If you’re a pet parent you probably don’t often leave your four-legged friend at a kennel when going on vacation, and you don’t have to.
Pet-friendly vacations are booming and each month in the U.S., there are 4,800 Google searches for “pet-friendly vacation” on average, with thousands of Americans looking to explore the world with their four-legged friends.
Research Says
According to research by the APPA or American Pet Products Association, more than 70% of households in the U.S. own a pet in 2022, with dogs and cats being the most popular companions. The research also discovered that one in two pet owners (52%) would only stay at accommodation that allows furry friends.
With that being said, vacation experts at Family Destinations Guide, an online advice platform that provides expert knowledge and advice on travel destinations worldwide, discovered which cities in the U.S. have the most listings for pet-friendly accommodations. The team took 50 of the most populated cities in the U.S. and used data from the vacation rental site Vrbo to discover how many accommodation listings in each city allow pets.
The following 20 cities came out on top:
Location | Number of Pet-Friendly Accommodation Listings |
Houston, Texas | 478 |
Dallas, Texas | 470 |
San Diego, California | 467 |
Jacksonville, Florida | 466 |
Orlando, Florida | 464 |
San Antonio, Texas | 463 |
Phoenix, Arizona | 458 |
Los Angeles, California | 440 |
Chicago, Illinois | 440 |
New York, New York | 439 |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 428 |
Las Vegas, Nevada | 424 |
Denver, Colorado | 419 |
Austin, Texas | 416 |
Seattle, Washington | 390 |
Atlanta, Georgia | 340 |
San Francisco, California | 336 |
Washington DC | 298 |
San Jose, California | 250 |
Boston, Massachusetts | 143 |
Best of the Best Cities
Houston, Texas, takes first place as the most pet-friendly destination in the US, with 478 listings for pet-friendly accommodation. Three other Texan cities also make the top 20. Dallas has 470 pet-friendly listings, San Antonio has 463, and Austin has 416. With over 89 state parks, there’s plenty for holidaymakers and their pets to explore.
San Diego, California, came in third place, with 467 pet-friendly accommodation listings. Other Californian cities, including Los Angeles with 440 and San Francisco with 336, also made the list. There are plenty of dog-friendly beaches to explore along the Golden State, including Rosie’s Dog Beach in Long Beach, Arroyo Burro Beach in Santa Barbara, and Fort Funston in San Francisco.
Other Cities to Consider
Two cities in Florida take fourth and fifth place, with Jacksonville having 466 pet-friendly accommodation listings and Orlando having 464. The Sunshine State also boasts some of the country’s best canine playgrounds, including Dog Wood Park in Jacksonville and Lake Winter Park in downtown Orlando.
Some other cities that scored highly include Phoenix, Arizona, with 458 pet-friendly listings, Chicago, Illinois, with 440 and New York City, with 439.
Booming Biz
A spokesperson from Family Destinations Guide said: “Pet-friendly vacations are booming. Taking your pet with you on holiday gives you the peace of mind of knowing they are safe and happy. You can enjoy having them by your side to make unforgettable memories together.
“Traveling with your pet also allows you to experience new destinations you may never have thought to visit. For instance, pet-friendly café, restaurants, and attractions could lead to amazing discoveries you might never have found if it weren’t for your pet. You can also enjoy a more outdoorsy holiday exploring mountains, parks, and beaches.”
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Methodology
Methodology: 50 of the most populated cities in the U.S. were used. Data was then collected from Vrbo, using the “per-friendly” tab to calculate how many pet-friendly accommodation listings they were in each city. The cities were then organized from highest to lowest.
