The 9 Best Cars For Traveling With Dogs—and Spoil Your Fur Babies
Some cars are better for traveling with a dog than others. Using my two pups as test subjects, here are 9 I'd recommend.
As a journalist, my life is lived on the move. Whether I’m navigating city traffic for a TV segment or scouting a new destination for my readers, the car is my primary office. But I rarely travel alone; meet Molly and Riley, my two regular travel companions.
These two are seasoned pros when it comes to life on the road, and they join me on nearly every assignment. Their presence means that every vehicle I test has a higher bar to clear: it must be as comfortable and safe for them as it is for me.
Through our miles together, I’ve learned that not all cars are created equal when it comes to traveling with a dog. From cargo space to safety tech, Molly and Riley have taught me exactly what separates a ‘pet-friendly’ car from a truly great vehicle for traveling with a dog.
This story is 100% human researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
Let’s Talk About Traveling With a Dog Safely
When traveling with a dog, your vehicle should be a safe haven. Molly weighs just 3.5 pounds and Riley weighs six pounds. Because they’re small, both travel in specialized car seats that tether to their harnesses, preventing them from wandering and distracting me. Whether you use a seat, a crash-tested harness, or a crate, securing your pet is the most important step for everyone’s safety. It also helps them feel more secure and safe, which keeps their anxiety down (and therefore quieter).
Things to keep in mind when traveling with a dog:
- Avoid loud music, so your dogs are kept calm. A dog’s ears are very sensitive, and if they’re on the anxious side, loud music can amplify that.
- Ensure air vents reach your pet’s area; many modern cars have AC vents for rear passengers, which is essential for preventing overheating. It also helps keep them warm in the winter.
- For longer trips, be sure to plan for regular breaks so your pup can hydrate, eat, and stretch their legs. And, of course, to relieve themselves.
Here’s what to keep in the car with you to make traveling easier:
- Hydration. A collapsible dish is good to keep in the car so you don’t have to worry about forgetting it.
- Favorite toys to keep them at ease. Especially if they’re a little anxious.
- Don’t forget snacks and treats—dogs get peckish during road trips, too.
- Puppy pads, cleaning supplies, and hand sanitizer for any accidents.
- A leash for potty breaks with a collar or harness.
My First (and Personal) Choice for Traveling with a Dog: Jeep Wrangler 4-Door
When shopping for a car you want to use for traveling with dogs regularly, it’s important to keep loading and unloading at the forefront. Sedans can work, but their entry point is lower, so lifting a dog to load and unload it can be hard. That’s why I always recommend minivans or SUVs, because they have a better “hip point,” meaning the entry point is closer to your hip, so it’s easier to load and unload a dog—no matter their size. It also makes loading and unloading their cargo easier, too.
That’s why my first recommendation is the four-door Jeep Wrangler—which is also my favorite for daily drives. This is my own vehicle and the girls’ favorite. The car seats fit nicely in the back seat so they can see out the windows, and there is plenty of room for all the goodies I need to take for them. I like the mesh netting on the doors to store their water bottles in and the seat is long enough for their travel bag. I also like the room on the floor for their kennel and cushion.
Fur Baby Chic: Volvo XC40 or XC60 are Luxurious, Safe, and Dog-Friendly
Engineering a roof around the weight of a moose means two things: first, that the brand is safety-focused, and second, that they care about critters. The interiors of both the Volvo XC40 and the XC60 are delightful and tech-forward, but they’re also dog-friendly. The seats are made of easy-to-clean materials, and they come with the company’s new rear-seat-focused radar system that will alarm you if there’s weight on the rear seats, so you’ll never forget they’re there.
Both have A/C vents in the rear and have decent legroom for the pups’ goodies, a very manageable entry point for the rear seats and trunk and, of course, an excellent safety rating.
You Can Never Go Wrong With a Minivan Like the Chrysler Pacifica
I am not a minivan gal, but the captain’s seats in the Chrysler Pacifica are perfect for any type of car seat. With captain’s chairs, Riley couldn’t play escape artist and jump to the middle of the seat as she does in cars with a center row bench seat.
