Lessons from a Vegas Trip with My Autistic Child and Other Insights on Traveling with Neurodiversity

Traveling as a family can be challenging, especially for those adventurous enough to explore with a neurodiverse mix of both neurodivergent and neurotypical children.

The core issue lies in the unfamiliarity: strange foods, unpredictable surroundings, overwhelming sounds, different sleeping arrangements, new scents, and jet lag can be profoundly unsettling for individuals with autism, ADHD, or other neurodivergent conditions. Behavioral challenges stemming from these emotional upheavals can bring a family vacation to a standstill for everyone involved.

This reality often leads many neurodiverse families to forgo travel altogether. A 2019 survey conducted by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards revealed that 1,000 parents with at least one autistic child shared their travel experiences, and an astonishing 87 percent reported they do not take family vacations due to the challenges involved.

Furthermore, the same survey found that 93 percent of participants would be more inclined to travel if autism-friendly options were available, while 97 percent expressed dissatisfaction with current travel accommodations for families with autistic members.

Traveling as a neurodiverse family doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. As a single parent of a mixed-neurotype family—my eldest daughter, 14, is autistic while my other two daughters, aged 11 and 7, are not—I’ve gathered some valuable insights over a decade of travel. Here are six tips to make vacations with neurodivergent kids smoother for everyone involved, listed in no particular order.

1. Always pack headphones, fidgets, and other comfort items.

Neurodivergent children often seek to control their surroundings, which can be challenging in unfamiliar places. One effective strategy is to travel with tools that help them stay calm. My autistic daughter, Sage, swears by her decorated noise-canceling headphones, which she wears in busy cities and theme parks whenever the noise becomes overwhelming. She used them throughout our recent trip to Legoland California and plans to take them to the county fair next month.

It's also wise to pack fidgets and other sensory-friendly items. Sage always fills her mini backpack with fidget snakes, origami paper, and string for friendship bracelets—three tools that help her manage her sensory needs in triggering environments.

Lastly—this may sound quirky—parents of neurodivergent children might consider carrying a Ziploc bag filled with random but useful items. For example, when Sage was a toddler and hadn’t been diagnosed yet, she was terrified of automatic toilets, so I always carried Post-It notes to cover the sensors, ensuring she had a quiet bathroom experience. This trick worked wonders.

2. Bring along familiar snacks to keep kids calm.

Many children with sensory sensitivities use food to help regulate their nervous systems, making it essential to travel with snacks that support neurodivergent kids in staying calm. I always ensure my carry-on is stocked with 12–16 hours’ worth of snacks, typically including granola bars, fruit leathers, trail mix, and, of course, some chocolate. Sage also insists on having her Pepperidge Farm cheddar goldfish—she claims the crunch is soothing for her—and I make it a point to have those little crackers on hand whenever we leave the house, even in the car.

Understanding the importance of snacks for my neurodivergent child often leads me to buy extra food while we're out. During a trip to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. in 2019, I noticed Sage enjoyed the red grapes sold in the cafeteria, so I purchased a few extra packages to carry around for the day. Each time she asked for a grape, I happily provided one. These grapes not only kept her entertained but also allowed us to enjoy nearly three hours at the museum.

I also like to reward good behavior and patience with special treats. For example, during one of our trips to Las Vegas, after everyone acted nicely on our gondola ride at the Venetian, we celebrated with huge ice cream shakes from Black Tap.

3. Ensure personal space by potentially booking extra rooms.

At home, my neurodivergent child has her own bedroom, and I strive to find accommodations that provide her with a similar sense of space when we travel. I understand this can be challenging, especially for international trips or to popular destinations where space is limited. However, I’ve discovered that investing in larger accommodations generally leads to a more relaxed travel experience for everyone involved.

The simplest way to achieve this is by booking vacation rentals. I prefer options with three bedrooms, ensuring Sage has her own room to arrange as she likes (primarily for managing device chargers). If we only have access to two-bedroom rentals, I make sure each girl has her own bed while the youngest can still share a space with me.

When hotel rooms are our only option, I aim for a suite or connecting rooms. For instance, during a recent stay in San Luis Obispo, we booked a two-room suite at the Hotel SLO, where Sage took over the foldout. Although her bed was in the main room, she appreciated having her own space. The rest of us shared the king bed in the bedroom.

4. Clearly outline the day’s schedule for everyone.

Many neurodivergent children thrive on routines, which can be difficult to maintain while traveling. These kids often manage transitions better when they have a clear idea of what to expect. Thus, it’s beneficial to provide a detailed daily agenda every morning for neurodivergent children.

In our household, we utilize a notebook-sized whiteboard. I use dry-erase markers to outline the day's basic schedule and the estimated times for each activity. If Sage appears anxious, I’ll break the day down into 30-minute segments. Conversely, if she seems relaxed, I might adjust things slightly and allocate a two-hour block for "lunch and window-shopping." Occasionally, I’ll even note travel times, but in bustling cities like Los Angeles or New York, this can sometimes lead to more confusion than clarity.

During most trips, I display the schedule in a prominent location, such as the kitchen in vacation rentals or the bathroom in hotels, and I make it a point to read it aloud to all three kids. I encourage them to check it if they have questions about the day's plan. Typically, I don’t take the whiteboard along; instead, I snap a photo for reference in case Sage or her sisters want to revisit it later.

5. Secure additional support.

When traveling with neurodivergent children, there’s no harm in reaching out to family for assistance—especially as a single parent. I always aim to coordinate our travel plans to overlap with my parents' schedules, just in case I need some extra help. This approach has proven invaluable over the past two summers, saving us from two potentially challenging situations during our vacations.

The latest instance occurred during our two-week road trip to Southern California. When loud music and unfamiliar lunch options (no rice, bean, and cheese burritos) triggered a meltdown for Sage at Sea World San Diego, my father took her out of the park and back to our lodging for a more suitable lunch and a relaxing afternoon of thrifting.

Last summer, Grampy came to the rescue again. During a family trip to New York, Sage became overwhelmed by the crowd waiting to enter Hamilton. To help her cope, she and my father visited a quieter art exhibit while my mother attended the show in Sage’s stead. They later reunited with the rest of us for dinner uptown.

It's important to note that reinforcements don’t always have to be family. Over the years, my autistic daughter has also found comfort in spending time with family friends. Now that she’s 14 and we use the Life360 app for tracking, I've become more comfortable allowing her and her friends some independence, provided they agree to regular check-ins.

6. Embrace spontaneity.

One key consideration when traveling with a neurodivergent child is flexibility. There will be moments when your child might refuse to go on a specific tour or visit a certain attraction. It's essential to approach each day one hour at a time. Even if you've already paid for activities or if skipping something means losing money—or even if it’s your only chance to see something you've long anticipated—it’s crucial to listen to your child and adapt accordingly.

I’ve spent nearly ten years learning this lesson. During our time in London in 2013, I needed four trips to the Natural History Museum to see all the exhibits I wanted. In Las Vegas in 2019, a long ride on the High Roller revealed that Sage has a fear of heights, as she spent the entire experience clinging to her mother. Most recently, this past spring, Sage and I left a highly anticipated Maggie Rogers concert after just five songs due to her sensory overload.

I don’t view these instances as failures; instead, I see them as valuable opportunities for growth for our entire family. Ultimately, that’s what travel is about—personal development, regardless of neurotype.