Traveling with your dog is a blast! In some cases, while you’re on the road, your dog can snuggle up with you when you bed down for the night. But in other cases, your dog won’t be able to sleep in the same bed as you, so a travel dog bed is necessary. Many are out there, but how can you know which is the best for your canine pal?

You can figure that out by taking a look at this list of the top travel dog beds! We gathered the best of the best to share with you, including reviews and pros and cons. We also included a guide to help you figure out what features you should look for. Check it all out here!

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

The 10 Best Travel Dog Beds

1. Chuckit! Travel Pillow Dog Bed — Best Overall

Our pick for the best overall travel dog bed is the Chuckit! Travel Pillow Dog Bed. This is particularly good if you’re going camping or traveling in an RV, but it works equally well for hotel stays and even when you’re at home. The bed comes with a bag to carry it in, so it’s a breeze to pack up and toss in the car. It’s super comfy for dogs of most sizes (giant breeds might not fit well on this one, though). The Chuckit! Travel Pillow isn’t waterproof but it is water resistant. It’s also machine washable and dries quickly when wet.

Most pet parents say that their dogs love it, though a couple of people mentioned that it wasn’t an ideal travel bed for dogs with arthritis or joint issues, as it wasn’t thick enough for them. This also probably won’t work for heavy chewers.

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2. Frisco Self-Warming Pillow Rectangular Pet Bed — Best Value

When you want the best travel dog bed for the money, the Frisco Self-Warming Pillow Rectangular Pet Bed fits the bill. It’s highly affordable and extra comfy for your pup. It also utilizes your dog’s body heat by reflecting it back to keep them nice and warm no matter where they are. That means plenty of warmth without having to deal with plugs or wires! This bed also only weighs a little less than a pound, so it’s easy to pick up and take with you for travel.

Dog owners said that this bed’s self-warming ability was excellent for aging pets with joint pain. Some people found it to be a little too thin, though. There were also puppies that managed to rip and chew through this bed quite quickly, so if your pup tends to be a bit destructive, you may want to look for something else.

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3. Frisco Velvet Bolster Bed With Removable Cover — Premium Choice

The Frisco Velvet Bolster Bed With Removable Cover provides your favorite canine companion with a velvety soft place to lay down during their travels. The shape enables your dog to curl up for naps, while the bolster going all the way around gives them a spot to comfortably rest their head, so there’s less strain on the neck. Best of all is the machine-washable removable cover that makes keeping this bed clean a breeze.

This bed weighs more than many other beds on this list (though it still doesn’t weigh much), so keep that in mind when deciding on a product for your travels. It’s quite pricey too. There were also a few complaints about the center of the bed deflating within a few months.

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4. Best Friends by Sheri Calming Shag Fur Donut Cuddler — Best for Puppies

If you have a puppy not used to traveling, they could get a bit anxious on the road. So, why not invest in this Best Friends by Sheri Calming Shag Fur Donut Cuddler? It’s designed for burrowing, digging, and cuddling so your dog can get their anxiety out. It also claims to provide better sleep for your pet while supporting joints. This donut bed is supposed to be self-warming, so your dog will always be at optimal coziness! This bed comes in four sizes, so it should fit almost any breed, from the tiniest to the largest.

The biggest complaint about this bed is that the shaggy fibers shed all over the place. The next biggest complaint was that some people received beds where the center didn’t have enough padding.

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5. Brindle Plush Orthopedic Pillow Dog Bed

The Brindle Plush Orthopedic Pillow Dog Bed offers your dog tons of comfort. It’s made with memory foam, providing support to those pups with joint pain and arthritic issues by conforming to their bodies. It’s also a fabulous option for dogs without joint problems, as it’s super soft and incredibly comfortable. It comes with a water-resistant removable cover, so if your dog has an accident on it, the bed won’t be ruined. This travel bed is also hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites, so your pet can breathe easier while using it.

There were a couple of complaints of the bed developing mold on the bottom of it, so people advised checking the bottom every time you remove the cover. Also, a few people said that the cover was fragile and didn’t hold up to digging.

