• Categories
    • Culture
    • Food
    • Hot Tips
    • Inspiration
    • Itineraries
    • Must-Haves
    • News
    • Our L.A.
    • Planning
    • Unique Stays
  • Home
  • VLOGS
  • Contact
  • Resources
  • Support Our Work!
Travel Matters
  • Planning

Traveling With Dogs To National Parks Vs. National Forests

February 6, 2021 5
woman and two dogs on large rock overlooking forest

If you like to take your dogs along on your outdoor adventures like we do, there are loads of fun options available on America’s public lands. While many people gravitate towards visiting the country’s more than 400 national parks, our national forests are no less beautiful. And both are very conducive to traveling with dogs! But keep in mind, there are different rules between them with regards to allowing pets. Let’s take a look at some of the ins and outs of traveling with dogs to our nation’s parks and forests.

two dogs sitting in a forest.

©Stephen & Andie

What Is The Difference Between National Parks And National Forests?

Some of the differences between national parks and national forests (along with national wildlife refuges, and wild and scenic rivers) is that they are each administered by different federal management agencies, for starters. Also, national parks have more amenities and are more geared toward protecting a variety of resources like historic landmarks and the conservation of the eco-system and wildlife.

a woman and two dogs standing in front of a giant sequoia tree in Sequoia National Forest. traveling with dogs.

©Stephen & Andie

National forests tend to be located near national parks and also tend to be less crowded. Fun fact: forests can also act as a protective buffer zone around parks. While national forests have less amenities, they do allow dogs on the trails. National parks, however, usually restrict dogs to developed areas.

All public lands allow service dogs – as they should! Be sure to check the rules and regulations for whichever specific location you’re considering and choose accordingly. 

How Much Does It Cost To Visit A National Park?

This varies by park, but on average, most national park entry fees cost $25-$30 per vehicle. In some cases the fees are per-person, averaging $10-$15. Check the official sites for more specific info on the park you’ll be visiting to be sure. These are reasonable rates, for visiting just one park in a year. But keep reading if your plans are more ambitious, as there’s something we think you should know about if you don’t already.

a couple and their two dogs standing in Joshua Tree National Park in California. traveling with dogs.

©Andie Mills

Why You Should Buy An America The Beautiful Annual Pass

If you’re considering visiting more than one national park in a year, you should absolutely spend the $80 on one of these passes. 3 park visits and the pass pays for itself. The benefits?

1) Anyone can purchase this interagency annual pass, and they’re honored nationwide at all Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sites charging entrance or standard amenity fees. 

2) They’re valid for twelve months from the month of purchase, expiring the last day of the month punched. 

3) Any two individuals can sign the pass and both are considered pass holders. 

4) Admits pass holder and any accompanying passengers in a private non-commercial vehicle. At any per-person fee sites, admits pass holder and up to three persons.

a family of two adults and two dogs poses atop a boulder in Joshua Tree at sunrise. traveling with dogs.

©Andie Mills

No-brainer! You can purchase an America the Beautiful Pass either online at  USGS or at most national forest or grassland offices. 

We purchased ours at the entrance gate of Joshua Tree National Park in California while traveling with our dogs. Check out our vlog Camping In Joshua Tree With Dogs | SoCal Desert Road Trip!

How Much Does It Cost To Visit National Forests?

In most cases, there is no admission or pass required to visit national forests, but there will likely be a suggested donation or a parking fee. These might vary based on the type of vehicle. Again, check the official sites for more specific info on the national forest you’ll be visiting to be sure.

While we love a good outdoor adventure and fully appreciate all the beauty nature has to offer. But we’re not too proud to admit that we’re more city slickers than anything else. We learn something new with every round of research before a trip. Then we learn from the unexpected lessons during the trips. So, we’d like to share a few tips that we learned along the way that we hope will be helpful in your own planning.

