10 Pawesome Road Trip Destinations for You and Your Pup
Road trips are the epitome of summer: an open road, great music, snacks, and good friends. Of course, who can forget the destination? There’s always new places to explore and friends to explore it with—but what about your furry friends? If you’ve ever had a pet tag along for a ride, you know how hard it can be to make sure that they are taken care of. You have to plan out potty stops, pet-friendly snacks—and before all that, you have to make sure the destination is pet-friendly too!
That leaves the question: what places are safe and accommodating for pets to travel to? While there are millions of places to visit, there are only a few areas that actually offer deals for pets to stay and enjoy the vacation with you! Additionally, your pet needs some relaxation and activities to participate in as well.
Without further ado, here are ten awesome road trip destinations for your pet:
1. San Diego, California
San Diego is a friendly town, known for its affinity for dogs. There are dog-friendly beaches, restaurants that serve canine treats, and off-leash parks for your pet! There are also places that will do photoshoots of your pet!
2. Key West, Florida
The Key West Dog beach is small, but overall a relaxing place to take your pup. They also have kayaking and a dog-friendly café just beyond the beach!
3. Washington D.C.
Washington D.C. is a great place to take your pet! Amongst the various dog parks within the area, you can also take your pet in a stroller to view the more “human” friendly monuments and sights.
4. Wilmington, North Carolina
This quiet town has a coffee house that caters to dogs and their owners! Wilmington also has a two-acre park for your dog to run off leash, including fenced off areas for small and large dogs.
5. Albuquerque, New Mexico
This sunny city is great for everyone since it’s wonderful for desert sight-seeing not to mention experiencing the local restaurants and shops. Albuquerque has over 10 dog parks that have fenced off areas, shaded spots, and various play areas, so feel free to bring your pup along!
6. Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
This beautiful location has several dog parks with agility equipment and picnic tables, dog-friendly restaurants (one hosts a yearly dog cannonball competition!), and a pet resort if you need a little alone time to explore on your own.
7. Asheville, North Carolina
This cozy little town has the Biltmore Estate which consists of 220 acres your dog can run around on as well as a local dog park with fenced off play areas and river to splash around in! They also have a dog bakery that sells treats and toys, as well as a doggy daycare.
8. Bar Harbor, Maine
They have restaurants with special dog menus, a cruise you can bring your dog on, and a national park that you can take them to for exploring—there’s even an area where they don’t have to have a leash!
9. Asbury Park, Jersey Shore, New Jersey
Don’t get confused by the name! This area has a famous dog bar that even has a “yappy hour” where you can relax with a drink while your dog plays in a nearby fenced-in area. Don’t feel bad, though—there are two pools to take a dip in and a bi-weekly organized dog-run. There’s also a nearby dog beach and dunes for them to explore!
10. Austin, Texas
Austin likes to keep things weird, but there’s nothing weird about the options the offer for their furry friends! They have a bakery, a dog park that has access to water (yes, they are free to make a splash!), and dog events held throughout the year! Make sure to stop by in February, when they have their annual Mardi Gras Dog Parade!
These places offer a promise of relaxation and comfort, as well as a peace of mind that your dog can enjoy your vacation with you! There are many more places to take your furry friend, but these offer great options and fun experiences for humans and dogs alike. If these locations don’t appeal to you, do a little more research and remember to keep your road maps in handy!
Have you taken a road trip with your pup? Where did you go? Leave a comment and let us know!