Like many dog owners, I want to bring my furry best friend along on every vacation (like the Florida Keys). Unfortunately, many beaches do not allow dogs. But there are several Florida Keys dog friendly beaches you need to know about!
In this article, I will give you the list of the top 7 dog-friendly beaches in the Florida Keys! I’ll also spotlight some other great spots to bring your pup to in the Sunshine State!
Florida Keys Dog Friendly Beaches: My Top Pick
Our pick is Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach Park in Key West! It has warm, shallow waters for dogs to play and swim in. Also, there’s a beach-side cafe and kayak & paddle board launch spots!
⭐Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars — with more than 4,600 reviews!
Table of Florida Keys’ Dog Friendly Beaches
Below is a reference table of the most beautiful beaches in the Florida Keys for a great time with your dogs!
| Beach Name | Location | Key Features/Activities | Google Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anne’s Beach – Ismoralda | Mile Marker 73, Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL 33036 | -Boardwalk -Shallow water area -Covered picnic tables -Bathrooms |  750+ Reviews |
| Veteran’s Memorial Beach – Little Duck Key | 39900 US-1, Big Pine Key, FL 33043 | -Shallow waters -Barbecue grills -Picnic areas |  605+ Reviews |
| Marathon Dog Park Beach – Marathon | 9805 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050 | -Separate areas for large and small dogs -Near Kayak Launch and Fishing Pier | 105+ Reviews |
| Sombrero Beach – Marathon | 200 36th St Ocean, Marathon, FL 33050 | -Popular, sandy beach -Sea turtle sightings -Picnic pavilions -Volleyball court -Restrooms and showers | 4,420+ Reviews |
| Coco Plum Beach – Marathon | 150 Coco Plum Dr, Marathon, FL 33050 | -Secluded beach for return to nature -Sea turtle nesting beach | 200+ Reviews |
| Dog Beach of Key West – Key West | 1500 Vernon Ave, Key West, FL 33040 | -Small beach area behind Louie’s Backyard restaurant -Dogs can play unleashed |  275+ Reviews |
| Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach Park – Key West | 1000 Atlantic Blvd, Key West, FL 33040 | -16.5 acres of oceanfront property -Beach-side café & historical sites -Higgs Beach Dog Park -Great place for kayaking and paddle boarding | 4,605+ Reviews |
List of the 7 Best Dog-Friendly Beaches in the Florida Keys
The Florida Keys offer several dog-friendly beaches to enjoy some fun in the sun with your furry friend! I’ll talk some about the key features and best activities to enjoy with your four-legged friends too!
Here are the best dog-friendly beaches in the Florida Keys for your next trip!
1. Anne’s Beach – Ismoralda
Anne’s Beach is the only dog-friendly beach on the Islamorada Key. Dogs can enjoy Anne’s Beach with their owners, but they must be leashed.
Some of the best things to do here with your dogs include:
The Boardwalk. The elevated boardwalk and nature trail is a great place to walk your pup as it leads through mangroves and wetland!
My Favorite Part. One of my favorite parts of Anne’s Beach is the expansive area of shallows! This area provides a shallow water level for dogs to frolic through without going too deep! The warm waters and sandy beaches are the perfect spot to get some exercise together.
About & Features. This beach is named after environmentalist Anne Eaton. This beach features great amenities like:
- covered picnic tables
- bathroom facilities (including showers)
Location: Mile Marker 73, Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL 33036
2. Veteran’s Memorial Beach – Little Duck Key
Veteran’s Memorial Beach is located inside Memorial Park on Little Duck Key. And the shallow waters here are another great place to play a game of fetch with your dog!
The park itself features barbecue grills and picnic areas.
This is a small beach park, so it can get crowded quick. The best time to go is in the mornings if you want to avoid the crowds.
Location: 39900 US-1, Big Pine Key, FL 33043
3. Marathon Dog Park Beach – Marathon
Marathon Dog Park Beach is not a sandy beach, but is an oceanfront area to enjoy with your pups!
A group of dog lovers created this designated place to let their pups have some off-leash fun.
My Favorite Part. It is one of my favorite places to take my dog to play before hopping in the kayak and paddling around and enjoying the views!
About & Features. There are two separate areas for large dogs and small dogs. The park itself is open from 7:30 am to dusk. It’s one of the best dog beaches in the Keys!
The park is right next to the Kayak Launch and Fishing Pier at Oceanfront Park.
Location: 9805 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050
4. Sombrero Beach – Marathon
Sombrero Beach is the perfect place to enjoy the natural beauty that the Keys has to offer with your dog! Rest under the shade of palm trees and soak in the sun!
Here you’ll find:
- a stunning sandy beach
- picnic pavilions
- volleyball courts
- restrooms, and showers.
See Turtle Site. During the months of April through October, you may be able to spot loggerhead sea turtles! They’ll line along the soft sand as this is turtle nesting season.