3 Hot Tips For Visiting National Parks, National Forests, Or Public Lands:

Two dogs sit in the red rocks at Horseshoe Bend in Page, Arizona.

©Stephen & Andie

1) Make sure your plans are flexible and always call ahead – if not day-of, then the day before. Nature is unpredictable. You don’t want to drive all the way up into the mountains before you find out there’s a closure due to newly fallen trees, an earthquake, wildfire, or other natural phenomenon. 

2) Keep a version of your directions offline! Do all of your research and mapping before you go. Save an offline version (to your device or printed out) because it will come in handy when you get up into the forest and discover you have no cell service.  Watch when this happened to us in our vlog Dog-Friendly Sequoia National Forest | Easy Day Trip From Los Angeles.

3) Camping. If you plan on spending a night under the stars you have options, thanks to BLM-managed lands. Obviously, there’s the developed campground option, which comes with facilities, which come with fees, understandably. But, if you just need to crash for the night and are ok with roughing it a bit, there are the BLM dispersed campgrounds. A.K.A., free. “These are public lands away from developed recreation facilities. Most of these lands are open to dispersed camping, as long as it does not conflict with other authorized uses or in areas posted ‘closed to camping,’ or in some way adversely affects wildlife species or natural resources.” See BLM.org for specifics, limitations, or restrictions.

To wrap up, while we’ve been doing a lot of advising about trip planning (like a couple of dull sticks in the mud), we’d also like to remind you that visiting national parks, forests, and public lands is supposed to be FUN and relatively carefree! And how can it not be, if you’re traveling with your dogs? So, yes – inform yourself and prepare, but also be sure to leave plenty of room for the unplanned and unexpected. Because after all, isn’t that usually where the real magic of travel lies?

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
5 Comments
Tags:national parksnatureNorth AmericaplanningSequoia National Foresttravel with dogs
Previous Post Dog-Friendly Things To Do In And Around Los Angeles
Next Post9 Romantic Getaways And Experiences To Sweep Your Loved One Off Their Feet

You Might Also Like

Stephen & Andie happy first-time cruisers on Princess Cruise Lines Majestic Princess

First-Time Cruisers Dos and Don’ts

November 10, 2021
two dogs pose in front of the Cabazon Dinosaur T-Rex as their ears blow in the strong winds.

10 Dog-Friendly Hotels In And Around Los Angeles

January 24, 2021
Stephen & Andie cross the street at the famous Abbey Road crossing in London, England

London Walking Tours: Our Favorite Way To See The City

March 22, 2021

5 Comments

  1. How To Plan A Trip: A Guide To Travel Planning says:
    March 26, 2021 at 11:26 pm Reply

    […] as they’re senior dogs and wouldn’t handle a flight well. But we do take them to National Parks and Forests and have learned some valuable tips about each in the process. We’ve also researched the hotels in Los Angeles that cater to dogs […]

  2. Road Trip Essentials For Traveling With Dogs says:
    June 14, 2021 at 9:52 am Reply

    […] if you’re considering visiting some of the many U.S. national parks during your road trip, do check out this article we’ve written about just that, as we’ve got firsthand knowledge on the […]

  3. Why You Should Buy An America The Beautiful Annual Pass says:
    July 23, 2021 at 2:51 pm Reply

    […] National Parks Vs. National Forests: Traveling With Dogs […]

  4. How To Make D.I.Y. Ice Packs: Never Buy An Icepack Again! says:
    December 10, 2021 at 5:35 pm Reply

    […] National Parks Vs. National Forests: Traveling With Dogs […]

  5. U.S. National Lands To Visit On Your Road Trip says:
    December 10, 2021 at 9:17 pm Reply

    […] pet-friendly than National Parks. We have an article for you explaining some of the differences; National Parks vs. National Forests: Traveling With Dogs. So if you’re planning on traveling with your dogs, these alternative National Lands are […]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I accept the Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policy

Get Our Weekly Newsletter

We'll send you all of the inside scoop: where we are, what we're working on, and our latest posts and vlogs!

