Ranking the Most Pet-Friendly Cities in the US
Celebrate National Dog Day Year-Round in These Pet-Friendly Cities
Friday, August 26 is National Dog Day, an annual celebration started nearly two decades ago in an effort to bring attention to the importance of pet adoption. For those travelers who already own a dog or those looking to add a new family member in the near future, it helps to know the best places to bring your pet.
Personal finance website WalletHub recently compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across nearly two dozen metrics of pet-friendliness, analyzing factors such as veterinary care costs, weather, dog-friendly restaurants and parks per capita, among others. The metrics were separated into three categories, including pet budget (25 points), pet health and wellness (50 points) and outdoor pet-friendliness (25 points). Total scores ranged from 38.85 for the last place city to 63.48 for the nation’s leading destination for dogs, cats and other pets. Here’s a look at how the 10 most pet-friendly U.S. cities rank for 2022.
10. Raleigh, North Carolina
North Carolina’s capital city rounds out the list of the 10 most pet-friendly U.S. cities in 2022. Raleigh ranks first in the nation in terms of pet budget, a category that considers factors such as veterinary care costs, minimum pet-care provider rate per visit and dog insurance premium. According to WalletHub, only Columbus, Ohio has lower veterinary care costs than Raleigh.
9. Colorado Springs, Colorado
A gateway to the Rocky Mountains offering no shortage of natural and outdoor attractions like the iconic Garden of the Gods and countless hiking trails, it’s no wonder Colorado Springs is so welcoming for travelers with pets. This Colorado city ranks 11th nationwide for pet health and wellness, the most heavily weighted of the three categories.
8. Las Vegas, Nevada
Eighth-ranked Las Vegas excels in terms of outdoor pet-friendliness (third), which takes into account factors like weather, dog parks, dog-friendly trails and dog shows per capita as well as walk score and parkland as a share of city area. The Entertainment Capital of the World, which is just that dogs in addition to humans, is tied for the most dog parks per capita and the most veterinarians per capita.
7. Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky
Ranking 10th for both pet budget and pet health and wellness, the Lexington-Fayette region in central Kentucky boasts plenty of pet-friendly restaurants and shops as well as affordable veterinary care but has some ground to make up in terms of outdoor pet-friendliness, where it ranks a lowly 93rd.
6. St Petersburg, Florida
One of two Florida Gulf Coast cities to rank in the top six this year, St. Petersburg comes in at fifth nationwide for pet health and wellness and ranks 38th for both pet budget and outdoor pet-friendliness. It has the third-most pet businesses per capita and features a plethora of pet-friendly hotels, bars, parks and beaches, allowing visitors to experience the sun and fun with man’s best friend.
5. Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati doesn’t rank worse than 32nd in either of the three categories WalletHub examined and is tied for the most veterinarians per capita. The city has plenty of spacious dog parks where visitors can let their pets stretch their legs and there’s even a dog-friendly rooftop patio to be enjoyed at BrewDog Cincinnati.
4. St Louis, Missouri
Edging out Cincinnati by just 0.04 points, St. Louis fares best in the pet budget category and ranks first in the nation for the most animal shelters per capita. Hangouts like The Doghaus and SLU Dog Park & Sculpture Garden are excellent starting points for travelers visiting this city with their four-legged family members.
3. Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon routinely ranks among the most pet-friendly cities in America and that’s in large part to the fact that it’s tied for the most dog parks and dog-friendly restaurants per capita. The city also ranks inside the top 10 in terms of both pet health and wellness and outdoor pet-friendliness.
2. Tampa, Florida
Just across the bay from St. Petersburg, Tampa earned impressive marks all around, ranking fourth for pet health and wellness, 19th for outdoor pet-friendliness and even 38th for pet budget. Tampa is tied with Las Vegas, Cincinnati, Orlando and Miami for the most veterinarians per capita. However, pet-loving travelers will hopefully be spending more time at Picnic Island Beach Dog Park, Pups Pub Tampa and the city’s other Fido-friendly hotspots.
1. Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona is the nation’s most pet-friendly city based on WalletHub’s metrics. The city boasts fantastic weather, of course, but also the second-most pet businesses per capita and nearby Phoenix is home to the third-most animal shelters per capita. The area also has a slew of pet-friendly hotels, like the Royal Palms Resort & Spa, which is treating pets to custom dog treats at check-in as part of its Royal Paws Pet Program.