Dogs for sure get excited when they know they are going somewhere there will be other dogs to play (or just hang out) with.
We have our pet sitter pick our dog up, because the drive up to her place makes me carsick. When our dog sees me getting out (and packing) his "camp" bags (we have to supply our own food, plus his meds), he goes straight to the front door and sits and stares, waiting for her to show up. He won't eat, he won't give us the time of day, and when she does show up, it's zip straight out the door and jumping into the back of her van. Not a backwards glance.