Dog-friendly outings, places to eat and places to stay in Iowa, city by city. Every spot below was checked against a published dog policy (the venue itself, BringFido or the park authority) – tap a name for our notes, or see them all on the Dog Fun Map.
Cedar Rapids
🍽 Where to eat:
🏨 Where to stay:
- Comfort Inn & Suites Cedar Rapids North – Collins Road
- Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Cedar Rapids Airport IA
- Hampton Inn Cedar Rapids
🐕 Doggie daycare:
- Tails A Wagg'n Pet Resort – Pet resort and dog daycare in southwest Cedar Rapids.
- Canine Social Club CR – Dog daycare, boarding and grooming with an indoor-outdoor dog park and bar.
- Eastern Iowa Pet Resort – Daycare, boarding and grooming.
Des Moines
- Pappajohn Sculpture Park
- Gray's Lake Park
- Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens
- Clive Greenbelt Trail
- Gay Lea Wilson Trail
🍽 Where to eat:
🏨 Where to stay:
- Baymont by Wyndham Des Moines Airport
- Home2 Suites by Hilton Des Moines at Drake University
- Embassy Suites Des Moines Downtown
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Des Moines Downtown by IHG
🐕 Doggie daycare:
- Downtown Doggy Daycare – Dog daycare and boarding just south of downtown Des Moines.
- Dog Daze Inn – A Des Moines dog daycare and boarding inn.
- Mo'Tail & Spaw – Doggy daycare with spa services on the south side.
Iowa City
🍽 Where to eat:
🏨 Where to stay:
- Hyatt Place Iowa City Downtown
- Travelodge by Wyndham Iowa City
- Hampton Inn Iowa City University Area
🐕 Doggie daycare:
- Lucky Pawz – Dog daycare at the Lucky Pawz Iowa City facility.
- Half Moon Kennels – Dog daycare serving Iowa City and Johnson County.
Our notes on each spot
Cedar Rapids
Indian Creek Nature Center · Outing
🐾 Leashed dogs welcome; clean up after your dog
More than 5 miles of trails through 210 acres of wetlands, prairie and woods.
5300 Otis Rd SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
Cedar Valley Nature Trail · Outing
🐾 Dog-friendly rail-trail
A rail-trail on a former railroad corridor near Cedar Rapids, good for a long walk with your dog.
See Map Below, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
LP Street Food · Restaurant / cafe
🐾 Dogs welcome on the patio; leash hooks on the chairs; pup cups
Street food from around the world and seasonal cocktails. The Adirondack chairs have hooks for leashes.
302 3rd Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Lucky's on 16th · Restaurant / cafe
🐾 Dogs welcome at shaded outdoor tables
Breakfast burritos and skillets in the morning, then club sandwiches and Greek salads.
86 16th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Parlor City Pub & Eatery · Restaurant / cafe
🐾 Dogs welcome at outdoor tables
A casual pub with drinks and food, and weekend breakfast from 8 AM.
1125 3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Comfort Inn & Suites Cedar Rapids North – Collins Road · Hotel / motel
🐾 Two pets up to 25 lbs for an additional fee of $25 per pet, per night
At the I-380 and Collins Road exit in north Cedar Rapids. Small dogs only.
2025 Werner Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Google Maps · Dog policy source (BringFido, reviewed 2026-05-20)
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Cedar Rapids Airport IA · Hotel / motel
🐾 2 pets up to 50 lbs in designated rooms for an additional fee of $25 per night; pets can’t be left alone in the room
An airport hotel with an indoor pool and guest laundry.
9100 Atlantic Drive SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Google Maps · Dog policy source (BringFido, reviewed 2026-08-22)
Hampton Inn Cedar Rapids · Hotel / motel
🐾 Two pets of any size for an additional fee of $50 (for stays of 1 to 4 nights) and $75 (for longer stays)
Off I-380, three miles from downtown and 15 miles from Coralville Lake.
3265 6th St Sw, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Google Maps · Dog policy source (BringFido, reviewed 2026-07-03)
Des Moines
Pappajohn Sculpture Park · Outing
🐾 Leashed dogs welcome
A 4.4-acre downtown park with sculptures by more than two dozen of the world's best-known artists. There's an audio tour on the Des Moines Art Center website.
1330 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
Gray's Lake Park · Outing
🐾 Leashed dogs welcome; not on the swimming beach; hours vary by season
A 1.9-mile lit loop around the lake in a 167-acre park, with waste stations every half mile.
2101 Fleur Dr, Des Moines, IA 50315
Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens · Outing
🐾 Leashed dogs welcome; clean up after your dog
A 1.7-acre garden by the Des Moines River with a pavilion on a bridge, stone pagodas, lanterns and sculpted rocks.
Robert D. Ray Dr & E Center St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Clive Greenbelt Trail · Outing
🐾 Dog-friendly multi-use trail
A multi-use greenbelt trail in the Des Moines metro, good for a walk with your dog.
See Map Below, Des Moines, IA 50311
Gay Lea Wilson Trail · Outing
🐾 Dog-friendly rail-trail
A rail-trail on an old railroad corridor near Des Moines, good for a long walk with your dog.
