Stopping for dinner and leaving the dog in A/C....

I'm not sure where your real problem is by your post. On travel days we get up early, have breakfast, and leave about 8-9 a.m. We pack a lunch and after about 3 hours, stop at a rest area/large shopping center parking lot to eat and walk the dogs. Then we get back on the road and drive another 2-3 hours. We arrive in next park between 3-4 p.m. Dogs are fed, happy and comfortable laying on their beds if we are going out to eat.