Road Tripping With Pets

This post is part of a sponsored series. 

We’ve probably all done road trips with our significant other, or with the family, but it takes extra planning when it comes to road tripping with pets. Today’s post will talk primarily to taking a road trip with cats, dogs, and other small animals. We won’t be touching on horses or anything too big, because that’s a whole different strategy!

First of all, our friends at the Kia dealer in Washington have told us the number one key to taking any road trip is to plan ahead. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do! Here are the top tips for planning a road trip with pets.

Staying at a hotel? Make sure that they are pet-friendly. The last thing you want to do is get to a hotel, drained and exhausted, and find out they aren’t all about having Fido join you in your room. Prevent looking for another hotel at the last minute by making sure they allow pets in the first place. BringFido.com and DogFriendly.com are two great resources to help you out with this. Once you find a hotel that allows pets, see if they have any amenities that cater to them such as courtesy water/food bowls, or pet beds. It could save you the space in your vehicle!

Make sure his/her collar is up-to-date. In the event that your pet gets lost or sneaks out unexpectedly, make sure that they have their collar on at all times, with your cell phone number. There are also GPS tracking collars out there now, they are a bit on the expensive side, but if you think there is a likely chance they might roam, it could provide some piece of mind that you’ll be able to find them.

Plan your stops. If you know your route, make sure that you add in a few parks or stops along the way when your pet can get out, stretch or just get a little sanity. For cats, this might be a little harder, but for dogs, they will love the chance to run, play and go potty.

Pack accordingly. Think about everything you could possibly need for your pet on this trip. Pack extra food (just in case), along with a large gallon of water that you can refill along the way. Bring along doggie duty bags (you know the kind) and any collars/leashes that you might need. A travel kennel is sometimes helpful if you think your pet might be apt to wander during the ride. They even make foldable kennels now, so that you can take the kennel out when you don’t need it, and it won’t be taking up precious space.

Make sure they are current on vaccinations. You’ll want to ensure that your pet is up to date on vaccinations. Bring the paperwork along in your glovebox, just in case you need it.

What types of tips have you found to be helpful when taking a road trip with pets? Leave a comment below and share!