I travel with my sister’s family a lot, including their English bulldog, so we’re always on the hunt for dog-friendly vacations in the PNW. Listen, most pet parents consider their four-legged companion a child, so traveling without them is a deterrent for some many people. Luckily, traveling with dogs is easy in the Pacific Northwest.
In this roundup I’ll share all the best dog-friendly getaways that both humans and dogs alike will enjoy. I’ll also include tips on travel requirements when visiting each state, including crossing the border to Canada.
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18 Dog-Friendly Vacations in the PNW
Here are the most dog-friendly vacations in the PNW. Save this to Pinterest for your next adventure!
Seattle
location: Washington (get directions) | best for: experiencing city life with your furry friend
You may think you need to leave your dog at home when visiting a city, but luckily Seattle is one of the most dog-friendly cities in the United States. That’s because our four-legged friends can ride public transit and dine with us at many local restaurants with outdoor patios and Seattle breweries. Heck, even some shopping malls like University Village allow dogs!
Besides making it easy for dogs to assimilate to city life, most of the best parks in Seattle allow dogs. Many even have designated dog parks. Whether you visit the iconic Olympic Sculpture Park close to downtown or head to the destination-worthy dog park at Redmond’s Marymoor Park, there are a ton of hiking spots in Seattle perfect with dogs.
San Juan Islands
location: Washington (get directions) | best for: outdoor adventures, especially beaches
You’d think bringing a dog on a ferry would be difficult, but the Washington State Ferry Department makes it easy to get your pet to the San Juan Islands about 3 hours of Seattle. There are three islands most people explore when visiting the San Juans: Orcas Island, Lopez Island, and San Juan Island. The main draw to all of them are exploring parks, beaches, and trails, all of which are perfect with pets.
In addition to dog parks and outdoor adventures accessible to pets, there are dog-friendly accommodations and restaurants. Plus many downtown shops allow dogs…many will even offer them a treat!
Pro tip: You’ll go through Anacortes and the Skagit Valley on your way to the San Juans. Both are also dog-friendly, so plot stops there too!
Whidbey Island
location: Washington (get directions) | best for: plenty of parks and beaches
Whidbey Island is a gem of a dog-friendly vacation spot in the Pacific Northwest. It’s just ~1.5 hours north of Seattle and has plenty to do with dogs thanks to the many beaches, state parks, and trails. In fact, I’ve visited Whidbey Island with my sister’s dog and she absolutely loved the ease of traveling with a pet.
What’s unique is that there are a ton of wineries on Whidbey Island, many of which accept dogs! What’s more, you can bring dogs to most of the iconic attractions people like to visit on the island, including Ebey’s Landing, Fort Casey, and Deception Pass State Park.
Bellingham
location: Washington (get directions) | best for: breweries near outdoor adventures
If you take one look at my Bellingham guide, you’ll see that this college town is known for quaint shops, lots of urban trails, and, most importantly, a ton of breweries. Luckily, most of the breweries in Bellingham allow dogs. Plus there are a bunch of dog-friendly hotels, hikes, and parks, making this one of the most dog-friendly vacations in the PNW.
What’s more is Bellingham is near a ton of dog-friendly hikes in the Mount Baker Wilderness Area. So if your four-legged friend can keep up with you, there area ton of breathtaking views to be had within an hour of Bellingham.
Olympic National Park
location: Washington (get directions) | best for: one of the state’s national parks
Most of the Pacific northwest national parks do not let dogs throughout most of their borders. While this is a bummer if you want to visit Mount Rainier or North Cascades National Park, there is some hope: Olympic National park has the most dog-friendly options of any of the national parks in Washington.
The National Park Service maintains a list of dog-friendly areas both within the forest and along the coast. Many of the Washington coast attractions along the beaches are dog-friendly. So are some of the trails near the iconic Lake Crescent and Lake Quinault, which means you can cover a lot of diverse landscape with your four-legged friends.
Seabrook
location: Washington (get directions) | best for: a dog-friendly beach vacation
The Olympic Peninsula is huge, so there are also a lot of pet-friendly vacation spots outside of Olympic National Park. One such area that my family visits every year is Seabrook. This planned community is made up of a ton of vacation rentals equipped with water bowls, dog beds, and toys for furry friends. We always bring my sister’s English bulldog. While it’s a lot of walking to the beach and we now need to carry her in a backpack, she absolutely loves it.
Seabrook is also well positioned to explore more of the coast during your weekend getaway. For example, you can check out nearby Long Beach, home to the stunning and dog-friendly Cape Disappointment State Park. There’s also Westport, another area dotted with some of the best Washington state beaches, most of which allow dogs.
Chelan
location: Washington (get directions) | best for: wineries and outdoor adventures
My family loves exploring the best cross-country skiing in Washington, and we always bring my sister’s dog along for the trip. Chelan is one of my favorite places we go because it also has excellent wineries, many of which are dog-friendly. There are also a bunch of dog-friendly hotels and rentals, including The Lookout, which is owned by the same creators of Seabrook.
