Dreams about traveling – what do they mean? (Dream interpretation travel)
To be traveling in a dream is something a lot of people dream about. And no wonder, because “travel dreams” are often about our own journey of life – our movement forwards (or backwards) in life, that is. The following describes various aspects of what it means to travel in dreams.
To be traveling in a dream as a symbol of movement in life/journey of life. When seeing yourself traveling in a dream, either by car, by train, by ferry, etc., well, then it is usually about your own journey in life – the inner (and outer) development you are going through. Which mode of transport you use can also be of significance – see for example the blog posts about driving a car and riding a bus. The interesting thing, then, is what you experience on these night-time travels; is there something which prevents you from getting there? Are you struggling to make it in time (see the blog post about being late)? And where are you actually going?
A classic theme in travel dreams is that you are carrying a lot or too much (heavy) luggage, making it difficult or maybe even impossible for you to catch the bus, train, ferry, plane or whatever it may be in your dream. The main question for the dreamer could then be; is something we are carrying with us in our life story somehow pinning us down in our current situation, and making it difficult for us to move on before we let it go? (See the post about luggage in dreams)
Dreams about being scared of losing your passport (your identity papers) are also common when you are at a point in your life when you are about to move into the unknown, for example in your career. In real life, the fear of losing your identity (status etc.) can of course prevent you from taking the plunge into the unsafe and unknown. You can also encounter various barriers on your (dream) journey. These often symbolize your own mental barriers, but they can of course also be barriers that someone else puts in front of you (for example your partner or your parents trying to talk you out of doing something). However, always look inwards before you look for outside reasons.
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When trying to understand your dreams it is important to know that your dreams are… your dreams. As such, you are the best person to figure out the true meaning of your dreams.
However, it is important to learn how to generally approach your dreams. Dream dictionaries like this one are only a supplement, and if you want to fully utilize the potential of your dreams, you should start at a different place.
My online course “Unlock your DREAMlife” gives you a great foundation for understanding (and recalling) your dreams.
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As mentioned, the mode of transportation in your dream is often important. If you’re driving a car, it seems that you are well on your way in life – in a car, you decide where you go – but if you are a passenger in a car someone else is driving, it may mean the exact opposite. In this case it might be this other person (in the outside world) or what this person represents within you that have taken control.
The car is often also a symbol of your body (the body that brings you around). If you drive a bus (public transportation), it may mean that you live your life in keeping with what others are doing and what they might expect from you – you are not following your own path. Traveling by ship represents a somewhat larger perspective on your life’s journey than traveling by car and bus – you can dream about shipwrecks, giant storms, etc. And you can also experience taking the ship to sea – this may symbolize a break from the family or the life you have lived until now.
The road you travel – if by land – can curve and bend and suddenly split in two, and you may be unsure about which way to choose. This will then usually equal a similar dilemma you face in your life right now – which way should I go? There are very many aspects of dreaming about being on the road, and only you – the dreamer – would know which of these is right for you in your life right now.
As a last point, I want to highlight the importance of your destination in the dream. Are you heading to unfamiliar countries? In this case, this will often be a picture of you in your waking or conscious life (including home life) where you might be exploring uncharted territories. Or it may be new aspects of yourself, a new leisure activity you wish to start, etc. You might be experimenting with new sides of yourself. If, in your dream, you are sure that you are heading towards your “final destination”, then it may be a warning about your own death – your final destination in life.
Dream dictionaries are a very helpful tool when interpreting dreams. However, generally learning how to approach your dreams, will give you a better foundation for understanding them. My online course “Unlock your DREAMlife” teaches you how to much better utilize – recall and understand – your dreams.
Return to the index of dream themes and symbols:
Dream interpretation A-Z ↵
Also read: Why I no longer interpret dreams for free
NOTE: Dreams are 100% individual, and when you dream about traveling, it’s almost certainly about something else for you than it is for your friend, who has also dreamed about traveling. Dream interpretation / dream analysis is sometimes a difficult art, and a particular interpretation of a dream is only correct if you feel “affected” by it. Therefore, it is not certain that the above mentioned interpretations are relevant to you.
I keep dreaming about flying out of countries. I also dream a lot about my ex boyfriend but he don’t speak to in my dream. I dream of the dead a lot my loved ones …
Hi Marilyn, Seems like your ambitions or desires to fly to foreign destinations is ruling your Mind! If you are planning, but never take those dream trips means, You need to move on your ideas! Procrastination is a destoyer, and will keep you living in the Past and never advance to things you want to do. Like NIKE, just do it ! Your Boyfriend, well it appears he is with you in spirit sometimes, but Him not pseaking to you means that He has moved on and would prefer not engaging in past connections; No Worries, this is good for you and Means you shouldnt dwell on it, But continue living your life and that to the Full. On the Dead, your care and Your Heart is still with these members! You miss them, and want to relate with them, And maybe if there were some Past issues that werent settled, then seems like it bothers you still, But try and move on from it! Like they say, If it Doesnt apply let it Fly. Marilyn Forgive yourself, and if it’s any consolation ask Their forgiveness of you (Pretending) and assume they have forgiven you “To help you feel better”. Hope this helps you out.
