For an out-of-this-world experience with your pup, look no further than the International UFO Museum in Roswell. The museum is committed to chronicling the stories and preserving materials related to the infamous 1947 ‘Roswell Incident,’ as well as other UFO events from around the globe. Put a tin foil hat on Fido and bring him to the museum to explore decades of supernatural history, research, and science. Before you leave, stop by the gift shop to purchase an ‘Alien Hunter’ dog shirt for your canine earthling. Afterward, visit Roswell UFO Spacewalk to take your pooch on a blacklight adventure through a spaceship and alien planet, and end the day with a stop at Alien Zone for more souvenirs and wacky photo ops.

If the thought of little green Martians doesn’t scare Fido away, book a room at The Roswell Inn, the self-proclaimed crash pad recommended by 9 out of 10 aliens. The hotel is centrally located to Roswell’s dog-friendly UFO attractions and Woof Bowl Dog Park. Be sure to snap your pup’s photo beside the alien sign out front.

Perhaps the oddest of the pet-friendly museums on our list, Barney Smith’s Toilet Seat Art Museum, is a wonder to behold. Located inside Truck Yard, a dog-friendly beer garden and food truck park, this off-the-wall museum showcases the life’s work of Barney Smith, creator of over 1,400 art pieces made out of toilet seats. The collection of eclectic, whimsical and charming art gracing every inch of wall space was a seven-decade-long venture for the artist who passed away in 2019. You and your pooch can check out the spectacle for free during your visit and grab a cold beer and bite to eat while you’re there.

Once Fido has marked “Toilet Seat Art Museum” off his bucket list, spend the night at Hampton Inn & Suites Dallas The Colony.

Hot Springs in Arkansas used to be a hotbed for the criminal underworld to get away from it all, including Al Capone, Owen Madden and the New York Connection. Drawn to the town’s mineral water, gambling and bootlegging industry, felons, thieves and vigilantes lived side by side with the locals. The Gangster Museum of America has seven galleries full of incredible artifacts and photographs from yesteryear. Snap memorable pics of your pooch with life-sized models of the town’s former guests, play in the antique casino and listen to the historian regale the crowd with incredible tales of the town’s secret history.

Sleep with the covers firmly pulled over your head at Best Western Plus Coastline Inn. Your pooch can patrol the pet relief area to make sure no gangsters are hiding in the bushes before bedtime.

If you’re looking for strange, weird, or unusual oddities, pay a visit to the Museum of the Bizarre in Wilmington, NC. The exciting exhibits on display include the Crystal Skull of Knowledge, the Fort Fisher Mermaid, Alexander Hamilton’s hair, the Goat Brothers’ heads, a Bigfoot imprint, Houdini’s Ouija board, a ghost deer, and countless bizarre movie props. During your visit, you can view the cabinet of curiosities, experience an authentic Van De Graaff generator and get your picture taken inside the jaws of a shark. Leashed dogs are welcome to witness the wild and mystifying eccentricities by your side.

Find much-needed normality with a comfortable room at Best Western Plus Coastline Inn on Cape Fear River, then take an evening stroll along the Riverwalk.

Hit the highway on a dog-friendly road trip across North Dakota to visit several of the largest creatures on planet Earth. Your cross-state trek along I-94 begins at the National Buffalo Museum in Jamestown, where your pup can visit mighty Dakota Thunder, the world’s largest buffalo. While there, you can stroll through Frontier Village, a replica prairie town constructed using original buildings from frontier days. Drive west 50 miles to the tiny town of Steele to visit Sandy - The World’s Largest Sandhill Crane. After Fido feeds the bird, head 70 miles west to New Salem to moo at Salem Sue, the world’s largest Holstein Cow. Finally, take a quick detour off I-94 near Gladstone to cruise along the 30-mile stretch of asphalt called the Enchanted Highway. Dogs can stretch their legs at one of several giant roadside metal sculptures, including Deer Crossing, Grasshoppers in the Field, and Fisherman’s Dream.

After a long day of road-tripping, La Quinta Inn & Suites Dickinson is a great place to take a breather. In the morning, make your way to nearby Dickinson Dog Park for some off-leash exercise before continuing your road trip.

Canine campers and RV enthusiasts will enjoy taking a detour to the RV Motorhome Hall of Fame & Museum in Elkhart. The museum features a rotating assortment of vintage recreational vehicles from Airstream, Winnebago and other American makers. Stroll with Fido through the RV Founders Hall to explore vehicles and memorabilia dating back to the 1920s, including Mae West’s 1931 Chevrolet Housecar, a 1931 Tennessee Traveler Motorhome, and a 1969 Fleetwood Pace Arrow. Before concluding your tour, be sure to check out the selection of shiny new motorhomes on showcase.

Conclude your stay in the RV Capital of the World with an overnight stop at the Elkhart Campground. Fido will love romping around the on-site dog park, and humans will enjoy the heated swimming pool, miniature golf course, and other recreational amenities. If you don’t have an RV, you can stay in one of their pet-friendly cabins.

The Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in Gatlinburg boasts 20,000+ salt and pepper shakers of all shapes and sizes. From shakers based on Dogecoin to Betty Boop, there’s something for every seasoning supporter. The only museum of its kind in the world takes admission and applies it toward any salt and pepper shaker purchased from the museum’s gift shop. Leashed dogs are welcome to explore the unique collection.

Located minutes from downtown Gatlinburg, Lazy Bear Lodge is the ideal place to try out your new salt and pepper shakers. After dinner, soak in the hot tub and enjoy the views of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

If Fido isn’t afraid of creepy crawlies, The Santa Fe Reptile and Bug Museum is a fun and interesting stop on a weekend trip to Santa Fe. The exhibit on display contains 4,700 mounted insects from around the world and boasts some of the largest and rarest insect and arachnid specimens anywhere. There's also a collection of 150 live animals like iguanas, snakes and other reptiles, amphibians and fish. Leashed dogs are welcome inside to learn more about these misunderstood animals and insects.

While you’re exploring New Mexico, add the Rattlesnake Museum & Gift Shop in Albuquerque to your itinerary, too. Stay between the two cities at Drury Inn & Suites Albuquerque North.

Don’t let your eyes play tricks on you, Fido! A visit to the Museum of Illusions in The Big Apple will leave curious canines wondering what just happened. This fun, interactive museum allows people and pups to take photos in exhibits that are deceiving to the eye. Is your dog walking on the ceiling? Has he doubled in size since you arrived? You’ll have fun figuring out how things work and trying to untrick your mind in illusion rooms and while looking at mind-bending art installations that will confuse all your senses.

Snap back into reality when you step back into the sights and sounds of New York City, and rest your mind at Chelsea Pines Inn, just down the street.