Dog-Friendly Asheville Travel Guide

Restaurants and Breweries 

Who doesn’t love some delicious food and local beer! Asheville is the perfect place for you and your pup to grab a bite or brew. When it comes to dog-friendly restaurants, Asheville has all sorts of patios equipped with dog bowls and usually special treats for the doggos. We have a few favorite spots that are worth a visit if you are ever in the Asheville area. 

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so start off at Biscuit Head. They are known for their giant cat head biscuits. They also have tons of vegan and gluten-free options, which is a huge plus! Biscuit Head has three locations around the Asheville area and they all have pet-friendly patios. 

There are so many options for lunch and dinner! White Duck Taco Shop is hands down our favorite lunch spot. They have so many taco options and delicious margaritas. You will want to order one of each taco and a few to go. They have several locations with pet-friendly patios. Mayfel’s is a hot spot downtown for delicious New Orelean’s style cuisine, including beignets. They have the cutest patio and were thrilled to have dogs visiting. 

Now, let’s talk beer. Asheville is a hot spot for craft beers! You must check out New Belgium Brewing, Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company, and Wicked Weed Brewing Pub. These are some of the best dog-friendly breweries in Asheville and all super pet-friendly. Rosie’s favorite spot was Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company for sure! They brought her out a fresh bowl of water, a tennis ball, and homemade peanut butter bacon treats. She was in heaven with all the snacks and attention. Asheville is one of the best places to explore on an empty stomach!

The Great Outdoors 

Asheville is surrounded by the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains that provide a range of activities from miles of hiking to kayaking. There are over 100 hiking trails on the Blue Ridge parkway that are dog-friendly. Two of our favorite trails are Hawksbill Mountain Trail and Craggy Garden Trail. Just remember to be respectful of others and it’s required that all dogs be leashed on the trails. 

Kayaking and canoeing are very popular activities during the summer months on the French Broad River. There are several outdoor companies to rent equipment or take a tour with, just ask before bringing your dog but most are welcomed! 

Grandfather Mountain is absolutely breathtaking and worth the hour drive from downtown. You can walk across the mile high swinging bridge or hike one of their beautiful trails. Dogs are allowed everywhere except the museum and animal exhibit. 

Mount Mitchell State Park is the highest peak east of the Mississippi river and North Carolina’s first state park. You and your pup can walk the paved trail up to the 6684 ft peak or hike one of the backcountry hikes. Our favorite trail at Mount Mitchell is the Balsam Nature Trail. Hiking at higher elevation is always a little cooler so don’t forget to pack your hiking bag accordingly. We love packing our lunch and finding a nice overlook for the views. 

Shopping and Tourism 

Need some retail therapy or want to see some cool sights? Look no further, Asheville has it all. The Biltmore is by far the most popular attraction in Asheville and you can experience it with your dog. The grounds and garden are pet-friendly but the house tour is not, no worries there is a kennel on site so you can visit the house. 

Downtown has lots of local stores and most of them are pet-friendly. One of our favorite stores to visit downtown is Mast General Store. Be prepared for all the snacks and lots of pets from all the staff at Mast. You can’t visit Asheville without getting your pup a souvenir cookie or a new chew from Patton Ave Pet Company and Three Dog Bakery. There are so many places to shop and explore around the city. 

I can guarantee that Asheville will spoil you and your pup. We have fallen in love with Asheville and all the pet-friendly accommodations. The next time you are looking for a pet-friendly getaway, make sure to check out Asheville aka Dog City USA! 

In the area? Check out our dog-friendly guide to Tennessee!

Candice Scott, Rosie, & Sarah

Candice is an Alabama native. She works as a Marketing Director for a chiropractic clinic located in Huntsville. In her free time you can catch her hitting the trails alongside her two adventure dogs, Rosie and Sarah. They are always chasing the waterfalls and the views. You can follow along with their adventures on Instagram @ourhomewardbound.