Dog Friendly Resorts Michigan – Located in upper Michigan, Port Austin is one of the state’s lesser-known treasures, and it’s super dog-friendly, too! Nearby Port Crescent State Park has more than 5 miles of sandy beaches, where you can spend the day walking in clear blue water or hiking along more than 18 miles of forested trails. Access to dunes and stunning water views.
Dogs are allowed on the shoreline near the Pinneborgelven estuary, accessible via a steel bridge that connects to the hiking trails closest to the campsite. Pets must be on a leash, and it is also important to remember to clean up after your pet!
Dog Friendly Resorts Michigan
Pak’s Backyard is one of our favorite dog-friendly patios, also located in Port Austin! They offer a great selection of Michigan craft beers, delicious bar food, and a great atmosphere. There is often live music here, so you can enjoy dinner and drinks on the water with your backpack after a long day at the beach!
Pet Friendly, Alpena
Just a few hours from the shores of Lake Huron is another one of our favorite spots—Tawas Point! This dog beach is one of the few in Michigan that is actually fenced, allowing dogs to run free in designated areas. The campsite is dog friendly, so you can have a great weekend with your dog!
Boathouse & Boozery is another great place to dine on the patio with your pet. They are located in downtown Tawas, offer great food and drink, and are right across the street from another small park that is also dog friendly!
If you’re looking for a unique experience to take your dog to in Michigan, look no further than Mackinac Island. Take a dog-friendly ferry – Star Line or Shepler’s – to a car-free island. This is a unique experience in itself! Once there, you can explore over 70 miles of trails and overlooks, eat at one of the many local dog-friendly restaurants, and even explore historic Fort Holmes with your dog. Many downtown stores allow four-legged visitors – look out for the “Dogs Welcome” signs.
Mackinac Island also has three dog-friendly hotels, including Park Place Suites, Sunset Condos, and our favorite, Mission Point Resort, which also has a great pet-friendly patio!
Dog Friendly Camping Spots In Michigan That Will Delight Pet Owners
Barley on the Mackinac Bridge in front of the mural across the street from Parker’s backyard.
Home to the famous Pictured Rocks State Park in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Manistee is another northern Michigan gem, and yes, you can bring your dog! The park has quite a few dog-friendly areas, including Sand Point Beach, Munising Falls Trail, Miners Falls Trail, Miners Beach, Lake Superior Lookout and Beach, and Sable Falls Trail and Beach.
Unfortunately, the Northland Scenic Byway and all backcountry campgrounds/campgrounds are not pet friendly, but dogs are allowed at all three vehicle campgrounds in the area, including Little Beaver Lake, Twelve Mile Beach, and Hurricane River Campground .
Marquette, also located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is one of my favorite places on earth and is definitely worth exploring with your dog. Situated on the shores of Lake Superior, with rolling hills and stunning views, there are plenty of hidden gems to see.
Best Pet Friendly Hotels
When we arrived, we stayed at the Staybridge Inn and Suites in the heart of the city. The room was large, had pet-friendly amenities, and the dogs loved being petted for a change of scenery from our usual camping adventures. Staybridge Inn and Suites is a great hotel chain that’s worth checking out in other cities as well—we’ve stayed at several during our travels and it’s always a pleasure!
Hike to one of the area’s many waterfalls, and if you’re brave enough, you can even jump into Dead River Falls, a moderate but shorter 1.7-mile round trip. If you want to enjoy views of the water from above, check out Sugarloaf Mountain or Hogback Mountain, both of which are relatively easy to climb, but once you’re at the top, you’re good to go. It’s worth it!
After a day of hiking, head to the dog-friendly patio at Ore Dock Brewing. They have a selection of beers on tap and when we visited last year they had great soft drinks too! If you’re lucky, you’ll see Dia De Los Tacos parked outside—these tacos are so delicious, we’ll chase this food truck wherever it is!
Traverse City has been named one of the best small cities in America, and it definitely lives up to its name. It’s also very dog friendly and we come here at least once a year! The Grand Traverse City area is one of Michigan’s greatest wine regions, with more than 40 different wineries located throughout the peninsula. Take your dog for a day of wine tasting at some of our favorite wineries like Mari Vineyards, Left Foot Charley, and Bonobo, all of which welcome canine guests!
Pet Friendly Traverse City
If you’re looking for a bite to eat, head to the gas station downtown for the best pizza we’ve ever had, or to The Little Fleet, a dog-friendly food truck park. The ground floor also serves amazing craft cocktails!
If you want to go hiking or visit some of the famous blue water beaches, Good Harbor Bay Trail and Beach is pet friendly and you won’t be disappointed! This is a 4.7 mile loop that leads to a quiet sandy beach. Dogs on a leash are allowed on the property and on the beach, provided they clear up afterwards.
If you want to explore Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, be sure to visit Beulah and the surrounding area! Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on some trails in the summer due to endangered lakeside pipits, but more trails are available in the park from December 1st to March 31st.
Some quiet beaches allow pets on leashes year-round, including Elberta Beach (usually less busy as nature supports it) and Peterson Road Beach (famous for Empire Bluff, Sleeping Bear Point known for its breathtaking views from Cape Sleeping Bear). ), as well as South Manitou Island on a clear day.
Superior River Cabin On The Autrain River, Cabins, Au Train, United States Of America
Many of the campgrounds near the park also allow pets on leashes, but if you’re visiting Sleeping Bear NPS, be sure to check before you go!
Another favorite spot of ours in the area is Ironfish Distillery. The inn is beautiful and has a lot to do and try, including their own maple syrup, booze flights, and my favorite, wood-fired pizza!
Be sure to ask the locals about their favorite spots when you go! From Michigan’s Thumb to the UP to the West Coast and in between, there’s so much to explore—and yes, you should definitely bring your dog!
In area? Check out our Michigan Dog Walking Guide and Cleveland Dog Walking Guide!
The Ultimate Guide To Pet Friendly Vacation Rentals In Michigan
Rachel Jezowski and The Wild Goldens Rachel is a freelance graphic designer and content creator living in beautiful Northern Michigan with her three golden retrievers: Barley, Cassie and Moe! They spend as much free time as possible packing, going on weekend camping trips, and enjoying all that Michigan has to offer. When they’re not hanging out or going to the beach (Rachel doesn’t work either, ha!), the dogs love to play fetch and swim in the backyard. Rachel has also become a strong supporter of rescue efforts after adopting Cassie, who was rescued from the Chinese meat trade in 2019.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you agree to the use of all cookies. However, you can access your cookie settings to provide controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your consent. You can also refuse these cookies. However, opting out of some of these cookies may impact your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies anonymously ensure basic functionality and security features of the website.
The 10 Best Pet Friendly Hotels In Michigan 2024 (with Prices)
This cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This cookie is used to store the user’s consent to the use of cookies in the Analytics category.
This cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent to record the user’s consent to the use of cookies in the Functionality category.
This cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This cookie is used to store