Hi Michael,
I’ve been dreaming for a couple of times now that I am about to travel back home to my home country or going to back to the country where I am working right now but always encounter a problem that cause delay and prevent me from travelling but finding myself in my destination without boarding a plane.
Hi Michael,
i always dreaming about travel last night a dream am travling to somewhere with a bus and all travelers get off to the bus and eat some brack fast and back to the bus buy i am lose the bus me hardly try to cache by taking a ride but nobody give me a ride .
Hi. I recently had a dream where I was traveling with a friend I haven’t seen in a year. He had the destination in mind, but I was driving in my car with him. It was an overnight trip but he didn’t tell me so I didn’t have luggage. We stopped at a hotel, but we couldn’t share a room and the rooms had no walls. I’m very confused about this, especially since I haven’t seen this friend in a year. We used to be close so I was wondering if that had something to do with this. I find it strange that I just randomly had this dream.
Hi Hallie, It’s Time for caution! This so called Friend has differnt things Going on and seemably some Problems are around the corner; There’s hidden concerns here, and the Opened walls and No opprotunity means It wasnt meant to Connect on that Trip! Pay Attention, It’s not you or Anything you’ve done, it’s That you were blindsided by the trip, No change of Clothes and destination unknown; Uhhhh, What friend doesn’t allow his lady friend time to prepare for a trip ??? It appears this Relationship was platonic in the Dream, However this is a dream of caution about this friend; The Trip isn’t meant to be.
Thank you for this article. I have been having repeated dreams about traveling to New York and the road has always been the same (in a car with a large bridge in sight). I live in Alabama so I’ve been wondering what this meant and this, I am, sure will help get me closer to the answers I am seeking.
Hi Catherine, Seems there is a lot of Procrastination going on about Certain things and the Same ole road pops up! Well, looks like you start, then stop! you start then stop! The same road has to do with you being stuck in the same frame of Mine, and You need to be more Proactive; The Bridge ( a person or a link of opportunity ), represents an obstacle! Either there’s something in NY you’re unsure of, fearful of or You are Not Quite sure about someone in NY ! Another view, It may Not be NY, possibly another city likened unto the NY Style, maybe a coastal state, But Take a hard look at this Trip, Reasess what you need to deal with FIRST, then you can move forward: stay focused
Hi Michael,
I always used to love to travel. And I have list of places that I want to travel. And one of them is Indonesia. Today morning, I saw myself being in Indonesia and I’m hiring a bike to go around the places. And my Mom in Telephone was asking me whether I need some money or was it possible for her to transfer the money to me…. Whereas in real, I never ask for money to my parents and as far possible I look after my own expenses.
Hello, my cousin had a dream about taking our other cousin (Who is pretty mean to her) a long, long ways, through carnivals, swimming through lakes, and much more just to get him to SCHOOL. She had almost gotten hit by a car five times in her dream, and when they finally got there, school had ended and the whole thing was pointless. She said at the end of the day, she had to walk to the police station to get a ride home. I didn’t find any articles on what this dream meant, and I would very much love it if you could teach us what it means.
Thank you!
Hi. I keep dreaming of going places. I dont always dream of the transportation part..i just end up places..but always with a suitcase. A hotel, different country, my dads house. Sometimes with people i dont know. Ive been having these dreams the past 5 nights. Any idea what it could mean?
Hello.
I had a dream yesterday that I was traveling through dreams with my father. We stopped in one place and it was so beautiful so I said we should stay a little while. I was certain that we were in Ireland (I’ve never been to Ireland and know nothing about it). It was incredible and didn’t actually look like anywhere that could ever exist in real life. Though it did look a little prehistoric. Snow five feet tall was neatly piled in a perfect shape with perfectly sloped edges – like a pyramid with a flat top. The snow was what first struck me. I remember sinking my feet into the snow and felt fluffy and cold. I live in Texas so snow is very unusual in my dreams. I looked around and behind us were beautiful rainforest trees – very vibrant green. In front of us was a sloping terrain of massive hills the size of mountains. We were on top of one of the mountain hills. Looking around the landscape was filled with blues and greens and I remember thinking that I could never see something that beautiful in real life. My dad and I continued walking down the little path by the snow and trees and soon we were in more of a desert type setting – still with hills but dustier. This whole time I remember seeing so many animals. Though almost all of them were not real animals. We were walking the dusty path/road when suddenly a stampede of horses came galloping towards us and we just let them whiz right by assuming they would navigate around us as they did. It was exciting. We then arrived at a temple which I declared was the “Temple of Tibet”. We walked up to it and there were native looking people all around. We started walking across a little bridge and my dad was reading facts about the temple that were on the side of the temple wall. He was impressed with the history. Then slowly I noticed more and more tourist looking people and before I knew it we were waiting to see a movie (in the back of the temple). I started having trouble with my teeth and excuse myself to the bathroom.
