Ron Bexel
Best Dog Friendly Vacations In Michigan – Located on the tip of Michigan’s thumb, Port Austin is one of the rarest rock formations in the entire state, and it happens to be very beautiful! With over 3 miles of sandy beach near Port Crescent State Park, you can spend the day wading in the clear waters or stroll through 28 miles of boardwalks that open up to beautiful water dunes.
Dogs are allowed on the beach near the mouth of the Pinnebog River, accessed by a steel bridge that connects to the trail near the campground. Pets must be kept on a leash and it’s important to remember to clean up after your pet too!
Best Dog Friendly Vacations In Michigan
One of our favorite dog-friendly backyards, Pak’s Backyard, is still in Port Austin! They have a great selection of Michigan craft beers, great bar food, and a great atmosphere. Most of them have live music, so you can enjoy dinner and drinks from your backpack after a long day at the beach!
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Just a few more hours along the shores of Lake Huron is another of our favorite stops, Tawas Point! This wilderness is one of the few in Michigan that is actually fenced off where dogs can run free in the area. The camp is also dog-friendly, so you can bring your dog for a weekend of summer fun!
The Boathouse Beer Co. & Boozery is another great stop where you can dine on the patio with your pets. Located in the middle of Tawas, they offer great food and drink and right across the street from another little park that’s also dog friendly!
If you’re looking for a unique experience with your dog in Michigan, Mackinac Island is IT. Hop on one of the dog-friendly Star Line or Shepler’s ferries to reach the island car-free – a unique experience in itself! While there, you can explore more than 70 miles of trails and scenic overlooks, dine at one of the many local restaurants, and even explore historic Fort Holmes with your dog. Many shops in the center also accept four-legged visitors: look out for the “Dogs welcome” sign!
Mackinac Island also has three dog-friendly hotels, including Park Place Suites, Sunset Condos, and our favorite, Mission Point Resort, which also has a dog-friendly location!
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Barley on the Mackinac Bridge and in front of a mural across the street in Pak’s backyard
Home to the famous Pictured Rocks National Park located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Manistee is another gem of Northern Michigan, and yes, you can bring your dogs! There are many scenic spots in the park, including Sand Point Beaches, Munising Falls Trail, Miners Falls Trail, Miners Beach, Lake Superior Overlook and Beach, and Sable Falls Trail and Beach.
Although the North Country Scenic Trail and all Backcountry campsites/campgrounds are unfortunately closed to animals, all three campgrounds in the area, including Little Beaver Lake, Twelvemile Beach and Hurricane River Campgrounds, allow live-in dogs
Marquette, also in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is one of my favorite places in the world and a place you should put on your bucket list to explore with your dog. Located right on the shores of Lake Superior, with the mountains and views, you can find many hidden gems.
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When we visited, we stayed right at the Staybridge Inn and Suites, right in the heart of the city. The rooms are large and equipped with pet-friendly amenities, and the dogs love to be cuddled for a change from our usual camping adventure. The Staybridge Inn and Suites is a great hotel to look for in other cities as well – we’ve stayed at many hotels while traveling and it’s always a pleasure!
Hike to one of the many waterfalls in the area, and if you’re brave enough, you can take a dip in Dead River Falls, a moderate but short 2.7-mile trip. If you’re looking for a view of the water from the top, check out Sugarloaf Mountain or Hogback Mountain, both steep but worth it when you get to the top!
After a day of hiking, visit Ore Dock Brewing’s dog-friendly patio. They have a great variety of house beers and last year when we visited they also had great seltzers! If you’re lucky, you’ll see Dia De Los Tacos parked outside—those tacos are so good, we’ve been chasing the food truck all day!
Traverse City has been named one of the best small towns in the United States, and it certainly lives up to expectations. He is also very friendly and makes it our goal to visit at least once a year! The Greater Traverse City area is one of Michigan’s top wine regions with more than 40 different wineries located throughout the peninsula. Take part in a day of wine tasting and bring your dog with you to some of our favorite spots, like Mari Vineyards, Left Foot Charley and Bonobo, who welcome all canine visitors!
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If you’re looking for something to eat, check out The Station downtown for the best pizza we’ve ever had, or The Little Fleet, a food truck that welcomes dogs inside. They also have amazing crafts in the main hall!
If you want to take a walk or explore some of the famous beaches, the Zoo Harbor Bay Trail and Beach is friendly and will not disappoint! It is a small 2.7 mile commercial walk that leads to a quiet beach. Leashed dogs are welcome on the cycle track and beach as long as they clean up afterwards.
If you want to explore Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Park, be sure to check out Beulah and the surrounding area! Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on some of the hikes in the summer as the lake is dangerous for Piping Lovers, but many trails in the park can be used from December 1st to March 31st.
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Leashed animals are allowed in some quiet areas year-round, including Elberta Beach, which is usually less crowded because it’s managed by Mother Nature herself, and Peterson Road Beach, known for its great views of Empire Bluff, Sleeping Bear Point and even South Manitou Island on a clear day.
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Leashed animals are also allowed at many of the campgrounds near the park, but be sure to check before you go that you are visiting Sleeping Bear NPS!
One of our other favorite spots in the area is the Iron Fish Distillery. The property is beautiful and there are so many things to do and try, including their juice bar, Spirit flights, and my favorite, their wood fired pizza!
Be sure to ask the locals what their favorite spots are when you go! From the thumb of Michigan to the UP to the west coast and in between, there is so much to explore and yes, you should bring the dogs!
In the Zone? Check out our dog guide to hiking in Michigan and our dog guide to Cleveland!
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Rachel Jezowski and Wild Goldens Rachel is a freelance graphic designer and content creator living in beautiful Northern Michigan with her three golden retrievers, Barley, Cassie and Moe! They spend as much of their free time as possible packing up and hitting the road to spend their vacations enjoying all that Michigan has to offer. When they’re not walking or visiting the beach (and Rachel isn’t working, ha!) the dogs love to play fetch and swim in their yard. Rachel has also become a big supporter after adopting Cassie, who was rescued from a Chinese meat market in 2019. You can also follow all their adventures via Instagram @wildgoldens.
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A Guide To Dog-friendly Northern Michigan
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