Best dog-friendly beaches? Two North Carolina spots rank among the nation’s favorites
As temperatures heat up, two coastal North Carolina destinations have been named ideal places for dogs to cool off.
Freeman Park in Carolina Beach joins the town of Nags Head on a list of the nation’s top 10 spots for pups to enjoy the sand and surf.
“At these 10 beaches, selected by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best in the U.S., your canine companion can frolic in the waves or sprint across the soft sand,” USA Today’s 10Best wrote in its July 3 report. “And as an added bonus, many of these beaches provide amenities like cleaning stations and water fountains, ensuring a hassle-free and enjoyable experience for both pets and owners.”
In addition to turning to travel experts, 10Best said editors helped choose top dog-friendly beaches from across the country. Then, readers could vote for their favorites up to one time per day over the course of a month.
More about the dog-friendly NC beaches
On the list of readers’ choice award winners, the highest-ranking North Carolina destination was Freeman Park at No. 4. The park, a roughly 15-mile drive south from Wilmington, said it boasts opportunities to see wildlife and is one of the state’s only beaches with four-wheel-drive access.
“The sprawling North Carolina shore draws visitors in abundance during the summer months, but it’s not just people that thrive along its sandy beaches,” 10Best wrote. “Freeman Park has become a beloved site for dog owners, with their pets being able to frolic off-leash from October 1 to March 31 and play on-leash from April 1 to September 30.”
Also ranking among the best beach destinations for furry friends was Nags Head at No. 10. The town, a roughly 200-mile drive east from Raleigh, is close to the spot where the Wright brothers made aviation history in 1903.
“Nags Head serves as a prime example of the idyllic beauty of North Carolina’s Outer Banks,” 10Best wrote. “And as an added bonus, visitors are welcome to stroll around the area with their leashed canine companion all year round.”
Nationwide, the top-ranking destination was Jupiter Dog Beach in Jupiter, Florida, a roughly 85-mile drive north from Miami.
Though two North Carolina beaches received acclaim, places in the state missed out on readers’ choice awards in other categories, such as the best dog-friendly bars and hotels. 10Best has told McClatchy News it doesn’t share the number of people who vote in its contests.
This story was originally published July 3, 2024 at 3:44 PM with the headline "Best dog-friendly beaches? Two North Carolina spots rank among the nation’s favorites."
