What should I pack for a camping trip with my dog?

Water and their food, a leash and ID tag, their bed or sleeping mat, a favorite toy, paw protection for hot or frozen ground, and a first-aid kit with a tick remover. If your dog carries a pack, they can haul their own share.

Where should my dog sleep when camping?

In the tent with you, on their own bed. A mat or dog sleeping bag with a waterproof bottom keeps ground moisture out and gives them a spot that's clearly theirs — which settles most dogs fast after a big day.

Do campgrounds allow dogs?

Many do, some don't, and plenty have leash rules or trail restrictions. Check the campground's website or call before you drive out — it's the cheapest tip on the list and it saves the whole weekend.

Gear & Trail

Camping With Your Dog: 8 Tips Before You Go

AlphaPak · Reviewed by our veterinary and formulation team · Updated August 26, 2026

Check the campground's dog rules before you drive out. Pack more water than you think you need. Keep your dog leashed around wildlife and neighbors. Protect their paws from hot ground and snow. Bring their own bed and a favorite toy. And pack a first-aid kit that covers dogs too.

What should you know before camping with your dog?

Our roots are in this exact trip — these tips come from years of nights out with our friends at Camping With Dogs. Eight things to square away before you load the car.

1. Check the rules before you drive

Some campgrounds welcome dogs, some don't, and many have leash rules or dog-free trails. A two-minute check of the campground's site — or a phone call — beats finding out at the gate.

2. Pack more water than you think

You and your dog both need it, and safe water isn't guaranteed out there. Don't let them drink standing water or salt water. Bring plenty, and bring a way for them to drink it on the move.

3. Keep your dog leashed

Wildlife, plants you'd rather they not taste, and neighbors who didn't come camping to meet your dog — a leash handles all three. Even a solid off-leash dog benefits from staying close in new country.

4. Protect their paws

Summer ground gets hot enough to burn pads; snow balls up between toes. Booties handle the heat and the cold, and a paw wax handles the snow. Check pads at every long break.

5. Give them a spot in the tent

A tent with two vestibules is a luxury; gear in one, dog bed by the other. However you arrange it, give your dog a bed that's clearly theirs — a mat or sleeping bag with a waterproof bottom keeps the ground's cold and damp on the outside.

6. Don't let rain end the trip

A rainy afternoon in a dry tent with a rope toy is still a good afternoon. Play tug, snuggle, wait it out, and take the breaks in the weather for short walks.

7. Bring a toy from home

New places are exciting and a little much. A familiar toy is a piece of home that fits in a saddlebag, and it settles a keyed-up dog faster than you'd expect.

8. Pack first aid for both of you

A human kit covers most of it. Add a tick remover, something to clean a wound, and paw wax. Liquid bandage earns its space. If your dog is new to all this, start with day hikes first — camping is just a hike that doesn't end at the car.

Common questions

What should I pack for a camping trip with my dog?: Water and their food, a leash and ID tag, their bed or sleeping mat, a favorite toy, paw protection for hot or frozen ground, and a first-aid kit with a tick remover. If your dog carries a pack, they can haul their own share.
Where should my dog sleep when camping?: In the tent with you, on their own bed. A mat or dog sleeping bag with a waterproof bottom keeps ground moisture out and gives them a spot that's clearly theirs — which settles most dogs fast after a big day.
Do campgrounds allow dogs?: Many do, some don't, and plenty have leash rules or trail restrictions. Check the campground's website or call before you drive out — it's the cheapest tip on the list and it saves the whole weekend.

Dog sleeping bags & camping mats How to start hiking with your dog

AlphaPak is a food, not a medicine. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Statements about nutrition describe the role of whole-food ingredients in supporting normal health and are not a substitute for veterinary care. Individual results vary.