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I have gone on many solo cross-country road trips with my dog, Kuma, and I absolutely love traveling on the road with her. She’s a great companion and she makes the trip so much better than being completely alone.

With over five cross-country road trips under my belt, I can say that I’m somewhat of a professional when it comes to traveling with my dog. Here are some tips on driving cross-country alone with a dog.

1. Acclimate Your Dog

If this is your first time taking your dog on a cross-country road trip, make sure that they are okay with car rides first. Start by taking short car trips and gradually work up to longer ones.

If your dog is prone to motion sickness, try feeding them a couple of hours before they get into the car and keep the temperature in the car as cool as possible.

If your dog gets nervous on car rides, ask your veterinarian for a sedative that can calm their nerves. You can also try over-the-counter medications like Dramamine or Benadryl, but I would still consult with your veterinarian first or research the amount of dosage you can give your dog.

corgi in the backseat — Kuma loves car rides

2. Plan Your Route and Itinerary

I create an itinerary for all of my travels and especially for cross-country road trips. It’s essential to know when you’ll be leaving and arriving at your location.

Since I am a solo female traveler with a dog, I want to make sure I arrive at my destination before the sun goes down (unless I am staying at a friend’s house). Most locations I go to are safe, but it’s easier to manage your luggage and dog when there is still light outside.

3. Book Pet-Friendly Hotels

Some people like to wing this, but I like to make sure that I have a place to stay with my dog while I am on the road. This gives me peace of mind and I want to stay as stress-free as possible.

Make sure to check on the hotel’s dog policies and fees. Some pet fees can be extremely high and you may need to find alternatives where the pet fee is more reasonable. Other hotels may not allow certain breeds or may have a weight limit. Here are some of my favorite pet-friendly hotels I’ve stayed at across America:

Drury Inn - Budget-friendly hotel chain that has free breakfast, free dinner, and free drinks including beer, wine, and cocktails.
La Quinta Inn - Another budget-friendly hotel that usually has clean rooms and an affordable pet fee (some La Quinta Inn locations do not charge a pet fee).
Kimpton - All Kimpton hotels are pet friendly and do not charge a pet fee. It’s a little more expensive to stay at these hotels, but I like to splurge every once in a while and stay in a nice and modern hotel with Kuma.
Homewood Suites - I love staying here because the rooms are always spacious and it usually comes with a living room, kitchen, and a separate bedroom. You feel like you’re in an apartment with so much room.
Hotel McCoy - I have to mention the cutest pet-friendly local hotel I’ve stayed at in Tucson, Arizona that has no pet fee with affordable prices. The rooms are tastefully decorated and the staff is wonderful.

Try to request a room that is away from the elevators and facing away from the highway to avoid noise.

Dog-friendly hotel room at La Quinta Inn — La Quinta Inn Fort Stockton Northeast in Texas

4. Download the I-Exit App

This app is a lifesaver on the road if you are taking the interstate. It works in real-time as you are driving so you can see what gas stations, eateries, pharmacies, and more are coming up at an exit. It even counts down the miles for you in real-time so you know when the exit is approaching.

5. Take Note of the Best Gas Stations

The most popular question I have been asked when it comes to driving cross country alone with a dog is how I use the restroom. The answer is to find the best gas stations that have many pumps and multiple stalls in the restroom.

Having multiple gas pumps and restroom stalls means that you will most likely not have to wait for a gas pump or wait in line for the restroom. This in turn means that your dog will not have to wait in the car too long.

The longest my dog has waited in the car for me while I was using the restroom was probably 5 minutes. Gas stations usually have an overhead above the gas pumps, so make sure you are in a shaded area while you pump your gas and take a restroom break.

Some of my favorite gas stations are Busy Bee’s (mainly in Florida), Buc-ee’s (mainly in Texas), TA Travel Center, and Pilot. All of these gas stations I mentioned, with the exception of Pilot, usually have a pet relief area with dog waste stations.

