The dog days of summer take on a whole new meaning when you have a pup that loves the beach as much as you do. There are holes to dig and waves to chase. Whether your pup prefers to sunbathe on the sand or swim in the salty water, a beach trip is fun for everyone involved. The issue is, not every beach allows your favorite four-legged beach buddy. You’ll have to find dog-friendly beaches where your pup is free to kick up sand without getting into trouble. You’ll have to do your research to find the dog beach nearest you, but we’ve done some of the work for you. Here’s a list of the country’s top dog-friendly beaches to check out this summer.
#1 – Double Bluff Beach: Whidbey Island, WA
With a picturesque view of Mt. Rainier and the Seattle skyline, Double Bluff Beach in Washington is great for outdoor adventures with your dog. The entire Double Bluff Beach area is welcome to dogs on leash. For dogs that love to run, there’s an off-leash area that stretches for two miles along the sandy coastline. The beach is hundreds of feet wide, so you never feel crowded, and piles of driftwood near the bluffs are a popular attraction for more land-loving dogs. The water is calm and clean, and there are even poop bag stations and a doggy drinking fountain.
#2 – Huntington Dog Beach: Huntington Beach, CA
Huntington Dog Beach in California is what every dog beach aspires to be. It’s maintained completely by volunteers, and it offers dog-friendly amenities that make your pup’s beach day as convenient as possible. To find it, head down the Pacific Coast Highway toward the beach between Seapoint Avenue and 21st Street. That entire section of coastline is dedicated to beach-loving California canines and their human sidekicks. There are public restrooms, picnic tables, and free dog poop bags. The city technically requires dogs to be on leash. But even the beach’s website says as long as your dog is behaving and making friends, they’re free to run, swim, and hop waves from 5 AM to 10 PM.
#3 – Del Mar Dog Beach: Del Mar Beach, CA
The sunshine state loves their dogs, and the city of Del Mar is regularly considered one of the most dog-friendly cities in the country. All two plus miles of the city’s beach is open to dogs, and local pet parents are especially in love with a section of beach called North Beach. But if you ask anyone there, they’ll just call the half-mile length of sand “Dog Beach.”
You can find this magnificent Dog Beach north of 29th Street next to the city’s neighboring town of Solana Beach. There’s clean sand, ocean, a coastal bluff, and the area also includes the opening of the San Dieguito River. Dogs are allowed in this area all year-round. For nine months out of the year, they can be there off-leash. The city asks they stay close to their owners during peak beach times between June 15 and Labor Day.
#4 – Lovers Key Dog Beach: Fort Myers, FL
The emerald waters of southern Florida can be your dog’s unrestricted playground at Lovers Key Dog Beach. Located south of Fort Myers, Lovers Key State Park is on a barrier island that in the past was only accessible via boat. Thanks to a new bridge, the remote slice of paradise is now only a short drive away.
The dog beach on Lovers Key is a hidden gem that, while susceptible to the tide, allows dogs to explore nature untethered. A generous donor installed doggie rinse stations for your convenience, and parking is always free. It can be tricky to find, so the city suggests visiting the dog beach website for directions instead of relying on your GPS.
#5 – Jupiter Dog Beach: Jupiter, FL
Claiming to be the largest dog beach on the East Coast, Jupiter Dog Beach is favored by all kinds of canines and their people. It stretches for 2.5 miles between the Juno Beach lifeguard area to Carlin Park. An easy way to find it is to look for beach crossovers marked 25-29. Friends of Jupiter Beach proudly provide upkeep to this doggy haven and have helped dogs hold on to their territory for the past 20 years.
There are free poop bags, and dogs have the freedom to explore the sea and sand all year-round. Both local residents and families on vacation enjoy spending the day on this dog-friendly coastline.
#6 – Fort Desoto Beach Park: St. Petersburg, FL
Dogs visiting Fort Desoto Beach Park get the best of two worlds with both beach access and a fenced-in play area. It’s the only dog-friendly place of its kind in Florida, and beach-lovers bring their dogs all year-round. There are two separate grassy dog parks—one for big dogs and one for little dogs—and they’re each complete with canine water stations.
When your pup is ready to test out their sea legs, they’re welcome to head to the southeast corner of the dog park area where there’s an entrance to the dog-friendly beach. Dogs are required to be leashed while entering and exiting the park, but during your stay, you can let Fido enjoy his freedom. Fort Desoto is a great vacation spot, and when you’ve had enough of the sand, you can bring your dog with you while you explore the rest of the park.
#7 – Kitty Hawk Beach: Kitty Hawk, NC
As a whole, the Outer Banks in North Carolina is a great place to vacation with dogs. There are numerous dog-friendly beaches along the coast and throughout the barrier islands, but Kitty Hawk Beach is the most dog-friendly. Dogs need to be on leash from 10 AM to 6 PM during the peak season of Memorial Day until Labor Day, but at all other times, they enjoy more relaxed rules. Well-socialized and obedient dogs are welcome to be off-leash on all public beaches. The beach in Kitty Hawk is quieter and more relaxing than other vacation destinations of its caliber. The Atlantic can sometimes deliver rough waters and big waves, and remember to always make your dog’s safety a priority.
#8 – 8th Avenue Dog Beach: Asbury Park, NJ
Whether it’s the middle of summer or the off season, Asbury Park, NJ is famous for their dog-friendly amenities. The town has a local, laid-back vibe, and by the number of dogs enjoying the beach, it’s a town full of dog people. The designated dog beach is located at 8th Avenue and is open to pups and their people all day. Off-leash doggie playtime is limited to morning and evening hours from mid May to mid September, but for the rest of the year, the beach belongs to the dogs. As long as your dog is licensed and non-aggressive, they’re allowed to splash in the waves and run along the sand without a human holding them back. As an added bonus, leashed dogs are also allowed on the boardwalk, and most of the restaurants have outdoor seating areas where dogs are welcome to dine alongside their people.
#9 – Block Island Beach: Block Island, RI
New England beaches are prime summer time destinations, but in many areas, dogs lose their right to roam once the crowds of vacationers take over. Block Island is a pleasant exception. This small island off the coast of Rhode Island is dog-friendly even in the peak of summer. You’ll need to take a ferry to get there, but your pooch will get a free ticket as long as they stay on leash. Once on the island, there are many dog-friendly hotels and restaurants in town, and the beaches are a doggy haven. You’ll have to keep your pup on a leash on the more crowded beaches, but if you’re willing to walk to a more secluded area, it’s not hard to find a spot where your dog can run and swim freely.
#10 – Kailua Beach: Kailua, HI
Rabies quarantine laws make visiting Hawaii with your dog a difficult process, but there’s no denying the fact America’s 50th state has some of the best beaches in the country. One of those beaches, Kailua Beach, is also a tropical paradise for dogs. Turquoise water embraces a white sand beach framed with palm trees, and people travel all over the world to bask in its beauty. It’s a hub for water activities, and that includes dogs enjoying their own beach time. Locals bring their dogs to splash in the waves on a daily basis, and the canal on the eastern end of the beach is perfect for the pups that prefer their water without waves.
Any of the dog-friendly beaches on this list would be perfect for your next family vacation or even a day trip if you’re lucky enough to live close by. Check out your chosen beach’s website before packing up the car to double-check for any rules. Pet policies are subject to change, and being prepared is the best way to guarantee your pup has a good time. For more tips on how to plan the best doggy beach day, check out this article.
Toledo, United States.
