What to Pack for a Road Trip with an Autistic Child

As a parent of an autistic child, it may seem daunting to head out on a road trip, especially if you have no idea what to pack for your road trip. You may be tempted to throw everything you own into the car. Or rent a bigger vehicle for this trip to fit everything you think you will need. I am here to tell you that you don’t need to overpack for a road trip with your autistic family. Minimum packaging is possible when heading out on the road for vacation. Today, I am sharing my experiences and ideas of what you need and don’t need when you are learning what to pack for a road trip with an autistic child. 

What to Pack for a Road Trip with an Autistic Child

My Experiences with What to Pack for a Road Trip

I have taken many road trips with my two boys. We’ve driven to Salt Lake City and Rapid City in South Dakota, as well as to Orlando and Atlanta quite often. 

Each road trip has taught me something new about packing. Over time, I realized I was packing too much for most of our trips. 

I didn’t need to pack multiple bags of snacks that would then need to be dragged into the hotel and eventually back into our house because they didn’t get eaten. 

I didn’t need multiple suitcases filled with clothes we would never wear, and I didn’t need games that we couldn’t play in the car. I mean, they never made it out of the car into our hotel anyway, so they were just taking up space in the car like everything else we didn’t use. 

What I Pack for a Road Trip with My Autistic Children

Clothes

Yes, I still pack the clothes we will need for our trip. However, I do not bring two or three times the amount as before. I now know I can either do laundry at our hotel or pay for it. 

It is essential to pack your autistic child’s favorite clothes. There is no point in packing something you know they will not wear, as that will make the trip more stressful for everyone. 

Snacks and Drinks

I pack our food during our road trip into a Yumble Lunch Bag. I focus on my son’s favorite snacks and only pack a couple of snack bags of each. 

After all, I know we will be stopping for gas. And one of the best parts of road trips is getting snacks at gas stations! Of course, if we are traveling during lunchtime, we stop to grab lunch, too. 

I also fill our water bottles and 64-ounce water bottles for refills. 

Electronics

Whether you're taking a road trip, plane ride, or train ride, you'll probably need electronics. The night before our trip, I charge all our electronics and download my boys’ favorite shows and games. 

I keep car chargers in my vehicle so we can recharge these devices as needed. I also use a car charger for my phone so we can use it as a hotspot when cell service is available. 

You will want to pack any items your autistic child will not be able to live without while you are on your road trip. This may include a favorite pillow, blanket, toiletries, or toy. 

I am so happy I have finally learned I don’t need a packed car to have a successful road trip with my boys. It will make our next 3-hour car ride to New Orleans much easier for us all! I will pack the Yumble Lunch Bag with snacks, a carry-on, water, and electronics. I’ll use the same guidelines when I take my oldest to Universal Orlando a few weeks later. 

Learning what to pack for a road trip and what to leave behind can be challenging. However, over time, you will become aware of what you can and cannot leave behind. 

Are you ready to plan your next road trip? Contact me and save yourself the stress of doing it all on your own!