The 12 Best Dog Friendly Florida Vacation Spots

If you know me, you know I am absolutely obsessed with my dog Kiwi. I miss him so much when traveling, that we have started planning vacations that we can bring him along. I know I am not the only crazy dog mom out there, so I figured it would be helpful to put together a guide for dog friendly Florida vacations.

This blog contains twelve different Florida destinations that make it easy to bring your dog along. With each destination, I am sharing the dog-friendly hotel we stayed at and recommendations for things to do. However, most destinations have plenty of dog-friendly hotel options that will also do the trick. Whether you are looking for a beach getaway, a city trip, or a theme park vacation, here are my recommendations for dog friendly Florida vacations.

Dog Friendly Florida Beach Vacations

If you want to take a beach vacation and bring your dog along, Florida has a plethora of options. Most towns have at least one dog-friendly beach and outdoor restaurants that can be very accommodating. I have found these four options to be perfect for getting some fun in the sun with your dog!

1. Flagler Beach – Stay at the Island Cottage Inn

For a beach vacation with your pup, the Island Cottage Inn is one of the best Bed and Breakfasts I have found! Not only is the service at this inn extraordinarily friendly and attentive, but there is so much for you and your dog to do. Half the rooms of the inn are pet friendly and it is only a $50 one-time fee to bring yours. 

Located in Flagler Beach, you can bring your dog to the beach just steps from your room. And it’s also close to downtown, where there are tons of pet-friendly restaurants like FARO and Vessel Sandwich Co. There is even a dog bar with a doggie pool 15 minutes away for pups that want to play! We had a great time here with Kiwi enjoying the beach, balcony, and local cuisine. 

2. Miami Beach – Stay at The Confidante

If you want your dog to experience South Beach, The Confidante is my choice of where to go. This fun hotel is right on the beach with a fun retro theme and all the best amenities. This is one of the many dog-friendly Hyatt hotels I love that always has a friendly and helpful staff for pet owners.

Bringing your pup to the Confidante requires a $100 fee. With this fee, a pet bed rental and a pup popsicle are included. Though your dog can’t go on the beachfront access, they will enjoy walking the boardwalk and to many other spots along South Beach. If you want to take your dog to the beach, the Bark Beach at North Shore is a fifteen-minute drive away.

3. St. Augustine – Stay at The Local

In the past, I have struggled to find a dog-friendly hotel in St. Augustine, but now The Local is my go-to. This boutique motel is conveniently located just minutes from the beach and many of the best attractions, including a few you can bring your dog to! You can bring your dog for a $75 fee.

The rooms are spacious for pets to play and with this tech-free hotel, you don’t even have to deal with checking in at a front desk. We were able to take Kiwi for a leisurely morning walk over the bridge for morning coffee and bring him to so many of the nearby restaurants and bars. The Local is another Florida hotel that goes out of its way to accommodate dog lovers!

4. Naples – Stay at the Hyatt House Naples

Over on the gulf coast, Naples is an awesome beach town to take a trip to with your dog. We stayed at the Hyatt House Naples and it may be one of my favorite dog-friendly hotels I have ever stayed at. For a $75 pet fee, we had a spacious room with a kitchen perfect for dog owners.

The location is another big perk as there is such a large area to take your dog on a nice walk. We took our last dog Charlie here and had a blast every day walking along the dock and looking for dolphins. Though it is not on the beach, it is on the water and it is only a five-minute drive to nearby beaches. You can also walk to 5th Avenue South and Third Street South and find many dog-friendly restaurants and shops. 

Dog Friendly Florida Vacations in the City

For those looking to enjoy some more urban Florida experiences, I have found four options perfect for dog owners. We love taking a weekend getaway to a different city and checking out the local museums, restaurants, breweries, and art scene. These four offer plenty of dog-friendly experiences within walking distance of the hotel

5. Melbourne – Stay at the Hotel Melby

First up, one under-the-radar town I always recommend for a Florida vacation is my home in Melbourne, Florida. Both the Downtown and the Eau Gallie Arts District have tons of cool shops and dining to explore, with many being pup-friendly. The Hotel Melby puts you in the center of the action with so much to walk around and only a ten-minute drive to the beach. You can bring your dog to Hotel Melby for a $100 fee.

There are so many dog-friendly spots downtown like Ember & Oak, Mustard’s Last Stand, and The Burger Place. It also is just a short drive over the causeway to the beach, including the dog-friendly Canova Beach. Melbourne is a laid-back city with live music and murals galore that make for a unique dog-friendly Florida destination.

6. Fort Lauderdale – Stay at the Hyatt Centric Las Olas

Another Florida city I think dog owners should visit is Fort Lauderdale. This city is the perfect mix of beach and culture and it tends to be more affordable than other South Florida spots! We love staying at the Hyatt Centric Las Olas with our pup. There is a $75 pet fee and the location is just the right distance from the hustle of the main stretch, but still super walkable.

You will see dogs all over Las Olas and plenty of outdoor spots to dine with them, including favorites of ours, like YOLO and Tarpon River Brewing. The Fort Lauderdale dog beach is only fifteen minutes away and there are other activities you can do with your dog, like a boat tour! Of course, I would be remiss to not mention our favorite Fort Lauderdale activity-a Mr. Beaches Paddle tour! You and your pup can take a guided paddleboard tour of the Las Olas canals with Mr. Beaches the corgi and his owner Natasha!

St. Petersburg – Stay at the Hyatt Place St. Pete

By far the number one Florida destination for dogs is St. Petersburg. This city is located just west of Tampa and is an amazing destination for dog owners. Here, you can stay at the Hyatt Place St. Petersburg and walk to tons of dog-friendly breweries, bars, and restaurants. Bringing your dog to this Hyatt just requires a $75 pet fee.

