Last Updated on April 24, 2021
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Leaving my dog Penny behind, is the only thing I dislike about traveling. With flying out of the question, I try to include her in most of my smaller trips, which in some way made me quite experienced at doing a road trip with a dog. We’ve had many weekend getaways over the years, and one epic trip down the East Coast. In an attempt to escape New England’s winter, we drove from Boston all the way to Key West, with many fun stops along the way. Many people thought I was crazy embarking on such a long trip by myself with a dog, but it ended up being one of my favorite trips ever.
Having quite an extensive experience traveling with Penny near and far , I think I got all the basics down and can share some good tips on the subject. Some of it I learned beforehand, others I learned the hard way. Basically, it all comes down to doing your research, being well prepared and knowing what to expect. You can’t just jump in your car and go.
Before you go on the road trip with a dog
Tags and vaccinations up to date
Make sure you have all the standard tags in order, which usually includes: rabies vaccination tag and the name tag. It’s also a good idea to bring a copy of rabies certificate with you. Some places like family campgrounds expect to see it when you check in, and the rabies tag on your dog’s collar might not be a sufficient evidence. If you come across a strict person, they might give you a hard time, if you don’t have a physical copy ( speaking from experience ).
It’s also not a bad idea to have your dog microchipped, in the unfortunate event he/she escapes. Your dog will be in a new environment and depending on his/hers personality, they can react differently to many triggers on the road.
Hotels
Good news is that it’s not that hard to find a dog friendly hotel. And despite what some people might think, they are not necessarily run down places. A lot of the really nice hotels ( i.e. Loews ) invite people to stay there with their four legged companions. What’s more, many will go out of their way to welcome your pet with a goodie bag with treats and other essentials.
I always use Booking.com to find the best deals on hotels. Make sure to apply “Pet friendly” filter in your search.
Having said that, it’s not as simple as picking a pet friendly hotel and booking it. There are a few important things to keep in mind while choosing where to stay.
Dog size and breed
Even though there are plenty of pet friendly hotels, some of them have restrictions when it comes to the size and breed of the dog. The bigger the dog, the harder it is to find accommodations.
Pet fee
Do not forget to inquire about the extra pet fee. Some places won’t charge you extra, but most of them will. The fees vary greatly depending on the hotel. I’ve come across anything from $15 extra per night, to $40 per night to $100 flat fee for the stay. If you plan a few day trip, it can quickly add up.
One of my favorite chains is La Quinta, that welcomes dogs in all of their hotels across the country ( USA ) for no additional fee. Their prices are reasonable, their rooms nice and it’s easy to find one, since they are literally all over the country.
Can my dog stay in the hotel room alone ?
This is a big one, and you should always check before booking the hotel, especially if you plan activities, that won’t include your dog. Or you simply want to go out to dinner at night. There are hotels, that will not let you leave your dog unattended in your room, or at least will ask, that they stay in the crate while you are gone. This is a very important piece of information to know.
I’ve come across a few hotels, who were not OK with dogs staying in a hotel alone period. However, it’s always good to make a phone call and confirm that beforehand. Speaking from my personal experience, even with such policy in order, many hotels are not very strict with enforcing it. They will ask you leave your cell phone number at the front desk, in an event your dog gets anxious or disruptive during your absence.
If you book through a 3rd party
If you book your hotel room through a third party ( websites like Orbitz, Booking.com etc ) , ALWAYS add a little note that you will be traveling with your dog. Even though you found a hotel that is dog friendly, does not mean every single room in the hotel can accommodate your furry friend. Each dog friendly hotel has a designated number of rooms for people traveling with pets. Many people have severe allergies, and this practice ensures, that such guests won’t get assigned a room, that was occupied by a dog before.
On the road
Allow extra travel time for breaks
You might drive for 10-12 hours a day if you are eager to get to your destination. You really can’t and shouldn’t do it when you are doing a road trip with a dog. It’s important to have realistic expectations when it comes to travel time, when you have your four legged friend in the car with you. Add extra time for frequent stops, whether it’s for bathroom breaks or just to stretch out and walk around.
Try to keep some of the routine
Dogs are creatures of habit and they learn their routine very quickly. You probably won’t be able to keep their daily schedule, if you are on the road for a good part of the day. However, try to keep at least their meal time consistent. One of my favorite purchases of all time and something I always travel with, is a set of collapsible bowls. They are perfect for a road trip with a dog, when you want to pull over and fill them with water or food. Because they collapse, they literally take up no space.
At your destination
Dog friendly restaurants
There is no shortage of bars and restaurants that will let you sit with you dog, as long as they have an outdoor seating. Obviously you won’t be able to do that, if you are going somewhere during winter time. But if the weather is nice, the chances are, you will have no problem finding a few places that will be OK with your pup joining you for a meal. Of course, your dog need to be leashed and well behaved.
Activities
You will be pleasantly surprised ( I know I was ), that you can find more to do with your dog at some destinations, than just going to the dog park. In Newport, Rhode Island you can bring your dog on a cruise around the harbor ( more on our Newport visit here ). In Savannah I was able to walk into many stores with Penny ( not just pet stores ). Also, that dog got so many cookies while we walked around, she could have easily skipped her dinner. In Charleston she was welcomed at the Boone Hall Plantation, not just on the grounds but also for the plantation tractor ride. In Marathon, Florida we could bring her to Sombrero Beach with us.
Generally speaking I found, that the more South you go, the more dog friendly it is. However, it’s always good to remember, that there might be places, that you might assume are dog friendly, while in fact they are not. For instance, most State Parks do not allow dogs. So it all goes back to making research before you go and having an option of leaving your dog in a hotel for a couple of hours with no problem. Bringfido.com is a great website to research anything dog friendly in the area you are visiting.
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