What to pack for a road trip with your dog: a checklist with gear specs
✓ Product specs checked against each manufacturer's official page.
A packing list for car trips with a dog. Products are grouped by need; every spec comes from the maker's official page (linked from each product page), and we have not tested them. Rules on restraining pets in cars vary by state and country, so check the rules where you'll drive.
Quick checklist
- Your dog's food for the whole trip, plus a little extra
- Water and a travel bowl
- Leash and a harness with ID tags
- Poop bags
- Any medications, and your vet's phone number
- Vaccination records (some hotels, campgrounds and borders ask for them)
- A recent photo of your dog, in case you get separated
- Bedding or a blanket that smells like home
- Towels and cleanup supplies
Restraint: car harness and leash
Clip a seatbelt tether to a harness rather than a collar. Crash-testing claims differ by maker and size, so read each product page before you rely on one.
| Product | Key specs (per maker) | For |
|---|---|---|
| Kurgo Enhanced Strength Tru-Fit Dog Car Harness Kurgo | Car harness; Kurgo says crash tested for dogs up to 75 lb | Dogs |
| Sleepypod Clickit Range Crash-Tested Harness Sleepypod | Car harness; Center for Pet Safety rated up to 110 lb per Sleepypod | Dogs |
| Ruffwear Load Up Dog Car Harness Ruffwear | Car harness with seat belt loop; girth 13–42 in | Dogs |
| Ruffwear Front Range Harness Ruffwear | Everyday walking harness; girth 13–42 in | Dogs |
| Ruffwear Front Range Leash Ruffwear | 5 ft (1.5 m) leash with lockable clip | Dogs |
In the car: tethers, booster seats and seat covers
A tether or booster keeps your dog in one place; a cover protects the seat. Kurgo says its own seatbelt tether is not crash tested.
| Product | Key specs (per maker) | For |
|---|---|---|
| Kurgo Direct to Seatbelt Tether Kurgo | Seatbelt tether, 22 in; not crash tested per Kurgo | Dogs |
| Kurgo Skybox Rear Seat Booster Kurgo | Rear-seat booster for dogs up to 30 lb | Dogs |
| Kurgo Rover Bench Seat Cover Kurgo | Back-seat cover, 55 in wide | Dogs |
| Ruffwear Dirtbag Dog Car Seat Cover Ruffwear | Bench/hammock cover, 55 x 63 in | Dogs |
Water and food on the road
A collapsible bowl or a bottle with a built-in cup makes rest stops easier.
| Product | Key specs (per maker) | For |
|---|---|---|
| Sleepypod Yummy Travel Bowls Sleepypod | Small: 6.5 in diameter x 3 in tall; water bowl 20 oz, food bowl 8.5 oz, lid bowl 6.5 oz; Medium: 7.6 in diameter x 3.5 i | – |
| Ruffwear Quencher Packable Dog Bowl Ruffwear | Medium: Opening 5.5 in (14 cm); capacity 4.2 cups (1 L) | Dogs |
| Kurgo Gourd Water Bottle & Bowl Kurgo | Bottle 24 fl oz + 8 fl oz dog bowl | Dogs |
| Kurgo Collaps A Bowl Kurgo | Silicone bowl, 24 oz, folds under 1 in | Dogs |
Somewhere to sleep
A packable bed gives your dog a familiar spot in hotels, at friends' houses or at camp.
| Product | Key specs (per maker) | For |
|---|---|---|
| Ruffwear Highlands Dog Pad Ruffwear | Packable foam pad; Medium 0.75 lb | Dogs |
| Kurgo Loft Wander Dog Bed Kurgo | Roll-up travel bed; Medium opens to 27 x 36 in | Dogs |
| Chuckit! Travel Pillow Bed Chuckit! (Petmate) | Quilted travel bed, 39 x 30 in, stuff sack | Dogs |
Weather gear: coats, cooling vests, boots and life jackets
Pack for the weather and activities at your destination. Check the maker's size chart: most size by chest girth, boots by paw width.
| Product | Key specs (per maker) | For |
|---|---|---|
| Ruffwear Float Coat Dog Life Jacket Ruffwear | Dog life jacket with lift handle; girth 13–42 in | Dogs |
| Kurgo Surf n' Turf Dog Life Jacket Kurgo | Dog life jacket with two handles; chest 14–45 in | Dogs |
| Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Cooling Dog Vest Ruffwear | Evaporative cooling vest; girth 13–42 in | Dogs |
| Kurgo Loft Dog Jacket Kurgo | Reversible insulated jacket; chest 15–45 in | Dogs |
| Ruffwear Grip Trex Dog Boots Ruffwear | Boots sold in pairs; paw width 1.5–3.25 in | Dogs |
Pee pads
Handy for long drives, hotel rooms and dogs that are still learning.
| Product | Key specs (per maker) | For |
|---|---|---|
| Four Paws Wee-Wee Superior Performance Dog Pee Pads Four Paws | Pee pads 22 x 23 in, 14 per pack | Dogs |
Calming aids
If your dog gets anxious in the car, talk to your vet; these are drug-free options the makers recommend for travel.
| Product | Key specs (per maker) | For |
|---|---|---|
| ThunderShirt for Dogs ThunderShirt | Calming wrap; sizes by dog weight, under 8 to over 110 lb | Dogs |
| ThunderEase Calming Spray for Dogs ThunderEase (ThunderShirt) | Pheromone spray for car or crate; wait 15 min | Dogs |
ID and GPS trackers
Update the contact details on your dog's tag and microchip before you leave. GPS trackers need a paid plan and cellular coverage.
| Product | Key specs (per maker) | For |
|---|---|---|
| Tractive GPS DOG 6 Tracker Tractive | GPS tracker; subscription required; 3 models by dog size | Dogs |
Other useful extras
| Product | Key specs (per maker) | For |
|---|---|---|
| Petmate Kennel Airline Travel Kit Petmate | Metal bolts, stickers, cup and pad for a cargo kennel | Dogs & Cats |
| Sleepypod Go Bag Sleepypod | Cross-body bag for pet essentials, 16 x 14 x 5 in | Dogs & Cats |
| Sleepypod Safety Tether Sleepypod | Escape-prevention tether for Sleepypod carriers | Dogs & Cats |
Flying instead?
See the soft carrier guide, hard crates for the hold and our airline pet policy pages.
More guides
- Best airline-approved soft pet carriers: sizes vs. under-seat limits
- Pet carrier size limits by airline (under-seat) and carriers that fit
- IATA-style hard crates for flying pets in the hold or as cargo
- Pet carrier backpacks for flying: do they fit under the seat?
- Travel water bowls for dogs and cats: collapsible and nesting options
- Cat travel checklist: carriers, litter, calming and ID
- All pet travel products
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