The Best Western Plus Cavalier Oceanfront Resort sits just three miles south of Hearst Castle on Highway 1, making it a solid base if you’re planning to visit the famous mansion or explore the dramatic San Simeon coastline with your dog. This family-owned hotel has been welcoming dogs for years, and you’ll notice the staff actually knows how to handle traveling pets without making a big production out of it.

Your dog gets a real room here, not a cramped closet. The oceanfront location means you can open your windows to sea air and hear the waves from most rooms. Several of the pet-friendly units have decent space to move around, which matters when you’re confined indoors on a foggy Central Coast day. The hotel has designated areas where dogs can do their business, so you’re not scrambling to figure out where to walk them at 6 a.m.

The location is probably the biggest draw. If you’re road-tripping down Highway 1, this breaks up the drive nicely. Elephant Seal Vista Point is about a half mile away—worth a quick stop to watch the massive seals hauled out on the beach. Piedras Blancas Light Station is nearby too if you want a short walk with some history mixed in. The area is remote enough that you won’t feel like you’re staying in a tourist trap, though San Simeon itself is pretty small.

The oceanfront rooms have views that make mornings better. On clear days you get a real sense of how big and beautiful this stretch of coast is. On typical foggy days, you’re still right there on the bluff listening to everything. The staff seems genuinely relaxed about dogs being there, which sets a different tone than some hotels where you feel like you’re sneaking around. If you’re heading to or from Big Sur or stopping to see Hearst Castle, this gives you a legitimate reason to stay put for a night rather than pushing through.