Moving from Tucson to Seattle with pets, snowflake edition
March 4, 2016 6:21 AM Subscribe
My mother and I will be relocating later this year [no date yet, perhaps summer or fall] from Tucson to Seattle. In this our first* question, we are wondering about our various moving options, complicated by having pets.
Our dream would be to take about a week to drive to Seattle from Tucson via I-5 and I-101, stopping to see the sights and friends along the way, but reality will require us to do it on a budget.
Our current thought is that we will pack our stuff up in pods to be trucked up there.
We are trying to get our heads around making this move responsibly with 3 companion animals: Audrey, a middle-aged greyhound, Artemus, a geriatric greyhound, and Butterball, our 22 pound cat.
Having them in the car (a Honda CRV) for a week-long road trip doesn’t seem doable. Hotels, if they allow pets at all, have a two pet maximum, and most seem to charge a lot. We can’t leave them in the car while eating or seeing sights, but it’s the rare restaurant or museum that will allow animals. How would we take care of the cat’s toileting needs?
We've begun to explore the option of a one-way RV rental, but are being stymied by the fact that we don't yet have concrete moving dates, it's VERY expensive, and Tucson doesn't seem to be an originating city for such rentals. The closest I've seen in my searches are Las Vegas and Denver.
We've learned about 'driveaway' services, where an RV owner contracts with you to reposition their RV. I'm trying to track down some online communities where such negotiations might happen, but so far no luck. There is a strong snowbird connection between Tucson and Seattle, so it seems like it could be doable, if I knew where to look.
Is flying them up the best solution? If so,
* Can you share your experiences if you have done this before?
* What airlines have good reputations transporting animals?
* Are there greyhound-sized airline-approved crates?
* Are crates something that can be borrowed or rented?
Are there other ways to get the animals up to Seattle that we haven't yet considered? Can you help us see options that we aren’t able to imagine?
Bonus points for must-see sights and vegan-friendly restaurants on our route. Eternal gratitude if you have or know of a place where we can stay cheaply.
* I imagine I will be writing in with other relocation- and Seattle-related questions, because snowflakes.
Our dream would be to take about a week to drive to Seattle from Tucson via I-5 and I-101, stopping to see the sights and friends along the way, but reality will require us to do it on a budget.
Our current thought is that we will pack our stuff up in pods to be trucked up there.
We are trying to get our heads around making this move responsibly with 3 companion animals: Audrey, a middle-aged greyhound, Artemus, a geriatric greyhound, and Butterball, our 22 pound cat.
Having them in the car (a Honda CRV) for a week-long road trip doesn’t seem doable. Hotels, if they allow pets at all, have a two pet maximum, and most seem to charge a lot. We can’t leave them in the car while eating or seeing sights, but it’s the rare restaurant or museum that will allow animals. How would we take care of the cat’s toileting needs?
We've begun to explore the option of a one-way RV rental, but are being stymied by the fact that we don't yet have concrete moving dates, it's VERY expensive, and Tucson doesn't seem to be an originating city for such rentals. The closest I've seen in my searches are Las Vegas and Denver.
We've learned about 'driveaway' services, where an RV owner contracts with you to reposition their RV. I'm trying to track down some online communities where such negotiations might happen, but so far no luck. There is a strong snowbird connection between Tucson and Seattle, so it seems like it could be doable, if I knew where to look.
Is flying them up the best solution? If so,
* Can you share your experiences if you have done this before?
* What airlines have good reputations transporting animals?
* Are there greyhound-sized airline-approved crates?
* Are crates something that can be borrowed or rented?
Are there other ways to get the animals up to Seattle that we haven't yet considered? Can you help us see options that we aren’t able to imagine?
Bonus points for must-see sights and vegan-friendly restaurants on our route. Eternal gratitude if you have or know of a place where we can stay cheaply.
* I imagine I will be writing in with other relocation- and Seattle-related questions, because snowflakes.
If it were me, I would drive them up in 3 long-ish days, with two hotel stays. No sightseeing on this kind of trip. In fact, we did something incredibly similar (San Antonio to Pittsburgh) with two greyounds, an SUV, and a moving van.
