Two Dogs, a Kia Soul, and a Week of Unexpected Adventures
- Jul 27
- 11 min read
Updated: Jul 28
Our Dog-Friendly Road Trip to Kennerdell, PA
What started as a simple test of whether two adults, two dogs, and a Kia Soul could survive a week away turned into one of our favorite adventures — and changed the way I think about traveling with dogs.
The Question: Could We Actually Do This?
"Would you have any interest in renting this place in Kennerdell for a few nights this summer? You could see your parents. It's pet friendly. It's close to the river. I found it because I'm interested in riding the Sandy Creek Trail on my bike.”
That brief email message from Ted in April started it all.
He retires after this school year, and I'll have even more vacation time than I do now. We're excited, thinking about this next chapter of our lives and what it might look like.
We've been looking at conversion vans because we love the idea of taking more road trips with the dogs. But they're expensive, and as a two-person household, owning a third vehicle doesn't make much sense. Plus, spending days together in one tiny space sounds romantic until you remember one very important detail: there is absolutely no escaping each other.
I say that knowing full well I'm a lot to deal with. No one should be trapped with me for extended periods of time.
I'm a member of a private Facebook group — Traveling With Dogs — and someone recently posted about their driving trip from Denver to Canada, which is my dream trip. They did it by staying at dog-friendly Airbnbs along the way, which got us thinking: is that the way to go?
So we decided on a one-week test run to Pennsylvania.
It would be the boys' first long road trip (other than the rides home after we adopted them), their first time staying somewhere completely unfamiliar, and our first time trying the Airbnb approach.
But there was one more question we needed answered before any dreams of cross-country adventures could become reality: could my 2020 Kia Soul actually hold everything four humans and two dogs — wait, scratch that — two humans and two spoiled dogs needed for a week away?
Packing for the Unknown
Tom Petty may have been right about the waiting being the hardest part, but packing has to be a close second. How do you know what to bring for a trip you've never taken before?
In the weeks prior to the trip, much to my chagrin, we used the dining room table as the staging area for everything we'd bring. I found a packing list template on Google Docs and used it to outline everything we might need — toothbrushes, medications, coffee supplies, dog food, charging cables, hiking gear — everything we touched from the moment we got out of bed until we climbed back into it at night. Items went on the table, then got checked off. Some came off the list as we rethought them, but most stayed. I'd much rather bring something we never use than need something we left at home.
If you'd like to use my packing list as a starting point for your own trip, here's the Google Docs template I put together. Open the file, save a copy (File > Make a copy), and then customize it to your trip and specific needs.
Were there things we brought along that we didn't use? Absolutely. Since we never ended up taking the dogs on or near the water, the life jackets stayed packed. The weather and trails never called for the e-collars or long leads. And thankfully, the first-aid kit remained untouched.
I also asked ChatGPT to suggest things people often forget. A lot of those made the trip with us and were also unnecessary. One of the biggest lessons: trust the Airbnb listing. Ours said it supplied toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap, salt, pepper, and other kitchen basics — and it did. We packed backups of all of it and never touched them. Next time, that space is reserved for something more useful.
One of the smartest decisions we made — which admittedly isn't for everyone — was bringing food from home. It wasn't about pinching pennies so much as convenience. We don't mind eating out, but neither of us wants to do it for every meal.
We packed sandwich fixings, salad ingredients, our favorite dressings, and even a batch of homemade Hamburger Helper. We ended up being especially grateful for that decision the day severe storms rolled through. Instead of driving around looking for dinner in miserable weather, we already had everything we needed waiting at the cottage.
The Kia Soul Tetris Challenge
Once everything was assembled on the dining room table, it was time to load the car. I grouped everything into categories — dog supplies, human essentials, clothes, and electronics — before tackling the real challenge: playing Tetris with a Kia Soul.
Things we were taking but wouldn't need every day — dog life jackets, rain ponchos, an umbrella — came first, stashed under the front seats where they'd be easy to reach without eating into the more valuable cargo space.
You can see the life jackets peeking out from underneath the seat in the left image above. The seat cover kept everything tidy and in place while we were driving.
Dog supplies came next. Since we have a seat cover that creates a hammock of sorts, we used the floor space behind the seats to store food, feeder bowls, their first-aid kit, and an old bedspread for covering furniture. That part mattered to me because, even though the place was listed as pet-friendly, Gus sheds. A lot. And once GSP fur gets into or onto something, it's not coming off. I didn't want to damage our reputation on Airbnb, so we did everything we could to leave the cottage as clean as we found it.
The coolers, suitcases, and Ted's biking and running gear filled the cargo area, leaving just enough room to close the hatch.
