Best Pet-Friendly Stays in Sault Ste. Marie
Pet-friendly stays in Sault Ste. Marie run from full-service hotels like Delta Hotels by Marriott Waterfront and Comfort Inn Sault Ste Marie to budget highway motels like Motel 6 and Northlander Motel, with Cozy 2BDR Oasis and Wardens Quarters offering full apartments for travellers wanting more space for a dog. Glenview Cottages, north of the city near Hiawatha Highlands, stands out for pairing pet-friendly cottages with hiking trails directly on site, a rare combination of pet policy and dog-walking terrain in one booking. Policies vary by property on size limits and fees, so confirming the specifics before booking matters more here than the general pet-friendly tag itself.
Sault Ste. Marie's highway-motel culture, built up along the Trans-Canada corridor for road-trippers and truckers, has always run pet-friendly as standard practice, and that carries through to the budget end of the market here more consistently than in many Canadian cities. The cottages and cabins north of town toward Hiawatha Highlands add genuine outdoor space to that equation, while the downtown waterfront hotels offer pet-friendly rooms without much more than a nearby sidewalk for a walk.
Cottages Beat Hotels For Walking Room
Sault Ste. Marie's pet-friendly hotels split between chain properties that allow pets as a standard policy line and budget motels where it has long been part of doing business on the highway corridor. The stronger pick for a traveller with a dog is less about which hotel allows pets and more about which one offers somewhere to actually walk one, and Glenview Cottages and the highway motels near open lots generally beat the downtown hotels on that count.
North of the city off Highway 17, Glenview Cottages pairs its pet-allowed cottages with hiking trails and an outdoor recreation area directly on the property, plus proximity to Hiawatha Highlands about six minutes' drive away for a longer walk. Each cottage includes a full kitchen, useful for a longer stay with a pet where cooking beats finding a pet-friendly restaurant every night, and the seasonal outdoor pool gives the rest of the family something to do while the dog rests. A private entrance means fewer hallway encounters with other guests.
Pets are welcome at Delta Hotels by Marriott Waterfront, a full-service hotel setting with a boardwalk location, picnic area and sun terrace for a short walk, plus its own restaurant on site for evenings when leaving a pet in the room briefly is simplest before returning for the night. It is the pick for travellers wanting hotel-level service without giving up bringing a dog along, and the waterfront setting gives a longer stretch to walk than a typical hotel car park. Every room's fridge also helps store pet food properly on a longer trip.
Motel 6 and Northlander Motel both keep pet policies straightforward at a lower price point, with Motel 6 including a kitchenette with fridge, microwave and stovetop for cooking pet-owner meals on the road, and Northlander sitting close to Sault College and Cambrian Mall for a short walk after check-in. Both properties offer free on-site parking, useful for a road trip where the car doubles as pet transport between stops, and both keep rooms on the ground floor for an easier walk in and out with a leash in hand, a small detail that matters more than it sounds on a multi-night stay.
Cozy 2BDR Oasis and Wardens Quarters: 2 Bedroom Apt both offer full apartments with kitchens and washing machines, genuinely more space for a pet than a standard hotel room, and both sit within a few kilometres of downtown attractions for day trips that do not require boarding the animal. The garden and terrace at Cozy 2BDR Oasis add outdoor space uncommon among standard hotel rooms in the city, and the streaming services help fill a quiet evening in with a tired dog after a full day out and about exploring the waterfront.
A traveler's takeFor a dog on a Highway 17 road trip I would choose Glenview Cottages: individual cottages with full kitchens and hiking trails on site, six minutes' drive from the Hiawatha Highlands trail network for a longer walk, rated 8.3 across 394 reviews. The full kitchen means dinner does not depend on finding a restaurant that welcomes pets. In town, my alternative is Delta Hotels by Marriott Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront, a pet-friendly hotel near the Canal boardwalk.
4.5Cozy 2BDR Oasis in Ontario's Best Adventure Town
Pet-Friendly · 6 reviewsA garden apartment near the casino and Tour Train
Why guests love itThis two-bedroom apartment in Sault Ste. Marie gives a family what a hotel room cannot: a fully equipped kitchen for most meals, a washing machine for longer trips, and a garden and terrace where children can play outside. Streaming services and free WiFi cover rainy evenings, and parking is free. The Agawa Canyon Tour Train is 2.7 km away for an easy morning start. Its 9 rating rests on just six reviews. I would book it for a multi-night family stay.
4.2Northlander Motel
Pet-Friendly · 261 reviewsWalking distance to Sault College and Cambrian Mall
Why guests love itNorthlander Motel is a budget base in Sault Ste. Marie for a family that likes to walk: Sault College is 500 metres away and Cambrian Mall 900 metres. Rooms are simply furnished and air-conditioned, with a fridge, coffee maker and cable TV, handy for breakfast in the room. Parking and toiletries are free and pets are welcome. There is no pool or restaurant, but an 8.4 rating from 261 reviews is solid.
