The Best Travel Beds for Dogs

Dog beds are indispensable for your favorite canine. They keep your dog warm and help support their joints and bodies, but even more importantly, they're your dog's haven — a place of security for her to nap and relax. Whether your dog is a seasoned traveler or new to going with you on your adventures, a travel-friendly bed is essential to help her feel comfortable. Read on for our favorite dog beds that will help give your dog a sense of place, wherever they are in the world.

Furhaven Pet Dog Bed

The great outdoors

Lightweight, padded, and easy to clean, this bed is the stuff of travel-bed dreams.
Best Overall

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Furhaven’s dog bed is perfect for the on-the-go lifestyle. Consider this a sleeping bag for your dog, with its low profile and ultra-packable design that’s easy to carry or store in the car. The bed has a reversible design and is quilted with high-loft polyester batting to offer enhanced padding to your pet. The material is lightweight and smooth, so it’s particularly ideal for the outdoors, as you can easily brush off any twigs, leaves, and dirt. The bed is incredibly easy to clean, as well: you can simply toss it into the washing machine and tumble dry it on low, though we suggest letting it hang dry to prolong the bed’s longevity. We love this bed for everything from afternoons at the park to longer camping trips.

Pros:

  • Extremely packable; comes with a stuff sack
  • Ideal for camping and outdoor use
  • Lightweight and easy to set up

Cons:

  • Your dog may prefer more cushioning

Coolaroo Elevated Pet Bed

Keep your cool

This bed is designed to maximize airflow and help your pet from feeling overheated.
Best Elevated

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Sometimes making sure your dog is cozy isn’t about keeping her warm, but rather, helping her stay cool. Coolaroo’s elevated bed was designed to do just that. It features an off-the-ground design that maximizes airflow from all sides. The fabric is made of high-density, recyclable polyethylene fabric that’s incredibly breathable. The steel frame features rounded, tapered legs that secure the fabric, which helps provide ample support. We love that the simple, almost bare-bones design helps reduce the chance of mold and mildew developing. Washing this bed is also as easy as it gets: you simply hose it down and let it air dry.

Pros:

  • Powder-coated steel frame is ideal for outdoor environments
  • Great for hotter climates
  • Comes in different colors

Cons:

  • Takes more time to assemble and set up

Bedsure Dog Bed

Going the distance

Featuring high-quality memory foam, this bed will make your dog feel like she's floating on cloud nine.
Best Orthopedic

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Your dog will revel in the superior comfort of this bed, which features high-density egg-crate foam to mold to your pet’s body. The bed helps relieve joint pain and provide support, which is especially great for older pets who need a soothing place to rest their paws. You get the best of both worlds too, with a reversible design that has a sherpa side for cooler temperatures and an Oxford on the flip side for warmer seasons. The bed has a zippered cover that fits snugly over the mattress and is removable anytime you want to clean it, and the cover is machine-washable, too. While this bed isn’t ideal to pack for plane rides, it’s a great option to throw into the car if your dog needs the extra support.

Pros:

  • Sturdy and very durable
  • Zipper goes along two edges, making it easier to slip the foam into the cover
  • Ideal for older dogs, more active dogs who are working their joints, and large dogs

Cons:

  • Not very packable

Barkbox Dog Bed

Tucked in

If your dog is the type who likes feeling cozy and sheltered, this is the bed for her.
Best With High Edges

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Dog beds come in all shapes and sizes, and while it ultimately comes down to your dog’s preferences, it’s hard to go wrong with this bed from Barkbox. The raised edges are one of our favorite features, as they provide an enclosed, cozy feel for your pet. The bed features therapeutic gel memory foam that can help relieve aches, joint pain, and arthritis. The foam is also temperature-regulated to help your dog stay comfortable year-round. The fabric cover is water-repellent and machine-washable, so it’s easy to clean up after any accidents. If your dog isn’t used to traveling, this bed may help her feel more at ease and help her acclimate.

Pros:

  • Comes in different colors
  • Lots of cushioning and support
  • Especially ideal for small dogs and puppies

Cons:

  • Not very lightweight or packable

PetSafe Dog Bed Seat Cover

On the road

A car-seat dog bed is just the thing to ensure your pup is comfortable during long road trips.
Best Car Seat

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We love road trips, but long drives can be a bit of an ordeal for pets and owners alike. Enter PetSafe’s dog bed, which is designed as a two-in-one bed and seat cover. The adjustable headrest strap allows you to install the bed into the seat, and the seat anchor and lower strap allow you to secure the bed in place. Made with micro-suede fabric and faux sheepskin, the bed feels plush and soft, and it’s machine-washable, too. Your dog will feel secure and comfortable for the ride, and the bed can be transported in a pinch to your hotel room, sleeping bag, or wherever you’re staying.

Pros:

  • Easy to set up
  • Doubles as protection to help your car seat from getting scratched or dirty from your dog
  • Ideal for dogs on long car rides

Cons:

  • Material isn’t very cooling or ideal for warmer climates

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I clean the memory foam mattress in my dog’s bed?

Check your manufacturer’s instructions first, but we do recommend washing the mattress if possible, as this helps get rid of dirt and prevent any unwanted odors. Fill your bathtub with warm water and add a scoop of laundry detergent to the water. Use your hands to work the soapy water into the foam and drain the soapy water. Fill the tub with just water, and rinse the foam bed out. It may take several times to get the soap out, but keep squeezing it out. Dry the mattress in the sun, spray it down to remove any other odors, and place it back in the cover.

Any tips for using dog beds?

Your dog may need time to adjust to a travel bed, so we recommend familiarizing your dog with the travel bed before any trips. Leave the travel bed out in the open where she can see it and smell it, put her toys in it, or take short trips in the car with the bed. Practice makes perfect in this case.

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