10 Best Travel Crates for Dogs – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Traveling with your pet can be stressful, whether it’s a trip to the vet or a week-long camping trip. It’s important to find a way to keep your pet safe and contained when driving while also providing your dog a place to sleep at night. However, no two crates are the same, and it’s crucial to research and find the right option. Thankfully, we did the hard work for you and found ten awesome travel crates based on customer reviews. If you’re looking for a travel carrier, read on to see which of the 10 Travel Crates for Dogs are the best option for you:

(Dimensions are for medium-sized crates. Each model on our list has other size options.)

A Quick Glance at Our Favorites of 2024

The 10 Best Travel Crates for Dogs

1. Frisco Indoor & Outdoor Collapsible Soft-Sided Crate – Best Overall

The Frisco Indoor & Outdoor Soft-Sided Dog Crate is a soft-style popup crate that stands out amongst the others as the best overall travel dog crate. The main part of the crate is a lightweight canvas material, which is water-resistant and easy to carry. It folds up easily and can fit just about anywhere, whether you’re packing it in a trunk or storing it in a closet.

Another great feature of the Frisco Soft-Sided Crate is the outer pocket, which can store your dog’s food, treats, and other dog essentials. There are three zip-up mesh doors that roll up with clips to keep the doors open, giving your dog more ventilation and access points. The best part of the Frisco Soft-Sided crate is its inclusivity, available in multiple sizes to accommodate small and large dogs.

While we really like the quality and design of this crate, there’s no padding on the bottom, so you’ll need to bring a crate pad if you’re traveling. It’s also not the best choice if you have a particularly destructive dog, so extreme chewers and diggers may ruin the crate within a few uses.

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2. SP Travel Kennel Dog Carrier – Best Value

The SP Travel Kennel Dog Carrier is a traditional hard-sided travel carrier for those on a budget and looking for the best carrier for the money. The plastic and metal are of great quality for the price, so you won’t have to worry about the integrity of the crate. The hard plastic shell is easy to clean and comes with a handle on top, making it easy to carry your dog while on the go. The SP Travel Carrier features a metal bar door with a latch-type lock, securing your dog as you’re traveling. It’s also IATA-Airline approved, so the carrier should pass most airline specifications for flying.

While we love the SP Travel Kennel Dog Carrier, it’s only available in three sizes that may not work for your dog. The sizes also run on the smaller side, which can be frustrating if you have a larger dog. However, for owners of medium sized dogs looking for a good quality hard-shell carrier without the premium price tag, the SP Travel Dog Carrier is a great option.

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3. MidWest Canine Camper Collapsible Soft-Sided Dog Crate – Premium Choice

The MidWest Canine Camper Single Door Collapsible Soft-Sided Dog Crate is a premium canvas-type soft crate for camping and traveling. It’s a lightweight design with a metal frame, which is easy to assemble and disassemble after use. The soft nylon canvas is water-resistant, so it’s a great choice for indoor and outdoor use. The MidWest Soft-Sided Crate collapses and folds down easily, making it easy to carry and store away after traveling. It also comes with a soft faux sheepskin pad for the bottom, giving your dog that extra comfort and padding while you’re on the go. The MidWest Soft-Sided crate is a premium-grade travel crate, so it tends to be more on the expensive side. It’s also not suitable for destructive dogs, especially dogs that like to claw, scratch, and chew at their enclosures. Otherwise, the MidWest Soft-Sided Crate is our premium choice pick and can be a great addition to your travel essentials.

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4. Frisco Plastic Dog & Cat Kennel – Best for Puppies

The Frisco Plastic Dog & Cat Kennel is a hard-sided travel pet carrier that is a great option for puppies and adult dogs. The main component of the crate uses damage-resistant hard plastic, so it can withstand scratching and clawing from within. The Frisco Plastic Kennel uses a metal door with latch-type locks, which is easy to open yet secure enough to keep your pet inside. It comes in a few different sizes for more options, so it’s not as limiting as other travel carriers. The best part is that it’s easy to clean and disinfect, which is incredibly important with puppies and dogs that aren’t yet housebroken.

However, the Frisco Plastic Kennel is on the expensive side, so it’s a bit of an investment to purchase one. The kennels also run on the smaller side, so they won’t work for dogs of all sizes. Aside from those potential issues, the Frisco is a great crate and a great option for puppies and small dogs.

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5. Precision Pet Products Collapsible Soft-Sided Dog Crate

The Precision Pet Products 4-Door Collapsible Soft-Sided Dog Crate is a collapsible popup crate for lightweight and convenient traveling. The outer material is a water-resistant canvas with mesh, so it provides protection for your dog and ventilation to prevent overheating. There are four separate doors with zippers on this model, which roll up and clip in place when not in use. It folds down easily for transportation, so it won’t take up a lot of space in your car or bags. It also has a big storage pocket on the outside, where you can put your dog’s food and treats while camping.

While there are some great features on the Precision Pet Collapsible crate, it’s not durable enough for dogs that like to chew and dig. The zippers on this model are a bit tough and may jam easily, so it does have a bit of a learning curve. Otherwise, this is a great collapsible soft-sided crate that could be a good option for you and your dog.

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6. Petmate Compass Dog Kennel

The Petmate Compass Dog Kennel is a hard-shell dog travel carrier for dogs that need a hard-sided crate. This model features a durable hard plastic outer shell, which is easy to clean and care for in case of accidents. One great feature is the wide-mouth entrance, making it easy for your dog to go in and out with ease. It also features a double-lock setup that allows the door to open left or right in case space is limited, and you can’t open it in one direction. However, the Petmate Compass Dog Kennel has no handle or grips for carrying, so you’ll have to find a way to carry your pet safely. It’s on the expensive side compared to other carriers, especially for bigger sizes. It also may not fit extra-large or giant-sized dogs, which may make this option not suitable for you. Otherwise, this is a good hard carrier and may be a good option for you and your dog.

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7. MidWest iCrate Fold and Carry Wire Dog Crate

The MidWest iCrate Fold and Carry Double Door Collapsible Wire Dog Crate is a great alternative to soft and hard plastic carriers. The crate features a coated metal structure with a durable plastic leak proof tray. This is the heaviest of the crates and will likely need two people to maneuver it, but the set up and take down are relatively quick and simple. This crate is very robust and a good option for dogs who dig and chew.  It has great ventilation and all round visibility of your pet.  Wire crates are especially useful for setting up a safe space for puppies and adult dogs, those that need restricting after surgery and for travel to pet friendly accommodation. This model comes with two possible access points, the front and side panels, a handle for carrying, 4 wheels to protect wooden floors and a divider panel. The MidWest iCrate comes in 6 sizes from xs to XL giving plenty of options.  A replacement liner can be purchased if needed.  On the down side if your pet prefers to be more private you would need to buy a separate cover and you may want to provide some comfy bedding too.  Some reviewers noted quality control issues such as latches not aligned properly.

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8. PetAmi Premium Airline Approved Soft-Sided Travel Carrier

The PetAmi Premium Airline Approved Soft-Sided Dog and Cat Travel Carrier is a carry-on style bag for flying and other types of travel. It features a duffel-bag style for easy carrying, as well as easy placement under your airplane seat. This duffel-bag carrier by PetAmi is a lightweight bag that is budget-friendly, as well as an alternative to other types of carriers. It also complies with most airline rules and regulations, so you can travel with your dog just about anywhere.

While the PetAmi is a great alternative to other carriers, it’s only suitable for toy and small-sized dogs. Another problem is with the plastic clips on the carry strap, which are not the best quality and may not be strong enough for heavier small breeds. It’s also not a durable material when it comes to extreme chewing and scratching, so we recommend trying other carriers for energetic or destructive dogs.

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9. MidWest Spree Hard-Sided Dog & Cat Kennel

The MidWest Spree Hard-Sided Dog & Cat Kennel is a hard-sided type of dog carrier for traveling and on-the-go transportation. It has a hard-plastic shell, which is easy to clean and lightweight enough to carry. It’s a budget-friendly hard-sided carrier, so it could possibly save you money. However, you get what you pay for with the MidWest Spree Kennel, which has hard plastic that feels and looks cheap. The locks also feature the same average-quality plastic, so they may end up breaking or snapping after a while.

Another issue with this carrier is that it’s only suitable for small dogs, so it’s not an option for dogs bigger than 18 pounds. Lastly, the carrying handle is fixed into the crate, so it can be really uncomfortable to carry heavier dogs. Although we recommend trying other models first, the MidWest Spree could be an option if you have a toy-sized dog.

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10. Petmate Two Door Top Load Plastic Carrier – Best for Small Dogs

The Petmate Two Door Top Load Plastic Dog Carrier is a hard-shell type of travel carrier. The outer shell is hard plastic, which is easy to clean and maintain if your dog has an accident. Coated steel wire doors offer good security for escape artists. It also comes with an ergonomic top handle, making it easy and comfortable to transport your dog to and from places. With the option of loading pets from the top or front door this can make it easier to get reluctant pets in.  This is one of the most economical carriers on our list. This model is approved for use on most airlines making it useful for trips further away.  It does require some assembly and some reviewers struggled with this.

Conclusion

When it comes to acquiring travel essentials for your dog, it’s important to find a travel carrier that fits your needs. It’s important to buy the right type of crate, whether it’s a collapsible soft-sided crate, hard plastic or wire crate. For the best overall travel crate, Frisco Indoor & Outdoor 3-Door Collapsible Soft-Sided Dog & Small Pet Crate exceeds expectations with high-quality material and features. For best value, the SP Travel Kennel Dog Carrier is our pick because it’s both affordable and durable. We hope our guide will help you find the best crate for you and your dog, so traveling will be as stress-free as possible.

• See Also: Best Dog Crates for RVs: Reviews & Top Picks

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Featured Image Credit: JakubD, Shutterstock