Dog Friendly Vacations Michigan

Dog Friendly Vacations Michigan – Located at the tip of Michigan’s foothills, Port Austin is one of the state’s lesser-known gems, and it’s dog-friendly, too! With more than 3 miles of sandy beach located in nearby Port Crescent State Park, you can spend the day wading in the clear blue water or hiking through 28 miles of wooded trails that offer stunning views of the water from the dunes.

Dogs are allowed on the shore near the mouth of the Pinnebog River, which is accessed via a metal bridge that connects to the hiking trails closest to the campground. Pets must be kept on a leash and remember to clean up after your pet!

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One of our favorite dog yards, Puck’s Yard, is also in Port Austin! They have a great selection of Michigan craft beer, great bar food, and a great atmosphere. They often have live music so you can enjoy a drink on the water with your package after dinner and a long day at the beach!

The 11 Most Dog Friendly Beaches In The U.s

After a few hours on the shores of Lake Huron, one of our favorite stops is Tawas Point! This dog beach is one of the few truly fenced beaches in Michigan where dogs can run free in a designated area. The camp is also dog friendly, so you can bring your dog along for a weekend of summer fun!

Boathouse Beer Co. & Boozery is another great stop to enjoy a meal on the patio with your pets. Located in the middle of Tawas, they have great food and drinks and across the street from another little dog friendly park!

If you’re looking for a unique Michigan experience to enjoy with your dog, Mackinac Island is IT. Traveling to the island without a car – take one of the Star Line or Shepler ferries – it’s a unique experience! While there, you can explore more than 70 miles of trails and viewpoints, eat at one of the many local dog-friendly restaurants, or even explore the history of Fort Holmes with your dog. Many shops in the city center also allow four-legged visitors – look out for the ‘Dogs Welcome’ sign!

There are three dog-friendly hotels on Mackinac Island, including Park Place Suites, Sunset Condos, and our favorite Mission Point Resort, all with amazing dog-friendly patios!

Pet Friendly Activities And Adventures Across Michigan

Barley on McKinney Bridge across the street from Pack’s yard and in front of the wall

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 dogs! There are many dog-friendly areas in the park, including Sand Point, Munising Falls, Miners Falls, Miners Beach, Lake Superior Beach and Shoreline, and Sable Falls and Shoreline.

Unfortunately, while the North Country Scenic Trail and all Backcountry campgrounds are closed to pets, dogs are allowed to stay at three campgrounds in the area, including Little Beaver Lake, Twelvemile Beach, and Hurricane River Campgrounds.

Marquette, also located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is one of my favorite places on earth and should definitely be on your bucket list to explore with your dog. Nestled on the shores of Lake Superior with rolling hills and stunning views, there are many hidden gems to discover.

Pet Friendly Traverse City

When we visit, we stay at the Staybridge Inn and Suites downtown. The rooms are large with pet friendly amenities and the dogs love the bike for a change from our usual camping adventures. Staybridge Inn and Suites is a great hotel chain that you can visit in other cities – we’ve been several times on the road and it’s always nice!

Hike to one of the many waterfalls in the area, and if you’re feeling brave, you can jump to Dead River Falls, a moderate but short 1.7-mile round trip. If you’re looking for a view of the water from the top, check out Sugarloaf Mountain or Hogback Mountain, both slight climbs, but well worth it once you get to the top!

After a day of hiking, visit the dog-friendly patio at Ore Dock Brewing. They have a lot of house beers and last year when we visited they also had seltzer which was amazing! If you’re lucky, you’ll find Dia De Los Tacos parked outside – the tacos are so good, we drive by this food truck every day!

Traverse City has been called one of the best small towns in the US and it certainly lives up to the reputation. It is also very dog friendly and we aim to visit at least once a year! The Greater Traverse City area is one of Michigan’s premier wine regions with over 40 different wineries located on the peninsula. Visit for a wine tasting day and bring your dog to our favorites like Marie Vineyards, Left Foot Charlie and Bonobo, all of which welcome canine guests!

Freshwater Vacation Rentals

If you’re in the mood for a bite to eat, check out the gas station downtown for the best pizza we’ve ever had, or The Little Fleet, a dog-friendly food truck. They have amazing craft cocktails in their main building!

If you want to walk or check out some of the famous blue water beaches, Good Harbor Bay Trail and Beach is pet friendly and will not disappoint! This is an easy 2.7 mile loop that leads to a quiet sandy beach. Dogs are welcome on leashes at the loop and on the beach as long as they are clean.

If you want to explore more of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, check out Beulah and the surrounding area! Unfortunately, some trails are off-limits to dogs in the summer due to endangered lake otters, but from December 1st to March 31st, additional trails will be available in the park.

Pets are allowed year-round on several peaceful beaches, including Elberta Beach, managed by Mother Nature, and Peterson Road Beach, known for its stunning views of Empire Bluff, Sleeping Bear Point. and even South Manitou Island on clear days.

Pets At Pictured Rocks

Most campgrounds near the park also allow pets, but if you’re visiting NPS Sleeping Bear, be sure to check before you go!

One of our other favorites in the area is Temir Balyk Distillery. The building is beautiful and there are tons of things to do and try, including their own maple syrup, Spirit Flights, and my favorite, wood fired pizza!

Don’t forget to ask the locals about their favorite spots when you visit! From the tip of Michigan, to the UP, to the West Coast, and in between, there’s plenty to explore—and yes, you should bring the dogs!

In area? Check out our dog friendly Michigan hiking guide and our dog friendly Cleveland guide!

Pet Friendly Vacation Rentals In Northern Michigan

Rachael Jezowski & The Wild Goldens Rachael is a freelance graphic designer and content creator living in beautiful Northern Michigan with her three golden retrievers, Barley, Cassie and Mo! They spend as much free time as possible packing up and hitting the trails to spend their vacation enjoying all that Michigan has to offer. When they’re not on a walk or at the beach (and Rachel isn’t working, ha!), the dogs like to play fetch and swim in the yard. Rachel also became a big rescue advocate in 2019 after adopting Cassie, who was rescued from the Chinese meat trade. You can follow their adventures and more on Instagram @wildgoldens.

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