Everyone deserves a summer break…even your pet! If you’re hoping to create some special memories with your furry travel buddy without breaking the bank, we’ve got you covered.
When an expensive getaway isn’t on the card, enjoy one of these cheap summer road trips with your pet!
Cheap Summer Road Trips With Pets
Pets love to ride, so what’s better than planning a pet-friendly road trip? The United States is full of great places to visit, and the more frugal you travel, the more trips you can make!
READ MORE Camping with Dogs – A Beginner’s Guide
Camping or tenting by car will keep your costs down, and no matter where you want to go, you’ll find interesting places to explore.
Washington’s Olympic Peninsula
Driving along Washington’s rugged coastline is sure to leave you breathless. From Seattle, head west around the southern end of Puget Sound to Highway 101. Don’t miss Ruby Beach, which welcomes leashed pets, and Cape Flattery, the westernmost point at the confluence of the United States.
There are plenty of inexpensive camping options and pet-friendly hiking trails in the Olympic National Forest and at Fort Warden State Park. Stroll through the charming city center of Port Townsend, then take the ferry to Whidbey Island and spend a day at Deception Pass State Park before heading back to Seattle.
>> Search pet-friendly motels near Port Townsend, WA
Route 66 – Illinois to California
The beauty of touring historic Route 66, which is more than 2,000 miles long, is that you can make the trip as long or as short as you want. Traversing seven states and hundreds of cities and towns, there’s something for everyone.
Pet-friendly attractions are scattered along Route 66including four of America’s Most Pet-Friendly National Park!
If you plan to stay in one of the pet-friendly national park campground, make your reservation in advance. And make sure to circle these stops on your map: Archway, Petrified forest, Grand Canyonand Joshua tree.
>> Search pet-friendly motels in Santa Monica, CA
Blue Ridge Parkway – Virginia to North Carolina
Blue Ridge Parkway is America’s longest linear park and stretches 469 miles from pet-friendly Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains. With stunning views, waterfalls and breathtaking landscapes, Blue Ridge offers plenty of opportunities to explore with your pet dog.
Campgrounds line the route, and must-see stops include the Rocky Nob Recreation Area (milestone 169) and Mabry Mill (milestone 176).
If you have time, plan to spend a day at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina!
>> Search pet-friendly motels in Asheville, NC
Great River Road – Minnesota to Louisiana
The Great River Road National Scenic Byway follows the Mississippi River from northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. Passing through cities and small towns, it’s packed with pet-friendly things to do and see!
You will definitely want to visit Itasca . State Park, Effigy Mounds . National Monumentthe Archway, Shelby Farms . Parkand spend time in New Orleans.
You could drive the whole way in 36 hours, but what fun would that be?! Instead, plan to spend 7 to 10 days exploring the Great River Road.
>> Search pet-friendly motels in New Orleans, LA
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail – Illinois to Oregon
Like Route 66 and Great River Road, you can plan to take all or part of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. More than 200 years after their expedition, the route traces back to Lewis and Clark’s path from Illinois to the Pacific Ocean. Of course, you will be traveling on roads and highways instead of the waterways they have navigated!
Historic town and extremely pet-friendly, St. Charles, Missouri near the top of the trail and worth the stop. One of our favorite sites on the go is Indian Village on the River Knife, where Lewis and Clark meet Sakakawea. And the trail ends near Portland, Oregon – a great place to outdoor exploration with your furry travel buddy!
>> Find pet-friendly motels in Portland, OR
The Natchez Trail – Tennessee to Mississippi
Managed by the National Park Service, the Natchez Trace Parkway runs 444 miles from Nashville, Tennessee to Natchez, Mississippi (view the map). Without a billboard, strip mall or stop lights, it feels like a trip back in time from our hustle and bustle!
There’s something to sniff every turn on the Natchez Trail with over 100 exhibits, interpretive signs, and 28 pet-friendly hiking and self-guided trails!
You’ll also find affordable national forest campgrounds, like Lake Davis and Rocky Springs. If you have time, spend a day or two exploring the lovely town of Natchez.
>> Search pet-friendly motels in Natchez, MS
Plan pet-friendly road trips
No matter where you decide to go, planning is key to great and cheap summer road trips with pets. Sure, dancing in the car can be fun…but it’s also a surefire way to blow the budget.
READ MORE How to plan a cross-country trip with a pet
Booking camping sites in advance, packing picnics, and locating free entertainment options will save you a lot of money. And that means more trips together!
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