Dog-friendly beaches.

Beach dog rules are a moving target. Plenty of beaches ban dogs in summer to protect nesting birds, some allow them only off-season or at dawn, and a lucky few are off-leash all year. Here is the verified rule for the beaches people ask about most.

124beaches
29dog-friendly
71seasonal or limited
ILBanned on the beach

Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach
HIBanned on the beach

Ala Moana Beach Park / Magic Island

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach
CALimited access

Aliso Beach (Laguna Beach)

Yes, on leash, Aliso Beach allows leashed dogs except during summer daytime hours.
Dog Beach
FLBanned on the beach

Anastasia State Park

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach
CALimited access

Arroyo Burro Beach (Hendry's Beach)

Yes, Hendry's Beach allows off-leash dogs on the stretch of sand east of Arroyo Burro Creek.
Dog Beach
NJLimited access

Asbury Park Beach

Yes, at the designated Dog Beach, but summer access is limited to evenings and early mornings (6pm-8:30am) from May 16 - Sept 14.
Dog Beach
MDDog-friendly

Assateague Island National Seashore (Maryland)

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
ORLimited access

Bandon Beach

Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on most of Bandon's beach, but the stretch south of China Creek closes to dogs entirely during snowy plover nesting season.
Dog Beach
MNBanned on the beach

Bde Maka Ska, Thomas Beach

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach
AKLimited access

Bishop's Beach

Yes, dogs are a common sight at Bishop's Beach, though Homer's general animal-control code requires any dog off its owner's property to be leashed and under control.
Dog Beach
MIBanned on the beach

Bryant Park

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach
FLBanned on the beach

Canaveral National Seashore

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach
ORDog-friendly

Cannon Beach

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
NCLimited access

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Leashed dogs are allowed on most of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, but not on designated swimming beaches in summer.
Dog Beach
DELimited access

Cape Henlopen State Park

Dogs can visit Cape Henlopen State Park, but Deauville swimming beach is off-limits to them in summer.
Dog Beach
ORLimited access

Cape Kiwanda / Pacific City Beach

Dogs are welcome, but must stay leashed inside Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area's boundary; on the broader open beach outside the park, dogs may be off-leash under voice control.
Dog Beach
CADog-friendly

Carmel Beach

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
NCLimited access

Carolina Beach

Dogs can visit Carolina Beach's sand year-round, but only before 9am and after 5pm during the summer season.
Dog Beach
VANo dogs allowed

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

No dogs allowed at this beach.
Dog Beach
CALimited access

Clam Beach County Park

Yes, Clam Beach allows off-leash dogs under voice control, with the off-leash zone shrinking to the wave slope during snowy plover breeding season.
Dog Beach
FLLimited access

Clearwater Beach

Mostly no, dogs are banned on the main public bathing beach, but leashed dogs are allowed on the North Beach section north of Somerset Street.
Dog Beach
MALimited access

Coast Guard Beach

Leashed dogs are allowed on most Cape Cod National Seashore beaches, but Coast Guard Beach has a recurring seasonal pet closure April 1 - October 15 to protect nesting shorebirds.
Dog Beach
CADog-friendly

Coronado Dog Beach

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
MALimited access

Crane Beach

Only in the off-season, dogs are not allowed October 1 through March 31 only (i.e., banned the rest of the year, April-September).
Dog Beach
CALimited access

Crissy Field

Partly, Crissy Field has both on-leash and off-leash zones; check posted signage for the current beach and airfield boundaries.
Dog Beach
GALimited access

Cumberland Island National Seashore

Dogs are allowed on Cumberland Island's southern roads, trails, and beach, but not in the wilderness area or on the passenger ferry.
Dog Beach
ALDog-friendly

Dauphin Island Beach

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
FLLimited access

Daytona Beach

Partly, Volusia County opened a 1.7-mile leashed dog-friendly stretch of Daytona Beach (Williams Ave to Seabreeze Blvd) in late 2025; dogs are still barred elsewhere on the beach.
Dog Beach
CALimited access

Del Mar Dog Beach (North Beach)

