Pet Friendly Beaches in Florida…

Some of the best pet friendly beaches can be found here. Many of our beautiful beaches are also dog beaches and are meant to be enjoyed by man and pooch alike.

In the Panhandle:
You and your pooch will love the beaches of Cape San Blas. This amazing stretch of beach separating St. Joseph Bay and the Gulf of Mexico is a true out of the way slice of paradise.

Cape Palms Park and Salinas Park are just a few of many fantastic dog friendly parks in the area. There are picnic tables, pavilions, playgrounds, showers, grills and even horseback riding. Boardwalks and observation decks are great for viewing the scrub oaks, sand dunes, and wildlife. There are many rental options for pet owners too. What a great place to take your “whole” family on vacation. And while your there, check out Indian Pass and Port St. Joe, more dog beach heaven!

Please note; even though pets are very welcome in Gulf County, pets are not allowed on the beach at St. Joseph Peninsula Sate Park. They are allowed in certain areas of the park. You can read more about the rules at www.floridastateparks.org.

On the West Coast:
Ft. DeSoto Park in Tierra Verde (near St. Pete Beach) tops my list for dog friendly beaches. This 1136 acre park was voted #1 Beach in 2005 by Dr. Beach. The Paw Playground has a 4 acre green fenced area with a separate entrance for small and large dogs. The park also offers a cooling station (dog shower and drinking water) and of course a pet friendly beach.

Not only is there a historic fort there (you probably guessed that),but also picnic areas with great views, a campground (pets allowed in certain area), kayaking & canoe trails, 2 piers, a boat launch, snack bars, bike rentals, and nature trails. You can read more about our fantastic park system at Pinellas County Parks and Recreation. This is one of our family’s favorites!

Just up the road a bit in Dunedin, Florida is another great dog friendly beach; Honeymoon Island State Park. You’ll walk through a wonderful nature trail to get to the dog beach (don’t forget your waste bags). There are showers and water stations for your pets. Most of our state parks don’t allow dogs on the beach, so this is a treat for many locals and visitors to the area.

Brohard Paw Park
Located in Venice, Florida…this is a favorite Florida dog park among many dog lovers.

The park has picnic tables, benches, drinking fountains, showers for dogs and owners. Fire hydrants and waste bags are provided for your pooch. The Paw Park is located near a wonderful pet friendly beach that your darling can roam on for hours without a leash. What freedom…your pooch will love you for that!

On the Atlantic Coast:
Jupiter Beach has gone to the dogs! Imagine…miles of clean beach to run and play!Local residents love their dogs so much that they formed a group called The Friends of Jupiter Beach. Hundreds of volunteers perform a monthly beach cleanup on the 2&1/2 mile stretch of dog friendly beach. They also have a Beach Patrol that monitors dog/beach activity.
Visit this amazing group at www.friendsofjupiterbeach.com.

When visiting the beach, please remember:
~Dogs without a leash should be well behaved and listen to voice commands.
~Always follow leash laws and keep your dog to yourself unless welcomed by another dog or human.
~Bring bags for “poop” cleanup (not fun to find those hidden “treasures” in the sand).
~Have fresh drinking water on hand, most dog beaches offer water, but better safe than sorry.
~Please check with the city or county beach that you are visiting, as rules can change at any  time.

Read here about another awesome dog beach in Florida, and how I met Muffin on Amelia Island!

Have fun on our pet friendly beaches!