"Travels with Scout" was viewed by slightly more than 10 million viewers and was the highest-rated episode of the series for two weeks.

In the Delgado-Pritchett family plot, Jay (Ed O'Neill) meets Mitch's old acting friend Ben Dugan, who is starring in a new movie Maple Drive.

While Jay is fixing the broken doorbell (which repeatedly rings), Manny thinks it is a demon and gets his fencing sword.

Jay promises Gloria (Sofía Vergara) his fear will only last a while, although he realizes they have to do something when Manny begins sleeping in their bed.

Due to the lighting on his face and his fake machete, Manny becomes especially frightened of him and rushes upstairs, much to Jay's disbelief.

Dylan (Reid Ewing) has bad news that the drummer of his band is moving to Portland because his parents are getting back together.

When Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) finds out, he is annoyed since they are going to a party the same day and asks him to cancel the concert.

[2] In its original American broadcast, "Travels with Scout" was viewed by 10.008 million viewers and received an 18–49 demographic of 4.2 and a share of 11% making it the second highest-rated episode of the series after "Hawaii" and tying with "Pilot", "Fifteen Percent" and "My Funky Valentine".

[5] Robert Canning of IGN gave the episode an 8.5, saying it was "Great" and "Overall, "Like any sitcom, the jokes get funnier the more you know about, and like, the characters.

"[8] Jason Hughes of TV Squad said "I didn't fully grasp just how perfect Fred Willard is for the role of Phil's father until I saw them slinging jokes back and forth in this weeks' [sic] episode.

"[9] Alan Sepinwall of The Star-Ledger gave the episode a positive review, saying "very funny overall" although said that Fred Willard was too good for the role of Phil's dad.

[10] As well as receiving positive reviews from critics Fred Willard was nominated for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.