What to Pack for Your Pup: A Guide for Staying in Our Pet-Friendly Cabins

Dog lovers share their lives with their pets, and that includes vacations. Here’s your guide for bringing your dog to our pet-friendly Smoky Mountains cabins, so everyone–canine and human–has a fun and safe getaway.

Pick a dog-friendly cabin.

Before you pack so much as a leash, be sure you choose your cabin with care. Limit your search to cabins listed as pet-friendly, so you don’t waste time researching cabins you can’t rent. 

Know where you can take your dog in the Smokies.

In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, dogs are prohibited on hiking trails, with two exceptions: You can take your leashed dog on the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail. Dogs are allowed at the national park’s campgrounds and picnic areas. 

The park prohibits dogs on all other trails to keep wildlife safe and to keep dogs safe too, because some animals might see dogs as prey. 

Pack these items for a stress-free vacation with your pet.

Be prepared for anything with this packing list: 

• A collar and leash, and extras of both. 
• An updated ID tag with the number for the phone you’ll have with you on your vacation. 
• Your dog’s crate or kennel. Some pet-friendly cabins require that guests crate dogs if they leave dogs at the cabin while the humans go out. 
• Water and food bowls.
• Food, particularly if your dog prefers specific brands. Pack food in airtight containers with tight-fitting lids, or in tough, resealable plastic bags.
• A travel bed. Help Fido sleep better by bringing a familiar bed.
• Old towels and blankets, so your dog has a soft spot to lie on in front of the cabin fireplace or outside on the deck.
• A canine first aid kit for cuts, bug bites, stomach upsets or other problems. Click here to learn how to stock a pet first aid kit.
• Any medications your dog needs.
• Tick and flea treatments. Be sure your dog is up to date on long-lasting repellent treatments before you head for the mountains. Ticks abound in the Smokies.
• Your dog’s brush, plus fur cleaning wipes for quick touch-ups.
• Toys. Bring old favorites and some new toys to keep your dog engaged.  
• Bags for picking up dog waste.
• A dog flotation vest, if you plan to be near a river or lake.

Reserve your pet-friendly cabin now, and get packing!