If you’re currently planning a road trip with a dog, then I’m so excited for you! Road trips are the best and even better in the company of your beloved fur baby. This post provides loads of tips on how to plan the perfect solo road trip with a dog.
Road tripping on your own can be such a liberating experience. If you’re planning a road trip with just you and your dog, prepare for an energizing dose of independence and adventure!
If you’re not convinced that a solo road trip with your dog is for you, here are some fantastic reasons to consider going for it:
- It will serve as a beautiful bonding opportunity for you and your dog
- You’ll become more in touch with your sense of independence
- Visiting new places can expand your sense of belonging and community
- Your dog will get an opportunity to socialize and experience new things
- There’s no one else’s opinion to consider on the road – do the things and visit the places YOU want to
- You’ll get loads of time to mentally slow down and process all your thoughts
- Traveling can spark your creative side
- You’ll prove to yourself that you don’t need anyone else to be able to go on an amazing adventure!
This comprehensive guide is broken into three sections: Planning Your Route, Preparing for Your Trip and On the Road.
Jump to a specific section using the table of contents below or read through the entire guide!
Section 1: Planning Your Route
There’s not one perfect way to plan a road trip route, but below are my suggestions from my experience for setting yourself up for a fantastic trip.
Map Out Your Route
Use Google Maps to look up directions from your starting point to all your must-see places. Not sure where you want to stop yet? There are lots of cool online tools for planning road trips, but many require a paid subscription. If you’re not interested in paying for a service, Google Maps will certainly do the trick!
To explore fun ideas in Google Maps, at the top of the route map, click the “more” option to see potential destinations along your route. You can choose from categories like restaurants, attractions and museums.
For example, is your route taking you through central Nebraska? By searching for “attractions” along the route, we can see there’s a classic car museum there, with over 200 classic cars! More interested in outdoor activities? Try searching for “parks” along your route.
You can narrow in on general areas around your route by zooming in and out on the map. By clicking “search this area,” you can expand the area of the suggestions.
Try searching your route or cities along you’ll pass through on Google, Pinterest or Instagram for more inspiration. For example, searching “road trip from Michigan to Florida” yields loads of results with must-see stops for any preference.
Plan Your Overnight Stops
Once you have an outline of the places you want to visit during your road trip, start thinking about the places along your route where you want to sleep.
Personally, I prefer sleeping in the same location as the attraction of that day. I’d rather get my driving out of the way early, so I can spend the rest of the day sightseeing. This also means you only have a short drive back to your lodging after a long day of exploring!
Also, consider the distance and time between your stops. How many hours do you feel comfortable driving in one day? Everyone has their own limitations, but avoid exceeding more than 11 hours a day. After a long day of driving, plan on a rest day or a much lighter drive the next day.
Create a Road Trip Budget
Before you start locking in dates and places, it’s best to create a budget for your trip. How much do you feel comfortable spending each day of your trip? From there, consider how you’ll fit your plan into that budget. For example:
- How much will you spend on gas? (Figure approximately how many miles you’ll drive, then try using this gas calculator for an estimated cost. Add at least one full tank to the total for unplanned exploring!)
- Are you renting a car or using your own? Will you need additional auto insurance?
- How do you plan to get your meals? Will you be doing some hotel room cooking or will you be eating out every meal?
- How much will your must-see attractions cost?
Subtract those costs from your daily budget to create an estimate of how much you can afford to spend each day on overnight accommodations.
Book Overnight Accommodations
Once you’ve determined how much you can afford to spend on lodging and where you’d like to stay, make reservations so you have a guaranteed place to sleep.
Booking.com is my favorite way to search for and book hotel and motel rooms. Genius discounts can score you great deals and free room upgrades! My favorite part about using Booking.com is that all my reservations are saved neatly in one app.
I always prefer booking rooms with free breakfast in the morning (there are loads of options for Booking.com Genius members!). Free hotel breakfast covers an entire meal each day of your trip, which can save some money. Not to mention, it’s super convenient!
Don’t forget to check hotel parking policies before you book. Do the hotels have free parking? Consider this potential cost in your daily budget.
If you’re bringing your doggo along with you, be sure to visit the hotel’s website to review its pet policy. If you’re using Booking.com or another travel booking website, even if the hotel shows “pet friendly,” I’d strongly recommend checking out the hotel’s website or giving them a call for exact details. Some hotels have weight limits or breed restrictions.
