Key West Dog Beach
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Reviews
Visitors generally find Key West Dog Beach to be a small, sandy area suitable for dogs to play, though some note issues with seaweed and lack of amenities. They report the beach provides a good option for off-leash play, though the small size limits the activities available.
AI-generated from the text of reviews
- ReneeMar 17, 2024Doggie Beach Vibes
This dog beach is better than what others say in reviews. It’s a white Sandy Beach, no rocks. It’s right next to Louie’s Backyard. Dogs can be off leash & run and play. Not crowded. Only downside of our visit was there was a large jellyfish floating up & down the shore.
- AnnFeb 13, 2024Not impressed
When we visited it had a lot of weeds on beach but that was ok. It DID smell. A lot. Like a sulphur smell but it’s right next to a restaurant so it could’ve been something else We won’t go back dog didn’t want to go in anyway
- EdithFeb 5, 2024Great to have it !
Although it is very small, it is clean, not smelly as other said and great to have your dog run free ! Thanks to the municipality !
- TraceyOct 30, 2023Easy
The beach is clean and sandy. small shoreline but contained. Roxie loved it. We parked on the street nearby.
- PaulJul 26, 2023Only Beach in KW for Dogs
The seaweed was bad when we were there, but that’s a seasonal thing. It’s a small area and it isn’t fenced off either. Not a great beach, but still the only dog beach in Key West.
- TinaJun 15, 2023Pups loved it!
While this is a small beach, my pups had a great time running around and playing! This place is great if you have a little common sense...yes, there is seaweed...it's the ocean. No, it's not totally enclosed...it's a beach. Yes, it is small...but so is Key West. Long story short, well behaved pups will have a good time, bring water and poop bags. Parking is free and while there was seaweed, it didn't smell bad at all. Well worth it.
- HanaNov 23, 2022Small but only beach on key west that you can have your dog off leash
small opening to let your dog off leash. we had gone during a rainy time and the tide was high so couldn’t explore too much. worth a check out if you just want a small jaunt with your dog off leash.
- DanaeJul 12, 2022DISGUSTING
We walked about 20 minutes to get here. There was so much “gunk” our pup couldn’t even get close to the water. The smell alone was an assault on our senses, can’t imagine what it smelled like to her. For a city maintained area, we expected more, considering how well other city areas are cared for. Very very disappointing!
- JesseMar 13, 2022Small but worthy
The picture labeled “dog park”, placed on here on June 6, 2018 is a great representation of the beach. Yes, it is tiny but I think it is good use of otherwise unusable beach space. many dogs there (~12) and more than half of them were off leash and very well behaved. No “disagreements”. Yes, there was dead seaweed but I didn’t think it was excessive, I mean, it is the beach, after all. Locals were friendly too.
- ShelbyJan 21, 2022Fun little dog beach!
our pups loved getting to visit the key west dog beach. it was easy access to get too, the beach itself was smaller than excepted but our dogs had a lot of fun and the beach was very well kept. fun place to take your pups for a swim!
- BettyDec 16, 2021Disappointed
there is no beach to mention. it’s a mess. don’t waste your time. Louie’s Backyard treat dogs better than humans. Drinks were so so. but our dogs each got a bucket of ice water.
- RonaldDec 8, 2021Better than reviews we saw
ok, it’s small but was good for our dog. honestly everything in Key West is small, no frisbee playing but it was sandy and sandy out where I. oils walk. right on corner of street. was clean and sand was good.
- SamanthaOct 15, 2021Don’t waste your time…
This place shouldn't be considered a beach. Quite disappointed when we got there. A lot of trash and seaweed made it undesirable, and the "beach" was nonexistent. There were no dogs and no beach. My husband said he could spit from one end to the other, and that's not a joke.
Please don't waste your time here.
- LisaOct 31, 2020Small But Leash Free
I read the other reviews which were not too good. But it was clean when we were there. Only one other dog and was nice to be able to let him off the leash. Very small but our dog had fun.
- RicardoAug 8, 2020Didn’t Meet Expectations
Its very small space, very hard to find. water entry was full of seaweeds, and not fenced or safe to be off leash
- ElizabethFeb 11, 2020Very small, relaxing
We were there in a Tuesday there was one other person with two dogs. Do not expect a large beach like Sombrero Beach in Marathon. This is very very small, !it's like an alley with sand and the ocean at the end. Louie's Backyard is on one side and some type of condo in the other. Okay for 30 minutes to an hour, but don't plan a day of it.
