Dog-Friendly Activities in South Carolina

A visit to dog-friendly James Island County Park is a great way to spend an afternoon in Charleston, SC, with your pup. This park features a dog beach, four acres of open grassy space, a cleaning station, a fenced play area for small dogs and waste stations. A nominal fee is charged to enter the park.

Isle of Palms Beaches in South Carolina boasts seven miles of pristine coasts that you can access via 57 public paths. These pet-friendly beaches allow dogs to visit off-leash from 5:00 AM until 9:00 AM April 1st through September 14th, and from 4:00 PM until 10:00 AM September 15th through March 31st. At all other times, dogs must be leashed and under complete control, even in the water. Residents are encouraged to obtain a dog permit from the Isle of Palms Police Department when visiting.

Located along the Intracoastal Waterway, the dog-friendly Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach, SC, combines beauty and nature with fun and excitement for the entire family. Leashed pets are welcome to join you for shopping, dining and entertainment along the boardwalk area. Several restaurants encourage patrons to dine with their pets in outside seating areas. And don't forget to visit Faux Paws for novelty items, t-shirts, toys, costumes, gourmet treats and even a photo op' for Fido.

Dog-friendly Falls Park on the Reedy is located in the center of downtown Greenville, SC, and is the perfect spot for a morning walk, an afternoon picnic, or an evening stroll with your favorite four-legged friend. The park has plenty of open space for Fido to roam, but dogs must be leashed at all times and owners must clean up after their pets. Poop bag dispensers are located throughout the park. On warm weekends, your dog will meet plenty of furry friends.

Your pup will love the chance to see dolphins aboard a pet-friendly Vagabond Cruise in Hilton Head Island, SC. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on the Ocean Dolphin Cruises, Sunset Dolphin Cruises, and our Daufuskie Island Ferry (9 AM trip only).

Burkes Beach in Hilton Head Island, SC is dog friendly before 10:00 AM and after 5:00 PM from April 1st through late September. It's within walking distance of the Chaplain Community Park, which includes the Best Friends Dog Park. Visitors are required to pay for parking if they aren't a Hilton Head Island resident with a parking permit.

The popular dog-friendly Myrtle Beach State Park is in the heart of the Grand Strand in Myrtle Beach, SC. Leashed dogs are permitted on the trails and in most of the outdoor areas of the park. However, dogs are not allowed on any beaches in the park from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, May 1st through Labor Day. Dogs must always be leashed, and humans must always clean up after their pets.

The pet-friendly Magnolia Plantation & Gardens in Charleston, SC, has beautiful gardens you can explore with Fido. Please note that dogs aren't permitted on the tours or the tram. In addition to the garden, there are many dog-friendly nature trails on the property.

Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet, SC, is pet friendly in some areas. Leashed pups are welcome in the park year-round and at the south end of the beach. Dogs are prohibited in buildings, including Atalaya and on the north end of the beach. The north end extends from the beach access at the north parking lot to the jetty.

The Charles Towne Landing is a dog-friendly, state historical site in Charleston, SC, where you and your family can learn about the oldest South Carolina Colony. Well-mannered pets are welcomed on a 6-foot leash. Please note that dogs are not permitted in the Animal Forest or the museum.

Paris Mountain State Park is a pet-friendly recreation area in Greenville, SC. It's one of the oldest protected areas in the state is gaining popularity as a beautiful retreat in a metropolitan area. The 1,275-acre park features large stands of old growth hardwood forests that canopy over hiking and biking trails, a family campground, and several picnic areas. Pets are allowed in most outdoor areas as long as they are kept under physical restraint or on a leash not longer than six feet.

The dog-friendly Charleston Water Taxi provides ferry service for four different locations in Charleston, SC. Well-behaved, leashed pets are welcome to accompany you on the water taxi. See the beauty of Charleston from the water on your way to your next stop! Dolphins also often make an appearance.

With several different nature trails and a boardwalk over the waterway, Vereen Memorial Park and Gardens in Little River, SC, is a great place to bring your furry friend. All dogs are required to be on a leash during their visit to this pet-friendly park and potty bags are available to help preserve the cleanliness of the space.

Park Plaza Cinema is a dog-friendly movie theater in Hilton Head, SC. Well-behaved pups under 20 lbs are welcome to join their humans for a film on the big screen. Pets must remain in a carrier or on a leash and may either sit in your lap or on the floor, but not on furniture.

Pineapple Fountain at Charleston Waterfront Park is a popular dog-friendly attraction in Charleston, SC. This 10-acre park is an ideal spot for a casual stroll and an opportunity to photograph Fido at the famous Pineapple Fountain. You'll find pretty waterfront views, plenty of bench seating, and shaded paved pathways.

The dog-friendly Alder Lane Beach Access in Hilton Head Island, SC is a great, quiet getaway from the typical beach scene. Amenities include beach matting, restrooms, outdoor showers, 22 metered parking spaces and seasonal lifeguards. Animals are permitted on the beach during the official beach season, April 1st through September 30th before 10:00 AM and after 5:00 PM, or anytime in the off-season. They must be on a leash or under positive voice control at all times. Owners are also required to remove and properly dispose of the animal's excrement.

Bring Fido along on a dog-friendly Old Charleston Ghost Tour in Charleston, SC! This walking tour starts in Washington Park and lasts about 90 minutes. You and your pooch may even hear a story about a ghost dog that roams the streets of Charleston.

Fido can enjoy a day on the water thanks to Infinity Charters, a dog-friendly tour company in Hilton Head Island, SC. The captain has decades of experience on the local waters and is licensed and insured. Boat trips include wildlife viewing, crabbing, fishing, sunset cruises and more!

Visit the dog-friendly Hunting Island State Park located in Saint Helena Island, SC. This recreation area is South Carolina’s single most popular state park, attracting more than a million visitors a year, as well as a vast array of land and marine wildlife. It offers five miles of pet-friendly beaches, thousands of acres of marsh and maritime forest, a saltwater lagoon and an ocean inlet. Please keep your well-behaved pup on a leash no longer than six feet and clean up after him.

Charleston Carriage Works offers dog-friendly, narrated tours of Charleston's residential historic district in covered, horse-drawn carriages. Guests bringing their dog will need to purchase an entire row for themselves (4 seats). Tours load and depart approximately every 15-30 minutes from their stable.