We're an affiliate
We hope you love the products we recommend! Just so you know, we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page at no additional cost to you. Thank you if you use our links, we really appreciate it!
The tiny details can make or break a dog packing list road trips adventure, because these little things matter more than you’d think.
Here’s our secret about traveling with your dog: Road trips are by far one of the best ways to spend time with my four-legged family members.
They do require some planning ahead, though, beyond stuffing a sack of kibble in the back seat for sustenance.
You may have done dozens of dog road trips, and you can still manage to leave things behind sometimes, if you don’t prepare well.
In this post, we share everything you wish you knew before going on your first road trip with dogs.
We include all the basics, plus a few things you may not think about until you need one at 11 p.m. in a town with one pet store that’s closed.
Before You Hit the Road
Preparation is needed when planning for any road trip. Road trip planning with pets should ideally start weeks, not days, before you leave.
Visit the Vet for a Checkup
Get a checkup at least two weeks before your trip. The vet will ensure your dog is healthy enough to travel for long distances.
They may also update any expiring vaccinations and write you any documents you may need for the trip.
Some states require health certificates if your dog will be crossing their borders, and paperwork can be even more specific if you plan to travel to Canada or Mexico.
This isn’t something you want to wait until the last minute for. Your dog road trip may be stopped at a state border if you don’t have the right paperwork.
Ask your vet about options if your dog experiences motion sickness or anxiety. Motion sickness can happen to some dogs while riding in the car, particularly with puppies.
They may be able to recommend feeding options (typically 3 to 4 hours before driving) and over-the-counter medications if your pup is extra anxious.
Consider this one of those pet travel planning tips that you’ll be happy you followed through with.
Go for a Test Drive
Build up mileage if your dog isn’t used to being in the car for long periods of time. Take them on some 30-minute drives. Then hour long ones. Then two-hour ones to see how they react.
Are they pacing? Drooling uncontrollably? Not settling down at all? These are indicators that you may need to take more stops.
These could also indicate you change up your restraint system or talk to your vet about anxiety remedies.
Taking the time to sort out your puppy road trip essentials is important if you have an immature dog with little travel experience.
Research Your Route and Stops
Rest stops vary greatly. Some have large grassy fields where Fido can relieve himself and run around for a bit. Others are desolate patches of concrete next to a busy highway.
If your dog is a grass-only potty kind of dog, you’ll either have to train them to go on other surfaces before your trip or plan your breaks around parks instead of rest stops.
Thankfully, some apps can help you plan dog-friendly road trip ideas, like GoPetFriendly that lists pet-friendly stops all along your route.
If you have not settled on your destination already, go check our article on 27+ Dog Friendly Road Trip Destinations across major cities, towns, and parks in the US.
Dog Packing List Road Trips Essentials
1. Food and Water
Begin your list of dog essentials for car here. Dog Food and water are an obvious place to start. However, it’s not quite as simple as you might think.
Calculate how much food your dog consumes daily, times that by how many days you’ll be gone, then add 20 percent. Things get delayed, and bags can tear during a road trip.
If your dog has special dietary needs or only eats one brand of food, definitely assume you won’t be able to find more on your route.
Try googling grain-free, limited-ingredient salmon-based kibble in a small rural town at 9 PM and see how much luck you’ll have finding a solution.
Put the food in a hard-sided container if possible. We like the Vittles Vault containers because they’re airtight, hard for critters to get into, and stack super nicely.
You don’t want to open up your trunk to discover a ripped-open bag of dog food. That’s the basics of how to pack for a dog trip.
Our furry friends require approximately one ounce of water per pound of body weight each day. They need more if it’s hot out or if they are stressed/excited/panting/heavy exercising.
What you may not know is that dogs will typically drink more water on road trips than at home because being excited/panting makes them dehydrate more quickly.
So, plan on bringing plenty. You can carry around a five-gallon collapsible jug if you are going for a longer road trip with a dog.
You may think that is a lot, but wait until you get to the middle of nowhere and realize your dog won’t drink the water from the fountain at the gas station because it smells like sulfur.
Collapsible bowls are awesome. They flatten out and don’t weigh too much. Get at least 2. One for food and one for water.
If you plan on doing a lot of driving, you may even want to invest in a spill-free travel bowl for in the car. There is nothing worse than having water sloshing around when you make a turn.
2. Pack enough Treats
Bring lots of dog treats. Your dog will be asked to do lots of hard things on your trip. Relaxing in a strange place, walking by fun smells, getting back in the car when they’d rather play.
Rewards can help with all of these. Stick with their normal training treats – you don’t want to get creative and upset someone’s stomach.
Leave the big chews like rawhides out of your dog road trip packing list. They can upset your dog’s stomach too and you’ll wish you hadn’t had to clean the back of your car.
Keep meal times as consistent as possible. Keeping meal times close to your normal schedule will help your pup feel secure when everything else is shifting.
3. Get Proper Restraints and Protection
It has been estimated that an unrestrained 60-pound dog becomes a missile with over 2,000 pounds of force when involved in a car accident at just 25 mph.
That’s unsafe flying debris for everyone in your car, even your dog. Restraints are a required element of dog travel essentials road trips.
It’s also one of the most overlooked dog road trip essentials because your dog ‘looks good’ roaming free in your car.
Crates are the safest option. Dogs who are crate-trained love having their own safe spot in the back seat (away from any airbags).
It also ensures they aren’t distracting you while you’re driving. If your vehicle has space and your dog is crate-trained, this is ideal.
Collapsible travel crates can also work and are easy to pack. If you don’t want to or can’t use a crate, a crash-tested harness is another safe way to secure your pup.
