Let me tell you about the time I left my dog at a boarding facility while I went on vacation. She gave me the sad eyes at drop-off — you know the look, the one that says "I thought we were family." I spent the entire trip feeling guilty, checking the webcam, and not enjoying myself. The boarding cost $55/night, which was almost as much as the resort. Never again.
Bringing your pet on vacation used to mean sketchy motels with "PET OK" painted on a cardboard sign. Not anymore. Major resort brands have woken up to the fact that pet owners would rather vacation with their animals, and the pet-friendly options are better than ever. Here are 10 resort deals where your dog (and sometimes cat) is genuinely welcome. Browse our destination pages for pet-friendly deals by location.
1. Hilton Head Island — From $109/Night (Dog-Friendly Beaches)
Hilton Head is a dog paradise. The island has designated dog-friendly beach areas where your pup can run off-leash during certain hours (before 10 AM and after 5 PM April-September, all day October-March). The 60+ miles of bike paths are perfect for dog walks, and the overall island atmosphere is laid-back enough that nobody bats an eye at dogs in outdoor restaurant patios.
The Marriott Grande Ocean and several vacation rental properties welcome pets with fees ranging from $50-150 per stay (not per night). The resort grounds provide plenty of green space for walks, and pet waste stations are everywhere. The beaches here are wide and clean — your dog will lose their mind with joy the first time their paws hit that packed sand.
Shelter Cove Harbour has several dog-friendly restaurants with outdoor seating. Watching your retriever charm every single person at the next table while you eat fresh seafood is peak vacation energy. Coligny Beach Park has a dog beach section, and the Sea Pines Forest Preserve has nature trails where leashed dogs are welcome.
2. San Diego — From $99/Night (Dog Beach Heaven)
San Diego has one of the best off-leash dog beaches in the country: Dog Beach in Ocean Beach. It's a full-sized beach where dogs can run, swim, and play off-leash at all times — no restricted hours, no size limits, no attitude. Watching dozens of dogs of every breed splash in the Pacific Ocean is pure, unfiltered joy. It's impossible to be unhappy at Dog Beach. Scientifically impossible.
Resort properties in Mission Valley that welcome pets start at $99/night. You're about 10-15 minutes from Dog Beach and within easy reach of Balboa Park (leashed dogs welcome on trails), the Gaslamp Quarter (many dog-friendly patios), and multiple dog parks throughout the city. San Diego's year-round perfect weather makes it a dream for pet owners.
Fiesta Island in Mission Bay is another off-leash area — a large, sandy island with calm bay water that's safer for smaller dogs than the ocean surf. The Nate's Point Dog Park in Balboa Park has off-leash areas with stunning canyon views. San Diego loves dogs more than some cities love their residents.
3. Asheville, North Carolina — From $79/Night
Asheville might be the most dog-friendly city in the Southeast. The craft brewery culture here has evolved to include dog-friendly taprooms as a default rather than an exception. Sierra Nevada, Wicked Weed, and dozens of smaller breweries welcome leashed dogs on their patios and in some cases, inside. Your dog might have a more active social life here than you do.
Pet-friendly resort packages start at $79/night at properties in the Asheville area. The Blue Ridge Parkway has numerous hiking trails where leashed dogs are welcome, and Pisgah National Forest has even more options. DuPont State Forest's waterfall hikes are dog-friendly and spectacular — just keep your pup leashed near the falls. Check our deals page for Asheville pet-friendly packages.
The West Asheville neighborhood is particularly dog-centric, with pet boutiques, dog bakeries (yes, bakeries specifically for dogs), and restaurants that put out water bowls without being asked. The French Broad River Greenway is a paved trail along the river that's perfect for dog walks, and the views of the Blue Ridge Mountains are a nice bonus for the human on the other end of the leash.
4. Gulf Shores, Alabama — From $89/Night
Gulf Shores welcomes dogs to its beaches during the off-season (November through February) and has designated pet-friendly beach areas year-round at certain parks. The Fort Morgan area at the western tip of the island is particularly dog-friendly with wide, uncrowded beaches where your dog can run and play. Gulf State Park has pet-friendly trails and camping areas.
