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    Dog Friendly Activities in Iowa

    Don’t leave Fido in the hotel room when you’re on vacation. Get out and play! No matter where you’re headed in Iowa, we can point you towards the nearest off-leash dog park, the most popular dog beach, a really great hiking trail, and lots of other places to play with Fido.

    Pet Friendly Pappajohn Sculpture Park

    Pappajohn Sculpture Park

    Des Moines, IA
    Pappajohn Sculpture Park Featuring artwork by over two dozen of the world's most celebrated artists, Pappajohn Sculpture Park is pet friendly. Leashed dogs are welcome to explore the 4.4-acre park located in downtown Des Moines, and an audio tour is available on the Des Moines Art Center website. Picnicking is allowed in the park, but humans should be sure to keep food and drink away from the works of art and dispose of waste in the trash cans. See Details
    Pet Friendly Living History Farms

    Living History Farms

    Urbandale, IA
    Living History Farms Living History Farms in Urbandale, IA is a dog-friendly, interactive outdoor museum which educates, entertains and connects people to Midwestern rural life experiences. Leashed dogs are welcome but must remain outside of the buildings. This 500-acre outdoor museum features walking trails and tractor-drawn carts connecting the 1876 Town of Walnut Hill to each of the historical farms. See Details

    Maquoketa Caves State Park

    Maquoketa, IA
    Maquoketa Caves State Park Leashed dogs are welcome at Maquoketa Caves State Park in Maquoketa, IA. This pet-friendly destination is famed for the caves and named for the Native Americans who once lived there. You and Fido can search the park for artifacts such as pottery, tools and projectile points made of stone. There are six miles of trails that explore the wooded surroundings and prairie, leading to the main attractions of the area, the Natural Bridge, Balanced Rock and Dancehall Cave. See Details

    Field of Dreams Movie Site

    Dyersville, IA
    Field of Dreams Movie Site Leashed, well behaved dogs (with responsible owners who will clean up after them) are permitted to enjoy The Field of Dreams Movie Site. This pet-friendly attraction in Dyersville, IA is home of the filming location for this popular 1989 movie. Enjoy a bit of history and Hollywood with Fido, but note that pets are not permitted in the farm house or the event center. See Details

    The Little Willow Dog Park

    Missouri Valley, IA
    The Little Willow Dog Park The Little Willow Dog Park is a peaceful, pet-friendly park in Missouri Valley, IA. Located near I-29 and Highway 30, this fenced, recreational area is wheelchair accessible and has lots of parking. This one-acre park features a double-gated entrance with separate areas for small and large dogs, shade shelters, water stations, waste bags, and agility equipment. See Details

    Iowa Arboretum

    Madrid, IA
    Iowa Arboretum Iowa Arboretum in Madrid, IA features beautiful, dog-friendly woodland and prairie walking trails. It's a great place to connect with nature and Fido. There are 160 acres of gardens, forests and prairies populated with century-old oak trees and native grasses. Please keep your dog on a leash and note that pets are not allowed in the visitor center. See Details

    Paws & Pints

    Des Moines, IA
    Paws & Pints Paws & Pints is a unique, dog-friendly retreat in Des Moines, IA. Pet parents can enjoy a pint while watching Fido explore over 20,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor space with dog park amenities such as a jungle gym, walking trails and clean up stations. Be sure to visit the snack kitchen, bar and coffeehouse. Other features include an on-site vet clinic, dog daycare, lodging, grooming and training. Check their website for information on park passes and memberships. See Details

    Ledges State Park

    Madrid, IA
    Ledges State Park Dogs are allowed to join their owners at Ledges State Park in Madrid, IA. Pea's Creek, a tributary of the Des Moines River, carves through a craggy sandstone gorge which can be viewed from the arch stone bridge at this pet-friendly park. There are a number of picnic spots which offer great views and tranquil surroundings. Adventurous dogs can tackle the four miles of hiking trails that lead to scenic overlooks of the canyon below, as long as they are on a leash under six feet in length. See Details

    Maiden Voyage Tours, LLC

    Marquette, IA
    Maiden Voyage Tours, LLC Maiden Voyage Tours, LLC is a pet-friendly attraction in Marquette, IA. Bring your pooch along to enjoy a boat tour of the Mississippi River while learning about the history of the area. Check their website for online booking, ticket pricing and availability. See Details

    The Brenton Arboretum

    Dallas Center, IA
    The Brenton Arboretum The Brenton Arboretum is a 143-acre landscape in the heart of Iowa agricultural land. Located in Dallas Center, IA, this pet-friendly attraction welcomes you and FIdo to explore thousands of trees, beautiful prairies and wildflower meadows, streams and ponds, and miles of grassy trails. Dogs must remain on a leash during their visit, and an annual membership or a day pass per dog is required. See Details

