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 dream when i wanted to travel with a unknown white lady and her black boyfriend and we where carrying hige bags but when we enter the bus i realized that i haf forgotten some of my things and i went back home when i went back to the bus it was gone
hello, i dream of riding a bus with my mom and we are supposed to go home. after going down, we saw a jeep and we just decided to go to a province. we also sat beside a politician in the jeep and we are about to go to his hometown
I HAVE THIS DREAM THAT I AM TRAVELLING THROUGH A STAR HAHAHAHAH. AND I SAW THE PAST AND TELL MY FRIENDS HOW IS IT SO GOOD IN THE FUTURE AND HOW TECHNOLOGY REALLY CHANGE I EVEN SAW THE FUTURE,SAW MY OWN DEATH,THE EXACT DATE AND HOW I WAS KILLED
this is my third or fourth time to travel to United States. I see my travelling through the airplane. i visit different places in united states. but one thing which is common in my dream is that united states does not seem different to me than my own country. the homes the building and the surrounding are the same as in our own country. i am from Pakistan. but in fact the difference between the buildings and surrounding in US and Pakistan is as different as heaven and the earth. kindly tell me that whether I would visit the united states in the future? because since my childhood I have a great desire to visit the united states.
I dreamt I was in the USA n was being chased by some people whom I witnessed commuting a crime. I ran to another state n all of a sudden i got lots of people to protect n help me.
I have a lot of dreams about planes and airports – and sometimes charter buses. Sometimes I’m stuck at checkin or there’s a problem with the ticket…sometimes I can’t find the gate…or I’m held up over luggage or perhaps I haven’t even packed at all, and I’m scurrying to get articles of clothing together as I’m not prepared whatsoever. Sometimes I’m running so far behind I just make the decision to board the plane without any luggage, in hopes I can just buy everything at my destination. Recently, my dreams have gone from regular domestic flights to large international flights – although I’ve never been on one (such as Emirates) in my life. I always look at travel dreams as a good sign. It’s even cooler/trippy when I’m riding on the outside nose of the plane – usually some type of military aircraft/cargo plane – or I’m in my own little personal device flying up into the clouds. It’s amazing how much insight these dreams can give you into your real life progress and/or areas of opportunity. Great article!
I had a dream I was leaving the island where I live to go to India to travel for a month. I am actually supposed to be going to India for new year this year for one month to travel. In the dream I am facing timing my boyfriend saying goodbye and that the month apart will Do is good ? But in Waking life he is coming to India with me so I can’t make sense why we would be saying bye? Also in the dream I am trying to get to the airport by a small coach/people carrier an Indian man is the driver he’s very very helpful I keep forgetting stuff so we have to keep returning to my house I forgot hair straighteners/hair curlers ? Then I decide to just take the straightners and the driver shows me how I can make use of the straightners by curling also? My face in the mirror and he’s doing my hair for me and it looks so nice I rem being so happy ! He keeps taking me back to my house to get other stuff on the final stop someone else is in my seat in the coach she gets moved by a bouncer and I eventually manage to get in and then I do arrive in India I rem looking out the coach it’s nighttime I see small lights and then it’s day time and I can see a drink/food stand then I check my phone and on WhatsApp is the coach drivers face in the display picture on contacts and I’m about to message him to say thank for helping me and for taking me to the airport
hello yesterday i dreamt i was travelling with my aunt (still alive) and her daughter. along the way i dreamt i had to stop travelling with her because i forgot my passport and i had to come pick it up. pretty sure she didnt have hers too. told her i will catch up with her. she was convincing me to proceed anyway that the destination she is going is a better place. i couldnt without my passport, regardless of this she proceeded anyway. when i returned home in the dream relatives were crying and pleading with her to turn back and return.. she proceeded anyway. when i called her her phone again in the dream she said had just missed the train and waiting for another one, although she said her luggage were “gone” already,. please try to make me understand this dream
Hi Brenda, thank you for your comment and very interesting dream! I would start asking questions like; how is you aunt living her life compared to you? She – in the dream – seems more free from traditional boundaries (passport often af symbol of ones identity, she is lettig go of it) – and it might be, that right now, you are doing the same (symbolized by your aunt appearing in your dream). Best regards – Michael
What about more than one dream about “getting ready to leave” and “with haste” and “hurry before you can’t go”? I have dreams like this with the same message, but at random times. Usually Me and close friends or relatives are packing up a vehicle of sorts, while reminiscing on good past times, while planning future trips.
I Even have dreams of long journeys with friends and family, even seeing my past family pet’s living in bliss. Or traveling on their own journeys. It’s weird like that.
I even had a string of dreams about our dog that ran away years ago.
