NORTH CAROLINA

By any definition, the public beaches of the barrier islands of North Carolina are among the dog-friendliest in North America.

Recommended Tail-Friendly Beaches

Duck.  This beach town in the northern Outer Banks allows dogs on the beach year-round under voice control. If it’s along walk you are after, head north.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore.  If it is really a long walk you are after, there are some 70 miles of dog-friendly sand here. Ocracoke Island, reached via a free ferry, delivers an undeveloped, dune-backed stretch of sand that is second to nonefor dogs.

Emerald Isle.  Most towns on Crystal Coast permit dogs onthe beach year-round; Emerald Isle has the most parking.

Fort Fisher Recreation Area.  Just avoid the swimming areas and you have miles of wide, white sand beaches open to your dog year-round.

Sunset Beach.  Dogs are allowed year-round after 6:00 p.m. to soak in that sunset, walking south. Parking can be a problem at this residential beach.

Outer Banks

Cape Hatteras National Seashore
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH YEAR-ROUND ON 6-FOOT LEASH 
252-473-2111

Corolla
Town Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH UNDER VOICE CONTROL 
877-CURRITUCK

Duck
Town Beach
UNLEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
252-255-1234

Kill Devil Hills
Town Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH FROM MIDSEPTEMBER TO MID-MAY
252-449-5300

Kitty Hawk
Town Beach
DOGS ALLOWED UNLEASHED SEPTEMBER 1 TO JUNE 1 AND BEFORE 10 AM AND AFTER 6 PM OTHERWISE; LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH 10 AM TO 6 PM JUNE 1 TO SEPTEMBER 1
252-261-3552

Nags Head
Town Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH YEAR ROUND ON 10-FOOT LEASH 
252-441-5508

Southern Shores
Town Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH SEPTEMBER 15 TO MAY 15

Crystal Coast

Cape Lookout National Seashore
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH YEAR-ROUND ON 6-FOOT LEASH
252-728-2250

Atlantic Beach
Town Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH EXCEPT IN THE CIRCLE AND BEACH AREA IN FRONT OF CIRCLE FROM EASTER TO LABOR DAY 
252-726-2121

Emerald Isle
Town Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH 
252-354-3424

Ocracoke Island
Village Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH YEAR-ROUND ON 6-FOOT LEASH 
252-928-6711

Cape Fear

Carolina Beach
Town Beach
UNLEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON NORTH SIDE OF ISLAND 
910-458-8434

Holden Beach
Town Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH LABOR DAY TO MEMORIAL DAY AND DURING THE SUMMER BEFORE 9 AM AND AFTER 5 PM 
910-842-6488

Kure Beach
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH IN NON-SWIMMING AREAS 
910-458-5798

Oak Island
Long Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH 
910-278-5811

Ocean Isle Beach
Town Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH LABOR DAY TO MEMORIAL DAY AND FROM JUNE 1 TO AUGUST 31 BEFORE 9 AM AND AFTER 6 PM 
910-579-2166

Sunset Beach
Town Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH LABOR DAY TO MEMORIAL DAY AND DURING THE SUMMER BEFORE 8 AM AND AFTER 6 PM
910-579-2151

Topsail Beach
Town Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED MAY 15 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30 AND UNDER VOICE CONTROL AT OTHER TIMES 
910-328-5841

Wrightsville Beach
Town Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH FROM OCTOBER 1 TO APRIL 1 
910-256-7910
 

SOUTH CAROLINA

Get away from the people and commercial beaches and there is plenty of dog-friendly sand in the Palmetto state. The state parks at the South Carolina coast should be your first choice - welcoming to dogs with plenty of parking for your admission fee.  

Recommended Tail-Friendly Beaches

Hunting Island Beach State Park.  The palmetto trees come right down the beach in this marvelous park. You won’t wonder why the jungle scenes from Forrest Gump were filmed here. 

Edisto Beach State Park.  Plenty of room for your dog to stretch out on the sand here but if you run out of beach you can keep hiking on the dog-friendly residential beach next door. 

