This California city ranks as the best for travelers with pets. Here’s why

The best city for travelers and their pets is in coastal California.

Grab your furry friend and explore Santa Monica with them. The city landed No. 1 on Motel 6’s list of “Top Pet-Friendly Road Trip Destinations Across The U.S.”

Motel 6 and BestPlaces chose the top cities for pets by considering access to dogs parks in the area, green spaces, hiking trails, pet stores, veterinarians, dog-friendly patios and restaurants.

“Pets are members of the family, so travelers are eager to bring them along for the ride as they explore the U.S. Thanks to BestPlaces, travelers can now feel confident bringing their pets on their journey,” Motel 6 CEO Rob Palleschi said.

Santa Monica is well known for its touristy pier including a Ferris wheel, concession stands, room for fishing and a popular lounging beach.

And there’s plenty to do in the city with your pet.

The ocean-front city is about 16 miles west of Los Angeles.

The top 10 cities on Motel 6’s list were:

1. Santa Monica, California
2. Rockville, Maryland
3. Santa Fe, New Mexico
4. Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
5. Newport, Rhode Island
6. Gloucester, Massachusetts
7. Richmond, Kentucky
8. Bend, Oregon
9. Asheville, North Carolina
10. Charlottesville, Virginia

This story was originally published April 6, 2022 at 9:45 AM with the headline "This California city ranks as the best for travelers with pets. Here’s why."

Helena Wegner

McClatchy DC

Helena Wegner is a McClatchy National Real-Time Reporter covering the state of Washington and the western region. She’s a journalism graduate from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She’s based in Phoenix.