Traveling with Pets: Our Full-Time Road Trip Resources

Traveling with pets sounds fun… until you realize we’re doing it with 3 dogs and 6 cats in a converted school bus.

Yes. Six cats. Not a typo. Not a “we foster sometimes” situation. Just… six cats, three dogs, and a whole lot of fur in about 200 square feet.

Some days it’s smooth. Some days it’s chaos. Most days it’s both. But somehow, it works — and we’ve figured out how to make life on the road with a full crew not just possible, but actually pretty great.

This page is our real-life guide to traveling with pets full-time — the places we’ve found, the systems that actually work, and the resources that make road life with animals doable.

Meet Our Traveling Crew

🐾 The Full Crew: 3 Dogs & 6 Cats

Jemma, Louie, and Dude (full name: Et tu, Dudé), plus six cats with very strong opinions about window access, sleeping arrangements, and who gets to be dramatic before breakfast. If you want the personalities behind the chaos, this is where to meet everybody.

Traveling with Pets: What Actually Works on the Road

Living full-time in a converted school bus means our “backyard” changes every few days. Finding good dog parks has become essential — our pups need time to really run it out off-leash and burn off whatever energy they’ve been storing since the last stop.

After a good run, the dogs are usually filthy. Mud, sand, whatever they found out there — it all comes back with them. We don’t have a full tub setup in the bus (full-size shower, just not full-size enough for Jemma), so self-service dog wash stations are part of the routine.

And on the rare occasion we need to stop for anything after all that, we try to find places that are actually okay with pets coming inside so everyone can cool off (or warm up). But we’ve learned there’s a big difference between “pet-friendly” and places that don’t turn it into a whole ordeal when you show up with animals. So we’re not stopping for groceries — not unless one of us is willing to go in solo.

Dog Parks We’ve Actually Used

These are the spots we’ve personally checked out.

  • 🐶 Benjamin Biscuit Acres (Tulsa, OK) — This is a standout. It’s huge, well-maintained, and a perfect stop if you’re coming through Oklahoma.
  • Bay County Dog Park (Bay City, MI) — A reliable, fenced-in spot that’s easy to get to and great for a quick energy burn.
  • Joe Station Dog Park (Tulsa, OK) — Another solid Tulsa option when you need a fenced area with a local feel.

Dog Parks On Our Radar

We haven’t made it to these yet, but they’re pinned on our map.

Self-Service Dog Wash Stations by State

Tractor Supply has been the most consistent option for us. We’ve tried smaller local places too — some are great, some aren’t worth the stop.

Arkansas

Russellville

Van Buren

  • 🐶 Tractor Supply — Includes vacuum and blow dry stations. Shampoo and towels provided for $9.99. We’ve used this one personally and it’s very clean.

Georgia

Statesboro

Kansas

Hutchinson

Michigan

Adrian

Alma

Battle Creek

Bellaire

Boyne City

Clio

Otisville

Portage

Rochester Hills

Royal Oak

Standish

West Bloomfield Township

Oklahoma

Lawton

Pet-Friendly Stops That Actually Help

If you’re traveling with dogs, you learn pretty quickly which places actually welcome them and which ones just tolerate them. This isn’t a perfect master list — it’s a running collection of places that either make life easier on the road or at least don’t make it harder.

📣 Always call ahead. Policies change, locations vary, and what worked once might not work everywhere.

🐾 Quick Note: This list leans heavily dog-friendly. The cats have not signed off on drive-thru testing yet.

Quick Treat Stops

  • Chick-fil-A — Ask for a dog treat at the drive-thru and score a complimentary biscuit.
  • Culver’s — Classic dog biscuit served with a swirl of vanilla custard.
  • Dairy Queen — Order a Pup Cup — a scoop of vanilla soft-serve.
  • Dunkin’ — Order a pup latte (mini cup of whipped cream). Some locations add a bite of warm sausage.
  • Rita’s Ice — Ask for a treat — might get vanilla ice or custard topped with a biscuit.
  • Sonic — Ask for a treat — you’ll usually get a biscuit with your order.
  • Starbucks — Puppuccino — a cup of whipped cream.
  • Tim Hortons — Doggy Timbit — a sugar-free donut for pups.

