The 20 Best Cities for Walking Your Dog

There are some cities that are just paws down better than others when you want to get your dog out for a mid-day stroll. They have more and better-rated hiking trails and walking paths, as well as more dog walkers. You know, when you can’t get your pup out on your own.

LawnStarter gathered data for National Walk Your Dog Month (January), including accessibility to dog-friendly trails, quality of trails and dog parks, access to dog walkers and safety to come up with a ranking of the best US cities to walk your dog. Here is the ranked list, which includes some of our favorite dog-friendly parks, restaurants, bars and attractions that make each city a favorite for our four-legged friends.

For the canine set, there’s a lot to love about San Jose, starting with a walk along Santana Row. This open-air shopping district has more than 70 shops and 20 restaurants, as well as green spaces and puppuccinos at Peet’s Coffee. It also has free Wi-Fi and cocktails to-go for dog owners. At nearby Williams Street Park, the annual Bark in the Park in September attracts more than 15,000 dog-loving humans. For dog-friendly hiking trails, look to Santa Teresa County Park. The hike to Coyote Peak is a must-do for big views. In-town, Hart’s Dog Park has artificial turf, energy-efficient lighting and plenty of benches for the human companions.

A stone’s throw from Washington, DC, Alexandria is widely heralded as a top dog-friendly city in the US. Dogs are so loved and welcomed that the city introduced the ALX Dog Walk in 2022 as an annual event in which dogs and their humans can enjoy a two-mile walk starting at Old Town Alexandria’s Oronoco Bay Park. Plan to stroll King Street where it’s not uncommon to see water bowls in front of boutiques and cafes. Pups will love Barkaus, the area’s first dog-friendly bar, restaurant and dog park. At King & Rye, a weekly Yappy Hour for dogs takes place every Tuesday in summer and fall.

As a dog-owning human, you have a lot of options in Boston when you want to get your pup out for some exercise. The Public Garden welcomes on-leash pups eager to check out the swan boats and duckling statues. The 1.5-mile Rose Kennedy Greenway, which is home to public art, gardens, fountains, nature trails and lots of green space, is also worthy of exploration with your four-legged friend. There are plenty of dedicated dog parks, too, like the South Boston Bark Park. The 2.5-mile Freedom Trail is a great choice when you and your pup want to dig into Revolutionary War history.