Hi Zack – and thank you for your comment and very interesting dreams! Did you read the post on “being late“? there might be something in there relevant for your theme on being in a haste / hurry before you can’t go. The element of reminiscing on good past times, while planning future trips is utmost interesting. Would be relevant for you to think of why you have those dreams at that particular point in time – what is happening in your waking life – what sort of inner (or outer) life (development) journey are you about to embark upon? Animals that used to be a part of your life seem to pop up quite a lot in your dreams – you might consider what impact they had on you (back then), and again – why would then dream about them at the point in time that you do? Best – Michael
I have the same persistent dream I am travelling on the same plane, different seats and different plane. Take off is always frightening like a rocket etc. I sometimes on a big ferry too..
hi, I dreamt of my mother leaving me in my uncles house but my uncle’s family wasn’t there. There was mu ex boyfriend and his mother living there and I was so mad I called my mother to come back and take me but she said that she is far now and she won’t be back before tomorrow… later I called her again and realized that she travelled with my younger sister and she’s never coming back for me… I started shouting and crying on the phone and woke up crying.. what does this dream mean???
I recently had a dream where I was traveling with my deceased father. He was driving a vehicle and the rest of my family was in the car. He attempted to take us over a bridge before it lifted for passing boats, but didn’t make it in time. He then said (with his mouth not moving) “we’ll take another path.” My family got out of the car and. My father began to take our luggage out of the vehicle. I grabbed my backpack and reached toward my 4 year old niece saying,”we’re going to walk. If you get tired I’ll carry you.” The road we were parked on turned into a beautiful grassland and I began to walk forward. Everyone in the dream disappeared, but I continued to walk hand in hand through the land with my niece. I usually don’t remember my dreams, but I recently found out I was pregnant and this dream was extremely vivid. I woke up feeling calm. What does this mean?
I had a dream of puchasing New shoe and most of the time travelling dream but I can’t remember here I am moving
What do dreams about someone else traveling away from home and leaving you at home mean?
I had a dream that troubled me, its a journey we have been waiting for so long for my sister and dad to travel. my dad has not been well for a long time. in that dream we had taken him to the hospital but his results were disappointing. I saw my sister shartered in the dream and she started crying as well as my other sister, as she cried she talked about the journey failing as it has been dependant on dads health, ‘ we cant travel in the condition dad is in’ what could be the meaning of this. I will appreciate your interpretation
I dreamt of taking a flight to a different country(forgotten the country) and I dreamt of traveling with someone i don’t know which I woke up to pee couldn’t finish the dream what does it mean?
Could you help interpret my dreams. I always have a dream about going somewhere very unfamiliar. It could either be walking or riding a vehicle. Then a few days after or the next day i always end up going to the same place that i have dreamed about… I alsosometimes write on my dream journal.
Also is continuing a dream a real dream or your just imagining it and just barely sleeping. And about dreaming about a dram you once had and being aware of it so you have a diferen ending from the first dream
thank you
I dreamt a friend of mine invited me it to meet her new boo (at first he was nas the rapper and I was jealous but let it go keep in mind in waking life I just read nas and Nicki broke up) but the whole time it just didn’t seem as if they had chemistry so I found myself asking questions like do y’all hug etc then my friend and one of her friends throughout the dream at different times asked me if I was gonna go to Germany with her and my answer both times was I’m not sure we’ll see. I knew I couldn’t afford it…. after I was asked the second time by my friends friend they were calling for me in the bar so as we were walking back in my thought was I bet they’re gonna surprise me with the trip…. once I got in everyone got really quiet and I said why is it so weird, what? They said SR you’re going on an all expense paid trip to Germany!!!! Even though I predicted it I was still extremely shocked and happy I cried of joy and thanksgiving because I knew at that moment my friend signed me up to win the trip….the boyfriend came up to me and introduce himself as a worker on the Show/Contest so the whole thing was set up to surprise me with the trip. I cried and hugged and thanked my friend…and the guy. I thought for a split second why Germany then I thought well its great because you get to see a place you otherwise wouldn’t pay to see yourself so its great!! Then I woke up.
Any insight would be great.
Ps. I know the friend who surprised me and in waking life I just replied as confirmed to attending an event of hers. And in my personal life I’m going through a rough patch financially.
Hi
I dreamt that I am getting ready to go somewhere with my parents. What does it mean?
Hi Farzana, Change is in the Air for you, and Probably means someone close in your family will be Involved! Just because it was your parents doesnt mean it will be them, maybe a Brother, siter, Aunt etc….. Keep your eyes open for opprotunities of travel near or far, and / or preparations for traveling. Stay Focused.
Hi Michel,
Last night I had train related dream. It was like I was watching a youtube vlog video but I couldn’t see the device,it was like I actually were with her but after a while I realized I was watching a video?(I watch her videos in my waking life too)So we got of the train and there was this small town.The sky looked huge. The sky was blue and the clouds had a deep blue color but overall it was relaxing and peaceful.after a while there was a solar eclipse but none was wearing glasses. Then we went to a candy shop but somehow I was suddenly next to my mother in the train shop or something like and we were buying sweets.(her friend had given her money we didnt have some with us). After buying the snacks I moved over and apparently with us was all my relatives from my mother’s side. Then we all when to bed. Overall the dream was very pleasant.