When traveling with your furry friend, you'll quickly discover not all dog parks are created equal. Owners who pick up after their pets and know when to call off the dogs if things get rowdy can make or break a dog-friendly beach experience. Like your pets, each dog-friendly beach has its own personality, and everyone can have a good time when you know the rules. So, here’s a roundup of the cleanest, happiest dog-friendly beaches in the U.S.

1. It’s “paw-abunga” time for your pup at this dog beach in Huntington Beach, California

With annual events like Surf City Surf Dog, So Cal Corgi Beach Day and the Running of the Wieners, the 1.5-mile Huntington Dog Beach is one of the best dog-friendly beaches in California. In the marked dog park areas, your pups can run leash-free—just remember to leash back up when you enter and exit the park. Located on the northern end of Huntington Beach, this is known as one of the best West Coast beaches, so locals suggest you get there before 8 a.m. if you want good parking. If you get hungry, check out the sandwich selection on the menu at the dog-friendly Sit Stay Café, which serves complimentary water and snacks for your pet.

2. Leave flat beaches behind at Del Mar Dog Beach in Del Mar, California

Walk along the sandstone bluffs with your pups and explore sea caves, tide pools and sea critters at low tide. Fun fact: It’s the home beach of Abbie Girl, who broke the record for the longest wave surfed by a dog as documented in the Guinness Book of World Records. During peak season, your pets can run leash-free on the North Beach section from dawn to 8 a.m. Seasonal rules apply in the North and Main Beach sections, so check this Del Mar Dog-Friendly Beach Regulations map to make sure you’re always in the clear.

3. Take a dip at Montrose Dog Beach in Chicago, Illinois, and give your dog a bath

This section of shallow water in Lake Michigan is a great place for first-timers to dip a paw in the water (plus, there’s a washing station nearby that includes shampoo, conditioner, and flea and tick treatment). The expansive gated beach lets pups run leash-free on the sand and in the water. The dog beach is free, but all dogs using Chicago dog parks and beaches are required to have a DFA tag (for $10 per year) that proves your pup is vet-approved and vaccinated. While you’re here, be sure to visit Puptown Dog Park for a break from the waves, just a short walk inland from the dog beach. And, for even more ideas on things to do while you’re here, check out our Chicago travel guide.

4. Enjoy your favorite water sport at the Port Jefferson Public Beach and Dog Park in Port Jefferson, New York

If you’re looking for a dog-friendly beach on the East Coast, where you and your dog can play, try Port Jeff Dog Beach. About 60 miles east of Manhattan, the Port Jeff Dog Beach is located in a snug harbor with easy waves for your pup to wade in and shelly stretches of beach to walk. Dog owners who love flatwater sports, such as kayaking, sailing and stand-up paddleboarding, will also love it here. Visitors say it feels like finding their own private beach, which makes it a great place to watch the boats, ferries and dogs go by. After your visit, help your pup pick out a souvenir at Fetch, a gourmet dog bakery and shop with two floors of natural, raw and organic pet products, apparel and accessories.

5. Walk the historic boardwalk at 8th Avenue Dog Beach in Asbury, New Jersey

Time your trip right and you’ll be able to treat your dog to one of the happiest dog-friendly beaches on the East Coast. Come during the area’s off-season, Sept. 16 to May 15, for a full day of fun at 8th Avenue Dog Beach (dog access to the beach is restricted during the summer from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Daily admission ranges from $5 to $7, but it’s free for active and retired military service members. And families say this beach offers yet another bonus: plenty of public restrooms for humans. While you’re here, be sure to also take your dog for a walk along the historic Asbury Park Boardwalk, featuring several pet-friendly shops and restaurants, like Pop’s Garage, where you can stop in with your pooch for a quick bite of Mexican cuisine.

6. Enjoy natural beauty at National Seashore in Assateague Island, Maryland

You and your pup can see wild ponies, sea turtles, seals and more on your morning beach walk here. If the ocean waves are too choppy, stop by the bay side so your pup can romp and stomp in shallow water, but mind the regulations: Dogs must be leashed and are only allowed beyond the lifeguard-protected sections of the beach, or tickets will be issued to violators. There’s an admission fee of $25 for beach access for seven days. But the wild, commercial-free landscape gives you and your pet a glimpse of beaches in their purest form.

7. Discover a string of great dog-friendly locations near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

Your canine companion may be unfamiliar with the Wright Brothers’ achievements at Kitty Hawk, but they’ll love feeling the wind in their fur at two of the best dog-friendly beaches in North Carolina. Kitty Hawk Off-Leash Beach welcomes dogs throughout the year and allows friendly pups to roam free from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. between Labor Day and Memorial Day (beach barkers must show a rabies tag and have a bag for clean-up). Then, just a short drive north is the town of Duck, where you’ll find some excellent boutique shopping and your furry friend is more than welcome at dog-friendly restaurants, like Sweet T’s Coffee Beer & Wine. Or head 15 minutes south to find the often-quieter Nags Head Beach, where dogs are allowed year-round with a leash.

8. Park for free at the “poo-free” Jupiter Off-Leash Dog Beach in Jupiter, Florida

Overcrowding and pricey parking are big complaints with any dog beach—but not this one. Visitors love how quiet, clean and crowd-free this dog beach is. The 2.5-mile stretch of leash-free sands is the only free dog-friendly beach in the Palm Beaches. When the dog beach was in danger of closing in the mid-90s, a small group of volunteers got organized. Today, the Friends of Jupiter Beach is a growing nonprofit group that holds regular cleanups, provides free doggie waste bags for visitors and helps one of the cleanest dog-friendly beaches in Florida maintain its reputation.

Do you dream of leash-free beach vacations for you and your dogs? We do, too. Start planning your dog-friendly beach trip today.