Activities & Lifestyle, Socialization
The Best Dog Friendly Places in Little Rock
September 10, 2021
Back in 2016, Hounds Lounge was founded in Little Rock. The city was dog-furriendly back then, and it’s only gotten more pet-pawsitive since! There’s no shortage of hot spawts to hang out with Fido in Arkansas’ capital.
Keep reading to get the scoop on the best dog friendly places in Little Rock, including restaurant patios, trails and hotels in the Little Rock area.
Dog Parks in Little Rock
While there’s a paw-ful of smaller dog parks scattered across town, these have got to be the top dog parks in Little Rock, perfect for socializing and exercising.
It’s sun’s out, tongue’s out for Maeve as she chills at MacArthur Unleashed Dog Park.
Photo Courtesy of Whitney Butler
Let your pooch run free at MacArthur Unleashed Dog Park! This two-acre, fenced dog park is located in MacArthur Park in downtown Little Rock. It features water stations and rocks for climbing, plus a separate area for dogs under 30 pounds. The grassy landscape is a perfect dog friendly place for fetch.
Located near the Arkansas River, dogs can stay cool in this completely shaded, two-acre park with separate playgrounds for small dogs and large dogs. Pet pawrents can relax at the Paws Park picnic tables while their pups splash in the swimming tubs!
Just across the Arkansas River in North Little Rock, you’ll find Burns Park, which is one of the nation’s largest municipal parks. Within this massive 1,700-acre park is a little gem dedicated solely to dogs.
Find the right pack for your pooch! Choose between three individual play areas for small, medium and large dogs. It’s not hard to see why this is one of the more pawpular dog friendly places around town.
Restaurant Patios
Little Rock is home to some delicious cuisine. When you treat yourself at these tasty restaurants, you can bring Fido along, too!
Yazzy pawses to get a hug from Mom at Bark Bar.
Photo Courtesy of MacKenzie Davis
Bark Bar isn’t just dog-friendly – it’s dog-centric! Arkansas’ first indoor/outdoor, off-leash dog play area and bar is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. This neighborhood gem is the go-to hooman AND dog friendly place for many Little Rockians.
Dogs can play and make furriends as you sip on a delicious drink (like the Lime Barkarita!) or nibble on a treat (Dogpile Nachos, anyone?). Even poochless people can join the fun and get a much-needed dog fix.
Known for their award-winning cheese dip, this hot spawt is beloved by hoomans and dogs alike. Explore the surrounding downtown area, then stop at Dizzy’s shady patio for a bite and a drink – water is provided for thirsty pooches!
A fixture of the SoMa (South Main St.) neighborhood, the Root Cafe is dedicated to building community through locally-sourced food. If you and your dog are avid viewers of “Diners, Drive Ins & Dives,” you might have seen Guy Fieri visit this cafe on TV! The garden patio is a fun, dog friendly place to chill out with friends – and furriends.
Taking a break from showing houses with his realtor dad (Lucas Perez, United Real Estate), Woody practices his table manners at Hill Station.
Photo Courtesy of Amanda Perez
Located in the heart of Hillcrest, Hill Station’s spacious and colorful patio is a lovely dog friendly place to spend time with your doggo. You can watch the game, chow down on a charcuterie board and sip on a specialty drink or milkshake! Tail waggin’, guaranteed.
If you’re looking for a doggone delicious meal at a dog friendly place, look no further than Red Door. Located in the Riverdale area, this restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, but we really dig their brunch menu (served Tuesday through Saturday).
With five locations in Little Rock and several more in the Central Arkansas area, you are never far from a U.S. Pizza or its large and covered dog-friendly patios! Munch on a delicious pizza, sandwich or salad, and your pooch can lap up some complimentary ice-cold water.
With a wide selection of local brews and a rotating lineup of food trucks, The Rail Yard hosts a continual backyard party in Little Rock’s East Village. And what backyard party is complete without dogs? Pooches are always welcome at this foodie’s and Fido’s paradise.
Trails
As the capital city of the Natural State, Little Rock has no shortage of trails! We’ve got the fur-one-one on dog friendly places to hike, bike and explore.
Delilah the Corgi enjoys the views at Pinnacle Mountain with her pawrents.
Photo Courtesy of Haley Rushing
An Arkansas landmark with a dogpile of trail options, Pinnacle Mountain is a grrreat place to bring your woof. If your pup is part mountain goat, you might hike with them all the way to the mountain’s summit. If that’s not your style, you and your pooch can hike one of the several base trails at Pinnacle Mountain State Park.
This lovely little walking trail in the Hillcrest neighborhood offurrs gorgeous views of downtown Little Rock and the Arkansas River. At 1.2 miles, it’s the perfect length for most active doggos. Find hooman and canine water fountains to quench both of your thirsts, and paws at the doggie station for a post-walk clean up. Rub-a-dub-dub!
Cleo catches some rays at Two Rivers Park.
Photo Courtesy of @cleo_thewonderpup
The 88-mile Arkansas River Trail is beloved and well-traveled by Little Rockers. Perfect for walking, running, cycling or strolling with your dog, this loop’s highlights include the Clinton Presidential Bridge, the Big Dam Bridge and Two Rivers Park.
Allsopp Park offers shady, earthen trails that are good for beginner hikers and their doggos. Older dogs might need to skip out on this adventure, because it requires a good deal of uphill hiking. If your pup is up for the challenge, make sure to keep them on a leash!
Baylee and the bluffs are both beauties at Emerald Park.
Photo Courtesy of Ash S.
In North Little Rock, this dog friendly place offers stunning views and a mostly flat, paved trail. It’s perfect for a relaxed outing with your pooch!
Hotels
Whether you’re visiting Little Rock or providing a hotel recommendation to friends, we’ve got you covered on dog friendly places to sit, sleep and stay!
Located in downtown Little Rock, Rosemont B&B Cottages offurr a quaint and cozy stay that’s also pet-friendly! The pet fee for the entire stay is only $25.00. Plus, you can bring unlimited members of your fur fam, and there are two Little Rock dog parks nearby. Bow wow!
Aloft Little Rock West is big on amenities! With rainfall showerheads, a bar and a sparkling outdoor pool, the fact that this place is pet-friendly is simply icing on the biscuit. One dog can stay here for $50.00… so, you have to pick your favorite fur travel companion… if that’s even pawsible!
Holiday Inn Express Little Rock – Airport
As the name suggests, this Holiday Inn Express is just a tennis ball’s throw from the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, which makes it perfect for fur fams travelling by air! Dogs may stay here for $25.00 per pet, per night. The staff does their best to place four-legged guests in ground floor rooms with easy access to a walking area.
Join the Pack
While we’re all about bonding at Little Rock dog parks and everywhere else hoomanly pawsible, we know that a little time apart can do a fur family good. That’s where Hounds Lounge comes in! We offer doggie daycare and overnight stays for when pet pawrents must do hooman activities.
Whether you’re a visitor to Little Rock or a local, Hounds Lounge welcomes you and your pooch with open paws. With three locations in the Little Rock area – Riverdale, West Little Rock and North Little Rock, plus our new Bryant location just outside metro Little Rock – with so many pawsibilities Hounds Lounge is bound to be your favorite dog friendly place in Little Rock! Make a reservation now.
