A lot of people leave the dog at home because finding a good place to stay feels like more trouble than it is worth. It does not have to be. Nashville has fenced dog parks all over the city, a big riverside greenway, and plenty of neighborhoods where an evening walk is part of the fun. With the right rental, your dog can come along for the whole trip.

Here is how we help guests plan a pet friendly Nashville trip, from picking the house to finding a spot for the morning walk.

What "Pet Friendly" Means When You Book

Every rental handles pets a little differently, so do a quick check before you book:

• Look for "Pets allowed" in the amenity list on the property page.
• Read the house rules for anything about pet fees, the number of pets and size limits.
• Tell us about your pet when you book. If you are bringing more than one dog or a large breed, send us a message first so we can confirm the home is a good fit.
• Ask about the yard. Some yards are fully enclosed and some are not. If your dog needs a fence to be off leash, ask us before you arrive.

Pet Friendly Nashville Rentals We Recommend

Greenwood Cottage, East Nashville (sleeps 6)

Greenwood Cottage is a renovated 3 bedroom, 1 bath home in East Nashville with a large backyard that gives kids and pets room to play. It has a private driveway with free parking, which makes unloading crates and dog beds easy. East Nashville is a great neighborhood for walking, and it is a short drive from Shelby Park and the Shelby Bottoms Greenway.

Cowboy Cottage, Near Downtown (sleeps 12)

Cowboy Cottage is pet friendly and has a turfed backyard with a hot tub, sauna and cowboy pool for the humans. It is a short ride to Broadway, so it works for groups that want city nights and a dog friendly home base. Across the street is the Trevecca Urban Farm, with goats, chickens and the working dogs that guard them. Most dogs find that very interesting, so expect some barking back and forth. One more tip: artificial turf heats up in strong summer sun, so test it with your hand before your dog spends time out there in the afternoon.

Cliffside Retreat, Near Opryland (sleeps 12)

Cliffside Retreat allows pets and gives a big group plenty of room. It is a 4 bedroom, 2 bath duplex with Cumberland River views, a huge private deck and its own private entrance. The listing puts it minutes from Opry Mills, Opryland and the airport. Two Rivers Dog Park is in the same part of town, which makes the morning dog run easy.

Dog Parks and Green Space in Nashville

Metro Nashville Parks runs fenced, off leash dog parks across the city, and Metro says all of them have water fountains. Most are open dawn to dusk, but hours and closures can change, so check the Metro Parks dog park page on nashville.gov before you go. A few worth knowing:

• Two Rivers Dog Park on McGavock Pike is the largest on the Metro list, with natural grass, a pavilion and a walking track for people.
• Shelby Dog Park sits behind the Shelby Park Community Center at Shelby Avenue and South 20th Street, close to East Nashville.
• Centennial Dog Parks are on Flag Pole Hill in Centennial Park, with separate areas for large and small dogs. Pair it with a walk to see the Parthenon.
• Warner Dog Park is in Edwin Warner Park on Vaughn Road, across from the sports complex.

If your dog would rather walk than run laps, the Shelby Bottoms Greenway in East Nashville covers about 960 acres along the Cumberland River, with more than 5 miles of paved trail and more than 5 miles of primitive trail. It is not an off leash area. Dogs need to stay on a leash 6 feet or shorter.

Eating Out and Exploring With Your Dog

Plenty of Nashville restaurants and breweries have patios that welcome leashed dogs, but the rules are up to each business and can change with the season. A quick call or a look at their social media before you go saves a wasted trip.

Lower Broadway is a different story. The honky tonks are loud and packed shoulder to shoulder, and that is no fun for most dogs. Plan your Broadway night as a people only outing. Check the house rules about leaving pets alone at the rental, and if your dog does not do well alone, look into a local doggy daycare or a sitter for that evening.

What to Pack for Your Dog

• Leash, collar with ID tags and waste bags
• A crate or familiar bed, so the new place feels like home faster
• Food, treats and bowls for the whole stay
• Vaccination records, in case you use a daycare or groomer
• An old towel for muddy paws after a park or trail
• Something to chew, so a bored dog does not chew something else

In summer, add a collapsible water bowl for walks and plan outings for the morning and evening when it is cooler.

How to Be a Great Guest With a Pet

Pet friendly homes stay pet friendly when guests treat them well. Pick up after your dog in the yard, keep your dog off the beds if the house rules ask, and try to keep barking down, especially early and late, since these are real neighborhoods. If there is an accident or something gets chewed, just tell us. It is much easier to handle when we know about it.

Plan Your Pet Friendly Nashville Trip

Look through our Nashville vacation rentals and check each home's amenity list for "Pets allowed." Have a question about your dog and a specific home? Contact our local team before you book, and we will help you figure out the best fit.