Several resort condo properties welcome pets with deposits or fees. Starting at $89/night, you get Gulf-view accommodations with enough space to share with your four-legged family member. Many condos have tiled floors and are specifically designed to handle pet guests — no worrying about your dog's sandy paws ruining fancy carpet.
The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail system in Gulf State Park has 28 miles of paved and boardwalk trails through coastal dune, maritime forest, and freshwater bog ecosystems. Leashed dogs are welcome, and the birding is excellent — your dog will be facinated by the herons and pelicans, even if the feeling isn't mutual.
5. Stowe, Vermont — From $119/Night
Vermont is absurdly dog-friendly as a state — many restaurants, stores, and even some indoor attractions welcome well-behaved dogs. The Green Mountain State's outdoor culture naturally extends to pets, and the hiking, swimming, and general romping opportunities are endless. Stowe specifically caters to dog owners with pet-friendly shops on the main street and multiple off-leash swimming areas.
The Stoweflake Mountain Resort and several vacation rental properties welcome pets, with packages starting at $119/night. The Stowe Recreation Path (5.3 miles of paved trail) is perfect for dog walks, and the West Branch River along the path has swimming holes where dogs can cool off. The general store in town sells homemade dog treats that your pet will think about for months afterward.
Winter visits are magical too — dogs love snow, and watching your lab dive face-first into a powder drift is worth the trip alone. Dog-friendly snowshoe trails abound, and several cross-country ski centers welcome dogs on designated trails. Stowe's dog-friendliness isn't seasonal — it's year-round and genuine.
6. Sedona, Arizona — From $99/Night
Sedona's trails are overwhelmingly dog-friendly — leashed dogs are welcome on almost all National Forest trails, which includes most of Sedona's famous hikes. Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Devil's Bridge, and dozens of other trails welcome you and your hiking buddy. The red rock scenery makes for incredible dog-adventure photos that'll absolutely dominate your Instagram.
Pet-friendly resort packages start at $99/night. Many Sedona properties not only allow pets but actively welcome them with dog beds, treats at check-in, and recommendations for pet-friendly restaurants and trails. The dry desert climate is comfortable for most dogs, though be mindful of hot rock surfaces during summer months — if it's too hot for your palm, it's too hot for their paws.
Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village allows leashed dogs throughout the outdoor areas, and several Sedona restaurants have dog-friendly patios with views of the red rocks. Slide Rock State Park is unfortunately NOT dog-friendly (one of the few restrictions), but Oak Creek Canyon has plenty of alternative swimming holes where dogs can splash around.
7. Outer Banks, North Carolina — From $89/Night
The Outer Banks is one of the most dog-friendly beach destinations on the East Coast. During the off-season (October through April), dogs are allowed on virtually all beaches. Even during summer, several beach access points have designated dog-friendly areas. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore allows leashed dogs on the beach year-round — miles of wild, undeveloped coastline where your dog can splash in the Atlantic.
Pet-friendly vacation rental condos start at $89/night. The OBX rental culture is inherently more pet-friendly than hotel culture — many vacation homes explicitly welcome dogs with fenced yards, outdoor showers (great for sandy dogs), and proximity to the beach. Most charge a one-time pet fee of $75-150 rather than per-night charges.
Jockey's Ridge State Park allows leashed dogs on the massive sand dunes, and watching your dog's confused excitement as they try to navigate 80 feet of sand is comedy gold. The nature trails throughout the Outer Banks — Nags Head Woods, Buxton Woods, Pea Island — are all dog-friendly and showcase the unique barrier island ecosystem. Visit our resort brand pages for OBX pet-friendly properties.
8. Bend, Oregon — From $89/Night
Bend, Oregon is consistently ranked among the most dog-friendly cities in America, and it earns the title. The city has more off-leash dog parks per capita than almost anywhere else, the craft breweries are almost universally dog-friendly, and the outdoor recreation options are perfectly suited to active dogs who need more exercise than a walk around the block.
