Road trips are super exciting – but they’re not quite the same without your pet by your side, are they? Hitting the road together is totally doable, but it’ll take some planning to make sure traveling with pets isn’t a nightmare. If you want to successfully enjoy your next vacation while keeping your pet safe, check out our best tips on taking a road trip with pets.
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1. Go on Practice Runs
This is especially true if you’re bringing your homebody of a cat. Help your pet get familiar with the car before going on long trips. Take them with you on short errands, so when it’s time for your trip, they’ll already be waiting for you by the door.
2. See the Veterinarian
Pet-friendly travel means making copies of all your pet’s medical records before hitting the road. If your pet gets sick on your trip, it makes it much easier for another health professional to treat them if they know your pet’s medical history.
Unfortunately, some pets can’t contain their excitement in new areas. It’s smart to keep your pet on a collar with an ID tag with your contact and hotel contact information. We can all try to be as prepared as possible, but dogs are slippery creatures when they want to explore.
4. Book Pet-Friendly Accommodations
Find pet-friendly hotels along your route. If you’re staying with friends and family, make sure to let them know you’re bringing your pet along on your adventure.
5. Pack Your Pet’s Favorite Things
Being away from home, especially if it’s not something your pet experiences very often, can be stressful on them. To help lower their anxiety, pack their favorite blanket, pillow, and toys so they have familiar things around them to make them feel more secure. A great way to do this is with a mobile pet bed that acts like a carrier and bed in one, giving them a comfy place to hang out when they’re feeling uneasy.
6. Bring Your Own Water
Bottle your water from home or give your pet bottled water during the trip. Tap water from places your pet’s not used to can upset their stomach and cause accidents on the road. Make hydration a snap by bringing along a BPA-free bamboo silicone travel bowl that collapses to less than a 1/2 inch for easy transport.
7. Feed Lightly
The key to a pet-friendly road trip? Avoiding accidents at all costs. Feed your pet light meals before hitting the road to steer clear of carsickness. When you’ve stopped driving for the day, you can go back to your pet’s regularly scheduled diet.
8. Make Frequent Stops
It’s natural for us to want to drive with as few breaks as possible to get to our desired destination faster, but the scenic route would do a number on your pet’s itty bitty bladder. Make sure you stop at rest stops and parks frequently on your drive (shoot for every two hours minimum). Give them ample opportunity for bathroom breaks, stretching, and blowing off steam.
9. Keep Your Pet’s Routine Intact
By maintaining your pet’s feeding and exercise schedule as much as possible, you’ll help reduce their anxiety about being away from home. While being on vacation is all about adventure, try to keep a routine your pet is familiar with.
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