This page may contain affiliate links. In addition to sharing our personal experiences, we often write about products and services that we use ourselves or that we believe would be a helpful resource for you. To support our work, and remain a free website, we receive a commission from some of the links we share.
Dogs and water go hand in hand (…or would that be paw in paw?)
Here are the best dog beaches all across the U.S.
If you’ll be traveling with your dog, one of these dog-friendly beaches might be near your destination!
Dog Beach Guide
Depending on who you ask (or who does the polling), you’re likely to get a different answer to the best dog-friendly beaches every time.
The reason for the differences is that each person (or poll) solicits responses from different subsets of people.
In my opinion, if a particular city shows up on anyone‘s list of the top dog-friendly beaches (past or present), then you can probably trust that it’s a great place for dogs to visit!
Here are the Top 10 Dog-Friendly Beachs for 2010:
#1 Del Mar Beach San Diego, California
#2 Cape San Blas, Florida
#3 Fort DeSoto Beach, Florida
#4 Hunting Island, South Carolina
#5 Fort Funston State Park, California
#6 Dog Beach, California
#7 Carmel City Beach, California
#8 Pistol River State Scenic Viewpoint, Oregon
#9 St. George Island, Florida
#10 Ft. Fisher State Recreation Area, North Carolina
Source: PetLvr
Now, compare that list to the Top 10 Pet-Friendly Beaches in 2009:
#1 Fort DeSoto Beach, Florida
#2 Dog Beach, California
#3 St. George Island, Florida
#4 Carmel City Beach, California
#5 Cape San Blas, Florida
#6 Hunting Island, South Carolina
#7 Fort Funston State Park, California
#8 Pistol River State Scenic Viewpoint, Oregon
#9 Ft. Fisher State Recreation Area, North Carolina
#10 Jekyll Island, Georgia
Source: America’s Best Top 10
And here were the Top 10 Dog-Friendly Beaches in 2006:
#1 Cape San Blas, Florida
#2 Dog Beach, California
#3 St. George Island, Florida
#4 Carmel City Beach, California
#5 Dog Island, Florida
#6 Hunting Island, South Carolina
#7 Grayton Beach State Recreation Area, Florida
#8 Pistol River State Scenic Viewpoint, Oregon
#9 Jekyll Island, Georgia
#10 Ft. Fisher State Recreation Area, North Carolina
Research conducted by Pet-Friendly Vacation Rental Properties and Americas Best Top & 10.
More Dog-Friendly Beach Info
Where Can I Take My Dog To The Beach? (…includes the best and worst Atlantic coast beaches, Pacific coast beaches, Gulf beaches, and Great Lakes beaches)
Dog-Friendly Beach Guide (…more than 200 beaches that are great for dogs)
Dog Etiquette For The Pet-Friendly Beach (…yes, there are some “rules” for dogs and dog owners)
Best Dog Beaches In The United States (…select the state you’re interested in)
Britain’s 10 Best Dog-Friendly Beaches (…many beaches in the UK ban dogs, but not these 10)
I like to help Dog Parents find unique ways to do things that will save time & money — so I write about "outside the box" Dog Tips and Dog Hacks that most wouldn't think of. I’m a lifelong dog owner — currently have 2 mixed breed Golden Aussies that we found abandoned on the side of the road as puppies. I've always trained my own dogs and help friends train theirs, as well. Professionally, I worked at a vet and have several friends who are veterinarians — whom I consult with regularly. (And just because I love animals so much, I also worked at a Zoo for awhile!) I've been sharing my best ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998 (the same year that Google started… and before the days of Facebook and YouTube). My daily motivation is to help first-time dog owners be better prepared from the first day your new puppy enters your home. I like to help dog owners understand what's 'normal' and what you can expect in terms of living with and training your dog — how to get through the ups & downs of potty training, chewing, teaching commands, getting your dog to listen, and everything else that takes place during that hectic first year! When I'm not training, walking, grooming, or making homemade treats for my dogs, you will find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). To date, I've written over 500 articles for dog owners on this site!
