Want to bring your pet for a fun day at the beach?! Whether it’s to dig in the sand or chase a tennis ball into the ocean, your dog is sure to love the beach! Check out the top 10 beaches across the United States that are dog friendly:
Arroyo Burro Beach AKA Hendry’s Beach, Santa Barbara, California
This county park is the portal for the best known off-leash spot in the Santa Barbara area. Dogs are required to be on leash through the parking lot and bathing beach until, passing Arroyo Burro Slough, dogs are allowed off-leash below the city’s Douglas Family Preserve. Dogs may also be off-leash on the beach just east of the creek. The leash free area is extensive, and is at the base of a cliff. There is a self-serve dog bathing station in the parking lot.
Wildwood Dog Park & Beach, Wildwood, New Jersey
The dog park, complete with a 30-foot-tall fire hydrant sculpture, offers two separate fenced-in areas — one for large breeds and the other for small — and play areas decorated with tunnels, platforms and shade areas for the pooches, benches and a covered gazebo for their humans. Dogs are allowed on the beach and to swim in the ocean within this designated dog beach area.
Cannon Beach, Oregon
Cannon Beach City Beach is known for its long, sandy shore. Haystack Rock, one of Oregon’s most recognizable landmarks, rises 235 feet from the edge of the shoreline and is home to colorful tidepools and diverse bird life. Dogs are allowed on the beach, as long as they are on a leash or under voice control of the owner.
Downs Park Dog Beach, Annapolis, Maryland
Situated on the Chesapeake Bay, Downs Park offers a variety of natural and recreational activities throughout its 236 acres. Located off the perimeter trail in Downs Park, the Dog Beach is fenced in and the sandy beach and shallow water make it the perfect play space for your dogs!
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California 
Carmel City Beach is a long, wide, white sand beach located at the end of Ocean Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Dogs are allowed off-leash, however they must be under the voice control of their owners. This is a very dog friendly beach!
Broward Beach and Paw Park, Venice, Florida
Brohard Beach and Paw Park offers a fenced dog play yard that leads to the only beach area in Sarasota County where dogs are allowed. The park includes a fenced in area where dogs can run leash-free during daylight hours and access to a beach where dogs are allowed off-leash Open daily, 7 a.m.-dusk.
Ocean Beach Dog Beach, San Diego, California
Ocean Beach Dog Beach is one of the country’s first official leash-free dog beaches. San Diego’s only 24 hour beach for dogs, Dog Beach is a sandy area at the north end of the beach where dogs are allowed off-leash at all hours of the day.
Outer Banks, North Carolina
Outer Banks Beaches offer miles and miles of pristine beaches. Unpopulated, unspoiled, and always open, the beaches have popped up on a number of National “Best Beaches” lists, including Coastal Living Magazine’s list, and world renowned beach expert “Dr. Beach’s” annual round-up of best American beaches. Dogs are allowed on most all Outer Banks beaches, provided they are on a leash.
Kirk Park Dog Beach, West Olive, Michigan
Kirk Park boasts 68 acres of sandy beach, high bluffs and wooded dunes. There is an off-leash beach at the southernmost area of the park, accessible from the south beach stairs. Dogs are allowed at the park daily between 7-10 am and 7-10 pm.
Jupiter Dog Beach, Jupiter, Florida
The only legal dog beach in Palm Beach County, Jupiter Dog Beach areas are defined as a 2.5 mile stretch of beach from beach marker #26 at Marcinski Road going north to beach marker #57 (at the Carlin Park property line). Dogs are allowed off-leash only within the boundaries of the dog-friendly beach areas.
