Pet-Friendly Hotels in Burlington, Ontario, by the Lake
If you are bringing a dog to Burlington, the best pet-friendly base is downtown by the lake: the Waterfront Hotel Downtown Burlington and The Pearle Hotel & Spa both sit within a short walk of Spencer Smith Park and the Waterfront Trail, where leashed dogs are welcome. Seven of the 11 Burlington hotels on this site accept pets, with an average guest score of 8.2 from 3,954 reviews, and five of the seven have an indoor pool. The other five sit away from the water, a short drive from the lakefront and from the Niagara Escarpment parks to the north. Which side you choose depends on whether your dog wants a promenade or a forest trail.
Burlington is a lakeside city of the Golden Horseshoe at the western tip of Lake Ontario, between Hamilton and Oakville, with a downtown promenade on the lake, the Burlington Canal lift bridge to the south and the Niagara Escarpment rising along its northern edge.
Which Burlington hotel suits you and your dog
Burlington makes a dog trip simple. The city runs eight fenced leash-free areas, the lakefront promenade is open to leashed dogs, and a short drive away you reach the nature trails of Royal Botanical Gardens and the Conservation Halton escarpment parks, all of which allow dogs on a leash.
For walks straight from the door, the Waterfront Hotel Downtown Burlington is the obvious pick. It stands right next to Spencer Smith Park and the Waterfront Trail, so the morning walk is a lakeside loop rather than a car ride, and Brant Street's dog-friendly patios, such as Joe Dog's Gasbar Grill and 400 Brant, are a few blocks north. It has the most reviews of the seven, 2,068, with a score of 7.9, plus an indoor pool. The trade-off is the busy summer festival season in the park, which brings crowds and noise to the same lawn.
The Pearle Hotel & Spa, Autograph Collection is the top-rated of the seven, at 9.0 from 198 reviews, with two pools, a full spa and a restaurant. It sits on the lakeshore near the Art Gallery of Burlington and the Joseph Brant Museum, a few minutes' walk from Spencer Smith Park and the Brant Street Pier. I would choose it for a couple travelling with a small, calm dog who will spend the evening in the room while the owners use the spa. A large, energetic dog will need the parks more than the hotel.
For longer stays and bigger dogs, the suite hotels make more sense. The Hampton Inn & Suites Burlington scores 8.9 from 562 reviews, has an indoor pool and rooms with a refrigerator, and on-site parking. Homewood Suites by Hilton Burlington, at 8.4, has full kitchens, an outdoor play area and a garden, which helps when both children and a dog need space. Candlewood Suites Burlington Conference Centre, at 7.6 from only 41 reviews, also has full kitchens. None of the three is near the lake, so every walk on the Waterfront Trail starts with a short drive.
Two simpler options round out the list. The Comfort Inn, at 7.8 from 726 reviews, sits a short drive from downtown and serves a continental breakfast. The Quality Hotel, at 7.9, has an indoor pool, a hot tub and a sauna, and is described as close to the wine country of the Niagara Escarpment benches. Neither has the lake on its doorstep; for off-leash play from either, Roly Bird Park on Industrial Street and Central Park on New Street are among the eight fenced leash-free areas the city maintains. The City of Burlington lists all eight, with their addresses, on its leash-free dog parks page.
A traveler's takeWith a dog, I would stay downtown at the Waterfront Hotel and walk the Waterfront Trail at first light, before the park fills up. For a quieter weekend with a small dog, I would book The Pearle and plan escarpment hikes by car. With a large dog that needs to run, I would choose the Hampton Inn & Suites for its score and parking, and drive to Bronte Creek Provincial Park, which has a 1.8-kilometre fenced trail where dogs can go off leash. I would not stay out by the highway if the lake walks are the point of the trip.
4.5The Pearle Hotel & Spa, Autograph Collection
Pet-Friendly · 198 reviewsLuxury hotel and spa with two pools, pet-friendly, and close to cultural sites
Why guests love itThe Pearle Hotel & Spa in Burlington has two swimming pools, a rare find that gives children plenty of time in the water, while the full spa and wellness centre lets parents take a break. A restaurant, a bar and room service make meals easy, and free WiFi and private parking cover the practical side. The Burlington Art Centre and Joseph Brant Museum are nearby for a cultural outing, and pets are accepted too.
