The Pet-Friendly Landscape
The Finger Lakes are more accommodating to dogs than many vacation regions, partly because the area’s identity is built around outdoor activities — gorge trails, lake beaches, vineyard walks — that translate well to traveling with a pet. But “pet-friendly” means different things at different properties. Some hotels welcome all dogs with no size restrictions. Others cap weight at 40 pounds. A few charge nightly pet fees that add $25 to $50 per night to your bill. Vacation rental cabins tend to be the most flexible, but policies vary by owner. This guide covers the specific properties and their actual policies, organized by the towns where most visitors base a Finger Lakes trip.
Watkins Glen
Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel
The Harbor Hotel is the best hotel in Watkins Glen proper — a 104-room property on the Seneca Lake waterfront at the foot of the village’s main commercial strip. The hotel accepts dogs in designated pet-friendly rooms on the first floor. The pet fee is approximately $50 per stay (not per night), and they typically allow dogs up to 80 pounds. Two dogs maximum per room. The hotel provides pet bowls and waste bags at check-in. The waterfront location puts you within a short walk of Clute Memorial Park, where dogs can access the lakeshore (leashed), and the village center is walkable from the front door.
Rooms at the Harbor Hotel run $200 to $400 per night in summer, less in the off-season. Book pet rooms early in summer — they sell out faster than standard rooms because the inventory is limited to first-floor units. The hotel is a 10-minute walk from the Watkins Glen State Park main entrance, though dogs are not permitted on the gorge trail itself.
Seneca Lodge
Seneca Lodge sits adjacent to Watkins Glen State Park on Route 329 and has been operating since the 1940s. The property includes lodge rooms, cabins, and an A-frame chalet, and it welcomes dogs in most units. The pet fee is modest — typically $10 to $20 per night — with no strict weight limit, though they ask that dogs be leashed on the grounds. The accommodations are basic (wood-paneled rooms, dated furniture), but the pricing reflects that: rooms start around $70 to $120 per night in summer, making Seneca Lodge one of the most affordable pet-friendly options in the area. The on-site tavern serves pub food, and the state park campground is a 2-minute walk.
Ithaca
La Tourelle Hotel and Spa
La Tourelle is a boutique hotel on a hillside above Ithaca, on Route 96B about 3 miles south of downtown, adjacent to Buttermilk Falls State Park. The hotel accepts dogs in select rooms for a nightly pet fee of approximately $40, with a two-pet maximum. No strict weight limit is published, but call ahead with large breeds to confirm. The hotel’s setting — 70 acres of grounds with walking paths — gives dogs more room than a typical hotel, and the immediate proximity to Buttermilk Falls State Park provides trail access (dogs are allowed on park trails on a 6-foot leash, though not in swimming areas).
Rooms at La Tourelle run $180 to $350 per night in summer. The property includes a restaurant (August) and a spa, making it the most upscale pet-friendly option near Ithaca.
Budget Options in Ithaca
Several chain hotels along Route 13 and Elmira Road in Ithaca accept pets. The Best Western University Inn allows dogs for a nightly fee (typically $20 to $30) with a weight limit around 80 pounds. The Holiday Inn Ithaca on Triphammer Road accepts pets in certain rooms for a fee. The Homewood Suites near the mall on Triphammer Road is pet-friendly with no weight limit and no additional pet fee — one of the better chain options for large-dog owners. Rates at these properties range from $120 to $220 per night in summer, with significant drops in the off-season (November through March).
Geneva
Belhurst Castle
Belhurst Castle is a stone castle built in the 1880s on the western shore of Seneca Lake at the north end of Geneva. The property includes the original castle, the Vinifera Inn, and the White Springs Manor. Pets are accepted in Vinifera Inn rooms only, not in the castle or White Springs Manor. The pet fee is approximately $50 per stay, with a weight limit typically around 50 pounds. One pet per room. The lakefront grounds provide space for walks, and the on-site restaurants (formal dining at Edgar’s and casual fare at Stonecutters) allow you to eat without driving.
Vinifera Inn rooms run $150 to $300 per night in summer. The pet rooms book quickly on summer weekends, so reserve well in advance.
