Have you ever thought about skipping your vacation because you didn’t want to leave your dog at home? According to recent studies, 37% of dog owners have done just that.
We decided to take a look at our own data to find out how this trend is influencing travel. Our team found that “pet-friendly” is the second most searched rental amenity among travelers, and some cities have close to half of their vacation rentals offering pet-friendly accommodations. See all 25 friendliest cities for pets below!
Top 25 Cities for Pet-Friendly Vacation Rentals
| City | Pet-Friendly Properties |
| Palm Springs, CA | 43% |
| Santa Fe, NM | 41% |
| Sunriver, OR | 37% |
| Key West, FL | 36% |
| Big Bear, CA | 36% |
| Lincoln City, OR | 36% |
| Tucson, AZ | 34% |
| Bend, OR | 33% |
| La Quinta, CA | 31% |
| Oak Island, NC | 31% |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | 29% |
| Galveston, TX | 28% |
| Corolla, NC | 27% |
| Holmes Beach, FL | 27% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 26% |
| Tybee Island, GA | 26% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 25% |
| Folly Beach, SC | 25% |
| Cape Coral, FL | 25% |
| San Antonio, TX | 24% |
| South Padre Island, TX | 24% |
| Scottsdale, AZ | 23% |
| Austin, TX | 23% |
| Oceanside, CA | 23% |
| San Diego, CA | 23% |
After looking at cities with a minimum of 1,000 property listings, Palm Springs, California, took the cake with 43% of its vacation rental properties offering pet-friendly options, and Santa Fe, New Mexico followed closely behind with 41%. Your dog works hard too; make sure they get well-deserved vacation time in these pet-friendly locations listed above!
Read on for a deeper dive into the top five cities for a dog-friendly vacation.
Top 5 Dog-Friendly Cities to Visit
1. Palm Springs, CA
With a high frequency of sunshine and warm weather for the majority of the year, Palm Springs, California, offers everything you need for a relaxing getaway, including a number of pet-friendly scenic hikes and luxurious resorts.
Pet-Friendly Attractions
- Palm Springs Dog Park. Located behind City Hall, the David H. Ready Palm Springs Dog Park consists of 1.6 acres of leash-free, fenced-in rolling grass with drinking fountains for both dogs and people. There’s even a separate play area for smaller dogs.
- Mission Creek Preserve Trail. This 3.2-mile out-and-back trail is located about 30 minutes outside of the city in Desert Hot Springs.
- Swiss Canyon Trail. A 2.4-mile out-and-back trail also located near Desert Hot Springs, it’s considered a moderately challenging route.
- Cedar Springs Trail. A little further outside the city, this 6.4-mile out-and-back trail with an elevation gain of 1,699 feet is near Mountain Center, and will take an average of about 3.5 hours to complete.
Pet-Friendly Restaurants
- El Mirasol Restaurants. These two Mexican restaurants found along Palm Canyon Drive offer partially covered, dog-friendly patios.
- Sherman’s Deli & Bakery. This New York City style deli in downtown Palm Springs offers cakes, sandwiches, and a variety of deli and bakery options, and welcomes dogs on its outdoor patio.
- Bongo Johnny’s Patio Bar & Grill. This contemporary diner takes things a step further, as on top of their extensive menu and dog-friendly patio, they also offer a the Bongo Dog Menu, with fun items like the Barkin’ for Bacon and the Chicken Chew-Wa-Wa that your dog will absolutely love.
- Lulu California Bistro. This modern, colorful, laid-back bistro offers gluten-free and vegetarian options, plus a spacious patio that welcomes dogs.
- Koffi. Open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Koffi serves up delicious beverages, pastries, baked goods, sandwiches, and more — and has a selection of pet-friendly outdoor tables.
2. Santa Fe, NM
Known for its arts, culture, and culinary scene, New Mexico’s capital city of Santa Fe offers a wide variety of experiences to suit interests of all kinds, with plenty of opportunities for pet-friendly fun!
Pet-Friendly Attractions
- Santa Fe Mountain Adventures. This tour company based in Santa Fe offers outdoor adventures that include guided hikes, mountain biking adventures, off-road excursions, and cultural tours — and dogs under 100 pounds are welcome, with a limit of two per outing.
- Nedra Matteucci Sculpture Gardens. Well-behaved dogs are welcome (on a leash) in this beautiful sculpture garden.
- Picacho Peak Trail. This 3.8-mile out-and-back trail to the top of Picacho Peak near Santa Fe is a popular hiking destination with an elevation gain of 1,230 feet.
- Sun Mountain Trail. This 1.6-mile out-and-back trail also near Santa Fe will take you to the 734-foot-tall peak of Sun Mountain.
- Dale Ball North Loop. This 3.1-mile loop near Santa Fe is considered an easy route, and is very popular for hiking and running.
Pet-Friendly Restaurants
- Black Mesa Winery. Located along the Rio Grande in Velarde, an hour north of Santa Fe, Black Mesa Winery has a pet-friendly facility with outdoor shaded seating areas and a walking trail full of ancient petroglyphs. With an at least 24-hour advance notice, well-behaved dogs are welcome on tours of the winery.
- Honeymoon Brewery. Just a seven-minute drive from downtown Santa Fe, Honeymoon Brewery serves hard kombucha, craft beer, and cocktails on their pet-friendly patio.
- Loyal Hound Pub. As the name would suggest, the Loyal Hound Pub welcomes dogs on their outdoor patio and has a collection of photos of local dogs adorning the walls inside.
