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National Park Roundup: Exploring Zion with my Dog

September 23, 2025 by Elisabeth

Recap: I explored Zion National Park with my dog, drove the scenic roads, and was tempted to join the boondockers camping just outside the park.

A Little History

Zion National Park, Utah’s first National Park, was established in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson after first being protected as a national monument. It’s one of the most popular national parks; according to the National Park Service, attendance has increased 90% since 2010. In 2021, more than 5 million people visited the park, which is an impressive milestone few national parks ever reach.

Traveler with Toyota Tacoma in front of Zion red rock cliffs

Zion’s red rock cliffs are breathtaking, even from the roadside.

How to Drive Through Zion (Even When Shuttles are Running)

Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is closed to private vehicles when shuttles are running. Due to the enormous number of visitors to the park, a shuttle system is used to ensure as much access as possible. Most years the shuttles run from March to November, and for the holidays near the end of December. When I visited in April, this road was closed, and I couldn’t access that portion of the park. That means I missed out on famous sights such as the Narrows and Angels Landing.

Zion National Park road winding through red cliffs under blue sky

Even if you can’t drive through the whole thing, the views are still jaw-dropping.

Even when the shuttles are running, you can still drive through on the Zion-Mt. Carmel highway, the Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel, Kolob Terrace Road, and Kolob Canyons Scenic Drive. While the tunnel accommodates most vehicles most of the time, oversized vehicles may need to apply for a special permit. I drove through the tunnel and it was very cool!

Pull-off views like this make the drive unforgettable.

Visiting Zion with a Dog

Zion is not the easiest park to traverse with a dog. Like most national parks, dogs aren’t allowed in a majority of the park. They’re also not allowed on shuttles, so a whole section of the park is off-limits if you bring your furry friend.

Dogs are usually allowed in areas around national park visitor centers, and the same is true for Zion; dogs are allowed on the paved Pa’rus Trail that you can access from the visitor center. However, as Zion is an extremely popular destination, it can be difficult to even find a place to park at the visitor center to let your pup run around a bit. Beatrix and I finally did find a spot at the visitor center, but it was at the end of our excursion, after we’d already driven around most of the park. I stopped in briefly and picked up a park patch.

Zion Canyon Visitor Center building with red rock backdrop

Worth a stop if you can find parking!

I love a national park that allows you to see much of its beauty on a drive through. That’s probably the thing I value most when traveling with a dog. Another Utah-area park that I think is even better than Zion for driving through with a dog is Bryce Canyon. You can drive to almost any area in the park, and there are dozens of pull offs with gorgeous views. When I visit places like that, I tend to leave Beatrix in the truck, running with the air conditioner on of course, and dash out for some quick pics.

A rainy day during my visit in 2024 made Bryce Canyon even moodier and more magical.

Because I could only drive through some of Zion, I felt like I was missing out on a lot of what the park had to offer, and it’s on my list as a park I’d like to visit in the future if I’m making some dog-free trips. Still, if you’re in the area, and especially if you have a park pass, it’s definitely worth stopping by and checking out the majesty this place has to offer.

Where to Camp Near Zion

Camping is available within the park, but it can be difficult obtain a reservation, especially in peak season. If you’re like me, you’re always on the lookout for some free camping on BLM or National Park land anyway. Something I noticed as I approached the entrance to Zion were all of the boondockers parked throughout the beautiful lands surrounding the park. If I return, I’m definitely going to find some free camping in the area. The park’s boundaries certainly don’t enclose all of the unique beauty of the area, and there are plenty of quiet, scenic spots to camp outside the park boundaries.

Final Thoughts

Even though I couldn’t access the whole park with my dog, Zion’s drive-through beauty made it worth the visit. Next time, I might come back dog-free to hike The Narrows or Angel’s Landing…but for now, it’s a must-stop if you’re road-tripping through southern Utah.

