Camping with your dog can be a truly memorable experience. “There's just something magical that happens on those overnight trips” with your dog, says Maria Christina Schultz, certified canine fitness trainer and owner of Maria Christina K9 Training, who does everything from RV camping to backpacking with her Australian Shepherds Bodie and Willow. “It’s just a lovely way to bond and a fuller [camping] experience.”
And having the necessary outdoor gear can make all the difference, says Madi Clark, a photographer and adventurer documenting her outdoor activities with her 6-year-old Australian Shepherd Ember via @embark.with.ember. So, whether this will be your first time camping with your dog or sleeping under the stars together is one of your favorite pastimes, our comprehensive guide to the best dog camping gear will set you up well.
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Best Dog Tent for CampingSherpa U Pet Tent Dog Portable House, Medium $70 on ChewyFREE 1-3 day shipping$70 on ChewyFREE 1-3 day shipping -
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Best Dog Fence for CampingFrisco Ultimate Outdoor Lightweight Heavy Duty Steel Playpen, 36-in $114 on ChewyFREE 1-3 day shipping$114 on ChewyFREE 1-3 day shipping -
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Best Dog Crate for CampingFrisco Indoor & Outdoor 3-Door Collapsible Soft-Sided Dog Crate, Large $110 on ChewyFREE 1-3 day shipping$110 on ChewyFREE 1-3 day shipping
How to Find the Best Dog Camping Gear
Some important factors to consider before heading out include:
- Length of the trip: First, think about how long you’ll be out there, says Clark. This will help determine how much food you’ll need and what other supplies to bring with you.
- Climate: Check the weather when packing camping gear for your dog, she adds. “The time of year and location determines if I’m bringing a cooling vest or a waterproof winter dog jacket,” Clark says.
- Type of camping: Are you car camping in a truck or RV or backpacking, which means you’ll be hiking to your location and setting up a campsite? “For car camping, you’ll have more flexibility to pack larger items like a dog bed or crate, while backpacking requires lightweight and compact gear,” says Clark.
- Park rules: Not only do you want to confirm the campsite is a dog-friendly environment, but you’ll also want to know if or how dogs are expected to be contained or monitored, says Schultz.
Best Dog Camping Gear and Accessories
We’ve rounded up the best dog camping gear as tested and approved by Chewy customers. These 12 top-selling, top-rated camping essentials for dogs get two paws up from dog parents like you.
Best Camping Dog Bed
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The quality is very very good.
So I bought this off the ground bed as I wanted it to be easier to get up from then the bed he had on the floor.He's going on 14 and I was hoping to make things a bit easier for him.So I placed his fluffy floor bed on the new elevated bed but he didn't get on it,so I will try coaxing him with some treats.
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Not chewable!
Perfect bed for my dog to chew his bones and he can’t destroy it as easily as other beds
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Durable and great value!
Super amazing price. Easy to assemble. My dog chews through EVERYTHING but once she couldn’t chew through the metal legs, she lost interest with only a small hole in the sleeve of the material. Big win!
Best Dog Travel Mat for Camping
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Lightweight. Easy to clean.
Good size for my greyhound who will not jump on furniture. Lightweight but durable and easy to clean (machine wash and dry). Great product! Our dogs love them!
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Beautiful, light weight and well made bed.
Travels nicely, perfect for hotel rooms and cars. Have used these beds for yesrs. Muchine washable and dryanle. Just love it!
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Love so much, I bought two!
This size is great for my pup's crate AND his kennel, so I needed two (plus comes in handy to have a spare when one needs to be laundered). They're lightweight yet sturdy (kind of like a futon for your dog), and are easy to wash and they dry overnight.
Best Dog Tent for Camping
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Pop-Up Tent for your very spoiled pet
On the most recent visit of our grandchildren, they set up their pretend play tent and dressed in their astronaut costumes to play space explorers. They covered the bottom of the tent with a comfy blanket and some pillows because there's no point in exploring space if you can't be comfortable, right? Our cat, Henrietta, assumes that everything in the house is hers. After our grandchildren were finished playing in the tent, she promptly padded into the tent to sniff and explore. Then she plopped down and napped. This happened throughout most of the days our grandchildren were here. After our grandchildren left, we took down the...
