Your dog is your best friend so you always want him or her by your side. Thankfully, plenty of cities in the United States are welcoming to dogs. So if you are looking for a destination with dog-friendly restaurants and businesses and numerous dog parks and pet-care providers, we’ve got you covered. Below is the 2020 ranking of the most dog-friendly cities in the US.
San Francisco, CA
The San Francisco Bay Area is a great place for you and your furry friend. The city of San Francisco offers more than 100 dog-friendly restaurants and nearly 30 dog parks. Oakland also has plenty of dog-friendly restaurants and open-space trails for you and your pup including Redwood Regional Park and Joaquin Miller Park. Just a little south of San Francisco, San Jose hosts the nation’s largest dog festival called Bark in the Park every September. Here, you’ll find contests, performances, and more than 75 vendors.
Denver, CO
The Mile High City is as welcoming to dogs as it is to humans. Denver is home to more than 150 local breweries, with many happy to welcome your dog too. Even the Denver Beer Co. offers a “beerscuit” to its canine customers. Besides pet-friendly businesses, you and Fido can enjoy the outdoors at one of Denver’s many dog parks. Strap on your pup’s JoyrideHarness and explore Railyard Dog Park, Fuller Dog Park, Barkley Lake Dog Park, and plenty more.
Chicago, IL
Chi-Town is incredibly friendly to dogs with plenty of off-leash parks and destinations like Montrose Dog Beach. This spot is the city’s first legal off-leash beach, so you and your fur baby can walk and play in the sand. And speaking of walks, most businesses leave out bowls of water for dogs out walking. Chicago offers some of the country’s best retail shopping and thankfully, you can bring your pooch with you while you shop. Nordstrom, The Shops at North Bridge, and The Magnificent Mile are all pet-friendly.
Seattle, WA
Seattle cracked the top 10 of WalletHub’s most pet-friendly cities of 2019, and it continues to rank high in 2020. The city has more dogs than children with over 150,000 dogs and roughly 107,000 children. Seattle has dog-friendly hotels, restaurants, and even dog-friendly cruises and dog-friendly kayak, canoe, and paddleboard rentals.
Portland, OR
Portland also made it to WalletHub’s list and for good reason. Portland has 33 dog parks, which is more than any other large city in the US. It also has dog meetup groups like Pug Crawl and Pit Bull Parade, where you can hang out with other dog parents and their fur babies. Portland is also the 12th most walkable city in the nation so you and your canine buddy will have plenty of routes to walk without ever getting bored.
Asheville, NC
Asheville is one of the most pet-friendly cities in the US. and even earned the nickname “Dog City, USA.” Asheville offers two off-leash dog parks near its downtown: the French Broad River Park and the Azalea Dog Park. You can take a walk here or explore the mountains with your puppy pal on one of the many dog-friendly trails. Downtown Asheville is home to dozens of pet shops like Three Dog Bakery which offers freshly-baked treats for your canine. And the city, of course, has numerous pet-friendly breweries and restaurants. If you are planning a visit, Asheville is known for having some of the most pet-friendly hotels in the country. And if you are looking for a permanent residence, check out the state’s cabins for sale for an elegant and cozy log home.
St. Louis, MO
Ranking number eight on WalletHub’s list, St. Louis is a great city for you and your dog to visit or live. The city abounds with dog parks and dog-friendly restaurants and destinations including Six Flags and St. Louis Walk of Fame.
