The Gunflint Trail, also known as County State-Aid Highway 12 or County Road 12, is a 57-mile National Scenic Byway that winds up paved mountain roads and through the wooded backcountry of Cook County, MN. Located 40 miles from the trail's starting point in Grand Marais and featured in the latest edition of our book, Ruff Guide to the United States, Gunflint Lodge invites you to treat your canine companion to a Northwoods adventure no matter the season. In the warmer months, snag a trophy walleye on a guided fishing trip, rent a pontoon boat to explore Gunflint Lake at your leisure, or take advantage of the resort’s free use of canoes and kayaks. Pups are welcome to play in the sand and swim in the lake. Hiking trails are open year-round, and reservations can be made for a dog hike with a naturalist guide. Plan your visit during one of the popular ‘Dog Lover’s Weekends,’ when the lodge offers classes and seminars geared toward man’s best friend. At the end of the day, enjoy sunset views and dinner with your furry friend on the patio of the resort’s lakeside restaurant.

Dogs of any size are welcome at Gunflint Lodge for an additional fee of $25 per pet, per night, except during ‘Dog Lover’s Weekends,’ when they stay for free!

The Adirondack Mountains in Upstate New York span over 5,000 miles and are home to more than 3,000 lakes. Begin your tour of the Adirondacks with a walk by the water at Lake Moreau State Park in Gansevoort. Then, hop on I-87 and head north to Lake George, where Fido can join you on a cruise of one of the region’s most famous bodies of water with Lake George Cruises. The one-hour sightseeing voyage offers a glimpse into the history of the area, secluded islands, tranquil bays, and million-dollar mansions. The next stage of your journey leads 80 miles to the village of Lake Placid, famous for hosting the Winter Olympics in 1980. Pause at Mirror Lake for a walk on the 2.7-mile trail around the beautiful reflective water before heading to the summit of Whiteface Mountain for a bird’s-eye view of Lake Placid. Top it all off with a nostalgic root beer float at A & W Root Beer Drive-In in nearby Wilmington.

Enjoy the mountain air for a few days with a stay at Cadence Lodge at Whiteface. Two dogs of any size are welcome for an additional fee of $25 per stay.

Situated between California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is the largest Alpine Lake in North America. Driving around the 72-mile lake takes around 3 hours with no stops. Before you start the motor in scenic South Lake Tahoe, SUP with your pup at South Tahoe Standup Paddle. Their dog-friendly Rise and Shine Morning Tour departs daily at 8:30 a.m. and lasts two to three hours, depending on how many breaks you take. After your tour, take US 89 to Emerald Bay State Park on the west side of the lake. Stop at Inspiration Point for a short walk along a paved pathway with your pooch to a stunning overlook of Emerald Bay and Fannette Island. Continue to Tahoe City, where you can refuel and rehydrate at The Blue Agave before taking a water detour with Truckee River Rafting. Drive around the top of the lake to North Zephyr Cove Beach. This popular dog beach is great for relaxing on lake time with the canine community.

Spend the night at Fireside Lodge in South Lake Tahoe. Dogs are accepted for an additional fee of $35 per pet, per night. Pet covers, treats, bowls and dog towels are provided.

The Lake Michigan Circle Tour is a picturesque drive that spans over 1,100 miles and takes around 15 hours to complete with no stops. Start your trip in Milwaukee, where you and your furry first mate can set sail with Milwaukee Boat Line Cruises out onto Lake Michigan. Hop back in the car and onto WIS 32 to the Wisconsin-Illinois state border. When you reach Illinois, you’ll join Route 137 and Lakeshore Drive (US-41) all the way to Chicago. Chill in Chi-town and let Fido loose at Montrose Dog Beach. He can clean up at the on-site dog wash before hitting the road again. Continue onto US-12, aptly nicknamed Dunes Highway, and make your way to Indiana Dunes National Park for walks with your leashed pooch along dune trails and beaches. Afterwards, US-31 will lead you to Ludington for off-leash fun at Buttersville Beach, but not before switching vehicles and carving love hearts in the sand at Silver Lake Buggy Rentals.

Camp Baxter is a 1920s cottage that invites furry guests to roam off-leash in the expansive backyard while you soak in the high-class hot tub that overlooks the property. The surrounding woodland area offers pet-friendly trails for you to explore together, too. Dogs are welcome for no additional fee.

The Olympic Peninsula Loop is over 300 miles long and takes 8 hours to complete non-stop. The route circles Olympic National Park and will lead you down winding roads through thick mossy rainforests to beautiful windswept beaches, coastal crevices and crystal-clear lakes. Begin your adventure in Seattle with a pet-friendly ferry ride to Bainbridge Island. From here, make your way to Port Townsend, where you can putt with your pooch at Discovery Bay Golf Course before continuing to Sequim to catch a whiff of lavender at Purple Haze Lavender Farm & Gift Shop. With a car full of floral delights, it’s time for your first lake stop on the loop at Lake Crescent, which can be reached on Highway 101. Continue around the loop to your final stop, Lake Quinault, where you can get out and walk on the Quinault Rain Forest loop trail or take a 31-mile drive around the lake and stop to to see the world’s largest Sitka spruce.

After a day of lake exploration, put your feet up at Lake Quinault Lodge. Located next to the trailhead for the loop, the lakeside lodge permits two pets of any size for an additional fee of $25 per pet, per stay.

Bring Fido on a road trip to the Ozarks! Start off with a photoshoot at Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis, and then head southwest through Mark Twain National Forest on I-44. Take a break at Stubby Stonehenge in Rolla, a partial reconstruction of the megalithic monument in England. Continue to Springfield, where you can explore Fantastic Caverns and eat lunch on the patio at a local staple, Big Whiskeys. After fueling up, take I-65 to Branson, MO, where you and Fido can shop for swag at Branson Landing and walk together on the 1.5-mile scenic boardwalk along Lake Taneycomo. The final leg of your journey will take you to Eureka Springs, AR. This area is home to hundreds of miles of lakes and rivers, including Beaver Lake. Grab a kayak from Beaver Lake Outdoor Center and set sail on an Ozarks lake adventure together.

Fido can show off his high 5 at 5 Ojo Inn in Eureka Springs. Curl up next to the fire and relax together after a day on the water. Two dogs up to 50 lbs are accepted for an additional fee of $20 per pet, per night.

Road trips through the Last Frontier often originate in Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, and this beautiful journey is no different. Get Fido ready for the road ahead on the off-leash trails at University Lake Dog Park. The next stop is Chugach State Park and the Eklutna Lake Scenic Drive on Glenn Highway North. At just 22 miles in length, it's the shortest route on our list, but that doesn’t make it any less spectacular. The twisting and turning road runs alongside Eklutna River and the out-of-this-world glacial Eklutna Lake, with Twin Peaks in the distance.

Water dogs will enjoy chilling on the balcony overlooking the water at The Lakefront Anchorage. Two pets of any size are welcome for an additional fee of $30 per pet, per night.

Ready for a Road Trip?

The editors at BringFido have dedicated themselves to digging up the best dog-friendly things to do across the country. And we've assembled it all in our new book, Ruff Guide to the United States.

Now in its second edition, the book features over 365 of the best places to stay and play with your dog in all 50 states. Order your copy today and save 50% off the retail price when you use the discount code LAKE.