Lately I’ve been having a lot of teeth related dreams. One dream I had they were crumbling out in big chunks but recently the same thing has been happening where my right top and bottom canines get stuck with the top one behind the front. When this happens I can’t move them at all and they are locked together for a few seconds. Then they become free but I am still for some reason obsessed with these two teeth and intentionally get them stuck over and over each time pushing very hard to get one of them to just break so it doesn’t happen anymore. I eventually do break my bottom right canine and it bleeds a lot.
In this dream I am both upset that I actually broke off my tooth but really relieved that it’s gone. I clean up a little bit and go back to my dad who shows concern about the blood but I say that it’s fine and we head into the movie.
This dream was the most unusual, realistic, vivid, and detailed dream I have ever had. It felt meaningful and I want to know why.
Thanks!
i dream of being a queue for a visa
I had a dream that I was separated from my husband and I was waiting for night time to catch a flight to meet a new person in Texas, i met with the person and I was very happy, nothing but laughs
Hi,
Many thanks for the article; it’s quite insightful.
For almost two years I have being having this repetitive dream of finding myself in my community, the situation I found myself in the dream is unpleasant. I have also been chased, intimated, missed lecture classes, and found myself nude or making love in my dreams. The scary one was when I found myself in my village under a leaky roof and there was fire sudden from a frying pan and I saw the folder of my credentials vanished into thin air. Last night, I dreamt of travelling in bus with students and was seduced by a female student though I wasn’t a student. I have been having these disturbing dreams for two almost a year, with few pleasant ones. Pleasant can you help interprets what could be the meaning? Though I am passing through a lot of stress now having lost my job for almost two years. I will appreciate your candid advise.
Wow I sure write a lot
Hello. I’m a 13 year old girl and recently I’ve constantly been having dreams about travelling over seas to the U.S.A, more specifically, California. I have never been overseas, and I live in Australia. In the dream, I was walking around down-town Los Angeles, and I remember specific buildings and places I visited in the dream, I also remember some of the plane flight there. However, I can only recall blotches of my dream, never the full scene. I can’t replay the dream in my mind, I only have photographic-like memories (scenes don’t move, picture-like, can’t remember any communication with anyone). I have never been to LA like I said, and I’ve never before seen photos of the buildings and areas I visited in the dream. I’ve always wanted to visit California, and it’s one of my biggest dreams.
A couple things that might help you help me figure out what this dream means:
1. My biggest idols live in California, maybe influencing my mind to visit there.
2. I met my biggest idols in the dream; never in real life. I hugged them, and the details of their bodies were extraordinarily life-like, the dream felt extremely real.
3. I’ve been watching their videos a lot more lately, (re-watching old videos, watching their newest, etc.)
4. My mother and I are working to save up as much money as we can to go to California next year and have been talking about it more than usual.
That is all I can think of for now, but I’m still confused on trying to figure this dream out. Will I visit LA? Was my dream a quick peak into the future? Or was it just another dream? Thanks for your time.
– Caitlin
Hi I’m tony from Minnesota I’m 15, I had a weird dream. I was at a “place”( cause idk what it was) and there was people getting off a coach bus to go to this “place” then suddenly this chubby guy he looked my age he had a dog it came between my legs like a guard dog (I thought the dog liked me) then the chubby dude disappeared behind me cause I couldn’t look backwards for some reason the dog actually stood up and started talking like a human being, the dog was a female although the dog could talk it Coudnt walk properly so I had to help it with her paw in my left hand I helped her then she started talking about a place in “South Dakota” funny because I just came back from a trip from “South Dakota” the dog said she was looking for a place called ( pen or pub or peb ) I forgot she didn’t say what she wanted from that place but she said let’s get going and weirdly enough I said yes to it so we started “walking” to “South Dakota” and for some reason I knew I had 317$ in my right pocket I wondered where I got that but I didn’t care all I cared about was getting the dog to (pen or pub or peb idk) first we stopped at a store when we “walked” all the way here it was weird because in my dream it took 10 seconds for the scenery to change, well like I said we were at a store a convenience/jewelry store ( weird right) then we went in there to get some food but I wasn’t hungry the dog wasn’t either then the dog found some shades and put it on obviously she was still holding on to me on my left hand ( oh yea I forgot the dog looked like a golden retriever) but as soon as she put it on her face became like a human face was weird her face was pale like milk, then the store cashier was commenting on her looks ( I thought she looked kinda weird) after that the dog went to go look at some jewelry then we left she was still holding on to my left hand but her hand was still a paw she was half dog and her face was human which was weird (but she was wearing a trench coat and a hat) which idk where she got it but we kept walking then we suddenly go into another store a convenience one again but it was run by some Mexican people ( I’m not racist) the dog was looking at some stuff she was holding on to the counter by the cashier place the cashier was listening to the two Mexican girls (I’m not racist it just what I saw okay) the two girls were talking about spirits and demons I tried to make a joke by saying I knew how to deal with them I stood up because I was looking at some candy my favorite candy
