Best Autism Friendly Destinations 2024

It is time to start planning your autism friendly vacation for 2024! If you have managed to travel with your autistic family in the past, you will be more than ready to get the planning process started. And if you haven’t, well, I am here to support you every step of the way! As a mom of two autistic boys, and a Certified Autism Travel Advisor, I understand your concerns when it comes to traveling with an autistic child. Especially for the first time. Thankfully, I have discovered some of the best autism friendly destinations for 2024. One of them will meet all the needs of your autistic family. We can always chat if you are unsure of which option is best for your autistic family. 

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Best Autism Friendly Destinations 2024

Hawaii

If you are ready to fly from the mainland to one of the Hawaiian Islands, this could be one of your best vacations yet! I highly recommend the islands of O’ahu, Maui, and Hawai’i for your autistic friendly vacation. Kaua’i is another option if you want to escape most of the crowds. 

A vacation in O’ahu can be spent at Aulani, which is a Disney Resort and Spa. This child friendly resort is close to many of the things you will want to do on the island. A few of my favorite options include snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, visiting the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, and hiking to Diamond Head. 

Over on Maui, a tour of the Road to Hana is always a must. You can check many of the must-see sights off your list during this adventure. Another tour your family may want to consider is a whale watching tour. Of course, you will need to plan your Hawaiian vacation during the time the whales have migrated to the island if you want to take advantage of this tour!

The Big Island of Hawai’i is where you will find Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The volcano to keep an eye on during your visit is Kilauea. Hot lava has been flowing from that volcano in recent years. Seeing the red-hot lava will get your kids talking! 

Cancun

You won’t need to stay in the US for your next autism friendly vacation. Your family can easily vacation in Cancun. This is one of the best autism friendly destinations in 2024 when you want to escape the cooler, or cold, winter months here in the US. 

There is also nothing wrong with visiting Cancun during any other time of the year. 

I wrote an entire blog post on what to expect during an autism friendly vacation in Cancun. You can check it out here. 

Norway

There are so many different places to see during a vacation in Norway. If you are interested in seeing multiple destinations in Norway, I recommend taking a cruise. A cruise will allow you to visit different ports of call. And yet, you won’t need to drive, or fly, to each destination. You won’t need to switch hotels every night or two either. 

The best part about these cruises is you can spend as little time on or off the ship as you want. If your autistic child is struggling one day, returning to the ship early may be the best thing for them. 

Paris, France

Disneyland Paris is one of the top things to do for autistic families while on vacation in France. However, I have discovered there are multiple autism friendly things to do in Paris. Private tours are available of the Louvre. Taking one of them will ensure your autistic child is not overstimulated at any time during your visit. 

Of course, you can’t spend time in Paris and not see the Eiffel Tower and Luxembourg Gardens. And most kids won’t turn down a sweet treat from the bakeries during walks through this city. 

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Finding an autism friendly destination close to home is simple in 2024. One of the most autism friendly states is Colorado. Which is why I have Colorado Springs on this list. 

You will need to be prepared for altitude sickness if you choose to vacation in Colorado Springs. I will make sure you stay in areas that are lower in elevation when you first arrive. This will help you adjust to the altitude changes, so your family is not dizzy and nauseous. 

I wrote a blog post about Colorado Springs. You can read it here if you are interested in visiting this gem of a city. 

Madison, Wisconsin

Multiple businesses in the Madison area have chosen to be more autism friendly. A few places you will want to take the kids are The Sensory Club, Madison Children’s Museum, and the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum. 

If you happen to be in Madison when a sensory-friendly performance is held at the Children’s Theater of Madison, I highly recommend going. It is an excellent way to introduce your autistic child to the theater. 

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Not every autistic family is ready to tackle Disney World or Disneyland. In those scenarios, Dollywood may be your best option. Yes, Dollywood still gets crowded. However, this theme park has a Sensory Room and Calming Corner for autistic families to use. 

Other fantastic attractions in this area include WonderWorks, Soaky Mountain Waterpark, and Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. 

Zermatt, Switzerland

Zermatt is a wonderful place to visit during the winter months because you can ski. Don’t worry if your autistic child has never skied before. Most of the ski slopes have employees offering assistance to those guests with disabilities. I can make arrangements for these services while I am planning your vacation in Switzerland. 

If you don’t want to visit Zermatt during the winter, that’s okay. The spring and summer months are spectacular here! A ride on the cogwheel mountain train will have you seeing extraordinary views from Gornergrat. 

And a ride on the highest cableway in the world offers views of the Matterhorn Glacier. 

Prato, Italy

Prato is a fabulous city in the Tuscany region of Italy. Many business owners have trained their staff well when it comes to spending time with autistic families and families with other disabilities. 

Over in Italy, you will find that many attractions and stores are open in the morning and then again in the evening. They all close in the afternoon, so they can enjoy a little family time and a meal. This may work well for your autistic family, because you can take a break in the middle of the day. 

There are so many other autism friendly destinations in Europe. Read the blog post I wrote on my favorite autism friendly European destinations to find your family’s favorite. 

These are some of the best autism friendly destinations for 2024. I know you won’t be able to add all these destinations to your travel list for this year. However, one of them should be at the top of your list of places to visit with your autistic family. Once you have made your decision, simply contact me, so we can get the planning process started. I will make sure your autism friendly vacation in 2024 is the best it can be!