A Guide for Pet Parents

Jacksonville is an outdoor adventure haven that is extremely welcoming to pets (and their humans)! Having world-class beaches, pet-friendly restaurants with spacious patios, and parks galore, make Jacksonville the perfect destination for you and your fur baby.

You can let your dog frolic in the sand at dog-friendly beaches, hike trails, enjoy the beautiful intracoastal waterway, sip a beer at one of many dog-friendly breweries, or take a leisurely walk along the riverwalk at sunset. Your options are plentiful.

Your furry friend can socialize with other pups at BrewHound Dog Park + Bar after an afternoon at the beach, while you catch up with friends and let your pup just be a pup. So, grab your pet, and be prepared to experience the pawsome vibes of this pet-friendly city!

Pet-Friendly Jacksonville Beaches

Jacksonville’s beaches aren’t just for humans. Here are some of the top spots to let your pup loose (with a leash, of course!).

Atlantic Beach

Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park: stretches over 1.5 miles of sandy beach paradise. Dogs are allowed on this beach during any time of day.
Atlantic Beach proper: dogs are only permitted on Atlantic Beach during early morning and evening hours, but welcome along the cobblestone paths, eateries, and shops.
Leash Laws: Your pup deserves a beach adventure. But, keep in mind they must stay on a max 8 feet long leash to keep everyone safe.
Amenities: Hanna Park pet-friendly beach is an all-time favorite among dog lovers. Explore the park’s spacious landscapes with your dog and in addition to the beaches, there are trails, a freshwater lake, and plenty of space to sniff around. Remember, this is a shared space with wildlife, so you must keep your pup close to avoid disturbing any critters and especially alligators. There is also a campground loaded with amenities, a playground, picnic areas and bike paths, a wonderful getaway with your families and pets!
Admission: There is a small fee to enter Hanna Park, or you can purchase an annual pass. Admission to Atlantic Beach proper is free and there are various places for meter parking and free parking.

Jacksonville Beach

Location: With over 4 miles of coastline and dozens of restaurants and bars, you can enjoy a sandy playdate with your pup over the beach’s ample space and then finish your day with a delicious meal.
Leash Laws: Your pup must always be leashed and there are specific beach hours for your canine companions. During the busier seasons, you’ll have to take your pet to the beach early for a sunrise walk or wait until after 5 pm for some sunset playtime. In slow months, your pets can be on the beach at any time. You’ll want to check the Jax Beach website for specific rules and dates. Dogs are never permitted on the fishing pier, as a safety precaution.
Amenities: In addition to bringing your pets on the gorgeous sand and into the salty sea for a play date, if you want fun without the stress of leashes and time constraints, consider a membership at Paws Park. It is a dedicated dog park with separate areas for large and small breeds.

Neptune Beach

Location: This quaint beach town has spotless shores that are perfect for a leisurely stroll or strenuous run. This is one of our favorite spots for a hot cup of coffee and a delightful breakfast. There is a wonderful mix of restaurants, bars and shops right where Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach intersect. Try Le Petit Paris for a truly delectable French breakfast, lunch, or pastry. YUM!
Leash Laws: Leash laws are in effect year-round at Neptune Beach and dogs are only permitted before 9am and after 5pm.
Amenities: Neptune Beach is pedestrian-friendly, so you can easily walk your dog and enjoy the wonderful environment. After your beach adventure, we recommend grabbing a drink at a dog-friendly restaurant at Beaches Town Center and relaxing on the patio.

Mickler’s Landing, Ponte Vedra Beach

Location: This popular beach spot is known for its’ gorgeous shells, plentiful shark teeth and allows dogs during any time of day. Mickler’s is extremely popular, and parking fills up quickly, so arrive early or enjoy a later afternoon visit.
Leash Laws: Leash laws are in effect year-round.
Amenities: You’ll find a large parking lot here, in addition to showers and rinse off stations, restrooms and picnic areas. There is also a handicapped accessible walkway and lifeguards on duty during the summer.

REMEMBER: Always clean up after your pet and follow all leash laws and beach regulations, or you will get a ticket!

Chow Time with Your Canine

When you bring your pups in the sun, you might as well treat yourself to a delicious treat! Here are a few restaurants where your fury companion will be welcomed:

Hoptinger Bier Garden & Sausage House

If you want to enjoy a craft cocktail or beer, casual dining experience and some charm, this place is for you. And the good news is, Fido can tag along too. They have a small outdoor patio where your pup can relax while you enjoy the delicious menu and people watch. They have everything from fresh seafood to juicy burgers, and everyone’s favorite- blue cheese chips…yum. Check out their drool-worthy menu.

Wicked Barley Brewing Company

This one is for all you beer lovers (and your four-legged companions)! This Jacksonville brewpub welcomes only well-behaved dogs on their outdoor patio. So, sip a frosty beer and have your pup chill beside you. Here, you both can enjoy some tasty grub. Their menu offers delish options like kimchi, pork belly fries, juicy burgers, and a super tasty Impossible burger.

Mavi Waterfront Bar & Grill

If you are looking for a casual spot with a larger outdoor area and some live music – Mavi is your place! They make one of the best Mahi sandwiches in town, with friendly service and a stunning atmosphere set along the intracoastal. Your dog can join you and your group on their pet-friendly patio while you all enjoy the food, breeze, and views. Most weekend evenings you can even enjoy some great live music from some local talent.

