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Seattle is one of the most dog-friendly cities in the country. Some say there are more dogs than children in the Emerald City. No matter where you go, there are plenty of free or cheap dog-friendly things in Seattle to keep you busy. Especially in the summer, when the sun shines!
1. Hike with your dog at Discovery Park
📍Address: 3801 Discovery Park Blvd, Seattle, WA 98199
💰Cost: Free
🐕 Dog friendly? Yes! Leashed dogs welcome.
Seattle’s largest park, Discovery Park offers an escape into nature without leaving the urban environment. The 2.8 mile Loop trail is popular with walkers, runners, and dog owners alike, as it leads through forests and open meadows. Take the stairs down to the beach to see the historic West Point Lighthouse. Discovery Park is free with three large parking lots and a Visitor Center. Its large fields are popular places for picnics, frisbee games and kite flying. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are allowed on all trails. If your dog is reactive or scared of other dogs, leave Fido at home or take a less popular trail at Disco Park. Discovery Park is a family and dog-friendly free activity to explore the ecosystems of Seattle.
2. Enjoy art at Olympic Sculpture Park
📍Address: 2901 Western Ave, Seattle, WA 9812185 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101
💰Cost: Free
🐕 Dog friendly? Yes! Leashed dogs welcome.
Along the waterfront, the Olympic Sculpture Park presents a fusion of modern artistry and stunning landscapes. Wander among giant sculptures, each telling its own story against the backdrop of the Olympic Mountains and Elliott Bay. The park has a paved path that extends all along the waterfront in both directions for walking and biking. This park is free and open to the public daily, year-round.
3. Relax with your dog at Golden Gardens Beach and Dog Park
📍Address: 8498 Seaview Pl NW, Seattle, WA 98117 (Dog Park up the hill)
💰Cost: Free (Parking fees may apply)
🐕 Dog friendly? Yes! Leashed dogs welcome on paved paths at the beach, and off-leash at the park
Golden Gardens is on the very western edge of Seattle, bordering Shilshole Bay. The Burke-Gilman Trail extends all the way to this sandy beach. Dogs are not allowed on the beach, however leashed pets are allowed on the paved trails through the marsh and ponds. You can take the stairs or drive up the hill to the Golden Gardens off-leash dog park, which has a separate play area for small dogs. This popular dog park in Seattle is a great free activity for the weekends.
4. Explore Hiram M. Chittenden Locks with your dog and kids
📍Address: 3015 NW 54th St, Seattle, WA 98107
💰Cost: Free (Parking is a dollar an hour)
🐕 Dog friendly? Yes! Leashed dogs welcome.
The historic Hiram M. Chittenden Locks are one of the best free activities in Seattle for kids, parents, and dogs alike. Also known as the Ballard Locks, watch boats navigate the locks, a critical link between salt and fresh water. Kids will love watching salmon migrate up the salmon ladder, and seals and sea lions playing in the salt water. Parents will love watching the mechanics of the locks, plus the views of the bay. Dogs will love being outside in the fresh air with lots of herons, seals and sea lions to watch.
🎉 Secret Tip: You can get a stamp in your national parks passport here!
5. Enjoy a frosty beverage
📍Address: Ballard Brewery District – see Visit Ballard for addresses
💰Cost: Drinks purchase
🐕 Dog friendly? Yes! Leashed dogs welcome.
The Ballard Brewery District is an industrial area in between Ballard and Fremont – sometimes known as Frelard – that has more than a dozen breweries. Best of all, they are (almost) all dog friendly! Walk over to the BBD with your pup and sample beers, ciders, and wines made locally. The breweries don’t serve food but often have a food truck nearby for snacks. Your leashed dogs are welcome if they can handle loud people and often rambunctious children (yes, at a brewery. I know.). Plus they will get lots of pets AND treats! Visiting the breweries is a cheap or affordable thing to do in Seattle, especially in the summer.