In St. Pete, there are plenty of attractions that your dog can experience with you, including dolphin boat tours and nature hikes. This hotel is also just fifteen minutes away from one of the best Florida dog beaches, Fort De Soto. In the unlikely event you get bored of St. Pete, Dunedin, Clearwater, and Tampa are a short drive away for more dog-friendly things to do. If you have not taken your pup to St. Pete, this is my number on recommendation!

8. Coral Gables – Stay at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables

Though many like to stay in Downtown Miami for the ultimate Florida city experience, I recommend dog owners stay in Coral Gables. This is a slightly more laid-back part of the city that is still just minutes from the action. We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables and loved the large rooms and walking distance from lots of restaurants. Taking Kiwi here required a $100 pet fee.

While here, be sure to take your dog around Miracle Mile and Coconut Grove for shopping and dining. Most places love when customers bring their pups! You can also visit dog-friendly south Florida experiences like the Coral Castle Museum and the Wynwood Walls Tours. This makes for an exciting and laid-back trip for pup owners.

Dog-Friendly Florida Theme Park Options

Lastly, I wanted to share my recommendations for dog-friendly hotels near the Orlando theme parks. Though your dog cannot go to the park with you, many hotels have the option to have your dog stay in the room.

If you are Disney World or Universal fanatic, you can easily spend a few hours in the morning at the parks and then head back midday for some quality time with your pup before riding the rides again in the evening. This is what we have done a few times and our chill dogs have never minded! As long as your dog is okay with staying in the room alone, here are my recommendations for dog-friendly Florida hotels near theme parks.

9. Universal Orlando – For a Splurge, Stay at Sapphire Falls

I think Universal Orlando is quite convenient for dog parents to visit, especially when staying at Sapphire Falls. This hotel is pet friendly and just a quick walk or boat ride away from the parks. With the early entry access, we were able to ride all the best rides and still check on Kiwi multiple times per day. However, with prices usually over $200 per night and a dog fee of $100, it can get expensive

This hotel is super accommodating and has tons of green space to walk your dog. They also let pets sit with their owners at restaurants as long as they are eating outside. Keep in mind, you cannot take them in the pool area, but they were allowed in the other outdoor areas. Kiwi got tons of attention here and met plenty of other pups enjoying Universal!

10. Universal Orlando – On a budget, Stay at Hyatt Place Orlando

If you are trying to do a Universal stay on a budget, the Hyatt Place Across from Universal is an excellent and affordable dog-friendly hotel option. It has many of the benefits of onsite Universal hotels without the cost. You are a 20-minute walk or free bus ride away from the parks and of course, you can bring your dog. The pet fee is $75.

This hotel is pretty basic but has everything you and your pup need for a theme park vacation, including free breakfast. It’s also very close to I-Drive, which has plenty of dog-friendly restaurants, like Café Tu Tango and the Hampton Social. As long as you don’t mind a couple of midday walks to check on your dog, this hotel provides an excellent Universal experience for the whole family.

11. Disney World – For a Splurge, Stay at the Port Orleans Riverside

Disney World is another place many dog owners are surprised they can bring their pups to. Again, they can’t go to the theme parks or Disney Springs, but four on-property hotels allow dogs. Of the options, Port Orleans Riverside is my top recommendation for dog owners with its timeless theming and lots of open spaces.

Unfortunately, this is the most expensive option with a pet fee of $50 per night. Most other hotels just have a one-time fee for the stay, so this is very costly for longer trips. Disney World also does not have any dog-friendly restaurants, so you will have to venture off property to bring your pup. However, this hotel is right across from the Best Friends Pet Care so you can easily bring your pup to doggy daycare and know they will be taken care of during the day!

12. Disney World – On a Budget, Stay at Hyatt Grand Cypress

With Disney often being known as The Most Expensive Place on Earth, staying on property will help you save. I like the Hyatt Grand Cypress, especially for when we bring our dog. This resort complex is massive with walking trails, a huge pool, lakefront activities, and more!

The dog fee here is $150 per stay. The rooms are pretty large so your pup won’t feel cramped while you are at the parks. There is some transportation, but it is infrequent so I recommend getting a rental car or Uber for going back and forth. This can definitely eat away at park time, but if you are here for a more laid-back Disney vacation with your pup, the Hyatt Grand Cypress is a gorgeous place for just that.

Know Before You Go: Dog Friendly Florida Vacation Destinations

I hope this blog post provided you with some ideas for a dog-friendly getaway in Florida! I have visited all of these locales with our dogs and I can assure you, if you have a social pup, these will be fun experiences for them. Here are some things to keep in mind before your dog’s Florida adventure.

• Unfortunately, many of the hotels mentioned have restrictions on the size of dog you bring. The standard for Hyatt is that dogs must be 50 pounds or under.
• You usually can bring two dogs and only pay one fee. With Hyatt at least, the two dogs must be a combined weight of under 75 pounds.
• One other policy to keep in mind is that the fee usually applies to stays of six nights or less. If you are taking a longer trip, the fee might be greater.
• Temperatures are regularly above 70 degrees Fahrenheit year-round in Florida. Be sure your dog is prepared for the heat and NEVER leave your dog alone in the car.
• If you plan to take your dog to the beach, make sure it is one of the dog-friendly beaches. There are off-leash and on-leash beaches, so follow all regulations depending on the location.
• For those staying at a hotel, you usually cannot bring your dog to the pool area. Book an Airbnb if you want your dog to swim with you!

Have you taken your dog traveling before? Let me know your favorite dog friendly Florida vacation if you have one! For more tips, be sure to check out my Dog Packing List for Florida and my Dog Friendly Things to Do in Orlando guide before you go.