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. The Gulf Coast beaches in the Florida Panhandle and western coast offer precious little for dog owners. Head for Franklin County, though, where dogs are allowed on all the public beaches - and the only county in Florida to allow dogs to run free. Beaches listed south to north.
Recommended Tail-Friendly Beaches
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.
Fort DeSoto Park. Fort DeSoto was named “America’s Best Beach” by Dr. Beach in 2005. Your dog can’t actually go on that champion Gulf of Mexico beach but around the corner there is an enormous dog park and paw-friendly groomed sand on Tampa Bay. There are even doggie showers to spruce up a bit before you head home.
Bonita Beach. A short walk through the trees leads to a long beach and shallow, gentle water on the Gulf of Mexico - and it is just for dogs.
St. Andrews Beach. Another award-winning beach your dog can’t enjoy. But when you pull into the park, turn left when everyone else goes straight for the beach parking lot. Yourdestination is the mostly ignored Grand Lagoon side of the park where you and your dog can enjoy a narrow strip of sand and leisurely swimming in the shallow, gentle waters. The Grand Lagoon is reached by the Heron Pond Trail, a rolling exploration of the scrubby dunes.
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 305-292-8227
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH AT WADDELL & VERNON AVENUES
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
Suncoast
Fort Myers Area
Algiers Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON SANIBEL ISLAND BEACHES
941-472-1080
Bonita Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
239-992-5011
Bonita Beach Dog Beach
DOGS ALLOWED OFF-LEASH ON STRIP OF WHITE SAN
Bowman’s Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON SANIBEL ISLAND BEACHES
941-472-1080
Captiva Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON CAPTIVA ISLAND BEACHES
941-472-1080
Cayo Costa State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-964-0375
Fort Myers Beach Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
239-463-4588
Gasparilla Island State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-964-0375
Lighthouse Pier and Park
DOGS ALLOWED ON SANIBEL ISLAND BEACHES
941-472-1080
Lovers Key Carl E. Johnson State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
239-463-4588
New Pass Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
239-992-5011
Sanibel Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON SANIBEL ISLAND BEACHES
941-472-1080
Turner Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON CAPTIVA ISLAND BEACHES
941-472-1080
Naples Area
Barefoot Beach State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
239-597-6196
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
239-597-6196
Clam Pass Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
239-213-1015
Lely Barefoot Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
239-213-1015
Lowdermilk Park Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
239-434-4698
Naples Municipal Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
239-213-1015
South Marco Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
239-213-1015
Tigertail Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
239-389-5000
Vanderbilt Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
239-597-6196
Sarasota Area
Bayfront Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-742-5923
Blind Pass Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-627-1628
Bradenton Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-742-5923
Brohard Park Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH UNDER VOICE CONTROL BEHIND WASTE WATER PLANT
941-488-2236
Chadwick Park at Englewood Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON THE BEACH
941-627-1628
Coquina Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-742-5926
Cortez Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-742-5926
Don Pedro Island State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-964-0375
Englewood Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-627-1628
Greek Island
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-742-5923
Holmes Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-742-5923
Lido Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-861-5000
Manasota Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-627-1628
Manatee County Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-742-5923
Nokomis Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-861-5000
North Jetty Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-861-5000
Palmer Point South
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-861-5000
Port Charlotte Beach Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-627-1628
Siesta Key Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-861-5000
South Lido Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-861-5000
Stump Pass Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-964-0375
Turtle Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-861-5000
Venice Municipal Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
941-488-2236
Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg Area
Anclote Key State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
727-469-5942
Ben Davis Municipal Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
813-931-2121
Caladesi Island State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
727-469-5918
Clearwater Beach Island
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
727-464-3347
Clearwater Beach Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
727-462-6963
Davis Island
DOGS ALLOWED ON SOUTH END OF BEACH
813-931-2121
E.G. Simmons Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON SWIMMING BEACH
813-671-7655
Fort DeSoto County Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH BUT PAST PARK LIMIT THERE IS BEACH ACCESS ON PINELLAS BAYWAY
727-582-2267
Fred Howard Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
727-943-4081
Gandy Boulevard Dog Park
DOGS ALLOWED ON THIS BAY BEACH
727-461-6963
Honeymoon Island State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON SWIMMING BEACH BUT ARE ALLOWED AT SOUTH BEACH ON LEASH (LEASH MUST REMAIN ON DOG IN WATER BUT NEED NOT BE HELD)
727-469-5942
Indian Rocks Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
727-588-4852
Indian Shores
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
727-549-6165
John Pass Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
