Five of the top ten dog-friendly places in the world are in North America. So, if you happen to be in Canada or the U.S., it’s nice knowing that you’re in one of the most welcoming continents for dogs and their companions.
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But that’s not to say that finding dog-friendly places is always easy. If you’re planning a trip and want to include your pup, it can be tough to find accommodation that won’t give you the stink eye.
The same goes for finding somewhere to eat with your dog in tow. It’s not always clear from the outside whether a restaurant is pet friendly.
So, what can you do so you’re not left asking, “where are the dog-friendly places near me?”
With the help of Hipcamp, a website that helps you discover and book tent camping, RV, cabins, treehouses, and glamping, we’ve compiled a checklist to planning a perfect pup-friendly campervan getaway.
1- Download the PawSwap App.
The best way to find dog-friendly places near you is to check out the PawSwap App. You can use it to quickly check all the dog-friendly locations nearby. This is especially handy when you’re on the go. With its handy map feature, it will show you locations and their categories like restaurants, breweries, coffee shops, clothing stores, and more! You can also look up addresses, call the business directly from the app, see reviews from other dog owners, but most importantly see what dog-friendly details this business offers.
2 – Browse through online directories.
Several online directories list dog-friendly places in specific regions. They’ll usually include a range of businesses, from hotels and vacation rentals to restaurants and stores. When searching these directories, you can filter your results by location, type of business, and rating. We recommend Hipcamp to find dog-friendly campgrounds, and PawSwap, our sister company for finding dog-friendly businesses such as stores, restaurants, coffee shops, breweries, liquor stores, banks, and more, and well as nearby parks, hikes, trails.
3 – Check out pet-friendly travel websites.
These websites offer both articles and directories of businesses that welcome dogs. They also have a range of other resources, like tips for travelling with your pet, that can come in handy. If you’re looking for dog parks, beaches, we have lots of information on our website to help you find the best dog-friendly places near me.
4 – Use Google Maps.
Google Maps is a great way to find nearby businesses of all types that allow dogs. To use it, open the app and search for something like “dog-friendly places near me,” “pet-friendly hotels,” or “restaurants that allow dogs. "You can also try similar searches, like “parks for dogs near me” or “beaches for dogs near me.”
Pro Tip: If you want to find truly pet-friendly businesses, you can use Google Maps’ filters to only show results that allow dogs. To do this, tap the filter icon and choose the “Pets allowed” option.
5 – Ask fellow dog owners.
If you know someone who has recently travelled with their dog, they may be able to give you some good recommendations.
Or, if you’re a member of a dog club or group, you can ask for suggestions there.
Another option is to post in relevant online forums, like those on Reddit or Yahoo Answers. Just remember to take any recommendations you receive with a grain of salt, as you don’t know the person giving them.
6 – Check out review sites.
Once you’ve found a few businesses that look promising, it’s always a good idea to read some reviews before deciding.
Websites like PawSwap, TripAdvisor and Yelp allow users to rate and review locations such as restaurants, hotels and other businesses. These reviews are incredibly helpful, as they’re usually written by people who have actually been to the business.
Final thoughts
You want this trip to be as fun for your dog as it is for you. Remember, you can’t be as flexible with your dog companion as you can be with a human one.
There is so much you can see and do together and it can bring you close together. In addition, travelling with your dog create wonderful memories that last a lifetime. Remember, always take tons of photos!
If you need more tips on travelling with your dog, be sure to sign up for our newsletter where we have some great advice about spending time with your pet.