How To Road Trip With Your Dog

As 2020 progresses in an unprecedented way, chances are that a lot of our future trips are going to be the road trip kind. This is why I’m here to give y’all all the best tips on how to road trip with your dog!

First thing’s first, I need you to realize that not all dogs will thrive during a road trip. So, the first step you’ll need to take is to evaluate your dog(s) and see if spending several hours in a car is something they would enjoy or even tolerate.

Done? Great! Let’s move on, why don’t we. Time for you to enjoy my

full guide on how to road trip with your dog!

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links that grant us a tiny bit of commission. However, everything we link we use for our own dogs and totally recommend!

Alright, let’s jump right into it. The first thing you’ll want to do when planning a road trip with your dog is to make sure your destination is dog-friendly! I mean, “duh”! But there’s no point in bringing your dog if they are just going to have to stay in the hotel — or worse, car — during your entire trip. So, do plenty of research on your destination prior to committing to it!

Need some inspo? Here are a few of my favorite dog-friendly cities: Huntington Beach, Denver, and of course, Austin!

The pups have plenty of room, even during a “totally normal” traffic stop.

Optimize Your Car

Sweet! Now that you’ve picked your destination, let’s make sure your car is safe and comfy for your dogs! My first recommendation is to get a cargo/seat liner to prevent slobber/hair/nails from damaging your car. I love this one!

Next, you’ll want to give your dog(s) a comfy and spacious area that is just for them. You won’t be able to explain to them that they are about to spend several hours in a car and likely won’t get out until they are a state or two away from home. So the least you can do is give them space where they can manage to relax while you drive.

We have a four-door Jeep Wrangler, so we’re able to fold the seats down. This leaves the entire backseat/cargo area just for them. Aside from our cargo liner, we lay down two dog beds (here’s a more affordable option) to add a little extra cushion for them. You’ll definitely want to get one that is either waterproof or has a removable, washable cover.

You might be thinking, “what about your luggage?”. Well, we used to put our luggage on one side of the car, leaving the other side for the dogs. However, with three of them that just wasn’t enough. So we invested in this hitch carrier so that we could safely strap all of our luggage outside the car and leave the entire interior for the dogs. You can see a before and after below!

If you are traveling in a smaller car/sedan, I highly recommend getting one of these backseat extenders so that your pups can have the space between the front and back seats (where a human’s legs would usually go). It may not seem like a lot to you, but that extra space will make for a much comfier ride for them!

Somewhat related, if your dogs are anything like ours, your car is covered in dog hair. This tool is the absolute best for removing hair from all parts of your car, and it is totally affordable! We swear by ours.

Prepare Your Dog

Okay, the most important thing to think about when going on a road trip with your dog is how are you going to keep them safe. The last thing you want is to not have a plan during an emergency when you are thousands of miles away from home.

First, make sure your pets are up-to-date on all vaccines and preventatives. Then, ask your veterinarian for a copy of their records and bring them with you on your trip. Most vets should be able to send you an electronic copy nowadays!

Next, you’ll want to make sure your dogs are microchipped (and that it has your updated information). They should also be wearing a collar with tags that contain your contact information.

Now is the perfect time for me to tell you about Fi — they are a total lifesaver when it comes to road trips, and just in general life! Their smart collars do a couple of things: they work as a pedometer tracking your dog’s daily steps and fitness levels. But most importantly, they can track your dog IRL!

If you are interested in getting a collar, you can use code “greatgoldenweenie25” to get $25 off!

One other thing I love to do before hitting the road is to tire the dogs out. It may seem simple, but taking them on a long walk, to the dog park or even for a game of fetch in the backyard will help them sleep through a good part of the drive!

Finally, you’ll want to be prepared for an emergency. We do this by having an emergency kit ready in the car plus a note in our glovebox that states we are traveling with pets. Be sure to include how many, what kind they are and an emergency contact to care for them should you not be able to.

One of our “pit stops” was White Sands National Park, where the dogs got to get some of their energy out.

The Road Trip

Okay, now that you’re ready to hit the road with your dog, let’s talk about the drive itself. While you can find it easy to entertain yourself (hopefully) during a long drive, your dog probably won’t be as lucky. After all, they don’t make podcasts for dogs… I think.

This is why we always like to have a few things ready to go in case the dogs start getting restless: some toys, a few chews, and maybe even a kong that we have pre-stuffed and frozen! We know this sounds messy, but this is why you’ve already lined your car with a liner and dog bed 😉

Something else to consider especially if your dog is anxious in the car or doesn’t ever “relax” is CBD! They make various types of doggy CBD to take the edge off anxious pups, but our favorites are Suzie’s CBD Treats! She even makes CBD peanut butter that you can use in those aforementioned kongs.

Finally, you’ll want to make sure your route is planned out accordingly to your pups needs… AKA potty breaks. We love using the USA Rest Stop Locator app to check out the rest stops before stopping. And if we’re driving through a city, we’ll find a park or dog park to take the dogs.

Road-tripping with your dog is a fun way to travel together without having to deal with the headache of flying. However, it does take quite a bit of preparation and patience, from both you and your dog!

Personally, I’m not a fan of road trips, but they’re the only way we’re able to travel with three dogs. So, take it from me, these are the most helpful and useful tips for taking your dog on a road trip.

Have any other tips or tricks I didn’t include? Let us know in the comments! We’re always looking for ways to better our traveling experiences, especially for the dogs.

Safe travels,
GGW Momma