Many hotels also have extra fees for guests with pets. Don’t forget to consider this in your budget as well!
Read More: Bringing a Dog to a Hotel
Some people like to road trip more spontaneously, leave their fate to the open road, and don’t book lodging in advance. Mad props to you if you’re like this! My type-A personality could never. If you don’t mind making last-minute bookings, try Hoteltonight. This site helps you score great deals on same-day reservations!
Planning on living the van or camping life during your road trip? Make sure there are safe places along your route that permit overnight parking or camping. Do your pooch a favor by finding comfortable places for them to stretch their legs and take potty breaks.
Add More Stops!
If you’re a planner like me, then you’ll probably book your lodging in advance. One benefit I love about this (besides peace of mind) is that I can plug in directions between each of my hotels and narrow in on the route to find even more cool places to stop along the way.
Using the “search along route” feature in Google Maps, try searching for something like “scenic spot”. That will show some awesome places along your route for the perfect photo opp! You could also try searching for places like campgrounds, parks or museums.
Research Your Destinations
The last thing you want is to show up to a place you’ve been dying to visit and realize you’re unprepared. Doing some research on each of your destinations means you can show up informed and ready to explore! Here are some things to consider about the places you plan to visit:
- Do any of the destinations have an entrance fee?
- Do any of your stops accept cash only?
- Are tickets or admissions required in advance or can they be purchased at the door?
- Could any destinations or backroads be closed or limited due to weather?
- Are there any pet restrictions?
I showed up to Zion National Park for a day trip in the summer of 2020, only to find out that I had to book shuttle tickets the day before due to reduced capacity from COVID. This note was right on their website, but I didn’t even think to check. As a result, I couldn’t get to most of the hiking trails in the park. Such a bummer!
Save Your Routes (Paper & Offline Maps)
Pro tip: Download offline Google Maps for your pre-determined routes.
By saving offline maps, your phone can continue providing GPS directions, even if you lose cellphone service. This is super important if your trip will be taking you through places in the middle of nowhere.
An alternative to this is printing out directions on paper. Or better yet, do both! You never know what could happen – losing your phone or your phone dying in the middle of a drive could really throw a wrench in your plans.
The last step for finalizing your road trip route is to get your route, accommodations and stops all in one place. Whether you write them down in a planner, save them in your online calendar, or make an itinerary in an online doc, it’s helpful to have everything in one place.
When I travel, I create an itinerary that includes:
- Hotel names, addresses and phone numbers
- Destinations and addresses
- Travel plans & routes for each day
I like to keep this information somewhere offline just in case I lose service and have to ask for directions or call my hotel along the way.
Of course, when you’re on the road, plans can change and unplanned opportunities can pleasantly surprise you. It’s not about documenting every detail, but rather giving yourself a general outline to work with.
Another convenience of having this information all in one place is that it can easily be shared. When traveling alone, it’s so important to share your travel plans with family or a friend back home. For your safety and the safety of your dog, please don’t skip this step!
Section 2: Preparing for Your Road Trip
Yay! You’ve got a route planned for your road trip and awesome places to look forward to visiting. Now it’s time to start preparing for your trip.
Preparing Your Dog for a Road Trip
Adjusting to Long Trips in the Car
Traveling can be a stressful experience for dogs, especially if they aren’t used to traveling long periods in the car. Use all the time you have before your trip to help them get acclimated to being on the road.
The best way to get your dog more comfortable in the car is to start taking them on very short, rewarding drives. For example, try driving to the nearby park for a walk instead of walking there. They’ll begin associating getting in the car with heading somewhere fun.
Build up the duration of the drives as they get more comfortable. Generally, the more time your dog spends in the car, the more comfortable they’ll become.
If that’s even too overwhelming at first, try just hanging out with your dog in the car with the engine turned off. Roll the windows down, just relax, talk calmly and offer treats. Try throwing a super comfy bed in the back seat for them to lay on or give them a yummy bone as a distraction. Work your way up from there.
It’s important to stop more frequently on long drives with your dog than you would by yourself. A good rule of thumb is to stop every 2 hours for at least 15 minutes. This allows your dog to move around and take potty breaks and it improves your concentration on the road.
Schedule a Check-Up with Your Vet
Before your trip, you should get your vet’s agreement that your dog is fit for travel. Some tourist spots, dog parks, or hotels may require up-to-date vaccinations, so this is a good time to discuss this with your vet.
