Road Trip With Your Dog: Pet-Friendly Routes, Lodging, Essentials, & More
Taking a road trip with your dog is a fine balance between making sure they’re happy and you’re happy, so you can create fun memories with your pup while getting to explore and experience all you want to at your destination.
Our dog, Lincoln, has been road-tripping with us since 2019. She took a 5-month road trip through Ontario and New England with us in 2022, a 3.5-month road trip through Colorado and Utah in 2021, and a 6-week road trip through New Mexico in 2020 (just to name a few!). In fact, this is part of why we fell in love with road trips in the first place: Lincoln can go everywhere we go (and we’re pretty sure she appreciates that deeply).
Over the years, we’ve learned how to navigate the ins and outs of road-tripping with your dog, from finding pet-friendly lodging and restaurants to trails and activities that keep Lincoln active on the road.
From our favorite dog-friendly routes to must-have gear when taking a road trip with your dog, here’s our list of recommendations for an enjoyable and stress-free trip for you both!
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Dog-Friendly Routes & Road Trip Ideas
The ironic truth is… A road trip is both the best way to travel with a dog and a form of travel that’s not exactly great for a dog.
Meaning… Road-tripping is a great way for your pup to join your travels, but traveling in a car for hours isn’t the most fun thing for a dog.
So when you plan a road with your dog, spend a few minutes not just thinking about where you want to go but also thinking about a pet-friendly route and ensuring wherever you’re headed includes at least some fun pet-friendly activities.
We're committed to traveling with Lincoln for almost all of our travels - she’ll even be with us during our first 5-star hotel stay at Lake Louise, which feels almost as ridiculous as it sounds, ha! Since Lincoln goes most places we go, this often means we have to make tradeoffs when visiting destinations that aren’t super dog-friendly. Sometimes we can’t stay where we want to stay, we have to miss out on popular hikes, or we can’t make spontaneous pit stops at non-dog-friendly patios on the way back from an activity.
The tradeoffs are worth it to get to travel with Lincoln anyway, but it does mean we really, really enjoy when our travels take us to incredibly dog-friendly destinations, like many of the stops we made during our New England Road Trip. (If you enjoy national parks, Acadia National Park is a must-do. If you love to hike, head to Lake Placid and the Adirondacks or the White Mountains in New Hampshire.)
So if you haven’t yet decided on a destination for your road trip with your dog, take a few minutes to search for dog-friendly destinations. Otherwise, make sure to at least locate a few dog-friendly activities and dog-friendly pit stops before you hit the road.
Our favorite road trip stops include dog-friendly hikes and local trails, dog-friendly bodies of water (like lakes and beaches), and dog-friendly breweries or cidery patios. We also make sure to stop at rest areas when possible to give Lincoln a few minutes out of the car during long drives.
Some of our favorite dog-friendly routes include this New England Road Trip, our New Mexico ‘Unsung Hero’ Road Trip (featuring the very dog-friendly White Sands National Park), and the Maroon Bells to Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway in Colorado.
Dog-Friendly Accommodations
When planning a road trip with your dog, one of the most important (and generally most time-consuming) aspects is finding accommodations that welcome pets.
Whether you prefer hotels, campgrounds, or short-term rentals, make sure to check the pet policies of each place you consider before booking.
Below, we’ll dive into each of these options to help you find the best pet-friendly accommodations for you and your pup.
Short-Term Rentals
We know it’s mildly soul-crushing to filter for “dog-friendly” on short-term rental sites like Airbnb and VBRO… and watch your options dwindle as they cut in half (or usually more), but there are lots of great places that welcome pets, and that number seems to be growing by the day!
With a little extra time to research and an additional trade-off or two that you’re willing to make, you should be able to eventually find something dog-friendly, within budget, and close enough to the area you’d like to visit.
Distance is usually the trade-off we have to make on short-term rental sites. We generally stay a little bit further outside our target area to have more options (and because prices generally decrease as distance increases).
The sooner you plan your road trip, the more dog-friendly options you will have as well. However, on short-term rental sites, that doesn’t necessarily mean planning as far in advance as possible. The policies for individual units will vary as some may open for booking 12 months in advance, and others will open for booking 6 months or even just 3 months in advance or sooner.
We recommend looking for pet-friendly lodging at the 12 and 6-month mark (if you’re able to plan that far in advance). Then look again at exactly the 3-month mark if you haven’t found anything you like. (Note: When we say the 6 or 3-month mark, that means 6 or 3 months prior to the date you’d like to check in.)
Hotels
We spent the first three years of our travels staying almost exclusively in short-term rentals. We loved having more room, sometimes having a backyard for Lincoln, and staying in neighborhoods with great walking trails.
However, this past year, for our 2023 Travel Season, Jonathan, Lincoln, and I decided to make the switch to hotels for loyalty programs, prices (rates and fees on many short-term rental sites have skyrocketed, and value is feeling disproportionate to cost), and better personal amenities. (We’re sorry, Lincoln, we miss the gym!)
