Tips For Camping With Dogs

Last Updated: Wednesday 21 August 2025
Originally Published: Thursday 22 April 2021

One of the biggest advantages of camping holidays is the freedom to bring along your beloved dog. Like any other camping enthusiast, dogs relish the thrill and sense of adventure it brings. Camping can offer pet owners the freedom to share their adventures with their dogs.

It may be tempting to bring along your dog as a travelling companion, but when it comes to camping with pets, it’s always safer to travel prepared. With a focus on comfort and security, travelling and camping with your dog can be thoroughly enjoyable.

We all love travelling and camping with our furry friends. On Bring Your Dog to Work Day, the office is always a little livelier (and a lot furrier). From big, bouncy Labradors to tiny characters with big personalities, our four-legged friends are very much part of the JK family. They pad around the desks, keep spirits high, and happily jump in for cuddles between emails and phone calls.

Each pup has its own quirks – like Holly the Cockapoo, who insists on climbing onto a desk to keep an eye on things, or Maple who is a Vizsla and a regular visitor to JK, she's a rescue dog with three paws and an innate ability to stare right down the camera,  Casper the mongrel (in a nice way) is a great dog. He’s a good boy. He’s just… very excitable.  Whilst Bella is a very chill Miniature Doberman, and a regular companion on camping and road trips. Louie, our newest member of the JK Staff doggy family, is a 14-week-old Cocker Spaniel. He's been into the office a couple of times now and has been an absolute angel, and enjoys being fussed over by everyone as they walk past.

Whether they’re stealing the odd slipper, snoozing under a desk, or wagging at visitors, the dogs add something extra special to everyday life at JK HQ.

Yes! With our simple tips, you can ensure that your travel companion remains safe, comfortable and can enjoy the journey as much as you do.

Campers who travel with their dogs get to combine their passions. Unlike other conventional holidays, like jet-setting abroad, travelling in a campervan is easier on pets. It can seem relatively simple to travel with a dog in your campervan, but there are still key considerations for their comfort and safety.

For newcomers, it’s important to remember that every campsite follows an expected etiquette, especially where facilities may be shared. These rules and regulations are, typically, posted and advised in advance of your stay. Often campsites, especially in peak times, will have a pet fee, which is a nominal amount per night or a small upfront payment.

As travellers with dogs will be responsible for their companions, they should thoroughly read the rules of guidance, which is likely to change between campsites. Some sites may even be pet-free, so it is worth checking before you travel. Giving advance notice to the site where you intend to bring your dog is also best practice, as the site authority may ask you to pitch near other dog owners.

Conventional campsite guidance for dog owners includes:

• Dogs must often be led and not allowed to roam on the site loosely, or unescorted by their owners.
• Dogs must be exercised in designated pet areas or off-site.
• Owners must clean up after pets and ensure the site remains tidy, clean and hygienic for other guests.
• Owners must limit their pets' behaviour so as not to be a nuisance to other guests, including anything that causes a disturbance, like repeated or loud barking.
• Under the Dangerous Dogs Act (1991), certain breeds of dogs may be prohibited.

The specifics of campsite rules will vary between sites, but there will always be etiquette that those travelling with dogs should acknowledge, whether it relates to hygiene or other responsibilities.

Yes, unlike those travelling with pets for leisure, if you rely on a guide dog for health reasons like mobility, then different rules may apply. Guide dogs are typically allowed more freedoms around a campsite because they’re classified as a mobility aid. If you’re travelling with a guide dog, you will be exempt from some of the standard campsite rules for pets, so you can unlock access to more areas around the site and move more freely.

Whilst the temptation is to plan for your dog’s comfort and safety at the campsite, you’ll need to ensure that your campervan is pet-safe for the road. Whilst you can make your camper a safe setting for travels with a dog, you should also be familiar with the legal guidance on driving with pets.

Whilst it is legal to travel with pets, legal guidance under the Highway Code advises that dogs should be fastened at all times and restricted from the front seats.

