Thanks to Kia for letting us test drive the Kia Sedona
7 Pet Friendly Road Trip Tips
We love family road trips! It’s the perfect way to reconnect and create adventures away from our every day lives! Our dogs travel with us when we hit the road. Fortunately, all of our dogs have always enjoyed being in the car. Road trips can be challenging for some dogs, but with a little bit of research, the right car and a good attitude, an awesome road trip with your four legged family members is possible. We packed up the Kia Sedona with luggage for all of us. My daughter loved all the roomy space and luxury reclining seats. The minivan is big enough to transport our 24″ dog kennel. I wound up weaving the the seat belt through the slots of the dog kennel to make sure our pup Charlie traveled safely, and wasn’t roaming around the car.
Here are some tips to help your road trip run smoothly:
1) If you are driving a long distance, plan stops for the entire family. Usually, rest stops have areas marked especially for pets. The designated areas are (the ones I’ve been to) found at the far end of of the rest room along with potty bags. Get our and stretch your legs!
2) Some dogs get car sick or anxious. To relieve this common issue, I recommend not feeding your dogs before the road trip and adding in a few more breaks. There are some items like Rescue Remedy to calm dogs before road trips. I know it can get stuffy and hot in Southern California, so most of us have our AC running. But, dogs love that wind blowing through their hair! Open up the windows and cool down naturally.
3) Make sure everyone is safe. Humans buckle up, so why wouldn’t we buckle up our animals? Safety harnesses or seat belts are available for dogs. If you have a spacious SUV or minivan, the use of a kennel is even better and safer!
4) Bring supplies- Don’t forget to pack food, treats, your dogs’ city license and a travel water bowl (I have one that is collapsible and also is perfect for hiking). We also bring dog toys, blankets from home, leash and poop bags (lots of poop bags!) and their beds.
5) Find destinations and hotels that are pet-friendly. We’ve stayed at Motel 6 in both Big Bear and 29 Palms. The rates are affordable and they don’t charge a pet fee! Check with restaurants that have a patio, usually well-behaved pets can sit with you. Some places even offer a dog menu, like Abalonetti Bar and Grill in Monterey, CA. An ocean view drive to Monterey is fun with views dogs and humans can enjoy!
6) Is your dog microchipped? I highly recommend getting it done before venturing out on any trip. Both of our dogs are chipped in case they ever get separated from us.
6) Sitter and nearby vets- We don’t usually have an event to attend when we travel with dogs, but if you do, then find a sitter through local boarding facilities. Hotels do not want you to leave dogs unattended in rooms. I’d also check to see if there are local vets/pet ERs nearby in case of an emergency. Do your homework since its better to be safe, then sorry.
6 comments
Rest stops are huge guys! 2 legged or 4 legged trippers agree LOL 😉
Ryan
I really like that you mention how important it is to keep your dog properly restrained while traveling in the car. I too always keep my dog in a crate on the back seat so I know they are safe if god forbid an accident happened.
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Great tips! Thank you for sharing this. It will be my first road trip with my new buddy, I just had her last month. And now I’m planning to go on a road trip with her. Definitely, I want to keep him safe and comfortable. Cheers!
Awesome tips! Thanks for sharing it was quite helpful. Keep posting more!
Nice article… The best prevention against accidental injuries is a pet carrier. Keep your pet out of the front seat. Attach a detailed travel tag with all of your contact information to your pet’s collar. Bring sufficient pet food and water for the entire trip. You provide us good tips for travelling with dogs on road in the car.
Thank you for sharing this nice article.
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