The Free Dog Road Trip Packing List
Everything we pack, from the nose to the tail.
Hi, I’m Banner, a 12-year-old beagle-dachshund mix. Road trips are better when nobody’s digging through the trunk for the leash at a rest stop. My human and I put our whole list on two printable pages, including the senior and short-leg extras most packing lists forget. It’s free when you join Trail Mail.
What’s Inside
Two US Letter pages you can print, stick on the fridge, and check off the night before you leave:
- Paperwork & ID: vaccination and rabies records, microchip number, ID tag, a recent photo, your vet’s number, and a 24-hour emergency vet near each stop.
- Food, water, and first aid: food for every day plus two extra, water from home for day one, collapsible bowls, daily meds with extras, flea and tick prevention, a tick remover, and paw balm.
- Walk & trail gear and car setup: a harness with a handle, a backup leash, booties, a cooling bandana or a sweater, a crash-tested crate or seat-belt harness, a seat cover, a ramp, towels, and window shades.
- Comfort from home: a familiar bed or blanket, favorite toys, a long-lasting chew, and a t-shirt that smells like you.
- Senior & short-leg extras: an orthopedic travel bed, non-slip mats for slick hotel floors, a lift harness or support sling, belly bands or puppy pads just in case, and a written medication schedule.
- Our six-step rest-stop routine: plan the stops, leash up first, lift instead of leap, sniff and potty, water check, and never leave your dog alone in the car.
- Fill-in sections: questions to ask your vet before you go, an emergency info box, and a day-of final check.
Get the Free Packing List
Enter your email and the list will land in your inbox. You’ll also get Trail Mail about once a week, with easy trail finds, road-trip ideas, and honest gear notes.
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A Note From Banner
I’m 12, I have short legs and a long back, and I still love a good drive to somewhere new. My human made this list so we stop forgetting things, and my favorite part is page 2, with the extras for gray muzzles like me. My #1 rule: pack a grab bag. Leash, bags, meds, treats, a bowl, and a towel ride up front, not buried in the trunk. If I’ll need it at 2 a.m. in a strange hotel, it rides up front.
Banner 🐾, Chief Sniffer (and the human with the leash)
Want to know more about us? Read our About page or Hiking With a Senior Dog: What I’ve Learned on the Trail at 12. And if you’d like the full road trip planner, it’s in our Etsy shop.
Questions
Is it really free?
Yes. The packing list is free for personal use. Just sign up with your email and it’s yours.
Can I unsubscribe?
Anytime. Every Trail Mail email has an unsubscribe link at the bottom, and you keep the list either way.
What size does it print on?
It’s two pages sized for standard US Letter paper (8.5 × 11 inches), so it prints right from your home printer.
Not veterinary advice. Ask your vet what’s right for your dog.
