caesar hanging out at south beach in chatham

How to find a pet-friendly hotel on cape cod

Many Cape Cod hotels, cottages, and weekly rentals are pet-friendly. If you’re planning to bring your dog with you on vacation to the cape, you’ll have lots of options for lodging.

Need a place to stay that allows dogs on Cape Cod?

  • Find dog-friendly hotels on cape cod on Expedia.com
  • Search for cottages on Cape Cod that allow dogs on VRBO
  • Find beach-front homes for rent on VRBO

There are some special considerations when selecting a place to stay when you have a dog, beyond just price and location.

Find dog-friendly rental properties on Cape Cod, MA. Search on Vrbo for the best deals on Cape Cod summer rentals that allow pets.

Rental property vs. hotels

The availability of dog-friendly rental properties cape cod is greater then ever.

Sites like Vrbo has changed the way people vacation with pets. There used to be a dozen or so pet-friendly hotels across the cape. Now there’s hundreds of new options for summer rentals on Vrbo to fit all budgets.

You can filter your search down to include houses, apartment or condos, beachfront, waterfront, cabins, or rental properties with pools.

Access to beaches

Nearly every Visitor to Cape Cod comes looking for beautiful beaches. But as a dog owner in the summertime, you will have special considerations on where you’re allowed to take your dog.

Public beaches in most towns have restricted access for pets. In the off-season (typically around Labor Day) more beaches allow access.

Beach access for dogs is always a big consideration when choosing a hotel or rental property for your vacation on cape cod
Beach access for dogs is always a big consideration when choosing a dog-friendly hotel or rental property for your cape cod vacation.

Beachfront lodging vs. beach access rights

You don’t necessarily need to pay big bucks for beachfront lodging in order to get access to the water.

The cape has many wonderful private beaches and small ponds available to those who live or rent in the neighborhood. If you choose one of these rental properties, you will also get access.

If you’re renting a private cottage or hotel with beach access rights, be sure to check with the rental agent or homeowner about policies on their beach regarding dogs.

Many private beaches allow dogs all summer long, some even off-leash, so this can be a big consideration when choosing a place to stay.

Check out these links to find some cool pet-friendly cape cod summer rentals on Vrbo:

Walking your dog

There’s no better dog than a tired dog, and a nice long walk outside on the cape will raise your spirits as well. Make sure to choose a location to stay that has easy access to nice dog walks, hiking trails, or quiet neighborhood roads if you plan on taking your dog for a walk daily.

There’s some really nice hotels located on route 6 and busy streets across the cape, but busy locations like that can make it nearly impossible to walk safely with summer traffic. And even side roads in quiet neighborhoods become more dangerous during the busier summer season as well..

If you can’t find a good place to walk nearby or you’re looking for a change of scenery, check out our list of cool dog walks and hiking trails on Cape Cod. Really feeling adventurous? Try one of these great long dog walks.

Dining with your dog near your hotel

You’re going to need to eat, so you’ll want to make sure there are some dinging options near your hotel that allow pets.

Remember it’s always too hot in the summertime to allow the dog to stay in the car, even just for a few minutes.

Consider staying at a campground

One of the best ways to appreciate nature on Cape Cod is to wake up to the sound of chirping birds overhead as the sun rises to meet the morning, with the faint crashing of the ocean in the distance.

we’re talking about staying in a campground, of course—not passing out after a long night of partrying at the Beachcomber. But that is another story for another day.

The cape has some incredible pet friendly  campgrounds that offer a budget way to plan your vacation if a hotel or cottage rental seems to steep.

Tent or camper, nothing beats hearing the sound of waves in the distance as you drift off to sleep.  Several camping areas in truro offer this. The open space and abundant hiking trails near many campgrounds make them a great alternative to staying in a hotel or cottage when vacationing with your pet.

Most campgrounds offer seasonal rental rates let you extend your vacation all summer long. There are even a few beaches that let you drive right onto the sand to camp. check out our guide to orv trails to learn more.