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The 5 Best Dog Camping Beds for Travel

| Updated May 30, 2023

If you love traveling with your dog like us, you'll love these dog camping beds that are perfect for RV travel.

For many RVers, it's inconceivable to travel without their furry companion. But just like humans, dogs need a good place to rest after a long day of adventuring.

But with limited space, what is the best way to set up your four-legged friend for a good night's sleep or afternoon nap?

It would help if you had a durable, outdoor dog bed that can easily store and clean. It is one of the best things you can get for small and large dogs when taking with you when traveling.

Many can also easily be used on long road trips. Some beds can be used in the RV or crate to keep your provide your furry friend a comfortable place to travel.

But when we surveyed our audience on Facebook, the overwhelming majority said that their dogs slept on their bed! So we've sprinkled a few of the photos from that social post here in this post. If you want to see all the wonderful dog photos you can enjoy them here.

This comment from Anna really says it all. “Dog bed? Oh you mean he isn't supposed to sleep in the queen-size pillow mattress while we camp? 🤣…we to have tried several set ups but no matter what we try he always ends up in our bed.. the strange thing is that he loves his own bed at home but not while camping. ..go figure. .🤣🤣

Despite that common experience, in case you want to find a bed for your dog, the following has everything you need to know to find the best, comfortable sleeping surface for your pup on your next camping or RV trip. I include what to look for in an excellent, portable dog bed as well as my top picks!

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What's Different About a Dog Camping Bed?

A dog camping bed is not unlike a typical home dog bed. However, they are usually constructed using less filling and more durable outer materials. That is because these beds can be used inside your RV or tent but also used in outdoor areas.

There are also some great options for backpacking with your pup and looking for something to keep your dogs warm on the trail.

How to Select the Right Dog Camping Bed

There are a few considerations when purchasing a dog travel bed.

Size

One important factor to consider is the size of the dog bed. You want a large enough bed for your dog, but not so large that it takes up unnecessary storage space.

As veteran RVers know, you need to know where you're going to store it before purchasing it. That way you can get the perfect, compact size for easy storage.

Portability

The last thing you want to do is fuss with a pet bed after a long day traveling. Some only require being unrolled while others offer easy assembly.

Durability

You want a bed made from durable materials and will last you (and your pup) a long time. Nylon and synthetic fabrics tend to be the most durable.

Easy Cleaning

Many beds can be shaken off, quickly removing dirt and loose debris. Some just get tossed directly into a normal-sized washing machine.

Other beds have a removable cover that is machine washable. Easily toss it into the washing machine when you return home. Or, if your dog is muddy and soils the bed, you can easily wash it while traveling.

You can also find elevated dog beds made with a mesh fabric that just gets hosed off. In fact, as you'll see in the list of best dog camping beds below, elevated dog beds are often preferred.

Weather

Where do you like to camp? Keep the weather in mind as some beds are better for cold climates, while others are perfect for hot temperatures. I give some different options below…

5 Best Dog Camping Beds

The following are my top picks for the best dog beds you can find. They come in different sizes, and many are for outdoor use and indoor use. There is sure to be a comfy dog bed for your pup!

Ruffwear Highlands Sleeping Bag

Many dog owners consider the Ruffwear Highlands Sleeping Bag the perfect dog bed when camping!

This travel dog bed is great for many reasons. First, it is perfect for cold climates. That is because it is insulated with a compressed synthetic down material.

You can also purchase an additional pad to use with this canine sleeping bag to provide extra comfort to your dog.

It is also made with a water-resistant and quick-dry material.

In addition, this lightweight bed comes with its stuff sack. It can accommodate medium and large size dogs.

Kurgo Waterproof Dog Bed

The Kurgo dog bed is one of the best camping dog beds for cold weather and migt be the right bed for your best bud.

This cozy bed comes in two sizes to accommodate dogs of all sizes. You can also choose between brown and red colors.

The bed rolls up quickly and secures with an outer handle, much like a sleeping bag. That makes it a breeze to pack and store when traveling.

The bed is waterproof to keep your dog warm and dry. It can also keep wet ground conditions from seeping in and making your dog cold.

It is made from durable materials, featuring Microtomic ripstop fabric on the top, with the bottom constructed from Ruffex to avoid slipping when the dog moves around.

Gigatent Elevated Pet Cot

Keep your pet off of hard surfaces and cold, wet ground. This 8″ raised dog bed is constructed with a tubular steel frame and durable polyester bed material.

An elevated bed can also help older dogs that have joint pain.

This bed can be easily transported and stored, with legs that easily fold in half. It comes complete with a convenient, heavy-duty storage bag.

HDP Elevated Napper Cot

This elevated dog bed is a lot like your foldable camping chairs. Not only does it take your pet off of cold, hard, and uneven surfaces. But it is also made of durable materials and a powder-coated, rust-resistant frame.

This cot bed comes in two sizes but is compact for its type. Choose from red, grey, blue, and pink.

YEP HHO Folding Breathable Cot

Lift larger dogs off the hard floor with a raised platform, breathable cot. The model offers a Teslin mesh fabric outer shell with Oxford cloth beneath. It may be the best option in hot weather since it can keep your dog cool while taking pressure off their bodies.

The bed features removable PVC legs to be easily folded and stored while traveling.

This cot can be used both indoors and outdoors. It's also easily cleaned with a wet cloth and soap.

Related Articles

If you're searching for dog camping beds, you'll probably find these articles helpful, too:

Mike and Jennifer's Favorite Places in Florida – all 3 ebooks!

The 5 Best Dog Camping Beds for Travel 9

We RVers may wander far and wide but it’s true for most of us that we end up with some favorite “Go-To” places – places that draw us back again and again.

Florida is one of those places for us. And we know it is for many RVers looking to get away and explore during the winter. 

That's why we've created three guides, covering Florida's Atlantic Coast, the Gulf Coast, and the Keys. 

Each of these guides is a seven-day guided exploration of one of the coasts. And each stop is a curated view of the best things that we’ve enjoyed on this trip and want you to experience.

Altogether these guides are over 300 pages of content! 


Mike Wendland

Published on 2022-01-17

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

3 Responses to “The 5 Best Dog Camping Beds for Travel”

May 02, 2022at6:05 pm, Brian Smith said:

Maverek offers the Backwoods Dog bed an easily transportable dog bed that can be rolled up

Reply

May 03, 2022at10:39 am, Team RV Lifestyle said:

Thanks for the additional suggestion – Team RV Lifestyle

Reply

January 17, 2022at7:47 am, Judy Mcdaniel said:

These dog beds seem to all be for larger dogs. What about best beds for small dogs? And what about best way for dogs to travel, down the road? Especially in a motorhome?

Reply

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