4 dog-friendly road trips, according to pet owners
Because pup deserves a vacation, too.
There’s a lot that goes into planning a road trip—and when you add a dog (or two) to the mix, things get even more complicated. Here, four travel-obsessed pet owners share their favorite dog-friendly drives, from a jaunt through northern Spain to a beach-y road trip in Florida.
Lottie and Artie’s road trip at a glance:
Hometown: Oxford, UK
Destination: San Sebastian, Spain
Number of nights: Three
Most excited for: Vast, empty beaches and dog-friendly vineyards
Why I wanted to go: I've been wanting to visit San Sebastian for a long time after reading about the food and researching my third book, a dog-friendly travel guide to Europe that joins my other guides, Dog-Friendly Weekends and Dog Days Out. Plus, I'd heard the pintxos bars were all pretty dog-friendly and wanted to test that theory.
How I planned: I usually collect my information from friends, local Instagram accounts, and occasionally dog-specific blogs.
What makes it the perfect dog-friendly road trip: This was actually part of an eight-week-long road trip that took us from Calais, France, into Spain. This leg throughout Basque Country was one of the best, with plenty of beaches and hiking areas for fun, dog-friendly stops.
My top dog-friendly road-trip tip: Don't forget to secure your dog safely in the car. I use a MIM Safe crash-tested crate to ensure Arty is secure.
Eat:
- Taste your way through Basque Country by sampling pintxos (small finger foods) everywhere you go. At dog-friendly Jose Mari, dishes include roasted leeks with ham and ratatouille with poached eggs.
- Borda Berri is beloved for its inventive pintxos and inexpensive wine. Pro tip: Visit the dog-friendly spot earlier in the evening before it gets too crowded.
Play:
- Head to Zurriola Beach for a game of fetch. It’s a super dog-friendly beach outside of the bathing season (May to October).
- Walk your dog up to the top of Monte Urgull, a huge hill overlooking the city, for epic views. It’s a two-mile loop.
Stay:
- Dog-friendly hotels are scarce, so we opted for campsites. The Camping & Bungalows Zumaia is equipped with showers, bathrooms, and laundry.
Delaney and Howl’s road trip at a glance:
Hometown: New York City
Destination: Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Number of nights: Two
Most excited for: The forests, lakes, and mountains along the way
Why I wanted to go: My boyfriend/fellow dog parent is from Canada; his family lives in Southern Central Ontario so we make the trip to see them a few times a year.
How we planned: We always seek out dog-friendly spots along the route and plan around them. When we have time to explore, we usually drive north to the Toronto border through New York State and Niagara Falls.
What makes it the perfect dog-friendly road trip: The best part about these trips for Howl is the time he gets to explore different places and parts of nature that he doesn’t get to see in the city. He gets to have some freedom and space to stretch his legs, as well as some much-needed mental stimulation. It's usually a pretty long drive—anywhere from eight to 14 hours—but he’s a great traveler; he’s been on boats, planes, trains, and automobiles. We accommodate these long journeys with a lot of stops in the great outdoors.
My top dog-friendly road-trip tip: Bake in a couple of extra hours of travel time for rests and bathroom breaks—for us, we like to let Howl stretch his legs every 3-to-5 hours.
Eat
- Tim Hortons is our first stop on every trip across the border: It's like the Canadian Dunkin' Donuts—but better. We get some iced coffees and a "pup cup"—the brand's dog-friendly treat.
- Whenever we stop in Toronto, we always visit The Blake House for lunch. There's a fun patio space that Howl loves, and everything they make is delish (especially the chicken pot pie).
Play
- One of our favorite scenic places to stretch our legs is Lake Wallenpaupack in Pennsylvania, about two hours northwest of NYC. There are lots of dog-friendly trails to fit some exercise in while we're on the drive.
- Toronto’s High Park is a must when traveling with our pup. It's a beautiful space with a dog park where Howl can get some much-needed zoomies out after a long haul.
Stay
- We like to stay on the Canadian side of the border—there's a better view of the falls than the New York side. The dog-friendly Embassy Suites by Hilton Niagara Falls Fallsview feels like a mini vacation; with lush, green spaces and lots of trees, even Howl loves it there.
