Dog-Friendly Activities in Illinois

Don’t leave Fido in the hotel room when you’re on vacation. Get out and play! No matter where you’re headed in Illinois, 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 Mercury's Canine Cruise
Mercury's Canine Cruise Mercury's Canine Cruise is a dog-friendly boat tour in Chicago IL. Bring your pooch on a leash and enjoy quality time with your dog while cruising on Chicago's waterways. Sit back, relax and soak in the city as you enjoy a lively narration of Chicago’s rich history and architectural marvels with dog-friendly highlights. Keep your dog on your lap, in a seat or on the deck. The dog cruise boat offers plenty of safe outdoor seating, water bowls and a special newspaper-lined restroom for your pet. Enjoy a great day out of doors with your favorite companion. Reserve your tickets online or at the ticket office. Tickets available online or dockside day-of. Tours run seasonally so be sure to check their website for current schedule. See Details
Pet Friendly Seadog Cruises Chicago by Hornblower
Seadog Cruises Chicago by Hornblower You and your pooch can see the Windy City from the water aboard a Seadog Cruises Chicago by Hornblower speedboat. Departing from Navy Pier, Seadog Cruises offers a variety of dog-friendly event tours throughout the year. Check their website for a current schedule of SeaDog cruises. See Details
Shoreline Sightseeing Bring Fido aboard one of the dog-friendly Shoreline Cruises boats in Chicago, IL, for a trip on Lake Michigan or the Chicago River. Well-behaved, leashed pets are welcome on classic lake cruises and architecture cruises. The classic lake cruise will highlight historic lakefront sights and attractions along Lake Michigan. The architecture cruise will take you down the Chicago River to see buildings such as Tribune Tower, Wrigley Building, Trump Tower, Marina City and more. Dogs are not permitted on special event cruises or on fireworks cruises. Cruises depart from multiple locations depending on cruise and time. Call or visit website for exact departure location. See Details
Allerton Park & Retreat Center Whether you are looking for a place to hold a pet-friendly special event, or just want to spend an afternoon taking in nature's beauty, Allerton Park and Retreat Center in Monticello, IL, offers all of that and more. It has 1500-acres of meadows, woodlands, gardens, hiking trails, farmsteads and amazing sculptures. Day visitors can enjoy hiking, picnicking and bird-watching. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash that is 6-feet in length or shorter. Please remember to clean up after your pup. See Details
Giant City State Park Leashed dogs can join you at Giant City State Park, a pet-friendly park located within Shawnee National Forest in Makanda, IL. This park features stunning sandstone bluffs and numerous hiking trails that you and Fido can explore. See Details
Galena Cellars Winery & Vineyard Take a trip to the country and enjoy the view at the dog-friendly Galena Cellars Winery & Vineyard in Illinois. Book a tour, relax in the tasting room or deck, and experience how Galena Cellars wine is made. There’s always fun happening at the vineyard. Leashed dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas of the vineyard. Call ahead for seasonal hours. See Details
Shawnee National Forest The dog-friendly Shawnee National Forest covers more than 270,000 acres in parts of ten counties in southern Illinois. The National Forest Service and Illinois Department of Natural Resources maintain dozens of natural areas for recreational use and several wilderness areas. From the 90 foot Pomona Natural Bridge to the remains of a Mississippian Native American village at Millstone Bluff, there are hundreds of miles of hiking trails to choose from. Trails range in length from the 150+ mile River to River Trail that runs between Battery Rock on the Ohio River and Devil's Backbone on the Mississippi River, to the easy one-fourth mile Observation Trail at Garden of the Gods. Dogs must be leashed at all times. See Details
Wag 'N Paddle Wag 'N Paddle is an indoor climate-controlled park and heated swimming pool designed for dogs in Naperville, IL. This pet-friendly park is perfect for pooches who love to paddle and play. The 9,000-square-feet park is monitored by staff to make sure dogs and their owners are on their best behavior. In addition to providing a pool and park to play in, they also offer a number of swimming classes in the pool for senior dogs and training sessions with qualified dog trainers for all levels of pooch in the park too. Fido can gain unlimited access to the indoor dog park for a membership fee, and for for an extra fee can enjoy private swimming sessions. There are a number of other pricing options available on their website for regular and one-time users. See Details