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great crate!!
Love it!! It’s compact! Easy to set up and roomy!! My dog is 30 ish lbs. and is used to a medium soft side crate. I use it mostly indoors.
Best Dog Fence for Camping
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Perfect playpen for puppy
Nice and sturdy. The gate opens and makes it easy for puppy and adult to enter which is helpful for potty training.
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Height and portability
These are wonderful for fostering dogs. We use them when we go to adoption events with young puppies and at home in place of crates. They set up in minutes, are tall enough that most dogs don’t climb out and if they do you can zip tie a panel on top.
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Pleased with purchase
I bought this to use inside the house to surround my welping box. It was super easy to assemble and durable enough to keep a medium dog contained.
Best Dog Crate for Camping
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Perfect at home & on the go crates
We’ve had these crates for a few years now and we love them. We use them both at home & on our travels - we can get them down & popped back up really quickly and they fit nicely in the trunk of our car. We are typically not very careful with them when we take them down & put them back up (doing it quickly & shoving their beds in there too), so overtime you can see the wear & tear, but I think that’s due to our handling of them. If you want them to last longer, remove the bed/mat when you close it up. Additionally, I like the multi-entry option (side for narrower & front for wider). We’ve used both ways depending on where we need to...
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My dog loves it!
In addition to the pleasing design and color, the soft sides make it easy to transport. Most importantly, my dog sure loves it & can be found relaxing in her little cocoon any time of the day!
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All around great!
We ordered this crate for our dog who has seizures. He is already crate trained, but we wanted something that would be less likely to hurt him/get paws or nose caught in if he hit the sides. It’s super easy to break down/set up, easy to wipe clean, and has durable mesh for when he paws at the front to wake us up. :) I also like that there are clips near each zipper to keep the entrances closed. Great crate and great price!
Best Camping Dog Tie Out
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Great for bigger dogs
My pup is 4 years old and 120lbs. When the deer came by he went for it and the stake and the cable held him and stayed anchored.
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Great for outdoors and travel
Our beagle loves to be outside and this is a perfect way to give him a big radius to sniff
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Frisco Easy Grip Stake with Tie Out Cable, Large
Strong metal stake and insulated cable. Great for our dog's safety and is easily portable from place to place on road trips.
Best Camping Dog Harness
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Color
Love this one! better than the one I had before. the color is perfect for any time of day - Green. Also the reflectors work great at night.
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It’s sturdiness
attach Should last a long time. Capable to leash both top & underneath, 2 connections for extra safety with a top strap to grasp if you have to lift your dog.
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Awesome Harness
The dogs don't tug and they can't back out of them. I jog the dogs about 3 miles every day and these harnesses have no wear on them. Easy to put them on easy to take them off.
Best Camping Dog Leash
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Love the quality
We purchased 2 for our pups getting the longest length possible, and they work very nicely. Sturdy clip, reflective, and easy on the hands.
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Great leashes!
I have 4 of these leashes in various colors for my 4 dogs. I love the length, the padding & the reflective strip on them. Bonus- they wash up in the washer great with no bleeding or fading. My girl threw up in car & it was all over her leash- yuck!
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This is my favorite leash for my 80 lb dog, I've had 3-4 different colors of this leashes with zero clip issues.
Best Dog Food Bowls for Camping
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convenient for the go
pros: lightweight, zips so you don't have to worry much about the bowl being dirty, two bowls, washable. cons: kinda flimsy: best to fill with food and water when it's set.
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Compact for Travel
These seem that they will be great for travel as they collapse and zip together. Perfect for on the go!
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Best purchase I’ve ever made for my fur baby
The collapsible dish is very convenient. It is very easy to travel with and I love the fact that you unzip it and you have two bowls. It is very convenient.
