How to Take a Road Trip with a Dog
We have been on countless road trips with a dog and found some must have travel accessories that really made the trip more enjoyable for both us and our dog. We’ve gathered some tips and items that may help you on your next road trip!
How to take a road trip with a dog?
Taking a road trip with a dog is a ton of fun. We love bringing our fur-child with us wherever we go and family vacations are on top of that list. We’ve driven 1,000 mile trips with both a dog and a toddler in the back seat. If we can handle that so can you!
We’ve gathered some tips and tricks that we’ve learned along the way!
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Car Safety for You & Your Dog
Traveling high speeds can be a danger for both you and your pet if they are not properly secured. We always attach our beagle to a seatbelt harness. It keeps her from moving around the car and also reduces her anxiety by feeling more stable. She has also been in a dog booster seat as a puppy, and that worked well when she was small.
Bring Extra Food & Water
No matter how well you prepare your dog for a road trip, its always best to bring extra food and water. The stress of traveling will making them need more water especially if you are traveling in the summer heat.
Why extra food? Traveling long distance means your bound to run into traffic at some point along your drive. Having extra food will ease any worry of getting stuck somewhere overnight when stores may be closed.
Bring a Travel Bowl!!
It is an absolute MUST to pack a bowl designed for traveling. It is easier to store when you are working with limited space and easier to clean when you are driving with limited resources.
These are our favorite travel bowls. You can check them out here.
Pack a Crate
If you are uncomfortable with your dog sitting in a seat with a harness, pack a crate inside of the car for your dog to relax in. The ASPCA recommends putting your dog in a crate or carrier when traveling by car. This may reduce anxiety or stress as well. The tight space may feel comfortable to some dogs and you can use your crate at hotels as well so it will function for multiple uses.
Research Pet-Friendly Hotels
Wouldn’t it be nice if every hotel allowed pets? One of the first things we do before our trip is research a few dog-friendly hotels along our route. It’s a good idea to get an estimate on prices as well as how often you would be able to stop overnight if needed.
BONUS TIP: Shop around before making a reservation. Some hotel rooms will be cheaper but will charge HIGH pet fees. Sometimes it is more affordable to pay for a more expensive room if the pet fee is smaller.
How to Manage Rest Stops
When you are traveling along a major interstate like I-95, you will notice almost every rest stop has at least a dozen dogs walking around. Rest Stops are usually the best places to stop with a dog to get a break. They are usually equipped to handle dogs by having large grassy areas, dog bag trash cans and free potty bags.
If you have never. traveled long distance with your dog before, don’t worry about having enough places to take a break.
We’ve been to some rest stops that also offer a dog park. We even found a hotel with dog amenities like free dog treats and a dog park located on property.
Stay Up-to-Date on Medications
This is something we always make sure to stay up-to-date on. When traveling, you have no idea what your dog could be sniffing, touching or even eating. Make sure they have their flea and tick medicine applied before traveling as well.
Keep the Car Comfy
My dog is a little bit of a diva and only wants to lay down if there is a comfy spot to do so. Make sure the back seat is comfortable or if crated they have a comfortable blanket to sleep on. Some of these things are common sense like if you are traveling in the heat make sure the car is at a comfortable temperature.
Pack with Accessibility in Mind
We learned this the hard way. KEEP YOUR SNACKS FAR AWAY FROM YOUR DOG. Keep all the bags zipped and keep water easily accessible to you so you don’t have to dig into suitcases just to hydrate your dog.