It's really really common to stay one night at cheap, pet-friendly motels like Motel 6 or La Quinta and just... don't mention the cat. I mean, if you wanted to be perfectly within the guidelines, you could rent two rooms. My friends moved cross-country by car with 3 cats and a dog, staying in motels most nights, so it's possible.
The dogs can sleep in the back of the CRV with the seats down, on dog beds. The cat can stay in a carrier. I don't know the exact configuration of the CRV, but I'd try to put the cat's litterbox in the footwell of the back seat and when you let the dogs out to potty (we stopped every couple of hours for everyone's comfort), let the cat out inside the car to use the litterbox. Or maybe you could get a car hammock for the backseat and your dogs would be comfortable there, while the cat is in the way back with their litterbox.
posted by muddgirl at 7:02 AM on March 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
It's really really common to stay one night at cheap, pet-friendly motels like Motel 6 or La Quinta and just... don't mention the cat. I mean, if you wanted to be perfectly within the guidelines, you could rent two rooms. My friends moved cross-country by car with 3 cats and a dog, staying in motels most nights, so it's possible.
The dogs can sleep in the back of the CRV with the seats down, on dog beds. The cat can stay in a carrier. I don't know the exact configuration of the CRV, but I'd try to put the cat's litterbox in the footwell of the back seat and when you let the dogs out to potty (we stopped every couple of hours for everyone's comfort), let the cat out inside the car to use the litterbox. Or maybe you could get a car hammock for the backseat and your dogs would be comfortable there, while the cat is in the way back with their litterbox.
posted by muddgirl at 7:02 AM on March 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
I did a Minnesota to Maine move with one cat: the pet-friendly hotels were fine. (However, most of them have a 'you can't leave the pets alone' rule, which limits what you can do when you get there.)
A friend was helping me do the driving, so during the day, one of us was always with the cat in the car, with the AC running (it was August), and then I'd check into the hotel, and we'd bring the cat in once we had the room.
The cat was much happier in a harness attached to the seat belt than she would have been in the cat carrier: she had enough room to move around (and to get to a small travel litter box, though I don't think she ever actually used it while we were driving) and whenever we stopped for gas/food/stretch our legs (about every 2 hours) we'd see if she wanted water or food.
We did have to fiddle a little with the leash to make it so she couldn't suddenly climb the back of the driver's seat, but the harness and leash combo meant we didn't have to worry about her being loose in the car and generally had more control, but that she wasn't miserable in the carrier.
posted by modernhypatia at 7:08 AM on March 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
A friend was helping me do the driving, so during the day, one of us was always with the cat in the car, with the AC running (it was August), and then I'd check into the hotel, and we'd bring the cat in once we had the room.
The cat was much happier in a harness attached to the seat belt than she would have been in the cat carrier: she had enough room to move around (and to get to a small travel litter box, though I don't think she ever actually used it while we were driving) and whenever we stopped for gas/food/stretch our legs (about every 2 hours) we'd see if she wanted water or food.
We did have to fiddle a little with the leash to make it so she couldn't suddenly climb the back of the driver's seat, but the harness and leash combo meant we didn't have to worry about her being loose in the car and generally had more control, but that she wasn't miserable in the carrier.
posted by modernhypatia at 7:08 AM on March 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Is it possible to skip sightseeing on this trip? The moving/sightseeing combo is tricky.
Here's another way to do this: mom and cat fly to Seattle with cat in underseat carrier. A direct flight would be best, if available. Then you drive with the dogs.
It's harder for you, driving solo (unless a friend could join you?), but I'm guessing much better for the animals.
posted by bluedaisy at 7:14 AM on March 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Here's another way to do this: mom and cat fly to Seattle with cat in underseat carrier. A direct flight would be best, if available. Then you drive with the dogs.
It's harder for you, driving solo (unless a friend could join you?), but I'm guessing much better for the animals.
posted by bluedaisy at 7:14 AM on March 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
My ex and I spent a week driving from Indiana to Seattle with our dog. We usually camped, staying in a pet friendly hotel one night. We focused on outdoor sight-seeing, though he did go to a brewery in St. Louis and an environmental institute while I roamed around the streets with our dog. Oh, and we stayed at a relative's one night and were able to leave the dog there while we did some sight-seeing.
We got some fast food but mostly cooked on a camp stove.
