This MS Coast beach named 1 of the best places to vacation with your dog

Ocean Springs, Mississippi, was recently rated one of the best waterfront destinations to take your dog on vacation.

Dog-friendly East Beach ranked no. 6 on a list compiled by HomeToGo. The study, which analyzed 45 locations nationwide, focused on pet policies, accommodation affordability, low crowd levels, and visitor satisfaction.

The best attributes of Ocean Springs’ East Beach

Ocean Springs was the only Mississippi destination included on the list, which included piers, parks, beaches and lakeshores.

Ocean Springs ranked high in the affordability of accommodations. With a median cost of $78.46, MS Coast rentals ranked fourth in costs behind Point Isabel Regional Shoreline (median cost of $75.90) in California and Fort DeSoto Dog Park ($56.64) and Davis Island Dog Beach ($75.12) in Florida.

Ocean Springs ranked no. 11 in the hidden gem category, which looked at how often Ocean Springs came up in searches, and no. 21 in the visitor satisfaction category, which took into account online ratings.

Here’s a breakdown of the top five destinations that precede Ocean Springs on the list:

Top 5 Dog-Friendly Waterfront Destinations

1. Agate Beach, Oregon: Known for its open layout and firm sand perfect for long walks.

2. Point Isabel Regional Shoreline, California: Offers off-leash space, trails and amenities like a dog-washing station.

3. Kāhala Beach, Hawaii: A beach setting offering on-leash access and a low-key spot away from the nearby crowded beaches of Waikiki.

4. Canova Dog Beach, Florida: The east coast beach features a designated area for leashed dogs with rinse stations and pet waste bins.

5. Rialto Beach, Washington: Provides a rugged coastal experience with sea stacks and plenty of driftwood for games of fetch.

Methodology

HomeToGo’s research aimed to identify locations where both owners and their canine companions could enjoy the coast.

Data was collected based on searches and pricing insights from January 1 to April 15, 2025, for summer 2025 travel dates. The rankings were determined by assessing the cost of vacation accommodation, traveler demand and visitor satisfaction for each dog-friendly beach or park. Each data point was assigned a numerical value to calculate a score, with the “perfect score” being 30 out of 30.

The methodology used by HomeToGo involved analyzing internal demand and price data, as well as collecting visitor ratings from sources like Google, TripAdvisor, Yelp and Facebook. The “Hidden Gem Score” was calculated based on search volume, the “Accommodation Affordability Score” was determined by median nightly prices, and the “Visitor Satisfaction Score” was based on average visitor ratings.

This story was originally published June 3, 2025 at 12:36 PM.

Mona Moore

Sun Herald

Mona Moore was a Service Journalism Desk Editor for the Sun Herald in Mississippi; Mahoning Matters in Ohio; and the Ledger-Enquirer and Telegraph in Georgia. Originally from West Covina, California, she holds a bachelor’s and master’s in corporate and public communication from the University of South Alabama. Mona’s writing and photography have been recognized by press associations in Mississippi, North Carolina and Florida.