Best Dog Food Storage for Camping
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Sturdy and well-designed
Just like any stuff sack for camping, but ensures your kibble is nice and safe (no ripped plastic grocery bags here), and seals up nicely.
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big
we ordered the wrong one, this was way bigger than I thought it was and we couldn't use it so we gave it away. For someone wanting a very large container this would do the trick, we need a much smaller container.
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Moose proof
We travel on a camper van. I appreciate how they size of the bag gets smaller as the food is eaten. Also after 5 years of travel the bags have held up like new. Best of all while mice have gotten into other bags we used for food storage, not these bags. Just leave enough space to roll them down 1 full turn.
Best Pet First Aid Kit
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Great Buy!!!!!!!
The only thing I had to add was a tick removal tool and this kit is complete. We have a travel cat and wanted to make sure we were ready for any emergencies on the trail. This kit does the trick and then some. Price was good, too.
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Good First Aid Kit
This is a good first aid kit. It comes with most of everything you may need, plus has some space for extras you may want to add (I added Benadryl and Neosporin to the pack), and it doesn’t take up a lot of space so you can store it pretty much anywhere.
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Perfect For Travel
This is a perfect first aid kit for traveling with our puppy! Luckily we haven't had to use it yet, but it seems to have plenty of helpful things in it!
Best Dog Light for Nighttime Safety
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Great for night visibility
It was adjustable to her neck size and works great. Love the color. She stands out at night for runs and walks in the dark!
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Nite Ize NiteHowlj LED safety Necklace Dog Collar
I love this because I can see my black dog in the dark when I let him out for his night time potty break.
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Nightwalker
This collar is easy to cut to fit my dog, easy to choose constant or intermittent glow. It definitely keeps my dog more visible when we walk in the evening.
What Do I Need to Go Camping With a Dog?
Much of the gear you’ll want to bring when camping with your dog falls into a handful of key categories.
Bedding
Where your dog sleeps while camping is really up to preference. Some dogs may be fine outside, while others want to curl up in the car or tent next to you. “I bring a foldable sleeping pad for my dog to help them understand this is your place to sleep,” says Schultz, admitting her pups still often end up nuzzled into her sleeping bag. A soft dog bed with extra blankets can further insulate your pup from the cold, hard ground, says Clark. Bedding that’s made with durable, wipeable material will come in handy since your dog is going to get dirty.
Food and Food Containers
Portion your pup’s food for however long you plan to be out camping—with a little extra since they’ll likely be more active than typical, says Schultz. Airtight containers, or even bear-proof lids, for storing pet (and human!) food are a safe bet when camping in backcountry areas known for wildlife, adds Clark.
Collapsible dog bowls are a great space-saving item to pack on camping trips, says Schultz. They “can be stored in your backpack or attached to your dog’s gear for easy access during hikes or outdoor activities,” says Clark. She recommends looking for bowls made from durable, water-resistant materials that are easy to clean and disinfect.
Leashes, Crates and Fences
Be mindful of the campground rules and potential hazards like steep drop-offs or wildlife while camping with your dog. Pet containment items like dog crates and playpens, as well as dog leashes and tethers, will help keep your dog safe. “I personally love our crate for traveling—it’s Ember’s safe space,” says Clark. “A long line leash is my number No. 1 camping item and comes in handy in many situations, but it’s mainly there to give Ember enough space to walk around while I set up camp.”
First Aid Supplies
Snag a dog first aid kit to go alongside your own before heading out. Make sure to pack Benadryl and vet tape if the kit doesn’t already include these in case of allergic reactions or wound care, recommends Schultz. Your dog’s paw pads are susceptible to more injuries when outside, so be sure to have an antiseptic on hand, too. (Dog boots can also help protect their paws.)