Make sure the harness you choose clips into your vehicle’s seatbelt system. And don’t just take their word for it.
We recommend you look for a harness that has been put through crash testing by the Center for Pet Safety. A normal dog walking harness is not suitable.
For bigger dogs and SUVs, you can use a cargo barrier to prevent your dog from moving forward into the front seat.
Should your dog peek through the window?
Dogs love putting their head out the window. Flapping ears and hanging tongue can seem like pure happiness until it’s not.
Bugs, debris, and sudden stops can lead to injury. Flying objects can cause eye injuries more frequently than you realize.
If your dog is restrained correctly, they won’t have this option, but just in case you were unsure about restraining your dog.
4. Comfort Items to Pack
When your dog is relaxed, everyone has a more pleasant journey. And dog comforts aren’t trivial; they’re part of our long road trip essentials that help keep stress levels low for all.
Bring your dog’s everyday bed if it is travel-size or smaller. If not, bring one of their blankets from home.
Being in new places can make dogs nervous. Familiar smells can calm them. Even better, bring something of yours they can snuggle with.
Don’t worry it isn’t weird, jeans, shirts, etc. that smell like home and smell like you. It works wonders on nervous dogs.
Most hotels will not have a dog bed available, so expect to supply one yourself. The long car road trip essentials should always include something that smells like home.
Include toys that address different needs: something to occupy their mouths on the go e.g., a Kong, something to pull on at rest stops, and their favorite comfort toy for naps.
Puzzle feeders are great for mentally occupying your furry friend, especially during the long stretches of highway.
Bored pups can be anxious, and mentally unstable pets aren’t good travel buddies. Remember entertainment when mapping out your puppy road trip ideas.
Window shades will keep the sun from shining on your pooch during the drive. Consider bringing along a cooling mat for those summer months.
Winter tip: bring along a sweater or jacket if your dog gets cold. Always travel with the windows cracked for ventilation. Nobody likes stuffy air, even your dog.
5. Health and Hygiene Supplies
Ideally, your pet’s first-aid kit should contain gauze and bandages, adhesive tape, scissors, tweezers, a tick remover, and hydrogen peroxide.
It should also have a saline solution to flush wounds, styptic powder for nail cuts and any medications your dog is currently taking.
Also include your veterinarian’s phone number and the ASPCA Poison Control number. Those are some important pet road trip essentials that might save your dog’s life.
If your dog is on medication, bring additional pills, just in case you get delayed. Carry medication in the bottles they came in with prescription labels intact.
If you have any medications that need to be kept cold, we recommend you carry a small cooler or insulated sack.
This tip for dog travel essentials is commonly overlooked and should be on every dog packing list road trips guide.
Fold and pack enough poop bags in several spots. This includes your bag, car console, pockets, etc. If you only bring one roll you’ll use the last bag at the most inconvenient time.
Pack paper towels, enzymatic cleaning spray for accidents, and a couple of old towels. Wet wipes work well on muddy paws before hopping back in the car.
A lint roller is helpful if you’re staying in a nice place and your traveling buddy blows up their coat.
6. Documentation and Identification
Paperwork is necessary during a trip with dog. Filling out this section of your dog trip checklist now can save you headaches down the road.
Be sure your dog’s collar tags have up-to-date contact information, including your cell phone number.
If you will be gone for an extended period, you might want to purchase an adhesive temporary tag with the contact number for your destination in case your dog gets lost away from home.
Check that your dog’s microchip registration is current before your departure. Ask your vet to confirm the chip will scan.
Have recent photos of your dog readily available on your phone. If your dog gets lost you will want to be able to give a good description of your dog immediately.
Have copies of your dog’s vaccine records, particularly rabies. You will need to show this in some states, and most boarding facilities will require it.
If you are traveling to Canada, Mexico, or even some U.S. states, you may need a current health certificate from your veterinarian.
Be sure to look up your destination’s requirements prior to leaving and add this to your pet road trip checklist.
GPS collars are affordable and more reliable than ever before. If you have a dog that could wander off in an unfamiliar environment, real-time GPS tracking can make a difference.
Not every dog needs one, but if yours runs like the wind or you’re planning on adventuring in wild areas, buy one, and pack it in your dog travel bag.
7. Extra Leashes and Carabiners
Leashes can snap and disappear, so make sure to bring multiple sturdy dog leashes during your upcoming dog-friendly road trips.
We also recommend you throw a few carabiners in your gear. They’re amazing for attaching your dog to a picnic table while you unpack lunch.
8. A Dog Car Seat & Cover
A dog car seat is one of the smartest investments you can make for road trips. It keeps your pup safely secured and reduces distractions so you can focus on the road.
We suggest you pair it with a waterproof seat cover underneath, and you’ve got full protection against dirt, fur, claw marks, and the occasional accident.
Conclusion
The unexpected adventures, the awkward Instagram moments at rest stops, the way they always sense when you’re five minutes from home without you saying a word.
All that magic happens smoothly when you’re not freaking out about what you forgot or berating yourself for things you should have brought.
Make sure to plan your dog packing list road trips, pack light, and then relax. Dogs don’t care about road trip logistics.
Laura is the founder of Furs'n'Paws. She is a also a pet writer and expert with more than 20 years of experience of working with dogs and cats. She developed a very strong love for animals at a young age. Her passion led her to establish a thriving pet sitting and dog walking business in Dubai. As an expert in pet training, behavior, and nutrition, Laura is committed to helping pet owners and pet lovers by offering high-quality information on a wide range of topics.
No responses yet