We're all about sharing the love and knowledge when it comes to travel, but we respect your privacy and we'll never share your info.

This Week’s Vlog
Popular Posts
  • Southwest Airlines Announces Wanna Get Away Plus™
  • A Unique Snorkeling Excursion In The U.S. Virgin Islands
  • ​​​​​​What To Bring (and NOT Bring) On An Alaska Cruise
  • Motown Records: a Must-See For Music Lovers!
  • First-Time Cruisers Dos and Don’ts

Find Us On Instagram!

stephenandandie

TRAVEL, FOOD, CULTURE, CLIMATE
📍 North Carolina
⬇️ YouTube: THANK YOU for getting us to 1,000 subs!

Stephen & Andie | Travel Stuff
⁠What do 80s music, the Caribbean, and our YouTu ⁠What do 80s music, the Caribbean, and our YouTube channel have in common? It's @The80sCruise! 🎶🛳 ⁠
Swipe 👉 for a RAD preview!⁠
⁠
In our 🤘NEW VLOG🤘we take a totally radical voyage on @RoyalCaribbean Mariner of the Seas. ⁠14 concerts – including Stephen getting back to work drumming again! – theme parties & contests, spontaneous musician jams, and the complete 80s transformation of the ship transported us back in time for a whole week of retro fun! ⁠
⁠
🔗 in bio for the video!⁠ ⁠
⁠
1) Most guests had full-on 80s costumes. We didn't, but we did pack a few "essentials," like Andie's classic MTV tee and some cheap neon colored shades.⁠
⁠
2) How fun is this action figure packaging??? I had to hop in to channel teen-me's inner pro wrestling fan. This was one of the many 80s themed photo opps around the ship. ⁠
⁠
3) Speaking of photo opps, Andie's totally rockin' this graffiti corner in the ship's promenade 😍, which was renamed "the 80s Block" for the week! She was like a kid in a candy store and I'm not sure if I've ever seen her have so much fun!⁠
⁠
4) Who rocked harder – me or the ship? Duh – the ship! My gigs were during the first few days, when we had some pretty rough seas. Playing drums while literally rockin' & rollin' was a whole new (and fun!) experience.⁠
⁠
•⁠
⁠
•⁠
⁠
•⁠
⁠
#royalcaribbean #marineroftheseas #OnlyOnThe80sCruise #80scruise #the80scruise #caribbeancruise #80smusic #travelmatters #cruisetravel #cruiselife #drummerlife
We felt like kids again! 🧒⁠ It's been a minut We felt like kids again! 🧒⁠
It's been a minute since our last vlog, but we're back with a BANGER! We're spending a day at sea enjoying all the fun activities on our cruise ship, Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas: from the waterslide to the Flowrider, the Sky Pad to our favorite spot for drinks. ⁠
⁠
→ 🔗 in bio, of course! ←⁠
⁠
This is the first in our Caribbean cruise series with a twist - it's 80s themed! Join us in the coming weeks to go back to the 80s, take a food tour of the cruise ship, and see what we get into in our stops in St. Thomas and St. Maarten. ⁠
⁠
•⁠
•⁠
•⁠
⁠
#RoyalCarribean #MarinerOfTheSeas #CaribbeanCruise #the80sCruise #cruisetravel #cruiselife
it’s National Puppy Day! This is from a couple o it’s National Puppy Day! This is from a couple of years ago, when we took a mini road trip to see the super bloom in Southern California. Unfortunately Luddy (the red dog) doesn’t travel well anymore, so we let them both chill at home when. we go out. But we really miss road trips with the fur-babies!
With you, even Las Vegas can be as romantic as Par With you, even Las Vegas can be as romantic as Paris. 😘
⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠

#TravelMatters #valentinesday2022 #lasvegas #parislasvegas #travelvloggers
🎲 Viva Las VINTAGE Vegas! 🎲⁠ What do the S 🎲 Viva Las VINTAGE Vegas! 🎲⁠
What do the Strip’s oldest hotel, Vegas’ oldest bar, a boneyard of old neon signs, and “old blue eyes,” Frank Sinatra have in common? OUR NEW VLOG, that’s what!⁠
⁠
In our last video we took you for a walk LIVE on the Vegas Strip. Today, we’re exploring Vintage Vegas, with a stay at The Flamingo – the oldest still-operating hotel and casino on The Las Vegas Strip – and visits to Las Vegas’ oldest freestanding bar, a museum dedicated to Sin City’s classic neon signs, and a very special dessert in one of Frank Sinatra’s favorite spots! ⁠
⁠
At the hotel, we give you a taste of The Habitat – complete with a pelican and several flamingos – as well as a tour of our standard room with a fantastic Strip view. From our window we looked down at The Bellagio, Caesar’s Palace, The Forum, The Linq Zipline platform, The Mirage, and even a snow-capped mountain just outside of the city! Then we wander north and off of the Strip to see some of Vegas’ history, ending the day with a fantastic dessert show, with our backsides seated right where The Chairman himself sat on several occasions! ⁠
⁠
Thank you so much to this week’s coffee sponsor: @MagentaOtter Travels! Dara, this buzz is for you! ❤️

→ 🔗 IN BIO for all the action! 

.
.
.
#lasvegas #vegas #travelvlog #lasvegasstrip #vintagevegas #youtubevideo
Ready to roar in 2022. 🐯 Wishing you health, pr Ready to roar in 2022. 🐯
Wishing you health, prosperity, and happiness in the Lunar New Year! 
.
.
.
#yearofthetiger #lunarnewyear #lunarnewyear2022 #chinesenewyear #chinesenewyear2022
What’s better than a day at The Biltmore? One wh What’s better than a day at The Biltmore? One where you get to visit the estate AND see the Van Gogh Alive immersive show! 👨🏼‍🎨⁠
⁠
In this week’s vlog, we spend the day exploring the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. We came for the Van Gogh Alive immersive experience, but first we got to tour the property – including the gardens and greenhouse – and take an audio tour of America’s Largest Home. If you’re looking for things to do and see in Asheville, The Biltmore is an experience you won’t soon forget. ⁠
⁠
Hit that → 🔗 in bio! ←⁠
⁠
✦ PLACES VISITED IN THIS VLOG: ⁠
⁠
@biltmoreestate⁠
⁠
@grande_experiences⁠
⁠
@visitasheville⁠
⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠

#travelvlog #traveltuesday #Biltmore #VanGoghAlive #AshevilleNC
Raise your hand in the comments if you've done gra Raise your hand in the comments if you've done graffiti/street art! 🙋🏻‍♂️🙋🏻‍♀️We had WAY too much fun with spray paint in Atlanta!⁠
⁠

In this week’s video we spend the day exploring the eastern part of Atlanta, where we learn about (and get to try our hands at) graffiti and street art, eat soul food, get the perfect view of Atlanta’s skyline, stroll around Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park – including Ebenezer Baptist Church and MLK’s birth house – and explore Little Five Points, Inman Park, Krog Street Market, and part of the Atlanta Beltline.⁠
⁠
Hit the 🔗 in bio to see our “masterpiece.” 🎨 😜⁠
⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
⁠
#atlanta #travelvlog #littlefivepoints #graffiticlass
What was your funniest moment of 2021? It was such What was your funniest moment of 2021? It was such an unpredictable year, but we had a blast laughing at ourselves and experiencing some amazing “firsts.” They’re all in our latest vlog, along with even more of our favorite bloopers. 

🔗 in bio to check it out!

.
.
.

#TravelTuesday #bestof2021 #2021yearinreview #travelvloggers
Follow on Instagram
©2022 Travel Matters by Stephen & Andie