These are just a few of the many pet-friendly restaurants throughout Jacksonville and you’ll find that most places with a patio will welcome your fur baby, so next time you’re selecting your eatery, you don’t need to leave your pet behind!

Outdoor and Nature Adventures with Your Furry Friend

In addition to our superb beaches and flavorsome eateries, there are a ton of other outdoor activities where you and your pet will be welcomed:

Riverside Arts Market (RAM)

Spend a Saturday morning with your pup at RAM. While you check out the local arts and crafts, your dog can sniff out the delicious treats from vendors selling doggy delights. RAM takes place under the bridge, so it is a wonderfully shaded area and perfect for any type of weather. Dogs must be kept on leash at all times, and you’ll find lots of fury family members enjoying their morning checking out vendors and treats.

Southbank Riverwalk

Looking for a scenic stroll with your dog? The Southbank Riverwalk has stunning river views and ample space for your pup to stretch its legs. Keep an eye out for interesting public art installations along the way while you enjoy the calming sounds of the water. A rejuvenating treat it is!

Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

One of our favorite, picturesque, relaxing Jacksonville locations, the Arboretum welcomes dogs on leash to enjoy the various walking paths and hiking trails. Enjoy the views of the lakes, nature, gorgeous flowers, and plentiful critters to sniff out.

Special Pet Events in Pet-Friendly Jacksonville, Fl

There are too many unique, pet-friendly events in the city to begin with. Here are some ways to spice up your pup’s social calendar:

Woofstock

Mark your calendars for Jacksonville’s annual Woofstock, put on by Kanine Social! A special event with music, food, drinks, vendors and much more where you and your dog are welcome to enjoy and partake in all the dog-friendly festivities. This event features multiple stages of amazing music from different artists, some of the area’s top vendors and food trucks, a full array of delicious beverages and best of all it is dog friendly! A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Jacksonville Humane Society!

Yappy Hour

There are other special events throughout the year as well. Local breweries and small businesses love hosting “Yappy Hour” events with treats for pups. Many dog parks organize charity walks or costume contests, etc. with most special events benefiting the Jacksonville Humane Society or other nonprofit organizations. Be sure to check out the humane society’s website regularly!

Book a Pet-Friendly Sublime Rides Charter!

Whether you’re a Jacksonville local or a visitor staying in a pet-friendly rental, let Sublime Rides take you, your family, and your fury companion out on a private charter! With our private charter bookings, we cater each trip to our guests’ needs and requests. All charters last 3 hours during the time of your choice, with our sunset charters being our most popular.

Sit back, enjoy your boat cruise, some refreshments, the gorgeous intracoastal waterway backdrop and let us guide you through the waterway to do some dolphin searching, wildlife gazing and major relaxing. Let us know in advance if you’ll be bringing along Fido so that we can best accommodate your entire party.

Dog Parks and Social Spaces in Jacksonville

Here are a few popular dog parks where your furry friend can make new pals and burn off some energy:

Kanine Social

This indoor/outdoor playground isn’t just for your dog. When your dog plays with other pups in the separate dog areas, you can relax in the outdoor seating or grab a coffee from the on-site cafe. And when the afternoon hits and you need something stronger, order one of their many delicious beers to enjoy with friends while your dogs play. Kanine Social also offers doggy daycare for those of you looking for quality daycare for your pets.

BrewHound Dog Park + Bar

This wildly popular dog park and bar is an acre-wide dog park where pups can play fetch or socialize with new friends, all while you can enjoy a beverage at the bar. There is always a lot going on here and it is a super fun, super social spot to hang out on the weekends with your pup. The huge space, TV’s, seating, and dog park make this one of the hottest spots in Neptune Beach. If you’re looking for a social scene with Fido, BrewHound is your jam. But there are rules that come with this fun to keep it a safe atmosphere, so be sure to check out their website in advance.

The Caffeinated Cat

Enjoy a cup of coffee while playing with adoptable cats, and maybe even bring one home! The Caffeinated Cat is a wonderful small business, supporting the adoption and rescue of local cats and kittens and is just a cool spot to grab a snack, chat, and cup of coffee.

Conclusion

Jacksonville has so much to offer you and your pet, so pick your spot, bring your fur baby, family, and friends, and enjoy a new adventure! And while you’re at it, why not give back to the local animal community? There are so many ways in which you can help animals who need homes and organizations who need support.

Adopt, Don’t Shop: The Jacksonville Humane Society rescues homeless animals and finds them loving homes. So, if you are also thinking of adding to your family, consider adopting from them. They are also always looking for foster homes, if you aren’t able to commit to a forever pet, consider a temporary foster to help when the Humane Society becomes overwhelmed.
Volunteer Your Time: Donate your time, and the animals in need will be indebted to you forever. You can volunteer to walk a dog, read to a cat, or drop off food and supplies that are always desperately needed.
Host a Birthday Party! What better way to support the Humane Society than to include your family and friends and host a birthday party!? The Humane Society can help you plan and set up a party benefiting animals who need homes, in addition to making it a fun and interactive party you won’t soon forget.

Dog-Friendly Jacksonville Adventures