11 Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in El Paso, TX

The dusty West Texan town of El Paso on the United States-Mexico border has nothing short of a vibrant past. Not only has it had its Wild West days, but it was also a battleground during the Mexican Revolution and notorious during the Prohibition era. Modern-day El Paso is a far cry from its bawdy frontier-town persona and is all about festivals, pubs and bars, lovely sights, and long sun-kissed days. In fact, El Paso was one of the best destinations to travel to with our pets, given that the city has so many sunny days in the year. Besides pet-friendly parks and activities, we loved the profusion of pet-friendly hotels in El Paso that only helped us enjoy all the more with our four-legged friends. Whether you’re on an American road trip or simply exploring the best places to visit in Texas, El Paso makes for a wonderful pitstop with your pet. Check out our pet-friendly guide to El Paso, Texas.

The Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park 

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Most luxurious. Since we’re fans of Hollywood history, we loved staying at the Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park. For one, this 1930-built hotel, which is the first in Conrad Hilton’s empire, by the way, has won awards for its opulent finishings and art deco-esque design. We felt like a star right from the moment we stepped inside. Did you know that the rooftop bar La Perla was once a penthouse suite that belonged to Elizabeth Taylor? Yes! There’s even a restaurant, a shared lounge, and a fitness center, apart from the plush rooms.

Our pooch was given no less than a royal welcome. From gourmet treats to dog beds as plush as ours, the hotel treated our pets to a luxurious stay and catered to their every need. Upon arrival, we received a gracious Texas welcome, along with a goodie box with a special treat and a keepsake Plaza Pets bandana. What’s more, our pet-friendly room was prepared with food bowls and water, as well as the comfiest Happy Tails dog bed in the world. The Plaza welcomes up to 2 dogs weighing under 50 lbs (22.7 kg) per reservation for a one-time, non-refundable pet cleaning fee of 75 USD per stay.

In fact, the hotel can even arrange for pet walking and sitting services if you want. The only stipulation is that your doggie should always be leashed on the property and cannot be left in the room. Also, according to Texas state law, your pet will only be allowed at the outdoor seating at La Perla on the property. The best bit is that they even provided waste bags during our stay, and Happy Tails toys were available for purchase.

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Holiday Inn Express El Paso – Sunland Park Area

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Best value for money. While looking for a penny-pinching pitstop with our pooch, we came across Holiday Inn El Paso West – Sunland Park, and we loved it. This cheap yet cheerful hotel made for the perfect place to recharge when we were on the move. The rooms came with lots of power outlets, a pillow menu, and plush duvets for a wonderful resting time. Plus, the free breakfasts really put a spring in our step at the start of the day! But that’s not all. The hotel even had a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, free Wi-Fi, and a fitness center.

What’s more, our pets were more than welcome at this Holiday Inn outpost. All we had to do was pay a non-refundable pet deposit of 50 USD for our entire stay. Also, guests at the hotel are responsible for any cleaning costs or damages that exceed the said 50 USD fee. While we could leave our pets unattended in our room, we had to inform the front desk that we were doing so. And when we’d take them outside the room, they had to be on a leash at all times.

Hilton Garden Inn El Paso/University

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We were enchanted with the former student roster of El Paso University, which includes the likes of Janis Joplin, Wes Anderson, Renee Zellweger, and Laura Bush! Clearly, the University of Texas has a reputation for attracting talent. And, we were more than happy to join this community by staying at the Hilton Garden Inn El Paso/University, which lies right on the university’s El Paso campus. Even the standard rooms included touches like ergonomic desk chairs and Keurig coffeemakers. Plus, the hotel even operates free airport shuttles daily.

“We had a very comfortable stay with our pet pooch here. What we liked about this Hilton property is that it’s one of the few chain hotels in the town that also welcomes cats!”

