KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The best pet-friendly vacations range from Pacific coastlines and Rocky Mountain trailheads to laid-back Southern cities built for patio time with pets.
- Coastal destinations like Bar Harbor and Carmel-by-the-Sea offer beach access for pets, while cities like Austin and Portland stand out for their off-leash parks and pet-friendly patios.
- Consider your pet's needs, activity level, and your destination's leash laws and seasonal restrictions when choosing where to go.
- Confirming pet policies and fees before booking and packing key travel essentials sets you and your pet up for a smoother trip from check-in to check-out.
More travelers are skipping the kennel and the pet-sitter and bringing their pets along for the ride. That shift is behind the growing list of pet-friendly vacation options across the U.S. According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), most dog owners now tailor their travel plans around their pets, with 55% adjusting trips to accommodate them and a growing share bringing pets along by car and by plane each year.
This guide rounds up 15 of the best pet-friendly vacation destinations and stays, so you and your pet can plan a trip together without leaving anyone behind.Each option was selected based on verified pet-friendly accommodations, proximity to pet-friendly activities like trails, beaches, and outdoor dining, pet policies such as fees and size restrictions, and overall accessibility and value.
| Destination | Best for | Pet policy highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Bar Harbor, ME | Coastal hiking and pet-friendly trails | Most Acadia National Park trails and carriage roads allow leashed pets |
| Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA | Off-leash beach time | Dogs allowed off-leash on Carmel Beach under voice control; leash required elsewhere in town |
| San Diego, CA | Year-round beach access | Dog Beach in Ocean Beach is off-leash 24/7; Fiesta Island and Del Mar Dog Beach offer more off-leash time |
| Cape Cod, MA | Off-season beach walks | Off-season beach walks |
| Outer Banks, NC | Year-round beach access | Nags Head allows leashed pets on the beach year-round with no seasonal restrictions |
| Door County, WI | Pet-friendly state parks | All five state parks welcome pets; Whitefish Dunes has a designated pet swim area |
| Asheville, NC | Mountain trails and a walkable downtown | Leashed pets welcome on Blue Ridge Parkway trails; many downtown breweries allow dogs inside |
| Sedona, AZ | Leashed red rock hikes | Most National Forest trails require a leash; dedicated off-leash dog park on Soldiers Pass Road |
| Lake Tahoe, CA | Lakeside walks and pet-friendly beaches | Kiva Beach and Tallac Historic Site allow leashed pets; Regan Beach has an off-leash dog water park |
| Bend, OR | Pet-friendly brewery scene | Nine off-leash dog parks; most breweries welcome pets on outdoor patios |
| Boulder, CO | Trail access right from town | Off-leash access on designated trails with a Voice and Sight Tag; leash required elsewhere |
| Charleston, SC | Walkable historic streets and pet-friendly patios | Leashed pets welcome in most parks and squares; Hazel Parker Playground offers an off-leash dog park |
| Savannah, GA | Walkable historic squares and shaded parks | Leashed pets welcome throughout Forsyth Park and the historic squares |
| Austin, TX | Off-leash lake trails | Leash-free zone at Auditorium Shores; most breweries and patio bars welcome pets |
| Portland, OR | Off-leash city parks | 37 off-leash dog parks citywide; many breweries and cafes welcome pets on patios |
Best Pet-Friendly Vacations
The best pet-friendly vacations aren’t limited to one type of trip. Beach towns, mountain cabins, and dog-friendly cities all made this list, each with a different mix of accommodations and outdoor space to suit different pets and travel styles.
Best Coastal & Beach Pet-Friendly Vacations
Bar Harbor, Maine
- Best for: Coastal hiking and pet-friendly trails
Bar Harbor sits at the edge of Acadia National Park, one of the most pet-friendly national parks in the country. Most trails and carriage roads allow leashed pets, giving owners access to easy routes like Wonderland Trail and Jordan Pond Loop, as well as to moderate hikes like Cadillac Mountain South Ridge and Gorham Mountain.
The town also makes a great stop on a New England road trip, especially for pet owners who want to pair coastal scenery with time outdoors. Downtown Bar Harbor is walkable, with several restaurants offering pet-friendly patio seating just steps from the water. For a stay close to the park, explore pet-friendly options like Seasider Motel.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
- Best for: Off-leash beach time
Carmel-by-the-Sea has built its reputation on pet-friendliness, and nowhere is that clearer than on its sand. Carmel Beach allows dogs off-leash, as long as they stay under voice control, a rarity along the California coast, where most beaches require a leash. Everywhere else in town, including the Scenic Pathway, dogs stay on-leash. Beyond the beach, the town’s downtown shopping district is known for welcoming pets into stores, with water bowls and treats at many storefronts along the way. For a stay in the heart of town, explore pet-friendly options like Briarwood Inn.
