Essentials for Camping with Your Dog: A Pet-Friendly Camping Checklist

The harmonious chirps of songbirds fill the morning air as the sun shines into your tent. It’s all idyllic except for the guttural vibration next to you—courtesy of your furball. You probably don’t even mind the snores because camping is better with dogs. 

As dog parents, we want to share our adventures with them, and bringing dogs along on camping trips is no different. To make the most of these excursions and to create an enjoyable experience for all, it’s important to be prepared so your dog is safe and comfortable.

Looking for a dog-friendly campsite?

Finding dog-friendly camping is a breeze on Hipcamp—just click “Pets allowed” under the search bar or in the filter section. You can even add them as a guest in the search bar. 

Hipcamp also offers an “Off-leash pets allowed” collection of campsites. Keep in mind that some properties have pets of their own or farm animals. So, unless you know your dog won’t chase or disturb them, plan to keep them leashed.

Essentials for camping with your dog

ID tag and microchip

ID tags easily let people reach you if they find your dog. Double-check that it’s securely fastened to your dog’s collar and includes your phone number. 

If you haven’t already done so, be sure to microchip your dog before you bring them camping. Microchips are instrumental in lost dogs being reconnected with their guardians. Check that your contact information is current with the provider. It’s also useful to have a current copy of your dog’s vaccine records showing they’re up to date whenever you travel.

Pet medication

Include extra doses of your dog’s medications and supplements. If you’re traveling across international borders, bring a copy of the vet’s prescription and leave the medication in its original container. 

Before you head out, it’s important that your dog is up to date on their monthly flea, tick, and heartworm preventative medications. Make note of the nearest emergency vet or animal hospital that will be near your destination in case of emergencies.

Pet first-aid kit 

Out of all the dog camping products, this one is the easiest to overlook, but it’s important to have. Accidents happen. Just like you have a first aid kit, have a dog-specific kit readily accessible to treat your dog for any injuries. Confirm it includes tweezers to pull out painful cactus spines or risky ticks and add a paw balm for treating cut pads and cracked noses. 

Safety light

Whether it’s a weatherproof safety light that clips to your dog’s collar or an LED collar, this will help you know where your hound friend is in low-light conditions. A bell is a good alternative for daytime use.

Food/treats, bowls, and proper food storage

A dog food stuff sack is great for mess-free travel and, depending on the size you get, can hold a few extra meals for backup. Collapsible food and water bowls are lightweight and take up very little space. Remember to bring lots of treats to reward your dog’s good behavior and puzzle toys to help them self-entertain when you’re lounging at camp.

Dog-friendly tent

Depending on the size of your dog and their sleeping style, you may need to size up when considering how big of a tent to bring. If you have a large dog but they sleep tightly curled, then you can probably get away with a smaller tent. 

Tents with large vestibules are great, especially on rainy days. It provides a dry place to clean your dog before letting them inside the tent. A tent with mesh walls will help keep your dog cooler on hot summer nights.

Dog bed/sleeping pad

Unless your dog is a cold-weather breed, they’ll get chilled sleeping directly on your tent floor during cool evenings. Bring a dog bed or sleeping pad to keep them comfortable, especially senior dogs with stiff joints. Consider bringing two—dedicate one for use outside to keep your tent dirt-free.

Poop bags

Pack it in, pack it out. Be considerate of everyone, especially your Hipcamp Host, and pick up after your dog. A product like Dog iD’s Schitty Kit is a great option as it has a smell-proof compartment to store your dog’s waste until you can properly dispose of it. If you have a spare tire on the outside of your vehicle get an over-the-tire trash bag or caddy.

Extras for camping with your dog

Spare leash

An extra leash is handy to have, whether to replace one you lose during your trip or to clip two leashes together to give your dog more freedom while still under control. Alternatively, you can bring a long tie-out rope and tether it to a stake.

Carabiner

Carabiners, like rope, are always handy to have. You can use a carabiner to attach your dog’s leash to a picnic table or yourself while leaving your hands free. Or check out Ruffwear’s campsite dog hitching system.

Seat belt tether

A dog seat belt provides peace of mind knowing your dog is safe during car rides.

High-absorbency towel

There’s a reason why no one’s made a candle-scented “wet dog.” Bring a towel (or two) to dry off your furball after a rainstorm or a day of swimming.

Dog jacket/dog sleeping bag

Some dogs aren’t fans of campfires and some campgrounds don’t allow them (or there might be a fire ban). A dog jacket is good to have on hand, especially during shoulder seasons, camping at higher elevations, or in unexpected bad weather. A dog jacket can double as a wearable sleeping bag and their reflective piping can help you find your dog easier at night.

Camera

No camping adventure is complete without capturing a cornucopia of action photos and videos of your dog! Toss a Fetch Dog Harness on them with a GoPro camera attached to get even more memorable shots from your dog’s POV.

Tips for RVing with dogs

RV camping isn’t very different from tent camping with your dog. The advantage is there’s more space to bring additional dog camping gear, like a soft-sided crate. Dogs who prefer to chill in their own enclosed space will appreciate having a crate. 

A dog paw cleaner bottle is a convenient way to prevent them from tracking mud into your RV. And dog bowls with lids are handy to have in your car so your dog doesn’t get hungry even when travel days stretch past dinner time. 

If you aren’t sure how your dog will do camping, test camping out in your backyard or sleep in your RV in the driveway. Otherwise, you’re all set for this new adventure with them. Just remember, your dog is an ambassador for future dog guests. Lead by example by keeping them under control and well-behaved.