Best dog beaches in the US

Iconic Oregon Coast beach with Haystack Rock. Leashed dogs welcome on entire beach (off-leash voice-control allowed in some sections).

40 miles of Cape Cod beach. Leashed dogs welcome — NOT on lifeguarded beaches in summer.

Ocean City beach + boardwalk allow leashed dogs Oct 1 to Apr 30 only. NOT permitted May-Sep.

Oahu's most beloved windward beach. Leashed dogs welcome on the soft white sand + grass picnic area.

Iconic 235-ft sea stack on Cannon Beach. Leashed dogs welcome (NOT inside Marine Garden tide pool zone).

West Seattle's iconic 2.5-mile beach. Leashed dogs welcome on beach + promenade.

Iconic Pacific NW beach (Haystack Rock). Voice-control off-leash allowed on most beach (NOT in marine reserve around Haystack Rock — keep leashed there).

America's first leash-free beach (1972). Free, 24/7.

Miami-Dade beach with leashed dog-friendly section.

4-mile Trustees beach. Dogs welcome Oct 1 – Mar 31 (off-season only); leashed at all times. NOT during piping plover nesting.

Milwaukee's iconic Lake Michigan beach. Leashed dogs welcome year-round.

Folly Beach allows dogs year-round. Off-leash 5pm-10am May-Sept; full off-leash Oct-Apr. Charleston's premier dog beach.

Award-winning off-leash dog beach + dog park inside 1,136-acre Fort De Soto.

70 miles of Outer Banks coast. Leashed dogs welcome on most beaches (NOT lifeguarded swim areas).

Leashed dogs welcome on entire Tybee beach 7am–9pm year-round.

Leashed dogs welcome on Rehoboth Beach + boardwalk Oct 1 – Apr 30. No dogs in summer (May 1 – Sep 30).

Sullivan's Island — most dog-friendly Charleston beach. Off-leash 5am-10am Apr-Oct, on-leash 6pm-10am; off-leash all day Nov-Mar with permit.

Isle of Palms — dogs allowed year-round. Off-leash before 9am + after 5pm Apr-Oct; off-leash all day Nov-Mar.

Hilton Head's main beach. Dogs off-leash before 10am + after 5pm Apr-Sept; off-leash all day Oct-Mar.

Iconic Kauai south shore beach park. Leashed dogs welcome on the grass and walkway sections (NOT in monk-seal protected swim zones).

1.5-mile Seaside Promenade beach. Leashed dogs welcome on beach (off-leash voice-control further north).

Perkins Beach (the western end of Edgewater Beach) is the OFF-LEASH dog beach — dogs can splash in Lake Erie or roll in the sand. Voice control required. Rest of Edgewater is leashed-dog-friendly.

3.5-mile sand beach. Leashed dogs allowed before 8am and after 6pm; not permitted on beach 8am-6pm June 15-Sept 15.

7-mile state beach. Leashed dogs allowed off-season (Oct 1 to Apr 30).

7-mile sand beach. Leashed dogs allowed before 10am and after 5pm June 15-Sept 15; full access off-season.

Coronado's off-leash dog beach at the north end. Year-round, free.

Miami's only off-leash dog beach. Free, all year, on Biscayne Bay.

Iconic NH beach. Dogs allowed Oct 1 - Mar 31 only (off-season). Leashed.

Iconic Acadia beach. Leashed dogs welcome Sept 16-May 15 ONLY — NOT permitted May 16-September 15.

Maui South Shore county beach park (3 beaches). Leashed dogs welcome on grass + sand. Best early morning/evening.

Dogs allowed on beach + boardwalk Oct 1 – Apr 30 only. Banned May 1 – Sept 30. Leashed at all times.

Middletown's iconic surf beach. Leashed dogs allowed off-season (Oct 1 to Apr 30).

Newport's main beach at the start of Cliff Walk. Leashed dogs off-season (Oct 1 to Apr 30).

Iconic Narragansett surf beach. Leashed dogs allowed off-season (Oct 1 to Apr 30).

147-acre Long Island Sound peninsula park. Dogs allowed Dec 1 - Mar 31 only. Leashed throughout, off-leash below high tide.

Free public beach. Leashed dogs welcome Oct 1 - Apr 30 (off-season only).

Hampton Beach SP — leashed dogs allowed off-season (Oct–Apr).

Lake Winnipesaukee beach + boardwalk. Leashed dogs welcome on boardwalk.

Orange Beach Gulf-front public beach. Leashed dogs allowed (Oct-Apr in some sections).

