Dog-friendly outings, places to eat and places to stay in North Carolina, 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.
Asheville
🍽 Where to eat:
🏨 Where to stay:
- Aloft by Marriott Asheville Downtown
- Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville by IHG
- Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park
🐕 Doggie daycare:
- At Play With Sparky – Doggie daycare and boarding in Asheville.
- Central Bark Asheville – Dog day care center in West Asheville.
- You Work I'll Play – Dog daycare in Asheville.
- Haw Creek Pet Care – Doggy day care in east Asheville.
Charlotte
- U.S. National Whitewater Center
- Dog Park at Frazier Park
- UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens
- McDowell Nature Preserve
🍽 Where to eat:
- The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
- McKoy's Smokehouse & Saloon
- VBGB Beer Hall & Garden
- The Wine Shop at Rivergate
🏨 Where to stay:
- Aloft by Marriott Charlotte Ballantyne
- Residence Inn by Marriott Charlotte Airport
- Tru by Hilton Charlotte Ayrsley
- Courtyard Charlotte Airport North
🐕 Doggie daycare:
- Social Pet Hotel & Daycare – Enrichment-based daycare with a Sensory Garden and carefully matched playgroups.
- Dogs All Day – Since 2009: six supervised indoor/outdoor play yards and daycare every day of the year.
- One Lucky Pup Charlotte – Structured daycare with supervised play groups and evaluation-based placement.
- Lucky Dog Charlotte – Daycare seven days a week, minutes from Uptown, with an off-leash dog bar.
Raleigh
🍽 Where to eat:
🏨 Where to stay:
- MainStay Suites Raleigh Cary
- Aloft by Marriott Raleigh
- Aloft by Marriott Raleigh-Durham Airport Brier Creek
🐕 Doggie daycare:
- Dogtopia North Raleigh – Daycare, boarding and spa off Capital Boulevard; new dogs start with a meet-and-greet.
- Dogtopia Raleigh – Northwest – A 4,000 sq ft facility with two indoor playrooms, an outdoor area and live webcams.
- Suite Paws Pet Resort – Group daycare with structured play in an outdoor yard and pool time.
- Paws At Play Raleigh – Enrichment daycare with expansive outdoor space and Pet CPR-certified staff.
Our notes on each spot
Asheville
North Carolina Arboretum · Outing
🐾 Leashed dogs welcome on the trails
Ten miles of trails next to Bent Creek Experimental Forest, plus 65 acres of cultivated gardens.
100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806
Grovewood Village · Outing
🐾 Dog-friendly outdoor sculpture gardens
Wander the outdoor sculpture gardens and artist studios next to the Omni Grove Park Inn.
111 Grovewood Rd, Asheville, NC 28804
Biltmore Estate · Outing
🐾 Leashed dogs welcome on the grounds and gardens
More than 250 acres of landscaped gardens to explore together, plus several dog-friendly patios on the estate.
1 Lodge St, Asheville, NC 28803
Posana · Restaurant / cafe
🐾 Dogs welcome at outdoor tables; dog menu
Farm-to-table dining overlooking Pack Square, with a dog menu that includes grilled chicken.
1 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Twisted Laurel · Restaurant / cafe
🐾 Dogs welcome on the patio; dog menu
A downtown Asheville restaurant with a spacious patio and a dedicated dog menu.
130 College St, Asheville, NC 28801
Mellow Mushroom · Restaurant / cafe
🐾 Dogs welcome at outdoor tables
The quirky pizza chain's Asheville spot, with pet-friendly seating outside.
50 Broadway St, Asheville, NC 28801
Aloft by Marriott Asheville Downtown · Hotel / motel
🐾 Two pets of any size are welcome for no additional fee
In the heart of downtown Asheville, with no pet fee. Beds and bowls are available on request.
51 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801
Google Maps · Dog policy source (BringFido, reviewed 2026-05-10)
Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville by IHG · Hotel / motel
🐾 2 pets of any size in designated rooms for an additional fee of $35 per pet, per night; pets can’t be left alone in the room
A mountain resort with golf-course views, pet relief areas, and treats and bowls at the desk.
1 Resort Dr, Asheville, NC 28806
Google Maps · Dog policy source (BringFido, reviewed 2026-05-11)
Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park · Hotel / motel
🐾 Two pets up to 75 lbs for an additional fee of $75 per stay
Near the airport and Biltmore Park, with green space on the property.
43 Town Square Blvd, Asheville, NC 28803
Charlotte
U.S. National Whitewater Center · Outing
🐾 Dog-friendly grounds and trails
400 wooded acres along the Catawba River, with running and biking trails and plenty to watch.
5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28214
Dog Park at Frazier Park · Outing
🐾 Off-leash dog park with small and large dog sides
A popular uptown-adjacent dog park split into small and large dog sections.
208 S Sycamore St, Charlotte, NC 28202
UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens · Outing
🐾 Leashed dogs welcome in the outdoor gardens; carry small dogs in the greenhouse
Campus gardens that welcome leashed dogs outside. Small dogs can visit the greenhouse if you carry them.