If your dog isn’t already on a flea and tick preventative, ask your vet for recommendations. A prescription for doggy car sickness medication isn’t a bad idea either.
While this is optional, I’d strongly recommend getting your dog microchipped, if they haven’t been already. In the unlikely event that your dog gets away from you, authorities and shelters would have a way to reach you if they found your dog. Better safe than sorry!
Prep Work for Anxious or Reactive Dogs
Before reading this section, please note that I am not a professional dog trainer. These tips and ideas come only from my experience with a reactive dog and what’s worked for us. If your dog is very easily stressed or has bitten or displayed a risk of biting, please consult a professional dog trainer for advice.
My dog, Kobe, has fear-based reactivity. When strange people or dogs quickly approach him and get too close for his comfort, he acts out by barking and lunging.
To help get him ready for a trip, I do my best to significantly increase the number of times I take him into new environments in the weeks before a trip. I walk him in new places where other people are. We keep our distance, but I reward him for calmly watching strange people and dogs in a new place.
We take lots of walks and I invite my friends, especially those he’s less familiar with, to walk with us. They start by walking behind or ahead of us, slowly closing the distance, as long as Kobe is adjusting comfortably.
The veterinarian’s office we use is fantastic and lets us walk in and out of the lobby to practice what checking into a hotel would resemble. We use treats to keep him focused on me while I chat with the front desk. When he’s staying calm and focused, he gets lots of treats! Then we exit and do it all over again.
My dog has never bitten anyone and I want to keep it that way. For that reason, he wears a muzzle while walking through public areas of hotels. Not only does it prevent him from biting someone, but the muzzle also distracts him just enough to keep him from hyperfocusing on people around us.
For more tips on preparing a reactive dog for a road trip, reach out to a professional dog trainer or ask your vet for suggestions.
Packing List for Your Dog
Here are some packing essentials to prepare your dog for a safe and comfortable road trip:
- Water (always keep plenty of fresh water in the car)
- Food
- Water & food bowls
- Treats
- Bones or favorite toys
- A comfy bed or blanket
- Harness (these are more comfortable and give you more control than pulling a collar alone; high visibility for evening walks)
- 6 ft leash
- 12 ft leash
- Medications
- Poop bags
- Muzzle
- Towel
Check out one of my other posts specifically about what to pack for your dog when you’re going on a road trip!
Read More: 14 Must-Have Dog Essentials for the Perfect Road Trip
How to Prepare Your Car for a Road Trip
Get your car road trip ready with a quick trip to the mechanic. If your car is due for an oil change, now’s the time to get that out of the way.
Have you been hearing any suspicious new noises coming from under the hood? Get it looked at now before it ends up being a much bigger problem during your trip.
Check that your tire pressure is within the range for your vehicle and tires.
Replace your windshield wipers if you’re due for new ones.
Pack up the car with some essentials:
- Insurance
- Registration
- Flashlight
- Jumper cables
- Portable air compressor (I love this one!)
- Extra water & snacks
- Blankets (or seat covers to protect your car from a road trip with a dog!)
What to Pack for the Perfect Road Trip
CLICK HERE to download a free road trip packing list printable. It includes a section with things your dog needs too!
If you normally overpack, getting started early gives you the chance to get everything you want to bring together, then the following days to reevaluate and take things away.
Did you pack that super cute dress you’ve had in your closet for years with the tags still on? Girl, put it back. If you haven’t worn it yet, you’re probably not going to wear it on your trip.
The same goes for under-packing – if you start early, you’ll have plenty of time to remember things you may have otherwise forgotten!
The link below is the exact list I reference when I’m packing for a road trip with my dog.
Pro-tip: Start packing several days (or longer!) before you leave for your trip.
Pack a First Aid Kit
You can buy a premade first aid kit or make your own. If you decide on the latter route, here are some suggestions:
- Band-aids
- Antibiotic ointment
- Bug bite treatment/anti-itch cream
- Alcohol pads
- Pain relievers (I recommend bringing two: acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin))
- Motion sickness medication
- Anti-diarrhea medication
- Allergy medicine (non-drowsy)
- ACE bandage
- Emergency sewing kit
Be sure to pack your first aid kit somewhere accessible. It won’t do you any good if you can’t find it!