- Opuntia Cafe. This dog-friendly restaurant allows your four-legged companion to join you inside as long as they are leashed and well-behaved.
- Café Castro. This locally-owned, family-operated, dog-friendly restaurant serving regional cuisine allows leashed pups at outdoor tables on the covered patio.
3. Sunriver, OR
Located just 20 minutes south of Bend, which came in at #8 on this list, Sunriver, Oregon, is a year-round destination for outdoor adventure. Explore miles of hiking trails with your pup or hit some of these pet-friendly spots below.
Pet-Friendly Attractions
- Deschutes National Forest. You’ll be happy to know that over 95% of Deschutes National Forest trails are open to dogs off-leash in the summer and there are 1,200 miles of forested trails.
- Riverbend Beach Dog Park. One of nine off-leash areas in Bend, you can easily find some furry playmates for your companion at Riverbend Beach Dog Park.
- Benham Falls Trail. This 1.5-mile out-and-back trail can be found near Bend, and is generally considered an easy route that takes about 30 minutes to complete.
- Smith Rock State Park. You and your pup can explore this 650-acre state park as long as he or she is on a leash no longer than six feet at all times.
- Deschutes River Trail. This high traffic trail along the Deschutes River requires dogs to be leashed from May 15th through September 15th every year as it’s popular with equestrian riders.
- Good Dog Loop. The Good Dog Loop is a 3.5-mile trail near Bend. As the name suggests, it allows dogs to be off-leash in areas.
Pet-Friendly Restaurants
- Cafe Sintra. This dog-friendly cafe in Sunriver serves Portuguese cuisine, and you can sit with your companion at their seasonal, outdoor tables.
- The Fold Craft Pizza + Kitchen. Located within the Village at Sunriver, an open-air mall, The Fold is an upscale, family and dog friendly pizzeria.
- Sunriver Brewing Co. You’ll want to check out the Sunriver Brewing Company location in Sunriver for some delectable bites, great beer, and a dog-friendly outdoor seating area.
4. Key West, FL
Nestled on the southernmost end of the United States, Key West in Florida is known across the globe as an upscale beach destination. In Key West, your furry companions can live in splendor, too.
Pet-Friendly Attractions
- Higgs Beach Dog Park. This fenced-in, beachside dog park provides benches for owners and grassy areas for doggos to roam off-leash.
- Key West Aquarium. Yes, the Key West Aquarium is dog-friendly as long as your pup is on a leash!
- Lazy Dog Adventures. As the name clearly states, Lazy Dog Adventures outfits you and your pup with kayaks and paddleboards for your own languid adventure, and also offers tours.
- Key West Dog Beach. Located behind the fine-dining establishment Louie’s Backyard, the Key West Dog Beach is a secluded place for your pup to have the time of his or her life!
Pet-Friendly Restaurants
- Hogfish Bar & Grill. In the mood for seafood? Then you and your companion should head to the Hogfish Bar & Grill‘s pet-friendly covered patio.
- Louie’s Backyard. Steps away from the Key West Dog Beach, head to Louie’s Afterdeck Bar for a nice pet-friendly patio and some delectable food.
- Island Dogs. You and your pup will surely enjoy this casual eatery serving burgers, wings, and oysters at their outdoor tables.
- Off the Hook Bar & Grill. Find an umbrella-covered table for you and your four-legged friend at Off the Hook Bar & Grill, a cozy bistro serving Cozy American bistro serving locally sourced seafood, pizza, sandwiches, and breakfast for you, and Bacon Ice Cube Bones and Beef Bone Marrows for him or her.
5. Big Bear, CA
A top vacation destination in Southern California, Big Bear serves up as many fun things to do in the winter as it does in the summer! Hit the slopes or take a dip in the lake, then take your pets to any of these locations for some added excitement.
Pet-Friendly Attractions
- Bark Park. The perfectly named Bark Park can be found in the lakeside Ski Beach Park, and includes an elevated tunnel, a separate small dog area, and an adjustable bar so your doggo can work on their vertical!
- Castle Rock Trail. This 2.7-mile out-and-back trail near Big Bear Lake allows dogs to be off the leash in areas.
- Bear Lake Woodland Trail. This 1.6-mile loop near Big Bear is a popular area for hiking and mountain biking, and requires your dog to be on a leash.
- Grays Peak Trail. This 6.4-mile out-and-back trail near Fawnskin on the other side of the lake from Big Bear is moderately challenging, with an elevation gain of 1,174 feet.
Pet-Friendly Restaurants
- Teddy Bear Restaurant. Located in Big Bear, the Teddy Bear Restaurant is a laid-back eatery with dog-friendly seating.
- Big Bear Lake Brewing Company. You’ll find excellent food, great beer, and a pet-friendly environment at the Big Bear Lake Brewing Company.
- Fire Rock Burgers & Brews. This rock ‘n’ roll-themed restaurant serves local draft beers and burgers on their dog-friendly patio.
- Oakside Restaurant & Bar. This rustic eatery allows well-behaved dogs to join you on the large, pet-friendly outdoor patio, where water bowls are available for thirsty pups.
Note: for all the trails listed above, don’t forget to bring a leash!
Plan a Dog-Friendly Vacation
When it comes to pet-friendliness, these five cities stole the show. Although they’re all known to welcome furry family members, please check with all restaurants ahead of time to confirm their requirements, such as if your animal needs to be on a leash or if your party will be required to sit outside. It’s also good to keep in mind that most vacation rentals require a pet deposit, so be sure to include that in your travel budget.
For pet-friendly rentals, select the “Pets Allowed” filter after clicking the button below.