RVing With Dogs – Things You Need To Know

RVing with dogs can make traveling even more fun, but it definitely takes a little extra planning.

Dogs don’t understand that you’re heading off on an exciting road trip. They just know that suddenly their routine has changed, their house is moving, they’re surrounded by unfamiliar smells, and every few days they may wake up somewhere completely new.

The good news? Most dogs adjust incredibly well to RV life once they realize their favorite humans are coming along too.

There are still quite a few things you need to know before hitting the road with your pets. RV parks have different pet policies, dogs need their everyday supplies, you’ll want veterinary information handy, and you’ll need to think about everything from potty breaks to campground hazards.

There were plenty of things we weren’t aware of when we first started planning our retirement travels.

Now that we’ve had a few years of RV travel under our belts, we’ve learned quite a bit — sometimes the easy way and sometimes not so much.

Here are some of the most important things we’ve learned about RVing with dogs.

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Check RV Park and Campground Pet Rules Before Booking

Never assume that because an RV park says it’s “pet friendly,” your dogs will automatically be allowed.

Every RV park and campground can have its own pet rules.

Some places limit the number of dogs you can bring. Others have weight restrictions or policies regarding certain breeds. You may also encounter rules about leash lengths, designated pet areas, barking, dog parks or leaving pets unattended inside your RV.

I’ve even encountered RV parks that asked for photos of our dogs before approving a reservation.

Before paying for a campsite, take a few minutes to read the property’s pet policy.

If you can’t find the information online, call.

The last thing you want is to drive hundreds of miles only to discover your dog doesn’t meet the campground’s requirements. Traveling with Pets should be fun, no stressful.

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Bring Your Dog’s Everyday Necessities

Dogs are creatures of habit.

One of the easiest ways to help them settle into RV life is by surrounding them with familiar things.

Bring the items they already use at home, including:

• Dog beds
• Blankets
• Food and water dishes
• Toys
• Treats
• Leashes and harnesses
• Medications
• Grooming supplies
• Ear cleaner
• Eye care products
• Bathing supplies
• Waste bags

If you RV frequently, it can be convenient to keep a second set of supplies inside the RV. This is exactly what I do, except for the food/treats. Those I grab each time. I have a great list of products here.

You could also grab a dog travel kit and keep it packed in the RV between trips.

For dogs that are nervous travelers, bringing a favorite bed, blanket or toy from home can be especially helpful because it gives them something familiar in an unfamiliar environment.

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Keep Your Dog’s Veterinary Records in the RV

I strongly recommend traveling with copies of your dog’s important veterinary information.

Some RV parks may request vaccination records or other information about your pet.

More importantly, if your dog becomes sick or injured while you’re hundreds of miles from home, having their medical information readily available makes things much easier.

Keep a folder containing:

• Vaccination records
• Rabies certificate
• Current medications
• Medication dosages
• Medical conditions
• Veterinarian contact information
• Microchip number
• Recent photo of your dog

I also like the idea of keeping digital copies on your phone.

Before settling into a new area for an extended stay, look up the closest regular veterinarian and emergency veterinary clinic.

Save both in your phone.

Hopefully you’ll never need either one, but if something happens at 10:00 at night, that’s not the time you want to start searching.

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Pack Enough Dog Food and Treats

Travel can already be stressful on a dog’s system, so an RV trip isn’t the best time to suddenly change food.

I always make sure we travel with enough of our dogs’ regular food and treats.

That way I’m not driving around an unfamiliar town trying to find a specific brand that may not be carried locally.

Changing food abruptly can also cause stomach problems, which is something nobody wants to deal with inside an RV.

If you’re taking an extended trip, look ahead and make sure you can either purchase your dog’s food along the route or have it shipped.

For longer RV trips, keeping food inside a sealed container also helps keep it fresh and protects it from moisture, bugs and curious little noses. I love this sealed container because it’s collapsible which comes in handy.