Pet-friendly resort packages start at $89/night. The Seventh Mountain Resort and Sunriver Resort both welcome dogs and have walking trails on the property. The Deschutes River Trail system has miles of dog-friendly hiking, and many sections allow off-leash dogs with voice control.
Phil's Trail is a mountain biking and hiking trail system where dogs can accompany you on the hiking trails. The Three Creeks Lake area has alpine lake swimming for dogs (bring a towel — they'll get SOAKED). In winter, cross-country ski trails at Meissner Sno-Park have specific dog-friendly routes. Bend treats dogs like first-class citizens, and it shows.
9. Lake Tahoe — From $99/Night
Lake Tahoe's dog-friendly options are excellent, with several off-leash beaches, numerous hiking trails, and a mountain atmosphere that dogs absolutely thrive in. Kiva Beach on the south shore is a popular off-leash dog beach with relatively calm water and sandy shores. The Tahoe Rim Trail and various national forest trails allow leashed dogs.
Pet-friendly resort packages start at $99/night. Many Tahoe vacation rentals and resorts charge pet fees of $25-75 per stay. The summer months are ideal for dog-friendly activities, with warm weather and lake swimming, while winter brings snowshoeing and cross-country skiing on dog-friendly trails.
The Bijou Dog Park in South Lake Tahoe is a large, fenced off-leash area with forest surroundings and separate sections for large and small dogs. For a more adventurous outing, the Shirley Canyon Trail from the Squaw Valley base area (now Palisades Tahoe) climbs through gorgeous mountain terrain with a waterfall — dogs love the stream crossings along the way.
10. Savannah, Georgia — From $79/Night
Savannah's 22 garden squares are beautiful dog-walking destinations, and the city's Southern hospitality extends to four-legged visitors. Many restaurants along River Street and in the Historic District have dog-friendly patios, and the locals will stop to pet your dog and tell you their dog's entire life story. It's charming. Savannahians love dogs almost as much as they love sweet tea and ghost stories.
Pet-friendly inn and resort packages start at $79/night. The historic district is extremely walkable, which is ideal for dogs who'd rather stroll than ride in a car. Forsyth Park is the centerpiece — a beautiful 30-acre park with a famous fountain, walking paths, and a Saturday farmer's market that welcomes leashed dogs.
Tybee Island, Savannah's beach, is about 20 minutes away and allows dogs on the beach before 10 AM during summer and all day in the off-season. The Savannah Bananas (collegiate baseball team) even host "Bark in the Park" games where dogs are welcome in designated sections. It's a city that genuinly gets it when it comes to pet travel.
| Destination | Starting Price | Off-Leash Beach? | Pet Fee | Dog-Friendly Dining |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head, SC | $109/night | Yes (hours) | $50-150/stay | Excellent |
| San Diego, CA | $99/night | Yes (Dog Beach) | $25-75/stay | Excellent |
| Asheville, NC | $79/night | No (dog parks) | $25-75/stay | Excellent |
| Gulf Shores, AL | $89/night | Seasonal | $50-100/stay | Good |
| Stowe, VT | $119/night | Swimming holes | $25-75/stay | Very Good |
| Sedona, AZ | $99/night | No (trails) | $50-100/stay | Good |
| Outer Banks, NC | $89/night | Yes (seasonal) | $75-150/stay | Good |
| Bend, OR | $89/night | Dog parks | $25-50/stay | Excellent |
| Lake Tahoe, CA/NV | $99/night | Yes (Kiva Beach) | $25-75/stay | Good |
| Savannah, GA | $79/night | Seasonal (Tybee) | $25-75/stay | Very Good |
Your dog doesn't care about thread counts or concierge service. They care about being with you, running on new terrain, and smelling things they've never smelled before. These ten destinations welcome your pet as a guest, not an inconvenience, and the resort deals mean you're not paying a premium for the privelege of traveling with your best friend. Pack the leash, the treats, and the poop bags. Adventure awaits — for both of you.