Geneva on the Lake
Geneva on the Lake is a boutique resort in a 1911 Italianate villa on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake. The property’s pet policy has varied over the years — as of recent seasons, they accept dogs in certain suite categories for a fee of $75 to $100 per stay. The weight limit and room availability for pets are limited, so call the property directly to confirm before booking. The grounds run down to the lakeshore, offering a pleasant walking route for dogs on leash.
Chain Hotels in Geneva
The Hampton Inn Geneva and the Fairfield Inn Geneva on Routes 5 and 20 both accept pets (typically dogs under 50 to 75 pounds) for a nightly fee of $25 to $50. The Microtel Inn in Geneva is pet-friendly at a lower price point — rooms from $90 to $150 per night, pet fee around $20. These properties sit on the commercial strip east of downtown, a 5- to 10-minute drive from the lakefront and Geneva’s walkable downtown.
Hammondsport and Keuka Lake
Hammondsport has fewer hotel options overall, and pet-friendly inventory is limited. The Best Western Plus the Hammondsport Hotel on the village square accepts dogs for a nightly fee, typically $25, with a weight limit. Vacation rentals on Keuka Lake offer more flexibility — many lakefront cabins allow dogs, though policies vary by owner. Search specifically for “pet-friendly” filters on VRBO or Airbnb, and confirm directly with the host regarding size limits, number of pets, and any restrictions on leaving dogs unattended in the rental.
Canandaigua
The Inn on the Lake in Canandaigua sits on the north shore of Canandaigua Lake and has accepted pets in designated rooms for a fee (approximately $35 per night). The lakefront setting and proximity to Kershaw Park — a free public beach where leashed dogs can walk the grounds — make it a practical base for pet owners. The Morgan Samuels Inn, a bed-and-breakfast south of Canandaigua, has historically welcomed well-behaved dogs in specific rooms; call ahead to confirm current policy.
Pet-Friendly Cabins and Vacation Rentals
For many pet owners, a cabin or vacation rental is the path of least resistance. Private rentals typically offer more space, a yard, and fewer interactions with other guests — all advantages when traveling with a dog. The Finger Lakes region has a strong inventory of lakefront cabins on Seneca, Cayuga, Keuka, and Canandaigua Lakes, and a meaningful percentage of them accept pets.
When booking a pet-friendly rental, confirm the following before paying:
- Pet deposit or fee: Most charge $50 to $150 per stay, sometimes refundable if no damage occurs.
- Weight and breed restrictions: Some owners cap at 40 pounds or exclude specific breeds.
- Number of pets: One dog is usually fine; two may require approval.
- Fenced yard: Rare but valuable. Ask specifically if the yard is enclosed.
- Lake access: Not all waterfront properties allow dogs on the dock or beach. Confirm.
Dog-Friendly Activities by Area
Watkins Glen
Dogs are not allowed on the Watkins Glen Gorge Trail. They are permitted on the Rim Trail on a 6-foot leash. Clute Memorial Park on Seneca Lake allows leashed dogs. The Finger Lakes National Forest, a 20-minute drive east, allows dogs on all trails — 30-plus miles of hiking with no breed or size restrictions.
Ithaca
Dogs are allowed on state park trails (leashed, 6 feet) at Buttermilk Falls, Robert H. Treman, and Taughannock Falls — but not in swimming areas. The Cornell Botanic Gardens allow leashed dogs on most trails. Allan H. Treman State Marine Park on the Cayuga Lake waterfront is a popular dog-walking spot.
Seneca Lake Wine Trail
A growing number of wineries on Seneca Lake welcome dogs on outdoor patios and lawn areas. For a full list, see our dog-friendly wineries on Seneca Lake guide.
Geneva
The Seneca Lake shoreline path near the Belhurst grounds allows leashed dogs. The Finger Lakes region of the Ontario Pathways trail, a converted rail trail near Geneva, offers flat, easy walking for dogs on leash. Sampson State Park on Seneca Lake’s eastern shore, about 20 minutes south of Geneva, allows leashed dogs on trails and in the campground.
