Traveling with dogs: 17 tips for dog car travel, pet-friendly lodging + more

Whenever I tell my kids we’re doing something as a whole family, Max and Edie ask, “And Finn?!” After all, our 11-year-old rescue mutt is as much part of the family as any of us. While Finn can’t come on all our adventures, we definitely like to bring him along. Whether you’re heading to the beach, the mountain or a nearby city with your own pup, I’m happy to share these easy tips for traveling with dogs.

Because even though traveling with dogs brings a lot of joy, it can also add a bit of hassle to your vacation plans. This post covers finding pet friendly lodging, keeping dogs safe en route, dog car travel and easing dog anxiety.

We’ve traveled with Finn all over the country and have some wonderful stories to share (like meeting another dog who could have been his double on a California beach) as well as some doozies (like when he got sprayed by a skunk the day before we took a road trip from Oregon to Michigan).

Whether you’re heading near or far with your pup, I’m happy to share these tips for traveling with dogs. They’ll help you and your four-legged friend enjoy your vacation together!

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How to travel with dogs

Regardless of the kind of travel you’re doing, these tips will help if you’re traveling with dogs.

Exercise before your trip

When we plan traveling with our dog, we make sure the day before is filled with exercise. Typically, Hubs takes Finn out disc golfing, or we’ll all go on a hike as a family.

(This tip is equally helpful for our kids!)

No matter what kind of exercise your dog prefers, build it into your routine the day before you travel. He’ll be nice and tired out for the next day when he’s stuck in the car or on the plane.

Keep your dog hydrated on the go

Always keep a water bowl handy when you travel. That way, you can offer water to your pup at every opportunity.

When you and your dog are out exploring—walking around a new city or going on a hike, for example—bring a collapsible water bowl. We use a collapsible dog bowl similar to this BPA-free one:

I find it really convenient that they have carabiners, which makes it easy to attach the bowl to my backpack. That way, I don’t have to put it back inside my bag when it’s still wet.

We keep a collapsible dog bowl in the car at all times. That way we never have to remember to bring it when we’re traveling with our dog.

Get outdoors with your dog

The outdoors are inherently dog-friendly—and that’s why we always incorporate outside activity when traveling with dogs.

Even when we travel to a city with Finn, we look for hikes, urban parks and other opportunities for him to explore outside. I swear he likes it as much as we do. Though instead of checking out the architecture or looking for street art, he’s all about sniffing all the new smells!

So when you plan a trip with your dog, search for nearby hikes and dog parks. You and your pup will appreciate the time outdoors!

Find a pup-up (a dog-friendly pop-up experience)

After you decide where you’re going, do a bit of googling to see if there are any dog-specific events or pop-ups.

Not too long ago, for example, my friend produced a hugely popular pup-up in New York. At Dogville, “the waggiest place on earth,” dogs and their owners explored a whole building of adorable and Instagrammable sets, tried human and dog treats, and met a bunch of other dog-lovers. There were also dogs available for adoption.

We weren’t in New York for this dog pop-up event, but we’ll definitely be looking for other pet-focused pop-ups on upcoming trips.

Wear out your dog when you arrive

If you’ve been traveling for a few hours or more, plan for a lot of dog-friendly activity when you arrive. You could head out for a hike, walk around the neighborhood where you’re staying or find a nearby dog park.

Whether you went on a plane with your dog or took a road trip, she has probably been less active than she typically is at home. What’s more, she might have a lot of nervous energy from being cooped up. Let your dog release all that energy by getting lots and lots of exercise.

Look up a nearby vet

Chances are, your dog will fare just fine on vacation. But you should know of a nearby vet and emergency clinic for pets just in case.

Do your research even before you leave home. Then take a photo of the vet’s address, phone number and contact information. That way you’ll always have it with you, since you take your phone everywhere.

Find a dog-friendly restaurant

I love searching for pet-friendly restaurants when we’re traveling with dogs. We don’t always find one that’s near where we’re hanging out for the day, but sometimes we hit a jackpot!

That’s what we found when we all ate at Norm’s, a dog-friendly restaurant in Seattle‘s Fremont neighborhood. Max and Edie were thrilled that Finn got to come inside the pub, and Finn got to “order” off the dog menu. (Ok, I ordered for him—and Norm’s even options he could eat in spite of his many allergies!)

Level 10 travel tip: If restaurants nearby don’t allow dogs, take your food to go and eat in a park. Your dog is definitely allowed there!

Staying in pet-friendly lodging

When I talk to friends and readers about traveling with dogs, often their biggest concern is finding pet-friendly lodging. It can be hard enough to find a decent hotel or home rental within your budget; adding the extra requirement that it be pet-friendly makes it even tougher.

That’s why I’m sharing these tips about traveling with your dog and staying in pet-friendly accommodations.

How to find pet-friendly lodging

Whenever we travel with our dog, I make sure to use the right filters to find a hotel or home rental that allows pets. Here’s how to find it on AirBnB:

Click on “more filters” and scroll down to House Rules. Click “pets allowed” and continue your search. (If you want $40 off your first booking on AirBnB—and really, who doesn’t?!—use my referral link!)

On Hotels.com, this is where you find the pet-friendly lodging filter:

We have had great luck finding pet-friendly lodging. I even wrote about our favorite dog-friendly hotel in Bend, Oregon, where they not only allow pets but also give a doggy welcome basket to each furry friend!

