Best Dog Friendly Beaches In Florida – Florida is famous for its beaches, which is a double-edged sword. Sure, the waves and sand are amazing, but it can also get pretty crowded. If you’re looking for a more scenic coastal setting, check out these dog-friendly beaches in the Florida Panhandle!
A trip to Florida means beach time, and there’s nothing better than finding a beach town to enjoy with your pup. The state has 825 miles of coastline, so you’d think there would be enough for everyone!
Best Dog Friendly Beaches In Florida
So where do you go to find quiet, dog-friendly beaches? I recommend the Florida Panhandle. In particular, the coastline from Mexico City to St. Marks is known as the “Forgotten Coast.”
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In this relatively quiet and undeveloped part of Florida, you’ll find a laid-back atmosphere, friendly locals, beautiful white sand beaches, the blue waters of the Caribbean, and plenty of places for your pup to enjoy a splash. tide. With you!
Begin your visit by picking up your lot from the Visitor Center in Port St. Joe. Our staff is ready to help. But they were so excited to see our dogs that they invited them over to their home!
The town of Port St. Joe is small and local attractions can be explored on foot within a few hours. We went to Frank Pat Park to St. Patrick’s Park. We started with the BayWalk, a gravel path that leads down to the marina with great views of St. Joseph Bay. The trail will take you past the historic Cape San Blas Lighthouse, built 130 years ago and relocated here in 2014.
In Port St. Joe, you won’t find any high-rise hotels on the beach. Although there are several pet-friendly hotel options, most people choose vacation rentals.
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Salinas Park, nine miles south of downtown Port St. Joe, is a great place to walk your dog on the beach. Incredible quiet, sweet sand and gentle breezes are everything you want from a dog-friendly beach in the Florida Panhandle.
Dogs and pets are allowed on the beach 24 hours a day. Horses are allowed on the beach here. There were several horse trailers in the parking lot selling rides.
Running west from Salinas Park, Cape San Blas juts into the Gulf of Mexico. Part of this narrow strip of land was owned by T.H. Stone Memorial Street Joseph Peninsula State Park.
The park has pet-friendly campgrounds and pets are allowed on picnic areas and nature trails. Surrounded by the sea on three sides, it is a great place to enjoy a walk and lunch.
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Florida State Parks do not allow pets on their beaches. But read on. There are public beaches and lots to explore!
Florida State Park Policies Pets are allowed in designated day use areas at most Florida state parks. Highlights include, but are not limited to, Eli Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park and Weki Wachi Springs State Park. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet and behave well at all times. Pet owners are responsible for properly collecting and disposing of pet waste. Pets are not allowed on the beach, playground, bathhouse, cabins, park buildings, or concession stands. Private parks may have additional pet-free areas. https://www.floridateparks.org/PetPolicy
The 28-mile long barrier island of St. George is divided into three sections. St. George Island State Park is nine miles east. The middle portion contains public beach access, residences, restaurants, shops, and other businesses. The West End is an exclusive, gated residential neighborhood with its own airstrip and some of the most expensive homes on the Gulf Coast.
Our first stop was the state park and again we found that the campgrounds and trails were pet friendly but the beaches were not. Still, it’s nice to have some variety, and our dogs thoroughly enjoyed the 2.5 mile Gap Point Trail through the pine forest. (The parking lot is next to the camp, and the road leads to the left side of the playground.)
Jupiter’s Dog Friendly Beach
After your walk, it’s time to head back to the pet-friendly beach! Come back to downtown St. George, where our entire public beach is pet-friendly all day long, year-round!
Port St. Like Joe’s, the primary accommodations here are vacation rentals. The George Inn has pet-friendly rooms, but there are other pet-friendly hotels 12 miles away in Apalachicola.
Of all the beaches we visited in the Florida Panhandle, Alligator Point was the quietest and most secluded. The nearest grocery store was 30 miles away, but there were 8 miles of deserted beach. Who needs to eat?!
Dogs come here all day, all year round! And the beach is littered with large seashells, making it a great place for a walk.
Florida Pet Friendly Beaches
The rental property will be the only lodging facility in Alligator Point. But if you really want to get away from it all… this is the place!
Spending time on the beaches of the Florida Panhandle will make you hungry! Here is a list of restaurants and eateries with pet-friendly terraces:
Work – but someone has to do it! Forgotten Beach might sound a little dark, but we found it to be the perfect place for a relaxing, dog-friendly beach vacation. We hope this visit will inspire you to plan your own Gulf Coast travel.
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Dog Friendly Parks And Beaches
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Beach chairs and umbrellas? Check out our mineral sunscreens. Check out your super cute puppy. Double check! Florida has no shortage of beautiful beaches, but not all of them allow your furry friend to join you for some fun in the sun. *Sigh* Don’t worry. We’ve found nine beaches across the state that welcome both people and dogs. Some dog-friendly beaches in Florida include:
Get this: Nearly all of Jupiter’s beaches are open to dogs, thanks to a dog-friendly policy for local beaches passed by the Jupiter City Council in 1989. However, there are some rules. Dogs must be well-behaved and wear appropriate tags and licenses, and owners are responsible for picking up their dogs. Look, there’s nothing we can do.
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Composed of five interconnected islands south of St. Petersburg, the more than 1,100-acre Fort de Soto Park not only has a dedicated dog park on the beach, but also two fenced areas for children and adults near the Sands. Dog (with drinking station!)
Davis Islands Dog Beach, located near Peter O’Knight Airport, is one of Tampa’s last remaining dog-friendly beaches. Expect a fenced dog park for Fido to play and a dedicated play area on the sand.
Bonita Dog Beach in Bonita Springs is open from dawn to dusk and allows dogs to roam free. There’s also a dog shower station perfect for rinsing off Fido’s sand before heading home.
Head to Key West and find a sandbox just for dogs and their owners. Tanned exposed dogs can play in water and sand if supervised.
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Dogs and humans alike can enjoy sunbathing at Bark Beach in Boca Raton’s Spanish River Park. Even better, you can keep your puppy on a leash at all times.
Honeymoon Island State Park, just outside of Tampa, has over 4 miles of beach and 3 miles of trails. There is also an animal-friendly beach and boardwalk at the southern end of the park. Remember that your dog should always be nearby.
Spend the day with your furry friend at Smyrna Dunes Park in New Smyrna Beach. Pets are allowed on the beach but must be kept on a leash at all times.
Set up shop with your dog with a lounger, a cool, and stylish umbrella at Hollover Beach Park, just north of Sunny Isles. Dogs can be walked in the sun, sand and water under the supervision of their owners.
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Clarissa Butch Zilberman is a writer and editor based in Miami. Her work, which focuses on food, lifestyle, and travel, has been featured in Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, Bon Appetit, and more. One of the best things to do in Florida is go to the beach. Sit on the soft white sand and enjoy the sun warming your back. go into the water
