Best Dog Crates for Travel

TL;DR

The right travel crate comes down to where your dog will spend time in it: riding in the vehicle vs. resting securely at a hotel, campsite, or event. For most families who want a packable, quick setup option for road trips and overnights, a quality soft-sided folding crate is the most practical — but it’s not crash protection, so if in-car safety is your priority, talk to your vet and look specifically for credible crash-test evidence and proper tie-down use.

Top Recommended Dog Crates for Travel

Top Pick: Best Overall Dog Crate for Travel

EliteField 3-Door Folding Soft Dog Crate 24 x 18 x 21 in

Best for: Road trips with frequent stops — especially if you want a crate that sets up fast at hotels, family homes, RVs, or event venues for a small-to-medium dog.

The Good

• Quick, low-fuss setup and fold-down for multi-stop travel days.
• Portable design with a carry bag, so it’s easier to stow in a trunk or behind the third row.
• Three-door layout gives you flexibility when the crate has to tuck beside luggage or face a specific direction in a room.
• Soft-sided comfort can help some dogs settle when they’re in unfamiliar places (hotel rooms, cabins, friends’ homes).
• Size callout (per product listing): 24 x 18 x 21 inches — helpful for checking both dog fit and vehicle footprint before you buy.

The Bad

• This is not a crash-protection crate for use in a moving vehicle; if you need impact protection, look for credible crash-test evidence and securement guidance.
• Soft panels and mesh can be vulnerable to chewing or clawing from anxious or determined escape artists.
• Like many soft crates, it’s best used under supervision in new environments until you’re sure your dog respects it.

“The major pro of this crate is that it is extremely easy to put together.” — verified buyer, 4 stars

Our Take: For most travel routines where the crate is used as a safe “home base” at your destination (not as crash gear), EliteField hits the best balance of portability, easy setup, and everyday usability.

LE SURE Collapsible Dog Crate Travel Kennel Medium Dog

Best for: Packing efficiently for SUV trips and camping weekends — especially for dogs that run warm and do better with lots of mesh ventilation.

The Good

• Collapsible design is genuinely helpful when you need the crate to pack down between destinations (or when you’re sharing cargo space with coolers and bags).
• Multiple mesh panels support airflow and line-of-sight, which can reduce “boxed in” stress for some dogs during downtime.
• Good fit for travel containment at the destination: hotel rooms, campsites, and event setups.
• Owner feedback specifically calls out easy fold-up and SUV-friendly storage.
• When used as intended (temporary containment), it can be a strong value compared with heavier rigid kennels.

The Bad

• Soft crates are typically less escape-resistant than rigid plastic/rotomolded kennels — not ideal for committed chewers.
• Zippers are a common failure point across soft crates; if your dog paws hard at doors, you may need a tougher containment style.
• Not meant to substitute for a crash-tested travel restraint in a moving car.

Our Take: If your main goal is a breathable, packable crate for the destination (and you’re realistic about zipper limits), this LE SURE model is a smart travel companion for SUV-based trips.

Dakota283 283 Rough and Tough Economy Dog Crate Large

Best for: Road-trippers who want a more rigid kennel-style crate than soft-sided options — for example, a medium-to-large dog that pushes on crate walls when excited at new places.

The Good

• Hard-sided kennel format is typically more supportive than fabric crates when a dog leans into the sides.
• A sensible “step up” option if you’ve had soft crates collapse, bow, or get scratched up during frequent packing/unpacking.
• Some owner feedback frames it as a cost-conscious alternative to other premium rigid travel kennels.
• Better suited than soft crates for muddy paws and messy travel days, since rigid shells tend to wipe down more easily.

The Bad

• Owner reports include complaints about latch/door usability — a big deal when you’re loading and unloading at gas stations or rest stops.
• Not necessarily a solution for serious escape artists; at least one buyer reports a dog was able to bend/chew an exit point.
• Rigid kennels are bulkier and heavier to move — plan for where it will live in your vehicle.

Our Take: This Dakota283 is worth considering if you specifically want a rigid travel kennel on a lower budget than top-tier options, but we’d be cautious if your dog is a determined chewer or has a history of escaping through doors.