With three pets and since it sounds like you're not campers, I don't know that including sight-seeing beyond "let's stop at this overlook" will be much fun for you. But it is definitely possible!
posted by metasarah at 7:57 AM on March 4, 2016
We got some fast food but mostly cooked on a camp stove.
With three pets and since it sounds like you're not campers, I don't know that including sight-seeing beyond "let's stop at this overlook" will be much fun for you. But it is definitely possible!
posted by metasarah at 7:57 AM on March 4, 2016
I drove from New York to Portland, OR with my 65-pound dog. You're right that you can't do much sightseeing--however, we drove through a couple of national parks, which you can do with a dog in the car, and we got out a few times and left him in the car for a few minutes (this was in March, I wouldn't do this after May or so.) It's definitely doable.
For meals, we just did drive-thrus or things that one of us could run in and get, and ate in the car. At night my dog was fine to chill in the hotel room for a couple of hours while we went out and got dinner, etc. but obviously this depends on your pets.
If you do drive, I would strongly recommend getting a rated pet harness that the seat belt goes through--the only one that I found that actually was rated to keep a dog stationary and upright in a crash was made by Sleepypod. Luckily nothing ever happened, but if you do get into an accident you don't want 2 dogs and a cat flying around the car. Safer for them and you.
posted by Automocar at 8:18 AM on March 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
For meals, we just did drive-thrus or things that one of us could run in and get, and ate in the car. At night my dog was fine to chill in the hotel room for a couple of hours while we went out and got dinner, etc. but obviously this depends on your pets.
If you do drive, I would strongly recommend getting a rated pet harness that the seat belt goes through--the only one that I found that actually was rated to keep a dog stationary and upright in a crash was made by Sleepypod. Luckily nothing ever happened, but if you do get into an accident you don't want 2 dogs and a cat flying around the car. Safer for them and you.
posted by Automocar at 8:18 AM on March 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
We're doing something similar, except a 3,000-mile move with a cat, a dog, a rabbit, and a kid. We are driving across and staying at pet-friendly places. We probably won't mention the rabbit. We're aiming to not drive too long every day, because I doubt the cat will relieve herself while on the road so we'll get the pets set up relatively early every evening. We are using ABF U-Pack (the trailer option) -- they have pods, called ReloCubes, if you think that's a better option for your particular situation.
Note that some (most?) airlines limit the number of animals per plane.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:19 AM on March 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Note that some (most?) airlines limit the number of animals per plane.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:19 AM on March 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Seconding LaQuinta for pet-friendly motels. With our cats, spraying the car with Feliway fifteen minutes before you set out is also helpful. The calming effect is good for about 7 hours of driving.
posted by yarntheory at 10:30 AM on March 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by yarntheory at 10:30 AM on March 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
No one has addressed your RV-related questions, so let me try.
If you want to enjoy leisurely, comfortable travel with pets, IMHO RVing is the best way to go. CruiseAmerica has depots in both Tucson and Seattle. Yes, rentals can look pricey, but consider the added value of being able to carry and cook your own meals, leave the pets safely in the rig while you sightsee, and save on nightly accommodations -- typically, RV parks will run $30-45/night, including full hookups and often WiFi and cable as well. (If your unit has a generator, you might even consider "boondocking" -- spending the night parked for free at a shopping center, a truck stop, or other safe location.) Many RV parks even have a fenced off-leash pet area where you can let those greys stretch their legs.
A class B or small class C rig is your best choice for two people; they're easier on fuel, easier to drive and easier to park. It takes a few minutes to set up at a site, but I find it much less headache than hauling suitcases, coolers, pets and their gear, etc., up to a motel room every night and back out again every morning. And in an RV, you know exactly how clean the bedding and toilet seat are.
Driveaways are a thing, but as you've discovered, private party arrangements are tough to find. I don't know of any central site. TBH, I think most RVers would be reluctant to turn their keys over to someone without solid RV driving experience, especially someone transporting pets. The risks of damage are just too high.
