Spring Dog-Friendly Road Trip Ideas

Update for Easter: rabbit ears for dogs, whole dried ears, one ingredient, five to a pack; sold out today and coming for the season.

Update for March: Pot of Gold dog treat coins, air-dried chicken or turmeric yogurt, for the St Patrick's Day pocket; sold out today and coming for the season.

Spring dog-friendly road trip ideas, answered up front: ten destinations across the United States where the dog is welcome on the trail, the beach or the rim, plus the gear that keeps the co-pilot safe and the treats we pack from our Malvern, Pennsylvania kitchen. Distances below are from Malvern, because that is where Ella's road trips start. Wherever yours starts, the list works the same way.

Gear up before you roll

Four things earn their space in the cargo area on every trip.

• Dog sleeping bag. A packable bag like the Ruffwear Highlands gives the dog a warm spot of their own on cold campsite nights instead of a share of yours.
• Impact resistant crate. A crash tested travel crate is built to absorb front, rear and rollover impacts and keep the dog contained; 4x4 North America has a plain overview of why that matters.
• Portable dog tent. A pop up pup tent is shade in the sun and a dry corner when it rains, and it sets up in minutes (the climbers' forum thread that sold us on the idea).
• Bike trailer. For boardwalks and rail trails, a trailer like the Burley Bark Ranger lets the dog ride along with easy loading and a strapped in seat.

What we pack

High value treats make the pit stops easy and the recall reliable when a squirrel shows up at the overlook. Our two road trip regulars are freeze-dried cheddar cheese bites, which crumble small enough for a training reward at a trailhead, and freeze-dried beef liver, single ingredient and light enough to live in the glovebox. Both are made in our Malvern kitchen, ship within one business day, and shipping is free over $50.

Ten spring road trips with the dog

1. Blue Ridge Parkway and Asheville, NC (492 miles)

469 miles of winding mountain road, overlooks, waterfalls and hikes, and dogs are allowed on nearly every trail on a leash (Musings of a Rover has the full drive). Start in Asheville, where brewery patios welcome dogs, then stop at Craggy Gardens or Mount Mitchell for the rhododendron bloom. Spring window: late April through June, before the summer crowds.

2. Outer Banks, NC (268 miles)

The Town of Duck allows dogs off leash on the beach year round under voice control (details here), and other towns loosen daytime rules in spring; check the leash rules by town before you go. Walk the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse grounds, ferry to Ocracoke, and keep the dog leashed near the wild horses in Corolla. Spring window: April and May, low 70s and breezy.

3. Acadia National Park, ME (475 miles)

Often called the most dog-friendly national park: 100 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage roads are open to leashed dogs, with only the ladder trails off limits (Acadia pet rules). Hike Cadillac Mountain for sunrise, walk Ocean Path, and camp at Blackwoods, Seawall or Schoodic Woods, which all take pets. Bar Harbor patios welcome dogs. Spring window: late May and June; April is mud season.

4. Sedona, AZ (2,010 miles)

Red rock trails that welcome leashed dogs: Bell Rock Pathway, the base of Cathedral Rock, Fay Canyon, Soldier Pass and the creekside West Fork. Carry water, the desert sun is strong by midday, and consider booties on the rock. In town, patios put out water bowls and Creekside American Bistro has a dog menu (locals' picks). Spring window: March through early May.

5. Grand Canyon South Rim, AZ (2,000 miles)

No dogs below the rim, but leashed dogs are allowed on every South Rim trail above it, including the 13 mile, mostly paved Rim Trail (park pet rules). Mather Point at sunrise with the dog is the photo. Mind the altitude at 7,000 feet, keep a firm grip near unrailed overlooks, and use the South Rim kennel if you need the shuttle. Spring window: April and May.

6. Lake Tahoe, CA and NV (2,353 miles)

Dozens of dog-friendly trails and beaches and 44 pet-friendly hotels (Visit Lake Tahoe). Easy: the Tahoe Rim Trail near Tunnel Creek or Van Sickle Bi-State Park. Big: Mt. Tallac or Five Lakes. Water: Kiva Beach on the south shore and North Beach at Zephyr Cove, then Bijou Dog Park for an off leash run. Spring window: late May and June, once the lower trails dry out.

7. Big Sur, CA (2,506 miles)

Most state park trails are closed to dogs, so the beaches and the drive are the trip. Leashed dogs are allowed at Pfeiffer Beach (state parks dog guide, and a traveler thread) and on Garrapata Beach from gates 18 and 19 (DogTrekker). Pull out at Bixby Creek Bridge and Hurricane Point (a full day trip plan), walk the river path at Big Sur River Inn, and keep noses out of the calla lilies at Garrapata, which are toxic to dogs. Spring window: March through May; check for storm closures.

8. Redwood Coast, CA (2,517 miles)

Dogs stay off the narrow forest trails but are welcome on paved roads, picnic areas and several beaches (Redwood parks pet rules). Drive the Newton B. Drury Parkway, walk Cal Barrel Road in Prairie Creek or Walker Road in Jedediah Smith, and run Gold Bluffs Beach, Crescent Beach or Hidden Beach with the leash on and away from signed dune habitat. Pack a towel; spring here is cool and damp. Spring window: April through early June.

9. Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO (1,621 miles)

One of the few national parks where leashed dogs can climb the dunes themselves (BringFido, park pet page). Aim for High Dune, then let the dog splash in Medano Creek, which runs at the base of the dunes from late May into early June. Mosca Pass Trail in the preserve takes leashes too. Spring sand is paw safe; summer sand is not. Spring window: May and early June.

10. Black Hills and Custer State Park, SD (1,463 miles)

Leashed dogs are allowed on every trail in Custer State Park's 71,000 acres (My Dog Likes). Loop Sylvan Lake, drop into Sunday Gulch, or climb Black Elk Peak. Drive the Wildlife Loop Road with the windows mostly up: bison, pronghorn and curious wild burros come right to the car. Needles Highway is the photo stop. Spring window: late April through June, when the bison calves arrive.

Easter on the road

Easter usually lands in the middle of this season, and baskets travel. Chocolate and candy stay with the humans; both are on every veterinary list of foods dogs should not eat, and candy wrappers are their own problem. The dog's basket comes from our freeze-dried dog treats instead, which is the same thing we hand over at every rest stop anyway.

Before you roll

Ten destinations, one car, and a spring shedder in the back seat. Read our five step plan for getting dog hair out of a car before you leave and again when you get home, pack the treats, and take the scenic route. The journey is the part the dog remembers.