Jewish Prayer for Travel
The traditional Jewish prayer for a journey is Tefilat HaDerech, usually called the Traveler's Prayer. It asks God to lead the traveler in peace and bring them to their destination in life, gladness and peace. The prayer is found in the traditional prayer book, the siddur. The prayer has three themes.
It asks God to direct the traveler's steps in peace. It asks for protection from dangers along the way. It closes by blessing God as the one who hears prayer. Tradition has it said once, at the start of a journey, after leaving the city limits.
Customs differ on timing and on what kinds of trips it covers, so a rabbi can speak to how the custom applies to modern travel by car or plane. At Find A Prayer, we wrote the prayers below to sit beside Tefilat HaDerech. They do not replace it. Each one is our own composition, written in the first person so you can say it in your own words.
If a trip brings up deep grief or fear, a pastor, counselor, or doctor can help you directly. Scripture also speaks to travel directly. Psalm 121 speaks of God preserving your going out and coming in, and Psalm 91:11 speaks of God's angels keeping you in all your ways. The prayers below cover setting out, a long road, travel with family, time far from home, and arrival, so you can choose the one that fits the trip in front of you.
A Prayer to Say Alongside Tefilat HaDerech Before Setting Out
Lord, I am about to leave, and I ask You to go with me. Keep my steps steady and my mind clear. Guard me from the dangers I cannot see, and bring me to where I am going in peace. Let me arrive well, and let the people I am going to see be well too. Amen.
A Prayer to Say Alongside Tefilat HaDerech for a Long Journey
Lord, my God, I come to You before a long road. The miles ahead are many, and much of the way is still unseen to me. I ask You to lead me one step at a time. Give me patience with the hours that drag and steadiness when the road is hard. Keep my attention on the road and my heart on You. When I feel tired, remind me that my strength is not the only strength at work. When I feel alone, let me know that You are near me in the passenger seat and in the quiet between stops. Guard me from danger I cannot see and from the harm that comes from my own carelessness. Watch over the people I leave behind, and let them rest knowing I am in Your care. Bring me to my destination in peace, and let my gladness and my peace come home with me. I trust You with the miles, and I trust You with the way back. Amen.
A Prayer to Say Alongside Tefilat HaDerech for Travel with Family
Lord, the people I love are with me on this trip, and I ask You to keep each of them safe. Watch over the children who are restless and the grown-ups who are tired from packing. Let every person in this car or on this plane feel looked after and not forgotten. Give me patience when the same question comes three times, and calm when someone is sad or afraid. Bring us all to our destination together, in peace. Amen.
A Prayer to Say Alongside Tefilat HaDerech for Those Far from Home
Lord, I am far from home and from the people I know. The distance feels long tonight, and I ask You to be near me. Meet me in this unfamiliar room and steady the part of me that wants to go back. Remind me that You are with me here, just as You are with the people I love at home. Help me sleep when I can, eat when I can, and reach out to the people close to me. When the homesickness is heavy, help me name it plainly before You. Bring me back to my people in Your time, and in peace. Amen.
A One-Line Prayer to Say Alongside Tefilat HaDerech
Lord, go before me on this road and bring me home in peace. Amen.
A Prayer of Thanks to Say Alongside Tefilat HaDerech on Arrival
Lord, thank You for bringing me here safely. I did not arrive by my own strength alone. Thank You for the road, for the drivers and pilots, for the hands that kept things moving, and for the quiet moments along the way. Let my arrival turn my heart toward thanks and toward the people I came to see. Keep me in Your care for the days ahead, and bring me home again in peace. Amen.
Scripture to pray
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.— Psalm 121:1-2 (KJV)
The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.— Psalm 121:8 (KJV)
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.— Psalm 91:11 (KJV)
Frequently asked questions
What is the Jewish prayer for travel called?
The traditional Jewish prayer for a journey is called Tefilat HaDerech. In English it is usually called the Traveler's Prayer. It is found in the traditional prayer book, the siddur. Both names refer to the same prayer.
What does the Traveler's Prayer ask for?
It asks that God lead the traveler in peace, direct their steps in peace, and bring them to their destination in life, gladness and peace. It asks for protection from dangers along the way. It closes by blessing God as the one who hears prayer. The prayers on this page follow the same themes, written in the first person.
When is Tefilat HaDerech said?
Tradition has it said once, at the start of a journey, after leaving the city limits. Customs differ on timing and on what kinds of trips it covers. A rabbi can speak to how the custom applies to a particular trip, including modern travel by car or plane.
Can I say the Jewish travel prayer if I am traveling alone?
Yes. The prayer is traditionally worded in the plural, 'us', including when one person says it alone, so a solo traveler says it in the plural as well. The prayers on this page are written in the first person, so a solo traveler can say them as they are.
Is there a Jewish prayer for traveling by plane or car?
Tefilat HaDerech is the traditional prayer for a journey, and customs differ on what kinds of trips it covers. A rabbi can answer how the prayer applies to a trip by car or plane. Our prayers on this page include one for setting out and one for arrival, and both can be said alongside the traditional prayer.
Is there a Psalm to read before a journey?
Psalm 121 speaks of God preserving your going out and coming in. Its eighth verse says, 'The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.'