Traveling with Dogs: Essential Tips, Rules, and Practical Guides

When you're traveling with dogs, taking your dog on trips by car, plane, or ferry while following legal and safety guidelines. Also known as pet travel, it’s more than just tossing a bed in the backseat—it’s planning for airport checks, airline restrictions, and your dog’s comfort under pressure. Many people assume if their dog is calm at home, they’ll be fine on a flight or in a hotel. But that’s not true. Airlines measure carriers at the gate. Some airports require health certificates. And not every hotel lets dogs stay—even if they’re service animals.

That’s why knowing the difference between a service dog, a dog trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability, protected under federal law and an emotional support animal, a pet that provides comfort but has no legal access rights in public spaces matters. Costco won’t let your emotional support dog inside, but they can’t ask for paperwork on a service dog—only two questions: Is it required for a disability? And what task does it perform? Misunderstanding this can lead to being turned away, or worse, having your dog denied boarding.

And then there’s the airline pet carrier size, the exact dimensions allowed under the seat on a plane, which vary by carrier but are strictly enforced. If your carrier is too big, you’ll be forced to check your dog as cargo—even if they’re only 20 pounds. And flying a dog in cargo? It’s not as scary as it sounds if you know the right crate specs, avoid extreme weather, and pick airlines with good track records. But if you don’t, you’re risking stress, injury, or worse.

Traveling with dogs also means knowing where you can actually go. Some beaches let dogs on leash. Others ban them completely. Some stores in North Carolina welcome pets. Others don’t. Even your hotel’s pet fee might change depending on the season or how many dogs you bring. And if you’re thinking of skipping a flight altogether? Road trips, ferries, and professional pet transport services are real alternatives—and sometimes safer.

Below, you’ll find real, tested advice from people who’ve been there: how to pick the right carrier, what to do if your dog panics on a flight, how to prepare for a 25-pound dog’s cargo trip, and why letting your dog sleep in your bed won’t cause separation anxiety—but ignoring their routine might. Whether you’re flying across the country or driving to Ocean City, MD, this collection cuts through the noise. No fluff. Just what you need to know before you leave the house.