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The number of pets in the U.S. has been steadily climbing for decades, and more than ever, they're considered a core part of our families. With millions of households including dogs, cats, and other furry friends, it's no surprise that more travelers are looking to bring their pets along for the adventure as well.
As pet ownership continues to rise, so does the need for destinations that welcome pets as part of the family. With that in mind, FloridaRentals.com set out to see which places make the best destinations for a pet-friendly vacation.
For many of us, leaving our pets at home for a trip can feel like leaving a family member behind. In fact, around half of all pet owners see their pets the same as their human family members. Not only does bringing your furry companions along for the fun keep your family together, but it also removes the stress and cost of boarding or hiring a sitter. Boarding can be stressful for pets and pose risks of injury or disease due to prolonged proximity to other animals.
There's also a practical side to traveling with pets: boarding doesn't come cheap, and with increasing access to pet-friendly travel options, it can be more cost-effective than boarding, especially for longer vacations.
To find the most pet-friendly states, we looked into a combination of factors to determine our ranking. The best pet-friendly states tend to check several boxes, the most important of which include:
Cities that score well in these areas tend to create smoother experiences for traveling pet owners. For instance, when you're away from your yard and usual local spots, having plenty of safe, open spaces for pups to run freely is a must. Pair that with highly rated pet-friendly accommodations and restaurants, and you've got the bare necessities of a solid pet getaway.
Additionally, cities with moderate climates, ample sunshine, and minimal weather extremes make outdoor activities more enjoyable for both humans and pets. While some dogs love the rain, it's usually no fun bringing a wet furball into your hotel room.
Finally, having a high number of 24-hour vets helps ensure peace of mind while you're traveling, because even the best-planned trip can have surprises.
When all the factors are considered — hotel availability, climate, vet access, and park quality — some cities consistently rise above the rest. Overall, states with more open land and outdoor recreation opportunities tend to rank better. Additionally, affordability factored heavily into rankings, with hotel prices and vet access playing crucial roles in determining where a state stood.
Portland, Oregon, earned the top spot for pet-friendly vacations, scoring high on nearly every metric, but especially for its dog parks, trails, and overall pet culture.
Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Phoenix, Arizona, also ranked near the top, thanks to their affordable pet-friendly hotels and plentiful outdoor spaces. San Francisco, Austin, and Tampa ranked well, too, with their sunny weather, walkable neighborhoods, and pet-welcoming restaurants.
Unsurprisingly, Florida cities performed quite well, with Tampa ranking in the national top ten, and Jacksonville and Miami trailing not far behind. With its year-round sunshine, open-air attractions, and abundance of pet-friendly vacation rentals, the state is a natural destination for travelers hoping to bring the whole family.
However, even some cities in colder states like Detroit, Milwaukee, and Boston made the charts. Their scores suffered slightly due to fewer dog parks, higher accommodation costs, and challenging weather. Still, even in those places, pet owners can expect to have a great time with their furry friends.
Pet travel is now a regular part of vacation planning for many people in the United States, and the best destinations combine comfort, safety, and accessibility for both people and animals. Cities that invest in parks, pet-friendly lodging, and supportive services make it easier for travelers to bring their pets along.
So, where will your next trip take you? Whether you're chasing sunsets on the Gulf Coast or exploring urban trails in Austin, planning your pet-friendly getaway has never been easier. For travelers heading to Florida, FloridaRentals.com is ready to help you find the perfect vacation destination that feels like home for both you and your pets.
The numbers shown are non-adjusted values, so they do not add up to the total points. This is so readers can interpret individual factors for each city.
| City | Percentage of Pet-Friendly Hotels | Avg. Review Score of Pet-Friendly Hotels | Avg. Price of Pet-Friendly Hotels | Number of Dog-Friendly Restaurants | Number of Dog-Friendly Activities | Dog Parks per 100,000 Residents | Dog Park Quality Score | Dog Climate Score | Best Cities to Walk Your Dog Score | Number of 24-Hour Vets | Pet Health Score | WalletHub's Most Pet-Friendly Cities Score | TOTAL POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, OR | 52% | 7.90 | $231.75 | 451 | 90 | 5.7 | 96 | 42 | 48.95 | 33 | 54.1 | 58.98 | 109.70 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 67% | 7.50 | $182.67 | 207 | 45 | 4.8 | 82 | 71 | 34.9 | 5 | 74 | 53.42 | 104.90 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 48% | 8.41 | $265.31 | 346 | 59 | 0.8 | 83 | 79 | 50 | 64 | 68 | 55.04 | 103.71 |
| San Francisco, CA | 33% | 8.24 | $294.10 | 374 | 149 | 5 | 99 | 76 | 50.44 | 53 | 3.9 | 51.52 | 102.99 |
| Tampa, FL | 47% | 8.31 | $251.60 | 302 | 56 | 3.9 | 94 | 64 | 28.59 | 31 | 51.4 | 61.04 | 98.82 |
| San Diego, CA | 48% | 8.40 | $678.81 | 702 | 108 | 1.9 | 60 | 94 | 43.32 | 67 | 39.2 | 53.55 | 98.77 |
| Austin, TX | 52% | 8.40 | $243.09 | 513 | 90 | 1.3 | 97 | 30 | 41.26 | 34 | 83.4 | 56.68 | 98.53 |
| New York, NY | 54% | 8.08 | $440.70 | 542 | 197 | 2 | 100 | 21 | 49.51 | 99 | 26 | 43.5 | 97.44 |
| Tucson, AZ | 52% | 8.33 | $188.82 | 264 | 66 | 2.2 | 80 | 78 | 29.98 | 15 | 92.3 | 48.78 | 94.80 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 39% | 7.86 | $327.34 | 185 | 48 | 1.6 | 88 | 68 | 51.15 | 8 | 68.5 | 54.67 | 94.12 |
| Las Vegas, NV | 29% | 8.06 | $380.74 | 237 | 53 | 3.8 | 55 | 91 | 44.53 | 24 | 25.4 | 59.16 | 92.91 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 43% | 8.37 | $688.81 | 573 | 113 | 0.4 | 39 | 92 | 42.71 | 147 | 16 | 46.49 | 91.48 |
| Raleigh, NC | 48% | 8.22 | $194.20 | 249 | 48 | 1.6 | 66 | 32 | 41.15 | 23 | 91.2 | 55.1 | 91.14 |
| Sacramento, CA | 47% | 7.82 | $215.46 | 193 | 27 | 3 | 84 | 77 | 31.45 | 35 | 21 | 49.29 | 90.73 |
| Oakland, CA | 43% | 7.57 | $246.89 | 85 | 20 | 4.1 | 5 | 83 | 46.21 | 58 | 17.1 | 50.66 | 90.29 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 63% | 8.11 | $148.51 | 152 | 34 | 0.4 | 53 | 58 | 31.55 | 9 | 100 | 49.63 | 89.77 |
| El Paso, TX | 54% | 7.85 | $146.11 | 83 | 19 | 0.7 | 35 | 80 | 38.46 | 4 | 47.5 | 54.74 | 89.55 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 57% | 7.68 | $214.78 | 210 | 35 | 0.6 | 93 | 48 | 25.96 | 15 | 87.3 | 50.32 | 87.28 |
| Atlanta, GA | 43% | 8.14 | $249.38 | 350 | 45 | 1.9 | 75 | 47 | 28.12 | 40 | 50.3 | 56.22 | 87.27 |
| Seattle, WA | 45% | 8.46 | $407.99 | 423 | 118 | 1.8 | 59 | 26 | 41.04 | 38 | 51.9 | 53.38 | 87.13 |
| Arlington, TX | 57% | 7.38 | $288.65 | 108 | 14 | 0.7 | 54 | 54 | 34.29 | 25 | 65.8 | 54.16 | 86.53 |
| San Antonio, TX | 40% | 7.70 | $167.87 | 344 | 71 | 1.4 | 91 | 33 | 39.97 | 15 | 50.3 | 50.89 | 86.38 |
| Houston, TX | 43% | 8.23 | $208.70 | 522 | 71 | 1.2 | 92 | 6 | 40.98 | 45 | 48.1 | 49.53 | 86.14 |
| Omaha, NE | 57% | 7.57 | $147.83 | 107 | 30 | 0.6 | 70 | 38 | 30.06 | 5 | 90.1 | 52.37 | 85.54 |
| Denver, CO | 49% | 8.06 | $328.07 | 282 | 81 | 2.2 | 30 | 67 | 29.88 | 25 | 42.5 | 51.85 | 84.86 |
| Chicago, IL | 54% | 8.32 | $385.78 | 580 | 109 | 1.2 | 98 | 8 | 36.47 | 50 | 24.3 | 43.94 | 84.70 |
| Dallas, TX | 60% | 7.99 | $274.66 | 348 | 49 | 0.7 | 71 | 45 | 33.41 | 13 | 44.8 | 44.71 | 84.65 |
| Miami, FL | 31% | 8.26 | $268.78 | 234 | 59 | 2.6 | 67 | 61 | 31.61 | 39 | 58.6 | 52.18 | 84.43 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 31% | 7.74 | $393.24 | 147 | 33 | 1.1 | 85 | 57 | 38.74 | 12 | 87.9 | 54.37 | 82.80 |