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6. Frisco Tent Covered Dog Bed

Are you going camping? Why not get your pup their own tent? The Frisco Tent Covered Dog Bed gives your dog their own little den to hide away in when you’re out and about and comes with a cozy removable pillow for the inside. That pillow is machine washable, so it’s simple to clean. There are only two sizes for this bed, so large and giant breeds are, unfortunately, left out of the tent fun, but it’s a great size for small and medium breeds.

While this tent bed is lightweight, the shape may make it a bit more challenging to put in a well-packed car. Also, many people said that the tent beds that they received were much smaller than pictured, and their pets couldn’t fit in them, so the sizing on these may be off.

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7. Frisco Faux Suede Pillow Dog Bed With Removable Cover

Frisco is known for making good pet products, so seeing the Frisco Faux Suede Pillow Dog Bed With Removable Cover on this list should be no surprise! This bed may be simple, but as it’s made from faux suede, it’s soft and comfy for your dog to lie on. Although it offers plenty of cushioning due to the polyfiber filling, it’s designed to be easier to step onto, so dogs that have trouble with raised sides will have an easier time getting on it. There’s also a removable cover that can be tossed into the wash for simple clean-ups, and when it comes to travel, this bed can be folded in half.

Most dog parents were pleased with how cushiony this bed is (as were their dogs!). The biggest complaint about this bed is that it didn’t hold up as well as it should have when washed. Some people also recommended putting a waterproof cover on the inside, as this bed isn’t water resistant or waterproof, so it can become smelly if there are accidents on it.

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8. K&H Pet Products Original Pet Cot Elevated Pet Bed

The K&H Pet Products Original Pet Cot Elevated Pet Bed, at first glance, might not look like the best dog bed for travel, but you can collapse it when you need to pack it up, and it’s lightweight too. Since it’s elevated, it’s the perfect bed for both indoor and outdoor travel; now your dog doesn’t have to lie on the ground! Even better, this bed is designed to help your dog stay cool when the weather is warm, and it’s made from water-resistant fabric that stands up to accidents and inclement weather.

There were plenty of happy campers when it came to this bed; however, there were a few complaints. It seems that some people had problems with the plastic frame getting broken, while others had an issue with the stitching coming undone on the sides. A handful of people also commented that their beds ended up being saggy in the middle after several months of use.

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9. Frisco Travel Pillow Dog Bed With Reusable Storage Bag

The Frisco Travel Pillow Dog Bed With Reusable Storage Bag comes in large and X-large, so it should fit many breeds (that said, some people with dogs 120 pounds and up said that the X-large was too small). Packing it up for on-the-go is simple, as it comes with a storage bag to cart it around. Polyester microfiber on the outside gives your pup a soft place for naps, while the bottom is made of ripstop nylon to help prevent tears. The cover is machine washable, but unlike some dog beds where the material in the bed shifts around during washing, making it lumpy, this bed is designed to prevent that.

This dog bed is thin, though, so if your pet needs something orthopedic, this definitely isn’t the right product for them. Other than that and the size, some people simply didn’t like the material that this was made of, as they said it resembled that of a sleeping bag.

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10. Petmate Antimicrobial Deluxe Orthopedic Pillow Dog Bed With Removable Cover

Traveling to new places can sometimes mean picking up a few bugs here and there, which is why the Petmate Antimicrobial Deluxe Orthopedic Pillow Dog Bed With Removable Cover is so great. Since it’s antimicrobial, it’s designed to prevent bacteria from thriving in the fibers of the bed. This means not only will the bed be a healthier place for your canine companion to sleep, but it will also be less smelly! Plus, the antimicrobial elements will help prevent mildew and mold. The faux suede material will provide your pet with a comfy spot to lie down, and the cover is machine washable.

