Dog friendly road trip: LA to Glacier national park with our dogs
LA to Zion National Park, Yellow stone National Park, Glacier National park, Arches national park, Capitol reef and Bryce Canyon
What do you do when you’re dog-obsessed, love being outdoors, and can’t get enough of exploring national parks—especially when it’s your dog’s birthday? If you’re me, you plan a road trip.
To celebrate Rossi turning five, my husband and I set out with a goal of visiting five national parks, with Glacier National Park as our main destination starting in Los Angeles, CA. Along the way, the adventure grew—and we actually visited six: Zion, Yellowstone, Arches, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and finally Glacier. My husband took two weeks off work so we could make it all happen, which meant some long driving days to get to each destination.
The result? An unforgettable adventure filled with memories, starry nights, and more breathtaking views than we could count. While many national parks aren’t known for being especially dog-friendly, I can promise you there was still plenty to do together—hikes, scenic spots, and special moments that made bringing the dogs absolutely worth it.
To keep this post focused and less of a novel, I’m breaking each National Park trip into it’s own blog post (links below), so if you’re looking just to read about the Yellowstone National Park with your dog you can skip right to it!
If you’re looking to plan out your trip and connect other national parks I hope this encompassing post helps get your planning mind going.
Trip Itinerary – Los Angeles, CA – Zion National Park – Yellowstone National Park – Glacier National Park – Arches National Park – Capitol Reef National Park – Bryce Canyon – Los Angeles, CA
Our dogs ride in crash tested Sleepypod carriers or Gunner Kennels. If you’re interested in making sure your pets are safe in the car don’t skip reading our blog post here.
Zion National Park
If you’re looking to go hiking with your dog than Zion isn’t the place, there is only one dog friendly walking path. You can drive through the park with your dog and stop at the overlooks and pull outs but in the summer months a large portion of the park is only accessible via shuttle which dogs are not allowed on.
Yellowstone National Park
While Glacier NP was the main goal of this trip, Yellowstone was the one that stole my heart. Like many national parks there wasn’t much dog friendly hiking but there is so much to see while driving and exploring with your dog – from so much wildlife, nature wonders and landscapes. I absolutely can’t wait to go back here.
Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is stunning, but when it comes to dogs, it’s not the most welcoming. Like most national parks, pups are only allowed in developed areas such as campgrounds, parking lots, and along roads. That means no backcountry trails or lakeside hikes together. Still, with a little planning, we found ways for Rossi to enjoy the scenery—taking in the views from overlooks, exploring the campgrounds, and joining us for plenty of photo-worthy moments.
Arches National Park
Arches National Park is breathtaking, but it’s also one of the trickier ones with dogs. Like most national parks, dogs are limited to campgrounds, parking lots, and roads, so hiking the iconic trails with them isn’t an option. On top of that, Arches gets busy and hot —the crowds were intense during our visit, and combined with the desert heat, it was a bit overwhelming (for both me and the dogs). We stuck to an evening drive where we could still soak in the red rock views without overdoing it and skipped going back the next day.
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef a last minute addition and was one of the quieter stops on our trip, which was a welcome change after some of the busier parks. And honestly one of my favorite parks – we still talk about this park months later. Like the others, dogs are limited to campgrounds, parking areas, and a few paved spots, so trail access is pretty restricted. But, there are actually quite a few dog friendly hikes just outside the park itself. That said, the scenery is so unique—with its colorful cliffs and orchards— that we still found plenty to enjoy together. It felt less hectic, and we were able to slow down, explore at dog’s pace, and take in the views without the big crowds. I unexpectedly loved the town around Capitol Reef making this such an incredible stop.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon was a fun mix of adventure for both us and the dogs. While dogs are limited to paved areas like viewpoints and the shared-use trail, we balanced it out by booking a dog-friendly hotel so Rossi could relax in comfort. One highlight was taking a quad trip without the dogs—giving us a chance to explore some of the more rugged terrain while knowing they were safe and cozy back at the hotel. Between the famous hoodoos, stunning overlooks, and plenty of dog-friendly spots in town, Bryce ended up being one of the easier parks to enjoy with (and without) the pups. But one thing to note is how touristy this town was – I had no idea, and it’s definitely worth exploring away from the park too.
Thanks for coming along on our journey—we hope it inspires you to get out, explore, and create adventures of your own with your dog(s).
Travel Essentials
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Our go to treats!
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For treats on the go
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Water on the go
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Clean up pet hair in the car and on the go
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Crash tested car carrier (under 18lbs)
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Best car harness (for pets over 18lbs)
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