Lodging and camping Blog
The DogTrekker.com research and editorial teams are experts at California dog travel, with great stories about the best lodging and camping places across the state to stay where your dogs are as welcome as you are. Get the scoop on dog-friendly hotels and lodging, from luxury resorts to economical motels, rustic cabins to campgrounds, vacation rentals to B&B’s.
Cupid calls in Mendocino
Mendocino County's Sheep Dung Properties offer architecturally stunning cottages on fenced rural land perfect for a romantic getaway with your dog. Nearby, Howard Creek Ranch Inn and Andiron Seaside Inn provide coastal retreats with antique charm.
Read more
Dog-friendly wine tasting in Mendocino’s Anderson Valley
Mendocino's Anderson Valley wine region along Highway 128 is full of dog-friendly tasting rooms where water bowls and treats await. Navarro, Toulouse, and Husch vineyards are standouts, with cozy inns and farm-to-table dining nearby.
Read more
17 miles of magnificence
The 17 miles of Highway 1 from Albion to Fort Bragg hold charming inns, bluff-top trails, and the artsy village of Mendocino. Dogs are welcome at coastal state beaches, the Point Cabrillo lighthouse, and the Stanford Inn.
Read more
Take a bragg-adocious break
Fort Bragg packs a lot of dog-friendly fun into a small coastal town. Roam leash-free beaches, hike the Ten Mile Beach Trail to MacKerricher State Park, and ride the historic Skunk Train through redwood forests.
Read more
Pet-passionate Stanford Inn
The Stanford Inn By the Sea in Mendocino has welcomed pets for decades, greeting dogs with treats and food bowls. Next door, Catch-A-Canoe rents outrigger canoes where up to four dogs can ride while you paddle Big River.
Read more
Woof it up in wine-country luxury
For a romantic wine country getaway with your dog, Carneros Resort offers luxury cottages with private fenced patios and fire pits. Calistoga Ranch provides 127 acres to explore and a dog concierge for your pup.
Read more
No tent or rv? no problem…
No tent? No problem. From dog-friendly KOA cabins near Petaluma and Watsonville to Casini Ranch on the Russian River, these soft-camping options let you and your pup enjoy the outdoors without a full gear kit.
Read more
Wag Hotels: Resort-style pet boarding in the Bay Area
When you can't bring your dog along, Wag Hotels offers resort-style boarding in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Redwood City. Services range from supervised daycare and swimming pool dips to Ultra Suites where you can video-call your pet from afar.
Read more
Hear the roar
Yosemite Falls roars at 2,425 feet during snow-melt season, and your leashed dog is welcome on the paved half-mile path to the base. Dog-friendly lodging in gateway towns like Groveland and Fish Camp keeps you close.
Read more
Moseying around Mariposa County
Mariposa County's Highway 140 corridor leads to Yosemite through dog-friendly gateway towns. Hike the wildflower-rich Hite Cove Trail in spring, ride a vintage steam train at Sugar Pine Railroad, and stay at charming local lodges.
Read more
Into the high country
Tiny Lee Vining sits at the gateway to Mono Lake's otherworldly tufa towers and Yosemite's Tioga Pass. Leashed dogs can explore the national forest scenic area, and nearby Twenty Lakes Basin offers Yosemite-caliber scenery without the park's pet restrictions.
Read more
Dog-friendly Gold Country: Exploring Tuolumne County
Tuolumne County near Yosemite is rich in Gold Rush history and dog-friendly adventures. Ride a stagecoach in Columbia, hop an old locomotive in Jamestown, and hike national forest trails near Groveland.
Read more
Exploring the Eastern Sierra: Fall adventures and leaf-peeping spots
The Eastern Sierra lights up each fall with vibrant color at Conway Summit, Virginia Lakes, and Lundy Canyon. Dog-friendly Virginia Lakes Resort puts ten lakes within a mile of your cabin.
Read more
Fall foliage and dog-friendly lodging in Mammoth Lakes
Mammoth Lakes and the Eastern Sierra deliver dog-friendly lodging from historic Tamarack Lodge to pet-pampering Westin Monache, plus leash-free national forest trails and fall color that peaks at Convict Lake, McGee Creek Canyon, and Devil's Postpile.
Read more
Calistoga on a leash
Calistoga at the north end of Napa Valley charms visitors with castle-like wineries, bocce courts, Michelin-starred patio dining and a walkable downtown. Dogs are welcome at tasting rooms, restaurants and lodgings throughout town.
Read more
Dog-friendly Stanford Inn, Mendocino
Mendocino's Stanford Inn by the Sea has welcomed dogs for decades, greeting them with treats, food bowls, and furniture covers. Next door, Catch A Canoe rents stable canoes for exploring the Big River with your pup.
Read more
Bike or hike to the beach
The Bob Jones Bike Trail in Avila Beach is a 2.5-mile paved path from Highway 101 to the ocean, passing apple orchards and a golf course. At trail's end, off-leash Olde Port Beach rewards you and your dog.
Read more
What to pack for your pup
Packing for a camping trip with your dog means thinking beyond the basics. Cable tie-outs keep your pup safe at the campsite, a portable kennel prevents nighttime wandering and a first-aid kit handles away-from-home emergencies.
Read more
Beaching it in South SLO County
SLO County's south coast stretches from Pismo Beach to Avila, offering dog-friendly sand, oceanfront dining, and scenic trails. Pismo's Dinosaur Caves Park has blufftop views, while Avila's Olde Port Beach lets dogs play off-leash in the surf beside evening bonfires.
Read more
On being a good hotel guest
Staying at a hotel with your dog is a privilege worth protecting. Always clean up immediately, keep your pup off the furniture, bring familiar food, and thank the management for their pet-friendly policies.
Read more
It takes a (dog-friendly) village
Mendocino village and its surrounding headlands are a dog lover's dream. Hike bluff-top trails to Big River State Beach, explore Point Cabrillo Light Station, and dine with your pup at Ravens restaurant inside the Stanford Inn.
Read more
Surf and woof
For a Valentine's day trip from the Bay Area, head to Point Reyes National Seashore for clear winter views and a beach romp with your dog. Stop at Nick's Cove for fresh oysters on the way back.
Read more
San Francisco is for dog lovers
San Francisco offers dogs an embarrassment of riches, from off-leash romps at Fort Funston and Crissy Field to the stunning Lands End Trail and 24 miles of paths winding through the historic Presidio.
Read more
A weekend for romance
Plan a romantic, dog-friendly Valentine's weekend along the California coast. Pacific Grove's Andril Fireplace Cottages, Bodega Bay's rugged shoreline, and Mendocino's Stanford Inn all offer fireplaces, ocean views, and warm welcomes for your four-legged companion.
Read more