In my head, I had a very specific vision of what truck camping with dogs would look like.
Chris and I sitting around a campfire.
The dogs peacefully laying nearby.
Everyone enjoying the quiet of the woods.
Very dreamy. Very peaceful. Very TikTok-worthy.
Reality looks a little different.
Someone is covered in mud (or tree sap).
Someone is barking at a mysterious pinecone.
Someone is determined to bring every speck of dirt that exists outside… inside.
And I’m sweeping the floor for the 700th time in two hours.
But it’s fun… I swear.
On one trip I ended up sitting in the camper at 9pm cutting tree sap out from between Jingle’s toes with a pair of Walmart meat shears while Chris looked on with mild concern.
This is just part of the experience.
Being able to bring our dogs with us is one of my favorite parts about truck camping. I feel better having them with us, and I love that they get to experience the beautiful places that we get to see.
It did take some trial and error before we could actually relax though. Camping with dogs in a small space like a truck camper requires a bit of a system.
Here’s what works for us.
Choosing Dog-Friendly Campsites
One of the biggest things that helps when truck camping with dogs is choosing the right campsite.
This is part of the reason we love boondocking so much.
When you’re out on a forest road, you can usually find a site where no one is too close to you. That gives the dogs a little more freedom to move around without us feeling like we need to apologize to every camper within a half mile.
A little freedom.
We still keep eyes on them at all times. This is not a free-range situation.
We usually try to stay a little ways off the road and find spots that have room for them to explore nearby.
Lulu likes to do a full perimeter check of the campsite like she’s been personally assigned security detail for the entire forest.
Everyone is happier when the dogs can burn off their initial “WE HAVE ARRIVED IN THE WOODS” energy.
Our Camp Routine (This Keeps Us All Sane)
Dogs do really well with routines. Honestly… so do we.
When we arrive at camp, we pretty much always do the same thing in the same order.
- Let the dogs out to explore the campsite
- Fold down the dinette so Lulu has her sleeping spot
- Jingle claims his rightful place in the bed with us
- Fresh water and dinner
- One last bathroom break before we settle in for the night
We usually arrive at camp on Friday evenings, so this routine has become pretty standard for us.
Once the dogs understand the routine, they calm down much faster.
Which is good, because the alternative is two dogs pacing the camper like tiny security guards making sure no pinecone moves without permission.
The Gear That Makes Camping With Dogs Easier
A few pieces of gear make life significantly easier when you’re camping with dogs in a truck camper.
The items we use the most are:
- a good dog blanket (we love our Wilderdog blanket)
- a small cordless vacuum for dog hair and dirt
- harnesses and leashes
- towels for muddy paws
- water and food bowls that permanently live in the camper
- collar lights so we can easily spot them at night
Over time we realized that having a simple system makes truck camping with dogs way less chaotic. I actually made a Truck Camper Dog Camping Checklist that we use before every trip so we don’t forget anything important.
When you’re living in a space roughly the size of a large walk-in closet, a little organization goes a long way.
If you want to see everything we keep stocked in the camper, you can check out our full list of Truck Camper Essentials.
Just Expect Dirt
Here’s the honest truth about camping with dogs.
There will be dirt.
Honestly, there will be dirt even if you don’t have dogs. But the dogs definitely help accelerate the process.
It just is what it is.
I try to stay ahead of it by:
- wiping paws when they’re muddy
- keeping a waterproof blanket on the seats
- doing a quick sweep once or twice (sometimes three times) a day
- vacuuming when dog hair and forest debris start multiplying
It only takes a few minutes, but it keeps the camper from turning into a mobile dust bowl.
If you want the full routine, I wrote a whole post about how we keep our truck camper clean with dogs.
Safety Is Always Top of Mind
Truck camping usually means forest roads, wildlife, and unfamiliar places. So we’re pretty careful about a few things.
First and foremost: Jingle must wear a harness when he’s hanging out the truck window.
I am fully convinced that Jingle believes he can fly.
He will attempt to climb to the highest point possible, which usually results in him trying to put not only his front paws on the window sill… but also his back paws.
Luckily he’s never unsupervised and always has a harness on, so I keep a hand on the harness handle at all times.
We also:
- keep the dogs close when we’re near steep drop-offs or water
- make sure they always have access to fresh water (especially during summer)
- check for ticks like a woman completely obsessed
- make sure we have the right gear so they can safely enjoy hikes and adventures
And because Jingle has the legs of a potato, sometimes his big hiking ambitions end with him riding down the mountain in his backpack.
He spends the entire time looking extremely pleased with himself while Chris carries him like a tiny woodland king.
Tips for Camping With Dogs in a Truck Camper
If you’re new to truck camping with dogs, a few small things can make the experience way smoother.
Choose campsites with space.
The more room your dogs have to explore safely, the happier everyone will be. This is one of the reasons we love boondocking so much.
Bring gear that lives in the camper.
Keeping dog bowls, towels, and blankets permanently in the camper makes packing way easier. It also prevents the classic “we forgot the dog bowls” moment.
Have a routine.
Dogs settle down much faster when they understand the rhythm of camp life — exploring, dinner, one last bathroom break, then everyone settling in for the night.
Expect dirt and plan for it.
Camping is messy. Camping with dogs is messier. Accepting that ahead of time and having a quick cleanup routine makes a huge difference.
Keep safety in mind.
Forest roads, wildlife, cliffs, and rivers are all part of truck camping. Harnesses, supervision, and plenty of water go a long way in keeping dogs safe.
And finally…
Lower your expectations slightly.
Your trip might not look like a peaceful Instagram reel.
Someone might bark at a pinecone.
Someone might bring half the forest into the camper.
But if your dogs get to explore new places, take long naps by the fire, and ride home happily exhausted, that’s a pretty great camping trip.
Final Thoughts
Truck camper trips are a little chaotic with dogs.
But honestly… so are most of our trips.
There’s dirt.
There’s dog hair.
There’s usually at least one dog yelling at a pinecone.
But watching them explore new trails, nap by the fire, and experience new places right alongside us makes it completely worth it.
Truck camper trips just wouldn’t feel the same without them.
Do you camp with your dogs? I’d love to hear your favorite tips in the comments.