If you’re a dog owner who wants to head to the beach this summer, you’ll want to go somewhere where you can bring your canine companion with you. Luckily, many dog-friendly beaches around the United States will welcome both you and your pet as long as you both follow the rules. So if you’re looking for a great beach vacation spot for humans and canines, you should check out one of these great coastal travel spots.
#1. Wildwood Dog Park and Beach, Wildwood, New Jersey
Located in the resort city of Wildwood in southern New Jersey, the Wildwood Dog Park and Beach is the world’s largest dog park, open year-round from sunrise to sunset. It’s easy to spot on the shoreline with the giant hydrant sculpture right outside its fences. The recreational park features a large fenced-in corral where dogs can run around off-leash and play on the climbing and other playing equipment the park offers. The park features fresh water stations and clean-up bags on site.
Owners do have to leash their dogs while walking on the beach with them, but dogs are allowed to swim in the water with their owners. Although dogs aren’t allowed on the Wildwood boardwalk, the city does feature other dog-friendly amenities like the outdoor dining area at the PigDog beach bar and the open-to-dogs Island Breeze Hotel.
#2. Jupiter Dog-Friendly Beach, Jupiter, Florida
Located in the town of Jupiter, 84 miles north of Miami, Florida, the Jupiter Dog-Friendly Beach stretches across 2.5 miles of beautiful coastline between beach marker #26 and beach marker #57. While dogs have to be leashed on the walk from the car to the beach, they can run along the white sands and play in the clear blue waters as long as they’re well-behaved, well-socialized, and obedient to voice commands. The beach is open year-round from sunrise to sunset for dogs and their owners.
Founded by the Jupiter town council in 1989, Jupiter Beach remains both one of the best-loved and the few remaining dog-friendly beaches in Florida. The local nonprofit organization Friends of Jupiter Beach, which is dedicated to keeping the beach tidy and open for dogs, provides free dog waste bags at each crossover along the dog-friendly section. Additional dog-friendly amenities on the beach include outdoor seating at Little Moir’s Leftover Café and the RV campground at Jonathan Dickinson State Park.
#3. Tannery Beach, Boyne City, Michigan
Located in Boyne City near the northwestern edge of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, Tannery Beach provides a great alternative for dogs and their owners to travel to if they’re looking for a lakefront rather than an oceanfront beach. Open year-round, this free public beach allows attentive pet owners to let their dogs explore the area off-leash.
The beach features plenty of soft sand for dogs to run on, while large Lake Charlevoix has plenty of clear blue water for them to swim in. City officials provide dog waste bags and scoopers for dog owners to clean up after their pets. Tannery Beach is also popular for kayaking, canoeing, ice fishing, and snowmobiling.
#4. Cannon Beach, Cannon Beach, Oregon
Located in the same-named city on Oregon’s northwestern coast and open 24/7 year-round, Cannon Beach is famous for being one of the most dog-friendly beaches in the entire United States. Watched over by the iconic 235-foot tall Haystack Rock, the four-mile beach provides plenty of space for leashed dogs or unleashed dogs that obey voice commands to run along the sand, play fetch with their owners, and dive into the chilly waters.
An equally dog-friendly city, Cannon Beach features many restaurants that offer pet-friendly outdoor seating, retail shops and galleries that are open to dogs as well as humans, giant water bowls for refreshment, and portrait sessions on the beach done by local photographer Cynthia Wolf. The Inn at Cannon Beach offers dog-friendly rooms and dog washes to clean pets off after a day at the beach. The city and beach also hold annual events that both dogs and their owners will enjoy, including a fireworks-free Fourth of July celebration, the September dog festival Muttzanita that features friendly competitions, and an October Dog Show on the Beach.
#5. Carmel Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Located in the village of Carmel-by-the-Sea on California’s Central Coast and open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. year-round, Carmel Beach is considered one of the best and most beautiful beaches in the U.S. for both humans and dogs. Though dogs have to be leashed before entering or leaving the beach, as long as they obey voice commands, they can run and play freely across the half-mile stretch of fine sand and swim in the aquamarine waters of the Pacific Ocean there. Dogs can even get their own lessons on how to surf the beach’s waves!
Carmel-by-the-Sea equally welcomes canine residents and visitors. The village features many dog-friendly hotels like the Carmel Garden Inn and art galleries. Many restaurants in town offer dog-friendly seating and “Yappy Hours,” where owners can order drinks and dogs can order food from canine-specific menus, such as a Hot Diggity Dog hot dog or an 8-oz. Good Dog sliced steak from The Forge in the Forest.
Final Thoughts
Vacations are much better when you can share them with family and friends, and what better family and friends could join you on your travels than your furry friends? Each of the beaches above is a great vacation spot for dogs and their human companions and features many amenities and creature comforts for both species. If you’re looking for a good beach to visit this summer and want to bring your pooch along instead of leaving them with a sitter or at a doggie daycare, you should look into visiting any of these dog-friendly destinations.
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