Dog Days of Summer

Beat the Heat with Fido at Washington Beaches

By Claire Nunn on August 6, 2020

With summer in full swing, it's hard not to want to pile the family in the car and head to the beach! But, what about your beloved Fido that also longs to play frisbee on the beach or splash in the waves? Lucky for Fido there are plenty of Washington beaches that accommodate dogs. With the majority of Washington beaches allowing for leashed dogs to join in on the fun, we searched for the beaches that allow what your dog really wants, off leash beach access.

Located 89 miles away from JBLM is Ocean Shores, which is truly the perfect beach for the whole family. The expansive beach and attractions in town will ensure that the kiddies are well entertained throughout the day. Dogs are allowed on leash on any part of the beach, but you will definitely want to take them to the off leash dog beach. Located about two miles south, on Ocean Shores Blvd. off Tauras access road is where you will find the off leash area. Stretching for quite a ways down the beach, it's the perfect place for your dog to run off leash and play fetch. Ocean Shores can easily be done as a day trip, but there are also many hotels to choose from, that allow dogs. 

Another not to be missed dog beach is, Double Bluff Beach, located in Freeland, WA, about 80 miles from Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM). This off leash area is a two-mile- long stretch of saltwater beach for your dog to run to their heart's content. And while your dog runs out all their pent up energy, you will want to take in the breathtaking views of Mt. Rainier, the Seattle Skyline and the Olympic Peninsula. Our favorite part of this off leash area is that when it's time to collect the frisbee and tennis balls and head back in the car, you can stop by the dog washing station to wash off all the sand and ocean water on your dog, for a cleaner journey home.

If you're looking for a more expansive beach for your dog to roam, we would recommend Westport Beach in Grays Harbor County.  With dogs allowed off leash on the entire beach, it provides 18 miles of pure bliss for the whole family. Located 86 miles from JBLM it's definitely possible to make it a day trip, or with tons of dog friendly accommodations in town, it can easily be an overnight, or long weekend trip as well. 

For an off leash dog area with water access a little closer to home we would recommend Magnuson Park off-leash area in Seattle. With 8.6 acres of off leash space available in the park there are plenty of opportunities for your dog to roam. But if they're a water loving Fido, they will definitely love the off leash freshwater beach area. Once they are finished repeatedly running to the water to fetch a tennis ball, there are plenty of other areas of the park to explore off leash. A particular favorite of ours is the winding trails with changes of scenery along the way. Before you get back in the car to head home, we can bet your dog will want to stop back at the beach for a few more rounds of fetch. 

Whether you choose to stay closer to home, or journey a little further, we guarantee your dog will be overjoyed. Just don't forget to pack a tennis ball or two.