Somehow, piece by piece, everything found a home. I still have no idea how we fit it all in there, but a Kia Soul really can hold everything two adults and two dogs need for a week-long trip.
Finding the Beauty We Drove Past for Years
It's funny how roads can fool you. The stretch of highway between I-80 and Oil City — the Z.H. Confair Memorial Highway — is one of the dullest drives I know. I spent years commuting it and assumed there was nothing worth seeing there.
I was wrong.
Just fifteen minutes off that highway are winding back roads, forested hillsides, quiet rivers, and trails I'd somehow missed when I lived there.
The road into Kennerdell is narrow and full of twists and turns that might have you holding your breath — especially if another car is coming the other way. But the closer you get, the more the scenery changes. The lush greenery and the Allegheny River are so beautiful they almost don't seem real.
Our cottage sat in the heart of Kennerdell, just steps from the river and a short drive from Clear Creek State Forest.
Even with houses nearby, it was incredibly quiet. You could hear the water flowing, the birds singing, and even the squirrels scampering across the road.
By the end of the trip, I was so immersed in my surroundings that it was hard to believe this was the same place where I grew up. It felt like foreign territory — and I didn't want to leave.
Turns Out the Woods Are My Happy Place
Growing up, I wasn't into nature. We develop our interests based on what we're exposed to, and since neither my parents nor my closest friends were exactly the Greenpeace types, neither was I.
That didn't change until I met Ted — he introduced me to camping, hiking, and eventually biking.
For years I thought the beach was my happy place, but it’s not. It's the woods. This trip confirmed it.
A Landscape Shaped by Rivers, Rails, and Resilience
As beautiful as this area is today, it wasn't always a quiet escape into nature.
Before there were roads or railways, rivers were America's highways. Kennerdell exists because of the sweeping bend in the Allegheny River, which made it an ideal location for early settlers. The creeks tumbling down the surrounding hillsides provided an endless source of water power, making the area a natural fit for mills, lumber, and eventually the iron industry.
By the 1830s, the forests were filled with the sounds of axes, sawmills, and the Rockland Furnace. Trees were harvested to make charcoal, which was then used to smelt iron ore into pig iron. The finished iron, along with enormous quantities of timber, was loaded onto wooden flatboats and floated downstream to Pittsburgh, where it helped fuel the Steel City’s rapid growth.
As transportation evolved, the railroad replaced the river. But the Allegheny River's dramatic horseshoe bends created a problem: trains had to follow every curve, adding miles to the journey while also navigating steep cliffs that were prone to rockslides and ice jams.
Rather than continue winding around the mountains, engineers chose to go through them. I repeat — someone looked at that massive block of rock and said, "Hey, I think we can just make a big hole in that." It's equal parts impressive and insane.
Between 1912 and 1916, workers blasted and carved two massive tunnels through solid rock near Kennerdell — grueling work, done largely by hand with steam-powered drills, dynamite, and an incredible amount of determination. The completed tunnels shortened the railroad by several miles and made travel both faster and safer.
Today, those trains are long gone. And instead of letting the abandoned rail corridor disappear into the forest, local community members had the idea to transform it into the Allegheny River Trail. The same route that once carried freight and industry now welcomes hikers, cyclists, runners, birdwatchers, photographers, and families looking to spend a quiet day outdoors.
I couldn't help but appreciate the irony: a forest area destroyed by people in pursuit of industry has now been reclaimed by nature — and by people looking to slow down enough to enjoy it.
If the outdoors are your jam, this corner of western Pennsylvania deserves a spot on your radar.
Trails, Tunnels, Waterfalls, and Wet Dogs
With 77 miles of trails winding through Clear Creek State Forest, we barely scratched the surface of everything there is to explore. One of our favorite outings was a section of the Kennerdell Tract, where Pike and Gus got to do what they do best — sniff every interesting smell, splash through the creek, and remind us that dogs don't need much to be perfectly happy.
Ted very much enjoyed riding the Sandy Creek Trail, which features the historic Belmar Bridge and Mays Mill/Deep Valley Tunnel. The 12-mile trail follows a hillside run above the river and winds through remote forests and valleys. Ted said that it was some of the most scenic terrain he’s ever ridden. Cyclists, take note!
Another highlight for me was finally seeing Freedom Falls. I'd heard people talk about it for years but had somehow never made the trip. Thanks to the rain the day before, the waterfall was putting on quite a show for us.
