Road Trip Itinerary: Minnesota → Missouri → Dallas → Home
Trip Overview
- Departure: Friday, September 12 from Edina, MN
- Return: Sunday, September 21 to Edina, MN
- Travelers: 2 adults + 2 large labradoodles
- Max driving: 7 hours per day
Day 1: Friday, September 12
Edina, MN → Des Moines, IA
- Departure: 8:00 AM
- Drive Time: ~4 hours (250 miles)
- Arrival: 12:00 PM
- Tourist Stop: Pappajohn Sculpture Park (dog-friendly outdoor art installation)
- Overnight: Dog-friendly hotel in Des Moines
- Evening: Explore East Village district for dinner
Day 2: Saturday, September 13
Des Moines, IA → Big Cedar Lodge, MO
- Departure: 9:00 AM
- Drive Time: ~5.5 hours (350 miles)
- Tourist Stop: Harry S. Truman State Park (quick stop for dogs to stretch)
- Arrival: 3:30 PM at Big Cedar Lodge
- Evening: Settle in, explore the resort with dogs
Days 3-4: Sunday-Monday, September 14-15
Big Cedar Lodge, Missouri (3-day stay)
- Activities at Big Cedar:
- Dog-friendly hiking trails on the property
- Table Rock Lake (dogs allowed on beaches)
- Dogwood Canyon Nature Park (nearby, dog-friendly trails)
- Tourist Attraction: Silver Dollar City theme park (one adult can go while other stays with dogs, or take turns)
- Relaxation: Enjoy resort amenities, lakeside walks with dogs
Day 5: Tuesday, September 16
Big Cedar Lodge → Oklahoma City, OK
- Departure: 9:00 AM
- Drive Time: ~6 hours (380 miles)
- Tourist Stop: Gathering Place Park in Tulsa (dog-friendly riverside park)
- Arrival: 4:00 PM in Oklahoma City
- Overnight: Dog-friendly hotel
- Evening: Bricktown district for dinner
Day 6: Wednesday, September 17
Oklahoma City → Dallas, TX
- Departure: 10:00 AM
- Drive Time: ~3.5 hours (210 miles)
- Tourist Stop: Fort Worth Stockyards (historic area, dogs allowed in outdoor areas)
- Arrival: 3:00 PM in Dallas
- Overnight: Dog-friendly hotel in Dallas
- Evening: Prep for DisruptHR event, find dog-friendly restaurant
Day 7: Thursday, September 18
Dallas - DisruptHR Event Day
- DisruptHR Event: Evening event
- Daytime: Deep Ellum district exploration (dog-friendly patios and shops)
- Dog Care: One person attends event while other stays with dogs, or arrange pet-sitting
- Overnight: Same Dallas hotel
Day 8: Friday, September 19
Dallas - HR Business Club Event & Travel
- HR Business Club: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Dog Care: Arrange pet-sitting service or one person stays with dogs
- 5:30 PM: Departure from Dallas
- Drive Time: ~3.5 hours (220 miles)
- Tourist Stop: Oklahoma City, OK - Bricktown for dinner and evening dog walk
- Arrival: 9:30 PM in Oklahoma City
- Overnight: Dog-friendly hotel in Oklahoma City
Day 9: Saturday, September 20
Oklahoma City → Kansas City, MO
- Departure: 9:00 AM
- Drive Time: ~3 hours (200 miles)
- Arrival: 12:00 PM in Kansas City
- Check-in: Hampton Inn & Suites Country Club Plaza (allows 2 dogs up to 75 lbs each, $75 pet fee for 1-night stay)
- 1:00 PM: Lunch break and dog walk on Country Club Plaza
- 2:00 PM: Visit National Museum of Toys and Miniatures (Star Wars exhibit!)
- Museum Hours: Open 10 AM - 4 PM (plenty of time now!)
- Location: 5235 Oak St (on UMKC campus, about 2 miles from your hotel)
- Admission: $10 adults, $8 seniors
- Note: Dogs stay at hotel during museum visit
- 4:30 PM: Return to hotel, evening dog walk
- Evening: Kansas City Power & Light District for dinner
- Overnight: Hampton Inn & Suites Country Club Plaza
Day 10: Sunday, September 21
Kansas City → Edina, MN
- Departure: 9:00 AM
- Drive Time: ~6 hours (380 miles)
- Tourist Stop: Des Moines, IA - Gray's Lake Park (final dog walk and stretch)
- Arrival: 4:00 PM back home in Edina
Important Notes for Dog Travel
Packing Essentials
- Dog food for 10 days + extra
- Water and travel bowls
- Leashes, waste bags, toys
- Dog beds/blankets for hotels
- Vaccination records
- First aid kit for dogs
Hotel Booking Tips
- Call ahead to confirm pet policies
- Book pet-friendly rooms early
- Budget for pet fees ($25-50/night typically)
- Request ground floor rooms when possible
Travel Comfort
- Plan stops every 2-3 hours for dog breaks
- Bring familiar items to help dogs adjust to new places
- Keep dogs secured with harnesses or carriers while driving
Recommended Dog-Friendly Hotel Chains
- La Quinta Inn & Suites
- Red Roof Inn
- Kimpton Hotels
- Extended Stay America
Total Trip Stats
- Total Miles: ~2,200 miles
- Total Driving Time: ~35 hours over 6 driving days
- Average Daily Drive: 5.8 hours (well under your 7-hour limit)
- States Visited: Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas