Ericka Liam
Michigan Vacations With Dogs – Located at the tip of Michigan, Port Austin is one of the lesser-known gems in the entire state, and it’s dog-friendly too! With over 3 miles of sandy beaches at Port Crescent State Park, you can spend the day swimming in the clear blue waters or hiking over 18 miles of forest trails that offer stunning water views over the canyon.
Dogs can access the beach near the mouth of the Pinnebog River via a steel bridge that leads to trails near the campground. Pets must be safe and remember to clean up after your pet!
Michigan Vacations With Dogs
One of our favorite canine friends, Puck’s Yard is also located in Port Austin! It features Michigan-brewed craft beer, great bar food, and a great atmosphere. There is often live music, so you can spend a long day eating and drinking on the beach with your bag!
Torch Lake Pet Friendly Vacation Rentals
A few hours further along the shores of Lake Huron is one of our favorite stops: Tawas Point! These dog beaches are some of the safest in Michigan that allow dogs to run free and run freely in designated areas. The tent site is also dog friendly, so you can bring your dog for a weekend getaway!
Boathouse Beer Company & Boozery” is another great place to dine on the porch with your pets. Located in downtown Tawas, they offer great food and drink and are across the street from another small dog friendly park!
If you’re looking for a unique experience to enjoy with your dog in Michigan, Mackinac Island is for you. Hop on one of the Star Line or Shepler – dog-friendly ferries and take a trip to the island for a unique experience! There you can explore more than 70 miles of hiking trails and attractions, dine at one of the many dog-friendly restaurants, and even explore historic Fort Holmes with your dog. Four-legged visitors are also allowed in many of the town center shops – look out for the ‘Dogs Welcome’ sign!
Mackinac Island is also home to three dog-friendly hotels, Park Place Suites, Sunset Condos, and our favorite, Mission Point Resort.
Pet Friendly Vacation Rentals, Cabins, Beach Homes, Condos
Go across the Mackinac Bridge and past the statue from Puck’s Yard
Manistee, home to the famous Pictured Rocks National Park in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is another gem in northern Michigan. Yes, you can bring your dogs! The park has plenty of dog-friendly trails, including Sand Point Beach, Munising Falls Trail, Miner’s Falls Trail, Miner’s Beach, Superior Overlook and Beach, and the Sable Falls Trail.
Unfortunately, while the North Country Scenic Trail and all other recreation/recreation areas are closed to pets, three area recreation areas allow dogs, including Little Beaver Lake, Twelve Mile Beach, and Hurricane River Campgrounds.
Located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Marquette is one of my favorite places in the world and a bucket list destination to explore with your dog. There are many hidden gems along the upper lake, with rolling hills and breathtaking views.
The 11 Most Dog Friendly Beaches In The U.s
During our trip, we stayed at the Staybridge Inn and Suites in the heart of the city. The rooms are large and equipped with pet-friendly amenities, and dogs prefer to relax instead of our typical camping adventures. Staybridge Inn and Suites is a great hotel chain to check out in other cities – we’ve stayed at several places along the way and that’s always a good thing!
Take a hike to one of the area’s many waterfalls, and if you’re feeling brave, take a dip in Dead River Falls, a moderate but short 1.7-mile loop. If you’re looking for a view of the water from above, check out Sugarloaf Mountain or Hogback Mountain. Both are moderate climbs, but well worth the effort once you reach the top!
After a day of sightseeing, visit Ore Dock Brewing’s dog-friendly patio. There are several home brewers and they had some great seltzers when we were there last year! If you’re lucky, you’ll catch Dia de los Tacos parked outside – these tacos are so good, we’ll be chasing this food truck wherever it is that day!
Traverse City has been named one of the best small cities in the United States, and it lives up to that reputation. It’s also 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, home to more than 40 different wineries on the peninsula. Enjoy a day of wine tasting and bring your dog to our favorite Mary Vineyards, Left Foot Charlie and Bonobo, all of which welcome canine visitors!
Pets At Pictured Rocks
If you’re looking for a quick bite, head to the gas station for some of the best pizza we’ve ever tasted or a small fleet of dog-friendly food trucks. The main building also has great craft cocktails!
Whether you want to hike or explore some of the blue water beaches, Good Harbor Bay Trail and Beach is pet-friendly and you won’t be disappointed! It’s a 2.7-mile, lightly trafficked loop trail that leads to a quiet, sandy beach. Dogs are welcome in the ring and on the beach as long as they clean up afterwards.
If you want to explore Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Park, check out Beulahi and the surrounding area! Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on some trails during the summer due to the fear of pipelines disappearing along the coast. However, additional trails in the park are accessible from December 1 to March 31.
A few quiet cows that let the monsters rest, Snormak’s pets, and Petako are the care of Ambris Bluff and the Sleeping Bear POCIF. South Manitou Island even on a clear, clear day.
Hiker Dog Beach Lake Michigan Grand Mere State Park Stock Photo
Many recreation areas near the park are also pet-friendly. However, if you are visiting Sleeping Bear NPS, check it out before you go!
One of our other favorite spots in the area is the Iron Fish Cleaner. The property is beautiful and there are so many things to eat and try their own maple syrup, spirit flights, and my favorite, wood fired pizza!
When you visit, ask the locals about their favorite spots! From Michigan’s capital to the US West Coast and in between, there’s plenty to explore – and yes, bring the dogs!
In the area? Check out our dog-friendly guide to hiking in Michigan and our dog-friendly guide to Cleveland!
Bring Your Best Friend On These Pet Friendly Vacations In Michigan
Rachel Jezowski and The Wild Goldens Rachel is a freelance graphic designer and content creator living in Northern Michigan with her three Golden Retrievers, Barley, Casey, and Moe! They pack as much free time as possible and head out on weekends to enjoy what Michigan has to offer. When they’re not hiking or visiting the beach (and Rachel isn’t working, haha!), they enjoy taking the dogs and swimming in their backyard. Rachel became a huge rescuer in 2019 when she adopted Casey, who was rescued from the Chinese meat trade. You can follow all their adventures on Instagram @wildgoldens.
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Awesome Dog Friendly Midwest Road Trip Destinations
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