727-391-6111
Madeira Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
727-549-6165
Mandalay Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
727-464-3347
Pass-a-Grille Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
727-367-2735
Picnic Island Dog Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
Redington Shores County Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
727-549-6165
Sand Key Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
727-588-4852
St. Petersburg Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
727-866-2484
Treasure Island
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
727-549-6165
Emerald Coast
Gulf Islands National Seashore
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
850-934-2600
Fort Walton Beach Area
Destin Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
850-837-4540
Grayton Beach State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
850-231-4210
Henderson Beach State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
850-837-7550
John C. Beasley Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
850-651-7515
Okaloosa Island Pier
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
850-651-7515
Ross Marler Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
850-651-7515
Silver Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
850-267-0683
Panama City Area
Carrabelle Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
850-697-2585
Dr. Julian G. Bruce Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
850-653-9419
Mexico Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
850-235-1159
Panama City Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
850-233-5045
Saint Andrews State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON GULF BEACH BUT ON GRAND LAGOON BEACH
850-233-5140
St. George Island State Park
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
850-927-2111
St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH OR ANY PARK WATERS
850-227-1327
St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON ISLAND
850-953-9893
Pensacola Area
Big Lagoon State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
850-492-1595
Casino Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
850-983-1866
East Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
850-983-1866
Fort Pickens
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
850-492-1595
Johnson Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
850-983-1866
Langdon Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
850-492-1595
Navarre Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
850-983-1866
Opal Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
850-492-1595
Pensacola Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
850-983-1866
Perdido Key State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH BUT CAN GO ON TRAILS
850-492-1595
ALABAMA
For dog owners, Alabama may as well not even have the few beaches it does on the Gulf of Mexico - save for the canine paradise that is Dauphin Island.
Daphne
Municipal Pier
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
251-621-3703
Dauphin Island
Public Beach NO DOGS ALLOWED ON WEST BEACH BUT OTHER AREAS OPEN TO DOGS AS DESIGNATED
251-861-6992
Fairhope
Municipal Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
251-928-2136
Gulf Shores
Gulf State Park
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
251-948-7275
Town Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
251-974-1510
Orange Beach
Town Beach 251-981-6979
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
MISSISSIPPI
For dog owners, stay on the western coast in Hancock County; dogs aren’t allowed around the populated Biloxi beaches.
Gulf Islands National Seashore
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
228-875-9057
Bay St. Louis
Town Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
228-467-9092
Biloxi
Town Beach
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
228-896-6699
Ocean Springs
Davis Bayou Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
228-875-4424
Waveland
Waveland Public Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
228-463-9222
LOUISIANA
People don’t seek out Louisiana for its sandy beaches; most of the coastline is made up of bayous. Grand Isle State Park is the only state park with access to the Gulf of Mexico.
Port Fourchon Fourchon Beach
THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON DOGS ON THIS BEACH
985-632-6701
Grand Isle Grand Isle State Park
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED IN NON-SWIMMING AREAS
985-787-2559
TEXAS
If you have been driving along the Gulf Coast, heading west, it has been a long trip for your water-loving dog. But the wait is over in Teaxas...
Recommended Tail-Friendly Beaches
Bolivar Peninsula. Many miles of open beach near Galveston Island; check in at the towns of Bolivar and Crystal Beach if you require civilization.
Galveston. The sand in front of the breakwater is not the prettiest but your dog certainly won’t mind. Since the surf is gentle most of the time it is hard to imagine this was the site of America’s worst natural disaster when more than 6,000 people died in the aftermath of a storm on September 8-9, 1900. The oldest part of the 10-mile seawall built to protect the city is still visible from 6th Street to 39th Street and dates to 1902.
Padre Island. Padre Island is America’s longest barrier island - there is plenty of room for dogs to roam on its 113 miles of sand. One of the best places for a dog anywhere.
Padre Island National Seashore
DOGS ARE ALLOWED ANYWHERE EXCEPT ON THE DECK AT MALAQUITE BEACH AND IN FRONT OF THE VISITOR CENTER AT THE SWIMMING BEACH.
361-949-8173
Bolivar
Town Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON ISLAND BEACHES
409-684-5940
Crystal Beach
Town Beach
DOGS ALLOWED ON ISLAND BEACHES
409-684-5940
Galveston
East Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
409-762-3278
Galveston Island State Park
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
409-737-1222
Stewart Beach Park
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
888-425-4753
Port Arsanas
Mustang Island State Park
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
361-749-4111
Port O’Connor
Matagorda Island State Park
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
361-983-2215
Sabine Pass
Sea Rim State Park
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH
409-971-2559
South Padre Island
Town Beach
LEASHED DOGS ALLOWED ON BEACH; UNLEASHED NORTH OF TOWN
800-SOPADRE