California is a camper’s paradise — and if your best friend has four legs, you’re in even better shape. With roughly 500 dog-friendly campgrounds and RV parks scattered across the state, from foggy coastal bluffs to sun-scorched desert floors to pine-scented sites above 8,000 feet, there’s a pitch for every pup and every style of camping. Whether you’re hauling a 35-foot rig into a full-hookup resort or tossing a tent and a bag of kibble into the back of the car for a last-minute weekend, California delivers. The trick is knowing where to go — and what rules to expect when you get there. Leash laws vary by park, some trails ban dogs entirely and reservation windows can be maddeningly narrow during peak season. We’ve spent years sorting through it all so you don’t have to. Here’s our region-by-region guide to the best dog-friendly camping in the Golden State.

Wine Country & Sonoma Coast

With 84 dog-friendly campgrounds, Wine Country offers far more than tasting rooms and rolling vineyards. Head west to the coast and you’ll find some of the most dramatic oceanfront camping in the state.

Sonoma Coast State Beach Campgrounds in Bodega Bay (4.8) — Blufftop sites overlooking the Pacific, where your dog can watch whales breach from camp. The Bodega Dunes and Wright’s Beach sites put you steps from miles of sandy beach — just keep your pup leashed on the trails and watch for sneaker waves. Mornings here are misty and cool, perfect for long walks before the wind kicks up. Flying Flags RV Resort in Buellton (4.5) is a completely different experience: a manicured resort near the Santa Ynez Valley wine trail with a dog park on-site, full hookups and a heated pool for the humans.

Browse all 84 dog-friendly campgrounds in Wine Country.

North Coast & Redwoods

The North Coast is where California gets wild and quiet. Towering old-growth redwoods, fern-carpeted trails and campgrounds where you might be the only one there on a Tuesday in October.

Giant Redwoods RV & Camp in Myers Flat (4.5) — Campsites nestled directly among ancient redwoods along the Avenue of the Giants, with the Eel River flowing right through the property. Your dog can splash in the shallows during summer when the water is low and warm. The campground has a mix of tent sites, cabins and full-hookup RV spots.

Browse all 37 dog-friendly campgrounds on the North Coast.

Gold Country & Sierra Foothills

The Sierra foothills don’t get the glamour of Tahoe or Yosemite, and that’s exactly why dog campers love them. With 72 campgrounds spread across historic Gold Rush towns, oak-studded hillsides and warm-water rivers, this region delivers easy access, mild shoulder-season weather and far fewer crowds.

Jackson Rancheria RV Park in Jackson (4.7) — One of the most well-maintained RV parks in the foothills, with level pull-through sites, a fenced dog run and easy access to the shops and restaurants along Main Street. Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park in Pine Grove (4.8) is a hidden gem — a small, peaceful campground set among oaks where Miwok people once gathered acorns. Dogs are welcome in the campground and on the paved interpretive trail. Snowflower RV Resort near Emigrant Gap (4.7) sits at about 5,800 feet on the edge of Tahoe National Forest, where summer highs stay in the 80s and the ponderosa pine forest offers shaded hiking right from your site.

Browse all 72 dog-friendly campgrounds in Gold Country.

Lake Tahoe & High Sierra

Tahoe camping with a dog requires planning. The most popular campgrounds book six months out, bears are a real concern and the season is short — most sites don’t open until late May or June. But when you’re sitting at your campsite watching the sun set over the lake while your dog dozes at your feet, every bit of effort pays off.

Prosser Family Campground near Truckee (4.4) — A local favorite for dog owners — it sits on the shore of Prosser Creek Reservoir, where your dog can swim freely and the sites are spacious. It’s first-come, first-served, so arrive Thursday for a weekend spot. Tahoe State Recreation Area in Tahoe City (4.6) is one of the rare lakeside campgrounds where you can walk your leashed dog to the beach within minutes — just 20 sites, and it books up fast. For a more remote experience, Kidd Lake Campground near Soda Springs (4.4) is a dispersed, no-fee campground at 6,750 feet with no reservations and no running water — rustic, quiet and your dog can explore granite boulders and subalpine meadows.

Browse all dog-friendly campgrounds in the Lake Tahoe and High Sierra region.

Yosemite & Central Valley

Yosemite Valley itself is not the most dog-friendly place on earth. Dogs are banned from nearly all trails. But the campgrounds inside the park do allow leashed dogs, and the surrounding Mariposa County has dozens of excellent options.

Signal Group Campground in Mariposa (5.0) — A well-kept site in the Sierra National Forest with access to seasonal creek swimming and hiking trails where dogs can actually join you. Yosemite Creek Campground (4.7) is one of the more remote options inside the park at about 7,600 feet along Tioga Road, with small, well-spaced sites. Wawona Campground (4.6) at the park’s southern end sits along the South Fork of the Merced River — dogs love wading in the shallow water during late summer.

Browse all 25 dog-friendly campgrounds in the Yosemite region.

San Francisco Bay Area & Peninsula

You don’t have to drive five hours to go camping with your dog. The Bay Area has 77 dog-friendly campgrounds within striking distance, and mild year-round weather means camping season never really ends here.

Memorial County Park in Loma Mar (4.8) — A San Mateo County treasure — a second-growth redwood forest with Pescadero Creek running through it, shaded campsites and a network of trails where your leashed dog is welcome. It’s just an hour from San Francisco but feels worlds away. The creek is perfect for paw-dipping on warm days.

Browse all 77 dog-friendly campgrounds in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Central Coast

Big Sur, San Luis Obispo, the beaches of Santa Cruz — the Central Coast is a bucket-list camping destination for good reason.

Fernwood Resort in Big Sur (4.4) — Right on the Big Sur River under towering redwoods, offering tent sites, cabins and glamping tents. Your leashed dog is welcome at the campground and in the on-site restaurant’s outdoor seating — a rarity in Big Sur. The river is shallow and gentle in summer, ideal for dogs who like to wade.

Browse all 48 dog-friendly campgrounds on the Central Coast.

Southern California & Big Bear

Southern California’s camping scene is enormous — 175 dog-friendly campgrounds spread across coastal bluffs, mountain forests and high desert. The weather cooperates nearly year-round.

Waypoint Ventura in Ventura (4.8) — A modern boutique RV and camping resort right on the beach — think Airstream rentals, fire pits and ocean sunsets with your dog at your side. It’s walking distance to downtown Ventura’s dog-friendly restaurant patios. ITH Big Bear Lake Mountain Hostel (4.7) offers a budget-friendly, dog-welcoming alternative to traditional camping at 6,750 feet. Hanna Flat Campground near Fawnskin (4.5) sits in a Jeffrey pine and white fir forest above Big Bear’s north shore, with access to the PCT and other national forest trails.

Explore all 116 dog-friendly campgrounds in Southern California and 59 in the Inland Empire.

Shasta Cascade

California’s far north is the state’s most underrated camping region. With 33 dog-friendly campgrounds and a fraction of the crowds you’ll find anywhere south of Redding, Shasta Cascade is where your dog can truly be a dog. Mount Shasta dominates the skyline, and the campgrounds around Shasta Lake, McCloud and the Trinity Alps offer some of the best swimming holes in the state for water-loving dogs.

Browse all 33 dog-friendly campgrounds in Shasta Cascade.

Related Reading

• Putah Canyon Campground: dog-friendly camping on Lake Berryessa
• Wild Blue Dogs camp at Tahoe? You lucky dog!
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• Bark for some of our favorite dog-friendly campgrounds