Offering 300 miles of coastline, North Carolina's beaches are a popular draw for tourists---some of which want to travel with pets. For visitors wishing to bring their four-legged friends along, it's important to do their homework in advance. Although not all of the area's public beaches allow dogs, some are pet-friendly---provided that you adhere to certain conditions.
Dog-Friendly Beaches
There are nearly a dozen pet-friendly beaches along the North Carolina coast, many of which are located on the Outer Banks, including Corolla, Duck, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head and Southern Shores. Cape Fear offers two options--Kure Beach and Oak Island--while Manteo at Cape Hatteras, Atlantic Beach at Cape Lookout and Topsail Beach also welcome pets.
Beach Etiquette
When bringing your dog to the beach, be courteous of other beachgoers, particularly those who don't have pets, and follow all rules and regulations. Just use common sense. If the beach has a leash law, keep your dog leashed. Clean up after your dog, and properly dispose of any waste. Keep your dog away from other beachgoers or other dogs unless it is invited to join them. Your animal must also be licensed and current with all shots.
Restrictions
Just because a beach is pet-friendly doesn't mean you can turn your pet loose at any time. For some beaches, this is true; however, others restrict the time of year or time of day when pets are allowed. At Kill Devil Hills beaches, for example, dogs are not allowed on the beaches between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. from May 15 to September 15. Similarly, at Southern Shores beaches, dogs are not permitted from May 15 to September 15.
Leash Laws
While dogs are expected to be kept on a leash when on the beach, there are times when that restriction is relaxed, if your dog obeys voice commands well. Duck Beach allows dogs to be off leash year-round. At Topsail Beach, dogs are allowed off leash between November 1 and May 14. Oak Island beaches allow dogs to roam free with an owner from mid November to April 1.
More Information
Although regulations, including pet restrictions, are posted at the beach itself, it's best to check a website like Dogfriendly.com in advance, which tracks what beaches allow pets and lists restrictions at each site. It will also give you listings for other pet-friendly places in the area, such as lodging accommodations in the area that welcome your pet as well.
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