🎉 Secret Tip: Bale Breaker and Yonder Cider is one of my favorites.
6. Enjoy a frosty beverage while your dog plays
📍Address: Dog Yard Bar, 1546 NW Leary Way, Seattle, WA 98107
💰Cost: $16, drinks for purchase as well
🐕 Dog friendly? Yes! Unleashed, vaccinated dogs welcome. They love dogs!
The Dog Bar is a private offleash dog park that also has a bar in the heart of Ballard, near the Ballard Brewery District but closer to Ballard Ave. Dogs must be pre-registered with vaccination records updated. The Dog Yard Bar often has breed-specific meetups. Check their site or Eventbrite for details!
7. Eat lunch inside at Norm’s
📍Address: 460 N 36th St, Seattle, WA 98103
💰Cost: Food for purchase
🐕 Dog friendly? Yes! Leashed dogs welcome.
One of the few indoors dog-friendly restaurants in Seattle. I’ve heard this is due to an agreement with the Health Department, since food is prepared in a kitchen shared with the sister restaurants Roxy’s and Back Door. Bring your dog inside for a brew, treat, and lunch in this (air conditioned) sports bar. Norm’s is only a few blocks away from the Fremont Troll.
8. Take a (free) selfie with your dog at Fremont Troll
📍Address: North 36th Street, Troll Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
💰Cost: Free
🐕 Dog friendly? Yes! Leashed dogs welcome.
Tucked beneath the Aurora Bridge, the Fremont Troll is a testament to Seattle’s whimsical urban art scene. This giant sculpture of a one-eyed troll, clutching a real Volkswagen Beetle, has become a symbol of the Fremont neighborhood (known locally as the Center of the Universe)’s creative spirit. A visit here is a must for Instagram-worthy moments so you can share this quirky free site with your friends from afar. The neighborhood surrounding the Fremont Troll is very walkable as well, and only a few blocks up from the very dog-friendly Burke Gilman Trail. The troll is a free, albeit weird, dog-friendly thing to do in Seattle.
9. Watch the sailboats at Gas Works Park for free with your dog
📍Address: 2143 N Northlake Way, Seattle, WA 98103
💰Cost: Free
🐕 Dog friendly? Yes! Leashed dogs welcome.
A few blocks south of the Troll, Gas Works Park offers one of the most unique park experiences in the U.S. Its industrial structures, remnants of a bygone era, now serve as a fascinating playground against the Seattle skyline. The park’s hill is a favorite spot for kite flying and picnicking, offering unparalleled views of Lake Union and the city beyond.Gas Works has free parking and launches for your kayak or stand-up paddleboard. Many people let their dogs off leash here but that is technically not allowed. Keep your pup on leash as you walk through the paved areas, onto the picnic lawn, or up the hill. Watch out for geese!
The nearby Pacific Inn Pub (3501 Stone Way N, Seattle, WA 98103) allows well-behaved dogs on its patio. Walk from Gas Works or the Burke Gilman.
10. Jog with your dog on the Burke Gilman Trail
📍Address: Central Seattle along Ship Canal and Lake Washington
💰Cost: Free
🐕 Dog friendly? Yes! Leashed dogs welcome.
You’ve already likely driven past the Burke-Gilman if you’ve driven by Golden Gardens or in Fremont to Gas Works. The Burke-Gilman is a trail that runs from Golden Gardens through Ballard, along the Ship Canal, and then around Lake Washington. Before and after work, you will find it packed with commuters zipping their e-bikes to work or school. On the weekends, you can walk to the Ballard or Fremont Sunday Markets from it. No matter when you visit, the trail gives you a slice of life in Seattle with dogs, bikes, scooters, skateboards, joggers and amblers. If your dog is anxious around scooters or skateboards, avoid the Burke-Gilman. This is one of my favorite free things to do in Seattle!