Chelan is right on one of the world’s deepest lakes, Lake Chelan. It’s a popular spot for swimming, boating, and paddling. If your dog likes paddle boarding, rental spots like Jet Skis Ahoy allows you to bring them along. Note that some parks in Chelan don’t allow dogs in summer, but they’re allowed other times of the year.
Leavenworth
location: Washington (get directions) | best for: outdoor adventures
Leavenworth is another location my family visits every year for cross-country skiing, and each time we bring the family dog to one of the area’s cute cabins. The area is known for outdoor adventures, and luckily many of the best Leavenworth hikes are dog friendly hikes, including the gorgeous Wenatchee State Park. You can even bring your dog water tubing!
The other draw of Leavenworth is the cute Bavarian-themed town full of Christmas lights, shops, restaurants, and wineries. While your dog will have to stay outside most of the shops, the main street is pedestrian only, so there’s plenty to sniff and explore. Many of the breweries, wineries, and restaurants also have dog-friendly outdoor patios.
Pro tip: There are a lot of things to do in nearby Wenatchee, including the dog-friendly Apple Loop Trail and other local attractions.
Walla Walla
location: Washington (get directions) | best for: wineries
Walla Walla is best known for excellent wineries and restaurants, but there are a lot of things to do as well, especially with dogs. For example, many of the area wineries and breweries allow dogs, and the cute downtown area has a lot of dog-friendly shops and courtyards to explore. There are also dog-friendly parks, including my favorites Pioneer Park and the Whitman Mission.
Pro tip: Winston, one of my favorite winery dogs in Walla Walla, curated an adorable dog-friendly itinerary.
Spokane
location: Washington (get directions) | best for: city explorations and urban hikes
Spokane is Washington’s second-largest city just across the border from Idaho. It’s home to the largest urban waterfall, with a ton of urban trails and parks that make it one of the best dog-friendly vacations in the PNW.
Out of all the things to do in Spokane, exploring Riverfront Walk with your fur baby is a must. There are a bunch of trails and a suspension bridge perfect for exploring the falls, plus it’s home to a lot of fun events.
Afterwards, check out the many local shops and farmers market before heading out to check the many dog-friendly hikes in the area.
Columbia River Gorge
location: Washington & Oregon (get directions) | best for: scenic viewpoints, hikes, and wineries
Any Columbia River Gorge itinerary is going to include a lot of outside time. Luckily there are a bunch of dog-friendly hikes throughout the national forest, and most of the Gorge waterfalls allow leashed dogs (though not in the visitors centers).
Another reason the Columbia River Gorge is a favorite road trip for dog owners is the fact that there are a lot of dog-friendly breweries and Gorge wineries. For example, some of my favorites like Hawkins Cellars and AniChe Cellars both allow dogs!
Pro tip: If you make it as far west along the Columbia River as Portland, head over the bridge to check out all my favorite things to do in Vancouver, WA, another spot with a lot of urban trails for dogs.
Portland
location: Oregon (get directions) | best for: breweries and urban explorations
Forbes named Portland one of the most dog-friendly cities in the US. That’s because there are a ton of parks, urban trails, breweries, and restaurants that all allow our four-legged friends. And in general, the best Portland itinerary is mostly about farting around the fun food truck pods and popping into the best gift shops as you explore neighborhoods, two activities where it’s easy to have a dog in tow.
Want specific places to stop with dogs in Portland? This local dog owner and vet put together a thorough guide.
Willamette Valley
location: Oregon (get directions) | best for: wineries
The Willamette Valley stretches about 150 miles south of Portland and is made up of a bunch of different towns, all with their own personality. But what they all have in common is that they’re home to more than 700 excellent wineries and a ton of great restaurants. Typically foodies would have to skip a gastronomical adventure because of their pet, but there are more than 100 dog-friendly wineries in the area.
What may surprise some is there is actually more to do than wine in Willamette Valley. Given the many outdoor adventures, including nearby dog-friendly hikes and outdoor spaces, Oregon Wine Country also has great glamping options.
Pro tip: There are a ton of great things to do in Eugene, a college town at the southern tip of Willamette Valley with a lot of parks and wineries.
Cannon Beach
location: Oregon (get directions) | best for: coastal views and adventures
Cannon Beach is the crown jewel of the Oregon Coast, and luckily most of the things to do here are dog friendly. For example, the iconic beach with Haystack Rock allows dogs, as do some of the most popular hotels lining the coast. Most of the outdoor attractions around Cannon Beach also allow dogs, such as the dog-friendly hikes in the popular Ecola State Park and Oswald West State Park.
The cute downtown area is walkable and along the beach, so it’s easy to bring your dog along. Many of the galleries allow dogs, and there are a few restaurants with patios where dogs can hang. Don’t miss the iconic Sleepy Monk for coffee and Pelican Brewing for beer!