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Bring Plenty of Poop Bags

One of my biggest pet peeves — pun absolutely intended — is people who don’t clean up after their dogs.

Nobody wants to step in dog poop while walking around their campsite.

More importantly, dog waste can spread parasites and bacteria. When people and pets step in it and then walk inside their RVs, they’re tracking that mess right inside.

Please be a responsible campground neighbor and keep plenty of dog poop bags nearby.

My favorite brand is Earth Rated, but there are plenty of good options.

I keep bags in multiple places so we’re never caught without one.

You can also grab a dooloop that attaches to your leash and holds the used bag until you find a trash can.

It’s such a simple thing, but good campground etiquette makes RVing better for everyone.

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Always Follow Campground Leash Rules

Most RV parks and campgrounds require dogs to be leashed outside your campsite.

Follow those rules.

Even if your dog is incredibly well behaved at home, a campground is a completely different environment.

There are strange dogs.

Golf carts.

Kids.

Wildlife.

Bicycles.

New smells.

People walking through campsites.

And sometimes dogs that aren’t nearly as friendly as their owners think they are.

Stress and excitement can cause animals to behave differently than they normally would.

Keeping your dog on a leash gives you more control if another animal approaches or something startles your dog.

The same rule applies when stopping at rest areas or gas stations along your route.

Always secure the leash before opening the RV or vehicle door.

And yes — clean up after them there too.

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Look at the Ground Before Letting Your Dogs Walk

This is something we’ve become much more aware of while traveling.

Not every campground has soft green grass.

Depending on where you’re traveling, you may encounter:

• Burrs
• Stickers
• Goat heads
• Sharp gravel
• Cactus
• Hot pavement
• Broken glass
• Foxtails
• Other debris that can hurt paws

Before letting your dogs wander around a new campsite, take a quick look at the ground.

This is especially important if you’re heading somewhere warmer for the winter.

A campground can look beautiful online and still have ground conditions that are miserable for dogs.

Keep a paw balm handy for those sore or tender paws.

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Leaving Your Dog Alone in the RV

Part of traveling is getting out and exploring.

Sometimes your dogs can come along for hikes, outdoor restaurants, beaches or sightseeing.

Other times they can’t.

Leaving your dogs inside the RV for a while can work perfectly fine, depending on your dogs, the campground rules, the weather and how long you’ll be gone.

You know your dogs best.

One of the biggest issues to consider is barking.

Many RV parks have strict nuisance policies, and you don’t want your dogs barking nonstop while you’re away and disturbing everyone around you.

Closing blinds can help if your dog reacts to people or other dogs walking past the RV.

Leaving a television, radio or some background noise on can help some dogs relax too.

Always make sure they have plenty of fresh water.

Temperature is another major consideration.

If it’s hot, your air conditioner needs to be running reliably. If it’s cold, make sure the RV stays warm enough.

For extra peace of mind, consider using a pet camera or RV temperature-monitoring system.

The Furbo 360 dog camera allows you to check on your dog remotely and even interact with them.

If you’re looking for something that does more than just watch your pets, check out the Waggle. It also monitors your temperature in your RV/Camper and doesn’t need WiFi to operate. Also, use code FRIEND-JVR3T79 and get a discount.

That way, if campground power goes out or your air conditioning stops working, you can be alerted before conditions inside the RV become dangerous.

You can also place a small sign in the front window letting emergency responders know pets are inside.

Adding your phone number gives someone a way to contact you if there is an emergency.

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Take Plenty of Breaks on Travel Days

It’s easy to get into road-trip mode and want to keep driving until you reach your destination.

Your dogs may not share that enthusiasm.

When RVing with dogs, plan regular stops.

Use rest areas and safe stopping points to let them:

• Go potty
• Walk
• Stretch
• Drink water
• Sniff around
• Get a little mental break from traveling

It gives you a chance to stretch your legs too.

Keep a water bowl and leash somewhere easy to reach so you’re not digging through cabinets every time you stop. I set mine in the kitchen sink so they are easy to grab every time we stop.