BLM Spot Review: Camping at the Volcanic Tablelands Outside of Bishop, California

May 30, 2025 by Elisabeth

One of my favorite free camping spots this trip was at the Volcanic Tablelands, just outside of the adorable small town of Bishop, California. It was perfect for truck camping in my Tacoma.

Getting there:

You can access the Volcanic Tablelands by heading north on US 6 out of Bishop, and turning onto Casa Diablo Road. You’ll see a sign marking the area and lots of pull offs for camping.

Entrance sign for Volcanic Tablelands BLM camping area near Bishop, California

You’re here!

camping at volcanic tablelands:

This was my first stop out of the Las Vegas area on my way to Oregon. The weather was perfect—sunny and cool, my favorite—and I had no problem finding the area, which is always a win when venturing into unknown BLM territory for camping. I’m always afraid I won’t find it! The pull offs are obvious and clearly marked with fire rings. I drove past a couple of RVs and found a nice, private open space to park the truck.

Toyota Tacoma truck camper parked on open BLM land with dog sniffing nearby at Volcanic Tablelands

Beatrix got to work right away sniffing the area.

The view of the snow-capped eastern Sierra Nevada mountains combined with the rocky desert was nothing short of stunning.

Snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains rising behind rocky desert landscape at Volcanic Tablelands

This view was like nothing I’d seen before!

We settled in, made some dinner, and got a comfy night’s sleep in the camper.

Sunrise at Volcanic Tablelands BLM camping

Sunrise view of desert and mountains seen from inside a truck camper

Yep, I woke up to this!

bishop, California:

In the morning, Beatrix and I walked a little, had breakfast, and prepared to get on the road. I decided to backtrack a little way to the town of Bishop, California to get gas and see if I could find a place to fill up my water jugs. Just like Poverty Flats (which I wrote about last week), this area doesn’t have any facilities like restrooms or water so you have to come prepared. I wasn’t out of water, but wanted to top off before getting back on the road.

Camper smiling in front of Eastern Sierra mountain range at Volcanic Tablelands BLM site

I could’ve easily spent more time in this gorgeous area. You can camp here for up to 14 days at a time!

Bishop is an adorable little town. Think, 25 mph main street. I stopped at the dog park to let Beatrix get some more sniff time in.

There were plenty of smells to be found.

Near the dog park is a lovely park with a duck pond and public restrooms. I stopped at the visitor’s center to inquire about filling up my water jugs, and they kindly let me fill up right outside the building (pro tip: always ask if this is OK!)

Outdoor map display at Bishop, California visitor center

Visitor Center map.

After filling up with insanely priced California gas, I was on my way! I almost stopped at the famous Erick Schat’s Bakery, but I already had a car full of pastries from 85c Bakery in Vegas, so I decided against it. I don’t know what I was thinking, though…the more sweets the better! I’ll definitely stop in next time.

The beauty of the drive through this area can’t be overstated. We headed to the Reno area, driving past Mono Lake (a surreal, ancient lake) and then into Nevada. This route through the eastern Sierras contained probably my favorite scenery from the entire road trip.

Have you camped near Bishop? Did you try Erick Schat’s Bakery? Let me know in the comments!

First Time Dispersed Camping: Poverty Flats near Valley of Fire State Park

May 20, 2025 by Elisabeth

Previously on Just Get Outside, I was preparing for my next cross-country road trip and praying my Leer cap would come in on time. I stayed at some beautiful campgrounds along the way, and I’ll definitely share those soon, but let’s start with my first ever experience with dispersed camping at Poverty Flats outside of Las Vegas, Nevada!

Toyota Tacoma with camper setup parked on open BLM land at Poverty Flats near Valley of Fire State Park

Spoiler alert: my truck cap came in on time!

I was halfway through my trip from Texas to Oregon before I tried dispersed camping for the first time. I had great experiences at established campgrounds in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, but I was ready to push myself outside of my comfort zone a little bit. I knew I wanted to see the famous Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada, but they didn’t have any camp sites available in the park during the time I would be there, so I explored my options for dispersed camping.

