I love taking road trips with dogs. For me, driving is just the simplest and most comfortable way to visit multiple places with a pup. Louie and I have taken several long, dog friendly road trips in Europe but, our experience in the USA has been limited. That’s all about to change.
Louie & Jenna’s Excellent Adventure
Louie and I will spend most of March on an epic California road trip! Beginning in the San Francisco Bay area, we’ll drive up through Napa Valley to Humboldt Redwoods State Park. After a few days in Mendocino County, we’ll start driving south on California’s State Route 1. I hope to follow the famous coastal highway most of the way down to San Diego.
Our California road trip will take Louie and me along the Pacific to Jenner, Santa Cruz, and Cambria. There will be time for more extended stays (and laundry) in the dog friendly cities of Carmel, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and Laguna Beach. Or at least that is the plan for the time being.
One of the benefits of taking road trips with dogs is that you have the freedom to be spontaneous. You can stop as needed and explore “off the beaten path” spots that look interesting along the way. Having a car also gives pups a safe, familiar place in which to relax.
I always use a back seat cover when taking a road trip with Louie. The hammock style does an especially good job of protecting both the car interior and dog. I also use a specialized seatbelt attachment for dog harnesses. Bringing a familiar blanket from home makes the back seat even more comfortable.
Planning a Dog Friendly Road Trip
Putting together a great dog friendly road trip takes work. Fortunately, there are some excellent resources available online. Here are a few of my favorites:
- BringFido.com – Provides detailed information and reviews of hotels, restaurants, and services in the US and overseas.
- DogFriendly.com – Offers online and print destination guides
- GoPetFriendly.com – Has a fantastic road trip planner showing dog friendly hotels, restaurants, and activities around your route.
I also use Tripadvisor and my other tricks for choosing the best dog friendly hotels.
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WOW you coming to San Francisco, hope we can meet up for a coffee with the dogs, it would be so so awesome 🙂 It sounds like it is going to be an amazing trip, cannot wait to see photos and posts about it
I gotta tell you that is a seriously cute picture of Louie behind the steering wheel. Have fun on your road trip.
I’m so jealous! I’m from California, but now live in the Midwest. San Diego is my home city. We use the back seat hammock cover too, and it’s great! Safe travels to you and Louie!