Top Dog Beaches near Philadelphia, PA

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Top Dog Beaches near Philadelphia, PA

Introduction

It's commonly known that Philadelphia in the summer can be brutally hot and humid. Finding a place to cool off outdoors is a ruff task. Not everyone is fond of public pools, and doggos typically aren't allowed anywhere near them. What Philadelphians should know is that about 2 hours away, there are dog-friendly beaches in quaint towns that will take their breath away! Close enough for a day trip, featuring cool ocean breezes and a swim in the ocean, New Jersey beckons you and your fur-baby to come and play at one of their pup-welcoming beaches!

#8 Gateway National Park Beaches

The Gateway National Park in Sandy Hook, New Jersey offers both oceanside and bayside beaches for human and canine family members to enjoy. While puppers are allowed on the ocean side from Labor Day through March 15th only, bayside beaches at Plum Island and Horseshoe Cove welcome 4-legged pals year round, but they must be tethered to their humans. Doggy waste is a carry-out item, so be sure to take it with you.

#7 Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park

The beach at this park in Long Branch, New Jersey is open to leashed pooches from November 1 to March 31. And while this is not traditional beach-going time, there's a lot here that Fido will enjoy during those months. Its 38 acres is pawrfect for walks and exploring for shells and other sea treasures. Dogs are not allowed on the dunes, but the deep sandy beach provides pawlenty of room to run and cavort.

#6 Wildwood Dog Beach

If sand-covered paws and warm water for swimming are what you and Fido are after, Wildwood Dog Beach is pawrfect! Open from 6 am to dusk every day, year-round, your leashed pupper will have a ball! Take a walkie down the 2-block-long beach, sit in the sand and catch some rays, or dip a paw into the water. There's fresh water here, along with waaste bags and receptacles. And a huge hydrant sculpture at the entrance!

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#5 Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area

The eastern end of this river beach in Manasquan, New Jersey is designated for doggos on leash. Fur not: there's pawenty of fun to be had for both humans and pups! Splashing in the water, sniffing the sand for treasures, and walking along the shoreline are all treats at Fisherman's Cove. As a bonus, a wooded area surrounds the beach, with trails where you and Fido can explore for wildlife! Winter or summer, it's pawrfect!

#4 Barnegat Light Beaches

Part of the Long Beach Island township's string of boroughs, Barnegat Light sits at the northern end of the island on an inlet where the Barnegat Lighthouse, or Old Barney, resides. The town is a quaint, family-oriented place that welcomes four-footed tykes, too. Like the rest of the communities on Long Beach Island, Barnegat restricts leashed doggos to September 15 through April 15, but the secluded, wide and quiet beaches are theirs to rule during the off-season!

#3 Beach Haven Beaches

Located on Long Beach Island in the town of Beach Haven, between Barnegat Bay and the Atlantic, there are several seasonal pup-friendly beaches up and down both sides. While from May 15th to September 15th, pups are not allowed on any Beach Haven beach, leashed doggos can join their humans for a walk or swim on these furbulous sandy areas from October 1st to April 15th! Note that swimming areas change with ocean conditions.

#2 Eighth Avenue Dog Beach

Asbury Park, New Jersey delivers a howling good time for people and pups, but the pooch's fave is the Eighth Avenue Dog Beach, where leashes are optional! Pups running on the sand and jumping the waves will warm a dog-lover's heart! Being polite and well-behaved is doggone impawtant, as is picking up Fido's "donations" in provided bags. Open all day in the off-season and from 6 pm to 8:30 am in the summer, this is a must-do!

#1 Longport Dog Beach

This pupper's paradise in Egg Harbor, New Jersey is only about 40 miles south of Philadelphia. The whole beach is designated as dog-friendly for well-behaved pooches, where they can be off-leash and free to run and swim! With lots to sniff and explore on this long beach, this is a pawrfect haven for doggos! Be sure to bring baggies and leave nothing behind.