The 90-minute drive from San Francisco up Highway 1 to Bodega Bay is one of those trips that reminds you why you live in California. The road twists through green hills dotted with dairy farms, past the little town of Valley Ford, and then — boom — the Pacific opens up in front of you. Your dog smells it before you see it.
Bodega Bay sits at the southern end of the Sonoma Coast, a rugged 17-mile stretch of beaches, bluffs, and coves that runs north to Jenner and beyond. It is one of the best dog-friendly coastal getaways in Northern California. Here is what we know about taking your dog there.
Hit the beach
Doran Regional Park is ground zero for dogs at Bodega Bay. This county park sits on a long sand spit between Bodega Harbor and the ocean, and dogs are allowed on leash along the beach and throughout the park. There is also a designated Doran Beach Dog Beach area. The sand is flat, the waves are usually mild thanks to the harbor’s protection, and the parking lots put you steps from the water.
North of town, Sonoma Coast State Park runs a string of pocket beaches along Highway 1. Leashed dogs are allowed on several of them, including Portuguese Beach, Schoolhouse Beach, and Shell Beach. These are wilder spots — big surf, driftwood, sea stacks — and the kind of beaches where you and your dog can walk without seeing another soul on a weekday morning. Wright’s Beach is another solid option with ocean-side camping nearby.
For a short hike with a payoff, try the Pinnacle Gulch Coastal Access trail, which drops down through coastal scrub to a small beach below the bluffs. The Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail is a mellower option along Bodega Harbor — good for bird-watching and easy on older dogs.
Where to stay
Bodega Bay has a handful of dog-friendly hotels. The Bodega Coast Inn & Suites puts you close to the harbor and restaurants. Bodega Harbor Inn is a smaller property right on the water. The newer Hotel Dega is another option in town. For vacation rentals, Bodega Bay and Beyond manages dog-friendly houses throughout the area.
Want to camp? Doran Regional Park has campsites right on the beach. Sonoma Coast State Beach campgrounds and Bodega Bay RV Park round out the options.
Further up the coast in Jenner, the Jenner Inn and Cottages overlooks the mouth of the Russian River. The Timber Cove Resort is a dramatic cliffside property north of Jenner. Inland, the Valley Ford Hotel in tiny Valley Ford is a good base if you want easy access to both the coast and western Sonoma County wine country.
Where to eat
The Dog House in Bodega Bay — yes, that is its real name — serves casual food with outdoor seating. Fishetarian Fish Market does fresh fish tacos and chowder. Rocker Oysterfeller’s at the Wharf is the spot for local oysters. Grab coffee and a cone at Captain Davey’s Ice Cream after a beach session.
Up in Jenner, Fort Ross Lodge has food along the coast highway.
Make it a loop
The best way to do this trip is as a loop. Drive up Highway 1 along the coast, then cut inland from Bodega Bay through Valley Ford to Sebastopol. Sebastopol’s restaurant scene is stacked, and The Barlow — a converted apple-processing warehouse — has dog-friendly patios at several spots including Woodfour Brewing. Dog-friendly wineries like Iron Horse Vineyards and Marimar Estate are nearby. Then take Highway 116 back to 101 and you are home.
The Sonoma Coast does not get the crowds of Stinson Beach or Carmel. That is part of what makes it so good for dogs. Fewer people, more space, and that raw Northern California coastline that never gets old. Browse all dog-friendly beaches in Bodega Bay and start planning.