While hotels are generally less dog-friendly when it comes to the comfort and enjoyment of your pup, more and more pet-friendly hotel options are becoming available, making hotels a good pet-friendly option for your road trip.
We have found this comes with a catch, though: Although more hotels are pet-friendly than ever before, most of them still have high pet fees. And heads up: hotels are not always upfront about this, nor do they always make it clear if it’s a one-time fee or nightly fee. While we thought most pet fees were one-time fees, we had to recently switch hotels after stumbling upon a $100 per night pet fee.
When looking for places to stay while road-tripping with your dog, make sure to confirm (1) a hotel is pet-friendly (and confirm any breed or size restrictions), (2) whether or not a hotel charges an additional pet fee, and (3) how much the pet fee will be, including whether it’s a one-time fee or nightly fee.
Some of our favorite dog-friendly hotels include:
La Quinta Inns & Suites (pets under 40 lbs generally stay for free; this used to be our top choice for pet-friendly hotels, particularly when traveling on a budget)
Red Roof Inn (generally allows one pet per room, free of charge, with no weight or breed restrictions)
Aloft (this is generally now our top choice if we don’t need a kitchen; Aoft generally welcomes dogs up to 40 pounds and allows up to two dogs per room for a one-time pet fee)
Kimpton Hotels (Kimpton properties are known for being pet-friendly and generally do not charge any additional fees for pets. In fact, here’s what they say: “At Kimpton, we invite you to bring your furry, feathery or scaly family member — no matter their size, weight, or breed, all at no extra charge. If your pet fits through the door, we’ll welcome them in.” Kimpton Hotels even offer amenities like pet beds and bowls, and some locations have pet-friendly happy hours if your dog’s into that kind of thing.)
Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn & Suites (dog-friendly hotels like these that offer suites and rooms with full kitchens are great for longer stays and eating meals at home; however, they generally charge at least a one-time pet fee)
Fairmont Hotels (great for road-tripping with your dog in luxury!)
Although these hotel brands generally allow pets, always double-check the specific policies of the hotel before booking. A call to the front desk is typically the best way to confirm a specific hotel is pet-friendly (and to confirm any pet fees).
Camping (National Parks, State Parks, & More)
Camping is one of the best, most budget-friendly ways to road trip with your dog.
Many campgrounds are pet-friendly, but before booking a campsite, you’ll want to confirm that the activities you’re planning to do are also pet-friendly. Unlike a short-term rental or hotel, unless you’re camping in an RV, you won’t be able to leave your dog behind in a crate in your tent. They’ll need to go wherever you go.
That means making sure all the trails, restaurants, overlooks, activities, and destinations on your itinerary are pet-friendly or making arrangements with a local dog daycare (or a family member or friend who’s willing to stay behind).
We generally only camp in dog-friendly national or state parks that we can explore with Lincoln or when we need a place to stay for just a night along our route. (For the latter, we’re okay with being at the campsite exclusively if no trails are dog-friendly, since we plan to be up and out the next morning. Overnight stops at campgrounds are a great way to reduce costs when on a road trip with your dog!)
If you want to take a road trip with your dog to a national park, be sure to verify the pet policies for campgrounds and the overall pet-friendliness of the park. Acadia National Park is highly regarded as one of the most dog-friendly national parks in the United States, while parks like Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park have limited dog-friendly activities, making it more challenging to explore these parks extensively with your pup.
Generally speaking, state parks and especially national forest areas are pretty dog-friendly. If you can’t find a dog-friendly campground in a national park, try state parks or national recreational areas nearby.
Dog-Friendly Restaurants & Activities
When it comes to eating out with a pet, we generally look for restaurants with outdoor patios that allow dogs, but will sometimes pack a picnic lunch and find a scenic spot to enjoy a view while giving Lincoln some time outside.
Several popular restaurant chains, such as Shake Shack, Starbucks (ask for a pup cup!), Panera Bread, and In-N-Out Burger, are generally known for their dog-friendly patios. However, it's always a good idea to call ahead and confirm the specific location's rules regarding dogs.
In addition to chain restaurants, exploring local dog-friendly establishments is usually one of the best parts of taking a road trip with your dog!
Use resources like Google, TripAdvisor, and recommendations from locals to find dog-friendly restaurants, breweries, cideries, and wineries when you’re traveling. Burlington, VT, and Bar Harbor, ME, are two super dog-friendly cities we've visited, but we’re typically able to find at least a few dog-friendly options in any area.
Note: BringFido and TripAdvisor are great for finding dog-friendly restaurants and activities. On TripAdvisor, search for “dog” or “pet” in the reviews. Just remember that sometimes information can become outdated. If a third-party site claims a restaurant is dog-friendly, it’s a good idea to confirm this on the restaurant’s website or call the restaurant for confirmation.
To find nearby hiking trails that are dog-friendly, we love AllTrails. Click here for more on planning your road trip and finding fun things to do along your route!
