Dog beaches in Miami: Hobie Beach, Haulover, Miami Beach's Bark Beaches and the rules at each
Where your dog can actually go on the sand in Miami: Hobie Beach on the causeway, Haulover's dog section and Miami Beach's three Bark Beaches.
The short version
- Every day, all day: Haulover's dog beach, between lifeguard towers 2 and 3, sunrise to sunset.
- Calm bay water: Hobie Island Beach Park on the Rickenbacker Causeway.
- In Miami Beach: Bark Beaches at 21st, 53rd and 81st St, only at set hours.
- Not allowed: Any other Miami Beach beach, and Historic Virginia Key Beach Park.
- Bring: A leash, waste bags, and your dog's collar with a rabies tag.
For a dog beach in Miami, go to Haulover between lifeguard towers 2 and 3 any day from sunrise to sunset; Hobie Beach is the calm bay option, and Miami Beach's Bark Beaches work only in their short time windows.
Which dog beach for which day
| You want the most hours and an off-leash area | Haulover Park: dogs off leash only between lifeguard towers 2 and 3, sunrise to sunset, every day |
| Your dog likes calm, shallow water | Hobie Island Beach Park on the bay side of the Rickenbacker Causeway |
| You are staying in South Beach | The 21st Street Bark Beach by Collins Park, early mornings only |
| You are in Mid Beach | The 53rd Street Bark Beach: daily, 9 to 11 am April to October, 7 to 9 am November to March |
| Weekend afternoon in North Beach | Bark Beach at 81st Street, Friday to Sunday afternoons |
| Staying in Hollywood or Fort Lauderdale | Hollywood's Dog Beach, weekends only, with a pass for each dog |
Miami dog beaches compared
| Beach | When dogs are allowed | Leash | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haulover Park, dog beach | Daily, sunrise to sunset | Off leash in the marked area only; leashed everywhere else in the park | Parking $7 Mon to Thu, $10 weekends and holidays; Bark Park lot $5.47 |
| Hobie Island Beach Park | No official hours found; listings disagree | The tourism board says off leash; other listings say leash; keep one on until you see the signs | No fee found; the causeway toll applies |
| Bark Beach, 81st Street (North Beach) | Fri to Sun, 3 to 7 pm March to October; 1:30 to 5:30 pm November to February | Off leash in the designated area | Free; metered lot across the street |
| Bark Beach, 53rd Street (Mid Beach) | Daily, 9 to 11 am April to October; 7 to 9 am November to March | Carry a leash at all times | Free; metered lot across the street |
| Bark Beach, 21st Street (South Beach) | Daily, 9 to 11 am April to October; 7 to 9 am November to March | Carry a leash at all times | Free |
| Hollywood Dog Beach (Broward) | Fri to Sun, 4 to 8 pm in daylight saving time, 3 to 7 pm otherwise | Leash or voice control | A pass per dog; fee set by the city |
The Miami Beach tourism board also lists a daily morning window at 81st Street; the city's own page shows only the weekend afternoons. Hollywood's hours come from its city code as returned by search.
Miami-Dade County Parks, City of Miami Beach, Greater Miami CVB, NBC 6, City of Hollywood code, checked October 2026
Hobie Island Beach Park
The narrow beach along the Rickenbacker Causeway, facing Biscayne Bay rather than the open ocean. The Village of Key Biscayne's parks guide calls it one of Miami's most popular dog-friendly beaches, and windsurfers, kayakers and paddleboarders use it too.
The leash rule is the open question. The Greater Miami tourism board says dogs can run off leash here; other dog guides say the opposite, and we found no Miami-Dade page that settles it. Keep a leash on until the posted signs tell you otherwise, or ask the county on 311.
The north side reopened in December 2024 after being closed since Hurricane Irma in 2017, with a rebuilt shoreline, better parking and a path under the William Powell Bridge.
Haulover Park
Miami-Dade's own dog beach. Dogs may be off leash only on the beach between lifeguard towers 2 and 3, reached through lots 3 and 4, and must be leashed everywhere else in the park. It is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Across from it is a fenced Bark Park, also sunrise to sunset; its lot is $5.47 per vehicle and the dog must be in the car. Beach parking is $7 Monday to Thursday and $10 on weekends and holidays. On summer and holiday Sundays from 11 am to 3 pm the lots can fill and close.
North Beach Oceanside Park
The park itself welcomes leashed dogs, according to the Miami Beach tourism board. The city's Bark Beach sits on the sand between 80th and 81st Streets, east of the park, with its entrance on Collins Avenue at 81st Street and a metered public lot across the road.
The city lists Bark Beach hours as Friday to Sunday only: 3 to 7 pm from March to October and 1:30 to 5:30 pm from November to February.
Where they are
Before you take the dog to the beach
- Miami Beach prohibits dogs on its beaches except at the designated Bark Beaches, at their hours
- At the 53rd Street Bark Beach the city requires a collar and rabies tag at all times, allows two dogs per owner and bans dogs in heat, aggressive dogs and digging
- Pick up after your dog immediately; the Bark Beach rules make the owner responsible for the dog's behavior
- Historic Virginia Key Beach Park allows no pets except service animals, even though it sits next to Hobie Beach
- The Rickenbacker Causeway toll is charged at the Brickell end, before Hobie: $2.25 with SunPass or $3.00 by plate in the county's latest published schedule
- Bring fresh water for the dog; none of the official pages promise a dog water station on the sand
Questions people ask
Is there a dog beach in Miami?
Yes. Haulover Park has a dog beach between lifeguard towers 2 and 3, open sunrise to sunset every day, and Miami Beach has three Bark Beaches at 21st, 53rd and 81st Streets with set hours. Hobie Beach on the Rickenbacker Causeway is also known as dog-friendly.
Can dogs be off leash at Hobie Beach?
Sources disagree. The Greater Miami tourism board says yes, other dog guides say dogs must be leashed, and we found no county page that settles it. Bring a leash and follow the signs on site.
Are dogs allowed on South Beach?
Only at the 21st Street Bark Beach, during its morning window: 9 to 11 am April to October and 7 to 9 am November to March. Miami Beach prohibits dogs on its other beaches.
How much does the Haulover dog beach cost?
The beach is free; you pay to park. Miami-Dade lists $7 per car Monday to Thursday and $10 on weekends and holidays, and $5.47 at the Bark Park lot.
More guides
Pet-friendly hotels in Miami, and the rules for bringing a dog to the beach, the train and dinnerDogs · Hotels · 5 min readHaulover Beach: the clothing-optional section, parking, dogs and what else the park hasBeaches · Haulover · 3 min readVirginia Key Beach: the historic park on the causeway, what it costs and why you wade instead of swimBeaches · History · 5 min readHaulover dog beach, Bark Park and parking from Miami-Dade County Parks (miamidade.gov); Bark Beach hours and rules from the City of Miami Beach parks directory; 21st Street hours and Hobie leash claim from the Greater Miami CVB (miamiandbeaches.com) and NBC 6 (November 2024); Hobie from the Village of Key Biscayne parks guide and Hoodline; Hollywood from its city code via search; toll from Miami-Dade's 2025 bond report; checked October 2026.