Traveling Dogs: Solo Cross Country Roadtrips

I’ve been involved in Facebook groups for about 3 years now, and I absolutely LOVE them for ideas, inspiration and a wealth of knowledge from an amazing community! This week I’d like to shout out the “Travel Therapy Therapists” Facebook group! After someone asked a question about traveling solo with a dog across the country, I realized I have never written a post with all the tips I’ve learned! I’ve written about long hauls with a camper here, and solo dog adventures here but what about being solo with your dog traveling across country? Keep reading to learn all my tips and tricks!

1. Bring a Cooler for Food

This is a game changer! First, your dog won’t be able to sneak a bite of food when you’re not looking. Second, talk about being budget friendly! And last, picnics at local parks always win. I love the car-cooler life!

2. Keep your dog food/water bowls accessible

I have TWO traveling bowls. One is a fold up water bowl, and the other is a glass Tupperware. I keep Chloes food in a container with a handle. This way when I arrive to my sleep destination, I do not have to dig around all the stuff to find Chloe’s food; OR if a day takes longer than anticipated, we can eat on the road.

3. Share your plans with a trusted source

Woman or man, old or young, you should always take steps to protect yourself! I use Google location to share my location with family (you can find it in Google maps in the “share” settings, and text loved ones a link to follow along on your adventure!). It does not work when there is no cell service; and I also keep an SOS device handy just in case. I want to upgrade to a Garmin in reach after using one this summer. That will even let you send text messages when you are out of reception! Definitely keep your loved ones updated on a general itinerary, so they will know where to find you if need be.

4. Trust your gut, and trust your dog

Since we are talking about safety, let’s also talk about trusting your gut! Have you ever driven into a campsite and felt those hairs on the back of your neck stand tall? Well if you don’t know that feeling, your dog definitely will. I remember I was planning to stay at a campground, but when I drove in my Chloe dog started pacing, panting and became visably anxious. I drove away to a different nearby campsite; and later that week I read about a stabbing that occurred at that campground! Maybe we would have been fine, maybe not, but lesson learned: trust your gut, and trust your dog.

5. Hotels vs Airbnbs vs Camping

When I first started traveling alone, before I had Chloe I would stay at hotels. I also liked staying at airbnbs (super hosts only) where the hosts were inside the home and could hear me when I arrived and moved around. I started camping at state parks, but found a special love for free campsites in national forests or using freecampsites.net. Everyone will progress in their confidence differently; but I do like to consider if a safe/responsible person will have seen me arrive to my destination. Plans change and flexibility is HUGE on cross country road trips, because you never know what might come up. I’ve honestly stopped booking nights in advance, and just embrace the adventure as it comes. That way if I find something really cool, it won’t hurt to stay an extra day; or if I’m feeling the urge to drive (or dodge any sort of weather) that can also happen. Be flexible, but also be comfortable for you and your dog. And check out this post about lodging with your dog here!

I personally love camping when Chloe starts needing to burn off her energy. I also typically plan a longer hike half- way through the journey to keep her stamina going, and dog parks too- well let’s talk about that next.

6. Best Stopping Spots

Let’s list these out, shall we?

Never underestimate grocery stores
LOVE travel stations sometimes have dog parks
Most small towns also have dog parks
Rest areas usually come with nice views and nice walking trails
Home Depot, Lowes, and Menards have the nicest bathrooms; and most Home Depot stores are pet friendly!
National Forest back roads usually make for great running spots for dogs (be sure that recall is solid though)
There’s always a beautiful, pet friendly hiking trail nearby. Check out the all trails app!
Restaurants with outdoor seating, or carry out options are also a major game changer.

7. Pandemic Preparedness

I wrote an entire post about pandemic roadtrips here! The short version is: wear a mask. Check your temp. Have an emergency plan for your safety. Consider contact less pay, food from your home town that keeps in a cooler, a sanitizer routine for gas stations and if someone pets your dog; and seriously consider avoiding those COVID hot spots; because if you’re in an accident and there’s no ER with beds nearby that is not fun. Whew! Be safe and smart everybody! For your furry child’s sake.

8. Necessary Supplies!

There are SO many things you could bring on a cross country road trip; and every dog has a different personality with different needs. Chloe will not jump in a lake if you were to bribe her with string cheese; but some of those golden retrievers will be wet the WHOLE trip the second they see that lake. So keep your dog’s personality in mind! This is what I make sure I have on a cross country trip:

The ten essenTAILS (link to post here)
A Spontaneous hiking backpack is important
Bring an extra halter, leash and dog tags
A Fanny Pack with poop bags and treats
Road safety gear- seat belt or crate
Chews and Toys
Clothes for myself for all weather conditions
Dog booties. ALWAYS. And preferred wear for other weather conditions you might encounter
Long leash for camping
Microfiber towel for rainy days
There’s so much more! Just be sure to have those essenTAILS for sure.

9. Never underestimate the importance of Training Time

I’ve had a whole series on training your traveling Todos, and cannot emphasize enough how important this is when you’re on the road! Muzzle training in case you’re in an accident and your pup is hurt, solid recalls in case you have a wildlife encounter, and those awesome, prolonged stay skills are truly a game-changer! Don’t forget to pickup your dog’s poop!

Dogs love gentle exposure to new activities. If you’ve never slept in a tent, or car camped; don’t expect a couple weeks across the country to end well. Practice runs are key! Find a local hotel so you can see how your pup does when people walk by. Try car camping or tent camping in that back yard! And be sure a ton of treats are involved in the whole experience ♡

10. Helpful apps

Bring Fido- for pet friendly restaurants, museums, hotels and to help find dog parks!
Roadtrippers- for those funky fun stops that make for great photo ops!
Red Cross Pet First Aid- totally explains itself, and is totally awesome.
Rover- when you make it to that national park that is unfortunately not pet friendly, Rover has daycare options!
Doggo- to train your dog daily before your roadtrip (and during too!)
Set alarms for reminders about meal times! Time changes are hard.
Google Drive or Scanbot- for your dog’s up to date veterinarian information!
All Trails- to find those local, low traffic pet friendly hikes
Freecampsites.net- to find free and usually quiet stopping points
The Dyrt- to find all the stopping points!

10. Love every moment of the Single Dog parent life

When you’re by yourself in your car, driving on that open road toward a new beginning, with your best friend who just so happens to bark at your side- there is truly nothing quite so liberating. I have traveled across the country at least three times (Portland Maine to Portland Oregon, Columbia South Carolina to Albany Oregon, McAlester Oklahoma to northern Minnesota- and many more) and I’ve learned so much about myself, about my dog, and about what it really means to be independent. Sometimes it’s scary when Chloe barks in the middle of the night in a hotel room; but mostly it’s amazing to have my own schedule; to explore these stunning unknown spots throughout the beautiful United States and to have my best friend Chloe Rue at my side. Being a single dog mom means you sometimes leave your vehicle running, while you go inside a restaurant to grab food (just don’t lock your keys in your car). It means you call ahead and ask a local hotel if they’re pet friendly. It means you might go 100$ over budget at a pet boutique you found in Napa, California. Despite the obstacles, you realize you are taking care of your best friend, and giving them an experience few dogs will ever know; but more than the experience is the act of being together while you explore the country.

To all those people reading this, who are afraid to travel across the country alone- don’t let fear stop you from seeing this beautiful world. Be smart, be safe, trust your dog; and always embrace the path that comes your way. So tell me- what’s a tip that I missed? What pet friendly road trips are you planning? Thanks so much for reading! Happy trails and happy tails to you all!

Barking Embarkers