Traveling with your dog can be a fun adventure. But, it can also cause a lot of stress because not everywhere you go will welcome your dog with open arms. Oftentimes, the difference between a fun trip with your dog and a stressful one is the research and planning you do beforehand. By researching ahead of time, you can make sure you’re visiting places where you and your dog will be welcome. If you’re planning to travel to “The Grand Canyon State” with your dog, use this Arizona dog-friendly travel guide to start your research:

8 Dog-Friendly Activities in Arizona

What’s a trip with your dog without some attractions to add to your adventure? Dogs aren’t welcome everywhere, so it’s important to check out places before you go to make sure you can bring your dog with you. Here are a few dog-friendly activities in Arizona to consider for your trip:

1. Grand Canyon National Park
2. Wine Tours of Sedona
3. Pima Air and Space Museum
4. Bearizona
5. A Day in the West Jeep Tours
6. McDowell Sonoran Preserve
7. Good Enough Mine Tour
8. Degrazia Gallery in the Sun Museum

1. Grand Canyon National Park

It’s hard to plan a trip to Arizona without thinking about the Grand Canyon. Should your travels take you near it, you’ll want to plan for a stop at Grand Canyon National Park. Although you won’t be able to bring your dog on trails below the rim, your dog is welcome to join you above the rim as long as they are leashed.

Just make sure your dog is up for the trip, bring plenty of water for you both, and follow other tips for hiking safely with your dog. If you do want to take a hike below the rim, you’ll need to leave your dog in the kennel on the South Rim. If you’re planning to do that, be sure to make a reservation to ensure your dog has a spot available in the kennel.

2. Wine Tours of Sedona

If your travels take you near Sedona, consider booking a tour with Wine Tours of Sedona. These guided tours are personalized, and they’re dog-friendly! There is even a discount if you bring your dog, and a “puppy play area” is available. The company’s guide dog may even join you on your excursion if your dogs get along!

There are photo tours available as well as hiking tours, winery tours, visits to local Indian ruins, 4×4 tours, and more. They even have Grand Canyon excursions available! So, there are plenty of options to choose from, and your dog is welcome to come along.

3. Pima Air and Space Museum

Should you find yourself near Tucson during your travels, leave some time open for the Pima Air and Space Museum. This museum features over 400 aircraft and spacecraft across six hangars and 80 acres.

Plus, your dog is welcome to join you in the museum as long as they are leashed! They will not be able to join you on the tram tour or the AMARG tour, but if you want to go, they can stay with a staff member while you’re on the tour.

4. Bearizona

Bearizona is a drive-thru wildlife park located in Williams. Your dog is allowed to join you in your car for the drive through the park. You will just need to make sure you keep all the windows and doors completely closed – so make sure your air conditioning works!

There is a walk-through area in the park as well, called Fort Bearizona. Your dog can be outside of the vehicle in the parking lot and up to the wall as long as they are leashed, but your dog is not permitted to be near any animal exhibits.

5. A Day in the West Jeep Tours

Another four-wheel-drive tour option in Sedona is A Day in the West Jeep Tours, Arizona’s oldest family-owned Jeep tour company. These private guided tours take you in and around the Coconino National Forest. The Diamondback Gulch Jeep Tour includes the Chimney Rock, Doe Mesa, and Capital Butte rock formations. And, the Jeep tours are dog-friendly! Your dog is welcome to join you for the scenic tour.

Keep in mind that you are doing a rugged Jeep tour, so you may be in for a bumpy ride in places. If that is a concern for you or might make your dog anxious, make sure you discuss it with the company before reserving a tour to pick a tour that is better-suited to your needs.

6. McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Should your travels bring you near Scottsdale and you want to explore, consider spending some time walking through the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. As long as your dog remains leashed and you clean up after them, they are welcome to join you as you explore one of the several dog-friendly trails available.

The Kovach Family Nature Trail and Lost Dog Wash Trailhead are both short half-mile walks that are popular for people and their dogs. You’ll walk among big barrel cactuses and the classic towering saguaros. If you and your dog are more experienced hikers, you can take on Sunrise Trail East. This is a steep, rocky trail that leads up to scenic views of Sunrise Peak.

7. Good Enough Mine Tour

If you like history and want to dive into the mining past of Arizona, consider taking a tour at the Good Enough Mine Tour in Tombstone. The town founder of Tombstone, Ed Schieffelin, discovered the silver mine in the late 1800s and opened it for mining in 1878. It has been restored, and guided tours will take you underground into the mine and show you what silver mining was like at the time.