4.5Hampton Inn & Suites Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Pet-Friendly · 562 reviewsFamily-friendly comfort with an indoor pool and pet-friendly amenities
Why guests love itHampton Inn & Suites Burlington offers air-conditioned family rooms with a refrigerator, handy for drinks and snacks, and an indoor swimming pool that keeps children busy in any weather. The restaurant serves American dishes most children will eat, and parents can use the fitness room. Pets are welcome and parking is free, which suits families on a road trip along Lake Ontario. With an 8.9 rating across 562 reviews, I would book it as a dependable family base in Burlington.
4.2Homewood Suites by Hilton Burlington
Pet-Friendly · 104 reviewsFamily-friendly suites with kitchens, an indoor pool, and pet-friendly options
Why guests love itAn outdoor play area, an indoor pool and family rooms with a kitchen make the Homewood Suites by Hilton Burlington one of the more child-friendly addresses in this Ontario city. Breakfast is served daily in continental, American or buffet style, and the kitchen handles snacks and simple dinners. A garden and a sun terrace give extra room outside, parking is free, pets are welcome, and an EV charging station is on site. Guests rate it 8.4 across 104 reviews.
4.0Waterfront Hotel Downtown Burlington
Pet-Friendly · 2068 reviewsDowntown waterfront hotel with an indoor pool and spa
Why guests love itSpencer Smith Park and the Waterfront Trail sit right next to the Waterfront Hotel Downtown Burlington, which is why I would suggest it to families who like to walk, cycle or play outside by Lake Ontario. When the weather turns, the indoor pool takes over. The restaurant on site keeps meals simple, parents can book the spa and wellness centre, and pet-friendly rooms are available. WiFi is free throughout, and 2,068 reviews average 7.9.
4.0Quality Hotel
Pet-Friendly · 255 reviewsPet-friendly hotel with indoor pool, hot tub, and sauna in Burlington
Why guests love itThe indoor pool, hot tub and sauna give a family a full evening of water time in any season, and a complimentary continental breakfast keeps mornings easy. Pets are welcome and wireless internet is free. The location is central, with the Joseph Brant Museum and shopping centres nearby, and Ontario wine country and Niagara Falls are day trips by car. Rooms are standard, so facilities are the draw.
3.9Comfort Inn
Pet-Friendly · 726 reviewsPet-friendly comfort near downtown Burlington and the waterfront
Why guests love itA complimentary continental breakfast and free wireless internet keep the basics covered at the Comfort Inn Burlington, and pets are welcome, so the dog can join the trip. The downtown and the Lake Ontario waterfront are a short drive away, good for a family walk by the water. No pool is listed, so the day is built around outings rather than the hotel.
3.8Candlewood Suites Burlington Conference Centre by IHG
Pet-Friendly · 41 reviewsComfortable suites with kitchens, an indoor pool, and a fitness centre
Why guests love itA fully equipped kitchen in every room is the family advantage at Candlewood Suites: meals, bottles and snacks can be prepared in the room, which helps on longer stays. The indoor swimming pool and fitness centre add an evening activity, rooms are air-conditioned with a private bathroom, and pets are welcome. Free Wi-Fi and private parking are included, and there is a terrace and a bar.
Local tips
- 1Royal Botanical Gardens allows leashed dogs on its nature trails, such as Hendrie Valley from the Cherry Hill Gate on Plains Road West, but not in most of its cultivated gardens.
- 2Bronte Creek Provincial Park, just east of Burlington, has a 1.8-kilometre fenced trail where dogs can run off leash, unlike the city's lakefront where leashes are required.
- 3At Mount Nemo and the other Conservation Halton parks, dogs must stay on a leash no longer than two metres and on marked trails; booking a slot on parkvisit.ca is recommended.
- 4The city's eight fenced leash-free areas include Roly Bird Park on Industrial Street, Central Park on New Street and Bayview Park on King Road; none of them is on the lake.
- 5Brant Street has several patios that welcome dogs, including Joe Dog's Gasbar Grill and 400 Brant, both a short walk from the Waterfront Hotel and The Pearle.
- 6Spencer Smith Park hosts large summer festivals on the same lawns where you will walk your dog, so check the city's events calendar before booking a downtown room in June or July.