10 Best Travel Dog Beds in 2023 – Reviews & Top Picks

Traveling with your dog is a blast, and 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 the best travel dog beds! We’ve gathered the best of the best to share with you, including reviews and pros and cons. We’ve also included a guide to help you figure out what you should look for in a travel dog bed. Check it all out below!

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023

	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Chuckit! Travel Pillow Dog Bed	Great for camping & RVing Comes with bag for easy transport Fits most sizes	Check Price
Best Value		Frisco Self-Warming Rectangular Pet Bed	Lightweight for travel Affordable Self-warming	Check Price
Premium Choice		Frisco Velvet Round Bolster Dog Bed	Bolster for neck support Incredibly soft Machine washable	Check Price
Best for Puppies		Best Friends by Sheri Original Calming Fur Donut	Calms anxiety Self-warming Cozy and supportive	Check Price
		Brindle Plush Orthopedic Pillow Dog Bed	Orthopedic, so it’s extremely comfy Water-resistant, removable cover Hypoallergenic	Check Price

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 bed is particularly good if you’re going camping or traveling in an RV, but 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 when you need it. And 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.

Pet parents said their dogs loved it, and most pet owners were fans of it, too. However, a couple of people mentioned that it wasn’t the best travel bed for dogs with arthritis or joint issues as it wasn’t thick enough for them. This also doesn’t seem to be the best travel bed for heavy chewers.

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 bed fits the bill. This travel dog bed is highly affordable and extra comfy for your doggo. Plus, this bed utilizes your dog’s body heat by reflecting it back to keep your pup 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 over a pound, so it’s easy to pick up and take with you for travel.

Dog owners said 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 who 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.

3. Frisco Velvet Bolster Bed with Removable Cover – Premium Choice

This premium dog bed by Frisco provides your favorite canine companion with a velvety soft place to lay their head during travels. The shape allows 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 our list (though it still doesn’t weigh a lot), so keep that in mind when deciding which bed is best for your travels. It’s much pricier than other travel dog beds, too. There were also a few complaints about the center of the bed deflating within a few months.

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 calming dog bed by Best Friends by Sheri? This shaggy donut bed is 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. Plus, 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 dog 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.

5. Brindle Plush Orthopedic Pillow Dog Bed

This travel bed by Brindle offers your dog tons of comfort; this orthopedic bed is made with memory foam, providing support to those pups with joint pain and arthritic issues by conforming to their body. 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 of the bed every time you remove the cover. And a few people said the cover was very fragile and didn’t hold up to digging.

6. Frisco Tent Covered Dog Bed

Going camping? Why not get your pup their own tent? This adorable tent 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, too, so it’s simple to clean. There are only two sizes for this one, so large and giant breeds will, unfortunately, be 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 they received were much smaller than pictured, and their pets couldn’t fit in them, so the sizing on these may be off.

7. Frisco Pillow Dog Bed w/ Removeable Cover

Frisco is known for making good pet products, so finding another Frisco bed 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 lay on. And though 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 have an easier time getting on it. There’s also a removable cover that can be tossed into the wash for simpler clean-ups, and when it comes to travel, this bed can be folded in half.

The majority of 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.

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

This elevated dog 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, so it’s actually pretty great. And because it’s elevated, it’s the perfect bed for both indoor and outdoor travel; now your dog doesn’t have to lay 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 some people had problems with the plastic frame getting broken, while others had an issue with 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.

9. Frisco Travel Pillow Dog Bed with Reusable Storage Bag

This cute travel dog bed comes in large and x-large, so it should fit many dog breeds (although people with dogs 120 pounds and up said 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 dog bed is designed to prevent that.

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

10. Petmate Orthopedic Pillow Dog Bed w/Removable Cover

Traveling to new places can sometimes mean picking up a few bugs here and there, which is why this travel dog bed is so great. Because it’s antimicrobial, it’s designed to prevent bacteria from thriving in the fibers of the bed. This also 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 lay down, and the cover is machine washable.

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

Dog’s Sleeping Position

Before considering any other factors of a travel dog bed, look at how your dog sleeps. The position they sleep 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, too. 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 dog bed that’s either way too small or way too large for what your canine companion needs.

Ease of Transport

Since you’ll be traveling with this dog bed, you need to ensure it’s easy to transport. Some dog beds on this list can be rolled up and stored for easier transport. Others are collapsible. Then, there are some beds 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 car.

Dog travel beds should also be lightweight enough that you can pick them up to move them around, so check how much a dog 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 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. And some 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, who loves to chew things, tear it to pieces the second you bring it home? Be sure to check what the bed is made of to gauge whether it will hold up to your pup’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 want a bed that will hold up in inclement weather. And if your dog sometimes has accidents or if you think 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 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 there are some that are quite affordable, too, 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 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 you’re getting a bed that meets your needs. You can find plenty of reviews for dog beds 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 journeys.

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.

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.

Featured Image Credit: Tienuskin, Shutterstock

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