The Best Travel Beds For Dogs

Taking our furry friends with us on our travels is one of the best things about being a pet owner. But even if Fido is having a great time adventuring alongside you, he'll still want a place to call his own at the end of the day. A portable travel bed is a great way to give him that sense of comfort without overburdening your trunk or backseat. These dog beds are as compact as they are durable, so you can easily pack them away after your trip without having to worry about water or dirt damage. Below, we've rounded up our favorite travel beds for dogs to help your pooch hit the sack in more places.

What to Look For

Taking comfort, compactness, and durability into consideration, we vetted the top dogs on our list to make sure your pup has a proper power nap anywhere. So, for example, if you’re looking for a thinner mat that packs light and is easy to clean on the go, then we recommend the travel dog bed by Furhaven. On the other hand, though, if you want a bed that will provide more cozy coverage at the cost of extra storage, consider the elevated canopy bed by Superjare. Check out the rest of our mutt mats below.

Cheerhunting Travel Dog Bed

Keep the wet out and the pet in

This travel dog bed is waterproof, making it easy to clean and easy to use in unpredictable outdoor conditions.
Best Overall

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Any dog owner will confirm that when the ground outside is wet, your dog will be as well. Unfortunately, this can make longer trips more difficult when it comes to giving your dog a clean place to sleep. But here’s where this dog bed by Cheerhunting can help. This packable bed is as comfy as it is waterproof. The Oxford cloth stays dry in wet weather conditions and is easy to wipe afterward.

Pros:

  • Dogs seem to have a nose for messes, both inside and outside the house. Fortunately, this mat is just as functional inside your pup’s crate as it is out on your porch.
  • The bed rolls up into a compact carrying bag that’s easy to attach to the rest of your camping gear for longer journeys together.

Cons:

  • This mat is not recommended for heavy chewers.

Furhaven Travel Dog Bed

Comfort you can carry

Make sure your pup always has a place to rest, even if you're on a lightweight backpacking trip.
Runner Up

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While we want our fur babies to be comfortable, giving them the same luxury when we’re on vacation can be tough. This is especially the case when you’re limited on space or weight. Fortunately, there’s a dog mat out there that is designed for portability and easy storage. The Furhaven travel bed easily rolls right up into a separate stuff sack that you can attach to your backpack. As a bonus, the compact material is gentle on Fido’s nose and paws while he slumbers.

Pros:

  • The mat is easy to wipe clean when you’re on the go. And when you get back home, you can throw it in the wash on a gentle cycle.
  • Perfect for dogs that overheat easily, this portable bed is as cool as it is soft, which makes it the perfect snuggling companion for a sweaty pup.

Cons:

  • Because of the compactness of the mat, it’s not as thick as other portable dog beds.

YEP HHO Elevated Travel Dog Bed

High and dry

Perfect for use in hot weather, this mesh travel bed lifts your pooch off the ground to cool them down.
Best Elevated Bed

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Unlike humans, dogs can’t cool down by sweating, which is why they pant instead. But this may not always be enough to get their body temperature down. Fortunately, you don’t have to move to a colder climate just to keep your pup safe. Using an elevated mesh bed like this one by YEP HHO is a great way to keep them comfortable and cool. And because your puppy can get hot anywhere, this bed folds for easy transport.

Pros:

  • With a durable steel frame and non-skid rubber feet, this bed lets sleeping dogs lie and jumping dogs jump, without sliding across the floor.
  • The elevated height of this bed doesn’t just keep Fido cool, it also helps keep him dirt and dust-free in different places.

Cons:

  • You’ll have to keep your eye on the corner screws of the bed as they can become loose with prolonged use.

Outrav Camping Travel Dog Bed

More coziness for less cost

Keep your dog warm on cold nights with this super affordable travel bed that also functions as a sleeping bag.
Best For Cold Weather

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Dogs may have fur, but they get just as chilly as their owners. That’s why it’s so important to equip your pet with the right gear when spending cold nights outside. We love this travel bed by Outrav because it has an attached sleeping bag sleeve to keep your dog’s body heat in while he slumbers. The insulating material on the bottom and sides keeps pets warm on cold surfaces and prevents windchill from sneaking in. Plus, you can get this one-size-fits-most bed for a super low cost.

Pros:

  • Even if your pupper is sleeping inside your tent with you, the ground can still be wet. Thankfully, this mat is water-resistant enough to keep them dry while snoozing all night long.
  • The double zippers on the travel mat work with your dog’s sleeping position, whether they’re a curler or a superman.

Cons:

  • The bed doesn’t have traction so it can slide on surfaces if entered too quickly.

Superjare XLarge Travel Dog Bed

Shade them while they sleep

The detachable canopy on this elevated dog bed helps cool your dog down while preventing sunburn.
Best With Canopy

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Our best friends want to be around us all the time. But while we can handle hot days by sipping on a cold beverage, our dogs need a bit more protection. Keep them cool and out of the sun on all your adventures by using an elevated bed with a detachable roof canopy like this option by Superjare. Make your dog feel like a king or a queen with their very own covered home, be it in your backyard or at your camping site.

Pros:

  • Thanks to clear instructions and labeled parts, assembly is a breeze. You can get both the bed and canopy up and down at a moment’s notice on your trip.
  • The included snap hooks help to secure the canopy above the bed, even on super windy days.

Cons:

  • This bed comes with a higher price tag.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my dog sleep on his travel bed some days but not others?

One of the reasons your pooch may choose the floor over his bed is due to his temperature. Dogs don’t like to be too hot, so if the bed is making them overheat, they’ll often choose the cooler floor beside it.

How often should I wash my portable dog mat?

That depends largely on how often you use it. If your dog regularly lays on the bed in your backyard, then washing the mat once a week will help keep dirt and toxins off your pup. On the other hand, if you only use the bed on weekend getaways, then you can just wash the bed when it gets too smelly or dirty from repeated use.

About the Author

When Sasha isn’t writing or happily lost in an art museum, you’ll find her walking her Beagle through a London park. Whether it’s finding the right dog food or figuring out what toothpaste to buy, Sasha has you covered. Sasha’s specialty is researching new products and finding the best ones, and she has done all the leg work so you don’t have to.

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