3530 E Douglas Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317
Lua Brewing · Restaurant / cafe
🐾 Dogs welcome at outdoor tables
A microbrewery and restaurant with wings, tempura mushrooms, fish and chips and avocado toast.
1525 High St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Big Grove Brewery & Taproom · Restaurant / cafe
🐾 Dogs welcome on the patio with fire pits
A big patio with fire pits, house beers, crispy cauliflower and poke bowls.
555 17th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Exile Brewing Co. · Restaurant / cafe
🐾 Dogs welcome on the patio
A brewery pub with lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Try the bacon deviled eggs.
1514 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Zombie Burger + Drink Lab · Restaurant / cafe
🐾 Dogs welcome on the sidewalk patio
Wild burger combinations in a 'post-apocalyptic chic' downtown space, plus shakes.
300 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
Baymont by Wyndham Des Moines Airport · Hotel / motel
🐾 3 pets of any size for an additional fee of $10 per pet, per night, plus a $100 refundable deposit
Four miles west of the airport, across from Willow Creek Golf Course. Up to three pets are welcome.
6221 Willow Creek Ave, Des Moines, IA 50321
Google Maps · Dog policy source (BringFido, reviewed 2026-08-03)
Home2 Suites by Hilton Des Moines at Drake University · Hotel / motel
🐾 A maximum of 2 pets of any size for an additional fee of $75 for stays of 1 to 4 nights and $125 for longer stays
Suites off I-235 at the edge of the Drake campus, under 3 miles from downtown.
2650 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311
Google Maps · Dog policy source (BringFido, reviewed 2026-05-30)
Embassy Suites Des Moines Downtown · Hotel / motel
🐾 2 pets up to 75 lbs for an additional fee of $75 per pet, per stay
An all-suite hotel by the Capitol, close to the East Village shops and restaurants.
101 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Google Maps · Dog policy source (BringFido, reviewed 2026-05-06)
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Des Moines Downtown by IHG · Hotel / motel
🐾 One dog of any size for an additional fee of $25 per night, and two dogs of any size for $30 per night
A central hotel minutes from the Science Center of Iowa.
333 SW 11th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Google Maps · Dog policy source (BringFido, reviewed 2026-05-06)
Iowa City
Thornberry Off-Leash Dog Park · Outing
🐾 Off-leash fenced dog park; permit required, or a $5 honor-system day donation
A fenced dog park with a small-dog area, agility equipment and a pond where dogs can swim.
1600 Foster Rd, Iowa City, IA 52245
Rita's Ranch Dog Park at Scott Park · Outing
🐾 Off-leash fenced dog park; day pass fee at the entrance or annual permit; may close after heavy rain
A three-acre fenced park with two sections and a dog playground. It sits in a water retention area, so it can close after heavy rain.
640 S Scott Blvd, Iowa City, IA 52245
Riverfront Crossings Park · Outing
🐾 Leashed dogs welcome on the paved trails
A 17-acre riverside park with wetlands, a creek and a water fountain with a dog bowl.
1001 S Clinton St, Iowa City, IA 52240
Pullman Bar & Diner · Restaurant / cafe
🐾 Dogs welcome at six outdoor tables
Midwestern diner food with a twist, like shrimp and grits and cubanos, plus cocktails, in an authentic diner space.
17 S Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA 52240
Press Coffee Company · Restaurant / cafe
🐾 Dogs welcome at outdoor tables; water bowls outside
A simple coffee house for French-press coffee and pastries, with Daylight Donuts on weekends.
1120 N Dodge St, Iowa City, IA 52245
Basta · Restaurant / cafe
🐾 Dogs welcome at several outdoor tables
An upscale Italian restaurant and pizzeria a block from the Old Capitol, with Napoli-style pizza and stuffed dates.
121 Iowa Ave, Iowa City, IA 52240-3905
Hyatt Place Iowa City Downtown · Hotel / motel
🐾 2 pets of any size for an additional fee of $100 per stay; pets can’t be left alone in the room
A downtown Iowa City hotel with 151 rooms.
255 E Court St, Iowa City, IA 52240
Google Maps · Dog policy source (BringFido, reviewed 2026-05-06)
Travelodge by Wyndham Iowa City · Hotel / motel
🐾 2 dogs up to 100 lbs in designated rooms for an additional fee of $25 plus tax per pet, per night
A budget stop off I-80, about 5 minutes from downtown and the University of Iowa.
2216 N Dodge St, Iowa City, IA 52245
Google Maps · Dog policy source (BringFido, reviewed 2026-03-22)
Hampton Inn Iowa City University Area · Hotel / motel
🐾 2 pets up to 50 lbs for an additional fee of $75 for stays of 1 to 4 nights and $125 for longer stays
Off Highway 6, under two miles from the university and Kinnick Stadium.
4 Sturgis Corner Dr, Iowa City, IA 52246
Restaurant patio rules and hotel pet fees change – call ahead or confirm when booking. We list only places with a published dog policy, and we never add star ratings or reviews we didn’t write.
Doggie daycares are listed with a note from each business’s own website. Most ask for a meet-and-greet or temperament check and current vaccinations – contact them before your first visit.
Disclosure: City Pups is reader-supported. “Book this stay” links go through our booking partner Stay22, and if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. No hotel paid to be listed.