- LauraMay 31, 2019Not Accessible
There was too much seaweed to get to the water, and the odor was unpleasant.
- MicheleMore than a year agoNO!
We went there. No beach, just rotting seaweed and other vegetation and trash. Couldn’t reach the water and the water looked filthy, with debris floating all around. Key West is dog-friendly, our dog rode the conch train, went to aquarium, and most restaurants, but there’s no beach for dogs. Shameful.
- Donna KronmillerMore than a year agodog park small
This is a very small dog park. No grass mostly sand with some seaweed mixed. It does the trick for the fur babies to get wet and cooled off. It is not for them to get worn out and run.
- FlorenciaMore than a year agoworst beach ever
The place is really small, full of rocks... Is not a beach. Don't bring your dog there.
- RachelMore than a year agoDecent Beach
Probably one of the smallest worst kept dog beaches I've ever seen. I grew up in Chicago, which had a very large sandy dog beach. This was a small gap between buildings that was way overrun with seaweed. Although the waves were calm, it was hard to tell where the shallow water and beach started; due to being overrun with seaweed.
- Mr. TwisterMore than a year agoAwesome
Small but fun. All dogs were well behaved. And the restaurant, bar Louie's is awesome.
- BruceMore than a year agopathetic
Not a beach a vacant lot with some shoreline. Tiny-about 30 feet wide. A hangout for bums and drunks. The only good dog beaches in the area are accessible only by private boat and are not high and dry at higher tides.
- ValerieMore than a year agoAwesome dog beach
Great small dog beach. Our dogs loved swimming with us and playing ball in the ocean. We didn't see any rocks that others had mentioned. There is a garbage can, free tennis balls and doggie bags. Fun place with friendly people.
- VickiMore than a year agoDogs enjoyed it
The beach is located at the corner of Vernon and Waddell and there is a sign that says Dog Beach. The water was fairly calm and there was seaweed everywhere..a worker at Louie's decided to use a leaf blower near the dogs which the dogs didn't take too kindly to. We went early in the morning and were the only ones there for most of our visit. A local came by with a lab and said that it usually gets crowded around lunchtime. Like the others reviewers, it is a small area but we will go back.
- John yanikMore than a year agonice little spot
It's the only game in town for the dogs to use the beach, kinda small but my guys all love the water. We'd go in and swim for an hour. I like to go early so we have the whole place to ourselves. Never had any issues with the rocks as they are off to the side. My wife and I go with the dogs (3 shepherds) and she'll make drink runs to Louie's (which is the best restaurant on the island IMO) while the dogs and I are on the beach. Love this place. The water is nice and calm too
- HuntMore than a year agoNot dog friendly
I contacted KW police dept and told this is the only beach in Key West that allows dogs. It's a 30 foot stretch of rocks at the end of an alley next to a restaurant with seaweed and debris floating all across the surface of the water. Even if it wouldn't cut his feet (which it would) I wouldn't let my dog in that water. I suppose KW city government all have six toed cats and aren't dog lovers..
- AshleyMore than a year agoTiny
This beach was small and situated between two concrete walls. The days we were there, the waves were quite rough, making us nervous to allow our puppy to try to swim. There is a patch of rock/concrete on one side of the sand that gets slippery. I don't know if this spot is better on different days, but the days we went, I would not have trusted our puppy to swim in those waters. The beach itself is a quiet little retreat.
- EsriMore than a year agoOnly good for big, water loving dogs.
As others have said, it's only about 30 feet wide, and has a steep downward slope. I remember it being sandy, not rocky, but it's not a place you would go to take a nice long walk with your dog. We brought our Chihuahua, and she was immediately surrounded by huge Labs. We left.
- BillMore than a year agoTerrible Dog Beach
Not a dog beach. Very rocky. Small area. Too many issues.
- EmilyMore than a year agoSad Excuse
I have now lived in Key West for 3 years and I cannot for the life of me understand why it ranks so high as dog friendly. Maybe because people bring their dogs into the grocery store? This "dog beach" is a small strip of sand between Louie's backyard restaurant and a wood wall from the resort next door. The wall of course doesn't go all the way down so my rat terrier saw it as fun to run back and forth under there where I couldn't see him. It is not a place for dogs to be dogs as if they bark in excitement too much someone from the restaurant next door will say something. It is not fenced, and there is no poop bags or water provided so be sure to come prepared. During high tide it is rough and not easy for the dogs to swim in. If I was a tourist I would not waste my time.