Myrtle Beach State Park.  Dogs aren’t allowed on the beach at the popular resort in the summer so just mosey three miles south and enjoy this undeveloped beachfront with your dog. Over a mile of dune-backed sand in the park alone.

Huntington Beach State Park.  Some of the money from the original Transcontinental Railroad dribbled down to the magnificent surfside estate built here in the early 20th century. Today, head for the northern section of the park for long walks on the beach and in the maritime forest. 

Beaufort
Hunting Island State Park
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH 
843-838-2011

Edisto Beach
Edisto Beach State Park
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH 
843-869-2756

Folly Beach
Town Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH IN EVENING IN SUMMER AND ENTIRE DAY OTHERWISE 
843-588-2426

Garden City Beach
Town Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH UNDER VOICE COMMAND
843-546-8436

Georgetown  
Town Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH UNDER VOICE COMMAND 
843-546-8436

Hilton Head Island
Driessden’s Beach Park
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH 
843-785-3673

Folly Field Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH 
843-785-3673

Isle of Palms
Town Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH UNDER VOICE CONTROL FROM 5 AM TO 8 AM     WITH OWNER HOLDING LEASH; LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH OTHER HOURS
843-886-3863

Kiawah Island Beach
Walker Park
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED FROM MARCH 15 TO OCTOBER 31 AND UNDER VOICE CONTROL REST OF YEAR 
843-768-2395

Litchfield Beach
Town Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH UNDER VOICE COMMAND 
843-546-8436

Myrtle Beach
21st Avenue N to 13th Avenue S
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
800-356-3016

Rest of Town Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH SEPTEMBER 15 TO MAY 15 ANYTIME AND OTHERWISE BEFORE 9 AM AND AFTER 5 PM 
800-356-3016

Huntington Beach State Park
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
843-237-4440

North Myrtle Beach
Town Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH SEPTEMBER 15 TO MAY 15 ANYTIME AND OTHERWISE BEFORE 9 AM AND AFTER 5 PM 
843-280-5570

Pawleys Island
Town Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH MAY TO OCTOBER; UNDER VOICE CONTROL OTHER TIMES 
843-237-1698

Sullivans Island
Town Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH UNDER VOICE CONTROL FROM 5 AM TO 8 AM WITH OWNER HOLDING LEASH; LEASH DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH OTHER HOURS 
843-958-4000

Surfside Beach
Town Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH SEPTEMBER 16 TO MAY 14 
843-913-6111
 

GEORGIA

The beaches on Georgia’s barrier islands are mostly under control of resorts and the Golden Isles are most welcoming to dogs. Savannah’s beach at Tybee Island is closed to dogs. 

Cumberland Island National Seashore
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH BUT CAN BE REACHED BY PRIVATE BOAT ONLY 
818-817-3421

Jekyll Island
Driftwoods Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH

Oceanfront Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH IN SEASON FROM 9 AM TO 4:30 PM; OTHERWISE LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED 
912-635-3636

Sunset Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH

Sea Island
Oceanfront Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH IN SEASON FROM 9 AM TO 4:30 PM; OTHERWISE LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED 
912-265-0620

St. Simons Island
Oceanfront Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH IN SEASON FROM 9 AM TO 4:30 PM; OTHERWISE LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED 
800-933-2627

Tybee Island
Town Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
800-868-2322
 

FLORIDA

Florida ranks among the most dog-unfriendly of states. Entire counties and regions ban dogs from the beach. There are so many prohibitions already against dogs on Florida beaches that when they change, it is typically in favor of dogs. For the Atlantic beaches the northeast part of the state around Jacksonville offers some of the  best beaches for dogs in the state but heading south, below Daytona dogs are almost universally banned from the sand.

Recommended Tail-Friendly Beaches

Amelia Island.  If you are driving south into Florida you will want to get your dog onto the sand as soon as possible. This residential/vacation beach will fill the bill nicely. It will get dreary for dogs along the Atlantic Ocean soon enough. 

