How to Take a Road Trip With Your Dog Instead of Dealing With Airport Chaos

When the recent United States government shutdown started causing flights disruptions, I panicked. I had already purchased a plane ticket to visit my partner in Canada and booked a pet sitter for my two dogs. I was nervous my trip would get cancelled at the last minute, and if I made it there, I didn’t want to find myself in a position where I was delayed returning home. One of my dogs is a medically fragile, senior giant breed who needs a sitter who can handle her special needs, so I can’t be away for too long.

My airline was offering buyouts for cancellations, so I decided to take them up on it and drive from my home in Portland, Oregon to Niagara Falls. This plan significantly lengthened my travel, though, and my sitter wasn’t able to stay with my dogs for a longer stretch of time. Solution? I would take the dogs on the road trip. As I wrapped my mind around my new course of action, I realized I probably wasn’t the only dog guardian struggling with making travel plans.

Although the government shutdown ended just as I arrived in Canada, the remaining effects are expected to continue to hit airlines and impact holiday travelers. If you, too, decide to pivot to a road trip to avoid airline hell, here are some of my best tips for road tripping with your dogs.

Make a detailed route.

I went from thinking I was flying to suddenly planning a road trip within a few days, which didn’t leave a lot of time. I selected a more southern route for crossing the country that would minimize bad weather, and a friend helped me map out how far I could drive each day. I also found ideal stop options, complete with pet-friendly hotel choices for each city.

If you aren’t in a hurry to get to your destination, consider looking up dog-friendly attractions along the drive, like hikes and state or national parks (as long as the government is open!) to visit with your dog. It’s also useful to research emergency veterinarians in all the areas where you’ll be traveling. It’s unlikely you’ll need that information, but in the event something does go wrong, it’s better to be prepared. 

Do some research to find pet-friendly hotels.

If you are going to be traveling for multiple days, you’ll need to consider where you’ll be spending the night. But if you have dogs in tow, not every hotel is going to be an option. Luckily, there are plenty dog-friendly hotels and many roadside hotels have dog-friendly rooms.

Many chain hotels offer pet-friendly rooms; however, different locations within the same company can have different pet policies. It’s useful to call in advance to hotels in cities where you think you might be staying. Having pre-researched options can save you stress and frustration after a long day of driving. Another option is to research hotels in advance and then call to reserve a room as you arrive in town. While this can make each night a little bit stressful and run the risk of there not being a room available, it does give you more flexibility for adjusting the length of each day’s drive, depending on how you and your dogs are feeling. Last-minute bookings can also result in discounted rates, especially during “off-season” travel and mid-week trips. If you are doing your holiday travel during peak dates, you’ll want to plan as soon as possible, as dates book up fast.

Keep in mind that some hotels may have size or breed restrictions, which can impact where you’ll be able to stay. While many hotels allow multiple dogs, others enforce strict limits. On my drive, I didn’t have issues finding somewhere to stay with my giant dog (a Newfoundland), which was a pleasant surprise — none of the hotels even asked about her weight or size when booking.

Also, if you are traveling with multiple species of pets, some hotels only allow dogs and don’t permit other animals. Interestingly, while checking into one hotel, I saw someone unloading rabbits from their car to stay the night. It’s possible to travel with all kinds of pets, but if you have an animal that isn’t a dog, it may take some extra planning.

Know hotel etiquette before you travel with your pup.

In most cases, you cannot leave your dog unattended in a hotel room, but each hotel has different policies. Make sure to understand the rules at each stop. In some cases, dogs aren’t allowed on furniture. If they are, an extra considerate step is to bring a blanket from home to protect hotel furniture from fur. By being responsible hotel guests, dog parents are doing our part to ensure more hotels remain dog-friendly.

Bring all the essentials.

Before heading out on any kind of road trip with your dogs, be sure to pack the supplies you’ll need. For me, this included calling my dogs’ veterinarian and getting refills of their prescriptions before leaving town. I also made sure to get copies of my dogs’ records. This is especially important if, like with my road trip, you will be crossing international borders with your pup. For example, currently, for crossing into Canada, if your dog is over eight months of age and appears healthy, you will need a signed rabies certificate from your veterinarian.

