Many of us camp with our dogs, but how many take road trips with Fido in tow? Turns out, many Coloradans do. The reality is that 27.1 percent of Colorado households own a dog, and while I couldn’t find stats on how many of those dogs travel, many hotels in our state are dog friendly, even the really fancy ones. (PawlicyAdvisor.com)

The Hotel Dog

Courtesy photo – Heidi with her traveling dog Fritzi at Loyal Duke’s Dog Park in Salida, Colo.

There are some things to consider when staying at a hotel or motel with a dog. We frequently travel with Fritzi, our 62 pound German Shepherd. Most properties have a nightly pet fee and it can range anywhere from $25 to upwards of $100, depending on the property.

In our experience, most Colorado hotels along the Front Range and in the popular mountain towns will make you sign a fairly complex disclaimer that, among other things, reads that you will not leave your dog in the room alone. That is significant during the hot summer months when there is no way a dog can stay in the car. Lucky for us, a lot of Colorado breweries and patios are dog-friendly.

We always bring Fritzi’s crate because it is her happy place, and we always bring extra blankets to cover bedspreads and any furniture that may be in the room. Every dog owner knows that many of us try to keep our dogs off the furniture and fail.

We also pack the travel food and water bowl, treats, dog bags and her halter and leash. We have a large tote that holds all dog travel stuff so we can just add her food to it (packed in sandwich bags) and grab it and go. It also is home to a couple of her favorite toys and chews that she gets on trips only.

Fritzi has been riding elevators since she was 14 weeks old, so she’s not bothered by the feeling at all, but many dogs do not like elevators. Indeed, some won’t even step inside an elevator. If you’d rather not teach an old dog new tricks, ask for a dog-friendly room near the stairs to a door or a first floor room.

Usually, dog-friendly hotels have a dog-friendly area. Occasionally we’ve even stayed at a hotel next to a dog park, like The Eddy in Golden, Colorado. This is a luxury, but most do have some sort of lawn area in which to walk Fido in the wee hours of the morning.

The Importance of Dog Parks

We took Fritzi on a long road trip to Arizona shortly after we got her. She wasn’t even a year old yet, and we measured the distance by the time we spent on the road between dog parks. We found them in places like Gallup, New Mexico, Surprise Lake in North Phoenix, Arizona, and Moab, Utah.

She is now three, and dog parks still play a role in travel. After all, a tired dog is a good dog and dog parks make for tired dogs. We love the Hendrick Dog Park in Carbondale, Colorado, and Loyal Duke’s Dog Park in Salida.

While there’s not a dog park, there is a nice walking trail at the rest area in Edwards, Colorado. It winds along the river and makes an excellent stopping point for driving I70 across the state. By the way, there is a huge unfenced dog park in Eagle, Colorado with amazing views.

Hikes and Walks

While I’ve mentioned the Edwards rest area trail, a long walk is often important during a road trip. We’ve found that an actual hike, like the China Wall Trail in Meeker, will truly put Fritzi into sleep mode, which is perfect for brewery stops.

We have walked around a lot of parks including the riverside park in Idaho Springs. She also enjoys the easy trail at Georgetown Lake in Georgetown, Colorado. In fact, this is fun in the winter when the lake is thickly iced.

The Acceptance of Dogs in Colorado

Generally, with some exceptions, Colorado is a dog-friendly state. Entire downtowns are great for dogs including Grand Junction where many stores let well-behaved dogs inside and leave full water bowls outside their storefronts. While in Grand Junction, we stayed at Hotel Maverick which has a lovely area for walking dogs around the property.

It is important to be a good dog owner; keeping your dog on leash at all times, making sure your dog behaves in public, and always picking up after your dog.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but with kennels along Colorado’s Front Range full this summer, if you haven’t already booked dog boarding for your pup, there’s a good chance you’re out of luck.

The fact is, if your planned trip is by car this summer, Fido may have to come along. Keep this article top of mind and a trip with Fido just may become a regular occurrence. After all, Fritzi is a lot of fun to have around as we explore Colorado and beyond.

Heidi is the author of HeidiTown.com, a blog about festivals and small towns in Colorado and beyond. Her dog, Fritzi, often comes along on road trips and is a regular feature on the blog.