Best Dog-Friendly Beaches

Can dogs get sunburned? Do doggie sunglasses really help? Are all pooches natural swimmers? If you're wondering, the answers are: yes, yes and not always. Ask your vet how to keep your pal safe on the shore and in the water.

There are more pet-friendly beaches than ever, thanks to coastal communities that welcome canines as long as their humans follow the rules. That usually means training your dog to obey voice commands, bringing his license and proof of up-to-date vaccinations, observing leash laws and scooping the poop. If you're away from home, attach your vacation address and contact info to his collar.

Here are 16 of the country's best beaches for pups. Since the rules for dog-friendly beaches and dog-friendly hours and days can change without notice, do your research before you go. Don't forget sunscreen, fresh water and towels for both of you.

Huntington Dog Beach, California

About 10 miles from Disneyland off the Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Dog Beach is a canine heaven in southern California. Dogs can run leash-free over a 1-mile expanse of sand and surf. This beach is maintained by a nonprofit organization, so consider volunteering for an hour or two to assist in the sheds, donating some cash or buying a souvenir T-shirt.

Outer Banks Beaches, North Carolina

Many beaches in North Carolina's Outer Banks welcome pets, but the regulations vary from town to town so check them out. Duck, the northernmost town, allows canines year-round, and the town beach has an off-leash section. Kitty Hawk beaches allow dogs year-round, with leashes required in summer. Nags Head also allows pets year-round, but they must be leashed at all times. Check here for town-by-town regulations.

Montrose Dog Beach, Chicago

Dogs can romp leash-free in Chicago at the Montrose Beach Dog Friendly Area, located where Wilson Avenue runs east almost to Lake Michigan. It's open daily from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. There's no fee for people to use the beach, but each dog must have a DFA tag (Dog Friendly Area tag) that currently costs $10 to $15 a year. Before you visit, contact a vet on the participating veterinarians list and ask what's required to issue a tag, or bring the rabies tag, registration and vaccination proof from your vet. Volunteers from MonDog — the Montrose Dog Owners Group — maintain this DFA and stock it with poop bags and dispensers, so consider donating a few bucks. Click here for more info.

Block Island Beaches, Rhode Island

It's safe to say that Block Island, located 12 miles off the coast of Rhode Island and accessible by plane or ferry, loves dogs. Canines can ride with you on the Block Island Ferry if they're leashed or in a carrier, but they're not allowed to get on the seats or benches in the cabin. Leashed dogs are welcome year-round on all Block Island beaches. In the off-season, from October 1 to March 31, leashed pups are welcome on state beaches.

Edisto Island Town Beach and State Park, South Carolina

South Carolina's Edisto Island, an hour's drive south of Charleston, is a haven for dogs and their humans. Stay in an RV, at a pet-friendly B&B or pitch a tent in Edisto Beach State Park's oceanside campground or near the salt marsh. Water and electrical hook-ups are available. Pets aren't allowed in the park's cabins or cabin areas, but your pooch is welcome year-round on the island's pristine, palmetto-lined beaches. Dogs must be leashed from May 1 through October 31 on the beach and year-round in Edisto Beach State Park.

First Landing State Park, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Let your pup romp on the beach at First Landing State Park in Virginia or explore some of the 20 miles of hiking trails; the beach is open year-round. Later, kick back on the campground or in a yurt or cabin. Your dog must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet. When he works up an appetite, head to Salty Paws Chic's Beach, just 5 miles away, for dog-friendly ice cream, cookies and other treats.

You can also take your fur friend to the north end of Virginia Beach above 42nd Street and the south end in the Sandbridge area before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. During the rest of the year, dogs have full access to the beach as long as they're leashed. Find more info here.

Plymouth Beach and Long Beach, Massachusetts

Keep your fur pal on a leash no longer than 6 feet at Plymouth Beach or when you crossover to Long Beach, both in Plymouth, Massachusetts. If you visit Plymouth Beach, the only bathhouse available for your use is located at Sandy's Restaurant during its operating hours. (Check when you get there, because Sandy's doesn't have a website at the time of this post.) Dogs must be on a 6-foot or shorter leash and under control. This 3-mile long barrier beach has gated access to Long Beach, but crossover access can be limited at certain times or in certain situations. Like Plymouth Beach, Long Beach requires leashes for dogs. It also has seasonal and area restrictions for dogs; read about them here.

Panama City Beach, Florida

Florida has lots of dog-friendly beaches, and Panama City has one of the best, with over 400 feet of sugar-white sand for leashed puppers to enjoy. It's on the southern beach end of Pier Park, west of City Pier, and there's a hose on the boardwalk for wash-ups. A number of outdoor restaurants in Pier Park welcome dogs.

In Fort Myers, Bonita Beach Dog Park in Lee County runs along the edge of Lover's Key State Park. Dogs can run free from dawn to dusk. There's a dog showering station, but there's no fence, lifeguard, fresh water or restroom. (There is a portable toilet.) This is the only off-leash beach in Fort Myers, and it's a tidal flat, so expect to wade through the water during mid to high tides.

