We Road Tripped from Chicago to Florida with Three Dogs

When Katie Markovic, a member of the Sniffspot team, told us she was driving from Chicago to Bonita Springs, Florida with her three dogs, our first reaction was admiration. Our second was "please report back."

Twenty hours. Each way. With a grumpy dog-selective terrier mix, a Belgian Malinois with serious car anxiety, and a chihuahua mix who is apparently the most well-adjusted dog alive.

Spoiler: they made it. Everyone survived, the dogs settled, and Katie said she'd absolutely do it again. (Maybe just not quite as far next time.)

Here's the full trip report, and what made the difference.

Jump Ahead: 20 Hours, 3 Dogs, and a Lot of Sniffspot Stops

Meet the Crew

Before we get into routes and reservations, you need to understand who was in that car.

Finn, Terrier Mix. The OG. The grumpy elder statesman. Does not love other dogs and would like everyone to know that. He tolerates what he tolerates and has opinions about the rest.

Hera, Belgian Malinois. A Duracell bunny who does not come with an off switch. Loves other dogs, hates car rides. The combination of endless energy and genuine travel anxiety made her the wildcard of the trip.

Lorenzo, Chihuahua Mix. The foster fail who stayed. An angel in a tiny body. Genuinely fine with everything. Honestly, not the subject of most of these anecdotes.

Three dogs. Three completely different needs. One 20-hour drive. I think we can all see the challenge.

The Roadtrip Game Plan

Before they left, Katie pulled up Sniffspot's map and looked for private spots that fell directly on their route.

"I found a few Sniffspots that were directly on our route, including one in Indianapolis and one in Louisville," she said. "I knew we'd want to stop so Hera could burn off some nervous energy, stretch her legs, and so we could feed the dogs lunch."

This is the move. Not a rest area with a small roped-off pet section. Not a parking lot dash. A real, private, fenced yard where the dogs could actually run around and be dogs for 60 minutes before getting back in the car.

For Hera especially, who spends car rides in a low-grade state of anxiety, a stop that involved actual running and sniffing was a reset.

"I was surprised by how much of a difference the Sniffspot stops made in Hera's anxiety. Even after just 20-30 minutes of off-leash sniffing and exploring, she was noticeably calmer in the car."

For Finn, the private booking meant no surprise dogs trotting over uninvited. He could stretch his legs, do his thing, and get back in the car without incident.

🐾 Map out your route and see what's along the way. Find stops near your road trip route →

The Sniffspot Stops That Stole the Show

Each Sniffspot location is unique, and this trip had some standout spots. Let's explore the ones that made the biggest impression.

Tucker's Wish Run & Play, Indianapolis, IN (The Kids' Pick)

Katie's kids lost their minds over this one, because the spot had toys they could actually use to play with the dogs. Not just "here's a fence," but genuine interactive fun for the whole family. When you've been in a car for hours and you're eight years old, that's everything.

Located in Indianapolis, IN, Tucker's Wish Run & Play is a top spot with over 500 5-star reviews. Better yet, this is one of the only spots in Indiana with a climate-controlled indoor option, making it perfect for any season.

George's Private Dog Park, Louisville, KY (The Husband's Pick)

Agility equipment and lots of space. For a dog like Hera, who basically needs a job at all times, having something to climb and jump through is different from just running laps. It burns both mental and physical energy, which means a much calmer dog for the next stretch of highway.

George's Private Dog Park in Louisville has all the fixins'. With agility equipment, endless toys, and secure fencing, this is a favorite for locals and travelers alike.

Amanda's 7-Acre Partially Fenced Private Dog Park, White House, TN (Katie's Pick)

"It felt more like a hiking trail than a traditional dog park. It was such a unique experience." Amanda's 7-Acre Private Dog Park in White House, TN wasn't your typical backyard.

This is the part of Sniffspot that surprises people who've never used it for travel. It's not all suburban backyards. Some spots are acreage, woods, meadows, or creek access. A stop that feels like a little adventure in the middle of a long drive? That's a different experience entirely, and this one in particular was a surprisingly steep trail.

🐾 Agility equipment, hiking trails, or just a good open field. Find the right stop for your dog. Browse Sniffspot locations →

The Roadtrip Delays You Can't Plan

Katie's family booked a spot in Bradenton, Florida...then traffic happened.

By the time they were close enough to stop, it was too late to make the reservation window. The host was incredibly gracious and offered to extend the booking, but the timing just didn't work out.

It happens. Roads do what they want. The good news: on the return trip, Katie used the "Open Now" filter to find available spots within the hour as they were driving, which made the whole return trip more relaxed and flexible.

"On the way home, we were a little more flexible and figured it out as we went."

Pre-booking a few key stops gives you a framework. The app's real-time availability handles the rest. You don't have to choose between planning and flexibility.

What Katie Would Do Differently

"I'd probably plan a few more potential Sniffspot stops ahead of time, especially for the return trip. Having those options mapped out in advance would make it even easier to travel at a relaxed pace."

A few specifics she'd add to that:

• Map out backup stops, not just primary ones. If you've got a reservation at 2pm and traffic has other plans, it's a lot easier to pivot when you already know there's another spot 20 minutes down the road.
• Start the stops earlier. Waiting until a dog is already maxed out to find them a break is reactive. Getting ahead of Hera's anxiety earlier in each leg would have made the stretches between stops easier on everyone.
• Give yourself buffer time on bookings. Booking for 2pm when you think you'll arrive at 1:50 is a gamble. Pad it. Roads are not known for their reliability.
• Let the overnight be an option. A 20-hour drive doesn't have to be a 20-hour drive. Breaking it into two days means longer stops, less stress, and a dog who actually sleeps through the night instead of vibrating.

She'd also do it again. "Absolutely. Maybe just not a 20-hour drive next time."

The Tips Worth Stealing for Your Own Sniffspot Road Trip

A few things that made the biggest practical difference on this particular trip:

Adopt the marathon mindset. Katie said this was the single biggest shift on the return journey. "We took our time at each stop instead of rushing to get back on the road." When you're not racing your ETA, a 30-minute stop with a dog who needs it isn't a delay. It's the trip working correctly.

Water early and often. Anxious dogs pant. Panting dogs need more water than usual. "Hera was panting quite a bit because of her anxiety, which meant she needed more water than usual." Don't wait for them to ask.

Pre-book a few, stay flexible for the rest. Having confirmed stops removes decision fatigue on the road. But the "Open Now" filter handles anything that changes.

Pack for your most complicated dog. One anxious dog, one selective dog, and one easygoing angel. Plan for the one who needs the most, and everyone else will be fine.

And before you even hit the road, it's worth reading up on how to keep your dog safe in the car, especially if you're traveling with a dog who isn't used to long drives.

🐾 Ready to road trip? Find your first stop →

Frequently Asked Questions: Road Trips with Dogs

Would She Do It Again? (Absolutely)

Twenty hours is a long time to be in a car with anyone, human or canine. But Katie's crew made it to Florida, spent a week there, and drove home. Finn was grumpy but managed. Hera found her calm somewhere around hour three of each leg, after a real off-leash stop. Lorenzo was, as promised, completely fine the whole time.

The difference between a miserable dog road trip and a good one usually isn't the dogs. It's whether you gave them the breaks they actually needed.

Sniffspot makes that part easy.

🐾 Start mapping your route. Find private dog park stops near you →

Katie M. is Sniffspot's social media manager, a foster dog parent, and the creator behind @Hera_the_Maligator.