- JustineMore than a year agoNot sure where we were
I think we made it to the dog beach, but I'm not really sure, since it's not marked. The "beach" was a patch of sand between 2 concrete walls. It worked for us because we just wanted a spot for our dogs to be off their leash and in the water, while on vacation. But, I would not call it a dog park.
- MabelMore than a year agoIt does the job
If you want your dog to play in the ocean, it does the trick. Aside from that it's a very small beach and it's not fenced in.
- @Tuco_the_ChiweenieMore than a year agoSmall but good enough
April 2014 Beach is blocked on two sides but not fenced. It's small but if you want to throw a toy in the water and have your dog fetch it or to go to ocean for first time it does the job. We had a great time with our Chiweenie, he was the smallest dog there. Sometimes there's no dogs other times half a dozen. Use your best judgement if you don't like the other dogs then leave (or go to Louie's and watch for a good time) we did on one visit because two very large dogs we're very interested in our little man. It's not kept up by any community program which is a shame because it could use a trash can and some picking up. Louie's is good next door to take a rest and have a drink with your dog.
- JaneMore than a year agodon't waste your time
Just an empty lot and the worlds smallest dog beach take your dog out to the boat ramp on Simonton Street beach instead. (Leashed)
- ElenaMore than a year agoDisappointingly Small
We were very disappointed with the beach and were surprised it could even be called a beach. It is a patch of sand with no room for dogs to run and play.The small space allows no separation from ill-behaved dogs or humans, and several people there were trying to use the tiny spot for sunbathing.
- DebraMore than a year agono space
This is the worlds smallest beach. No room for running, big rocks in the water. My dog had fun digging in the sand though. But we were really disappointed.
- CatalinaMore than a year agoTerrible
I've been to other dog beaches, and what the key west beach had to offer was below disappointing. The "beach" as they call it is a small shore line what has building closing it off from anything and it is rocky all over. I was very upset that I walked all over looking for it and what I found was more of a dump than anything else
- JeanineMore than a year agoGROSS
key west dog beach should not be classified as any sort of beach at all. rather, an "empty lot", adjacent to louie's backyard, that is habitually littered with homeless people and trash. also, the "lot" is not fenced in. unfortunately, there are not any beaches in key west that are truly dog friendly ... i'm ready to move back to the mainland.
- LexiMore than a year agoNice spot
I dont understand why everyone keeps saying this is a 'rocky' beach. It's not rocky AT all. I think what happened is these people went to the wrong side. There IS a spot just north of Louies restaurant that is rocky, but it is not the dog beach. You have to make sure you are on the south side of Louie's restaurant where there are no rocks. It is small, but still enough room for a bunch of dogs to run around and have fun. Cute spot - my pup had a lot of fun, except for the moron who couldn't control his rat dog, that ended up biting my poor puppy in the face. Just beware the owners - that are stupid enough to leave their aggressive animals off leashes knowing they bite, thats my only complaint. Oh, and the fact there are no showers to wipe off, or places to toss poop. Otherwise, it's a must see for your visit to Key west with your dog(s)!
- DebMore than a year agoLouies
Louies's was not only NOT dog friendly, they were VERY rude to us, will never go back there!
- JackieMore than a year agoGreat little beach
Ok, here's the deal with Louie's backyard and every other restaurant in key west right now. The host at Louie's told me that Florida state law prohibits dogs at restaurants, but cities can pass an ordinance to override it. Key west had never bothered to do that, but nobody cared until a drunk lady tripped over a dog at another restaurant and sued. According to the host at Louie's, the city is working on an ordinance to officially allow dogs at outdoor tables. By the time you read this, it may have been passed. As for the beach itself, it was great. It is small and rocky, but so are all the beaches in the Keys. My only complaint is that there's no trashcan to dispose of dog waste and no hose to rinse off with. Otherwise, it's a great little beach for you and your dog to enjoy!
- MelissaMore than a year agoDog Beach Key West
Our Lab enjoyed her first ever beach frolic here. She had a blast. It is small but everyone was very friendly. (Take a chair). Louie's Back Porch allows dogs in the outdoor bar area and and seating under the umbrellas!
- PamMore than a year agoDont Miss The Beach
My pup loved the beach in the morning and evening when it wasnt too hot (we went in June). It wasnt too crowded. The area was a bit smaller than I expected. Louis backyard restaurant has been reported as allowing dogs on their porch, but they do not. Sadly.
Traveler Photos
We dug up 15 pictures of dogs at Key West Dog Beach.
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