Want to enjoy some summertime fun at the beach with your family along with your pup? Here are our 12 personal favorite Dog Friendly Beaches on the East Coast, for a perfect day of sun and sea.
1. Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Delaware’s Rehoboth Beach is known for its natural beauty. Several beach rentals and hotels allow dogs. Dogs are permitted on all unguarded beaches and you can even enjoy a movie with your four-legged pup at the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand called “Cinema by the Surf”, which is a free outdoor movie arena.
Several restaurants have an outdoor area in which you and your pup can enjoy some food, drinks, and live music. Right next door in Dewey Beach, dogs are allowed on beaches before 9:30 am and after 5:30 pm in the summer and at any time during the rest of the year. Rehoboth also has several trails including The Junction and Breakwater Trail for some good old-fashioned dog walks!
2. Sanibel Island, Florida
Sanibel Island, famous for its variety of shells and breathtaking Gulf Coast sunsets, has several dog-friendly beach house rentals and hotels (try the Tropical Winds Motel & Cottages, located right on the Gulf). You can lounge with your pup at Bowman’s Beach, Lighthouse Park Beach, and Tarpon Bay Road Beach at any time, as well as the JN (Ding) Darling National Wildlife Refuge—you can even take your dog on the Wildlife Drive tour through this mangrove forest.
Be sure to take your furry friend to brunch at the Over Easy Café (try their cinnamon buns) and the Island Cow. At neighboring Captiva Island, you can enjoy food, drinks, and the beautiful sunset while dining with your dog at the Mucky Duck’s outdoor picnic tables.
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3. Golden Isles, Georgia
The Golden Isles include the islands along Georgia’s Atlantic coast: Jekyll, St. Simons, and other smaller islands. About 65 percent of Jekyll Island is natural and untouched, so you and your dog have access to most of its beaches at any time.
Latitude 31’s “Rah Bar” patio welcomes friendly dogs—this is the perfect waterfront spot to enjoy a sunset and seafood with your canine companion. St. Simons Island’s East Beach and Massengale Park are great spots for dogs to run along the shore and swim in the salty ocean. Frederica Park, on the north end of St. Simons Island, is a dog park where your pup can let loose and socialize with its own kind. Dog-friendly lodging is available on both islands.
4. Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket is sprinkled with historic lighthouses, museums, pristine beaches, a bustling downtown, and a ton of dog-friendly beaches. If you and your pup would rather avoid the seasonal beach crowds, check out Steps Beach and Nobadeer Beach, where you’ll have plenty of room for some shore-side shenanigans. Dogs are also permitted at Francis Street Beach, which is known for its more tranquil waters. The Wave shuttle can take you and your pup to these beaches for free, as long as he’s in a carrier. You can also take this shuttle to the airport, ferries, and downtown Nantucket.
Cisco Brewers is a brewery, distillery, and vineyard that does tours and has outdoor seating—both of which are open to dogs. Don’t forget to check out the Milestone Cranberry Bogs, where you and your dog can walk alongside acres of rich red cranberries.
5. Bar Harbor, Maine
You and your pup can explore the rocky, cliff-lined coast of Maine side by side in Bar Harbor. It’s the perfect New England town for furry family members because it’s surrounded by Acadia National Park, which encompasses more than 50 square miles of mountains, lakes, hiking and biking trails, and picturesque views of the coastline. Leashed pets can join you on the Acadian’s boat tours, too—treat your furry companion to a two-hour cruise along Frenchman Bay.
The Island Explorer is a free, pet-friendly shuttle that you can take to Acadia National Park and many other popular sites. You can find a great dog park between Seal Harbor and Northeast Harbor, which has a pond for the “sea dogs” and trails for the land lovers.
6. Outer Banks, North Carolina
The Outer Banks is a 130-mile stretch of barrier islands off the North Carolina coast, which are made up of quaint beach towns, each with its own character. Most of the beaches are dog friendly all year long. Take your dog to Bonzer Shack in Kill Devil Hills, a little surf shack with great food and live music—you can play corn hole and nosh at the picnic tables in their “backyard.”
Cape Hatteras National Seashore is another perfect place to take your pup where you can admire the iconic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. You can even drive your car onto certain sections of this park and spend the day fishing with your dog. John’s Drive-In lunch spot in Kitty Hawk offers special ice cream “puppy cups” for fur kids. The Duck Trail is a seven-mile long, multi-use path that traverses the entire length of the town.
7. Asbury Park, New Jersey
Asbury Park has quickly become one of the most popular destinations at the Jersey Shore. With a bevy of trendy restaurants and shops on the boardwalk and all along Cookman Avenue, there’s something for everyone. You’ll find plenty of dog-friendly beach rentals nearby, and the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel accommodates pets up to 30 lbs.
From October 1st through May 15th, dogs are allowed on the boardwalk and, on the 8th Avenue Dog Beach, all day long. During the summer, dogs are welcome between 6 pm and 8:30 am. Attending Yappy Hour at the famous Wonder Bar is a must on a Thursday afternoon! They have a fenced-in outdoor area so dogs are free to socialize while their humans enjoy a few drinks at the same time. Grab brunch the next morning at Toast, Johnny Mac’s, or Cross and Orange, where there’s outdoor seating for you and your dog. The Asbury Park Convention Hall also hosts many dog-friendly events, including flea markets, all year round. They hand-pick awesome vendors, some of which sell doggy products.
8. Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid’s setting in the Adirondack Mountains is perfect for outdoorsy dog/owner duos in any season—you can go skiing, biking, fishing, and hiking all in one trip. Stay at the Lake Placid Lodge, which welcomes well-mannered dogs and has beautiful waterfront and mountain views, porches to enjoy your morning coffee, and wood-burning fireplaces for cold nights. They provide your pup with his own bed and homemade treats.
You’ll find several dog-friendly lakes and trails nearby where you and your dog can explore the great outdoors side by side. Also visit Mirror Lake, where you and your fur kid can admire the lake on a 2.7-mile paved trail. Then take a stroll on the west side of the lake, where several shops will welcome your dog inside while you browse.
9. Block Island, Rhode Island
Block Island is a conspicuously dog-friendly place that boasts 17 miles of sandy beaches. It’s best explored on foot or by bike, which is ideal for active dog parents. Most of the beaches are quite lenient about furry visitors, but you may want to avoid the main beaches on the east side of the island, which get pretty crowded in the summer.
Leashed dogs are even allowed on the Block Island Ferry, which is a fun route to the island from the mainland. Several inns on the island welcome doggy visitors, along with many vacation rentals. Grab a smoothie at Juice ‘n Java—they have water and treats on hand for your fur kid, too.
10. Nags Head, North Carolina
With its great reputation and 11 miles of coastline, all leashed dogs are welcome starting at mile marker 10.
11. Fort De Soto Park Paw Playground, Tierra Verde, Florida
The aware-winning Paw Playground is part of the Dog Beach. There are also two-fenced-in areas that cater to large and small dogs.
12. Jekyll Island, Georgia
This secluded beach has a natural beauty that is not developed. Jekyll Island has many hotels and restaurants that welcome your four-legged family members.
