Most Pet Friendly Beaches

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It’s never easy leaving man’s best friend behind when packing for a day at the beach. And while many beaches enforce strict leash laws or don’t allow pets at all, many of the best beaches in America welcome your canine companion with open arms. Here are some of the best beaches to bring your dog this summer.

The Original Dog Beach, San Diego, CA
Here, you’re likely to find more tennis balls and Frisbees than you are beach balls. Your pooch will have plenty of opportunities to romp around with other dogs as this is one of the most popular beaches in the San Diego area, and leashes aren’t required.

Fort Funston State Park, San Francisco, CA
After a walk along a bluff on the paved Sunset Trail, visitors to this popular park will reach Ocean Beach. Fido will be able to swim, run, fetch pieces of driftwood and roll around in the sand with the rest of the dogs at this Bay Area destination for pet owners.

Hunting Island State Park, SC
For those on the east coast, this barrier island off the coast of South Carolina offers 5,000 acres of beaches, forests, trails, and countless remote areas for you and your dog to explore. Pets are welcome to camp in the park, but must be restrained by a leash no longer than six feet.

Fort De Soto Park, FL
Showers and drinking water are provided at this quarter-mile long dog beach. While Fort De Soto offers a great beach for people, dogs will surely love it more while running unleashed in one of the two fenced-in areas set up for large and small dogs.

Nags Head, NC
Nags Head offers 11 miles of public access, North Carolina coastline where dogs on leashes are welcome. Multiple public beach access points and parking can be found along the oceanfront here, as well as two public fishing piers for angling pet owners.

Huntington Dog Beach, CA
For dogs in the Los Angeles area, Huntington Dog Beach is the place to be. Located only 10 miles from Disneyland, Huntington Dog Beach provides over a mile of beach where dogs can play in the waves, leash-free.