Quiet bay-side beach. Leashed dogs allowed Oct 1 – Apr 30. No dogs May 1 – Sep 30 (8am–6:30pm).

Hancock County Gulf beach — miles of strolling + swim access. Leashed dogs (max 6ft leash) welcome.

Quieter beach community south of Virginia Beach. Leashed dogs allowed year-round (off-leash voice control 6pm–10am Oct–Mar).

Hampton's family beach. Leashed dogs welcome October–April (off-season).

Seward's iconic Iditarod Trail terminus + Resurrection Bay waterfront. Leashed dogs on the Waterfront Park promenade + beach.

Maui north shore county beach park. One of the most dog-tolerant beaches on Maui — leashed dogs welcome.

Oahu windward beach park (open weekends + holidays). Leashed dogs welcome on grass + sand.

Falmouth's iconic Buzzards Bay beach. Leashed dogs welcome off-season (Sept 16 – May 14).

7-mile dog-friendly Oregon coast beach. Voice-control off-leash welcome.

Cape Kiwanda dory beach with second Haystack Rock. Voice-control off-leash welcome.

Historic Newport oceanfront beach. Voice-control off-leash welcome.

Northwest Seattle Puget Sound beach. Leashed dogs welcome (please leash strictly per posted signs near salmon ladder).

World's longest drivable beach (28 miles). Leashed dogs welcome. Driving permitted on hard-packed sand.

Off-leash dog beach. Voice control required.

North Shore O'ahu — leashed dogs welcome on the beach park. Most Hawaii beaches require leashes.

Grand Traverse Bay beachfront. Leashed dogs welcome along the bay path; designated dog-friendly beach section.

Largest state beach in RI. Leashed dogs off-season (Oct 1 to Apr 30).

Designated pet beach in Gulf State Park (West Beach + Pavilion zones). Leashed dogs year-round.

Quieter Gulf-front beach at Fort Morgan peninsula tip. Leashed dogs welcome.

Off-leash dog beach at Cape Henlopen (Oct 1 – May 14). Leashed remainder of year on non-guarded sections.

Quaint beach town. Leashed dogs welcome Oct 1 – May 14. No dogs allowed in summer.

Jackson County beach allows leashed dogs everywhere — sand, swimming and 800ft boardwalk to Ocean Springs Harbor.

Sandpoint downtown beach on Lake Pend Oreille. Leashed dogs welcome (off-season Sep-May for off-leash zone).

Edisto Beach — leashed dogs allowed year-round (no off-leash on city beach). Quiet alternative to Folly.

Pawleys Island — leashed dogs welcome year-round on beach (no off-leash). Quiet 4-mile beach.

Kiawah Island public beach access. Leashed dogs welcome (Mar-Oct), off-leash some hours Nov-Feb.

Year-round dog-friendly beach at 8th Ave end. Leashed dogs welcome (off-leash before 8am off-season). One of NJ's best urban dog beaches.

Ogden Valley reservoir with dog-friendly beaches at Cemetery Point + Anderson Cove. Leashed dogs welcome — swim access.

Hilo's iconic black-sand beach park (Hawaii County). Leashed dogs welcome on grass and shoreline path.

Plum Island public beach (north end). Leashed dogs welcome Sept 16 – April 1; off-limits during plover nesting.

Famous 'singing sand' beach. Dogs welcome Oct 1 – April 30 (off-season only).

Lincoln City beach access at world's shortest river. Voice-control off-leash welcome.

Washington's only off-leash saltwater beach (1 acre + waterfront). Edmonds Marina Park.

Whidbey Island 2-mile off-leash beach (one of best in PNW). Leashed required first 500ft, off-leash beyond.

Dogs allowed on beach + boardwalk Oct 1 – Apr 30 only. Prohibited May 15 – Sept 30. Leashed always.

Inlet recreation area within Delaware Seashore State Park. Leashed dogs in surf-fishing zones year-round; off-season on main beach.

Mobile County Gulf-front beach. Leashed dogs welcome year-round.

33-acre Norwalk town beach. Leashed dogs Oct 1 - Apr 30 only (no dogs in summer).

Off-leash dog beach. Voice control required.

Mile-long sand beach in Kennebunk. Off-leash before 9am, on-leash 9am-5pm; not permitted after 5pm June 15-Sept 15.

Rye state beach with surf scene. Dogs allowed Oct 1 - Mar 31 only (off-season). Leashed.

Year-round dog-friendly beach (off-season Sept 16 - Apr 30). Leashed dogs welcome.

Pristine 10-mile barrier island beach. Leashed dogs Sept 16 - Mar 31; limited summer access (A23/A22).