Sombrero Beach.  Sombrero Beach in the Florida Keys is actually a park with a playground planted in the white sand, picnic tables and patches of groomed grass. Admission is free and your dogis welcome on the beach and in the water. The wide beach is framed by palm trees whose only downside is that they don’t drop any branches for your dog to fetch in the clear emerald waters. The soft sands extend far into the water so you can join your dog in the gentle surf.

First Coast

Amelia Island
Burney Beach Park
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
904-277-1221

Fernadina Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH 
904-321-5700

Fort Clinch State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
904-277-7274

Peter’s Point Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH 
904-277-1221

Scott Road Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH 
904-277-1221

Jacksonville Area
Atlantic Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
904-798-9111 x10

Big Talbot Island State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
904-251-2320

Fort George State Cultural Site
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
904-251-2320

Huguenot Memorial Park
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH 
904-251-3335

Jacksonville Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH EXCEPT 8 AM TO 5 PM FROM NOVEMBER TO MARCH AND 9 AM TO 7 PM APRIL TO OCTOBER 
904-798-9111 x10

Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH 
904-249-4700

Little Talbot Island State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
904-251-2320

Neptune Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH BEFORE 9 AM AND AFTER 5 PM
904-798-9111 x10

North Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
904-798-9111x10

Ponte Vedra Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH UP TO HIGHWATER LINE
904-798-9111 x10

North Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
904-798-9111x10

Ponte Vedra Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH UP TO HIGHWATER LINE 
904-798-9111 x10

South Ponte Vedra Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH UP TO HIGHWATER LINE 
904-798-9111 x10

Vilano Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH 
904-798-9111 x10

St. Augustine Area
Anastasia State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
904-825-1007

Beverly Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH 
904-439-6888

Crescent Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH 
904-825-1007

New Smyrna Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON THE BEACH IN DESIGNATED AREAS
904-424-2100

St. Augustine Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH 
904-825-1007

Space Coast

Cape Canaveral National Seashore
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH OR BEYOND PARKING LOT
321-267-1110

Daytona Area
Dahlia Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
386-322-5000

Daytona Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
386-947-3010

Flagler Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH BETWEEN 10 STREET N AND 10TH STREET S 
386-517-2000

Gamble Rogers Memorial State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
386-517-2086

Smyrna Dune Park
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH BUT MUST BE LEASHED AT ALL TIMES, INCLUDING IN THE WATER 
396-424-2935

South Daytona Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
386-322-3000

Tomoka State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
386-677-0311

Melbourne Area
Cocoa Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
321-868-3333

Indialantic Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
800-872-1969

Melbourne Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON THE BEACH
321-724-5860

Satellite Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH BUT DOG PARK IN TOWN NEAR LIBRARY
321-773-4407

Sebastian Inlet State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON OCEAN BEACH BUT DOGS ALLOWED ON INLET SIDE 
321-984-4852

Sebastian Area
Ambler Sands Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
772-589-9223

Golden Sands Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
772-578-9223

Sea Grape Trail Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
772-589-9223

Treasure Shores Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
772-589-9223

Turtle Trail Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
772-589-9223

Wabes Beach Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
772-589-9223

Treasure Coast 

Fort Pierce
Fort Pierce Inlet State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON OCEAN BEACH BUT DOGS ALLOWED ON INLET SIDE 
561-468-3985

Pepper Beach State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
561-468-3985

Highland Beach Town Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH 
561-278-4540

Hutchinson Area
Alex’s Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
732-334-3444

Bathtub Reef Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
732-334-3444

Bob Graham Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
732-334-3444

Chastain Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
732-334-3444

Fletcher Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
732-334-344

Glasscock Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
732-334-3444

Sea Turtle/Jensen Beach Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
732-334-3444

Stuart Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
732-334-3444

Tiger Shores Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
732-334-3444

Virginia Forrest Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
732-334-3444

Waveland Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
732-334-3444

Juno Beach
Town Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
561-626-4122

Loggerhead Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
561-626-4122

Ocean Cay Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
561-626-4122

Jupiter J
Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH 
561-546-6141

Carlin Park
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH UNDER VOICE CONTROL IN NON-GUARDED AREAS
561-746-5134