Long Beach, Washington

Long Beach, Washington, is paws-itively perfect for dogs and their humans, with 28 miles of open beach and 8-1/2 miles of beautiful Discovery Trail. There's an 8-foot leash law in the county, and you can only let your dog off-leash if he's under your voice commands and there are no other dogs, horses or cars around. (Driving on the beach is allowed.) After you frolic in the sand and surf, dine at an eatery with a pet-friendly patio and plan to stay one of the dog-friendly hotels, cottages, RV parks or vacation rentals.

Wildwood Dog Park and Beach, New Jersey

Your dog will get the zoomies when you visit New Jersey's Wildwood Dog Park and Beach on Glenwood Avenue in the city of Wildwood. During the year, the city hosts a Patriotic Pooch Parade, dock diving in a specialized, portable pool and other delightful doggie events. Leashed pups can swim or play on the beach from dawn to dusk daily. Leashes are optional in the fenced-in dog park, shown here. This block-and-a-half long area is open from 6 a.m. to dusk and has water stations and free plastic bags for scooping poop. Several area establishments welcome dogs, including the MudHen Brewing Company and PigDog Beach Bar. Tails wag when dogs spot the 25-foot-tall fire hydrant.

Crystal Coast Beaches of North Carolina

Bring a disc, ball or other toy for your furry pal and play on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast. Emerald Isle Beach, Salter Path, Indian Beach and Atlantic Beach allow leashed dogs to splash, sun and sniff around. Before you go, check the rules for each beach, and the days and times each one is open, because they can vary. You'll find pet-friendly piers, lodgings and restaurants. Catch the pet-friendly Island Express Ferry to the Cape Lookout National Seashore, which permits dogs on leashes no longer than 6 feet.

Jekyll Island and St. Simons Island Beaches of Georgia

Jekyll Island is one of Georgia's Golden Isles, where they like to say that the dog days of summer never end — and they mean "dog days" in the best way. This island, the southernmost among the Golden Isles, is pet-friendly. Fido can frolic on most Jekyll Island beaches and in most of its parks year-round, as long as he's on a leash no more than 16 feet long (most require leashes 6 feet or less). On St. Simons Island, another Golden Isle, dogs are welcome before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day. They're welcome throughout the day at all other times of year.

Port Aransas Beach, Mustang Island, Texas

Vacations are better with your best friend, which explains why many Texas beaches allow dogs on leashes. Port Aransas Beach on Mustang Island has a dog park with shaded picnic tables, a doggie water fountain and fire hydrants. Dogs must be leashed in public areas. Port A, as it's known, also offers dog-friendly lodgings, restaurants, a pet shop and more, including 18 miles of shore where man or woman and beast can roam in the salty air and splash in the surf. (Avoid the dunes, where the ground is uneven and you might encounter harmful wildlife.) Take your canine to Lelo's Island Bar for a special "pup-a-tini" while you try the signature Mermaid Water, or hang out with other people and pups to catch live music at the Port A Beer Hut.

Bluff Point Beach, Bluff Point State Park, Groton, Connecticut

Let your leashed fur friend get his paws in the sand at Bluff Point State Park in Groton, Connecticut. This nature reserve is on an 800-acre wooded peninsula that juts out into Long Island Sound. It's known for its pristine water, beach and dune grasslands, coastal plain ponds, tidal wetlands, coastal bluff and more. Open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset, it allows dogs on leashes from October until March. (This can vary, so confirm before you go.) Many of Groton's downtown restaurants, including Ford's Lobster and The Spot Cafe, as well as accommodations, cater to dogs.

Singing Beach, Manchester-By-The-Sea, Massachusetts

Located in Manchester-By-The-Sea, Singing Beach lets dogs visit from October 15 to April 15 (confirm dates before you go). Or, they can go off-leash as long as you have them within sight and under "effective verbal control." You can take up to two dogs, maximum, and they must have collars with ID tags and current licenses and vaccinations (bring proof). Clean up after your pup or risk a fine. Check the website for parking info before you go; it's extremely limited, especially on weekends, and costs $30 a day. Non-residents aren't allowed to park at all, so public transporation may be your best bet. Wondering why this is called Singing Beach? The sand can make whistling sounds when you walk on it or the wind hits it in certain ways.

Cannon Beach, Oregon

Most of Oregon's beaches allow canines, but some require dogs on leashes and a few don't allow dogs at all during Snowy Plover nesting season, which is typically March 15 to September 15. Otherwise, your pup can play off-leash as long as she's within your sight and responds to voice commands. Cannon Beach welcomes dogs and was named in 2013 by National Geographic as one of the 100 most beautiful places in the world, thanks in part to its cascading waterfalls and striking rock formations. The beach is 90 minutes west of Portland and about four hours southwest from Seattle. It's easy to find dog-friendly lodgings and eateries nearby, like Hidden Villa Cottages, Cliff House and Logan Road RV Park, which has a grassy run for canines.