Busy Toys
If you’re hiking, swimming or out and about all day in the sun, your pup might not need anything more than a long nap, but bringing a few items like dog toys, bones and puzzles to keep them occupied is never a bad idea, says Clark. “It’s a great way to prevent boredom during downtime at the campsite,” she says. “A good tug toy that I don’t have to throw is good since where we camp might have sudden cliff sides, other campers or areas where I don’t want [Ember] wandering off.” Get 20 boredom-busting ideas to keep your dog busy.
Tips for Camping with Dogs
Know their limits. Before anything else, think about whether your dog will actually enjoy camping, says Clark. Consider, “their fitness level, temperament, and preferences when planning outdoor activities and avoid forcing them into situations,” she says. “Pushing a dog beyond their physical or emotional limits is not the way to camp.”
- Find the closest ER vet. Your dog’s safety should be a top priority. Hoping for the best but planning for the worst can give you peace of mind. Knowing the location of the nearest emergency vet will ensure you can take immediate action if something urgent happens, says Clark.
- Bring extras. If room allows, toss a few more things in your bag like a longer leash, extra food, another blanket or dog sleeping bag for added comfort and insulation, or a dog coat or doggy raincoat in case of poor weather.
- Double-check the rules. Verify whether the park or trail you’re planning to visit is truly dog-friendly, says Schultz. Is your dog only allowed in certain parts of the campground? Can you leave them unattended if you need to use the restroom or take a shower?
Want even more insight? This guide will help you determine if your pup is ready for a camping trip, how to choose a location, and even campground etiquette.
How We Chose These Products
Camping with your dog is all about spending quality time together out in nature—not stressing about whether you have the right gear. That’s why we spoke with the experts to find out what type of dog camping gear you need, and then dug through Chewy’s best-selling products to bring you only those that have a minimum rating of 4 stars from customers. This way you can be sure you’re getting camping gear that is pet-tested and pet-parent-approved.
Camping with Dogs FAQ
Q: Where should my dogs sleep on a camping trip?
A: Most pups will want to sleep where you are—whether that’s under the stars or in a tent. In a tent together, your dog should be fine to roam freely. If sleeping outdoors, keeping them tethered (to a tree or stake, for example) is good practice, and offer them a durable sleeping pad for comfort. Crates work well in any location, too, but it just comes down to your dog’s comfort and stress level.
Q: How do I store my dog’s food while camping?
A: Keep your dog’s food in a resealable bag or container. Something air-tight or odor-proof can help limit the risk of wildlife becoming interested. Remember to bring a little more than you think you’ll need, especially if you’re planning to hike to your campsite.
Q: What do you do with dog poop while camping?
A: Bring plenty of poop bags. You should pick up your dog’s waste and either throw it away in a designated garbage can, if there is one, or take it out of the park or trail with you, according to Recreation.gov. Leaving it—even if it’s buried under some debris—risks contaminating running water or spreading disease to other wildlife.
Q: How do I control my dog while camping?
A: You should feel confident in your dog’s recall training when camping, says Schultz. This will be essential if there is a safety concern nearby or if the area has certain restrictions on unleashed dogs. Plus, “basic commands such as sit, stay, come, and place are game changers,” says Clark. Regardless, you’ll want to have some containment gear on hand, including long leashes, tie-outs, crates or pens. A good mix, if your packing space will allow for it, is best to give them freedom and you flexibility.
Q: How do I keep my dog clean while camping?
A: Dogs are going to get dirty while camping—that comes with the territory. Still, you don’t want a wet or muddy dog lying next to you in a sleeping bag, so doggy wet wipes and a few extra towels will be a lifesaver when camping with your dog.
Camping with Dogs: Next Steps
Ready to hit the road on your next adventure with your pup? Stock up on the right dog camping gear so you and they can safely and comfortably experience the freedom of the great outdoors. And don’t forget to guard your pup against pests. Read more about the best flea and tick prevention here.
Expert input provided by Maria Christina Schultz, CCFT, owner of Maria Christina K9 Training based in central Virginia; and Madi Clark, photographer and adventurer behind @embark.with.ember.
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