The Holy City, Charleston is a popular US vacation destination for good reason. In fact, Travel and Leisure magazine named Charleston the #1 best city in the US to visit again.
For years, I heard from friends how hospitable Charleston is to both human and furry friend visitors. So I had to go explore firsthand and see how dog-friendly the historic city truly is.
From historic downtown Charleston to dog-friendly beaches, the holy city didn’t disappoint when it came to being pet friendly!
To help you plan your dog-friendly vacation to Charleston, South Carolina, below you’ll find many fun dog-friendly things to do in Charleston.
Is Charleston, SC Dog Friendly?
Charleston, SC is a dog-loving city! Not only is the holy city hospitable to human visitors, but it also welcomes your furry friend. There are many fun activities to do in Charleston with your dog. So don’t hesitate to bring your pet along on your trip!
I was pleasantly surprised by how dog-friendly Charleston truly is and had a great time with Teddy on my trip to Charleston!
Stay At A Pet-Friendly Hotel Charleston SC
In the heart of Charleston, you’ll find many pet-friendly hotels that allow small dogs and large dogs. We stayed at The Charleston Place which has no pet fee and allows all-sized dogs.
Check the pet policy of the hotel to find pet-friendly rooms.
Tip: Although you can easily walk or bike around downtown Charleston. I recommend renting a car to visit many of these dog-friendly sites and beaches.
Explore Historic Downtown Charleston
Take a walk through downtown Charleston’s historic district and you’ll quickly notice its historic charm. It’s almost as if you’ve been transported into another world with massive oak trees draped beautifully with Spanish moss, horses strolling cobblestone streets, and old homes that date back well before the Civil War. The historic city sits on the ocean side, allowing you to enjoy the harbor and catch a glimpse of dolphins.
In the downtown area, you’ll see the historic Charleston City Market, an open-air public market with local vendors selling one-of-a-kind products.
Stroll Down King Street
I recommend starting your journey in Charleston by walking your dog down King street to see the old grand beautiful homes, check out the stores, and grab a sweet treat. Many of the stores are pet friendly.
Waterfront Park
The Joe Riley Waterfront Park overlooks Charleston harbor and the Cooper River. Historically it was the center of maritime traffic.
Now you can stroll through the 10-acre picturesque park, take in the harbor and Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge and see the famous Pineapple Fountain.
Rainbow Row
Thirteen pastel-colored historic homes on East Bay Street are famously known as Rainbow Row. In the past, the houses belonged to merchants who had stores on the ground floor and lived upstairs. Today, they make a great photo opportunity.
White Point Garden And The Battery
White Point Garden is a scenic park that overlooks the water. A quiet place to stroll and take in the Virginia Oak trees, harbor, and historical Civil War cannons and mortars placed around the park.
Walk a little further and you’ll find yourself at The Battery, a seawall named after a civil-war coast defense artillery battery.
Sightsee From The Water On The Dog-Friendly Charleston Water Taxi
Ride the dog-friendly Charleston Water Taxi to sightsee from the water and if you’re lucky, catch a glimpse of a dolphin or two. Well-behaved leashed pets of any size are welcome aboard with you.
Catch the water taxi from four convenient locations around Charleston and pay $14 for an all-day pass. Dogs ride for free.
Take A Spooky Ghost Tour With Your Dog
A historic city like Charleston has incredible dark stories and ghosts you need to experience. Take a ghost tour with a knowledgeable guide to learn about Charleston’s most haunted places and meet their ghosts.
Walking tours are available in historic Charleston, the harbor, in the Magnolia Cemetery, abroad the USS Yorktown, and many more places. Well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome on some of the ghost tours with Bulldog Tours and Old Charleston Ghost Tours. You will need to contact them directly to ensure it’s okay to bring your pet along on the tour.
If you’re brave enough, do the cemetery and graveyard tour at 9pm with a full moon in the sky.
We enjoyed the spooky stories, meet a few ghosts, and learned about graveyards throughout the centuries. The spookiest part was the gator and giant spider webs that we saw along the way. Please take note that I didn’t bring Teddy on the tour because we were walking through a cemetery in the dark.
Explore The Beautiful Gardens At Magnolia Plantation
Travel and Leisure Magazine has named Magnolia Plantation and Gardens one of America’s Most Beautiful Gardens. You’ll understand why when you stroll through the luscious gardens full of Virginia Oak trees draped in Spanish moss.
Leashed dogs can explore the gardens and Audubon Swamp. They are not permitted in the zoo, gift shop or any of the guided tours.
On our trip, it was too hot for Teddy to accompany me through the gardens. Please be careful of the gators and other animals that live in the swamp when taking your dog on the trails through the Audubon Swamp.
StandUp Paddle Boarding At Shem Creek
If your dog is into water adventures, then Shem Creek gives easy access to Standup Paddle Board with your dog. You may even see a few dolphins! If your dog doesn’t love the water, you can stroll on the boardwalk and catch a glimpse of the dolphins.
Take A Day Trip To One Of Many South Carolina Beaches
Many vacationers flock to South Carolina for its many beaches. From Charleston, you can easily take a day trip to one of the many beaches South Carolina has to offer. The best part is, you won’t have to leave your furry best friend behind.
Take a short drive to the north of Charleston, you will find Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms. And South of Charleston, there is Folly Beach and Kiawah Beachwalker Park.
Each beach is beautiful and has its own unique set of rules allowing dogs on the beach at certain times of the day depending on the time of year. A dog permit is required at Sullivan’s Island.
Visit The Charleston Tea Garden
For all tea lovers, visit the Charleston Tea Plantation, the only tea garden in North America! Learn the history of tea, and take a factory tour to learn the process and a trolley tour to see the greenhouse.
Your dog is only allowed to accompany you on the front porch.
There is no admission fee. But there is a charge to take the Trolley Tour.
Have A Drink At Firefly Distillery
Firefly Distillery is one of Charleston’s oldest working distilleries. They are known for their Sweet Tea Vodka and Sourthern Lemonade Vodka.
Learn about the distillation process on a tour of the distillery and taste different samples in their tasting room.
You can enjoy a drink with your furry friend outside but dogs are not allowed inside the distillery or tasting rooms.
Marvel At The Legendary Angel Oak
Angel Oak Park is located on Johns Island and is home to one of the oldest living angel oak trees in the southeast. Angel Oak is an estimated three to four years old, sixty-five feet high and has a circumference of 25.5 feet. It’s absolutely marvelous up close!
Leashed pets are allowed in designated areas.
Riverfront Park
Riverfront Park is a large green space and performance pavilion on the banks of the Cooper River. It’s a great place to walk and people and boat watch.
The park is home to the Greater Charleston Naval Base Memorial which displays the Lone Sailor and the Homecoming statues.
Charleston, SC Pet-Friendly Restaurants
On our trip, it felt as if we could easily find a dog-friendly restaurant. Even hotels that didn’t allow dogs on their rooftop bars had another pet-friendly lounge or restaurant to offer. When in doubt, call the restaurant to confirm!
Tip: Most restaurants in Charleston close down between lunch and dinner service (about 2-5 pm).
- Eli’s Table- Has a great dog-friendly patio. Recommended for Brunch and Dinner.
- Poogan’s Porch- Ask to be seated on the upstairs balcony.
- Husk- Famous southern restaurant. Reservations are highly recommended.
- Frannie & The Fox
- Magnolia
- 82 queen
- Blind Tiger pub
- La Farfalle- My favorite place to eat in Charleston. Fantastic Italian restaurant. Either get reservations or walk in when they first open.
- Vintage coffee shop
- The Rise- Located at the Restoration Hotel
- Clerks Coffee- Enjoy a coffee with your dog. Dog biscuits are available.
- Kudu Coffee & Craft Beer
- The Harbinger Cafe
Bonus:
Shop At A Dog Store
Spoil your pooch with a new toy or treats at dog stores such as Wolfgang and Hairy Winston.
James Island County Park
Let your dog run loose on this 4-acre dog park and beach on James Island.
Walk the Campus At The College of Charleston
The College of Charleston is one of the oldest colleges in South Carolina. Walk around the campus and marvel at the historical buildings.
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Pin to plan your dog-friendly Charleston SC Trip!
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