Finding a pet-friendly hotel sounds like a simple task until you actually try to do it for a multi-day PCS drive. The hotel says pets are welcome. You call ahead and find out they mean small dogs only. Or they accept pets but charge $75 per night per animal. Or they’re great about pets but sold out of pet-designated rooms in your price range because PCS season is also vacation season.

This post covers what you actually need to know: what the military covers (and doesn’t), how to find pet-friendly lodging along your route, which hotel chains are consistently worth checking, and what to expect from on-base options and TLE.

For everything else related to pets and moving, check out our Guide to PCSing With Pets.

What the military covers for pet lodging

As of January 1, 2024, the JTR (paragraph 050107) authorizes reimbursement for certain pet relocation costs. Hotel pet charges are explicitly listed as a reimbursable expense.

Here’s the breakdown:

• CONUS moves: up to $550 per PCS order
• OCONUS moves: up to $2,000 per PCS order
• Eligible expenses include hotel pet charges, microchipping, boarding fees, licensing fees at the new installation, and pet shipping fees if the pet travels separately
• Only cats and dogs qualify. Only one pet per service member per PCS order.
• Only applies to PCS orders with an effective date of January 1, 2024 or later

The reimbursement doesn’t cover everything, but it covers a meaningful chunk. Keep every hotel pet fee receipt and submit with your travel voucher.

Your lodging reimbursement covers the room rate up to the GSA per diem rate for that location, and pet charges can be claimed separately up to your applicable limit, so make sure your receipt shows both.

Curious what else the military pays for? Check out our Complete Guide to PCS Entitlements.

Why “pet-friendly” doesn’t mean what you think it means

Unfortunately, “pet-friendly” is almost meaninglessly broad. A hotel can call itself pet-friendly and mean any of the following:

• Dogs under 25 lbs only
• Dogs only, no cats
• One pet per room maximum
• Pets allowed in specific room types only, which may or may not be available when you book
• Certain breeds restricted or banned entirely
• Non-refundable pet deposit required on arrival

The only way to know for sure is to call the specific property, not the parent chain’s 1-800 number, and ask directly. Policies vary by location even within the same brand. This is worth the five-minute phone call before you drive three hours to a hotel that won’t take your 70-pound dog.

Pet-Friendly Hotel chains worth knowing about

La Quinta by Wyndham

Consistently one of the most pet-friendly major chains. Most locations have no weight limit and no pet fee, which is unusual. Policies vary by franchise location so always confirm, but it’s the right first search for most pet owners on a road trip.

Kimpton Hotels

No size restrictions, no breed restrictions, and no pet fees at most locations. Kimpton is also known for honoring government per diem rates, which can make them more affordable than their rack rates suggest. Often a higher price point than La Quinta, but worth checking if there’s a location on your route — especially if you have a large dog or multiple pets.

Motel 6

Accepts pets at most locations with no additional fee, with budget-friendly option for families trying to stay under the lodging per diem. Quality varies significantly by location, so check reviews before booking, but it’s a reliable fallback on routes where options are limited.

Extended Stay America

Good option if you’re doing more than a few nights in one place. Most locations accept pets with a one-time fee rather than a nightly charge. Rooms usually have kitchenettes and larger floorplans, which makes longer stays more manageable with animals.

BringFido as a search tool

BringFido is the most comprehensive pet-friendly hotel database available. You can filter by pet size, fees, and amenities, and the listings include user reviews from pet owners specifically. It’s not perfect, but it’s the most efficient starting point for building out your overnight stops. Use it to generate a shortlist, then call each property to confirm.

On-base lodging: worth checking, Maybe not worth counting on

On-base lodging can be a cost-effective option on a PCS route and is often priced at or below the local per diem rate. For pet owners, though, it comes with caveats.

Availability of pet-friendly rooms on base is limited at most installations. Breed restrictions are common, particularly for breeds labeled as aggressive by DoD policy. And during PCS season, rooms fill up fast because you’re not the only military family on the road.

If you want to use on-base lodging as a stop on your route, check availability as soon as you have travel dates and book immediately. Have a civilian hotel backup ready for every night.

TLE and pets: what you need to know

Temporary Lodging Expense covers short-term housing costs at your losing or gaining installation while you’re between permanent housing situations. It’s authorized for up to 21 days CONUS, and it’s separate from your travel per diem.

The catch for pet owners: not all TLE-eligible lodging accepts pets. On-base options may have breed restrictions or limited availability for pet owners. Off-base options that fall within the TLE reimbursement rate may or may not accept pets depending on the property.

The key is to start looking before you have orders in hand, not after. As soon as your gaining installation and report date are confirmed, start checking TLE lodging options and availability. Pet-friendly TLE fills up faster than you’d expect, and being stuck without a place for your pets while you’re waiting for housing is a genuinely stressful situation.

Also worth noting: Your TLE reimbursement covers lodging up to the locality per diem rate — and hotel pet charges incurred during the PCS can be claimed separately under JTR 050107 up to your $550 CONUS limit.

Practical tips for booking pet-friendly lodging on a PCS route

• Book lodging before you book anything else. Pet-friendly rooms go fast during PCS season (most of us PCS in the summer, which is also when a lot of families travel).
• Always call the specific property to confirm pet acceptance, size limits, breed restrictions, and fees.
• Ask whether they accept cats specifically if you have cats. Many dog-friendly hotels don’t allow cats.
• Ask about the fee structure: per pet per night, flat one-time fee, or refundable deposit.
• Keep all pet fee receipts, even items under $75. Hotel pet charges are reimbursable under JTR 050107.

Know your stops before you leave

The easiest way to plan pet-friendly stops on a PCS drive is to know where you’ll be stopping each night, and then use pet-friendly filters around those locations rather than picking hotels at random.

Our free PCS road trip planner maps your route, calculates your per diem, and identifies logical overnight stops so you can build your lodging plan around your actual entitlements.

Frequently asked questions about pet-friendly hotels