Dispersed camping means free camping on public land that’s usually managed by the National Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It’s a popular choice for boondockers, vanlifers, and road trippers looking to save money and enjoy some solitude. Some of the benefits of dispersed camping are that it’s free, and it’s usually much more private than being slotted into a campground just feet from your nearest RV neighbor. Some of the downsides are that it doesn’t have facilities like toilets and water, so you have to make sure you come prepared.

Poverty Flats is about an hour’s drive outside of Vegas and only about a 10 minute drive from Valley of Fire. The April weather was beautiful and it seemed like the perfect spot to try dispersed camping for the first time.

I arrived just before sunset and bounced slowly down the gravel roads, stoked to use my 4×4 for the first time. There were other campers and RVs set up, and I made my way past them to my own spot. I was a little nervous about knowing where I was actually allowed to camp, but there are tons of already established spots out there. You can usually tell when it’s an established spot because it has a fire ring and other indications people have camped there.

Settling in my home away from home!

I found a fire ring and got settled. I took Beatrix out for a stroll and marveled at the views. It was vast and open and I felt like I could see for miles. Even though we weren’t parked right next to anyone, knowing other campers were fairly close by made me feel at ease without losing that peaceful, wide-open feeling. I was out there for about 10 minutes when I realized dispersed camping would be my first choice over established campgrounds from now on.

Senior miniature schnauzer standing near cliff edge with desert views at Poverty Flats

You know I was hella stressed about her sniffing this close to the edge.

My favorite thing about camping is waking up to amazing views, and Poverty Flats definitely didn’t disappoint.

Desert landscape at sunrise viewed from inside a truck camper

What a way to wake up!

I couldn’t get over how cool the landscape was, and how much it felt like I had it all to myself.

desert views truck camping at Poverty Flats BLM land

I mean, can you believe this!?

After feeding and taking care of Beatrix, we got out of there and headed down the road to Valley of Fire State Park.

Valley of Fire, Nevada’s first state park, was established in 1934 and covers more than 40,000 acres of Jurassic-era red sandstone and ancient limestone mountains. The area was once covered by an inland sea, which makes the views cool and surreal. No reservations are needed to visit the park, but you do need one if you want to camp there. It’s pretty popular, so book your trip in advance. They didn’t have any camping availability on the random Tuesday I was there. It costs $15 to enter the park (or $10 if you’re a Nevada resident).

Exterior of Valley of Fire visitor center under clear blue sky

The visitor’s center has facilities you can use if you’ve been dispersed camping the night before without a bathroom! You can also fill your water bottle there.

This is a fantastic park to drive through. While it’s dog friendly (as long as your furry friend is leashed), you know how Beatrix rolls: riding shotgun with the air conditioning on, living her best senior dog life. We don’t get out and hike most of the time, because she’s a delicate little old lady, so parks with amazing views you can see from the car are totally her jam.

Driving through Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada

Seriously, it’s a gorgeous drive.

The park is full of desert bighorn sheep, which I was surprised to see are just chilling wherever!

Desert bighorn sheep grazing near the roadside in Valley of Fire State Park

All the cars slowed down to take a pic like this, these guys were unfazed.

I stopped at just about every place I could to take pics and enjoy the view. There were many shaded picnic areas that would be perfect for a break out of the sun for hikers and car travelers alike.

Fire Canyon

Repping Texas State Parks with my hat, of course.

Valley of Fire has the most national park energy of any state park I’ve visited. Seriously, it’s stunning and otherworldly.

Seven Sisters rock formations.

At first I was disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to camp at the park, but staying at Poverty Flats and visiting the park in the morning was amazing. When I go back, I’m going to do the same thing again!

Have you ever tried dispersed camping? What was your first experience like? I’d love to hear your favorite free camping spots or Valley of Fire experiences in the comments!