Kaitlyn and Sebastian’s road trip at a glance:
Hometown: Roswell, GA
Destination: Panama City Beach, FL
Number of nights: Three
Most excited for: The shopping and piña coladas served in a pineapple
Why I wanted to go: We went to celebrate my birthday with an easy girls’ trip.
How I planned: Traveling with a dog has its own set of limitations, but because Sebastian is a service dog (@service.dog.sebastian on Instagram), he's allowed everywhere—specifically "pet-friendly" or not. We did, however, need to borrow my mom’s minivan to accommodate our crew of humans, all of our luggage, and Sebastian’s car kennel.
What makes it the perfect dog-friendly road trip: A lot of PCB is actually quite dog-friendly, and it's nice for Sebastian to enjoy a vacation once in a while, too. There are dog-friendly stores, patios, and even a dedicated dog beach near Pier Park. That said, Sebastian isn’t often offered treats unless a place is specifically pet-friendly; most people see that he’s a working dog and ask my permission.
My top dog-friendly road-trip tip: Don’t forget frequent water and bathroom breaks while on the road. We typically stop every three hours.
Eat:
- Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant is a must-stop—the patio is dog-friendly and right on the beach.
- Bistrology's dog-friendly patio is the ideal place to dig into sublime breakfast and brunch. The presentation here is immaculate—from the decor to the coffees to the plating.
- Don’t miss the treats at Laguna Beach’s Thomas Donuts, a local shop serving up exciting variations like peaches & cream or red velvet—plus gluten-free options.
Play:
- Pier Park is a great dog-friendly location full of shopping, eating, and fun. Be sure to stop by Good Dog Boutique for fun beach-themed outfits, bandanas, toys, dog-themed t-shirts, and more.
Stay
- Pets even without important jobs like Sebastian’s are welcome at Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Panama City Beach, just a seven-minute drive from the beach itself.
Krista-Lynn, Gigi, Valentine, and Baxter’s road trip at a glance:
Hometown: Ventura, CA
Destination: Sedona, AZ (with a stop in Las Vegas)
Number of nights: Five
Most excited for: Hiking through the red rocks by day and stargazing at night
Why I wanted to go: Sedona is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. The mountains are spectacular, providing excellent hiking trails to enjoy with my athletic dogs. I also loved “vibing” at the energy vortexes; I swear my dogs felt it, too. They were all calm and happy throughout our visit.
How I planned: I plan my route to include at least one dog-park stop daily. BringFido, an app that points you to all dog-friendly locations, is your best friend when traveling. We also read traveler reviews, call to confirm information, and create a (loose and changeable) schedule of where to go and what to do.
What makes it the perfect dog-friendly road trip: The distance from Ventura, CA, to Sedona, AZ is close enough that it can be driven in a (long) day if needed (approximately 8 hours) but I prefer shorter drives, so I do it in two. It’s a hiker’s paradise (just not in the summer, when the temperature often exceeds 100 degrees).
My top dog-friendly road-trip tip: Don’t leave things to chance. If there are locations you’re intent on visiting, call them to confirm you’re allowed to bring your dog.
Eat
- Creekside American Bistro, one of our favorite restaurants, has an exclusive dog menu. (My very lucky pups ate steak tartar for lunch.)
Play
- Leashed, well-behaved dogs are allowed on Arizona Safari Jeep Tours. Take one to see the energy vortexes, or just ride through the canyons.
- If you need a break in between arduous treks, Fay Canyon Trail is an easier low-elevation hike.
- Even the city’s off-leash dog parks have spectacular views. We love the large fenced areas at Sedona Dog Park.
Stay:
- Oak Creek Terrace Resort offers a variety of dog-friendly rentals that can accommodate large families. There are cottages and multi-floor houses with private outdoor areas, plus ample outdoor spots like creek-side hammocks.
- Unlike hotels that simply tolerate dogs, Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas is truly pet-friendly, with a full “PetStay” program that includes in-room amenities like food and water bowls.