PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Ahead of summer travel, USA Today Blueprint ranked the top cities in the United States for dog-friendly vacations – giving high marks to the Rose City.
USA Today Blueprint analyzed several data points, including the number of dog-friendly accommodations, restaurants, and bars, along with dog-friendly beaches and trails.
The report — published March 13 — ranked Flagstaff, Ariz. the number one overall dog-friendly vacation spot in the U.S. for having the highest concentration of accommodations compared to any other city. The city also ranked third for the number of pet friendly restaurants, with 39 restaurants per 100,000 residents.
Flagstaff ranked fourth for the number of pet-friendly bars and dog-friendly trails with 132 trails to choose from, per USA Today Blueprint.
Portland, Ore. ranked fifth in the U.S. for dog-friendly vacations with the highest number of dog-friendly trails, offering 171 options, according to the report.
Portland also offers 18 dog-friendly restaurants per 100,000 residents, and four dog-friendly bars per 100,000 residents, USA Today Blueprint said.
The city also has around 541 vet offices per 100,000 businesses, offering easier access to care for dogs, the report said.
“Portland is the largest city in Oregon and often has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. If you and your pup enjoy outdoor pursuits, Portland has much to offer,” the report said.
After Flagstaff, San Luis Obispo, Calif., Santa Barbara, Calif., and Austin, Texas round out the second through fourth place spots.
California has the most dog-friendly vacation cities with three cities in the top 10: San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and San Diego, which ranked sixth.
To rank the top dog-friendly vacation destinations, USA Today Blueprint said they analyzed the top 50 most visited cities by overseas tourists in 2022 based on data from the U.S. International Trade Administration.