WOW Travel

What’s more, this Hilton property is pet-friendly too. For a non-refundable pet fee of 75 USD for our 4-night stay, we were able to get not just 1 pooch but both our dogs. If that wasn’t enough, this is one of the few El Paso hotels that also welcome cats. If your stay exceeds 4 days (5 days or more), then the non-refundable pet deposit is 125 USD. Also, you can only bring a maximum of two pets, which is fair enough.

Aloft El Paso Downtown

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We were looking for a unique stay in El Paso downtown, and we couldn’t find a hotel better than Aloft El Paso Downtown to do the same. The hotel sits in the art deco extravagance that is the OT Bassett Tower, which has been an El Paso landmark for almost a century – and now we could stay here! This 1929-designed 15-storeyed skyscraper even features architect Henry Trost in the form of a bust over the front entrance. It was originally an office block, but now it’s a seriously stylish boutique hotel boasting some of the best views in El Paso. We loved the angular furniture and geometric prints everywhere. The rooms were no less impressive, complete with plug & stations, smart TVs, and luxe bathrooms. Besides a fitness center, the hotel is home to the WXYZ bar-restaurant and has a free pool table in the lobby area.

Aloft also welcomed our doggie profusely. According to their pet policy, which doesn’t include cats, dogs under 40 lbs (18 kg) stay for free. How cool is that! For dogs weighing more than 40 lbs, the non-refundable pet fee per stay is 75 USD. What’s more, the hotel doesn’t allow more than two pets or two dogs in one room. Additionally, we couldn’t take our dogs to WXYZ, according to the state law. However, we could leave the dogs in the rooms, provided they were crated. Plus, there was even a grassy area two blocks away where we could take our doggies.

Did you know that Aloft is also one of the best cheap hotels in El Paso, TX? Yes!

Hotel Paso Del Norte, Autograph Collection

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Do you have a well-behaved pet? They’re more than welcome at the Hotel Paso Del Norte, Autograph Collection, especially if you’re looking for an indulgent stay. This hotel welcomes all well-behaved pets, including cats and dogs. Floors 3 through 7 are floors with pet-friendly rooms, which is where we were with our four-legged companion. What’s more, pets shouldn’t weigh more than 60 lbs (27.2 kg), and there couldn’t be more than two pets in one room. For all this, the hotel charged a non-refundable pet fee of 75 USD for every stay, no matter whether you bring along 1 pet or 2. It’s no wonder that this is one of the best TX El Paso pet-friendly hotels.

Besides its pet-friendly policy, we really loved every bit of the rest of the hotel. Sitting on the National Register of Historic Places list, this hotel, particularly its roof, was where people would watch firefights between the Mexican Army and the revolutionaries during the 1914 Mexican Revolution. It also has an impressive guest roster, ranging from firmer US presidents like Richard Nixon and George Bush to Hollywood royalty and music maestros like Gregory Peck, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, etc. It’s hard not to see why – the stained-glass dome in the lobby itself has been wowing guests for over a century. We loved enjoying cigars and cocktails in the Black Jacks bar and dining at the onsite restaurants before retiring to our room with our pet.

Hotel Indigo El Paso Downtown

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Best vintage hotel. The past and present blended beautifully and in style at the hip Hotel Indigo El Paso Downtown. This former home to the Downtowner Motor Inn has a storied facade that hints at at least half a century of history. When we stepped inside, it was all about contemporary interiors and classic design, firmly positioning us in the 21st century. We’d head to the fifth-floor pool for a languorous swim and a lounge when we wanted to cool off from the Texas desert heat. Later, we headed to the Circa 1963 bar, where we sipped on expertly made cocktails with stupendous views of the Franklin Mountains. Even the rooms were spacious and amazing, making it easy for us to stay with our big dogs too. Wrapping up the features is the fact that the hotel serves continental breakfasts.

The hotel is also pet-friendly, welcoming our pets (up to 2 pets) weighing up to 75 lbs (34 kg) combined. Unfortunately, combined pets weighing more than 80 lbs (36 kg) aren’t accepted. That said, for a non-refundable pet fee of 75 USD per stay, we could stay with our pet pooch.

