Tips for a Cross Country Road Trip With Dogs

This past Christmas, Brady and I decided to drive back to Texas to spend time with our family over the holidays. We opted to drive instead of fly, because we wanted to bring June and Margot along! Driving cross country is no small feat, let alone driving cross country with a dog! This was our first big dog friendly road trip with the girls, and we learned a lot, from how to find pet friendly accomodations to what you actually need when you are on a long-distance road trip with a dog.

We also learned that the girls do really well on roadtrips. From the long hours on the road, to all of the new places and experiences, they handled everything like pros! This made us really excited to take more road trips with the dogs this year to explore more of Northern California and beyond.

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Preparation for the Perfect Pet Friendly Road Trip

There are a few important things to keep in mind when planning a cross country road trip with dogs. Firstly, your dogs should be comfortable with car rides. Many dogs can get anxious or car sick, so before embarking on a long drive, make sure your dog is comfortable. This might involve practicing short drives, teaching your dog to settle in the back seat, and working with a credentialed dog trainer to teach your dog how to be comfortable in the car. You can also chat with your vet about motion sickness medication or anti-anxiety medication, depending on what your dog is struggling with. Still, some dogs just won’t enjoy long distance drives ever, and that’s okay! There are also plenty of people who don’t love road trips, either.

Secondly, the best vehicle to travel cross country with dogs is going to be one that is reliable and safe (duh), but also one that has enough space for your dog to be comfortable! We have a hybrid 2022 Rav 4 and absolutely love it! The gas mileage is amazing, which helps save a few bucks on the road and also saves some time since you don’t have to stop for gas as often. It also has air vents in the back to help keep the dogs comfortable, as well as heated backseats, which the girls loved when we were in New Mexico and the temps were below 20 degrees.

Also, it has the perfect amount of space for two humans, two dogs, and all of our gear. Think about this: if you have a small car and your backseat is crammed with gear, your dog might not be very comfortable for long drives. We try to keep the back seat clear so both girls have plenty of space to move around and lay down, either cuddled up next to each other or with some space.

What to Bring on a Cross Country Road Trip with Dogs

In addition to your personal luggage with clothes and toiletries and whatnot, there are a few dog related essentials to add to your road trip checklist. Aside from the obvious (food and food bowls, collar with tags and leashes, etc), here are my recommended dog road trip essentials:

• Backseat cover
• Collapsible water bowl
• Quality CBD
• Treats and Chews
• Packable dog beds

Backseat Cover for Dogs

Firstly, if your dog is not riding in a crate, a backseat cover is crucial for traveling in a car with dogs– not just for road trips, but in general! I really prefer a hammock style cover with a mesh center to allow for better airflow, like this one. To make sure your dog is extra comfy, you could also consider throwing down an extra blanket so they can nest.

Silicone Water Bowl

Next, water. It’s easy to forget that your dog does not have access to water while hanging out in the backseat! To make water breaks a breeze, I like keeping this collapsible silicone water bowl handy. I can easily turn around and let the girls have a few sips of water and then collapse the bowl and keep it tucked into the glovebox or even on the floor boards.

Quality CBD

While CBD will not replace anti-anxiety medication, it does provide some relaxation and stress relief. I like to compare CBD to a soothing cup of chamomile tea or aromatherapy. It’s not a cure all, but it does help take the edge off! I like adding a little CBD to the girls’ breakfast each morning to help them relax on the road, and I think it makes a big difference! Be sure you choose a quality CBD company that has third-party testing on their products to ensure efficacy, like BakedBones. We use their 600 MG tincture, and both June and Margot get 50 mg per day.

Treats and Chews

Treats are always important to keep on hand so you can reward all the behavior you want repeated, from settling nicely in the back seat, to bravely exploring a new hotel, to checking in with you on sniffy walks. I like these freeze dried tripe niblets from Vital Essentials, because they are stinky and high value, but also shelf stable! Chews are also a good thing to pack, because they are perfect for helping your dog decompress in a new space. Chewing is relaxing and engaging for dogs, so it’s a great way to help them settle. We brought these Pupford bully sticks on the road, and they were a life saver!

Packable Dog Beds

Be sure you back something for your dog to sleep on at night! Even dog friendly hotels and airBnBs may not allow pets on the furniture. Plus, good quality sleep is important for EVERYONE, your dog included. Giving them a comfy and familiar place to sleep ensures both you and your pup get a good night’s sleep. We brought our calming donut dog beds that the girls sleep in every night. They are pretty squishy and pack easily, plus they are machine washable!