9090 Craver Rd, Charlotte, NC 28262
McDowell Nature Preserve · Outing
🐾 Leashed dogs welcome on the trails
A lakeside nature preserve southwest of Charlotte with several trails and a campground.
15222 S York Rd, Charlotte, NC 28278
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery · Restaurant / cafe
🐾 Dogs welcome in the biergarten
The largest biergarten in the Southeast, shaded by century-old oaks, with games and fire pits.
4150 Yancey Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217
McKoy's Smokehouse & Saloon · Restaurant / cafe
🐾 Dogs welcome on the covered deck
A smokehouse whose covered deck has heat in the cold months and misters in the summer.
4630 Old Pineville Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217
VBGB Beer Hall & Garden · Restaurant / cafe
🐾 Leashed dogs welcome on the patio; water bowls
A beer hall with 30+ taps. There's no table service, so one person orders while the other stays with the pup.
920 Hamilton St, Charlotte, NC 28206
The Wine Shop at Rivergate · Restaurant / cafe
🐾 Dogs welcome at outdoor tables
A wine shop with a real menu – seared tuna, flatiron steak – and dog-friendly tables outside.
14142 Rivergate Pkwy #200, Charlotte, NC 28273
Aloft by Marriott Charlotte Ballantyne · Hotel / motel
🐾 2 dogs up to 40 lbs each, no fee for dogs; pets can't be left alone in the room
No pet fee for dogs. Dog guests stay on the first two floors, and treats, beds, bowls and bags are at the desk.
13139 Ballantyne Corporate Place, Charlotte, NC 28277
Google Maps · Dog policy source (BringFido, reviewed 2026-08-06)
Residence Inn by Marriott Charlotte Airport · Hotel / motel
🐾 2 pets up to 80 lbs for an additional fee of $100 per stay
An airport-area suite hotel with treats and chew toys at the desk and a grassy relief area.
2220 West Tyvola Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217
Google Maps · Dog policy source (BringFido, reviewed 2026-08-26)
Tru by Hilton Charlotte Ayrsley · Hotel / motel
🐾 2 pets of any size for an additional fee of $50 for stays of 1 to 4 nights and $75 for longer stays
A budget-friendly stay in the Ayrsley area with a flat pet fee by length of stay.
9233 Kings Parade Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28273
Courtyard Charlotte Airport North · Hotel / motel
🐾 2 pets up to 60 lbs for an additional fee of $45 per stay; pets can’t be left alone in the room
About a mile from CLT, with food and water bowls available for dogs.
2700 Little Rock Rd, Charlotte, NC 28214
Google Maps · Dog policy source (BringFido, reviewed 2026-07-29)
Raleigh
Dog Park at Carolina Pines Park · Outing
🐾 Off-leash fenced dog park with shade and water
Two separate fenced play areas with shade and drinking water at Carolina Pines Park.
2305 Lake Wheeler Rd, Raleigh, NC 27603
Lake Johnson Park · Outing
🐾 Leashed dogs welcome on paved paths and trails
A lake loop with paved paths and natural trails – one of Raleigh's favorite dog walks.
4601 Avent Ferry Rd, Raleigh, NC 27606
William B. Umstead State Park · Outing
🐾 Dog-friendly state park
A big, wooded escape between Raleigh and Durham, with long trails and three lakes.
8801 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27617
Piper's Tavern · Restaurant / cafe
🐾 Dogs welcome at outside seating
An Irish pub with traditional dishes plus Italian and American plates.
8304 Falls of Neuse Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615
Chuy's Tex-Mex · Restaurant / cafe
🐾 Dogs welcome on the patio
The Tex-Mex chain's Raleigh location, with a patio where pups can join you.
4020 Market At N Hls St, Raleigh, NC 27609
Bruster's Real Ice Cream · Restaurant / cafe
🐾 Free pup sundae for dogs
Pups get their own free sundae topped with dog bones.
10450 Durant Rd, Raleigh, NC 27614
MainStay Suites Raleigh Cary · Hotel / motel
🐾 Two dogs up to 75 lbs in designated rooms for an additional fee of $50 per stay, and $10 per pet, per night; pets can’t be left alone in the room
Suites in the western suburbs toward Cary, with designated pet rooms and grassy areas outside.
1020 Buck Jones Rd, Raleigh, NC 27606
Aloft by Marriott Raleigh · Hotel / motel
🐾 1 dog up to 40 lbs for an additional fee of $75 for stays of 1 to 3 nights, then $15 for each additional night
Two minutes from NC State. One dog up to 40 lbs, and treats are at the front desk.
2100 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27607
Google Maps · Dog policy source (BringFido, reviewed 2026-10-28)
Aloft by Marriott Raleigh-Durham Airport Brier Creek · Hotel / motel
🐾 2 dogs up to 60 lbs for an additional fee of $50 per night
A modern hotel at Brier Creek near RDU airport. Dogs only, up to 60 lbs.
10020 Sellona Street, Raleigh, NC 27617
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.