's sleep schedule in the days leading up to the trip to help smooth the transition and minimize the impact of the time change.

Mealtime Consistency 🍽️

Just like sleep, consistent mealtimes and familiar foods can be a powerful tool in keeping our kids regulated during travel. Pack plenty of favorite snacks and meals so you always have a taste of home on hand. If dining out is on the agenda, research restaurants in advance, looking for those with menu items you know will be healthy and that they’ll enjoy. By keeping mealtimes as predictable as possible, I found that we could avoid the added stress of food-related meltdowns.

Building in Buffer Time ⏰

One of the most valuable lessons I learned in our travels was the importance of building in buffer time. I quickly realized that unexpected delays, long lines, and sensory overload could all contribute to meltdowns and derail our carefully planned itinerary. By padding our schedule with extra time between activities, I gave us the flexibility to handle these challenges without the added pressure of being rushed. This simple strategy made a world of difference in reducing everyone's stress levels and allowing us to truly enjoy our time together.

Scheduling Breaks and Activities 📅

Another way to maintain a routine on the road is by scheduling your child's preferred activities during downtimes. Whether it's a trip to a nearby park, a dip in the hotel pool, or some quiet time with their favorite books, incorporating these familiar and enjoyable activities into your travel schedule can help provide a sense of normalcy and comfort in unfamiliar surroundings.

Bring the Comfort of Home with You 🧸

Finally, try bringing a little piece of home with you on your travels. For your child, that might mean packing their favorite blanket, pillow, and a set of comfy pajamas. Having these familiar items in your hotel room creates a more familiar and secure environment that helps them settle in more easily. It may seem like a small thing, but for a child with autism, these comfort objects can be an essential part of maintaining a sense of routine and stability.

As you embark on your own travel adventures, remember that maintaining routine doesn't have to mean sacrificing spontaneity or fun. By prioritizing sleep, mealtimes, and preferred activities, building in buffer time, and bringing along familiar comforts, you'll be creating a foundation of predictability that can help your child feel more at ease in new environments. With a little flexibility and a lot of patience, you'll find that it's possible to strike a balance between the excitement of new experiences and the comfort of familiar routines. And that's when the real magic of family travel can happen.

Managing Sensory Issues

While Traveling As autism parents, you're all too familiar with the sensory challenges that can come with traveling. The bustling crowds, bright lights, and unfamiliar noises can quickly overwhelm your child, leading to meltdowns and frayed nerves. But with a little preparation and some handy tools, you can help manage these sensory issues and make your travels more enjoyable for everyone.

Packing Sensory Essentials

Before you hit the road, make sure to pack your sensory essentials in your go-bag. You know the drill: noise-canceling headphones, a pair of sunglasses, their favorite sensory toys, and any favorite packable comfort objects. Having these items on hand can provide a much-needed sense of calm, quiet, and security in unfamiliar surroundings. 

Using Visual Timers ⏲️

Whether it's a dedicated device like a TimeTimer setup on your dashboard or a simple timer app on your child's iPad, having a clear, visual representation of how much time is left before the next break can be reassuring. By setting a timer for each leg of your journey and showing your child when they can expect a break, you can help reduce anxiety and increase their sense of control over the situation.

Finding Quiet Spaces

Even with all the right tools, sometimes your child will simply need a break from the sensory onslaught of travel. That's why it's so important to map out quiet spaces along your route where you can take a few minutes to decompress. Look for parks, libraries, airport quiet rooms, or even empty airport lounges where your child can retreat from the chaos and recharge their sensory batteries. By building these breaks into your travel plans, you can help prevent sensory overload before it happens.

Practicing Effective Communication

Finally, don't underestimate the power of effective communication in managing sensory issues during travel. I benefited greatly as a parent from 📕 Dr. Rex Forehand and Dr. Nicholas Long’s book "Parenting the Strong-Willed Child," where they suggest practicing active listening and expressing expectations clearly and positively. I can attest to how it can go a long way in helping your child feel heard and understood. 

Remember, every child's sensory needs are unique, and what works for one family may not work for another. Trust your instincts, and don't be afraid to experiment with different strategies until you find the right combination for your child. With a little patience, preparation, and a whole lot of love, you'll be well on your way to creating sensory-friendly travel experiences that your whole family can enjoy.

Embracing the Journey

Traveling as an autism family comes with its own unique set of challenges. But with thoughtful planning, a little creativity, and a whole lot of flexibility, it's possible to turn those challenges into opportunities for growth, connection, and unforgettable memories.

By taking the time to prepare your child for what to expect, maintaining familiar routines on the road, and packing the right sensory tools, you'll be laying the foundation for a successful travel experience. And remember, success looks different for every family. Enjoy the small victories, the shared laughter, and the simple joys of exploring the world together.

If you're new to traveling as an autism family, start small. Take a short day trip to a nearby town or plan a weekend getaway close to home. Use these experiences as opportunities to practice your travel skills, test out your sensory strategies, and build your child's confidence in new environments. With each successful outing, you'll be proving to yourselves that travel is not only possible but can be a source of great joy and personal growth.

Above all, remember to relax your expectations and embrace the unpredictable nature of travel. There will be meltdowns, there will be detours, and there will be moments when you question why you ever left the comfort of your living room. But there will also be laughter, there will be wonder, and there will be memories that you'll cherish for a lifetime.

So, to all the autism parents out there dreaming of family adventures, I invite you to take that first step. Start planning, start preparing, and start believing in your family's ability to enjoy travel together. With the right tools, mindset, and support, there's no limit to the incredible journeys you can share together.

Happy travels, my friends. May your travels be filled with fun!