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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Have dog, will travel to Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz County is a dog lover's playground. Walk the coastal path along West Cliff Drive, let your pup run off-leash at Mitchell's Cove Beach, hike through redwoods at Henry Cowell, or ride a steam train at Roaring Camp.
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Dog-friendly San Simeon Cove
San Simeon Cove offers off-leash beach time just steps from Hearst Memorial State Beach. Hunt for sea glass and jade, watch otters and pelicans, hike the bluff-top trail, then head to Cambria for patio dining.
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Roam among giants
Most giant sequoia groves sit inside national parks where dogs aren't welcome on trails. But Nelder Grove near Oakhurst and Converse Basin Grove in the Sequoia National Forest offer dog-friendly paths among these massive, awe-inspiring trees.
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Let’s go coasting: Pacifica to Carmel
Highway 1 between Pacifica and Carmel packs 122 miles of dog-friendly beaches, coastal trails, and charming towns. Walk the Devil's Slide Trail, lunch seaside in Santa Cruz, and let your pup run off-leash on Carmel Beach before exploring the village.
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The Stanford Inn – authentically eco-minded
The Stanford Inn by the Sea in Mendocino has practiced sustainability since the 1980s, with organic gardens, vegan dining at Ravens Restaurant, biodiesel trucks, and green cleaning. Dogs are welcome at this eco-minded resort overlooking Mendocino Bay.
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