Plus, your dog is welcome to join you as long as they are leashed and well-behaved. They will also need to be able to handle stairs; the stairs are relatively easy to go up and down on, but there are over 60 steps. Guided tours last about 45 minutes. You can also explore other tours related to the mine and the surrounding areas.

8. Degrazia Gallery in the Sun Museum

If you enjoy art and you’ll be traveling through Tucson, consider setting aside some time to explore the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun Museum. Not only can you view the art hung up in the gallery, but you can also see the sculptures displayed around the property and enjoy the colorful grounds.

Your dog is welcome to join you as you explore, as long as they are leashed and well-behaved, and you clean up after them. Don’t be surprised if the staff have dog treats ready! They’re known for hanging dog treats out to canine visitors, with permission, of course.

6 Dog-Friendly Hotels in Arizona

After a day full of adventure and exploration, you’re going to want a comfortable place to stay where you and your dog can recuperate. But not all hotels are dog-friendly. And, the ones that do allow dogs tend to get booked fast.

You’ll want to make sure you find dog-friendly hotels early and reserve a room to make sure you and your pup have a great place to rest and recuperate. Here are a few dog-friendly hotels in Arizona to consider for your stay:

1. La Quinta Inn & Suites Phoenix Scottsdale
2. La Posada Lodge & Casitas
3. Majestic Mountain Inn
4. Hotel Valley Ho
5. My Place Hotel-Tucson South AZ
6. Wingate by Windham Kingman

1. La Quinta Inn & Suites Phoenix Scottsdale

If you will need to stay overnight in or near Scottsdale, consider booking a room at the La Quinta Inn & Suites Phoenix Scottsdale. In addition to the standard hotel amenities, this hotel is also dog-friendly!

You are permitted to bring up to two dogs of any size with you, and there is no additional pet fee. Treats are available at the front desk, and there are grassy areas on-site for your dog to use. Although your dogs are welcome to stay with you, they cannot be left alone in your room.

2. La Posada Lodge & Casitas

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Tucson, take a closer look at La Posada Lodge & Casitas. Not only can you get an Old West feel at this place while still enjoying modern amenities, but your dog is also welcome to join you. At this dog-friendly hotel, up to two dogs 50 pounds or less are welcome to stay with you as you enjoy beautiful mountain views.

There is an additional pet fee, which is $25 per dog per night of your stay. Your dog can be left unattended in your room, but they must be crated when you leave. Also, they’ll have to be quiet even when you are not there because the hotel cannot allow barking as it disturbs other paying guests.

3. Majestic Mountain Inn

If your travels will be taking you near Payson when you need a place to stay, consider making a reservation at the Majestic Mountain Inn. This hotel is true to its name and offers picturesque mountain views.

Plus, your dog is welcome to join you upon request. Usually, you can bring up to two dogs of any size with you. There is an additional pet fee, which will be confirmed and may be applicable when you reserve a room. There is a grassy area on-site available for your dog, and they cannot be left alone in the room.

4. Hotel Valley Ho

Another dog-friendly hotel option in Scottsdale is Hotel Valley Ho. Up to two dogs of any size are welcome to join you for your stay at this hotel. There is no additional pet fee. However, your dog cannot be left unattended in your room. There is also a grassy relief area on site, as well as a few green park spaces in the blocks surrounding the hotel.

5. My Place Hotel-Tucson South AZ

If you’ll need somewhere to stay overnight in Tucson, consider looking into a room at My Place Hotel-Tucson South AZ. This hotel is located right along the Santa Cruz River in The Landing off of I-19. The Landing is a mixed-use area just minutes from downtown Tucson and features a variety of restaurants, entertainment, and retail options.

This hotel is the only hotel located within The Landing, and it has dog-friendly rooms available! Up to two dogs up to a combined weight of 80 pounds are welcome to join you for your stay. There is an additional pet fee, which is $25 per night. If you’re opting for extended stay, the pet fee is $100 per week and $200 per month, per room.

6. Wingate by Windham Kingman

Should you need to stay overnight in Kingman instead, consider booking a room at Wingate by Wyndham Kingman. Just a mile from the historic Route 66, this hotel is located conveniently off I-40 and is close to several attractions.

It also has dog-friendly rooms available. Up to two dogs of any size are welcome to join you for your stay. There is an additional pet fee, which is $25 per dog, per stay. There is an area to walk dogs behind the parking area in the back, but not grassy areas. If you want some greenery and a park, Firefighter’s Memorial Park is a few minutes away by car or about a 15-minute walk from the hotel.