    Backbone State Park

    Dundee, IA
    Backbone State Park Leashed dogs are welcome to join their owners at Backbone State Park in Dundee, IA. This pet-friendly park is popular due to the 21 miles of trails that can be found around the area. Many of these will lead you through cedar trees and up rocky staircases, and a few lead to one of the highest points in northeast Iowa, the Devil's Backbone. The park also features picnic shelters with views out over the trees. Please remember to clean up after your pets during your visit. See Details

    Eagles Landing Winery

    Marquette, IA
    Eagles Landing Winery Swirl, sniff and sip a glass of wine alongside Fido at Eagles Landing Winery in Marquette, IA. This pet-friendly winery welcomes well-behaved, leashed dogs at a table in their wine garden, as long as they do not use the garden area for pet relief. Their award-winning wines include reds such as Frog Hollow, Marquette Rosé and Sweet Ruby, and whites such as Summer Crush, Grandpas Reserve and Oktoberfest. They also serve dessert wines and fruit and berry wines. See Details

    Dog Park at Bacon Creek Park

    Sioux City, IA
    Dog Park at Bacon Creek Park Bring Fido to blow off some steam at the off-leash dog park at Bacon Creek Park in Sioux City, IA. This fenced-in pup recreation area features separate sections for small and large dogs, tons of grass, benches, a pavilion, and plenty of room to roam and play. See Details

    Crow Creek Dog Park

    Bettendorf, IA
    Crow Creek Dog Park Crow Creek Dog Park is a pet-friendly area on almost seven acres in Betterndorf, IA. This fenced park has two separate enclosed spaces, one of which is an area called The SPOTT for dogs that are old, timid or tiny. Other amenities include water fountains, benches, waste bags and public restrooms. See Details

    Prairie Pastures Dog Park

    Clinton, IA
    Prairie Pastures Dog Park Located in Eagle Point Park, Prairie Pastures Dog Park is a fenced, off-leash area where Fido is invited to play in Clinton, IA. This 8-acre park is packed with features, from swimming pools to a special old dog area, an agility course, and nature trails. Day passes are available via an honor box and membership forms are also available on site. See Details

    Thornberry Off-Leash Dog Park

    Iowa City, IA
    Thornberry Off-Leash Dog Park Thornberry Off-Leash Dog Park is a pet-friendly recreation area in Iowa City, IA. This fenced dog park has a separate area for small dogs, an agility equipment and training area, and a doggie swimming pond. A permit is required for the park, but if you are just visiting for the day they ask for a $5 donation that can be paid through an honor system. Dogs are welcome to play freely in the park, as long as all mess is cleaned up after them. See Details

    Pikes Peak State Park

    McGregor, IA
    Pikes Peak State Park Pikes Peak State Park is a pet-friendly destination in McGregor, IA. Leashed dogs are invited to join their owners on eleven-and-a-half miles of trails around the park, many of which lead through wooded bluffs and valleys. This picturesque park is hugely popular among visitors on the hunt for the perfect picture of the Mississippi River, and you may even spot some ancient fossil remains along the way. See Details

    Clear Lake Dog Park

    Clear Lake, IA
    Clear Lake Dog Park Dogs are welcome to play off leash at Clear Lake Dog Park in Clear Lake, IA. Located in the Outlet Recreation Complex, this 2-acre dog park features separate fenced areas for large and small dogs, agility equipment, and drinking fountains. From the S 17th St parking area, you and your leashed pup can follow the walking paths to the opposite side of the creek where the fenced dog park is located. Alternatively, you can access a small parking lot next to the dog park off of 12th Ave S just west of S 24th St. See Details

    Bass Pro Shops

    Altoona, IA
    Bass Pro Shops Leashed dogs are welcome to shop with you at Bass Pro Shops in Altoona, IA. Well-mannered, supervised dogs are welcome to browse the aisles with you as you shop for outdoor gear, camping equipment, fishing tackle and more. Please note that dogs are not allowed in Uncle Buck's restaurant attached to the store. See Details

    Kinship Brewing Company

    Waukee, IA
    Kinship Brewing Company Kinship Brewing Company is pet-friendly. Located alongside the Raccoon River Valley Trail in Waukee, this beer producer is hoping to offer more than just delicious beverages to visitors. The site also houses a fenced park for pups to play off-leash while you sink a beverage. The half-acre park requires an affordable membership to enter, but it's worth it for your pup to play with other paw-trons. See Details
    Iowa