Subaru survey finds 73% of US pet owners would road trip instead of flying so their pets can join holiday travel

Key Takeaways

• Subaru of America has released Talker Research findings showing pets are shaping how Americans plan holiday travel and road trips.

• The survey of 2,000 US drivers who own cats or dogs found 73% are more likely to drive than fly so they can bring their pet.

• 68% say their pet will affect their travel plans this year, and 45% have turned down a trip that could not accommodate their animal.

• The research lands during Subaru Loves Pets month, which includes nearly $3.2 million in ASPCA shelter grants and National Make A Dog's Day on 22 October.

For many owners, dogs are part of the family, so planning a holiday often means finding a way to bring them along. That is the idea at the heart of Subaru’s latest research, with the carmaker’s survey suggesting that American pet owners are increasingly making travel decisions around their animals, from where they go to how they get there.

The headline figure is that 73% of pet owners are more likely to take a road trip than fly so they can bring their pet along. Released on 13 October 2026 as the US holiday season approaches, the findings give Subaru a timely way into an idea it has built much of its brand around, that pets are family and the car is where a lot of family life happens.

Subaru commissioned Talker Research to survey 2,000 pet owners about holiday travel and road trips

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 US adults who drive and own cats and/or dogs, with the online fieldwork taking place between 13 and 17 July 2026. The results describe travellers who plan around their animals first, with 68% saying their pet will affect their travel plans this year and 45% having already turned down travel that could not accommodate their pet.

The holiday findings are the most specific. More than one in four owners say they may change plans because of their pet, with 10% prepared to host instead of travelling, another 10% likely to shorten or simplify a trip and 8% ready to skip certain gatherings if the pet cannot come. Among owners who have travelled with their animals, 35% of Gen Z and millennials have brought their pet home for the holidays, compared with 22% of Gen X and baby boomers. More than half of all respondents (51%) even said they prefer travelling with a pet to travelling with a human.

Christina Valente, Love Promise Community Commitment Manager at Subaru of America, Inc., said, "Holidays are meant for spending time with family, including our pets, so it's no surprise that as people take the time to visit loved ones near and far, pets are factored into the planning."

Owners were also asked what they want from the car itself. Room between pets, passengers and luggage came top at 32%, followed by good visibility of the pet at 29%, easy to clean seats and cargo areas at 27% and space for crates, carriers, beds or gear at 26%. Trevor Maki, National Product Training Manager at Subaru of America, Inc., said, "Room to move, clear sightlines, and easy-to-clean surfaces make all the difference. We recommend making sure you have the right accessories for your vehicle and your pet so everyone stays safe and comfortable on the road."

The research supports Subaru Loves Pets month and nearly $3.2 million in ASPCA shelter grants

Findings from the same July survey first appeared in early September as a general road trip story, and the holiday release gives it a second outing during Subaru Loves Pets month. On 1 October, Subaru announced that it and its participating retailers will provide nearly $3.2 million in grants to local shelters this year, administered by the ASPCA, taking the programme past $75 million in donations to animal welfare organisations by the end of the month. Three promotions run alongside the grants, with Subaru donating $1 to the ASPCA for each new subscriber who texts PETS to 78243, $30 for each purchase of select Genuine Subaru Pet-Friendly Accessories through Subaru Parts Online and $1 for each Animals Badge of Ownership ordered, each up to a set cap.

Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Subaru of America, Inc., said, "When a shelter pet finds a loving home, they become part of our families and the way we live, travel and spend our time. The goal of Subaru Loves Pets is to ensure that more animals have the chance to be part of those moments."