Washington to Florida — 3,753 Miles — 7 Days — 3 Dogs
In December 2016 we loaded three dogs — Ava (120 lbs), Otto (20 lbs), and Ginger (20 lbs) — into a brand new Dodge Durango and drove from Tacoma, Washington to Florida's East Coast. No RV, no pet transport service, no idea what we were getting into. Just us, the dogs, a cargo basket full of plants, and a meticulously researched list of pet-friendly hotels.
This was the trip that taught us everything. It became the foundation for every move we've made since — including eventually relocating to Spain. All seven day posts are below, along with the full hotel list with pet fees and what we actually thought of each stay.
The Journey
Day by Day
Where We Slept
Hotels at a Glance
See our Trusted Hotels resource page for a complete verified list of stays that welcomed our large dogs — built from this trip and every move since.
The Takeaway
What This Trip Taught Us
Nine years later we wrote up everything this move taught us about relocating with pets. The hotel call scripts, the cleanup kit, the first-floor room strategy, and the equipment failures we didn't see coming. Read the full retrospective: 3,753 Miles in the Dead of Winter.
Everything we learned across three cross-country moves and one international relocation is in our DIY Pet Relocation Roadmap — domestic and international, step by step. Need hands-on support? The Premium edition adds email support and a phone consultation.
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