If you are bringing your dog to this beach and stumble upon a turtle, it is important to keep your distance. These turtles need to have proper rest in safety.
The beach is open from 7:00 am to dusk, 7 days a week.
Location: 200 36th St Ocean, Marathon, FL 33050
5. Coco Plum Beach – Marathon
Coco Plum Beach is a more natural and secluded beach surrounded by wetlands. You can find jellyfish washed ashore and other wildlife here.
Dogs are allowed on the beach but must be on a six-foot leash and cleaned up after.
And like nearby Sombrero Beach, Coco Plum is another sea turtle-nesting beach. This means it is important to be aware of your surroundings during nesting season.
To find Coco Plum Beach:
- head south on Coco Plum Drive for approximately 1 mile
- you will find the beach entrance on the right-hand side of the road.
The beach hours are from 7:30 a.m. until dusk.
Location: 150 Coco Plum Dr, Marathon, FL 33050
6. Dog Beach of Key West – Key West
As you can guess by the name, Dog Beach in Key West is a great place to take your pup! The warm waters are perfect even for the winter months! This small stretch of beach is behind Louie’s Backyard restaurant.
And is a place where unleashed dogs can play in the sand freely.
During certain parts of the year, you might see some washed-up seaweed on the Key West Dog Beach shore. It is fine for your pup to interact with the seaweed! (But the smell will definitely warrant a bath for your pup afterward!)
Location: 1500 Vernon Ave, Key West, FL 33040
7. Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach Park – Key West
Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach Park is my personal favorite dog-friendly beach in the Keys!
The locals refer to it as “Higgs Beach” and it is one of the best beaches too! The beach is in Key West, which is the southernmost point in the continental United States.
It consists of 16.5 acres of oceanfront property. You’ll also find some unique sites to visit, such as:
- a Civil War Era Fort
- a beachside café
- the African Refugee Memorial and burial site
- and an AIDS memorial
Higgs Beach also has plenty of activity space, such as:
- tennis and pickleball courts
- beach volleyball
- a children’s playground
Higgs Beach Dog Park, which has fenced-in designated areas for small and large dogs. This is a popular spot for dogs because they have plenty of room to run around and have fun!
There is also a beach rental stand that offers chairs, umbrellas, kayaks, and paddleboards in case you want to stay awhile with your pup by your side.
Location: 1000 Atlantic Blvd, Key West, FL 33040
Other Dog Friendly Places in the Florida Keys
If you are bringing your pet along on beach vacation, you’ll be looking for other activities! You aren’t going to want to stay at the beach for every hour of the day.
I’ve noticed that it tends to get more dog friendly as you go further south within the keys. Here, the Keys have plenty of fun activities and places to go such as restaurants, grassy areas, etc.
Here’s a list of some great spots to take your pup aside from the beaches in The Keys.
Dog Friendly Parks
- John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park – Key Largo
- Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park – Key Largo
- Bahia Honda State Park – Big Pine Key
- National Key Deer Refuge – Big Pine Key
- Curry Hammock State Park – Marathon
- Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Gardens – Key West
Dog Friendly Restaurants
- Shipwrecks Bar & Grill – Key Largo
- Pilot House Restaurant & Marina – Key Larg
- Hog Heaven Sports Bar and Grill – Islamorada
- Porky’s Bayside Restaurant and Marina – Marathon
- Kiki’s Sandbar Bar & Grille – Little Torch Key
- Island Dogs Bar – Key West
- Salute! On The Beach – Key West
- Moondog Cafe – Key West
A Little More about the Florida Keys
Florida Keys is a tropical paradise! In this part of the Sunshine State, you’ll find:
- Crystal-clear turquoise waters
- sandy beaches
- interesting coral reefs
- and unique wildlife.
As you can imagine, the Keys have amazing outdoor activities. The Keys have plenty of parks, activities, and restaurants that are dog-friendly if you want to get away from the beach.
Be sure to check out Bahia Honda State Park on Big Pine Key and Island Dogs Bar in Key West!
No matter which island you choose, you are sure to have a great time.
Location. The Florida Keys is a gorgeous chain of islands! They stretch into the Atlantic Ocean off the southern coast of Florida. The keys stretch over 120 miles (193 kilometers) and consist of hundreds of islands.
Climate and Fun. This area is has a tropical climate with amazing sunsets and fresh blue waters! As such, it offers the perfect location for watersports, fishing, snorkeling, and any other outdoor activity you can think of!
Summary to Florida Keys Dog Friendly Beaches
If you are like me, you want to bring your dog with you everywhere you go. You’ll need to know where the best dog friendly beaches and activities are for your vacation spot!
Luckily, the Keys are pretty dog friendly as a whole. Dogs are not allowed on all the beautiful beaches. But there are a few designated beaches that allow our four-legged friends to roam around on leash. And a few other beaches that offer fenced-in areas for your pup to run around.
A few of my favorites are Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach Park, Sombrero Beach, and Marathon Dog Park Beach. Happy travels!