As a larger vehicle with sliding doors, the girls couldn’t see out the windows as easily, but the convenience of the cargo area of the minivan for bringing along a lot of gear certainly makes it worth a look when heading out for a long journey or a big job.
There’s a Reason the Subaru Outback is a Common Dog Hauler
An obvious choice is the Subaru Outback. Subaru has made a point of appealing to pet parents through assisting pet shelters with adoption efforts and ensuring that there’s plenty of space to keep pets comfortable. The rear seats are ideal for doggy car seats, and there is plenty of room on the floor for their things. It also has air vents and the option of a sunroof, something Molly doesn’t really care much but Riley really likes.
If you opt for the Onyx or Wilderness models, you can even get the company’s StarTex upholstery, which makes them waterproof without being uncomfortable. A must for those extra drooly pups.
More Room For Siblings: Honda Pilot
If you find you’re bringing along a friend or family member who also has a dog, you might want to go with a 3-row SUV like the Honda Pilot so there’s plenty of room for everyone. If all the dogs are relatively small, their car seats can fit across the center bench. If you need an additional seat, the 3rd row is handy, or put the 3rd row down so there’s room for a crate or a car seat and tether that can be attached to the tether anchors on the seat backs of the center row seats.
Even a Small SUV Is a Great Fit: The Mazda CX-5
If you want something a little more compact with an open entry and a great entry point, the Mazda CX-5 is a great option. The ground clearance is moderate, the windows are large enough for your dog to enjoy the view and the passenger space in the rear would make loading, unloading, and securing dogs easy. The trunk space is respectable, too.
As a bonus, it’s a pretty car to look at and it’s fun to drive—especially if you pay a little more for the turbocharged versions (either the Turbo Premium Plus or Carbon Edition). Since a remodeled version is coming soon, you can probably snag a 2025 model for a great price.
Captains’ Chairs Make My Pups Feel Special: GMC Acadia
One of the best SUVs the girls and I have traveled in was the GMC Acadia. It was extremely spacious and comfortable, and the armrests on the captain’s chairs gave them a little more ability to prop their paws so they could see around them. Even though this is a 3-row SUV, it doesn’t feel huge; it’s nice to have the extra space, but not the oversized feel on the road.
A Four-Door Truck is Great For Traveling With Your Pup: Toyota Tundra
A pickup truck is a favorite for a lot of reasons, and traveling with a dog is one of them, though I would suggest a 4-door version. The full-size truck with a crew cab, such as a Toyota Tundra, has a huge rear seat for your pups and space for all of their stuff. For medium or large dogs, getting in and out on their own can be a challenge, but opting for running boards can help.
Mid-size trucks such as the Chevy Colorado or Toyota Tacoma can be great options too, though the back seats are smaller.
But which is the best car for traveling with your dog, or dogs? It’s really up to you, your dog and your other travel partners. The great news is that no matter which car you like best, it’s probably great for your dog, too.
This Luxury EV is Literally Designed for Traveling With a Dog: Rivian R1
EV drivers will love the larger rear seat and lack of loud noises and the physical vibrations from a gas engine that can sometimes rattle your pup. But EVs go one better: Many have app settings that allow you to pre-condition the cabin and keep the A/C running even when the car is off and you’re away, say, in the store getting more dog treats, is a marvel.
The Rivian R1T pickup truck and the R1S SUV have a Pet Mode setting on the multimedia system that does just that, and even better, it displays a message that lets passers by know that the pet is safe thanks to the active climate control. Its just one of the thoughtful things we love about the Rivian R1 for traveling with a dog; the most recent model the Gen 2, also has an interior camera that you can use to check on your dog while he’s in the car without you, and will let you know if there’s excessive activity in the car, too. Not to mention how cozy and comfy he’ll feel nestled into the plaid carpets or on the heated rear seats.
But which is the best car for traveling with your dog, or dogs? It’s really up to you, your dog and your other travel partners. The great news is that no matter which car you like best, it’s probably great for your dog, too.
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