Unfortunately, that same rain had also turned the trail into a muddy slip-and-slide. That's why Gus and I stayed at the top while Ted and Pike headed down toward the Rockland Furnace. I watched the two of them slide their way down the hillside with equal parts amusement and mild panic. Thankfully, everyone survived with nothing more than muddy clothes, a bruised hand, and a good story.
Not every adventure went according to plan, though. The Rockland Tunnel, part of the Allegheny River Trail, stretches 2,868 feet through solid rock, and while Ted and Pike were ready to head into the darkness, Gus and I quickly agreed that twenty-five to fifty feet inside was adventurous enough. Some experiences are better left to braver souls.
We explored the small stone-arched bridges and abutments that crossed a nearby creek instead.
Finding the Kennerdell Tunnel proved to be its own adventure. The directions we found online were rather misleading, leaving us wandering around more than once before admitting defeat. Fortunately, a local pointed Ted in the right direction. He returned to the area later with his bike, rode through both tunnels, and came back grinning ear to ear. His discovery proved that the tunnel did indeed exist and was not the urban legend we were beginning to believe it might be. Unfortunately, we ran out of time so the dogs and I didn’t get to see it for ourselves. We’ll have to catch it on our next trip.
Traveling with Dogs Means Finding Dog-Friendly Places
One of the reasons we chose Kennerdell for our maiden voyage was the number of dog-friendly places we found while researching the area. We wanted our first extended trip with the boys to set everyone up for success, so choosing a destination where they'd be genuinely welcome — not just tolerated — felt like the right decision.
I'm the kind of person who jumps in headfirst without always thinking through the consequences. Ted is the complete opposite — he researches everything. This trip ended up being the perfect middle ground: adventurous enough to try something new, but planned enough that we felt confident bringing the dogs along.
On our first full day, we treated ourselves to dinner at Benjamin's Roadhouse in Franklin. We sat on the enclosed patio, where Pike and Gus enjoyed their very first pup cups — judging by how quickly they disappeared, I'd say they were a hit. Even better, the boys got to meet some of the other patrons. If you've followed our journey with Gus and his fear reactivity, you'll understand what a huge milestone that was. I never thought to take photos because I was too busy reading his body language and making sure he felt safe and comfortable. Sometimes being present in the moment matters more than documenting it.
Later in the week, we met my mom, dad, and some family friends at Casey's Lounge in Oil City, another business that has gone above and beyond to welcome dogs — they've even built an enclosed play area complete with a small pool and shade structures. If it hadn't rained that day, we'd have taken the boys for a walk on the nearby McClintock Trail, part of the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail, before heading back to the cottage. Instead, we drove around town and reminisced about our time in the area.
We're big fans of seeking out hidden gems, so on our last night in the area, we decided to check out another local favorite: That Place Eatery.
Although they offer dog-friendly outdoor seating, we decided to use the DoorDash app to place an order for pickup and enjoy one last meal back at the cottage.
We ordered a pizza that smelled exactly like the vintage pizzas from the old Shamrock Tavern, and it completely exceeded our expectations. If you ever find yourself in the Kennerdell area, add this place to your list.
Trips like this remind me that traveling with dogs doesn't have to mean leaving them behind while you eat, or limiting what you can do. With a little planning, they really can be part of the adventure.
Already Planning the Next Adventure
For a first trip like this, it was almost perfect. If I could change anything, I'd simply stay longer — there were so many places we wanted to explore that a week wasn't enough.
I'm hoping to hike the Sandy Creek Trail with Pike and Gus next time. Ted has already convinced me it's worth the trip.
We're already talking about making another trip next year, maybe in the fall. I can only imagine how spectacular the forests will be once the leaves begin to change.
What We Learned From Our First Dog Road Trip
If you've been thinking about taking a trip with your dog but have been hesitant, this is your sign to go.
Will everything go according to plan? Probably not. Will you overpack? Almost certainly. Will you discover that some things you thought you needed can stay home next time? Absolutely. But you'll also discover things you never expected.
I thought traveling with two dogs would be stressful. Turns out I was wrong.
We learned that our dogs handled long car rides better than we imagined. We learned that a compact SUV could carry everything we needed for a week away. We found restaurants that welcomed our dogs like family. We explored trails we'd never walked before, watched Pike splash through creeks, celebrated little victories with Gus, and rediscovered a part of Pennsylvania I'd overlooked for most of my life.
The best part wasn't checking destinations off a list. It was realizing that some of our favorite adventures are still waiting for us — and that they're even better when we bring the dogs along.
Thanks for following along on our adventures. My Barking Life exists to help more dogs stay with the families who love them by sharing stories, practical tips, and a little inspiration along the way. I hope this post encourages you and your dog to discover a new adventure together.
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