Oregon is undoubtedly one of the dog-friendliest states around, which means a lot on road trips. After all, what’s a vacation if your four-legged friend has to stay at home? We consulted one of our favorite pups, Daisy, for some of her top spots to hop out of the car when she and her owner, Nickie, are on one of their epic adventures through Oregon. Each of these stops is a quick detour off Interstate-5. Happy trails!
Portland
Lucky Labrador Brew Pub is a short detour from I-5 on SE Hawthorne Street, with a large dog-friendly patio. Their specialty pizzas are made with fresh, hand-tossed barley flour pizza dough which compliments their fresh hand-crafted beer.
Sellwood Park in Southeast Portland offers a 1.5-acre off-leash area and access to the Willamette River for swimming. The dog area can get muddy when it rains, so bring mud boots or prepare to wash off your pup in the rainy months.
Salem
Ankeny Vineyard welcomes dogs on their property and on their deck, which overlooks the Willamette Valley and Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge on the southernmost slopes of the Salem Hills. Try their wood-fired pizza and small-batch wine, but make sure to use a designated driver you’re drinking.
Minto-Brown Island Park in Salem boasts a 30-acre off-leash dog park to let Fido burn off that lunch. You can also take a sweet walk in the park along 29 miles of trails among nine loops.
Eugene
Ninkasi Brewing Company welcomes dogs on their large patio with water bowls and treats. They host a rotating fleet of food trucks at this otherwise tap-only brewery; check their website for hours and offerings.
Alton Baker Park has something for everyone: a BMX track, boat launch, disc golf, trails and best of all for your dog, a 4-acre fully fenced dog park, directly across from Autzen Stadium. In the summer, they put out a couple of wading pools for dogs to stay cool.
Ashland
Smack in the middle of downtown, the creekside patio at Louie’s of Ashland is dog-friendly. The dining options are fun, too, with an eclectic menu that offers everything from “Thai tofu canoes” to buffalo wings. On cool nights, they offer warm fleece blankets for bundling up.
Right off I-5, the Luna Cafe at Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites also has a pet-friendly patio. It’s the perfect place to sip a signature craft cocktail and dig into a smoked salmon burger or grilled flatbread pizza.
A few miles west of downtown Ashland, Hald/Strawberry Park offers a 2-acre fully-fenced off leash park; dogs can splash around in wading pools here during the summer.
Need a reason to road-trip with your loyal friend? Check out these dog-friendly events:
Corgi Walk in the Pearl (Aug. 17, 2019), a festive event that welcomes hundreds of corgis to Northwest Portland and raises funds for both Corgi Rescue and the Oregon Human Society, which celebrates its 151st anniversary in 2019.
Mutts on the Mountain (Aug. 24, 2019), an outdoor festival at Mt. Hood Meadows for dogs and their people, benefiting the Oregon Humane Society.
Ruffwear Dog Leg of the Columbia Gorge Half Marathon (Oct. 20, 2019), a special dog-friendly event for runners and their pooches looking for a scenic challenge, starting in Hood River.
When you go: If you happen to be in any Oregon State Parks, check out their handy guide to pets in parks for details on leash laws, trail etiquette, what-to-bring lists and more great dog-friendly trails across Oregon.