Some hotels and other lodging have requirements (e.g. that the dog weighs less than 50 pounds) or extra fees (like a $25 per pet add-on).

Level 10 travel tip: When you book a hotel with your dog, ask to stay on the ground floor. That makes it much easier to simply step out the door to walk your pup!

Keeping your pet-friendly lodging clean

When we travel with our dog, we always keep a towel by the door. That way we can wipe off Finn’s paws before he comes into the room. No hotel or home rental needs dirty paw prints all over the place!

Also, if your dog gets on the furniture, cover it with a sheet. That way, your dog won’t leave behind hair on the sofa.

Finally, put a towel under your dog’s food and water bowls. If they’re anything like Finn, they make a bit of a mess when they eat. I’d hate to leave bits of food for someone else to clean up!

Keeping pet-friendly lodging clean is not only the courteous thing to do; it can also help you avoid additional cleaning fees.

Dog-proof the room

Just as you would childproof a hotel room or home rental, go around your lodging and make sure it’s safe for your dog. Hide away cords especially if your dog’s a chewer. And look under the beds and furniture to make sure nothing unsafe has been overlooked.

Finn is notorious for eating Kleenex—we theorize he used to eat tissue and paper to fill up his belly when he was a stray, *sob*—so we always double-check there are no tissues lying around. And we keep the bathroom door shut so he doesn’t go in and feast on tissue.

Dogs and car travel

Are you heading on a road trip with your dog? These tips will help you drive from A to B with your dog in the car—safely.

The safest way to travel with a dog in the car

Veterinarians typically recommend you use a dog harness for car travel to keep your pups safe. If you do, make sure that you choose a system that attaches to a harness, not a collar, so your dog isn’t choked if there’s an accident.

I like that this dog harness for car travel easily clicks in to a seatbelt, and the harness is wide and comfy for a dog. The wide and lightly padded chest portion also distributes the resistance over a larger area, so the harness doesn’t cut into your dog’s chest.

To be completely honest, we don’t travel with Finn in a crate or on a harness. We do, however, make him a cozy bed in the back, where he snuggles down and naps while we’re on the road.

Take breaks often

Hubs laughs at me because my bladder is smaller than Edie’s and Max’s, so we have to stop often when we’re on a road trip—for me more than the kids! All those rest stops might not be good for getting to our destination faster, but they’re great for Finn.

Whenever we stop, we let Finn out of the car. That way, he has a chance to move, pee and drink some water. The last thing you want is for your pup to be uncomfortable during dog car travel!

Don’t feed your dog before a road trip

If your dog gets car sick, do not feed him before you start a road trip. Traveling on an empty stomach helps dogs feel better if they’re prone to road sickness.

Thankfully, Finn doesn’t get car sick. So we keep him on his regular meal schedule when we travel. If we leave after lunch, we’ll feed him before that, and it hasn’t been a problem.

Tips to ease dog anxiety when traveling with dogs

Dogs can become anxious when they’re somewhere new and don’t know what to expect. That’s why it’s a good idea to use these ways to help dog anxiety when you’re traveling with dogs.

Keep the same schedule

If you typically feed your dog at 8am and 5pm when you’re at home, do the same when you’re on vacation, too. Ditto going for walks and anything else you do at the same time time while you’re traveling.

Sticking to a routine helps your dog feel more comfortable. When he knows what to expect, he doesn’t feel as anxious. This definitely helps Finn when we travel together.

Bring something from home

When Finn goes on vacation with us, we bring his dog bed from home. It’s familiar and comforting to him, and he sleeps on it whether we’re in a hotel or at an AirBnB.

So if your dog has a special blanket, chew toy or bed, bring it along (as long as you have room). The scent and familiarity will help your dog feel at home on vacation.

Bring a brand-new toy

A new toy can help distract your dog from feeling anxious in a new place. Especially if your pup is really into toys, he’ll be too busy playing to realize he is nervous!

I especially love introducing puzzle toys, like a puzzle feeder. You can put treats or kibble inside it, and your dog has to work to get the snacks out! These kinds of toys are even better for super-smart and working dogs, who thrive when they have something to occupy their minds.

Back before we had to switch Finn to a specialized raw diet, we used a puzzle feeder like this one. It kept Finn occupied forever!

Bring your dog along

Dogs tend to get most anxious when they’re left behind, especially if they’re in a new place. So whenever you can, bring your dog with you!

You’ll be surprised at how many dog-friendly activities you can work into your vacation itinerary.

Just make sure to never leave your dog inside a car. A parked car can heat up 20 degrees in just 10 minutes—hot enough to injure or even kill your dog.

All the tips to make traveling with dogs easier

I’m pretty sure that by now, you’re feeling inspired to get out and explore with your pup. And with all these tips for traveling with dogs, you have the know-how to make the vacation easier and more fun for everyone—including those with four legs.

You’ve learned how to make dog car travel safer and more comfortable. You now know how to find pet-friendly lodging—and avoid extra cleaning fees. Your dog’s anxiety will be helped by tips to keep him happy even when he’s away from home.

In short, you and your dog are ready to explore the world!

Do you have ideas and tips for how to travel with dogs? Please share them in the comments, below. And if you travel with your dog, let me know how it goes!