5 (more) Things I Won’t Road Trip Without…and Neither Should Your Dog!

March 23, 2025 by Elisabeth

Preparing for my big cross-country road trip this spring has made me think hard about the best buys to make road-trip life easier with a special needs dog. This post goes beyond my top 5 tips for road-tripping with a dog. Some of these finds have made a huge difference in keeping my dog comfortable on the road!

Just because I’m currently in limbo while waiting for Leer to replace my 122 cap for my Tacoma doesn’t mean I can’t think ahead and plan while I wait! Here are some essentials I’ve learned about over the years that I won’t make a packing list without.

1. A Collar that Shines So Bright You’ll Need Shades

Beatrix wearing a glow-in-the-dark dog collar at night, standing on a sidewalk with the collar glowing brightly

You can see this collar from space!

This is probably the best and most convenient dog-related product I’ve found on Amazon. I get comments about it literally every time I walk Beatrix through our neighborhood. This light up collar keeps her visible when the sun sets and is an absolutely necessary item for her safety. Whether we’re on neighborhood streets where cars might come around the corner, or out in the wilderness, I never go for an evening walk without this collar.

My neighbor also has a light up leash like this one but I haven’t tried it yet. Have you?

2. This Cooling Mat Keeps You Chill…I May Have Bought This For Beatrix, But I’m the One Using It

Because Beatrix is elderly and has special medical needs, her comfort is the most important thing to me when we travel. I never want her to get too cold or get overheated. After one trip last spring where the heat was a little uncomfortable (and I spent the night intermittently fanning her with a large Texas state park map), I decided I needed something that could keep her cool all night. I found this dog cooling mat and immediately took it on our next trip.

I learned the hard way that Beatrix prefers fluffy over cool…she likes to sniff the cooling mat and then curl up on her bed instead. But honestly? I’ve ended up using it myself on hot nights, so it’s still a win!

3. A Portable Crate, Just in Case!

Beatrix is usually cuddled up in bed somewhere, but I’ve learned it’s smart to have a portable crate just in case. Whether we’re at an Airbnb or around other pets, it’s nice to have a secure spot for her to relax. A portable crate like this one is super helpful and folds up easily, so it’s not taking up precious trunk space. Better to have it and not need it than the other way around!

4. A Fluffy, Fuzzy, Familiar Bed from Home

Beatrix curled up and napping on a plush, pink dog bed at home

Beatrix’s bed is nicer than my mattress, tbh

I bought Beatrix this super soft and plush dog bed last Christmas and honestly, I wish they made them in people size. She absolutely loves curling up in it and napping. When you’re in a new place with your pup, it helps to have some familiar comforts of home, so this bed is definitely joining us on our next road trip.

5. Sun Protection Needed!

I still haven’t figured out this problem yet. I’d find there were times during our road trip last year that Beatrix was really in the sun, despite having tinted windows. To keep it from beating down on her, I tried to rig up my folding sunshade into a little sun barrier for her, but it was a pretty sad setup.

Beatrix sitting in the front seat of the car with a poorly positioned sunshade, looking unimpressed

Beatrix judging my sunshade setup like, is this the best you could do!?

This year, I’m looking for some better options, like these roll down mesh sunshades or this static cling sunshade option. Have you found any sunshades that work for your pet? Let me know, I’m taking suggestions!

These essentials have made a big difference for me and Beatrix on the road. If you’ve found any dog travel gear you swear by, drop a comment below. I’d love to hear about it! (Bonus points if it helps with sun protection as I’m still figuring that one out!)

Furry Co-Pilot Approved: 5 Must-Know Tips for Road-Tripping with Your Dog

March 2, 2025March 23, 2025 by Elisabeth

My first road trips with my dog Beatrix weren’t exactly smooth…her water spilled and she didn’t always have the comfiest spot to curl up in. I figured out what works, though, and and now road-tripping with her is easy! Recently, a loved one was preparing to embark on a road trip with their dog and asked me for some advice. I decided to compile my best tips for traveling with a dog here! Be sure to read to the end of the post for advice specific to traveling with a special needs dog like Beatrix, who requires twice daily medication.

