A vacation along the Grand Strand promises full days of sunshine, laughter, and endless amounts of entertainment. Whether you’re looking to spend time relaxing on the beach, exploring the best local restaurants, or going on a water sports adventure, this area has all you need and more.
You’re all set and ready to book your trip, but wait! You can’t leave without the most important member of your family! Yes, we’re talking about the dog.
If you’re going on vacation and can’t bear to leave your pet behind, check out our top pet-friendly activities in the Grand Strand!
Surfside Beach Bark Park
Visit Surfside Beach's very own Dog Park! The park is open from sunrise to sunset, leaving you ample time to get in some playtime hours with your pet.
The park is fully gated, with a pond for the dogs to splash and swim around in. There are even different areas for large dogs, small dogs, and a general area for any size dog. Sit down on a bench while your pups have the time of their lives, or take a stroll along the paved walking path. Who knows, maybe they'll meet their new canine best friend here.
Pet-Friendly Hiking Trails in the Myrtle Beach Area
You’ll need to take your pup out for some walks on vacation so he can get energy out. We’ve gathered our favorite dog-friendly hiking trails along the Grand Strand right here for you! They’re all located conveniently close to our vacation rentals.
The Hulk
- Myrtle Beach
- 6.0 miles, about 1 h 45 min to complete
Garden City Beach Walk
- Murrells Inlet
- 4.9 miles, about 1 h 23 min to complete
Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk
- Murrells Inlet
- 1 mile, 20 minutes to complete
- There are plentiful stops along the Marsh Walk to enjoy dining and live entertainment!
Pet-Friendly Beaches in the Grand Strand
The last thing you want is to have to leave your pet cooped up in the house all day while the family enjoys the beach. Luckily for you, there are many pet-friendly beaches along the Grand Strand! We've listed a few of our favorites here so you can be prepared for your Grand Strand Vacation.
Garden City Beach
(This beach sits in two counties and has different rules depending on which part of the county you're in.)
Garden City Beach (Horry County)
- Dogs are not allowed on the beach between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from May 1 through Labor Day.
- At all other times, dogs are allowed on the beach but must be on a leash no longer than 7 feet. No horses on the beach from March 1 to October 31.
Garden City Beach (Georgetown County)
- Dogs are allowed on the beach but must be leashed from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- During other hours, dogs may be off-leash but must be under voice control. No horses on the beach from March 1 to October 31.
Pawleys Island
- Dogs are allowed on the beach year-round; owners must have a leash in hand, have their dog under voice control, and pick up after them.
- From May 1 through September 30, between 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM, dogs must be on a leash and under complete control, even in the water.
Huntington Beach State Park
- Huntington Beach State Park is dog-friendly year-round, but dogs are only allowed on the south end of the beach.
- All dogs must remain on a leash no longer than six feet at all times.
- Dogs are prohibited in buildings and on the north end of the beach. The north end extends from the beach access at the north parking lot to the jetty.
Dog-Friendly Restaurants in the Myrtle Beach Area
Heading out for a nice dinner? You don’t need to leave the dog at home when you go to one of these dog-friendly restaurants! We’ve listed them below, organized by neighborhood!
Surfside Beach
Dagwood’s Deli & Bar
- Cuisine: Bar food/American
- Homemade chili, Caesar salad, jalapeno poppers, half-pound burgers, cheesesteaks, and a hearty lineup of specialty sandwiches such as the Hail Mary Dipper, Bubba's Kickin Chicken, and the Hogpound
- Dogs are welcome in the fenced patio seating area.
Pizza Hyena
- Cuisine: Pizza
- Wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizza, wild-fired wings, sandwiches and salads
- Dogs are welcome on the patio!
Wooden Spoon Eatery
- Cuisine: American/Greek
- Enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner! Their menu includes omelets, buttermilk pancakes, burgers, gyros, fish and chips, steaks, and more.
- Dogs allowed on the outside patio!
Myrtle Beach
Though these restaurants are a slightly longer drive, we felt we had to include them because they’re more than just dog-friendly—they highly encourage you to bring Fido along!
The Sneaky Beagle
- This restaurant takes dog-friendly to a whole new level. Your dog can peruse its own menu here, with offerings like a pupcake, chicken jerky, and a doggy doughnut.
- There is a menu for humans, too. Enjoy meals like tacos, hot chicken sandwiches, Philly cheesesteaks, salads, and more.
Tidal Creek Brewhouse
- Pups can lounge and play (off leash) in Tidal Creek Brewhouse's K-9 Korral - a dog run with a selfie station, fire hydrant, tire agility weave, rope jump, and toys. Well-behaved pups must be leashed around the brewhouse and in the beer garden.
- Humans can enjoy small-batch coffee, craft beers, and Lowcountry-inspired dishes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.
Book Your Grand Strand Vacation with Sea Star Realty!
Traveling with your pets on your Grand Strand vacation? We’ve got you covered with many pet-friendly vacation rentals. Sea Star Realty has a wide variety of rentals, including rentals with private pools and beautiful oceanfront views. We can’t wait to see you and your pets on your next vacation here. Discover our Myrtle Beach vacation rentals and book your next Grand Strand vacation with Sea Star Realty!