Traveling with pets requires flexibility. Newly-crated or puppy-aged pups may require frequent stops for breaks, while more experienced dogs might tolerate longer stretches in the car without incident.
No matter if you want to explore every part of America in one trip or explore just a certain region at once, this pet-friendly American road trip itinerary has something for every traveler.
Plan Ahead
Traveling with pets? Whether it be driving or flying, making sure your pet is comfortable is crucial to their wellbeing and safety during any journey. Car harnesses, tethers and carriers are available from most pet stores for the journey home; if your pet is unfamiliar with riding in these devices yet, work with them at home before making the big step out into public. Make sure they wear collars with identification tags and vaccination records prior to any journeys as this will ensure an easy trip.
For flights, it’s essential that you conduct thorough research into the rules and regulations at your destination airport. Most places have restrictions for certain breeds or sizes of animals so do your homework ahead of time to prevent problems when you arrive. Also be sure to ask your veterinarian about referring a veterinarian nearby who specializes in their health as well as bring along information such as emergency contact numbers as well as records for rabies, tick and heartworm prevention.
As with any trip, bringing along a first aid kit with medications, water, and blankets just in case of injury or illness can save time and heartache later on. Your pet’s microchip could come in handy should they wander off from you or their leash is lost.
When traveling to a new city with pets, make sure that you do your research about any laws or regulations for their care, such as leash laws or whether muzzling must take place. Also ensure your animal is microchipped with current information about its owner such as phone number or address on its collar.
Before your next trip, use Petswelcome’s Trip Planner to create a map and mark any hotels that are pet-friendly hotels on it. This can help visualize your route and plan ahead, saving it to your Passport account for easy access before or during your journey – plus sharing it with other Petswelcome users too! Don’t have an account yet? Sign up for free today!
Prepare Your Pet
Pets often become stressed during travel. Therefore, it’s essential that your pet be adequately prepared. You can do this by making sure they feel secure in their carrier and familiarizing them with their new environment as well as by prepping them for the long drive or flight ahead.
First and foremost, ensure your pet’s leash is secure and they wear an ID tag with your name, home phone number and any vacation contact info on it. In addition, keep a copy of their health records as proof that vaccinations have been up-to-date.
When traveling with your pet, make sure they are microchipped so if they become lost they can quickly be reunited with you. Also ensure they receive adequate food and water during travel to reduce any possible stomach issues and ensure they remain properly hydrated during their trip.
If you plan on taking your pet on public transit such as subway or buses, visit their destination before the journey. This will give them time to become used to the noise and bustle associated with public transit and reduce stress during their ride.
For flights, it’s wise to avoid taking your pet during busy travel periods like holidays and summer to reduce their stress and allow airline employees to handle them more gently. Furthermore, it is wise to give your pets plenty of time to acclimate themselves to their carrier before the day they fly.
Starting early can save time and effort when it comes to training your pet for travel. Incorporating practice trips of increasing length with short drives could also help. Furthermore, be sure to test out any hotel rooms prior to making the big journey so your canine becomes acquainted with its environment before sleeping there for real.
Prepare Your Luggage
Traveling with your pet is an incredible journey that will create memories to cherish for life. By planning ahead and booking hotels that allow pets, as well as prepping your furry companion, the road trip should go smoothly and enjoyable for both of you. Before booking hotels that allow pets and preparing your pup to travel properly are all crucial parts of ensuring a successful pet friendly road trip experience.
Prior to embarking on your travels, take time to organize your luggage. Remove items that won’t be necessary or can be swapped out with something lighter; for instance if only taking happy snaps is your goal, a smartphone could do in place of heavy cameras; similarly a backpack carrier would make an excellent way of exploring nature more efficiently than larger dog carriers.
If your dog will be traveling in a carrier, it is a wise idea to practice before embarking on your trip. This will allow your pup the opportunity to become used to sleeping in his or her carrier for extended periods and can make for a smoother travel experience for both you and your pet. Burkert recommends bringing them along to a restaurant with outdoor seating where they can nap during their meal – this way everyone wins!
Make sure your hotel is pet-friendly by checking its policies or calling directly for more information on pet policies, as many have specific requirements when it comes to accepting animals in their rooms. It may be easier if your plans match up with theirs as this can sometimes make booking a room difficult if there’s nothing suitable available for your furry friend!
Once you’ve gathered all your documents, it’s time to pack! Be sure to include a current identification tag for your pet as well as vaccination records if necessary. Also consider including leashes, food and water for them along with travel beds/blankets that keep them comfortable throughout their journey.
Find a Pet-Friendly Hotel
Recently, pet travel has seen an exponential surge driven by people’s desire to include their furry family members on vacations. Hotels have taken notice and now happily accommodate travelers with furry family members by providing extra amenities like fenced-in outdoor areas for exercise and potty breaks as well as plush pet beds – creating a more relaxing trip experience for both owner and their companion animal alike.
When searching for hotels that allow pets, make sure you call ahead first so as to confirm they truly welcome them. Each hotel may have different policies regarding size or breed restrictions, non-refundable deposits, or charge an additional fee in addition to your room rate – make sure you inquire whether the fee per night or is flat fee regardless of how many pets are in the room!
Make sure the hotel you stay at offers access to a veterinarian who can provide any needed medical attention during their vacation, giving you peace of mind that your animal is in the best hands possible while you’re away. Also remember that traveling can be stressful for pets – particularly cats and dogs who fear strangers or unfamiliar environments; if your concern that traveling may cause anxiety in your pet talk with your vet who can devise a plan to ease them during their travels.
Pet-friendly hotels can usually be quickly located using a filter on their booking website that makes finding them simple, and reviews and photos provide insight into other people’s experiences with the hotel.
Hotels that treat their pet guests well will create brand loyalty among customers who stay there, leading them to return time after time.