Dubois Park
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH UNDER VOICE CONTROL IN NON-GUARDED AREAS 
561-746-5134

Jupiter Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH UNDER VOICE CONTROL IN NON-GUARDED AREAS 
561-746-5134

Orchid
Town Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
561-567-3491

Tequesta Coral Cove Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
561-746-7111

Vero Beach Town Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON UNPROTECTED BEACHES 
561-567-3491

Gold Coast

Boca Raton
Red Reef Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
561-393-7806

South Beach Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
561-393-7806

South Inlet Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
561-966-6600

Spanish Reef Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
561-393-7806

Boynton Beach
Boynton Public Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
561-375-6226

Gulf Stream County Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
561-966-6600

Dania
John U. Lloyd Beach State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
954-923-2833

Delray Beach
Anchor Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
561-243-7250

Atlantic Dunes Park Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
561-243-7250

Delray Municipal
DOGS ALLOWED ON SIDEWALK AND GRASSY AREA WEST OF THE DUNE LINE ON THE EAST SIDE OF A-1A
561-243-7352

Sandoway Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
561-243-7250

Fort Lauderdale
D.C. Alexander Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
954-761-5346

Fort Lauderdale Dog Beach
100-YARD STRIP OF BEACH AT SUNRISE AND A1A ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS FROM 3-6 PM; ONE DAY PASS AND SUNDAYS FROM 3-6 PM; ONE DAY PASS REQUIRED 
954-828-7275

Fort Lauderdale Beach-North
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
954-828-7275

Fort Lauderdale Beach-South
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
954-828-7275

Harbor Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
954-761-5346

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH BUT CAN GO IN PARK
954-564-4521

Vista Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
954-761-5346

Hallandale
Hallandale Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
954-457-1456

Hillsboro Inlet
Deerfield Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
954-480-4429

Friedt Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
954-776-0576

Hillsboro Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
954-776-0576

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
954-776-0576

North Ocean Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
954-786-4111

Pompano Beach Public Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
954-941-2940

Hollywood
Hollywood Public Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
954-921-3423

North Hollywood Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
954-926-3423

Homestead
Biscayne National Park
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED AT CONVOY MAIN LAND AND IN DEVELOPED AREAS OF ELLIOTT KEY BUT NO BEACHES OR OTHER ISLANDS 
305-230-7275

Key Biscayne
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
305-361-5811

Crandon Park Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
305-361-7385

Lake Worth Area
Lake Worth Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
561-533-7367

Lantana Municipal Beach Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
561-540-5735

Manalapan Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
561-233-3000

Phipps Ocean Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
561-533-7367

Richard G. Kreusler Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
561-533-7367

Miami
Rickenbacker Causeway and Beach
NO ALLOWED ON BEACH HERE AND NOWHERE ELSE IN MIAMI
305-250-5360

Miami Beach
Bal Harbor Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
305-866-4633

Collins Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
305-673-7400

Golden Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
305-884-1101

Haulover Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
305-944-3040

Indian Beach Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
305-673-7400

Lummus Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
305-673-7400

North Shore Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
305-673-7400

Oleta River State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
305-673-7400

Pier Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
305-673-7400

65th Street Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
305-673-7400

South Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
305-673-7400

South Pointe Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
305-673-7400

Singer Island
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
561-624-6950

South Miami
Matheson Hammock County Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
305-665-5475

The Keys 

Bahia Key
Bahia Honda State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
305-872-2353

Little Duck Key County Park
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH 
305-872-2353

Key Largo
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
305-451-1202

Key West
Clarence Higgs Memorial Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
305-292-8227

Dog Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH AT WADDELL & VERNON AVENUES 
305-292-8227

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH OR FORT
305-292-6713

Smathers Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
305-292-8227

Long Key
Long Key State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
305-664-4815

Lower Matecumbe
Anne’s Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH 
305-292-4560

Marathon
Sombrero Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH 
305-292-4560

Tavernier
Harry Harris Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH IN SWIMMING AREAS
305-852-7161