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Keep Your Dog’s Routine as Normal as Possible

Dogs seem to have internal clocks.

If dinner is normally at 5:00, you can pretty much guarantee somebody will be staring at you around 4:57.

Try to keep feeding schedules reasonably consistent when you’re traveling.

The same goes for medications, walks, potty breaks and bedtime routines.

You may have to adjust things occasionally because of driving schedules or time-zone changes, and that’s completely normal.

The goal isn’t perfection.

It’s simply giving your dog a little familiarity when everything else around them is changing.

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Give Your Dog Their Own Space in the RV

RVs aren’t exactly known for unlimited square footage.

Even so, giving your dog a designated spot can help them feel more secure.

That might be:

• A dog bed in the corner
• A kennel
• A favorite blanket
• A spot under the dinette
• Their usual sleeping area

Once your dog learns that this is “their place,” they often settle into RV life much more easily.

When the RV is moving, dogs should be safely secured rather than wandering around the vehicle.

Depending on your setup and your dog, that may mean a secured carrier, crate or properly fitted vehicle restraint.

Once you’re parked and set up at the campground, they can relax and make themselves at home.

And yes, eventually they will probably decide the entire RV belongs to them anyway.

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Keep the RV Clean When Traveling With Dogs

Dogs bring a little bit of the outdoors inside every single time they come through the door.

Mud.

Sand.

Hair.

Grass.

And somehow dirt from places you’re pretty sure they never even walked.

Keeping a towel or pet wipes near the RV entrance makes a big difference. I use Muddy Mat products inside and outside the RV.

Give paws a quick wipe before letting the dogs inside, especially after rain or trips to the dog park.

Regular brushing outside also helps control shedding.

I’m a clean freak so I love having my robot vacuum because it runs daily and really helps a lot.

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Research Dog-Friendly Activities Before You Arrive

Don’t wait until you’re already at your destination to figure out where your dog can go.

Before a trip, look for:

• Dog-friendly hiking trails
• Beaches that allow dogs
• Outdoor restaurant patios
• Dog parks
• Walking trails
• Pet-friendly attractions
• Nearby veterinary clinics

Also check restrictions at national parks and state parks.

Some parks welcome dogs in campgrounds and developed areas but limit where they can go on trails.

Planning ahead helps you avoid arriving somewhere only to discover your four-legged travel companion isn’t allowed. Check out my article Tips for Traveling with Pets before you travel.

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Staying in Hotels With Dogs During an RV Trip

If you’re traveling from a cold-weather state like we do and heading somewhere warmer for the winter, there may be times when you need a hotel along the way.

Breakdowns, bad weather or long travel days can also make an overnight hotel stay necessary.

If you need to find accommodations that accept dogs – Search for pet-friendly hotels for your next road trip.

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When Your Dog Can’t Come Along

We love traveling with our dogs, but sometimes bringing them isn’t practical.

Certain trips, attractions or destinations simply aren’t a good fit.

If your dogs need to stay home, TrustedHousesitters is one option worth checking out.

Having someone stay with your pets in their familiar environment can be a much easier experience for some dogs than boarding.

At the end of the day, the goal isn’t to bring your dogs on every trip.

It’s to choose what’s best for them.

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Final Thoughts on RVing With Dogs

Traveling with dogs takes more planning, but for us it’s absolutely worth it.

They’re part of the family.

And one of the things we love about RV travel is being able to take them along for the adventure.

The biggest thing we’ve learned is to plan ahead.

Check campground pet policies before booking.

Bring their regular food and supplies.

Keep veterinary records handy.

Take plenty of travel breaks.

Pay attention to the ground and weather conditions.

Follow leash rules.

And give your dogs enough time to settle into each new place.

Once everyone gets into the rhythm of RV life, traveling with dogs becomes much easier.

And honestly, seeing those happy faces when they realize they’re coming with makes all the extra packing worth it.

Safe travels, and have fun making memories with your four-legged travel crew.