How to travel well with a child with autism

These small adjustments can help a holiday feel like something a child is part of, not something happening to them.

Remember: preparation is about care, not control

Preparation is often misunderstood as an attempt to control every outcome. For families travelling with a child with autism, it’s more accurately about reducing the number of unknowns a child has to process at once. Across families, preparation tends to focus on planning for uncertainty rather than trying to eliminate it.

Practical preparation strategies parents rely on:

• Pack a dedicated “just in case” bag for the journey, not the destination
• Keep familiar comforts such as ear defenders, snacks, blankets or small toys in hand luggage
• Lay clothes and bags out the night before to avoid rushing and having a stressful start to the day
• Ask children directly what comforts they want to bring, rather than assuming – sometimes fresh environments require new comforts

This approach aligns with the work of Dr Luke Beardon, author of Avoiding Anxiety in Autistic Children, who writes about how anxiety is often reduced not by pushing children to cope in the moment, but by lowering demands and making situations feel more manageable from the start. Preparation doesn’t guarantee smooth days, but it can give families more capacity to cope when plans shift or energy dips.

Baby gilr sitting next to the airplane window looking out and holding her teddybear.Getty Images

Learn how to navigate sensory overload on the move

Airports, stations and busy hotels weren’t designed with sensory-sensitive travellers in mind. Although experiences are improving for neurodivergent holidaymakers, noise, lighting, crowds and waiting can stack up quickly. For most families, the goal isn’t to avoid overload entirely – it’s to shorten its duration and reduce its intensity.

Ways parents manage sensory pressure while travelling:

• Plan specifically for queues, transfers and early starts
• Use familiar shows on tablets, audiobooks or music to recreate home routines
• Pack tactile comforts like hoodies or soft toys for grounding
• Build in recovery time when overwhelm hits, rather than pushing through