Kauai county beach park with calm protected swim cove. Leashed dogs welcome on grass and shore (county park rules).

Big Island county beach park (locally known as Pine Trees). Leashed dogs welcome on shore; locally tolerated off-leash early/late.

Oahu windward county beach park. Leashed dogs welcome on calm protected lagoon shore.

Rocky Yachats coast with tide pools. Leashed dogs welcome on beach.

83-acre Pacific Ocean state park on Westport peninsula. Leashed dogs welcome on beach. Discover Pass required.

Dogs permitted on beach Oct – Apr; restricted hours May – Sept (before 9:30am, after 5:30pm). Leashed always.

Surfing beach in Scarborough. Off-leash dogs welcome before 9am; leashed only 9am-5pm; not permitted after 5pm June 15-Sept 15.

Lake Champlain beach + campground. Leashed dogs welcome on grounds (off swim area). Texaco Beach is dedicated dog beach nearby.

Leashed dogs allowed before 9:30am + after 5:30pm in summer. Anytime off-season.

Sandy beach on Payette Lake — leashed dogs welcome year-round.

Westport town beach with off-leash dog area south of brick bathhouses. Open Oct 1 - Mar 31 (no dogs Apr 1 - Sep 30).

Marblehead public beach. Leashed dogs welcome off-season (Oct 1 – April 30); fenced dog area year-round.

3-mile barrier beach state park. Leashed dogs allowed off-season.

Quiet Jackson County Gulf-of-Mexico beach. Leashed dogs welcome to swim and stroll.

NH state beach. Dogs allowed Oct 1 - Mar 31 only (off-season). Leashed.

Long sandy beach in Scarborough. Leashed dogs allowed before 9am and after 5pm during summer; full access off-season.

Portland's small urban beach below Eastern Promenade. Off-leash hours; popular dog swim spot.

Southern tip of LBI. Leashed dogs Sept 1 - Mar 31 ONLY (closed Apr-Aug for piping plover nesting).

Big Island's most famous off-leash dog beach by Honokohau Harbor. Self-regulated; Sunday 11am is the local dog meetup.

Oahu North Shore secluded beach. Leashed dogs welcome — banyan-shaded sandy stroll.

East Boston DCR beach with Logan Airport plane-watching. Leashed dogs allowed off-season.

Dogs allowed Oct 1 – Apr 30 in surf-fishing zones; banned May 1 – Sept 30 in main beach areas. Leashed always.

Evanston's off-leash dog beach. Annual permit required ($30 residents).

Jamestown town beach on Beavertail Rd. Leashed dogs off-season.

Hancock County Gulf beach next to Buccaneer State Park. Leashed dogs welcome on the sand.

USFS Lake Tahoe beach. Leashed dogs welcome on the south end of the beach.

Milford town beach with fishing pier. Leashed dogs Oct 1 - Mar 31 only (no dogs Apr-Sep).

Douglas Island beachfront park with Treadwell ruins trail. Leashed dogs welcome on the beach + ruins loop.

Oahu west-side county beach park. Leashed dogs welcome on shore — locally popular for tide-pool walks.

Off-leash dog beach. Voice control required.

NH state beach. Dogs allowed Oct 1 - Mar 31 only (off-season). Leashed.

Fairfield town beach. Leashed dogs allowed Oct 1 - Apr 30 only (no dogs in summer season).

Evanston's lakefront dog-friendly beach (annual permit required for off-leash).

Quiet beach town near MD line. Leashed dogs Oct 1 – Apr 30 anytime; before 8am + after 6:30pm in summer.

Quiet Rye beach. Dogs allowed Oct 1 - Mar 31 only (off-season). Leashed.

Laconia town beach on Lake Winnipesaukee. Dogs allowed off-season only. Leashed.

Kent County's free Chesapeake Bay public beach. Leashed dogs welcome year-round.

Small Eastern Shore Chesapeake Bay public beach. Leashed dogs welcome.

Naperville beach with off-leash hours (early mornings, off-season). Permit required.

Burlington's dedicated off-leash dog beach on Lake Champlain. Free swim access for dogs.

Quiet Hancock-side beach near Pass Christian bridge. Leashed dogs welcome (Harrison Co. Gulfport/Biloxi beaches off-limits).

Quiet town beach. Dogs allowed Sep 16 - May 14 only (off-season). Leashed.

Designated off-leash dog swim cove inside Niquette Bay State Park. Lake Champlain.

Located at Geneva State Park, this designated dog beach allows leashed dogs to swim and play in Lake Erie.