According to Rule 57 in the Highway Code, travellers should “make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you.”

Ultimately, when travelling with a dog in your campervan, consider using a speciality harness to comfortably and safely keep them fastened. They should also be kept under control and away from open windows to prevent harm or injury. The Highway Code suggests a seat belt, harness, pet carrier, or dog restraint for travel.

The Highway Code is advisable, and breaking its guidance can invalidate your insurance and increase the risk of harm or injury. To ensure your pet’s comfort and safety when using the roads in the UK, comply with these safety guidelines. This will make holidaying with your dog even easier.

Whether you're a newcomer or a veteran, it’s always good to be properly prepared for camping with a dog. And one of the bigger challenges involves sleeping arrangements.

Commonly, campers will wonder about their camping arrangements and if it is truly compatible with their dog’s needs and comfort. Is my tent large enough? Where will my dog sleep in the night? Should they sleep separately? How can I make them comfortable?

Ideally, when you’re camping with a dog, you should focus on their comfort. You can get creative with where your dog sleeps, as long as they have access to a cosy shelter at night. Consider, for example, using a large tent with a separate porch, giving you both space at night. Or, if you’re tight on space, use a separate portable dog tent, referred to as a pup tent. If you are using a pup tent, check the booking rules, as some may require a supplement on top of your nightly fee.

When you’re on the road, it’s tempting to miss home. For your dog, plan to pack and bring along personal items, such as familiar toys and snacks that help them feel settled and comfortable. You should aim to create a familiar setting within your campervan and tent so that your dog can settle at night.

It’s not uncommon for changes in scenery to cause them stress and anxiety. But if you bring along our recommended essentials for camping with dogs, you can help them feel at home, even when you’re travelling.

Try to bring along:

• A collar and lead to keep them reigned in and safe on-site.
• Dog bowls for travel.
• Dogs supplies for toileting.
• Bedding and other sleep supplies.
• Towels for your dog’s hygiene.
• Tents, cages, or a favourite basket.

Many experienced campers have separate gear for travelling with their dogs. Whether mudding through rougher terrains and weather to tenting in the outdoors, you’ll need to ensure your gear is durable and hard-wearing.

From leashes and weather-resistant harnesses for greater durability to upgrades in your camper, you can prepare better for holidaying with your dog by improving your gear. For example, is your dog’s leash durable enough? Tough weather and rougher terrains are common on camping trips, so plan for their safety by ensuring they have the right gear when you need it.

It helps to carry spare supplies in case of emergencies, or for weathering rainy spells. The likes of spare, or fresh bedding, towels, and backup bowls can come especially in handy if you get stuck camping through tough weather.

Planning on a camping adventure with your dog in the near future? Explore Just Kampers’ range of camping essentials today to ensure your gear is upgraded and ready for your next camping adventure.

Camping with your dog can be a delight, as long as you're well-prepared. First up: choose a pet‑friendly pitch and check the rules. Many campsites charge a small pet fee or restrict certain breeds, so read the policies in advance and let the site know you're bringing your furry friend. Most sites require dogs to be leashed, exercised in designated areas, and their waste cleaned up promptly to keep everyone comfortable.

Safety during travel matters too. Whether you’re in a campervan or towing, your dog should be restrained, ideally with a proper harness or carrier, and kept out of the front seat, in line with UK Highway Code advice (Rule 57). At camp, help your dog settle in by recreating familiar comforts: bring their favourite blankets, toys, bedding, and even consider a pup‑tent or small dog crate if space allows. That extra comfort can make unfamiliar surroundings feel more like home. 

Lastly, have the right gear for everyone’s comfort and hygiene. A durable lead, spare towels, a cosy bed, clean bowls, waste bags, and possibly even a small mat or crate pad go a long way. These help your pooch navigate mud, damp nights, and general outdoor rough-and-tumble without bringing it all into your tent or camper. With a little advance attention to pet etiquette, safety, and creature comforts, you’ll both enjoy an adventure that’s more uplifting than stressful.