Your Weekend Guide to Billings With Your Four Legged Friend
If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I’m obsessed with my fur babies! They are a key part of our family and I know so many people feel the same way about their sweet pups, too.
Oftentimes when traveling, dog parents struggle to find destinations that are pet friendly and it can make vacationing 10x harder when you have to find a dog sitter or kennel to leave them for a week.
As we’re heading into summer and planning vacations of our own, I was thinking about how Billings is actually a PERFECT destination to bring your pup, so I of course sought out to create a specific itinerary for dog parents just like me!
If you’re in search of a weekend getaway and don’t want to leave your pup at home, this one’s for you!
Where to Stay
From personal experience, it seems like everywhere you go it’s hard to find accommodations that are pet friendly.
I know that everyone isn’t an animal lover, but c’mon these little guys are basically like kiddos and deserve a vacay too! 🐶💖
Luckily, Billings has some great options for you:
Dude Rancher is a Billings staple that’s been around since 1950 providing casual, relaxing and pet friendly accommodations right in the heart of downtown Billings making many restaurants and breweries easily accessible after your days of adventure.
The Billings KOA campground is perfectly designed with a mix of relaxation and play for the whole family (including your fur baby) while soaking in the great outdoors.
You can choose from full service RV sites, on-site pet-friendly cabin rentals and tent sites, all with access to amenities such as a swimming pool and hot tub, playground, mini golf, restrooms and showers, coffee truck, ice cream shop and a conveniently located store and gift shop.
Your Weekend Guide to Billings, Montana with Your Dog
When traveling with your fur babies, you’ll naturally spend a lot of time outside and Billings is the perfect place to be for just that!
It’s nearly impossible to fit all of the amazing outdoor activities into one weekend in Billings, but this 3-day itinerary takes a pretty good stab at it!
Day 1 (Friday Evening):
As you make your way into town after your travel day both, you and your pup, will probably be in much need of a reset and there’s no better place to make that happen than one of Billings best dog parks.
Lake Elmo Dog Park, High Sierra Dog Park and Centennial Dog Park are all great options to let your pup freely run while you soak in some outside air.
After some time at the park, it’s time to hit downtown for dinner at one of the area's pet-friendly restaurants.
All of downtown Billings welcomes you and your dog with open arms, but like most places there are a few pet rules that you’ll want to be aware of!
You can find the downtown dog etiquette HERE and get the exact locations of designated potty spots.
For dinner, I’d recommend Last Chance Pub and Cider Mill - it’s a popular downtown spot that offers a dog-friendly patio where you can enjoy their craft ciders and pub food with your furry friend!
After a yummy dinner, settle into your pet-friendly accommodation and rest up for the fun that’s to come!
Day 2 (Saturday):
After a night full of pup cuddles, it’s time to hit the town for a full day of adventuring!
Starting off strong with Black Dog Coffee. As the name suggests, this coffee shop is pet-friendly and is the perfect way to start your morning.
Grab your favorite cup of joe, a yummy breakfast treat and of course a pupuccino before you start your day! ☕️🥯
Next up, get your walk on at one of Billings dog friendly trails, including:
Norms Island - a popular spot near Riverfront Park, Norms Island is a great dog destination with over two miles of trails making for the perfect morning stroll.
Two Moon Park - this 1.9-mile loop trail near Billings is considered an easy route that takes an average of 30 minutes from start to finish! This is a popular trail for hiking, running and walking and your furry friends are welcome.
Will James Trail - this 1.1 mile out-and-back trail is a great walking spot for you and your pup and is located within Four Dances. Along your walk, you’ll be met with a historic cabin overlooking the Yellowstone River and city of Billings!
After your morning adventure, your pup might be in need of a bath and if so, Lovable Pets has the most convenient self serve dog wash and no appointment is necessary!
For only $17, you can bring your dog in to wash up before continuing your day. 🛀🏻
After getting all cleaned up, it’s time to pay a visit to Scheels. What might seem like your average sporting goods store is actually an entire experience on the inside!
From an indoor ferris wheel, interactive games, an aquarium and even a cafe, it’s a fun pet-friendly stop where you can also stock up on any outdoor essentials you might need while you're in town!
By now we know you’ll both be hungry, so you can take the short walk from Scheels to Bullman's Wood Fired Pizza to enjoy an outdoor lunch before continuing your adventures. 🍕
After that, make the short drive to visit Pictograph Cave State Park located just 5 miles south of Billings. This state park is frequented by visitors and displays three caves for adventuring. Your pup is welcome, but must remain on a leash!
After your day of adventuring, some tasty treats are definitely in order! For you, I highly suggest grabbing a delicious sip from Soda Station before taking your pup to get a dessert of their own at Doggie Style Gourmet Treats. 🦴
They have everything from pup cakes to treat bags and your furry friend is sure to enjoy all of the extra love!
Before heading back to downtown for dinner, drinks and entertainment, stop into your hotel or cabin for a quick snooze or to kick your feet up for a few.
When you're ready, round out your full day, with a visit to Thirsty Street Brewing to enjoy live music, brews and yummy bites from their pet-friendly patio.
If you’re hoping to pay a visit to one of Billings finer dining options while you’re in town, Dee-O-Gee offers a doggy day care until 7pm! You can pay for a half a day (up to five hours) or pay hourly and know that your pup is in great hands while you’re away.
Day 3 (Sunday Morning):
Before you close out your trip and make your way home, stop into Proof Donuts for a coffee and donut to go. 🍩
And that’s a wrap on your weekend in Billings with your fur baby!
While many destinations aren’t pet-friendly, Billings has the ability to welcome you and your furry friend with open arms and there’s plenty of ways to fill your days together.
If you visit with your dog, you HAVE to send me a pic – I’ll be patiently waiting here. 🤣
