Pet-Friendly Jersey Shore Rentals: How to Find One (and What to Expect)

Traveling to the Shore with your dog can be a highlight of the trip: ocean walks, salt air, your dog living their best life. But Jersey Shore rentals are often selective about pets. Here's how to find a good one and what to expect when you do.

Why so few Shore rentals allow pets

Owners worry about the extra cleaning and damage risk. One guest's dog chews up an expensive couch and the owner swears off pet guests for good. The result: only a minority of Shore rentals accept pets, and of those, many have breed, size, or count restrictions.

How to find real pet-friendly listings

On Airbnb / VRBO

Use the pet filter. Then read the house rules before booking. Some listings marked "pet-friendly" have fine print like "cats only", "no dogs over 25 lbs", or "service animals only". If it's unclear, message the host before booking.

Direct booking sites

Direct-booking platforms (like TrueStay) usually show whether pets are allowed on each listing, and the owner contact is right there to confirm specifics before you lock in dates.

Pet-focused travel sites

BringFido and GoPetFriendly list pet-welcoming places to stay by town. Smaller inventory, but easier to filter.

Questions to ask the owner before booking

• How many dogs are allowed? (Some say 1, some say 2.)
• Any size or breed restrictions?
• Pet fee: how much, and is it refundable?
• Is there a fenced yard or outdoor space for the dog?
• Are dogs allowed on the furniture?
• Any specific areas off-limits? (Bedrooms, upstairs, etc.)
• Is the backyard safe for a dog to be unsupervised?

Pet fees: what we typically see

These are rough ranges from our experience, not set rules. Every owner is different.

• $75-$150 flat per booking is common for a single well-behaved dog.
• $150-$250 flat for 2 dogs.
• Some owners charge per night instead of a flat fee. On a week-long trip this adds up, so it's worth asking which model they use.
• Occasionally there's a refundable pet deposit returned if there's no damage.

Dogs on Shore beaches: the rules

Most Shore towns keep dogs off the beach in summer, but the dates are different in each town, and a couple of towns have year-round options. Here's what we found for 2026. Dogs must be leashed in all of these towns, and rules can change, so check the town's website before you go.

• Wildwood Crest: no dogs on the beach May through September. Leashed dogs are allowed the rest of the year.
• Wildwood: leashed dogs are allowed on the beach October through May. The Wildwood Dog Park & Beach at Glenwood Avenue is open year-round, dawn to dusk. Dogs are never allowed on the boardwalk.
• North Wildwood: leashed dogs are allowed on the beach from 2nd to 26th Avenue any time lifeguards are not on duty. Not allowed on the Inlet beach.
• Cape May: leashed dogs are allowed on the beach and promenade September 15 through May 15.
• Avalon: no dogs on the beach, boardwalk, or dunes March 1 through September 30.
• Stone Harbor: leashed dogs are allowed after Labor Day through the Thursday before Memorial Day. Never allowed at Stone Harbor Point.
• Ocean City: leashed dogs are allowed on the beach October 1 through April 30 (with some areas closed from mid-March). Never on the boardwalk.

Dog-friendly spots in summer

If you're traveling in summer and need somewhere your dog can run:

• Wildwood Dog Park & Beach (Glenwood Ave, Wildwood): open year-round, dawn to dusk. Dogs stay leashed on the beach and can go off-leash inside the fenced park.
• North Wildwood dog park (24th Ave): open 8am to dusk, requires a $10 dog permit.
• North Wildwood beach: leashed dogs are allowed from 2nd to 26th Avenue outside lifeguard hours, so early mornings and evenings work.
• Ocean City dog park: at 45th Street and Haven Avenue. Membership is required, so confirm details with the city first.

Pet-friendly places to eat

Some Shore restaurants have outdoor seating that allows leashed dogs. A few we know of (call ahead, since policies change):

• Owen's Pub (North Wildwood): dog-friendly outdoor seating
• The Lobster House (Cape May): a few dockside tables allow leashed dogs
• Primo Hoagies (Wildwood Crest and North Wildwood): grab-and-go, eat outside with the dog

Vet + emergency info

• Ocean View Veterinary Hospital (2033 Route 9 North, Cape May Court House, 609-486-5025): open around the clock for emergencies. Call ahead to confirm.

Save the number in your phone before the trip. Also pack: current vaccination records, your dog's regular food, and a copy of their medications in case you need to refill.