6 Dog-Friendly Restaurants in Arizona

Stopping for fast food and at convenience stores along the way can make sure you and your dog are fed. But it also gets really boring really fast. Plus, you miss out on all the local flavor. And, isn’t that part of the fun of traveling? Break up your routine and consider stopping at one of these dog-friendly restaurants in Arizona if your travels bring you near them:

1. Charron Vineyards
2. AZ 88
3. Hideaway House
4. The Park at O.H.S.O. Brewery
5. Creekside American Bistro
6. Macky’s Grill

1. Charron Vineyards

Located in Vail, Charron Vineyards is the closest winery to Tucson. This family-owned winery offers gorgeous mountain views and hand-crafted Arizona wines. Not only is it one of the oldest wineries in the state, but it is also dog-friendly! Your dog is welcome to join you as you sample award-winning wines made right in Arizona.

2. AZ 88

AZ 88 is located in Scottsdale. It has an artsy ambiance with a modern flavor and a bistro-style menu. Not only does this restaurant have a dog-friendly patio where they provide plenty of water, but they also offer a widely varied menu.

With so many options to choose from, there is bound to be something on the menu for everyone. Local favorites include dragon wings, seared ahi tuna, hot pepper chicken, and more, in addition to their craft beer.

3. Hideaway House

If you find yourself needing some food in Sedona, consider stopping by the Hideaway House. This restaurant features an Italian-inspired menu, and its outdoor seating area is dog-friendly.
Water is provided to your dog, and they may even be offered some dog biscuits, too, while you both enjoy the scenic views! Standouts on this menu include roasted tomato crostini, chicken caprese sandwiches, braised meatball sliders, and more.

4. The Park at O.H.S.O. Brewery

Should your travels bring you to Gilbert, Arizona, make sure you block out some time to hang out at The Park at O.H.S.O. Brewery. This is a huge outdoor pet-friendly playground that has something for everyone to enjoy. It’s part of the O.H.S.O Eatery + Nanobrewery. In addition to the 30 handcrafted brews available from the brewery, there are also food menus for humans and for dogs. Local favorites range from surf and turf to spicy pork sandwiches, tacos, burgers, and more.

There are games for humans to play, including corn hole and an arcade pod. There is also often live music to enjoy. The dog-friendly patio and dog park are nearby and attached, so you can let your dog off-leash to run in the dog park while still keeping an eye on them and enjoying the views of the canal. And, don’t worry, there is plenty of water available, and there are umbrellas and coverings to offer some shade when you and your dog need to cool down.

5. Creekside American Bistro

If you find yourself in Sedona and want to relax while you eat, consider stopping in at Creekside American Bistro. If you know you will want to check out Creekside for a meal, definitely call ahead and make reservations, especially during busy seasons and peak times.

With a varied menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options featuring fresh, local ingredients, everyone can find something they like here. Local favorites include barbecued pork ribs, shrimp and grits, the vegan bento box, and more. Don’t forget to check out the seasonal options, too!

Your dog is also welcome to join you at one of the tables in front of the restaurant or on the shaded back patio. There is even a dog menu! Canine customers can enjoy dog menu options, like a cheddar omelet with chicken jerky, grilled chicken over kibble, a dog-friendly steak tartare, and more.

6. Macky’s Grill

If you’ll be traveling through Payson, consider planning to take a break and refresh at Macky’s Grill. This local favorite serves dinner entrees as well as sandwiches, burgers, salads, and more. The grilled shrimp, ribs, country-fried steak, a variety of chicken dishes, sweet potato tots, and more are popular menu options, in addition to bottled beer, beer on tap, wine, and house-made cocktails. If you like milkshakes, make sure you try one of Macky’s Old-Fashioned Milkshakes!

Macky’s also has dog-friendly tables available. The outdoor patio is large with partial coverage and table umbrellas for shade, and your dog is welcome to join you out at one of the tables there. If you can, call ahead about 20 minutes or so before arrival to help reduce the wait if it’s busy. It’s also located near the Payson Farmer’s Market, which runs every Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to noon in the summer (usually around May 23rd to September 12th).

Plan a Dog-Friendly Trip to Arizona

Although this Arizona dog-friendly travel guide doesn’t cover everything, it is a good place to start. If you find something else you want to do, just make sure it is dog-friendly or that you have a plan in place for your dog before it goes on your trip plan.

With some research and planning, you can help keep traveling with your dog fun and stress-free for you both. Dog-friendly travel guides are a great place to start when it comes to planning out your trip. Here’s to safe travels, happy trails, and wagging tails, no matter where your travels may lead!