Section 3: On the Road
Keeping Yourself Entertained
It can be tough to stay entertained during long hours of driving on your own. There always seems to come a point where music just doesn’t cut it anymore. Consider downloading some music alternatives on your phone before you hit the road. You could pick out some:
- Audiobooks
- Podcasts
- Comedy show recordings
Song Recommendations for Your Road Trip Playlist
Check out this list of 55 fun road trip songs for some playlist inspiration!
How Long Is It Okay to Drive in One Day?
Sources online are all over the place with recommendations for the longest you should drive in a single day. I’ve seen everything from 8 to 15 hours.
Here’s my advice to you: listen to your body.
Please do not drive while you’re tired. If you are fatigued, pull over and take a power nap. A quick 20-minute car nap could hold you over a while longer so you can safely get to your destination.
If you wake up from a nap feeling groggy, walk it off or stretch. Don’t start driving while you’re still feeling tired.
If you feel yourself zoning out or time begins crawling, pull over to walk the dog, eat a snack or grab a coffee. A quick break can do wonders in boosting your long-distance driving morale.
Make an effort to take a break about every 2 hours on the road. It’s good for your attention span and your dog will surely thank you!
When in Doubt, Stop for Gas
For those planning to drive through mountains, deserts or other wild expanses, it’s better to play it safe with gas.
For example, in Utah, there are stretches of highway over 100 miles long without any gas stations. What makes it even more interesting is there isn’t always cell phone service either. Don’t be the person that runs out of gas and has no signal to call roadside service.
When in doubt, stop for gas.
Signs of Motion Sickness in Dogs
Even if you feel like you could keep on driving for hours, your dog might not be feeling the same. Regular walk breaks can help them feel good on the road, but some dogs may get car sick.
Keep an eye out for car sickness signs like:
- Listlessness or uneasiness
- Excessive yawning
- Whining
- Excessive drooling
- Vomiting
- Licking lips or smacking lips
If you think your dog may be feeling car sick, it’s time to stop for a break.
Resist the urge to feed your dog if you think they’re not feeling well. A full stomach may do more harm than good if you have to keep driving.
Once you’re both ready to hit the road again, consider rolling down the windows for fresh air or running the A/C so they can keep cool.
Keeping Your Dog Comfortable & Entertained
Long car rides can be tolling on your doggo, so do them a favor by starting off the day with a long walk. Between the exercise, freedom to explore and opportunity to go potty, you’ll both be set up for success.
You may want to do the same before checking into your overnight accommodations. My dog is an obsessive scent marker, so giving him the chance to “get it all out” means way less chance that he’ll pee on something in a hotel lobby.
Many big US highways are sprinkled with state or locally-funded rest stops. They often have public restrooms, vending machines, maps, picnic areas, walking trails and dog runs. Take advantage of them!
When traveling alone, sometimes you have no choice but to leave your dog alone in the car. That’s okay! Just be smart about the length of time and outside conditions you’re leaving them in. Crack the windows so there’s airflow. If it’s especially hot or cold outside, be very quick.
It’s also a good idea to check state laws about leaving your dog in the car unattended. Some states have stricter laws than others.
Keep a water bottle easily accessible throughout your drive, for you and your dog. Don’t forget to offer your dog water regularly.
Now is NOT the time to try new dog food – pack plenty of their usual food for the road. The last thing you want is for your dog to have tummy problems in the back seat of your car.
Staying in a Hotel with a Dog
Hotel stays take more pre-planning when bringing a dog along, but with the right preparation, it’ll be a fun change of pace!
Take a look at my post about Bringing a Dog to a Hotel which outlines:
- How to book a dog-friendly hotel room and what to expect
- Tips for a smooth check-in
- Coming and going during your stay
- And common hotel pet rules you should be prepared for
Have fun!
Last, but certainly not least, have so much fun! Make memories with your dog that you can cherish for a lifetime.
That’s a wrap! These are my tips for planning a road trip with a dog.
If you weren’t sure about whether or not to bring your dog with you, I hope you’ll now consider it. Bringing your dog gives you an entirely different angle to traveling, makes otherwise lonely hotel stays homey and keeps you active during your travels.
Although it requires some additional planning and consideration, traveling with your beloved companion can be a really rewarding experience for both of you.
Do you have some pro tips for road tripping with a dog? Drop them in the comments below! I can’t wait to hear from you.
Sincerely,
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