If renting is out of reach, an RV might still be a good option for pet transport. Check the RVers With Pets forums at RV.net, IRV2.com and Escapees.com. Rescue organizations have been known to appeal there for help transporting shelter animals cross-country to foster care or new homes -- you may be able to connect with a pet-loving RVer who would be happy to take your greys and kitty north, with considerably less stress than flying them.
posted by peakcomm at 11:20 AM on March 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
If you want to enjoy leisurely, comfortable travel with pets, IMHO RVing is the best way to go. CruiseAmerica has depots in both Tucson and Seattle. Yes, rentals can look pricey, but consider the added value of being able to carry and cook your own meals, leave the pets safely in the rig while you sightsee, and save on nightly accommodations -- typically, RV parks will run $30-45/night, including full hookups and often WiFi and cable as well. (If your unit has a generator, you might even consider "boondocking" -- spending the night parked for free at a shopping center, a truck stop, or other safe location.) Many RV parks even have a fenced off-leash pet area where you can let those greys stretch their legs.
A class B or small class C rig is your best choice for two people; they're easier on fuel, easier to drive and easier to park. It takes a few minutes to set up at a site, but I find it much less headache than hauling suitcases, coolers, pets and their gear, etc., up to a motel room every night and back out again every morning. And in an RV, you know exactly how clean the bedding and toilet seat are.
Driveaways are a thing, but as you've discovered, private party arrangements are tough to find. I don't know of any central site. TBH, I think most RVers would be reluctant to turn their keys over to someone without solid RV driving experience, especially someone transporting pets. The risks of damage are just too high.
If renting is out of reach, an RV might still be a good option for pet transport. Check the RVers With Pets forums at RV.net, IRV2.com and Escapees.com. Rescue organizations have been known to appeal there for help transporting shelter animals cross-country to foster care or new homes -- you may be able to connect with a pet-loving RVer who would be happy to take your greys and kitty north, with considerably less stress than flying them.
posted by peakcomm at 11:20 AM on March 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
I would also just not mention the cat for the 2-pet maximum hotels.
If you decide to drive up through Utah instead, Best Friends Animal Society has cottages you can rent for a reasonable price (even cheaper if you donate to the org) and they allow up to 3 pets. You can also leave the pets unattended in the cottage, provided they're well behaved. The sanctuary is right near Zion, so you could do some sightseeing while you're there.
KOA has cabins you can rent as well (usually you have to bring your own linens and may have to use a communal bathroom), some allow pets. I've stayed in a few on a road trip, they're not super nice but better than a tent and totally doable for a single night (maybe alternate with a hotel stay).
We moved my mother in law across the country using a Relocube - it was affordable and low-hassle. Definitely cheaper than the gas/Uhaul would be and way cheaper than the other pod rental options.
posted by melissasaurus at 11:29 AM on March 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
If you decide to drive up through Utah instead, Best Friends Animal Society has cottages you can rent for a reasonable price (even cheaper if you donate to the org) and they allow up to 3 pets. You can also leave the pets unattended in the cottage, provided they're well behaved. The sanctuary is right near Zion, so you could do some sightseeing while you're there.
KOA has cabins you can rent as well (usually you have to bring your own linens and may have to use a communal bathroom), some allow pets. I've stayed in a few on a road trip, they're not super nice but better than a tent and totally doable for a single night (maybe alternate with a hotel stay).
We moved my mother in law across the country using a Relocube - it was affordable and low-hassle. Definitely cheaper than the gas/Uhaul would be and way cheaper than the other pod rental options.
posted by melissasaurus at 11:29 AM on March 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
There are quite a few restaurants around here that allow pets at outside tables-I bet you can find a website that would guide you to these so you can relax a bit and eat something other than fast food.
posted by purenitrous at 7:50 PM on March 4, 2016
posted by purenitrous at 7:50 PM on March 4, 2016
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ABF UPack is a good 'pod' transportation.
Start taking your animals on short car rides. If everyone is chill, you know you've got good travelers. Makes sure EVERYONE has a leash on and that you have a process for removing animals from the car for potty breaks and leg stretches. Talk to your vet about meds you might need (car sickness, anxiety, etc.) Don't bet Butterball won't turn into Lightening.
You can get your CRV tricked out in the back for the dogs with barriers and dog beds, and get a nice big crate for Butterball, then just put your luggage in the back with kitty. Now you're rocking.
Don't over think this. My friend moved with a three year old, a husband, her mother a dog and 4 cats from California to North Carolina. It can be done! You can do it!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:55 AM on March 4, 2016 [1 favorite]