(This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!)

1. Buckle Up, Pup! Keeping Your Dog Safe on the Road

It’s important to have your pup restrained when they’re riding in your vehicle. In the event of an accident, or even a situation where you have to unexpectedly slam on your brakes, you want to make sure your baby is as safe as possible! You wouldn’t drive without your seat belt, and neither should your pup.

Beatrix locked and loaded

There are a lot of different dog restraint options out there, but my favorite is the doggy seat belt. I use a seat belt like this one. It’s secured around the headrest in the front seat and attaches to her harness, making sure she stays in place no matter what.

There are other, more elaborate dog restraint systems like this where you can secure your pup in the backseat, but I think Beatrix does better when she’s up front with me. She likes the near-constant head scratches, and I like being able to keep an eye on her.

2. Riding in Style: Making Your Dog’s Trip Comfy & Cozy

Putting a soft blanket down on the seat can make your dog feel comfy and at home. It especially helps protect them from leather seats that get hot in the summer as well as protects your seats from dirty puppy paw prints.

If you’re planning on stopping at a rest area to have a snack and take a break, it’s also nice to provide a comfy spot for your dog to rest. I have an old yoga mat I cut into pieces for Beatrix to lay on. I also use this camping pad sometimes.

schnauzer lying on a blanket by a picnic table

Luxury road trip accommodations: Beatrix approved!

3. Hydration Station: Keeping Your Dog Cool and Refreshed

You want to be sure your dog stays hydrated during your trip. I have a collapsible bowl like this one that I toss on the floor of the front seat.

Avoid the temptation to leave water out while driving…it will spill. (Trust me, I’ve learned the hard way!)

It’s also helpful to keep a little bag of your dog’s favorite toys, treats, and poop bags right there in the front seat with you so you don’t have to dig for these things when you need them.

4. Pit Stops & Playtime: Planning Breaks for Both You and Your Dog

When I’m on a road trip, I try to keep both my needs and Beatrix’s in mind. We’ll both need to go to the bathroom and eat, I’ll need to fill the car up with gas, and she has to take her medication at specific times each day. It’s easier to try to make all these things happen at once rather than making multiple stops; that can make your trip feel like it’s lasting forever, in a bad way. Some gas stations like Love’s have a dog park area, which is helpful. I also like to find a place with a nice grassy area when I’m stopping for foods so I can walk her before I get my lunch.

schnauzer making a pit stop in the Colorado mountains

Beatrix finding the perfect poo spot in this picturesque landscape.

Now, while planned stops are great, some of the best memories also come from those, “let’s just see what’s over there” moments. Take the scenic route and, if your dog is anything like Beatrix, they will love the extra sniffing time! We stopped at some roadside places in Colorado that were a gorgeous backdrop for a bathroom break.

5. Medicine on the Move: Keeping Special Needs Dogs Safe & Healthy

This tip is for your special needs pups like Beatrix. She receives an insulin injection twice a day that needs to be refrigerated. I like to use this fridge powered by this Jackery battery.

portable fridge and jackery battery to power it

It also pays off to think practically about the environment you’re administering your dog’s medication in. I’ve given Beatrix countless roadside and rest stop injections because our drive happens to fall during the time she needs her meds. I bought these little silicon insulin bottle protectors that prevent the glass bottle from breaking if I happen to drop it. It would be a nightmare to lose your dog’s meds by the side of the road when you’re far from home.

I hope these tips help you are you’re preparing to venture out on the road with your dog! Got any road trip rituals or must-have dog travel gear? Did I miss anything? Drop your favorite tips in the comments…I’d love to hear them!

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!