San Diego, California
- Best for: Year-round beach access
San Diego has three go-to spots for off-leash time. Dog Beach in Ocean Beach has been off-leash since 1972 and remains the only beach in the city open to pets 24/7. Fiesta Island in Mission Bay gives dogs another large stretch to roam, and Del Mar Dog Beach opens up from after Labor Day through mid-June.
Mild weather year-round makes San Diego easy to explore on foot, and neighborhoods like Old Town and Little Italy are made for wandering with a pet in tow. Pet-friendly rooms can book up quickly here, so it’s worth knowing the best day to book your hotel before you plan your trip. For a stay close to Old Town, explore pet-friendly options like Old Town Inn.
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
- Best for: Off-season beach walks
Provincetown is home to the only off-leash dog beach on Cape Cod. It allows pets off-leash in the mornings and evenings from Memorial Day through November 1, and off-leash all day the rest of the year. Herring Cove Beach also stays open to leashed pets throughout the summer, and Commercial Street’s shops and restaurants are known for welcoming pets year-round.
Outside of Provincetown, most Cape Cod beaches restrict pets during peak summer season to protect nesting shorebirds, so an off-season trip opens up far more sand to explore. For a stay in the heart of town, explore pet-friendly options like Cape Colony Inn.
Outer Banks, North Carolina
- Best for: Year-round beach access
Rules vary by town along the Outer Banks. Nags Head and Corolla both allow leashed pets on the beach year-round, with no seasonal restrictions. Duck goes further, allowing dogs off-leash under close supervision. Cape Hatteras National Seashore also welcomes leashed pets outside of designated swim beaches. With more than 100 miles of shoreline across the barrier islands, there’s plenty of beach to explore regardless of which town you’re staying in. For an oceanfront stay in Nags Head, explore pet-friendly options like Blue Heron Motel.
Door County, Wisconsin
- Best for: Pet-friendly state parks
Door County packs five state parks onto one peninsula, all of them open to pets. At Whitefish Dunes, dogs can swim at a designated beach or hike the trails; a couple miles up the coast, Peninsula State Park’s two-mile Eagle Trail winds past limestone bluffs and shoreline views.
Land Trust and county parks add even more leashed-pet acreage, and small towns like Sister Bay and Fish Creek round things out with pet-friendly patios and boutique shops, all at a lower price point than most lakeside getaways. For a stay in the heart of Sister Bay, explore pet-friendly hotel options like Open Hearth Lodge, which even has an on-site trail and dog-washing station.
Best Mountain & Nature Getaways for Pet-Friendly Vacations
Asheville, North Carolina
- Best for: Mountain trails and a walkable downtown
Asheville has earned the nickname “Dog City USA,” and the trails prove it. The Blue Ridge Parkway offers routes for every experience level, including leashed pets, and Pisgah National Forest adds even more options just outside the city. Downtown, many bars and breweries allow dogs inside, including Highland Brewing, Burial Beer, and French Broad River Brewery, making it easy to build a day around both hiking and exploring the city’s food and drink scene. For a stay downtown, explore pet-friendly options like The Windsor – Asheville.
Sedona, Arizona
- Best for: Leashed red rock hikes
Most of Sedona’s National Forest trails welcome leashed pets. Bell Rock Pathway is an easy, well-trodden option, while the shaded, creek-crossing West Fork Trail stays cooler and offers multiple water access points, making it one of the best pet hikes in the area. Trailhead parking typically requires a Red Rock Pass, sold daily or weekly.
Sedona also has a dedicated off-leash dog park on Soldiers Pass Road, and several restaurants around Uptown offer pet-friendly patio seating. For a stay close to the trails, explore pet-friendly options like Sky Rock Sedona, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel.
Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada
- Best for: Lakeside walks and pet-friendly beaches on the South Shore
South Lake Tahoe has several beaches where leashed pets are welcome, including Kiva Beach and the Tallac Historic Site shoreline, both on National Forest land. Regan Beach even has a small off-leash dog water park within its otherwise leashed grounds, and Bijou Community Park is home to a fenced, off-leash dog park.
Beyond the beaches, most hiking trails throughout the Tahoe Basin, including Desolation Wilderness and El Dorado National Forest, welcome leashed pets. For a stay close to the South Shore beaches, explore pet-friendly options like Hotel Azure.
Bend, Oregon
- Best for: Pet-friendly brewery scene
Bend has built a small empire of off-leash space: nine dog parks in total, including Pine Nursery Park’s 18-acre Bob Wenger area and Riverbend Park, with direct river access. The Deschutes River Trail winds more than 12 miles through town, with some stretches open for off-leash play in the water, and Deschutes National Forest adds even more trail options just outside city limits.
The town also calls itself “Beer Town USA,” and most of its breweries, including 10 Barrel Brewing and GoodLife Brewing, let pets join on the patio. For a stay close to the river, explore pet-friendly options like Riverhouse Lodge.