11. Go for a Run at Green Lake Park
📍Address: 7201 East Green Lake Dr N, Seattle, WA 98115
💰Cost: Free
🐕 Dog friendly? Yes! Leashed dogs welcome.
Green Lake’s loop is a haven for joggers, walkers, cyclists, rollerbladers…the list goes on. Enjoy a run on the 2.8 mile loop around this popular lake. Keep an eye out for the original outdoor Aqua Theater, where the Aqua Follies once were performed (and Led Zeppelin once played). I have heard there are frequently corgi meetups at Green Lake – can you even imagine???
Your dog is welcome on a leash, but watch out for bicycles! And geese. Do not let your dog in the water – there are often toxic algae blooms in the summer that are hazardous to people and pets. Green Lake is a popular free thing to do in Seattle for kids and families, too.
12. Stroll through a Seattle Farmer’s Market for free with your dog
📍Address: Various – see Seattle Farmers Markets for a list
💰Cost: Food or stuff for purchase
🐕 Dog friendly? Yes! Leashed dogs welcome.
Farmers markets abound throughout Seattle, and dogs are welcome at all of them. The Fremont and Ballard Farmer’s Markets are some of the biggest, and open almost year round on Sundays. Markets can be crowded, so make sure your dog is okay in crowds.
13. Dinner indoors with your dog at the Barking Dog
📍Address: 705 NW 70th St, Seattle, WA 98117
💰Cost: Food for purchase
🐕 Dog friendly? Yes! Leashed dogs welcome.
Another dog-friendly indoor restaurant in Seattle, near Ballard and Crown Hill. The Barking Dog somehow allows leashed dogs inside its restaurant. The restaurant has a large outdoor patio if you feel more comfortable dining outdoors. I loved the food here when I visited with my friend and her dog.
🎉 Secret Tip: Parsnips and Pastries has a lot of other dog-friendly restaurants in her blog, although she mentions Safeco Field and it’s been renamed at least once since then.
14. Kayak Lake Union – yes with your dog!
📍Address: 2100 Westlake Ave. N Ste 1, Seattle, WA 98109
💰Cost: $30 for a tandem kayak; $28 for a paddle boat or SUP; $23 rentals before noon.
🐕 Dog friendly? Yes! Leashed dogs welcome, with a floatation device strongly recommended
Enjoy the views of Lake Union by renting a kayak or stand-up paddle board from the Northwest Outdoor Center. Dogs are welcome to join you on a paddle around this iconic lake, home of the original Sleepless in Seattle houseboat. It is strongly suggested that your dog wear a floatation device. If your dog is anxious or not comfortable around water, loud noises, or seaplanes, kayak solo.
15. Shop for outdoorsy gear with your dog
📍Address: 2201 15th Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119
💰Cost: Depends on what you buy, pets and treats free
🐕 Dog friendly? Yes! Leashed dogs welcome.
Ascent Outdoors is a local outdoor gear supply store in Interbay, and they love dogs! Bring your leashed pup to this brand new store on 15th Avenue West while you try on new sneakers, pick up a Green Trails map, or check out their secondhand gear selection. A Petco is just a few blocks down near a Whole Foods if you need treats, food or supplies.
16. Get out on a trail for free or cheap with your dog near Seattle
📍Address: Varies
💰Cost: Discover Pass, NW Forest Pass or America The Beautiful Pass required
🐕 Dog friendly? Yes! Leashed dogs welcome.
Western Washington has thousands of miles of dog-friendly trails. Within Seattle, check out these free dog-friendly city trails: Discovery Park, Shoreline Park, The Arboretum, the Burke-Gilman and the Cheshiahud Loop around Lake Union.
Outside of Seattle, Washington State Parks are very dog-friendly and allow leashed dogs on their trails and at campsites. My favorite includes Larrabee State Park near Bellingham because it’s quiet and a great workout.