Staybridge Suites

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Staybridge Suites El Paso Airport is not just one of the best El Paso pet-friendly hotels, but it’s also one of the best hotels in El Paso near the airport. This IHG hotel sits just south of Valley View Heights and felt like a real home away from home with our pet. This all-suite hotel welcomes 2 pets, both cats and dogs, weighing up to 25 lbs (11 kg). For the same, we have to pay an additional, non-refundable pet fee of 75 USD if we stay anywhere up to 6 nights. If our stay exceeds 7 nights, then the fee is 150 USD. What we liked was that we could leave our pets crated and unattended in the room. Plus, there were even walking areas with pet stations right on the property.

Despite being an all-suite hotel, Staybridge Suites had quite a lot of amenities. These included free laundry, a business center, complimentary breakfasts, and even a social hour at the day’s end with snacks, beer, and wine every Monday-Wednesday. Plus, the heated outdoor pool was perfect for a swim, after which we’d eventually end up in the whirlpool. Evenings were usually spent by the fire pit or at the barbeque grills for an alfresco dinner. Since the suites are all relatively newly renovated, we had a wonderful time staying here with our doggies.

Stanton House

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Best boutique stay. Staying at the Stanton House was a contemporary, art-focused lodging experience and one of the best boutique stays we’ve had in recent times. This 42-suite upscale hotel sits in the 100-year-old former Rogers Furniture store building in the heart of downtown. It’s said to be fashioned after Mexico City’s upscale hotels, and we aren’t complaining one bit. Art is the theme around Stanton House, including in the suites, which also have views of the bustling and historic San Jacinto Plaza. We loved eating at the Taft Diaz restaurant and unwinding to the hilt at the Blush Boutique & Spa, which has everything from Vichy showers to even a float room.

That’s not all – the hotel is pet-friendly, or rather dog-friendly (sorry, no cats allowed). You could bring up to 2 dogs weighing no more than 40 lbs (18 kg) per room. All this is possible for an additional, non-refundable pet fee of 150 USD per stay.

Residence Inn El Paso

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Best variable pet fee. Just like any other Marriot hotel, pets are more than welcome at the Residence Inn El Paso. However, the rates and charges are slightly different from the other hotels on this list. For one, there is a variable rate system – a fee of 50 USD for the entire stay, along with 10 USD per night. So, the charges depended on how many days we were going to be staying here with our pet. What’s more, the hotel allows not one but two pets per room. If that wasn’t enough, the hotel allows both cats and dogs and even allows pets to be left unattended in the room only if they’re in their crates.

What we liked about this Residence Inn outpost is that it allows free parking, which was a blessing for us since we and our pooch were traveling in our own car. It also has an indoor pool, room services, and even a well-equipped fitness center. What’s more, the room has all mod-cons ringing from flat-screen cable TVs to fully-equipped kitchens and seating areas. The best bit? There was free Wi-Fi everywhere.

Ramada by Wyndham El Paso

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Lowest pet fees. Ramada by Wyndham El Paso is yet another great budget-friendly but comfortable hotel to stay in El Paso with pets. This Wyndham hotel welcomes not one but two pets per room, and that too without any size restrictions. That might come as a relief to many humans with larger pets, such as us! What’s more, it allows both cats and dogs, too, which is a bonus in our books. All this is possible for an additional fee of just 10 USD per night per pet. This is one of the lowest pet fee rates we’ve seen in El Paso! The best bit? Crated pets can also be left unattended in the rooms, and there’s even a grassy pet relief area on the property.

There are a lot of things humans will love about this hotel, too. For one, it boasts an outdoor pool, daily continental buffet breakfasts, and free Wi-Fi. So, our day would start with a bang, and amazingly, right by the pool. Mod-cons like kitchenettes and cable TVs were standard in the rooms, as were coffee-making facilities. Did you know the hotel has a launderette and a hot tub too? Yes!

