Your guide to the best dog-friendly neighborhoods in the Triangle

When a four-legged friend is part of your family, you have likely thought about where you want to live based on your pet. You aren’t alone. The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) reports that 71% of households today have a pet. Also, pet lovers are more interested in homes with larger lots located in communities that offer walkability and proximity to parks and recreational spots. That means that if you’re looking for the best dog-friendly neighborhoods in the Triangle, you are part of a large group of pet lovers who want what’s best for their furry friends.

If you’re in the market for a pet-friendly home, here are a few options to consider.

If you’re a dog owner who is interested in living within the Raleigh city limits, you’ll find that the city is particularly friendly toward dogs. While lots tend to be smaller within the city itself, numerous dog parks throughout Raleigh offer off-leash playtime, shade, agility equipment, pet-friendly water fountains, and small dog areas. In addition, Raleigh’s classic neighborhoods — Oakwood, Mordecai, and Five Points, for example — are walkable and pet-friendly.

Raleigh is also loaded with pet-friendly restaurants. Spots like The Station at Person Street near Oakwood, Morgan Street Food Hall, and Boxcar Bar + Arcade let you bring pets to sit with you on their patios. Raleigh Beer Garden even has its own pup menu where your dog can snack on bacon or hamburger while enjoying beautiful weather on the patio.

If you are motivated to keep your dog active, Durham is a great city to call home. Durham is home to a large portion of the American Tobacco Trail — 11 miles of paved, off-road trails — where you can walk or jog with your dog. South Durham’s greenway trails, which connect the Southpoint area and the Research Triangle Park, provide even more opportunities to take your pets out for a stroll. Durham is also home to several dog parks, plus the city hosts events like Barktoberfest and Canine Field Day for even more fun.

Even the Durham Bulls get in on the four-legged fun. Bark in the Park is a dog-friendly night at the ballpark that raises funds for the Triangle’s oldest no-kill animal shelter, Second Chance Pet Adoption. Plus, spots like Guglhupf and Parts & Labor provide pet-friendly outdoor seating while Locopops offers pet-friendly pops for hot days.

Cary is the Triangle area’s suburban paradise, and that’s especially true for pet lovers. The City of Cary offers both annual and day passes for the community’s dog parks, and it’s worth the effort. That’s because Downtown Cary Park’s Barkyard is a one-of-a-kind park that features tunnels, interactive water features, and play spaces perfect for dogs of all sizes. Plus, the park’s Bark Bar is a dog park-adjacent open-air bar for post-pup playtime. In addition, the American Tobacco Trail runs through Cary, giving walkers and runners even more opportunities to play with their pets.

Cary is also home to many master-planned communities, which were designed with parks and dog-friendly spaces. This fact puts Cary communities at the top of best dog-friendly neighborhoods in the Triangle. From Brier Creek to Preston to Carpenter Village to Amberly, there are many pet-friendly amenities to enjoy. Plus, Brier Creek is just minutes from the natural spaces of William B. Umstead State Park, which is incredibly pet-friendly. And if you want to pop by a Cary restaurant with your dog, Pharmacy Bottle + Beverage, Fortnight Brewing Company, and Crosstown Pub are friendly spots.

As the Triangle continues to expand, many new neighborhoods offer the parks, walking trails, spacious lots, and pet-friendly amenities that dog owners want in a neighborhood. Whether you’re looking for a spot near Raleigh’s top dog parks, a Cary neighborhood that puts you in proximity to Downtown Cary Park, or a more urban lifestyle with walkability, there are several options to choose from as you search for the best dog-friendly neighborhoods in the Triangle.

Chatham Park is a master-planned community in Pittsboro that includes numerous resort-style amenities, as well as a dog park within its 10-acre Knight Farm Community Park. Newer master-planned communities throughout the Triangle, including The Preserves at HollandSerenityin Fuquay-Varina and Flowers Plantation in Clayton have pet-friendly features planned as part of the experience there. And Midtown’s North Hills District has a dog park as part of its overall appeal, too. No matter where you’re looking in the Triangle, you can find a home and community that welcomes your pets and ensures they’re part of the choice you make in your next location.

Pet-friendly homes and communities are part of the expectations of today’s homeowners. If your next move needs to work for both you and your dog, the Triangle offers more options than ever before. From established neighborhoods with mature trees and sidewalks to master-planned communities designed with pet-friendly amenities, there’s no shortage of places where dogs are truly part of the lifestyle. With the right guidance, finding a home that fits the needs of every member of your family can be a walk in the park.