Boulder, Colorado
- Best for: Trail access right from town
Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks system offers over 155 miles of trails, and many of them allow pets off-leash under the city’s Voice and Sight Tag Program, which requires a short class and a visible tag. Owners must leash dogs immediately upon exiting a vehicle at trailheads, and off-leash access applies only in designated areas where dogs remain under continuous voice-and-sight control.
Outside the program, the city requires leashes everywhere within its limits except designated dog parks. For a stay right in downtown Boulder, explore pet-friendly options like Hotel Boulderado.
Best Dog-Friendly City & Small-Town Getaways
Charleston, South Carolina
- Best for: Walkable historic streets and pet-friendly patios
Charleston’s historic downtown is made for walking with a pet, from White Point Garden at the tip of the peninsula to Hampton Park’s wide-open lawns and shaded paths. Near the Battery, Hazel Parker Playground has a fenced dog run, plus off-leash time after 5 p.m.
Across the harbor in Mount Pleasant, Palmetto Islands County Park adds more walking trails and its own off-leash area, and King Street’s restaurants and coffee shops keep the patios pet-friendly throughout downtown. For a stay just across the harbor, explore pet-friendly options like Hyatt Place Mount Pleasant Towne Centre.
Savannah, Georgia
- Best for: Walkable historic squares and shaded parks
Savannah’s 22 historic squares turn a walk with your pet into the main event, and leashed pets are welcome throughout Forsyth Park, the 30-acre centerpiece of the Historic District. Near the water, Emmet Park adds another green space by River Street, and outdoor restaurant seating, common throughout downtown, almost always allows pets at the table. For a stay right in the Historic District, explore pet-friendly options like Staybridge Suites Savannah Historic District.
Austin, TX
- Best for: Off-leash lake trails
Austin’s 10-mile Butler Hike & Bike Trail loops around Lady Bird Lake, with a leash-free zone at Auditorium Shores, and Zilker Park anchors the city’s outdoor culture with wide-open fields for pets to explore. Most of Austin’s breweries and patio bars welcome pets, some even indoors, and hybrid spots like Yard Bar combine a fenced off-leash yard with a full restaurant and bar. For a stay near North Austin’s shopping and dining, explore pet-friendly options like Archer Hotel Austin.
Portland, Oregon
- Best for: Off-leash city parks
More than 30 off-leash dog parks are scattered across Portland, including Sellwood Riverfront Park’s water access area and Mt. Tabor Park’s off-leash lawn, just minutes from downtown. For a longer outing, Forest Park adds more than 80 miles of hiking trails across dozens of access points. Portland’s 80-plus breweries and cafes mostly welcome pets on the patio, and a handful, like The Civic Taproom, let leashed pets come inside too. For a stay in the heart of downtown, explore pet-friendly options like The Mark Spencer Hotel.
Tips for Traveling With Pets
A little planning goes a long way when your pet is coming along for the trip. These four steps can help you sidestep the most common pet-travel headaches and make the most of your time once you arrive:
- Check pet policies before booking: Confirm pet fees, weight or breed restrictions, and how many pets a room allows before you reserve a stay. Pet fees typically run $25 to $75 per night, so factoring them into your travel budget upfront keeps your total cost from creeping up after you book.
- Plan pet-friendly activities in advance: Leash rules and pet access often shift by season, so map out a few pet-friendly stops ahead of time.
- Pack pet travel essentials: Bring a leash, waste bags, a collapsible water bowl, and vaccination records, especially for flights or national park visits.
- Prepare for the trip itself: Stick as close as possible to your pet’s regular feeding and walking schedule to make the trip smoother for everyone.
Book Your Next Pet-Friendly Getaway
The best pet-friendly vacation is one where neither you nor your pet has to compromise, whether that means off-leash trails, a beachfront patio, or a walkable downtown built for both of you. Once you know which destination fits your pet’s needs and your travel style, the next step is finding a stay that welcomes both of you. Browse Vogo to compare pet-friendly hotels, inns, and rentals by location, amenities, and budget, and confirm pet policies before you book.
FAQ
What’s considered a pet-friendly vacation?
A pet-friendly vacation is a trip where your accommodations and destination all welcome pets. That means verified pet policies at your hotel or rental, plus easy access to pet-friendly trails, beaches, parks, or patios nearby.
How do I find pet-friendly vacation rentals?
Look for listings that explicitly state a pet policy, including any fees, size limits, or pet caps, rather than assuming a rental is pet-friendly by default. Filtering by “pets allowed” on a booking site and double-checking the property’s specific policy before you reserve is the safest approach.
Can I leave my pet alone in a vacation rental?
This depends entirely on the property’s policy, so check before booking if you plan to leave your pet unattended even briefly. Some rentals prohibit it outright, while others allow it with conditions, like requiring a crate or limiting how long they’re alone.
Do pet-friendly hotels charge extra fees?
Many do. Pet fees typically range from $25 to $75 per night, though some properties charge a flat one-time fee instead. Factoring these into your overall vacation cost makes it easier to compare properties accurately and know what to expect at checkout.