Yes, seasonally, Del Mar's North Beach allows off-leash dogs in the off-season and early mornings only in summer.
Dog Beach
DELimited access

Delaware Seashore State Park

Dogs are welcome at Delaware Seashore State Park, but only on beaches without lifeguards during summer.
Dog Beach
FLBanned on the beach

Delray Municipal Beach ("Dog Beach Delray")

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach
RILimited access

Easton's Beach

Only in the off-season, dogs are barred Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Dog Beach
OHLimited access

Edgewater Beach

Partly, dogs are welcome only on the westernmost "dog friendly" stretch of Edgewater Beach.
Dog Beach
CADog-friendly

Fiesta Island

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
VADog-friendly

First Landing State Park

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
SCLimited access

Folly Beach

Dogs can be on Folly Beach's sand outside of 10am-6pm in summer, and any time of day the rest of the year.
Dog Beach
FLDog-friendly

Fort De Soto Park, Paw Playground

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
CADog-friendly

Fort Funston

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
FLLimited access

Fort Lauderdale Canine Beach

Only on weekends, Fort Lauderdale's Canine Beach (north of Sunrise Blvd to Lifeguard Tower 16) welcomes leashed dogs Friday through Sunday only.
Dog Beach
TXDog-friendly

Galveston Beach

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
WABanned on the beach

Golden Gardens Beach

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach
MALimited access

Good Harbor Beach

Only off-season, dogs are prohibited April 1 through September 30.
Dog Beach
MILimited access

Grand Haven City Beach

Mostly, leashed dogs are welcome on City Beach except during midday hours in peak summer.
Dog Beach
MIBanned on the beach

Grand Haven State Park

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach
LABanned on the beach

Grand Isle State Park

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach
CTLimited access

Greenwich Point Park

Only in winter, dogs are welcome December 1 through March 31 and banned the rest of the year.
Dog Beach
MSBanned on the beach

Gulf Islands National Seashore, Mississippi District

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach
ALBanned on the beach

Gulf Shores Public Beach

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach
CTLimited access

Hammonasset Beach State Park

Only off-season, the beach is closed to dogs from April 1 through September 29.
Dog Beach
NHLimited access

Hampton Beach State Park

No, not in summer, pets are banned from the beach May 1 through September 30.
Dog Beach
HIBanned on the beach

Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach
OHBanned on the beach

Headlands Beach State Park

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach
SCLimited access

Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head allows leashed dogs on the beach year-round, with midday hours restricted during the busy summer season.
Dog Beach
FLDog-friendly

Honeymoon Island Dog Beach

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
CADog-friendly

Huntington Dog Beach

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
INLimited access

Indiana Dunes National Park

Mostly, leashed dogs are welcome on nearly all park beaches year-round, with one seasonal exception.
Dog Beach
NJLimited access

Island Beach State Park

Not on the main swimming beach in summer, but dogs are allowed on non-lifeguarded stretches of the park year-round.
Dog Beach
SCDog-friendly

Isle of Palms

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
NYLimited access

Jacob Riis Park

Only off-season, dogs are barred from the ocean-side beach March 15 through September 15.
Dog Beach
GALimited access

Jekyll Island Beach

Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on most of Jekyll Island's beaches year-round, except one protected stretch.
Dog Beach
NHLimited access

Jenness Beach

Yes on the town-owned sections, but summer daytime hours are off-limits, no dogs 9am-7pm from the Saturday before Memorial Day through the Saturday after Labor Day.
Dog Beach
NYBanned on the beach

Jones Beach State Park

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach
FLDog-friendly

Jupiter Beach / Carlin Park Dog Beach

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
AKLimited access

Kachemak Bay State Park Beaches

Yes, dogs are welcome in Kachemak Bay State Park under control at all times: leashed (9-ft max) near developed facilities, or under reliable voice command in backcountry areas.
Dog Beach
HILimited access

Kailua Beach Park

Yes, but only below the high-tide line, leashed dogs are allowed on the wet sand at Kailua Beach Park, not on the dry sand or upper beach.
Dog Beach
WALimited access