Wyndham El Paso Airport And Water Park

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Are you traveling with both kids and pets? Look no further than the Wyndham El Paso Airport And Water Park. Our kids loved sliding down the seasonal four-storied waterslide into the outdoor pool during our summertime El Paso holiday. But what’s great is that we didn’t have to leave our pet pooch and cat behind, as the hotel welcomes two pets, both cats and dogs, weighing up to 25 lbs (11 kg). All we had to do was pay an additional, non-refundable pet fee of 25 USD per stay per pet. Since both our pets were well-behaved, we could leave them unattended in the room. If that wasn’t enough, there were even gravel and dirt areas for pet relief right on the property.

Besides the fact that it sits right next to El Paso International Airport, we also loved the amenities at this hotel. These include a restaurant that’s open for all meals, a full-service bar, and a fitness center. In the rooms, we found everything from cable TVs to iPod docking stations and free Wi-Fi, fridges, and microwaves that made life very easy when traveling with kids and pets.

Our Verdict!

El Paso has some excellent, well-rounded stays when it comes to pets. And while we love all of them, we’ve made a specialized list of the best of the lot according to their specific features.

• Most luxurious: The Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park
• Best value for money: Holiday Inn Express El Paso – Sunland Park Area
• Best vintage hotel: Hotel Indigo El Paso Downtown
• Best boutique stay: Stanton House
• Best variable pet fee: Residence Inn El Paso
• Lowest pet fees: Ramada By Wyndham El Paso

Where To Stay in El Paso with Your Pet

When it comes to culture, entertainment, dining, and nightlife, the Las Plazas Arts District is the main center in El Paso. We and our pet loved hopping from pet-friendly bars to entertainment venues to museums. The lovely, recently renovated San Jacinto Plaza is great to explore with your pet, as it has lots of benches, in-built chess tables, a splash park, and a popular cafe. Since our pooch loves street art, El Segundo Barrio was the best place to be. This neighborhood on the US-Mexico border is bustling with border culture, and we loved exploring it on foot with our pets. Finally, when we wanted to explore the city’s wonderful nightlife, then we headed to Union Plaza. Tucked on the western edge of downtown, this small-but-mighty neighborhood is famous for popular craft breweries, hip, pet-friendly cocktail bars, and shopping.

Pet-Friendly Restaurants / Bars in El Paso

• The Hoppy Monk: For American food and draught beer lovers, the Hoppy Monk is the best place to be. It even has a patio that’s available for patrons and their pets. While you’re here, try the green chili burger and cauliflower wings. It’s open from Wednesday through Sunday.
• Gringo Theory Patio Bar: This bar would easily win the award for the best dog-friendly bar in the town. It has a particularly gorgeous patio with lots of outdoor games, lovely outdoor seating, and a grassy area just for our pooches. In fact, there’s even a poop bag distributor on the property, so we could easily clean up after our pets.

Pet-Friendly Activities In El Paso

• Pavo Real Enhanced Spray Park: Have your dog run free at this fenced park with a water feature. There’s a separate dog section of the park that allows doggies aged four months and older, as long as they’re under our supervision, wearing dog tags, and are vaccinated. Also, the park allows only 7 large or 10 small dogs at a time, so it didn’t get crowded as well. While it’s open from mid-April through October end, it has specific hours for large and small dogs, so do check the schedule online.
• The El Paso Tin Mines Trail: If your doggo loves outdoor activities like ours, then they’ll love walking the popular Tin Mines Trail. This easy hike for pets and their humans is a 6.60-mi long (10.6 km, out & back) trail that takes just a little more than 3 hours to get done with, depending on your pet’s enthusiasm – or the lack of it! The best bit? Doggies can be off-leash in marked areas, and the park is open year-round.

Best Pet Stores In El Paso

• PetSmart: This extremely popular chain for pets also has an outpost in El Paso. It offers not just pet foods and supplies but also grooming services for all sorts of small animals, including dogs, cats, fish, birds, and even reptiles.