--- title: Road Trips With a Dog: Bring or Board? | Happy Paws url: https://happypawskennels.com/guides/road-trips-with-dogs/ business: Happy Paws Kennels address: 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 phone: 707-678-6600 hours: drop-off and pick-up every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2:00-5:00 PM type: Dog and cat boarding kennel on about 10 country acres; caring for pets in Dixon since 1971 rates: 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026 (dogs from $52 a night, cats $35 a night) --- - [Home](https://happypawskennels.com/) - [Guides](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/) - Road trips with a dog # Road trips with a dog: when to bring them, when to board Bring your dog when the trip is dog-friendly and your dog rides well; board when you will be somewhere your dog cannot go, leave the car unattended, or drive through heat. A dog should never be left alone in a parked car, and a dog that comes should ride in a crate or harness in the back seat. [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin)[Call 707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) 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](https://happypawskennels.com/occasions/lake-tahoe-trips/) and [board or bring your dog](https://happypawskennels.com/compare/boarding-vs-taking-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. ### Sources (checked October 19, 2026) - [ASPCA, road trip tips for you and your pet](https://www.aspca.org/news/road-trip-tips-you-and-your-pet) - [American Kennel Club, keep your dog comfortable during car rides](https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/travel/dog-comfortable-car-rides/) - [Happy Paws Kennels 2026 rate sheet (PDF)](https://happypawskennels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2026-Rates-EFFECTIVE-1-1-26.pdf) ### 2026 nightly rates - First Class kennel $72 - Business Class kennel $59 - Economy Class kennel $52 - Cat condo $35 All-inclusive: food, medications and walks. 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026. [All 2026 rates](https://happypawskennels.com/rates/) ### Visit or call 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) | Drop-off and pick-up, every day | 7:30 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM | | --- | --- | | Tours, every day (no appointment) | 9:00 to 11:00 AM and 2:00 to 4:00 PM | [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin) ### Related - [Board or bring your dog on the trip?](https://happypawskennels.com/compare/boarding-vs-taking-your-dog/) - [Heading to Tahoe? Board in Dixon on I-80](https://happypawskennels.com/occasions/lake-tahoe-trips/) - [Summer vacation boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/occasions/summer-vacation/) - [Flying with a dog vs boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/flying-with-a-dog/) - [Hours and holiday closures](https://happypawskennels.com/hours/) - [Stay cost estimator](https://happypawskennels.com/tools/stay-cost-estimator/) ## Read next - [Flying with a dog vs boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/flying-with-a-dog/) - [Switching dog food safely](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/switching-dog-food/) - [How much to feed a dog](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/how-much-to-feed-a-dog/) - [Slow feeder bowls](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/slow-feeder-bowls/) - [Why we ask you to remove metal pinch (prong) collars](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/prong-collars-and-kennels/) - [Kuranda beds](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/kuranda-dog-beds/) - [How often should you bathe a dog?](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/how-often-to-bathe-a-dog/) - [Deshedding double coats](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/deshedding-double-coats/) Answers ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) (every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2-5 PM) or see the [boarding FAQ](https://happypawskennels.com/faq/). ### Is it safe to leave a dog in the car for a few minutes? No. The ASPCA and AKC both advise never leaving a dog alone in a parked car. ### How often should I stop on a road trip? Every few hours, for a bathroom break and water, according to the AKC. ### Can I board my dog on the way out of town? Yes. Drop-off windows are 7:30 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM every day, except holiday closures.