Bend
location: Oregon (get directions) | best for: outdoor adventures and breweries
I visit Bend in winter with my family to go skiing, and of course we bring my sister’s dog. This central Oregon city is often cited as one of the dog-friendly vacations in the PNW, even being named “Dog Town USA” at one point. That’s because there are a ton of urban trails within the city and hikes, mountain biking, and skiing within a 15-minute drive.
If you visit in winter, you can bring your dog snowshoeing and Nordic skiing at Edison Sno-Park and Wanago Sno-Park. During summer, there are a bunch of dog-friendly hikes, including the famous Tumalo Falls. Drive about 30 minutes north of Bend and you’ll hit another iconic tourist attraction that allows dogs: Smith Rock State Park.
Bend is also called Beer Town USA because there are a ton of breweries, many of which accept dogs. There are also a ton of great Bend restaurants that accept dogs, particularly the ones located in outdoor food cart pods connected to the breweries.
Vancouver Island
location: British Columbia, Canada (get directions) | best for: hikes and farms
Just a 3-hour ferry ride north of Seattle is Vancouver Island, one of the most beautiful destinations in the Pacific Northwest. It’s huge with a ton to explore, and many areas prove to be dog-friendly. Two of my favorites include Victoria and the nearby Cowichan Valley.
There are a bunch of unique things to do in Victoria, plus a ton of hidden gem restaurants. It’s easy to get here with your dog via the FRS Clipper via Seattle, and then experience all the dog-friendly activities within walking distance of the ferry terminal. Victoria is super walkable and has a lot of parks for canine friends. You can even take your leashed pup to the famous Butchart Gardens!
Cowichan also has a ton of things to do, mostly revolving around the outdoors. I love this area for visiting wineries, and luckily many of them allow dogs. There area also a bunch of dog-friendly hikes in the area, including the gorgeous Kinsol Trestle. When you need a break, shop in the cute down of Duncan for their farmers market and and off-leash dog park!
Whistler
location: British Columbia, Canada (get directions) | best for: skiing and hiking
I visit Whistler in winter every year to go skiing, so I never would have thought this is one of the most dog-friendly vacations in the PNW since you can’t bring your dog on the mountain. However, I was mistaken, as there’s a lot to do with your dog! While they can’t go on the downhill trails with you, they can go cross-country skiing at Whistler Olympic Park. Plus a lot of Whistler hotels are dog friendly and if you want to hit the slopes, there’s even local dogsitting!
There’s also a lot to do around Whistler. The Sea to Sky Highway is dotted with a ton of dog-friendly hikes, including the iconic Train Wreck Trail. You can also take your dog paddling in the various surrounding lakes.
Pro tip: Since you’ll be passing by pet-friendly Vancouver, stop there on your way to Whistler to explore all the best things to do!
Kelowna
location: British Columbia, Canada (get directions) | best for: wineries and outdoor explorations
I love spending a weekend in Kelowna. Luckily it’s also one of the best dog-friendly vacations in the PNW. It reminds me a lot of Lake Chelan, as a bunch of wineries and outdoor adventures surround a breathtaking lake.
If you prefer to sip, there are a lot of dog-friendly wineries, including my two favorites Tantalus and Quails’ Gate. Other dog-friendly activities in Kelowna include taking your dog on a hiking and exploring the downtown area, which has nearby beach parks and off-leash areas perfect with pets. You can even take your dog out on the water!
Is it safe to travel to Washington state with dogs?
Yes, definitely! Most public transportation, including the ferries, allows dogs. Plus, since so many people in Washington own dogs and there’s so much nature, dogs can go just about everywhere with you! While not all hotels, shops, or indoor restaurants allow your furry companion, there are a ton of breweries, restaurant patios, and dog-friendly boutiques dotted around the state. You can also bring your dog to most city and state parks. Some even have off-leash areas!
The state requires traveling dogs to have a rabies vaccine, but if your dog already has one you should be good to go!
Is traveling with dogs to Oregon and BC also safe?
Oregon is very similar to Washington in that visiting dogs need the rabies vaccine and there are a ton of dog-friendly state parks, breweries, and patio dining options.
Traveling between the US and Canada requires a bit more planning, but nothing insurmountable. Just like in the US, your dog needs the rabies vaccine no matter its age. Since you’ll meet a border agent when you come into the country, make sure to bring proof. You may also want to bring proof of ownership. Besides that though, as long as your dog looks healthy, you don’t need anything else (except also proof of your dog’s age if they’re under 3 months). Here’s a helpful calculator to determine what’s required.
You’ll use the same documentation you used to get into Canada when you return to the US, but you’ll also need to fill out a CDC Form. Make sure to read the US border rules carefully before departing!
More adventures with four-legged friends
After you plan your trip to one of these dog-friendly vacations in the PNW, check out my other guides for ideas of where to explore next.
- Washington’s Most Pet-Friendly Hotels
- Fun Hiking Spots Near Seattle
- Best Parks in Seattle
- 21 Fun Road Trips From Seattle
- Best Farms Near Seattle
- Dreamy Cabins in Washington State (including dog-friendly ones!)
- Resorts in Washington state (find the ultimate hotel spa that allows dogs!)
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