Summer is a great time to get out and spend the day with your dog exploring new places and revisiting old ones. The following are just a few of our favorite dog friendly picnic spots in Maine and Massachusetts. Please click on the highlighted name for more details to plan your visit, including directions, weather and photos. Also be sure to visit our Dog Friendly Places page for more of our recommendations for Dog Beaches, Hiking Trails, and Scenic Walks.
Maudslay State Park, Newburyport, MA: Consisting of 480 acres of historic landscapes including an extensive network of carriage trails, open meadows, scenic overlooks of the Merrimack River, formal English gardens and sculpture park, Maudslay State Park offers something for everyone to enjoy a dog friendly day out.
Dogs allowed on-leash.
Admission: Parking is per vehicle. Massachusetts Residents $5.00 and $6.00 for out of state visitors.
Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth, ME: This park has everything you need for a scenic dog friendly day including cliff walk with lighthouse views, historic fort to explore, rocky beach, arboretum, and picnic areas.
Dogs must be on-leash at most of the park, but there is an off-leash area.
Admission: Free, but donations are appreciated.
Mount Agamenticus, York, ME: Consisting of over 10,000 acres and 40 miles of trails, Mount Agamenticus offers endless opportunities for dog friendly hiking. There are picnic tables along the Big A Trail which circles the summit and has views on a clear day of the the seacoast and White Mountains.
Dogs must be on-leash.
Admission: Free, but donations are appreciated.
Roque Bluffs State Park, Roque Bluffs, ME: Offering over 6 miles of hiking through diverse terrain with breathtaking views of Great Cove and Pond Cove, Roque Bluffs has picnic areas along the trail at scenic overlooks. Please note dogs are not allowed on the ocean beach on Englishman Bay, but can enjoy Simpson Pond as long as they are leashed.
Dogs must be on-leash.
Admission: $4.00 for Adult Maine Residents, $6.00 for Nonresidents, $2.00 for Seniors, and $1.00 for Children age 5-11. Maine Residents over 65 are free.
Fort Foster, Kittery, ME: Located on Gerrish Island, Fort Foster is 88 acres of dog friendly hiking trails, beaches, and a former fort to explore, with views of lighthouses, historic lifesaving station, and the Isles of Shoals. Please note most of the beach areas allow dogs, but there is one to the left of the pier for children only where dogs are not allowed.
Dogs must be on-leash.
Admission: There is an entrance fee of $10 per vehicle. Or if you prefer to park outside the park, pedestrians and bicyclists are $5 each for adults and $1 each for children under 12.
For more great places to spend the day, please visit our Living with a Golden Dog Friendly Places page. A new review is added weekly!
