Checked your passport ten times and still worried you forgot it? That’s AuDHD travel.
Why is travel so much?
Travel means new places, crowds, noise and changing plans, all at once. The ADHD side loves adventure. The autistic side needs predictability. Airports and stations test both.
Wanting to travel and dreading it can both be true.
Travel is exciting and exhausting in equal measure. The ADHD side loves new places and gets restless without them. The autistic side depends on routine and predictability, both of which disappear the moment you leave home. Airports and stations add crowds, noise, queues and last-minute changes. It is common to look forward to a trip for months, and then find the journey so draining that it takes days to enjoy being there.
Two travellers
Here is how the two compare:
| Autistic side | ADHD side |
|---|---|
| Needs the full itinerary | Wants to be spontaneous |
| Arrives very early | Packs at the last minute |
| Struggles with crowds | Gets bored in queues |
| Needs familiar food | Forgets passports and chargers |
One brain, two travel styles.
What it can look like
A few everyday examples:
- Checking you have your passport ten times
- Needing a quiet day after arriving
- Loving the destination, dreading the journey
- Overpacking the comfort items
- Studying the route on Street View first
Before you go
- Look before you leap: Photos, maps and videos of places.
- A packing list: The same list, every trip.
- Book quiet options: Quiet coaches and aisle seats.
- Plan rest days: Build in recovery time.
- Pack a sensory kit: Headphones, snacks, sunglasses.
On the journey
- Sunflower lanyard: Recognised at many UK airports and stations.
- Ask for assistance: Airports and railways offer support.
- Keep essentials together: One pouch for tickets and ID.
- Use a travel app: Live updates reduce uncertainty.
- Have a plan B: For delays and changes.
Where to start
Take the uncertainty out wherever you can. Look at photos and maps of where you are going, use the same packing list each time, and build rest days into the plan. Carry a small sensory kit. Many airports and rail companies offer assistance if you ask, and it can make the journey much easier.
The bottom line
Adventure and routine can travel together.
This post is for awareness, not travel advice. Check assistance options directly with your airline, airport or rail operator.
Want the swipeable version? This post is also a carousel on Instagram: follow @johnhasaudhd for more on life with AuDHD.