Dog Friendly City Guide: Savannah, Georgia

Savannah was laid out for walking, and that old plan still suits a dog. The old town is a grid of small, shaded squares, each one a patch of grass and live oak a block or two from the last, so a walk through the historic district is a walk from one green room to the next. Spanish moss hangs over almost everything, the river runs along the top of town, and the marshes and sea islands begin a short drive to the south and east. It is a warm, slow, outdoor city, and most of what a dog owner wants is within a few streets. The thing to plan around is the heat, which shapes the day here for much of the year.

Getting There With a Dog

A dog flying into the United States from abroad has to meet the rules of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the first question is where it has spent the past six months. If that time has been only in countries the CDC treats as rabies-free or low risk, the dog must be microchipped, at least six months old, and travelling with a receipt for the CDC Dog Import Form, which you complete online before you fly. Time in any country on the CDC's high-risk list for dog rabies brings more paperwork and stricter checks at the port of entry, so read the CDC's guidance on bringing a dog into the United States before you book anything. Once you are here, the historic district is best seen on foot, and a car is what opens up the parks and the fort out towards the coast.

Where to Stay

The JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District is the hotel we have inspected and ranked in Savannah, and it holds an F in our rankings. It is a large five star house of 238 rooms at 400 West River Street, which puts the river walk on the doorstep and the squares a short stroll uphill. Its welcome is a practical one. Most rooms take dogs, up to two to a room, so a pair can travel together, and your dog is welcome with you on the terrace. A settled dog can be left in the room while you go out to dinner, which is a real freedom in a city built around long evening meals, and green spaces and parks are close by for the first and last walk of the day.

Eat and Drink

Savannah's dog friendly drinking happens mostly in two places: the Starland District, a few blocks south of Forsyth Park, and the western edge of the historic district near the river. Both suit a dog, and both are worth a visit.

Two Tides Brewing Co. on West 41st Street in Starland is the obvious first stop. The brewery says it loves dogs and welcomes them as long as they are well behaved and on a lead. Its taproom is upstairs, with Smol Bar and Crispi on the ground floor, and the brewery itself points out that the stairs are not easy for every dog, so an older or smaller dog may be happier downstairs. Children are welcome too, which keeps the mood easy in the afternoon.

A few minutes away on De Soto Avenue, Starland Yard is a food park built for groups who cannot agree on dinner. It has a full bar, three built-in kitchens, Pizzeria Vittoria, T-REX BBQ and Uncle June's, and a rotating line of food trucks. Its answer on dogs is "We love dogs!", with two requests: keep yours on a lead, and take it off the premises when it needs to go, cleaning up after it. Evenings here, with a pizza and a beer at an outdoor table, are about as relaxed as Savannah gets.

Closer to the river, Service Brewing is a veteran owned craft brewery in the historic district near River Street and Plant Riverside, a short walk from the hotel. It was founded in 2014 by an Army veteran and a SCAD graduate and has raised money for veteran and first responder charities ever since. The brewery calls itself dog friendly and welcomes well behaved pets both in the taproom and in its outdoor areas, on a lead and with you at all times. Food comes from visiting food trucks, so check the brewery's schedule if you plan to eat there.

For breakfast, Clary's Cafe on Abercorn Street is a Savannah diner hung with old photographs and memorabilia that serves breakfast all day, from eight until two. It has outside seating for customers with dogs, and the cafe says it is especially fond of its canine visitors, who always get free treats and water. A plate of eggs on the pavement here, with the dog under the table, is a good way to start a day in the squares.

Walks and Parks

The walking starts in the middle of town. Forsyth Park is the great green space at the southern end of the historic district, with long shaded paths, open lawns and its famous fountain, and a loop of the park is the natural morning walk for anyone staying downtown. From its northern edge the squares run up towards the river, and a slow walk north through them, from oak to oak and bench to bench, is the best way to see the city with a dog. The river walk along the top of town gives a different view, of ships and the water, and is at its best early in the day. Wherever you are in town, the City of Savannah's leash law applies in its parks and squares, so the lead stays on.

South of the centre, Wormsloe State Historic Site on the Isle of Hope is the walk most visitors remember. A long avenue sheltered by live oaks and Spanish moss leads to the tabby ruins of the colonial estate of Noble Jones, one of the oldest standing structures in Savannah, and leashed dogs are welcome on the site's trails, though not inside its buildings. Go early, before the avenue fills with cameras.

Further out, Skidaway Island State Park sits on the Skidaway Narrows, part of the Intracoastal Waterway. Its trails wind through maritime forest and past salt marsh to a boardwalk, with deer, fiddler crabs and egrets along the way, and leashed pets are allowed. The Big Ferry and Sandpiper trails make a good morning loop. The park notes that the Avian Trail and its observation tower are closed after bridge damage, so check the park page before you set out.

On the road towards the coast, Fort Pulaski National Monument is a rare thing: a National Park Service site where dogs are welcome inside the fort itself as well as on its hiking trails. Only the visitor centre is off limits. The park asks for a lead no longer than six feet and that you never leave a dog unattended, and it notes that the McQueen's Island Trail has been closed since 3 August 2026 for a county restoration project.

A Day Out

Start with breakfast on the pavement at Clary's, then walk south through the squares to Forsyth Park while the morning is still cool. Drive out to Wormsloe for the avenue of oaks and a gentle loop of its trails, and if the dog still has legs, carry on to Skidaway Island for the forest and the marsh boardwalk. Spend the hot middle of the day back in town, in the shade or in your room. When the evening cools, head to Starland for a beer at Two Tides and dinner from the kitchens and trucks at Starland Yard, or stay near the river and finish the day at Service Brewing, a short walk from the hotel.

Good to Know

The City of Savannah's leash law covers its parks, squares, and business and residential areas, failing to keep a dog on a lead can bring a fine, and the city asks every owner to carry something to pick up with, since pet waste should never be left in its parks and squares. At the state parks and at Fort Pulaski, dogs stay on a lead and stay out of buildings and the visitor centre. At Clary's, dogs sit outside; only service animals go in. At the JW Marriott, the dog fee is $150 for the first dog and $50 for a second, and a weight limit of 60 pounds applies. From late spring to early autumn, walk early and late, carry water on every outing, and test the pavement with the back of your hand before you set off.