Dog-Friendly Travel Essentials
After more than 3 years of road-tripping with Lincoln, we’ve picked up a few must-have packing items that make traveling with a dog a better and easier experience for us all.
Here’s our pick for essentials when on a road trip with your dog!
Dog Travel Kennel / Crate
This packable dog travel crate is our #1 must-have for road-tripping with a dog. (For Lincoln, we bought size 42 x 31 x 31 inches.)
We love this collapsible crate so much because it (1) packs well (it fits vertically behind the two front seats in our Prius or horizontally on the back seats when folded down), and (2) is sturdy enough for use at home, too, which provides a secure and familiar space for Lincoln year-round.
This has been a game-changer for Lincoln’s comfort and confidence traveling with us!
Before we bought this crate, we had a lot of difficulties leaving Lincoln in the hotel or short-term rental while we were out for a few hours at a time. She experienced a lot of separation anxiety from being in an unfamiliar place, and that made it challenging for us to explore without her. (While we love bringing Lincoln along as much as possible, some things you want to do and see when traveling are just not dog-friendly.)
Once we started using the same crate at home or on the road, Lincoln immediately became more comfortable traveling with us. Previously, we’d need to wait a few days in a new location before leaving Lincoln so she could adjust and feel more comfortable; Now, we can head out for a few hours, leaving her in her crate within minutes of arriving somewhere new if we need to.
Seriously, this is a game-changer!
Note: If you have a crate-trained dog, we highly recommend this crate. However, if your dog is not crate-trained or they’re a big chewer, this may not be the best travel crate for you. This is a soft-sided crate, meaning it could be easy for a dog to chew through sections.
Dog Travel Bed
We definitely haven’t found the best travel bed, meaning one that’s great for carrying, packing, and moving from destination to destination. But we have found a bed that Lincoln seems to love and fits into the crate linked above. I can’t find a link to the exact bed we use, but it’s similar to this one. (Lincoln loves having sides on her bed.)
Similarly to her crate above, we always bring her bed from place to place to keep that consistency and stability while traveling. (But I’ll be honest, this is my least favorite thing to pack, so if you have suggestions for a comfortable and packable dog travel bed, please share with us in the comments below!)
Dog Travel Harness For Shy or Anxious Dogs
This “Do Not Pet” Dog Harness is our second travel must-have, particularly for shy or nervous dogs.
(Lincoln wears size: girth 24-31" and we attach saddlebags to the harness to carry waste bags and other items.)
This harness has worked incredibly well when it comes to limiting the number of people trying to engage with Lincoln (i.e., say “hi” or pet her), which has increased Lincoln’s confidence in exploring new places.
If you avoid traveling with your dog, going on hikes together, or taking your dog to dog-friendly patios or places because of crowds and possible human interaction, this could be a great option for you both to feel more comfortable out and about. Although it won’t stop everyone 100% of the time, most people quickly notice the “do not pet” sign and respect it and Lincoln’s space.
Try this harness if you’re planning a road trip with an anxious, shy, or non-people-person dog!
Dog Travel Bowls
Portable bowls are great, easy-to-pack items for meals on the road. (We use Arcadia Trail collapsable bowls, but these are similar.)
Dog Leashes for Travel
We love finding off-leash areas for Lincoln to roam, but sometimes we want to give Lincoln space without taking her entirely off-leash. This long leash can be great for that. It’s also great for camping.
(This leash is my go-to everyday leash because it’s so lightweight and comfortable.)
Dog Car Travel Accessories
These are specifically to make the drives with your dog more comfortable.
A dog seat cover can be great for the backseat of your car (especially if your travels take you to a lot of outdoor destinations). We also like the idea of a dog seat extender, whether for the backseat or front seat, especially if you’re a car camper.
This is an amazing cover in terms of features, but Lincoln doesn’t get great traction on the recommended “up” side, so sometimes we’ll use it upside down with the rubber grip giving Lincoln better traction to sit up and look out the window.
Window shades like these can be great for dogs (or kids) during road trips.
Packing For a Road Trip With Your Dog
Make sure to also pack your basic dog-friendly travel essentials.
This includes things like food, treats (Lincoln is VERY particular and only loves these small training treats and milk bones), a travel water bottle, a dog bed, a short leash (this one is super lightweight and my favorite to use), waste bags, 1-2 toys from home (we’ll also bring a fetch ball), and any medications or other supplies your dog may need.
We generally pack all of this in a standard backpack and pick up additional supplies, like food and treats, on the road as we need.
If your dog suffers from allergies when traveling, this supplement can be added to water and has worked very well for Lincoln. She also does well on these chews for separation anxiety support. (But we’re just sharing what has worked for us to travel with Lincoln; make sure to check with your pet’s vet before making dietary or otherwise changes.)
Packable Crate
“Do Not Pet” Dog Harness
What’s your #1 suggestion for taking a road trip with your dog?
We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
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