Chicago Riverwalk Chicago Riverwalk in Chicago, IL, is dog friendly. This pedestrian waterfront hike spans from Lake Shore Drive to Lake Street in downtown Chicago, encompassing restaurants, a public art gallery and a museum right on the riverwalk. See Details
Montrose Dog Beach The Montrose Dog Beach is Chicago's first legal off-leash beach. Located on the Northwest corner of Montrose Beach, this area is fenced and offers free dog waste bags and a dog-wash area. Montrose Dog Beach is open during all regular Chicago Park District hours, but morning hours are the most popular. DFA tags are required for all dogs. See Details
Jackson Bark Jackson Bark is a dog park located in Jackson Park, just south of the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, IL. The fenced park features agility equipment and toys for Fido to enjoy. See Details
Lakewood Dog Park Lakewood Dog Park in Wauconda, IL, is a great place for Fido to run and play off-leash. The area features swimmng, grassy areas, walking paths and more. A permit is required for entry and can be purchased online. See Details
Yorktown Center Yorktown Center is a popular dog-friendly shopping center in Chicago’s Western Suburbs in Lombard, IL. Shoppers and their four-legged friends can enjoy a fun shopping and dining experience year-round. In addition to letting you shop with your best friend, restaurants located within Yorktown Center will also allow shoppers to dine alfresco with their pooches on their dog-friendly patios, and the Center has comfort stations throughout the mall that contain bags, wipes and garbage cans for shoppers' convenience. See Details
Hammel Woods Dog Park Hammel Woods Dog Park in Shorewood, IL, provides an exercise area where dogs can run free. A shelter and benches provide comfort for the canines' human companions. A permit is required for use of the Dog Park. Other amenities at Hammel Woods include multi-purpose trails, campsites, picnic shelters, and access to the DuPage River for canoeing/kayaking and fishing. See Details
Naperville Riverwalk Naperville Riverwalk in Naperville, IL, features 1.75 miles of brick paths, fountains, bridges, meeting and event places, outdoor sculpture and artwork, recreational facilities, and celebratory memorials. Leashed dogs are welcome on the Walk, and there is plenty of shade and water spigots available along the way. Great place unwind and relax. Nearby Riverwalk Cafe welcomes dogs on their patio and offers a simple doggie menu. See Details
White Pines Forest State Park White Pines Forest State Park is a dog-friendly state park in Mount Morris, Illinois. At 385-acres, the park is made up of varied scenery that's beautiful to explore, including moss-covered cliffs, tranquil woods of towering pines, and the babbling Pine Creek running through the middle. The trails in the park are all pet-friendly and three of the seven are less than a mile long. Size isn't everything though, as these trails prove, leading you and your pooch around vine-covered limestone bluffs and lots of blossoming spring flowers. Additionally, there's an easier trail that is suitable for all levels of walker too. Dogs should be on a leash for the duration of their visit to White Pines Forest. See Details
Lincoln Home National Historic Site Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, IL, is pet friendly. Bring Fido along to see preserves the home and surrounding area where Abraham Lincoln lived from 1844 to 1861. Take a walk with your leashed pooch around the four blocks surrounding his former home. Dogs are not allowed in the buildings, but are welcome in the Lincoln Neighborhood. See Details
Nordstrom Nordstrom in Chicago, IL, is pet friendly. Leashed dogs are allowed inside this shop located inside the Shops at Northbridge. They sell a variety of clothing, shoes and accessories. See Details
Batavia Bark Park Batavia Bark Park in Batavia, IL, features 3-acres of fully-fenced space for Fido to enjoy. Other features include a pavilion, shade trees, and a small beach area. This is a free dog park and no permit is required. See Details
Starved Rock State Park Starved Rock State Park in Oglesby, IL, is full of dog-friendly hiking trails that wind through canyons, amazing views, and waterfalls. Leashed dogs are welcome to join you at this popular state park as you explore the scenic trails. Pet parents are reminded to clean up after their pup and to bring water for them as they should not drink from any natural water sources. See Details
Illinois