Everyone deserves a summer vacation, even pets. If you’re looking to create special memories with your furry travel companion without breaking the bank, we’re here to help!

Even if you don’t have an expensive vacation planned, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy your vacation. Take your pet on an affordable summer road trip this year.

Cheap summer road trips with pets

Pets love to go on rides. There’s nothing better than planning a road trip vacation with your pet. There are so many great places to visit in the US, and the more thrifty you are, the more trips you can afford.

Autocamps and tents keep costs down and wherever you want to go, you’ll find exciting places to explore. Here are some popular destinations for summer road trips that you and your pets can enjoy.

read more ⇒ Car camping with pets: car preparation, belongings, etc.

1. Washington’s Olympic Peninsula

A drive along Washington’s rugged coastline will take your breath away. From Seattle, circle west around the southern tip of Puget Sound to Highway 101.

Don’t miss Ruby Beach, which allows leash pets and Cape Flattery, the westernmost point in the continental United States.

read more ⇒ Camping With Your Dog – A Beginner’s Guide

Inexpensive campsites can be found throughout the Olympic Peninsula. There are also many pet-friendly hiking trails in the Olympic National Forest and Fort Warden State Park.

Plan to spend the afternoon exploring charming downtown Port Townsend. Then take the ferry to Whidbey Island where he spends the day at Deception Pass State Park before heading back to Seattle.

>> Find pet-friendly accommodation in Port Townsend, Washington

2. Route 66 – Illinois to California

The advantage of traveling over 3,000 miles of historic Route 66 is that you can make your road trip as long or as short as you like. With seven states and hundreds of cities and towns to visit, there’s something for everyone.

Pet-friendly attractions dot Route 66, including four of America’s most pet-friendly national parks.

If you plan to stay at pet-friendly national park campsites, book early as they fill up quickly. Make sure to circle stops such as Gateway Arch, Petrified Forest, Grand Canyon, and Joshua Tree on the map.

>> Find Pet Friendly Accommodations in Santa Monica, California

3. Blue Ridge Parkway – Virginia to North Carolina

The Blue Ridge Parkway is America’s longest linear park, stretching 769 miles from pet-friendly Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains. Packed with beautiful scenery, waterfalls and spectacular landscapes, the Blue Ridge offers plenty of opportunities to explore with your dog.

There are campgrounds along the route and must-see sights such as Rocky Knob Recreation Area (milepost 169) and Mabry Mill (milepost 176).

If you have time, plan to spend the day at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.

>> Find pet-friendly accommodations in Asheville, North Carolina

4. 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. As you pass through cities and small towns, you’ll find plenty of things to do and see that you and your pet can enjoy.

Visiting Itasca State Park, Effigy Mounds National Monument, Gateway Arch, and Shelby Farms Park are sure to make you want to spend some time in New Orleans.

You can drive the whole journey in 36 hours, but how much fun is that? Plan to spend 7-10 days exploring the Great River Road instead.

>> Find pet-friendly accommodation in New Orleans, Louisiana

5. Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail – Illinois to Oregon

Like Route 66 and the Great River Road, you can plan to travel all or part of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. Over 200 years of exploration, this route follows the path Lewis and Clark took from Illinois to the Pacific Ocean. Of course, you’ll be driving on roads and highways, not the waterways they traveled through.

The historic and extremely pet-friendly town of St. Charles, Missouri is near the trailhead and well worth a stop. Another favorite spot along the way is Knife River Indian Village, where Lewis and Clark met Sacaway. And the trail ends near Portland, Oregon. The perfect place to explore the outdoors with your furry travel companions.

>> Find pet-friendly accommodations in Portland, Oregon

6. Natchez Trace Parkway – Tennessee to Mississippi

Administered by the National Park Service, the Natchez Trace Parkway runs 714 miles from Nashville, Tennessee to Natchez, Mississippi (View map). There are no signs, shopping malls, or traffic lights, so compared to our bustling life, it feels like a time slip.

With more than 100 exhibits, interpretive signs, and 28 pet-friendly hiking trails and self-guided trails, there’s something to sniff around every turn on the Natchez Trace.

There are also affordable national forest campgrounds like Davis Lake and Rocky Springs. If you have time, plan to spend a day or two exploring the beautiful town of Natchez.

>> Find pet-friendly accommodations in Natchez, Mississippi

Plan a pet-friendly road trip

No matter where you go, planning is essential for a cheap summer road trip with your pet. Sure, a spontaneous hop in the car can be exciting…but it can also be a good way to blow your budget.

Maximize your savings by booking a campsite, packing your picnic food, and discovering free entertainment options before you leave. And remember, traveling cheap means you can travel more together.

read more ⇒ How to plan a cross-country trip with your pet

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