Hotels
There are 2338 pet friendly hotels in Illinois.
You'll find information on all the most popular pet friendly hotels, vacation rentals, bed & breakfasts, and campgrounds in Illinois below.
Aloft Chicago City Center is dog friendly! Two dogs up to 40 lbs are welcome for no additional fee. Larger dogs may be considered with prior approval. Dogs may not be left unattended in the room. A dog kit is provided at check in, including a dog bed, treats, a bowl, and waste bags. There is no pet relief area on the property, but there is a grassy area for pet relief nearby. Cats and other pets are not permitted. For same day arrivals, please call 877-411-3436 to confirm availability of a pet-friendly room.
This 1-bedroom Airbnb rental in Chicago welcomes two dogs of any size for no additional fee. Exceptions may be made for more than two small pets with prior homeowner approval. Pets left alone in the apartment must be accustomed to being unattended in an unfamiliar environment, and preferably crated.
Galena Log Cabin Getaway welcomes two dogs of any size for an additional fee of $25 per night. Additional dogs may be allowed with prior hotel approval. Only four units are pet friendly. Guests traveling with dogs must call 877-411-3436 prior to booking to verify availability of a pet-friendly room or risk not being able to check in with a dog and/or incurring any associated cancellation penalties. Dogs may be left unattended, but must be kept leashed in the cabin area. There is a grassy area for pet relief on the property. Sorry, cats are not permitted.
Dogs are allowed at Blanding Landing Campground tent sites and cabins as well as on all of the trails, but they must be kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet when outside your vehicle. Please observe quiet hours from 10pm - 6am. For more information on pet restrictions, please call (563) 582-0881.
Restaurants
Don't leave Fido in the hotel room when it's time for dinner.
There are 2138 dog friendly restaurants in Illinois.
A handful of our favorite sidewalk cafes, coffee shops, bars, and other eateries in Illinois that welcome Fido to join at an outdoor table are listed below. Bon appetit!
Harry Caray's Tavern boasts a licensed dog friendly patio on beautiful Navy Pier. They will serve your canine companion a souvenir water bowl and a treat while you enjoy a Holy Cow! Burger or one of their Signature Pizzas.
O'Brien's Riverwalk Cafe has been serving continental cuisine in an elegant historic Old Town atmosphere with outdoor seating available for dogs. A diverse menu offers crab cakes, Buffalo shrimp, Caesar salad with chicken, BBQ pork sandwiches, turkey burgers, ribeye steak, seared salmon, and shepherd's pie. Dogs are welcome at front sidewalk tables. Opens at 11am during the week and 10am on weekends.
Big Star serves fancy tacos in a cool atmosphere, with a walk-up window that allows you to bring your pup.
Activities
Get out and play!
There are 465 dog friendly activities in Illinois.
You'll find information on our favorite dog parks, beaches, hiking trails, tours, stores, and lots of other "animal attractions" in Illinois below.
The Forest Preserve District of Will County's 8-acre fenced Whalon Lake Dog Park provides an exercise area where dogs can run free. The Dog Park also features a smaller 2.5-acre park for dogs under 30 pounds. A shelter and benches provide comfort for the canines' human companions. A permit is required for use of the Dog Park. Other amenities at Whalon Lake include multi-purpose trails, picnic shelters, and access to an 80-acre lake for boating and fishing.
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. Montrose Dog Beach is free, but DFA tags are required for all dogs, and those cost $5.
The 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.
Nordstrom welcomes dogs of any size inside.
Dogs on boats? Yes! 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, open daily at 8:30am. Tickets available online or dockside day-of. Adults: $36; Kids under 12: $15; Kids under 5 are free; Dogs: $8; Groups of 20 or more, call (312) 332-1368.
Events
When you want to really spoil your dog, or just meet other dog owners in Illinois who are as crazy about their pets are you are, there's no better place to bring Fido than a dog event. You'll find information on some of our favorite annual dog events in Illinois below.
Enjoy a "paw"fect day out with your pup, meandering down the Arboretum's 16 miles of hiking trails. You can also shop from local businesses and organizations in the pet expo, watch special demonstrations, and meet dogs available for adoption and inquire about volunteering with local pet shelters.
Please adhere to the following rules while visiting The Morton Arboretum with your dog:
• Dogs must be attended and on a leash at all times.
• All dogs must have updated vaccinations and registrations.