Kalaloch Beach

Yes, leashed dogs (6-ft max, no retractables) are allowed on Kalaloch-area beaches from South Beach Campground to Ruby Beach, but not on most other Olympic National Park beaches or trails.
Dog Beach
HIDog-friendly

Kanaha Beach Park

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
AKLimited access

Kincaid Park Coastal Trail

Yes, dogs are welcome on-leash along Kincaid Park's coastal bluff trails and beach, but there is no designated off-leash area here; Anchorage's municipal code requires control by leash outside official off-leash zones.
Dog Beach
WIDog-friendly

Klode Park Beach

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
WILimited access

Kohler-Andrae State Park

Partly, dogs are welcome on the beach north of the Sanderling Nature Center, but banned on the section south of it for most of the year.
Dog Beach
CALimited access

Leo Carrillo State Beach

Yes, on leash, Leo Carrillo's North Beach (north of Lifeguard Tower 3) allows leashed dogs, but the South Beach and trails do not.
Dog Beach
ORLimited access

Lincoln City Beach

Yes, dogs are welcome on Lincoln City's beach under voice control (leash required inside state park boundaries), except in posted snowy plover zones March 15-Sept 15.
Dog Beach
WALimited access

Long Beach

Yes, dogs are welcome along the 28-mile Long Beach Peninsula; city law requires an 8-foot-or-shorter leash, though enforcement on the open beach is relaxed for well-behaved dogs.
Dog Beach
MILimited access

Ludington State Park

Partly, a specific pet beach section sits between the beach house and Big Sable River; most of the shoreline is closed.
Dog Beach
OHLimited access

Maumee Bay State Park

Mostly not, the Lake Erie and inland-lake swim beaches ban dogs, but there's one small leashed dog-swim spot on the inland lake.
Dog Beach
FLLimited access

Miami Beach, Bark Beaches (North/Mid/South)

Only inside three designated Bark Beach zones during posted hours, dogs are banned from the rest of Miami Beach's sand.
Dog Beach
RIBanned on the beach

Misquamicut State Beach

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach
ILDog-friendly

Montrose Dog Beach

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
CALimited access

Moonstone Beach

Yes, mostly off-leash, Moonstone Beach allows dogs off-leash on the wave slope under complete voice control, with tighter leash rules during snowy plover season.
Dog Beach
CALimited access

Muir Beach

Yes, mostly off-leash, Muir Beach allows dogs off-leash on the sand but requires a leash inland and in the parking lot.
Dog Beach
MILimited access

Muskegon State Park

Mostly, leashed dogs can walk the Lake Michigan shoreline outside the roped-off swim area.
Dog Beach
SCLimited access

Myrtle Beach

Dogs can be on Myrtle Beach's sand before 10am and after 5pm in summer, and any time October through April.
Dog Beach
NCDog-friendly

Nags Head Beach

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
ORLimited access

Nehalem Bay State Park Beach

Yes, leashed dogs (6-ft max leash) are allowed on most of the beach at Nehalem Bay State Park, but a snowy plover management zone bans dogs entirely from March 15 to September 15.
Dog Beach
CALimited access

Newport Beach

Yes, on leash, dogs are allowed on Newport's ocean-front beaches only before 10am and after 4:30pm, year-round.
Dog Beach
CALimited access

Ocean Beach (San Francisco)

Mostly leash-only, San Francisco's Ocean Beach requires leashes in the main Snowy Plover protection zone, with an off-leash stretch north of Stairwell 21.
Dog Beach
CADog-friendly

Ocean Beach Dog Beach

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
MDLimited access

Ocean City Beach

Dogs are allowed on Ocean City's beach and boardwalk only in the off-season, October 1 through April 30.
Dog Beach
WALimited access

Ocean Shores Beach

Yes, dogs are welcome on Ocean Shores' beach on an 8-ft-max leash, with one designated off-leash stretch between Taurus Blvd and Butterclam St for dogs under voice control.
Dog Beach
MELimited access

Ogunquit Beach

Only in the off-season, dogs are banned on Ogunquit Beach from April 1 through September 8.
Dog Beach
MELimited access