Lucky Kennel Intermediate – Prairie Tan

Best for: Frequent travelers — especially outdoorsy families who want a premium kennel ecosystem and are willing to plan carefully for vehicle fit, weight, and securement.

The Good

• Travel-focused kennel lineup and accessories can be appealing if you’re building a consistent “loadout” for repeated trips.
• Often discussed in the context of vehicle and truck-bed travel routines, where durability and containment matter more than pack-flat convenience.
• Premium-tier option for owners who want to invest once rather than replace a softer crate after a season of use.

The Bad

• Higher price tier — not ideal if you only travel a few times per year.
• Heavier/bulkier than soft crates, so it can be annoying to remove from the vehicle at destinations.

Our Take: If you travel a lot and want to standardize on a premium kennel, Lucky Kennel is a solid “build the system around it” choice — just don’t assume any kennel is crash-safe without credible, clearly stated testing and proper securement.

FAQ

What size travel crate should I get for my dog, and how do I measure correctly?

Start with your dog’s measurements, then confirm the crate’s internal space is appropriate for standing, turning around, and lying down comfortably. A common approach is measuring length from nose to the base of the tail and height from the floor to the top of the head (or ears, if they stand up), then choosing a crate that gives comfortable clearance without being so oversized that your dog slides around in the car.

How do I make sure a crate fits my vehicle cargo area or back seat before I buy?

Measure the usable space where the crate will ride: the cargo opening height/width (for loading) and the flat floor footprint (for driving). Compare those numbers to the crate’s exterior dimensions and think through door orientation — for example, a three-door soft crate can be easier to position in a tight SUV cargo area because you can choose the most convenient entry side.

Are soft-sided crates safe to use in a moving car?

Soft-sided crates are generally best treated as destination crates (hotel room, campsite, event benching) rather than crash protection. Safety organizations like the Center for Pet Safety emphasize that crash protection is a different standard than basic containment — if in-car safety is your goal, look specifically for credible crash testing claims and use appropriate tie-down points so the crate can’t slide or tip in sudden stops.

What latch or zipper features help prevent escapes while traveling?

For rigid crates, look for doors that close squarely and latches that feel positive and hard to “paw” open; shaky doors and finicky latches are frustrating on the road. For soft crates, prioritize zippers that run smoothly, don’t gap at corners, and are protected by fabric flaps; if your dog paws at zippers, soft crates can fail quickly, so a hard-sided kennel may be the safer containment choice for your trip style.

How do I manage ventilation and heat risk when traveling in an SUV?

Prioritize airflow and avoid blocking vents or mesh with luggage, especially in SUVs where cargo areas can get warm. The AVMA’s pet travel advice stresses that leaving pets in parked vehicles is dangerous even for short periods — ventilation in a crate doesn’t make a hot car safe; for broader travel considerations, the FAA’s guidance on traveling with pets is also a helpful baseline for planning and safety mindset.

What’s the most travel-friendly crate style for hotels and short stays?

For hotels, vacation rentals, and quick overnight stops, a folding soft crate is usually the easiest to carry, quickest to set up, and simplest to stash when not in use. Picks like the EliteField or LE SURE styles make sense here because you can collapse them between stops — just use them for supervised containment at the destination, not as your primary in-car crash safety plan.

Should I buy a crate that’s bigger “so my dog has more room” on long drives?

Not necessarily. Evidence-based safety guidance for pet travel generally favors secure containment that prevents excessive movement during sudden stops; an oversized crate can let a dog slide or tumble. Aim for comfortable posture (stand/turn/lie down) without huge extra space, and talk with your vet if your dog has mobility issues, anxiety, or heat sensitivity that might change what “comfortable” looks like.

Bottom Line

For most travelers who want a crate that’s easy to carry, quick to set up, and convenient at hotels or campsites, the EliteField 3-Door Folding Soft Dog Crate is our best overall pick. Choose a soft crate when you need portable containment at your destination, and consider a more rigid kennel-style option when you need sturdier containment — but for true in-vehicle impact protection, prioritize credible crash testing, correct sizing, and securement practices over any general “travel crate” marketing.

Affiliate disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission if you make a purchase.