• For the safety of both your pet and the natural environment, do not let dogs go off the marked trails.
• Please clean up after your pet, bags are available at the Visitor Center.
May
3
BringFido on this annual boat cruise with AMAZING views of the city via the lake and the river! Just 3 Blocks North of Millennium Park, the tour departs from the Southeast corner of the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Look for the blue awning at the top of the stairway. FREE ROO swag item and dog treats will be provided by Happy Dog Barkery.
Get your tickets early. This ALWAYS sells out!
Aug.
30
*** NOTE: DUE TO COVID-19, Hugs for Hounds Easter Egg Hunt SCHEDULED FOR April 11, 2020, HAS BEEN CANCELED. ***
Dogs of all ages and breeds are invited to test their noses at finding Easter eggs and treats in support of one of their own. Shorewood HUGS, a local nonprofit organization that assists with worthy fundraising efforts, is sponsoring this annual event for dogs. All proceeds from the event go toward the care, handling and training of the Forest Preserve’s police K-9, Jullo.
In addition to the egg hunt, the event will include raffles for doggie Easter baskets and for gift cards. A variety of awards will also be given, including one for best Easter outfit.
Due to the popularity of the egg hunt, pre-registering online and arriving early is recommended.
Apr.
11
Services
When traveling with dogs, one thing is certain. Poop happens.
Luckily, there are 565 dog friendly pet services in Illinois that can help you out with poop bags (or anything else you may need).
You'll find information on the most popular pet stores, pet sitters, trainers, groomers, and other pet businesses in Illinois below.
PetSmart is the #1 retailer of pet food and supplies in the United States, with more than 1000 stores across the country. In addition to pet food and supplies, you'll also find a Banfield Veterinary Clinic, PetsHotel/Doggie Daycare, grooming, training, and animal adoptions at this location.
Serving Chicagoland's pet community for over twelve years, Windy City Dog Walkers offer daily dog walks, cat care, and pet sitting with the highest level of customer service and personal attention in the industry. They are available 365 days a year, any time of day, and offer a variety of services to meet your pet care needs. Windy City Dog Walkers provides personalized service and care for their canine clients and their owners. They walk dogs one at a time, focusing on your pet's individual needs. Through quality relationships with humans, canine companions live longer, happier, and healthier lives.
Burnham Park Animal Hospital is a well-established, full-service, small animal veterinary hospital providing comprehensive medical, surgical, and dental care. They provide a broad spectrum of diagnostic procedures through in-house testing and the use of external laboratories. They also work closely with local practices when special diagnostic procedures are required. The facility includes a well-stocked pharmacy, in-hospital surgery suite, in-house x-ray capabilities, a closely supervised hospitalization area, and indoor boarding kennels with outdoor walking areas. They consider it their job not only to treat your pet when he or she isn't feeling well, but also to help you learn how to keep your best friend happy and healthy.
Happy Hounds offers a happy place for your pooch to can play, run, and bark when you're away. Doggie daycare, boarding, and grooming services as well as Pet First Aid classes and Pet Photography sessions are available.
The UpScale Tail is owned by Nationally Ranked and Award Winning Pet Groomer, Kendra Otto. The Award Winning Salon is “Voted Naperville’s Best” and their pet groomers are all CPR & First Aid Certified. They specialize in anxious pets, puppies, conformation show dogs, senior pets, rare breeds, cats and more! They offer basic dog grooming to hand stripping, hand scissoring, rustic coat maintenance, conformation show grooming, and cat grooming to better suit our clients’ needs. They also offer pet tattoos, coloring, nail gems and more.
PetSmart's accredited pet training instructors can help you achieve positive, consistent behavior from Fido. Classes are available for Puppies, Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced dogs. Click-A-Trick, Private Education, and Personal Training Camp may also be available. Visit your local PetSmart for more information on class times and prices.
Fortunate Pooches and Lab Rescue is an all-volunteer, unpaid organization that saves dogs from being euthanized in animal shelters. They provide dogs due to be euthanized a second chance at a happy life with loving families. Their volunteer transporters transport the dogs to their facility where they are spayed/neutered, microchipped, treated for any illnesses, socialized, and then are advertised to be adopted out to qualifying individuals. Fortunate Pooches and Lab Rescue is working to reduce and/or stop the kill shelter concept. They support and dedicate themselves to promoting responsibility, dedication, education, safety, and the spaying/neutering of pets.
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