Many Sacramento-area trips head to Tahoe, the coast or Napa. Whether the dog comes along is a practical call, not a loyalty test.
How to travel safely with a dog
- Use a secured, ventilated crate large enough to stand and turn around, or a harness clipped to a back-seat belt. The ASPCA recommends keeping the head inside the car.
- Keep dogs in the back seat; front airbags can injure them.
- Stop every few hours for a bathroom break and fresh water.
- Feed a light meal several hours before leaving, not right before the drive. The ASPCA suggests three to four hours.
- Carry the rabies record and make sure your dog wears a collar with up-to-date ID and has a registered microchip.
The hot car rule
Never leave a dog alone in a parked vehicle, regardless of duration or weather. The ASPCA says heatstroke can develop quickly even with the windows open. Around Dixon, the nearby Vacaville station averages 97.3 F highs in July, so a parked car is not an option from late spring through early fall.
When to board instead
- You will spend long periods somewhere dogs are not allowed: theme parks, many restaurants, some trails and hotels.
- The drive crosses hot country in summer.
- Your dog gets carsick or panics in the car.
- The trip is a wedding, a funeral or a business week.
- Your dog is old, sore or needs medication on a strict schedule.
What a stay at Happy Paws costs
On the 2026 rates, one dog costs $52 a night in Economy, $59 in Business Class and $72 in First Class. A long weekend of three nights in Business Class is $177. The kennel sits in Dixon, between Sacramento and the Bay Area, so it works as a stop on the way out of either. See Tahoe trips and board or bring your dog for a side-by-side.
A last check before you decide
Tour first, since the facility is open to visitors every day from 9 to 11 AM and 2 to 4 PM. Then compare the cost of bringing a dog (pet fees, a dog-friendly room, constant supervision) with a stay where walks, food and medications are included.