Dog Friendly Vacation Spots In Michigan – Located on the tip of Michigan’s big toe, Port Austin is one of the smallest ports known in the entire state, and it’s very dog friendly! With 3 miles of sandy beaches located in nearby Port Crescent State Park, you can spend the day in the clear blue waters or hike over 18 miles of wooded trails that open onto the dunes with beautiful water views.
Dogs are allowed on an accessible beach near the mouth of the Pinnebag River, accessed by a steel bridge that connects to a hiking trail near the campsite. Pets must be kept on a leash and remember to clean up after your pet too!
Dog Friendly Vacation Spots In Michigan
One of our dogs’ favorite backyards, Pax’s Backyard, is also located in Port Austin! They have a great selection of Michigan craft beer, great bar food, and a great vibe. They often have live music, so you can enjoy your dinner and drinks right on the water with your pack after a long day at the beach!
South Haven Pet Friendly Vacation Rentals
One of our favorite stops after a few hours along the shores of Lake Huron, Tawas Point! This dog beach is one of the few truly fenced in Michigan where dogs can run free in a designated area. The campground is also dog-friendly, so you can bring your dog for a weekend of summer fun!
Boathouse Beer Co. & Boozary is another great stop where you can dine on the patio with your pets. Located in downtown Tawas, they have great food and drinks and are right across the street from another little dog park!
If you’re looking for a unique experience you can enjoy with your dog in Michigan, Mackinac Island is IT. Hop on one of the dog friendly ferry trips – Star Line or Shepler’s – to travel around the island without a car – a unique experience! Once there, you can explore more than 70 miles of trails and viewpoints, dine at one of the many local restaurants, and even explore historic Fort Holmes with your dog. Many stores in the city center also allow four-legged visitors – look for the “Dogs Welcome” sign!
Mackinac Island is also home to three dog-friendly hotels, including Park Place Suites, Sunset Condos, and our favorite, the Mission Point Resort, which also has an amazing dog-friendly patio!
Dog Friendly Beaches Grand Rapids, Mi
In front of the mural across the street from the Lodge and Easter Yard to the Mackinac Bridge
Home to the famous Pictured Rocks National Park in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Manistee is another northern Michigan gem, and yes, you can bring your dog! The park has several dog-friendly areas, including Sand Point Beach, Munising Falls Trail, Miners Falls Trail, Miners Beach, Lake Superior Overlook and Beach, and Sable Falls Trail and Beaches.
Although the North Country Scenic Trail and all backcountry campgrounds/campgrounds are unfortunately closed to pets, three campgrounds in the area allow dogs, including Little Beaver Lake, Twelvemile Beach and Hurricane River Campgrounds.
Marquette, located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is one of my favorite places on earth and definitely a place you should put on your bucket list to explore with your dog. Located on the shores of Lake Superior with rolling hills and spectacular views, there are many gems to see.
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When we visited, we stayed at the Staybridge Inn and Suites downtown. The rooms are great with pet amenities, and the dogs love being pampered for a change instead of our usual camping adventures. Staybridge Inn and Suites is a great hotel chain to check out in other cities as well, we stayed at several places while on the road and it’s always a pleasure!
Head to one of the many waterfalls in the area, and if you’re brave enough, you can even jump into Dead River Falls, which is only 1.7 miles away. If you’re looking to see the water from above, check out Sugarloaf Mountain or Hogback Mountain, both moderate climbs, but well worth it once you get to the top!
After a day of hiking, check out the dog-friendly Ore Dock Brewing patio. They have a variety of house brews and when we visited last year they had some excellent seltzers too! If you’re lucky, you’ll catch Dia de los Tacos parked outside – those tacos are so good, we’ll be chasing this food truck all day!
Traverse City has been called one of the smallest towns in the United States, and it certainly stands tall. It is very dog friendly, and we make it a point to visit at least once a year! The Greater Traverse City area is one of Michigan’s premier wine regions, with more than 40 different wineries located throughout the peninsula. Be sure to make a day of wine tasting and take your dog to some of our favorites, including Mari Vineyards, Left Foot Charlie and Bonobo, which welcomes canine visitors!
Dog Safety Tips
If you’re looking for a bite, check out The Filling Station downtown for some of the best pizza we’ve ever had, or The Little Fleet, a dog food truck lot. They also have amazing craft cocktails in the main building!
Whether you want to hike or check out some of the famous blue water beaches, Good Harbor Bay Trail and Beach is pet friendly and will not disappoint! It’s a 2.7-mile, low-traffic trail that leads to a pristine sandy beach. Leashed dogs are welcome in the village and on the beach, as long as they are kept clean.
If you are looking to explore Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Park, be sure to check out Beulah and the surrounding area! Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on some trails during the summer due to the lake’s endangered plovers, but from December 1st to March 31st more trails will be open in the park.
Leashed pets are allowed year-round at some of the quieter beaches, including Elberta Beach, which is usually less crowded because Mother Nature keeps it to herself, and Peterson Road Beach in Empire Bluff, which is popular to read. Sleeping Bear Point. , and even South Manitou Island on clear days.
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Leashed animals are also allowed at many campgrounds near the park, but confirm before you go if you’re visiting Sleeping Bear NPS!
One of our other favorite places in the area is the Iron Fish Distillery. The property is beautiful and there are quite a few things to do and try, including their own maple syrup, spirit flights, and my favorite, their wood fired pizza!
Be sure to ask the locals for their favorite spots when you go! From the tip of Michigan, the U.P. From all the way to the West Coast and in between, there’s plenty to explore, and yes, you’ll need to bring the dogs!
In the area? Check out our dog friendly guide to hiking in Michigan and our dog friendly guide to Cleveland!
Torch Lake Pet Friendly Vacation Rentals
Rachel Jezowski & 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 their free time packing and hitting the trails while enjoying the weekends Michigan has to offer. When they are not walking or visiting the beach (and Rachel is not working, ha!), the dogs like to take and swim in their yard. Rachel became a big rescue advocate in 2019 after adopting Cassie, who was rescued from the Chinese meat trade. You can follow all their adventures and beyond on Instagram at @wildgoldens.
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The Mitten Mutt Explores Michigan With His Best Friend
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