Pet-Friendly Restaurants & Cafés

  • Baja Fresh — Outdoor seating welcomes dogs.
  • Ben & Jerry’s — Frozen treats for pups: Rosie’s Batch (pumpkin) or Pontch’s Mix (peanut butter with sunflower butter).
  • Burger King — The Dogper (dog-friendly Whopper biscuit) is delivery-only through DoorDash in select areas.
  • Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream — Ask for a Dogster — vet-approved peanut butter or mint-flavored doggie ice cream.
  • In-N-Out — Off-menu pup items: Pup Patty (plain hamburger) or Flying Dutchman (two beef patties with cheese).
  • Johnny Rockets — Pup treat includes a cut-up hamburger and fresh bowl of water.
  • Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar — Full dog menu with complimentary water bowl. $5 options include grilled hamburger patty bowl or grilled chicken breast bowl.
  • Le Pain Quotidien — Pup-friendly patios with dog treats available.
  • Noah’s New York Bagels — Patio seating with fresh water bowls. They sell bagel-shaped dog biscuits.
  • Panera Bread — Most locations welcome pups on the patio.
  • Rock & Brews — Pup menu includes unsalted burgers, roast chicken, or sweet potatoes. Also serves dog-friendly non-alcoholic beer.
  • Shake Shack — Pooch-ini (vanilla custard with dog biscuits) or Bag O’ Bones (five-pack of Bocce’s Bakery treats).
  • Sprinkles — Pupcake made for dogs. Sugar-free version with yogurt-based frosting available.

Dog-Friendly Stores We Use on the Road

  • Bass Pro Shops — Actively encourages bringing dogs for socialization. Wide aisles and lots of new smells.
  • Home Depot — Some locations hand out treats at the register.
  • Lowe’s — Usually an easy indoor option for a quick stop.
  • Petco — Easy, obvious, and useful.
  • PetSmart — Same deal — practical and easy.
  • Tractor Supply Co. — Very dog-friendly with wide aisles.

Pet Treat Companies

Bocce’s Bakery — From chewy jerky to bite-sized training treats and seasonal options, Bocce’s delivers wholesome goodies made with simple ingredients. Available online or in local stores.

Emergency & Travel Resources

🐾 Pet Help Finder
Need affordable vet care, vaccinations, boarding, or pet food assistance? This is a good one to keep bookmarked.

🐾 Vetster
Virtual vet visits for when you’re on the road and your pet decides 2 AM is the perfect time for a health crisis. We use this regularly and it’s been a lifesaver more than once.

Frequently Asked Questions About Traveling with Pets

Can you really travel full-time with cats?

Yes — we travel full-time with 6 cats in our converted bus. It takes planning, patience, and a setup that works for your specific animals, but cats can absolutely adapt to life on the road. You can meet our full crew here.

What makes a dog park traveler-friendly?

For us, the best dog parks offer easy rig parking, clear signage, and secure fencing. When we pull the bus over, we need to know our dogs can safely decompress after hours on the road without complicated entry or exit points.

Can you fit a full-sized dog in a self-service wash station?

Depends on the station. Tractor Supply’s tubs are pretty roomy and handle larger dogs fine. Some smaller independent stations have shallow tubs better suited for medium-sized dogs. If you’ve got a Great Dane, call ahead.

Is it hard to park a school bus at these locations?

Yes, it can be tricky. Even Tractor Supply — which you’d think would have huge lots — often fills parking areas with merchandise displays and pallets. We always check Google Maps satellite view before pulling into any location to scope out parking and turnaround room.

Are the wash stations heated in winter?

Hit or miss. Pat’s Pet Wash in Lawton, Oklahoma has cold water — learned that the hard way. Check reviews or call ahead if you’re washing in colder weather. Tractor Supply locations are usually indoors or covered, which helps.

How do you handle vet care while traveling?

We use Vetster for virtual visits and always look up emergency vets before heading into a new area. Pet Help Finder is useful for affordable vet care, boarding, food help, and other resources on the road.

What’s the hardest part about traveling with multiple pets?

Making sure everybody’s needs get met in a small space. The dogs need exercise, routine, and places to burn energy. The cats need consistency, safe spots to decompress, and their own version of order. Once you figure out your systems, it gets a whole lot easier.

Can I add a location to the dog park or wash station list?

Yes! Drop a comment with the location, any important details like parking notes or water temperature, and we’ll check it out when we’re in the area. This is a working list and we’re always adding new spots.

More resources, tips, and pet-friendly finds coming soon. Because when you’re traveling with 3 dogs and 6 cats, you learn what actually works pretty fast.