Spring is officially here, and this year more than ever most of us are ready to jump in the car for a short road trip or weekend adventure a few hours from home. Those of us with four-legged family members have another question to consider—should I take my dog on a road trip? While photos of smiling dogs in a car might be popular on Instagram, the reality can be quite different. So whether you are traveling cross country with a dog, or taking a pet-friendly day trip, here are some things we learned about how to road trip with dogs. Most importantly, preparation ahead of time is essential to make things less stressful when traveling with a dog. Plus we share some useful items that we have found helpful while traveling by car with our 70-pound rescue dog over the years. Since this post was originally published, our sweet dog Hallie (pictured throughout this blog and who always had an adventurous spirit) has crossed the rainbow bridge. But stay tuned as we start traveling more with our newest 55 pound rescue dog, also shown here, who isn't quite as comfortable in the car. It's going to be an adventure!
*This post was updated January, 2024.
This post contains affiliate links; if you purchase something familyTravelsUSA may receive a small commission. As always, opinions are my own.
Before you make a decision to bring your dog along, seriously consider the impact on your activities by having to address the needs of your pet 24/7. A weekend of outdoor hiking is awesome for many dogs, but not every outdoor spot is made for dogs (as an example, dogs are not allowed on many national park trails). Being in a city can be overwhelming if your dog is not used to all the sights and sounds. Will your dog be comfortable being left alone in a strange house or hotel, even for a short time? Who will take the dog out in the middle of the night in a dark hotel parking lot or unfamiliar neighborhood? Will dog anxiety lead to accidents? Once you’ve decided that it’s worth the extra planning, here’s our list of things to do before and during a road trip with your dog.
Tips for Road Trips With Your Dog
1. Clean Out the Car. If you looked in your car right now, would you find scattered memories of your last road trip in the form of old food wrappers and small bits of snacks? If so, take a few minutes before packing the car to clean out the floor or under the seats. This may not be an issue for some people who keep a neat and tidy car, but for others it’s a must-do.
Having Heavy duty floor mats have been a lifesaver to protect the carpet from wet and muddy paws. These types of floor mats with deep channels are great for containing spills and definitely make for an easier clean up if your dog (or small human!) happens to get an upset stomach from traveling. Be sure to throw in an old towel to wipe muddy paws. Besides these sturdy floor mats, we recently decided to buy a waterproof seat cover for our new shelter dog, who is still getting used to riding in the car. A cheap, plastic table covering also works well to keep on the floor if your dog is prone to get sick.
2. Start Local. If your dog doesn’t ride in the car much, it’s always a good idea to try a few local outings before heading off on a longer adventure. Some dogs love the car, while others get queasy if they don’t have an open window. If the only place they ever go in the car is to the vet, you probably want to try a few short trips to other places before tackling a longer car trip. Starting with a twenty minute ride for a fun outing is working well for our new shelter dog, who doesn't quite enjoy car rides as much as our other dog, who is pictured here and was always ready for an adventure.
3. Bring Something from Home. If you have room, bringing a favorite dog bed or blanket in the car might help your dog feel more comfortable about a road trip. Obviously our dog has gotten a bit spoiled since we removed some of the seats in our minivan to make room for her bed!
Be sure to pack plenty of food, extra water, any medicine, & plenty of dog poop bags for the trip—those bags can serve double duty for car sick passengers. Also, keep a clean, portable dog bowl handy to use for water at roadside stops or outdoors. At just 4 ounces, a collapsible bowl fits the bill, and is easy to throw in or hook on a day pack.
4. Use a Dog Restraint. What applies to humans when traveling also applies for dogs, so restrain your dog in some fashion while the car is moving. We purchased this seat-belt restraint that hooks to a harness. We've tested it on several trips with good results. Our dog still has the freedom to jump from the car floor to a captain’s chair for her window view. Plus the harness works well for regular walks. On occasion, both of our dogs have managed to wrap the tether around themselves, but overall, it’s very secure and we are happy with our purchase. Just make sure to order based on your dog’s weight.
5. Plan Out a Few Rest Stops. Depending on how far away you are traveling, it’s always nice to know ahead of time that there is at least one dog-friendly stop. We’ve found that most interstate rest stops usually have plenty of grassy areas, but not all gas stations or fast food parking lots can say the same. Another option is to see if there are any state or local parks along the way. Many are pet-friendly, and provide a great break if you are traveling a longer distance with your dog. Be extra cautious that your dog doesn’t make a run for it when kids are entering and exiting the car during rest stops, especially with sliding doors on minivans. 
6. Map Out Dog-Friendly Accommodations at Your Destination. Knowing ahead of time what dog-friendly options are available at your destination can certainly make things less stressful. Or you can plan specifically with your dog in mind. One of our favorite places for a weekend getaway is the pet-friendly Lazy L at Willow Creek, a wonderful bed and breakfast in Lewes, Delaware. This place is well-designed to accommodate pets, with dog towels, an outdoor shower, extra doggie bags, and a fenced in dog run. Plus Lewes is a super dog-friendly town. On the other hand, staying at a crowded campsite with other visitors may require much more vigilance.
If you are staying somewhere more than a night or two, consider a pet-friendly rental. Both VRBO and Airbnb have filters for pet-friendly rentals. Just be sure to find out the policy about leaving pets alone in the rental during your stay, and if there are other dogs on the premises. We’ve found that our dog needs to get used to hearing “other people in our house" when we stayed in a basement apartment. Knowing how your dog is going to respond to being left alone even for a short period of time is also important. Many pet-friendly accommodations have specific rules about leaving dogs unattended for long periods of time. If your dog barks all the time at home, chances are that won’t change in a hotel or rental home. For some dogs, bringing along a portable crate might be a good choice.
If you haven’t traveled much with your dog, sites like GoPetFriendly share tons of advice based on their experience adventuring with their two dogs for over 10 years. Read through their destination-specific blogs for some great insight for locations all around the USA. They even cover important topics like the legality of leaving your pet alone in the car. BringFido is another resource for finding hotels, restaurants, and activities in a specific area. They offer a Pet Friendly Guarantee if you book accommodations directly through their site.
7. Scope Out Pet-Friendly Dining Options. The outdoor dining trend that has grown over the past year has happily created more pet-friendly dining options when the weather is nice. A little research ahead of time will alleviate any last minute scrambling for pet-friendly restaurants. Depending on whether you are willing to leave your pet alone in the room while you grab a meal in a restaurant, carry out may be a better option. Some visitor bureaus, like Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge, have put together pet-friendly itineraries that include places to eat and outdoor recreation options. With the warmer weather, we’ve found most breweries and wineries to be super dog-friendly!
8. Don’t Forget the Leash! This may sound obvious but sometimes in all the excitement of packing you forget the basics. This is especially true when your dog happily runs into the car the moment they see a suitcase! We’ve done this before on a local outing to DC. Luckily my husband was able to craft a temporary leash out of rope and clip we had stuffed under the back seat! For my 70 pound dog, I love having a leash with double handles for more control on the road and when exploring new places.
A few final things to note when traveling with your dog. Most veterinarians suggest having the name of a local clinic on hand if you are planning to stay in a place more than a day or two. And make sure that your dog is up to date with vaccinations and is healthy to travel. It's possible that a rental property or county may have breed restrictions in place so check before you go. For some dogs, the stress and anxiety of a new place or having to be on a leash all the time is far greater than being left at home with a reliable dog sitter. The bottom line is that only you, as the dog owner, know your dog’s temperament and whether bringing them along is the best thing for everyone.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
RSS Feed