Old Orchard Beach

Yes, with strict summer hours, dogs are barred from the beach 9am-5pm between May 15 and Labor Day.
Dog Beach
TXDog-friendly

Padre Island National Seashore

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
MNDog-friendly

Park Point Beach

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
FLDog-friendly

Pensacola Beach Dog Beach (Park West / Park East)

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
MILimited access

Petoskey State Park

Mostly, leashed dogs can access the Lake Michigan shoreline south of the buoyed swim area.
Dog Beach
CADog-friendly

Pismo Beach

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
CADog-friendly

Point Isabel Regional Shoreline

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
TXDog-friendly

Port Aransas Beach

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
MALimited access

Revere Beach

No, not in summer, DCR bans dogs on Revere Beach from May 1 through September 15.
Dog Beach
ORDog-friendly

Rockaway Beach

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
CTLimited access

Rocky Neck State Park

Not in the main season, the beach, boardwalk, and campground (south of the train tracks) are closed to pets May 1 through October 1.
Dog Beach
CADog-friendly

Rosie's Dog Beach

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
VALimited access

Sandbridge Beach

Dogs can go to Sandbridge Beach any time in the off-season, and before 10am or after 6pm during summer.
Dog Beach
AKLimited access

Sandy Beach (Savikko Park)

Yes, leashed dogs are welcome at Sandy Beach in Savikko Park, a popular local dog-walking spot in Douglas, under the City and Borough of Juneau's general animal-control leash requirement.
Dog Beach
HILimited access

Sandy Beach Park

Yes, leashed dogs are allowed on Sandy Beach Park's wet sand below the high-tide line, but not on the dry upper beach.
Dog Beach
NJLimited access

Sandy Hook

Only off-season on the ocean side, dogs are banned from oceanside beaches March 15 through September 15, but bay-side beaches allow them year-round.
Dog Beach
MALimited access

Sandy Neck Beach

Yes, off-season (Sept 15 - May 15) dogs are welcome; in summer they're restricted to the permit-only ORV beach.
Dog Beach
CABanned on the beach

Seal Beach

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach
FLBanned on the beach

Siesta Key Beach

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach
MILimited access

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Partly, leashed dogs are allowed on most Lakeshore beaches, but a handful of specific spots are off-limits.
Dog Beach
TXDog-friendly

South Padre Island Beach

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
WIBanned on the beach

South Shore Beach

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach
FLDog-friendly

St. Augustine Beach

Dogs welcome on the sand, leashed or off-leash.
Dog Beach
CALimited access

Stinson Beach

Partly, dogs are banned on the main, National Park Service-managed section of Stinson Beach, but leashed dogs are allowed on the adjacent Marin County beach at the north end.
Dog Beach
SCLimited access

Sullivan's Island

Sullivan's Island bans dogs from the beach 10am-6pm starting May 1, but allows leashed or off-leash access other hours.
Dog Beach
GABanned on the beach

Tybee Island Beach

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach
CABanned on the beach

Venice Beach

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach
VALimited access

Virginia Beach Oceanfront

Dogs aren't allowed on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront sand in summer, but the off-season is wide open.
Dog Beach
HILimited access

Waikiki Beach

It depends on the exact stretch of sand: Gray's (Halekulani) and Royal-Moana Beach allow leashed dogs everywhere, Duke Kahanamoku and Sans Souci Beach allow dogs below the high-tide line, but Kuhio Beach and Waikiki Beach Center ban dogs entirely.
Dog Beach
INBanned on the beach

Washington Park Beach

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach
MELimited access

Wells Beach

Yes, but only outside of the summer midday hours, dogs must be off the beach 8am-6pm from June 16 to Sept 15.
Dog Beach
WILimited access

Whitefish Dunes State Park

Partly, a specific pet beach area is open year-round, but most of the main beach bans dogs April 1-Nov. 1.
Dog Beach
NCLimited access

Wrightsville Beach

Dogs are banned from Wrightsville Beach's sand April 1 through September 30, but welcome leashed the rest of the year.
Dog Beach
CABanned on the beach

Zuma Beach

No dogs on the beach.
Dog Beach