I said” oni tha poo” it’s a funny joke my friends made after I said that the two girls left and they didn’t even reply to what I said then behind me sitting on the bench in the store was the dog I said come on let’s go so we left then we went to another store ( note we still was in “”South Dakota””) although it looked like new york and California combined looked nothing like South Dakota well like I said we entered another store a convenience/ hunting gear store, I went in the and the only ones in there was me and the dog and the cashier( the cashier was bald but really muscular) and had a beard and mustache not too long and not to short) he was nice and the dog was obviously looking at some stuff again ( although i never ever caught a glimpse of what she was looking at) she just kept looking and observing while I did the same thing but I didn’t only observe one thing for the entire time well for some reason I wanted to buy a lighter and a knife idk I just thought it was cool I saw a lighter but I did not see a knife any where although there was a knife/lighter thing but I didn’t want it because it was a small knife too so I asked the cashier if I could buy a shotgun or any gun or cross bow but he said u have to be 18 and show me your license but I didn’t have one so he said go on then but he let me browse the store he didn’t kick me out then I remembered that I still have a family of course then I thought how worried my mom was then all of a sudden a phone rang like the old phones where you have to dial it rang and there was a voicemail mail on it (weird right) idk why she didn’t call my on my iPhone cause it was in my right pocket ( note the dog was done observing and was sitting in the bench waiting for me. Well like I said the voicemail was from my mom my mom said come back home I’m worried about you then I suddenly felt guilty but weirdly I wanted to help the dog find the store it wanted to go to so I was gonna lie to my mom and say I was on some field trip with my classmates but the dog said let’s go back home and I said “but” and I just agreed to it so we went back but on the way back 5 seconds from coming out the store it was looking like Minnesota but this time the dog was holding on to my back and we were on the road weirdly enough there were no cars but there was people they seemed to be going somewhere there was 3 people only one was a toddler about 5 or 4 he had only a diaper on he told me to stop budging but there was no line at all everyone was spread apart so I ignored the 4 or 5 year old then the homeless man with a box of who knows what he had gray hair was bald on the top but had hair on the side he also had long mustache and beard he told me to stop budging I then said okay and started slowing down then again the dog was still holding on to my back then I slowed down but kept walking then suddenly I saw what looked like my mom from behind I said ” MOM” but she did not turn to look at me I didn’t even see her face but I did hear her voice she told me she was worried I walked a little faster to see her face but i could only look forward for some reason then that’s when I woke up
When you say “final destination” does that mean where you are needing to go? Like in my dream I was driving with two people, I’m not sure who they were although I think they were my aunt and nana because they wanted to stop at my house and then keep traveling again….I’m not sure actually where we were going all I know is that I was traveling in my dream then was at my house then at my cousins house and hee house looked like it could be like a way in the future type kind of house. It was real updated, looked kind of a restaurant. It was really rainy outside. My family was there and we were eating burgers and stuff. Machines like made our burgers. It was cool af. I’m not sure how much I take dream meanings seriously but it is interesting to have like an idea of why we dream and what they POSSIBLY might mean because I do believe your post isn’t 100% accurate because dreams are indeed personalized but I’d like to know your interpretation.
hi…i dream of traveling last night with my best friend and after that i had fight with my friend aNd lost all the money
what does it mean
I had a dream that I was hitchhiking and the care I was in was too slow so I got off to get another ride. After I was in the second ride, I realized I had left my luggage behind in the first car so I had to get out to find the first car. I am in a job that pays me well but is not soul fulfilling and I immediately thought the dream was about that. A few nights later I had a dream I was traveling in a train that was going at full speed. I had two bags but only one was with me. I needed to get off the train to get my other bag and take a train going a different direction. I gather that the luggage is my ‘mental baggage’. But is this encouraging me to stay or leave the job?
Hello,
I am too concerned about this dream that I keep dreaming of over and over again. It’s about me traveling to this country that I have been to before, in real life. Yes, I really want to go there again and to live there so much. It’s a goal of mine. But I keep getting the same dream over and over again with some differences in the things I do in that country.
When that dream doesn’t come to me, I dream that I’m traveling with a plane and I reach my destination as well. But I never focus on where I’m going to, sometimes I already know in the back of my head about where I’m heading to, though.
Regards,
Dua