Space can be limited when traveling with dogs, but try to bring all the essentials they might want or need for the duration of your trip. For longer trips, bring enough to get you through the travel days until you’re settled. When making a packing list, consider essentials such as food, treats, bowls, toys, beds, crates, and any other supplies you use daily. Don’t forget favorite treats, collars, and leashes with updated identification tags and updated microchip information. Of course, be sure to pack any medication your pup takes daily or may need while you are away.

Check the weather where you’ll be traveling and pack accordingly, including coats and sweaters if you’ll be traveling somewhere colder than home. Traveling from the Pacific Northwest to Ontario meant bringing a lot of jackets and pajamas for my small dog. Knowing we would be traveling for a couple of weeks, I also made sure to pack grooming supplies for both dogs, but even for short trips, a few grooming essentials — like a brush and nail clippers — are good to have. You’ll also want to have a dog first aid kit in your vehicle.

Prepare for a safe drive for everyone.

When traveling with dogs on any kind of road trip, the priority always has to be the comfort and safety of your dogs. Before hitting the road to see friends or family, make sure you have spent some time in the car with your dog so you know how they react and can be confident they are comfortable riding with you. Dogs should be properly restrained in your vehicle for their safety and your own in the event you need to stop suddenly or were to get into an accident. I personally use dog seatbelts that keep my pups safely restrained in the backseat and prevent them from moving around while driving. For your dog’s comfort, expose them to the seatbelts before heading out on a long trip.

Take plenty of breaks.

While on a road trip, make sure to stop at least every couple of hours so you and your dog can stretch your legs. Rest areas and truck stops are great options. Both generally have quiet, grassy areas where you can walk your dogs and give them a break from the car. My favorite road-trip hack for dogs was visiting Loves truck stops, which are prevalent across many states in the U.S. Not only do they have roadside essentials, but many also have small fenced-in dog runs they call “dog parks.”

While I don’t bring my dogs to dog parks at home, the truck-stop dog runs were incredibly useful to give my dogs some exercise when I found an empty one. I never had an issue with other people trying to enter while we were inside, but don’t be afraid to advocate for your dog. There’s nothing wrong with asking another traveler to wait a moment so you can exit safely. These truck stops gave my dogs the opportunity to stretch their legs and play with each other a bit, which was a great way to let off steam on some of our longest driving days.

Make it fun for them, too.

While road trips with dogs can be stressful, they’re also a lot of fun. One of my favorite parts of traveling with my dogs is watching them experience new places. Even if you’re in a hurry, don’t be afraid to take that extra walk, take lots of pictures, and enjoy the experience of exploring someplace new together. Part of what my dogs have come to love about travel is knowing they get extra treats and goodies along the way. It didn’t take them long to realize that drive-throughs mean treats.

Many chain restaurants offer freebies for dogs in the car. While these should never be regular staples in your dog’s diet, they are amazing high-value treats to give your little troopers on a long car ride.

Some of my dog’s favorites include:

• Starbucks: Puppuccino (a small cup of whipped cream)

• Tim Hortons: Timbits for dogs (free doughnut holes)

• KFC: Pup strips (chicken strips for drive-through dogs)

Pack a “grab bag.”

On my trip, if I felt the area I was staying in was safe and well-lit, I didn’t always unload everything from the car, especially if we were only getting a few hours of sleep before heading back out. To make things easier, while packing, I recommend creating a “grab bag” of essentials for each night. In my case, it included: pre-portioned meals, my senior dog’s medication, bowls, and a couple of toys. That way, I didn’t have to open full suitcases to care for my dogs and keep them comfortable. 

The government shutdown made (and may still make) travel unpredictable, and driving 3,000 miles in three and a half days was exhausting. But it was also a trip I’ll never forget, and I’m grateful I experienced it with my dogs.