This U.S. Highway Was Named the Most Dog-friendly Road Trip in the World—With Ocean Views and Plenty of Pup-friendly StopsLauren
Aerial view of the Seven Mile Bridge and the Overseas Highway at the Florida Keys.Credit: Kemter/Getty ImagesThe Overseas Highway stretches 113 miles through the Florida Keys, with 42 bridges, scenic waterfront restaurants, dog parks, and dozens of potential places to stop.
For many dog owners, a road trip isn’t complete without their four-legged companion. While bringing your pup along may seem like it could limit where you can go, a new study from Autotrader found dog-friendly road trip routes exist across the world.
Using Google Maps data from July 2026, the company examined 45 road trips worldwide that were at least 100 miles long and found Florida’s Overseas Highway to be the most dog-friendly. Running 113 miles from Key Largo to Key West and crossing 42 bridges, the highway offers views of the Atlantic Ocean and Florida Bay, especially around the famed Seven Mile Bridge. The route ranked highest for its 43 service stations, 19 outdoor areas, and seven dog parks, about three potential stops every five miles.
Along the way, travelers can stop for a meal with their dogs at Lorelei Restaurant & Cabana Bar in Islamorada, which has pet-friendly outdoor seating. Further south, the city of Marathon offers off-leash play areas at Marathon Dog Park and Oceanfront Park, while Key West has Higgs Beach Dog Park and dog-friendly waterfront restaurants such as Schooner Wharf Bar and Half Shell Raw Bar.
Across the globe, Spain’s Costa Brava route took second place, also averaging three dog-friendly stops every five miles. The 125-mile drive has 50 service stations, 13 outdoor areas and 11 dog parks. Australia’s Great Ocean Road rounded out the top three, with two stops every five miles along its 151-mile stretch.
Back in the U.S., California’s Pacific Coast Highway also made the top 10, landing in sixth place. At 656 miles, it was the longest route on the list and had nearly 200 potential stops, including 30 dog parks.
Beyond the routes themselves, dog trainer Adam Spivey, who partnered with Autotrader on its Canine Car Report, recommends stopping every couple of hours for older dogs and roughly once an hour for puppies. He also stresses the importance of keeping dogs properly restrained in the car.
Travelers should also check the pet policies of individual stops and businesses, as the study did not verify whether dogs are welcome at every location.
See the full ranking below.
Overseas Highway, United States
Costa Brava, Spain
Great Ocean Road, Australia
Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland
Cotswolds Way, England
Pacific Coast Highway, United States
Pembrokeshire Coast Road, Wales
Romantic Road, Germany
Great Alpine Road, Australia
Panorama Route, South Africa
on Travel & Leisure
Source: Nature