| Mesa, AZ | 40% | 8.17 | $226.48 | 113 | 10 | 0.6 | 40 | 88 | 33.12 | 52 | 68 | 44.64 | 82.28 |
| Tulsa, OK | 57% | 7.64 | $163.58 | 97 | 16 | 0.7 | 48 | 20 | 30.06 | 8 | 94.5 | 55.52 | 82.21 |
| Fort Worth, TX | 47% | 7.53 | $165.27 | 170 | 26 | 0.5 | 62 | 45 | 31.85 | 37 | 60.2 | 50.07 | 82.18 |
| Kansas City, MO | 63% | 7.50 | $196.14 | 136 | 23 | 1 | 22 | 41 | 25.32 | 8 | 69.1 | 52.73 | 80.85 |
| Washington, D.C. | 52% | 8.00 | $317.47 | 357 | 64 | 2.7 | 33 | 36 | 33.33 | 22 | 7.2 | 49.19 | 80.77 |
| Charlotte, NC | 47% | 8.12 | $363.46 | 304 | 63 | 1.3 | 38 | 59 | 35.83 | 21 | 56.9 | 44.53 | 80.57 |
| San Jose, CA | 41% | 7.74 | $289.54 | 179 | 31 | 2.1 | 7 | 83 | 34.65 | 54 | 7.2 | 47.08 | 79.71 |
| Minneapolis, MN | 48% | 8.53 | $371.51 | 198 | 46 | 2.1 | 44 | 24 | 30.61 | 14 | 44.8 | 55.3 | 79.04 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 49% | 8.31 | $266.90 | 300 | 78 | 0.4 | 72 | 22 | 32.18 | 56 | 12.7 | 44.69 | 78.38 |
| Long Beach, CA | 33% | 8.43 | $373.10 | 150 | 27 | 2.4 | 11 | 100 | 32.75 | 26 | 18.8 | 48.7 | 78.21 |
| Nashville, TN | 40% | 8.60 | $298.22 | 279 | 108 | 1.4 | 81 | 10 | 24.3 | 13 | 86.7 | 50.06 | 76.70 |
| Fresno, CA | 50% | 7.23 | $185.41 | 82 | 12 | 2.9 | 8 | 75 | 25.38 | 7 | 18.2 | 43.36 | 75.02 |
| Columbus, OH | 56% | 7.54 | $247.84 | 165 | 38 | 0.8 | 52 | 2 | 23.03 | 16 | 62.4 | 52.48 | 74.11 |
| Louisville, KY | 31% | 7.98 | $230.90 | 276 | 51 | 1.1 | 69 | 12 | 26.59 | 8 | 89.5 | 51.07 | 71.90 |
| Memphis, TN | 53% | 8.00 | $417.01 | 147 | 30 | 1 | 57 | 28 | 17.49 | 3 | 73.5 | 48.8 | 71.19 |
| Baltimore, MD | 49% | 8.11 | $239.47 | 160 | 44 | 0.9 | 50 | 17 | 24.94 | 10 | 12.2 | 46.05 | 69.30 |
To determine the scores for Climate and Dog Park Quality, we subtracted the original rank numbers from 101 (the total number of cities in the Lawnstarter study) and then adjusted for the point value.
Percentage of Pet Friendly Hotels (25 Points)
Source: Tractor Supply Co.
Average Review Score of Pet-Friendly Hotels (10 Points)
Source: Tractor Supply Co.
Average Price of Pet-Friendly Hotels (-10 Points)
Source: Tractor Supply Co.
Number of Dog-Friendly Activities (5 Points)
Source: Tractor Supply Co.
Number of Dog-Friendly Restaurants (5 Points)
Source: Tractor Supply Co.
Dog Parks per 100,000 Residents (10 Points)
Source: Trust for Public Land
Dog Park Quality Score (10 Points)
Source: LawnStarter
Index: Number of top-rated dog parks, average consumer ratings of dog parks, and average number of reviews per dog park.
Dog Climate Score (20 Points)
Source: LawnStarter
Index: Monthly inches of precipitation, average monthly percentage of sunshine, average number of very cold days, and average number of very hot days.
Best Cities to Walk Your Dog Score (20 Points)
Source: LawnStarter
Index: Number and mileage of dog-friendly trails, trail ratings, off-leash dog parks, and dog walkers per 100,000 residents.
Number of 24-Hour Vets (10 Points)
Source: Tractor Supply Co.
Pet Health Score (5 Points)
Source: Market Watch
Index: Vets per 100,000 residents and average spending on vaccinations. Since your pet may interact with other pets in the city, it's important to keep their vaccinations current, too!
WalletHub’s Most Pet-Friendly Cities Score (30 Points)
Index: Pet budget, pet health and wellness, and outdoor pet-friendliness. Cities with healthy pet cultures are more likely to be positive environments with pets on vacation, too!
Sources:
Tractor Supply Company’s Most Dog-Friendly Cities in the U.S. Revealed
LawnStarter’s Best Cities to Walk Your Dog
LawnStarter’s Best Dog Park Cities
WalletHub’s Most Pet-Friendly Cities
The Trust for Public Land’s City Park Facts
Market Watch’s Pet Health Score
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