Summer is quickly coming and we are THRILLED about it! We enjoy going around our local area in North Carolina with our dog. Last summer we decided to go on a lake getaway with our dog. It was so much fun!
She loves to swim and some of our friends and their dogs came as well. We had four adults and three dogs at the lake for a long weekend. Here I’m going to go over the steps we took to plan the perfect lake getaway. There are different things to consider when you’re traveling with pets rather than without pets.
Steps for planning the weekend lake getaway with a dog
1. How to pick a lake
This is arguably the most important part of trip planning. The most important things to consider when picking a lake to take your dog are 1) how far is this lake and 2) is the lake dog friendly?
Not all lakes will have areas that allow dogs to go swimming. Since you’re bringing your dog you definitely want to have that option. Additionally, you might want to consider finding a boating rental company that allows dogs on boats. Finally, you’ll want to look into the restrictions of your dog swimming at the lake such as times of the year or daily schedules.
2. How to find a place to stay with a dog
This was the most important step for us. Since we are getting away with friends we wanted to make sure to get a large enough place to fit all 7 of us as well as ensuring it was on the water so we could enjoy swimming. It can be a challenge to find the perfect spot so my best tip is to start your search as early as possible!
Popular lakes will fill up fast when it comes to weekend getaways during the summer. Booking a rental home as early as possible in the year is incredibly important. Since you have a dog with you, I would recommend staying away from a hotel. There are many pet-friendly hotels however with a wet dog and hallway confusion, we didn’t think it would be a good idea for us.
Something we considered when picking a rental home was a fenced yard. Given that we were staying on the water I wanted our dogs to have a place to run around without us being concerned about water safety or runaways. Additionally, we wanted indoor spaces that are friendly to wet dogs which means NO CARPETS!
3. Car packing considerations
So now you’ve selected your lake, you booked your rental, now you must prep to head to the lake! So what do you pack in your car?? Excellent question! We are big planners and checklist people. There are a couple of things to consider when packing because you’re bringing your dog to the lake getaway and you are likely staying in a rental that doesn’t have all the things you’re used to having. Below are some of the things we considered when packing.
- Dog food, food & water bowls
- Dog life jacket (optional)
- A place for your dog to sleep comfortably
- Extra towels specifically for the dog
- Extra poop bags & any other extra needs
For the humans, I would strongly suggest bringing some of your own kitchen supplies. You don’t need a ton of stuff, but consider that if you’re going to be cooking at your rental house you might want to supplement the supplies. We brought a waffle maker with us, some measuring spoons & cups to help supplement the supplies in the kitchen. Some spices and herbs that you normally use are also great to bring along.
4. Enjoying the lake getaway with a dog!
This is the fun part! We headed over to Lake Norman which is a short drive away from Charlotte and Raleigh. We really enjoyed it because not only was it close by, but it’s also a warmer lake. I personally don’t like swimming in cold water so this was perfect for me. Our dog LOVED swimming. We had her in a life jacket because we aren’t sure of how strong she is as a swimmer.
Our rental had a grill and a fire pit for a bonfire. It was excellent. I planned a whole menu ahead of time so we grocery-shopped. We cooked all meals at home which was perfect for us. Make sure to remember to take breaks throughout the day. You and your dog need naps.
Additional Considerations
If you’re here then you feel like your dog would love to come to a lake weekend with you as part of the family vacation however a main consideration is “Will my dog enjoy coming on this trip”? Once that’s a yes! Then consider these below:
Look for an emergency vet near where you are staying. This is important just in case something happens. I say emergency vet because they will be open late as we know emergencies always happen after hours.
Consider how to make your dog comfortable when you get to the rental house. We like to bring our dog inside the house, let her sniff around, then bring her back outside. It helps her understand the inside and outside. Another thing to consider is where you allow your dog to be within the house. Since the dogs will be wet you may want to limit some places the dog goes to within the house.
Lastly, ensure you have fun too! Pick a lake that has things you want to do as well. We really wanted to rent a boat and go boating on the lake. So we ensured we went to a lake that had boat rentals for us. We also wanted to ensure that we got to swim and relax a lot.
Is traveling with your dog hard? Check out options on what to do with your dog when you travel here!
FAQs about a lake getaway with a dog
Is it safe to take my dog into a lake?
There are some lakes that are not safe due to algae blooms. Always confirm online before taking your dog to the lake. Check out the official city/county lake website to see if they experienced blue-green algae blooms. In case you cannot find the information, take a look at the lake before letting your dog go for a swim. If it’s a still lake or if you see giant blooms of blue-green algae then do NOT allow your dog to swim.
If you do accidentally let your dog go swimming in a lake with algae make sure to wash them off entirely with fresh water. Make sure your dog drinks a lot of fresh water. Keep an eye on them for any strange behaviors as the algae is deadly.
How to find a pet-friendly rental?
This can be so hard! Luckily both VRBO and AirBnB now let you put “allows pets” in the additional search. I have also found that googling “pet-friendly house rentals at Lake xx” works so well. It brings you directly to home rentals that are not just Airbnb.
Can I take my dog on a boat?
Again this is completely up to your discretion and the comfort level of your dog, but ABSOLUTELY. We enjoyed taking our dog on the boat. She wanted to badly to be in the middle of the action when we were swimming, but she didn’t like not being able to touch the floor. We would hold her for a while but ultimately she enjoyed the wind in her hair (fur) while riding around the boat.
Just check the conditions of the boat rental. Some clearly do not allow pets on board, and others do. We found one that would let us take dogs (all three) on a pontoon boat, but not on a speed boat. But, the pontoon boat was great for the four humans and three dogs to have space.
Final Thoughts on a Lake Getaway with a Dog
Going on a lake getaway is so much fun! It’s even more fun with a dog. With a little extra planning, I highly recommend taking your dog on a lake getaway. Now if your dog doesn’t like swimming or if it’s more work for you to bring them in the car, then definitely leave them at home (or wherever else they do enjoy staying). This would be horrible for our cat, but our dog LOVES it which is why we are definitely taking her on another swimming adventure this summer.