How to Travel Cross Country with a Dog

The key to pet friendly travel is planning ahead. This includes where you are staying and what you plan to do when you get there. It’s helpful to identify dog friendly places in advance so you don’t end up in lurch. For example, many national parks are not dog friendly, and just because a hotel allows dogs does not, in my opinion, mean they are dog friendly.

1. Finding Dog Friendly Accomodations

When you first start searching for places to stay, it’s helpful to look at both Google and AirBnB. Both Google and AirBnB have filters for identifying places that allow dogs, which is super useful. For Google, this can be found under Google Travel > Hotels > Amenties. For AirBnB, you add the number of pets you are bringing when filling out the “Who” section of your search.

Traditional hotels and rentals like AirBnB have their pros and cons. While AirBnBs can be really nice (fenced in yards, interesting locations, bigger spaces), they have gotten a LOT more expensive with what I consider to be hidden fees (meaning you might search for places under $200, but after fees these places could be $300 or more in total). Hotels tend to have better amenities, like extra pillows, room service, or on-site restaurants, and truthfully they can be a bit more budget friendly. I think it’s good to look at both platforms and choose what works best for your needs.

My top tips are this:

1. Wherever you stay, be sure there is easy access to a grassy area for potty breaks. One of the hotels we stayed in had no grass nearby, and we had to walk about a block and a half for the girls to use the bathroom. It was a MAJOR pain.
2. King-sized beds are crucial. I would say the most important part of a long distance road trip is getting good sleep. I would prioritize a good bed over almost any other amenity, if I’m being totally honest. 
3. Take into consideration the size of the room. Is there enough space for you, your luggage, and your dogs? It can be hard to relax if you feel like you are constantly tripping over a dog or suitcase.

2. Best Places to Stop On the Road with Dogs

How often should you stop when on a road trip with your dog? And where do you stop? The obvious answer is a gas station. Gas stations make a perfect pit stop: you get gas, you can go to the bathroom, and your dog can go to the bathroom. Love’s Travel Stops are really nice, because they often have dedicated pet relief areas that are fully fenced in. I’m also a big fan of dedicated rest stops. In my experience, rest stops often have nicer facilities than many gas stations: cleaner bathrooms, for example, and more space for your dog to stretch their legs. RV parks could be another option, if they allow public visitors.

If you are looking for a good spot to take a break and get out of the car for a bit, try searching for a Sniffspot along your route and rent it for 30 minutes or an hour! This will give your dog some safe off leash time while you can relax, walk around, or enjoy a bite to eat.

3. How to Relax on the Road with Dogs

Have you ever noticed how tired you are after driving all day, even if you were just a passenger? It’s the same for dogs. A lot of people (myself included) worry about their dogs getting enough exercise when on the road, but I learned that rest and decompression are actually more important! In other words, the girls didn’t have pent-up energy at the end of the day so much as they needed to decompress: stretch their legs a bit, sniff, enjoy a chew, move around, etc.

To help your dog relax on the road, I recommend:

• Taking breaks every few hours or so and letting your dog get out of the car to sniff and potty.
• Allowing your dog time and space for a good sniffy walk before you start driving for the day and when you reach your destination. Even 10-15 minutes of good sniff time can help!
• Incorporate what your dog finds fun, whether that’s some playtime (tug, a small game of fetch, wrestling) or enrichment like chewing, shredding, sniffing out treats, etc.

Dog Travel Tips

I’m sure the more we drive cross country with the dogs, the more we will learn. While road tripping with dogs is super fun, it also has its fair share of challenges. It can be hard and stressful for you and your dog, so remember be kind and patient– and prioritize your sleep! If I had to sum up how to travel with a dog cross country into a few key tips, it would be this:

• Prioritize rest for you and your dogs! This includes sleep, relaxation, and decompression.
• Stop as often as you want, especially at points of interest, overlooks, etc. Road trip travel is as much about the journey as it is the destination.
• Always add 1-2 hours to whatever Google Map says your drive time will be. This gives plenty of buffer time for potty breaks, finding food, etc.
• Add a little warm water to your dog’s meals for extra hydration, and be mindful about giving your dog plenty of water throughout the drive.