Any gas station that is geared toward truck drivers is a great stop because they usually have lots of gas pumps and clean restrooms with multiple bathroom stalls.

Buc-ee's mega gas station — Buc-ee’s is a mega gas station

6. Pack the Essentials for Your Dog

There’s a lot of essentials I need to take for my dog including her food, medications, dog bed, toys, leash, waste bags and more. To get a full list of essentials, check out the Ultimate Road Trip Checklist for Your Dog.

7. Invest in a Dog Travel Bag

Speaking of essentials, a dog travel bag is a must-have when it comes to traveling with your dog. It has made my life so much easier with everything in one bag for Kuma.

I used to put Kuma’s things in different bags and I would always waste my time trying to find something. Now with a dog travel bag, everything is in one convenient location and I never stress over finding a certain thing for Kuma.

There are a variety of dog travel bags nowadays and they all come with some nifty features and accessories.

Traveling with a dog travel bag — A dog bag with a trolley sleeve is super useful

Everything organized in the dog travel bag — Keep all your dog’s things organized in a dog travel bag

8. Plan For Rainy Days

I wish it was sunny everyday I’m driving on the road, but of course, that never happens. You will most likely come across rain at some point. I try to outrun the rain before making a stop somewhere, but sometimes you just have to go.

On these occasions, make sure you are prepared with a raincoat or a waterproof jacket with hoodie and an umbrella.

I also recently bought a cute little raincoat for Kuma so that she doesn’t get too wet as well.

It’ll also be good to replace your windshield wipers for your car if you haven’t done so recently. A new set of wipers repels water better and will make driving easier in the rain.

9. Create a Comfortable and Safe Space for Your Dog

I’ve had a pet car seat cover in the backseat of my car ever since Kuma was a puppy. Not only does it keep your dog safe, but it also saves your car from getting dirty. Corgis are known to shed like crazy, so this cover protects my seats from getting all that fur stuck on to them.

Of course, the most important thing is that this car seat cover creates a safe space for her. If I need to slam on the breaks, Kuma will be protected by the hammock-style cover and not fall forward.

This also creates a barrier between the front and back seats, so she won’t try to climb up front and cause a disturbance.

I like to lay down some towels and blankets as well so that she will be comfortable. She likes to snuggle up to fleece blankets, so I always bring one for her on road trips. I also recently found that she likes to have her dog bed in the backseat as well, so I started putting that in the backseat too.

Corgi comfortable in backseat with dog bed — Kuma all cozy in the back with her dog bed and blanket

10. Prepare Snacks for Your Dog

I like to always prepare some snacks for Kuma while we’re on the road. She’s such a well-behaved dog in the car, so I like to reward her for good behavior as much as I can with healthy treats like boiled chicken.

I also like to bring frozen treats so that it preoccupies her if I feel like she’s getting a little antsy. I usually put her wet food in a Kong and freeze it overnight. Then, I put the frozen treats in a cooler and give them to her around halfway through our road trip.

In addition, I always have little treats ready for her in the center console of my car. I usually get her Fruitables Skinny Minis since they are small treats and don’t have many calories.

11. Keep Your Dog Hydrated

Whenever you take a break on the road for gas, food, or restroom breaks, make sure to give your dog some water. I keep a collapsible dog bowl and water bottle in the backseat at all times so that I remember to always give Kuma some water.

Giving Kuma water in the car — Remember to keep your dog hydrated

12. Go Exploring with Your Dog

If you have some extra time, explore the area with your dog. There are many cities that are dog-friendly and I love taking Kuma with me anywhere I can. This gives her a chance to get some exercise in and get some energy out.

After all, your dog deserves a little fun after being such a patient pup in the car for a long period of time. Some of my favorite dog-friendly places I have explored with Kuma are Austin, Saguaro National Park, New Orleans, White Sands National Park, and many more.