Washington also has three national parks and several national forests. My Trusty Pup has visited all three of Washington’s national parks – North Cascades, Olympic and Mount Rainier several times. Of them, North Cascades is the most dog-friendly, with several dog-friendly hikes right off of Highway 20. However, Port Angeles and Olympic have more dog-friendly places to stay. Mt. Rainier is not incredibly dog-friendly, but the surrounding National Forests allow dogs.
I’ve also compiled a list of the top-ten dog-friendly National Parks. Check it out to find the right park for you.
Dog-friendly places to stay in Seattle
It can be tough to find a dog friendly place to stay in Seattle that is affordable. Often I’ve looked at a Marriott only to find an astronomical pet fee. These lodgings all allow dogs to stay for free or very cheap. I evaluated the non-hotel listings to ensure they include a yard or are very close to a park.
Budget: Ballard Studio, Ballard
This small first-floor unit includes pet fee in the VRBO price. Centrally located in Ballard which is an incredibly walkable neighborhood. Rates from $135 peak season.
Budget: The Canal Studio, Fremont
This first-floor townhome unit is located in Fremont, near the Ballard Brewery District, the Burke Gilman Trail, Norm’s and more. While this does not have a yard, Fremont is a very easily walkable neighborhood with many pocket parks. Cats and dogs allowed for $50 pet fee. Rates from $166 peak season.
Budget: Stay Pineapple University Inn, University District
I stayed here on the first night I moved to Seattle with former Trusty Pup Nellie. The Stay Pineapple Hotels (Seattle Center, Downtown, U District Watertown) allow two pets for $30 nightly fee. This more affordable hotel has incredible value with an outdoor pool and bikes to borrow. If you book direct, mention BARKANDPARK to save 50% off parking and pet fees, or PUP to save just on pet fees. I do receive an affiliate commission if you book through the Expedia link above, but saving money to buy your trusty pup more treats comes first. Rates from $213 peak season.
Moderate: Two Bedroom with Fenced Back Yard, Fremont
This two bedroom renovated apartment is in northern Fremont/Wallingford and has a private backyard for your pup(s) to run around in. No pet fee listed in listing. Rates from $229 peak season.
Moderate: Belltown Inn, Belltown
This centrally located budget hotel is near Pike Place, Seattle Center, and the Olympic Sculpture Park. Pets stay for only $25 per trip. Rates from $250 peak season.
Moderate: Bumbershoot Suite, Fremont
This adorable, charming, vintage apartment is near Ross Park, a popular play area (leashed dogs welcome, but you’ll see off leash dogs all the time). Includes sofa covers because of course our pets are allowed on the couch! Near Ballard Brewery District and Burke Gilman Trail. Pet fee is included in rate! Rates from $259 peak season.
Moderate: Hotel Sorrento, First Hill
This hotel near First Hill is incredibly charming and dogs stay free. I love their restaurant Stella, which has patio dining in the summer. The hotel also has a Silent Reading night, which might not really be your dog’s jam but it’s probably yours! Near Seattle University. Rates from $300 peak season.
Bougie with private garden: Madison Park 1 Bedroom with private garden, Madison Park
This charming ground floor apartment has a lovely private garden and is located near the Washington Park Arborteum. Rates from $368 peak season.
Bougie but worth it: Kimpton Palladian IHG Hotel, Pike Place Downtown
Kimptons are hands down the BEST dog-friendly hotels out there. They provide a dog bowl, bed, treats, baggies, and a welcome sign with absolutely no pet fee. I love Kimptons as well because they have an afternoon wine happy hour, and are not cookie cutter boring hotels. The Palladian is a three minute walk from Pike Place Market and 11 minutes from the ferry terminal. Rates from $381 peak season.
Bougie but worth it: Kimpton Hotel Monaco IHG Hotel, Pike Place Downtown
My parents have stayed here many times. It’s a few blocks away from the Palladian and offers the same amenities with a nice restaurant as well. No pet fee. Rates from $388 peak season.
No matter what you want to do, Seattle has a free or cheap dog-friendly activity for you!