Most people and their pups enjoyed this bed, but there were a handful of complaints. Dogs that were heavy chewers easily chewed this bed apart, and a couple of people said that the dimensions were smaller than stated. A few people also didn’t like the fabric, as they said that it was thin.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Travel Dog Beds

Now that you’ve had a chance to review the best travel dog beds, it’s time to learn more about what you should be looking for in one. A good travel dog bed will have several features.

Dog’s Sleeping Position

Before considering any other factors of a travel dog bed, look at how your pet sleeps. The position they snooze in most often can help you decide what travel bed is best for them. If your pup tends to sleep all curled up, they might prefer something like a donut bed. But if they tend to sprawl, they need a bed that’s longer and wider to hold them as they splay every which way!

Size

The size of a travel bed is vital. If you aren’t looking carefully at the dimensions of a dog bed and comparing them to your dog’s length and height, you’re liable to end up with a bed that’s either too small or too large for what your canine companion needs.

Ease of Transport

Since you’ll be traveling with this dog bed, you need to ensure that it’s easy to transport. Some beds on this list can be rolled up and stored for easier transport. Others are collapsible. Then, there are ones that might be able to be folded in half so you can pack them in the car. A few travel dog beds don’t fold, collapse, or roll up, but they’re flat enough that you should be able to slide them into your vehicle.

Dog travel beds should also be lightweight enough that you can pick them up to move them around, so check how much a bed weighs before you purchase it!

Comfort

The whole point of a travel dog bed is keeping your pet comfortable during trips, so you need to find a bed that offers them the comfort that they need. This will look different for each dog. Some pups may have joint pain and need a bed that’s orthopedic to help them stay comfy. Other dogs might prefer something super snuggly and soft. Still other canines might be perfectly at ease with a simple bed that just keeps them off the ground. Certain dogs might be more comfortable with a bed that has a bolster or neck support. You know your pet best, so find a bed that matches their required level of comfort.

Durability

When you buy a travel dog bed, you want it to last a long time. That means checking on how durable it may be. Is the bed made out of durable materials? Will it hold up to heavy chewing and digging, or will your pup that loves to chew things tear it to pieces the second that you bring it home? Be sure to check what the bed is made of to gauge whether it will hold up to your dog’s level of wear and tear.

Water Resistant or Waterproof

Not all dog travel beds will be water resistant or waterproof (and sometimes that might not be a priority). If you’re using this bed mostly outdoors, though, you’ll want something that will hold up in inclement weather. Also, if your dog sometimes has accidents or if you think that they’ll be inclined to use the dog bed as a potty pad, a bed with a water-resistant or -proof cover is a must.

Washability

You’ll be washing your dog’s bed often (particularly if you travel frequently) to eliminate any bacteria or germs that it might’ve picked up while you and your pup were out and about. That means you need a travel dog bed that’s simple to clean. The majority of these beds will have removable covers that can be washed, but you’ll find a few that are spot-clean only, so decide what will be easiest for you.

Price

Obviously, you’ll want a bed that fits into your budget. Dog beds can get a bit pricey sometimes, but quite a few are affordable, so be sure to shop around for the best price. Also, check out how long the bed you’re considering held up for other people, so you know that you’re getting your money’s worth!

Reviews

Reading reviews from other dog parents who have used the product you’re thinking of buying is one of the best ways to ensure that you’re getting a bed that meets your needs. You can find plenty of reviews online, so take a look to find out the good and bad of any travel dog bed you’re thinking about.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve read reviews of the top best travel dog beds, you should have a better idea of what your dog needs for your journey.

But if you simply want the best overall travel dog bed, take a look at the Chuckit! Travel Pillow Dog Bed. This bed is fantastic for outdoor adventures and a breeze to transport.

Do you want the best travel dog bed for the money? Check out the Frisco Self-Warming bed, as it’s super affordable, lightweight, and self-warming, so your pup is always cozy.

Finally, if you’re looking for something a bit more premium for your favorite canine, the Frisco Velvet Round Bolster Dog Bed offers your pet incredible softness and a bolster for their head to help prevent strain to the neck.

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Featured Image Credit: Tienuskin, Shutterstock