No. 1 'Most Pet-Friendly' City in America Revealed and It's Not Where You Think
When you think of the most pet-friendly city in America, you probably have some ideas that come to mind.
However, you may be surprised when you learn which is the top pet-friendly city in America and the main reason for its ranking.
According to new data from travel search engine KAYAK, which compiled this list of America's most pet-friendly destinations by identifying the highest density of pet-friendly stay options from all accommodations per city in 2026, the No. 1 city was Topeka, Kansas.
See, it doesn't have to be the biggest and busiest city to be considered the most pet-friendly place.
To give some context, Topeka, Kansas, has a population of approximately 125,500 and is the fifth-largest city in Kansas.
It has a geographic footprint of 62 geographic miles.
Smaller cities with outdoor-friendly destinations dominated the list over big cities like New York, New York, and Chicago, Illinois.
Here is KAYAK's list of top pet-friendly destinations and the average hotel rate in these cities.
KAYAK's top pet-friendly destinations include:
- Topeka, KS - 64% of hotels are pet-friendly | Avg. hotel rate: $111
- Amarillo, TX - 61% | $108
- Yakima, WA - 56% | $114
- Klamath Falls, OR - 55% | $88
- Syracuse, NY - 55% | $162
- Ocala, FL - 54% | $99
- Evansville, IN - 53% | $98
- Yuma, AZ - 52% | $80
- Madison, WI - 50% | $140
- Montgomery, AL - 50% | $134
- Jackson, MS - 50% | $108
- Lincoln, NE - 49% | $140
- Valdosta, GA - 49% | $128
- Paducah, KY - 49% | $140
- Titusville, FL - 49% | $150
- Boca Raton, FL - 48% | $196
- Davenport, IA - 48% | $81
- Springfield, MO - 48% | $127
- Florence, SC - 48% | $120
- Long Beach, WA - 47% | $159
As for how big the pet travel market is, you may also be surprised.
For some context, 66% of U.S. households have a pet, and about 78% of travelers take their pets on trips each year.
According to Grand View Research, the global pet travel services market is only getting bigger.
It was valued at $2.4 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $3.9 billion by 2030, driven by pet adoption and humanization, more tourists traveling with their animal companions, and pet-friendly travel services such as hotels. And also services like the dog-first airline Bark Air, which has flown more than 1,000 dogs across 142 flights and nearly 4,000 miles with $6 million in revenue in its first year of operation.
Related: Influencer Does Ultimate Luxury Birthday Haul for Her Cat and You Won't Believe It
What Makes a True Pet-Friendly City?
So what makes a city truly pet-friendly? According to KAYAK, one of the main factors is pet-friendly hotels, which we are seeing more and more of across the U.S.
According to a recent survey by WagWalking, 25 million dog parents seek out dog-friendly hotels for their four-legged family members.
And pet hotels are certainly stepping it up with incredible packages and offerings for dogs, including Tiffany bowls, their own dog walkers and butlers, pet travel concierge services, and Jonathan Adler pet beds.
For example, starting this summer, Wylder Windham in the Catskills (New York) will offer a private dog run and trails on the 20-acre resort, pup-parent portraits in the resort's vintage Land Rover, in-room welcome kits with toys, treats, and all the grooming essentials, and most importantly, yappy hours!
Other factors that contribute to a city's pet-friendly levels include:
- Number of dog parks per square mile
- Pet-friendly restaurants and stores
- Trails and green space for dogs (and their humans)
- Local pet culture
- Cost of having a pet in these cities
- Pet-friendly apartments and rentals
- Walkability
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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 9:55 AM.