4.2Super 8 by Wyndham Sault Ste Marie On
Pet-Friendly · 572 reviewsGluten-free breakfast two minutes from the Hall of Fame
Why guests love itSuper 8 by Wyndham Sault Ste Marie On is the budget choice I would suggest to a family with a gluten-free eater, as the daily continental breakfast includes gluten-free options. Family rooms are air-conditioned, there is a garden with picnic spots, and parking on site is free. The Northern Ontario Country Music Hall of Fame is a two-minute walk away, and the 24-hour front desk helps with late arrivals. Guests rate it 8.4.
4.2Glenview Cottages
Pet-Friendly · 394 reviewsKitchen-equipped cottages minutes from Hiawatha Highlands
Why guests love itIndividual cottages with full kitchens make Glenview Cottages an easy fit for families who want to cook and keep their own rhythm. The on-site sauna suits cold evenings, the outdoor pool is seasonal, and a guest launderette helps on longer stays. The Hiawatha Highlands trail network is six minutes' drive away and Searchmont Ski Resort about 34 km, so I would plan this stay around a car and outdoor days.
4.1Sleep Inn
Pet-Friendly · 548 reviewsSteps from the museum with a sauna on site
Why guests love itSleep Inn Sault Ste. Marie is set 200 metres from the Sault Ste. Marie Museum, so a family can walk there without moving the car. Rooms are air-conditioned with a private bathroom, the sauna gives parents a quiet end to the day, and round-the-clock reception makes a late arrival with sleepy children simple. Pets are welcome, and fishing and a nearby golf course add options for older kids. Rated 8.2 across 548 reviews, I would choose it for a museum-focused family visit.
4.1Pine Grove Motel
Pet-Friendly · 162 reviewsSoundproofed rooms for a quiet budget stay
Why guests love itPine Grove Motel is a 1-star budget motel in Sault Ste. Marie, rated 8.2 across 162 reviews, and its soundproofed rooms are the detail that matters for families with light sleepers. Rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms and tea and coffee makers. Private check-in and express checkout keep arrivals and departures quick with children in tow, and parking is free. The city's heritage sites are about 8 km away. I would choose it for a quiet, low-cost night rather than for facilities.
4.1Delta Hotels by Marriott Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront
Pet-Friendly · 324 reviewsWaterfront rooms with a two-minute drive to the casino
Why guests love itDelta Hotels by Marriott Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront is the full-service choice I would make in the city with children: an indoor pool, its own View Restaurant + Bar, and rooms with a fridge and coffee maker. The hotel sits on the waterfront, with the Sault Ste. Marie Canal boardwalk about 2.6 km away, and pets are welcome. Gateway Casinos is two minutes' drive away, more for parents than kids. Guests rate it 8.1.
4.0Wardens Quarters: 2 Bedroom Apt
Pet-Friendly · 1 reviewsA full two-bedroom apartment near the heritage trail
Why guests love itTwo separate bedrooms and a living room give Wardens Quarters more space than a hotel room, which suits a family staying several nights in Sault Ste. Marie. The kitchenette has an oven and stovetop for real meals, rooms are air-conditioned, pets are allowed and parking is free nearby. The Northern Ontario Country Music Hall of Fame is a 16-minute walk. With a single review so far, I would judge it on its layout rather than its score.
4.0Comfort Inn Sault Ste Marie ON
Pet-Friendly · 211 reviewsEV charging and a terrace near the heritage sites
Why guests love itComfort Inn Sault Ste Marie ON suits a family who drives in and wants space outdoors: there is a terrace, an outdoor seating area and picnic spots, and parking is free. Pet-friendly rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms and free WiFi, and an EV charging station helps on an electric road trip. Three of the city's heritage sites are close by, while the airport is about 18 km away. Guests rate it 8.0.
3.7Motel 6 Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Pet-Friendly · 716 reviewsA kitchenette and pet-friendly rooms on a budget
Why guests love itA kitchenette with a fridge, microwave and stovetop is the main asset of the Motel 6 Sault Ste. Marie for families who prefer to cook on a longer stay. Pets are allowed, the front desk is open 24 hours for late arrivals, parking is free and EV charging is on site. Ermatinger-Clergue National Historic Site is 4.1 km away, an easy morning visit. It is a no-frills motel, chosen for practicality rather than leisure facilities.
Local tips
- 1Confirm size and breed restrictions before booking, pet-friendly policies in Sault Ste. Marie vary by property and are not universally unrestricted despite the general tag.
- 2Book Glenview Cottages for genuine outdoor walking space, its on-site trails and proximity to Hiawatha Highlands beat any downtown hotel for exercising a dog.
- 3Ask about pet fees specifically, several budget motels charge per night rather than a flat fee, which adds up on a longer highway trip.
- 4Choose an apartment rental like Cozy 2BDR Oasis or Wardens Quarters for extra space if travelling with a larger dog rather than a standard hotel room.
- 5Pack proof of vaccination for check-in, some properties request it on arrival even when the pet policy itself is otherwise informal.
- 6Check whether pets can be left alone in the room, several highway motels prohibit it explicitly and require a pet to accompany guests off property.