Traveling full-time in an RV isn’t just about the destinations — it’s about sharing the journey with the ones you love most, including your pets. In this Keystone Trailblazer story, discover how life on the road became even more rewarding with dogs by their side. From must-have RV pet gear and safety tips to favorite dog-friendly destinations across the country, this adventure proves that exploring together makes every mile more meaningful.
MAKING THE DECISION TO TRAVEL WITH OUR PETS
When we initially envisioned traveling after military retirement it was focused on spending time overseas and experiencing different cultures. But as we continued to consider our options, as much as we wanted to travel, we also had two senior dogs and didn’t want to be away from them or leave them with family as we traveled.
Then one day we saw a commercial for an RV rental company; the RV door swung open and a dog came running out! Right then and there we realized RVing was the answer we were looking for and we started our plan for full-time RV travel.
Then four months into our first season of RV travel across the country, we welcomed a nine-week-old rescue pup, Bailey, into our home on wheels. See, we often say we chose the RV lifestyle because of our dogs, but honestly it was one of the best decisions we made FOR our dogs.
Since we knew our dogs would always be along for the ride, we made sure to keep them in mind when considering things in and around our RV to make sure it was an enjoyable experience for them.
THE GEAR THAT MAKES IT WORK
A few things we made sure to incorporate into the RV was a cozy space for their beds, hooks to hang leashes by the door, having extra blankets for cuddle time on the furniture, dedicated space for their bowls, and of course a toy basket.
We also added a Screen Defender to our RV screen door. Having this addition provides us peace of mind when we leave the door open on those beautiful breezy days knowing our screen is protected from potential scratches while Bailey takes in the views.
But it’s not only about what we have inside, RV travel is about enjoying the outdoors. That’s where one of our favorite accessories comes in for Bailey…our gazebo!
Our gazebo has provided an area outside as an extension of our living space to be able to spend time enjoying the weather together. Anytime we have our gazebo set up, it is always the first place Bailey wants to walk over to hang out.
KEEPING YOUR PET SAFE & COMFORTABLE
As much as we love having our dogs along for the adventure, we also understand there are times that we will need to leave them back in the RV. So when we come across those moments, we make sure to plan accordingly before we step away from the RV without them.
A couple things we do to make sure Bailey is comfortable before we head out is make sure she gets a walk to release some energy. We also make sure to turn on the TV to provide her some background sound so she can relax and not be distracted by any potential noise going on outside while we are away.
The most important factor we look at is weather! Since we travel chasing warmer weather, heat is typically our biggest concern. If the forecast calls for rising temperatures throughout the day, we plan hikes earlier in the morning to make sure we’re back before the heat of the day.
Although there are a variety of pet safety monitors that can alert you if there are changes to the temperatures inside the RV, if we are not able to bring Bailey along with us, we still do our best to stay within a safe distance to get back quickly if needed.
If that’s not possible and say we’re staying a bit of a drive away from a National Park we want to visit, we simply bring Bailey along for the ride and check out as many scenic overlooks as we can together as a family.
DESTINATIONS WORTH VISITING
While National Parks can get a lot of attention for RVers, there can be many restrictions when it comes to dogs. So finding local dog-friendly trails at state parks is typically our go-to when it comes to looking for outdoor adventures together.
Sylvan Lake (Custer State Park, SD)
One of our state park trail highlights has been Sunday Gulch trail at Sylvan Lake. Although this hike is rated as ‘strenuous’ with some sections requiring scrambling along small waterfalls, we did take into account Bailey’s capabilities while out on trails. We made sure to take our time, of course Bailey did amazing, and the views were definitely worth the effort!
But don’t worry, you don’t necessarily have to subject yourself to a strenuous hike to enjoy the breathtaking natural beauty of Sylvan Lake. They also have an easy to moderate level 1-mile shore trail loop, as well as picnic areas to relax and take in the lake’s beautiful granite backdrop.
However looking for hikes or trails isn’t the only time we consider dog-friendly activities, sometimes the most important consideration is where we actually park our “home on wheels”.
Holiday RV Park & Campground (Traverse City, MI)
Nowadays you can find most campgrounds or RV parks have dedicated dog parks. But there was one that stood out to us (and Bailey) the most, Holiday RV Park & Campground in Traverse City, Michigan.
Not only do they have plenty of area throughout their park to walk, including a few short access trails, they also have a 5-acre fully fenced in dog park! But it isn’t simply 5 wide open acres, they actually took the time to create some trail-like paths throughout the park.
And because it is fully fenced in, it provides a unique off-leash ‘trail experience’. Once Bailey was familiar with the park, it was immediately the direction she wanted to go anytime we walked out our RV door.
Pensacola Beach RV Resort (Pensacola Beach, FL)
But our girl doesn’t just love hiking trails, she also loves being along the water. One of our favorite locations to enjoy water views together is staying at Pensacola Beach RV Resort.
With RV sites that have direct access to the sound side waters, you are steps away from their dog-friendly 🐾 beach with lounge chairs to sit and enjoy the sunshine together.
Something we’ve realized throughout our travels is that no matter the landscape (beach, desert, mountains, even cities), Bailey is just as excited to simply be by our side.
WHY IT’S BEEN WORTH TRAVELING WITH OUR PETS
Even though to some it may sound as if traveling with pets may limit how we explore certain areas, for us it’s about redefining our perspective. If it wasn’t for us trying to find pet-friendly hikes and things we can do as a family, we may not have come across some of the amazing locations we’ve been able to experience together.
We often say we chose the RV lifestyle because we had two senior dogs that we didn’t want to leave behind, but looking back, it was one of the best decisions we made FOR our dogs. The ability to give them a life of adventure and exploration right by our side is our way of making the most of the time that they are with us.
See after only two months of living in our first RV, our oldest dog lost his battle with cancer. A year later we lost our second. Then along the way, our sweet Bailey joined us on this journey.
Now, instead of looking at the limitations of traveling with pets, we focus on the time it’s given us with our dogs and the positive impact it has made for us as a family.
Because no matter where we go or how the landscape changes around us, our time together is truly what matters most.
