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.
Madera county (south/wawona) entrance
The Highway 41 corridor through Madera County leads to Yosemite's south entrance, passing dog-friendly gems like Queen's Inn with its adjacent winery in Oakhurst, the quirky town of Coarsegold, Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp and recreation-rich Bass Lake.
Read more
Meandering Mariposa County with your dog
Highway 140 through Mariposa County leads to Yosemite but deserves a day of its own. Sample wines at Butterfly Creek, hike the Merced River Trail, and stay at dog-friendly lodges from Yosemite Bug to Yosemite View Lodge.
Read more
Toolin’ around tuolumne
Tuolumne County's Gold Rush towns come alive with dog-friendly history. Ride vintage trains at Railtown 1897, tour Columbia State Historic Park by stagecoach, and stay at the Groveland Hotel with its award-winning wine list.
Read more
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
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
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
Trekking in temecula
Temecula's high-desert wine country welcomes dogs to over a dozen tasting rooms, patio restaurants with doggie menus, and a strollable Old Town district. Stay at a golf resort or vineyard inn and explore local parks.
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
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
Yearning for yolo
Yolo County rewards those who pull off the highway with dog-friendly tasting rooms in Winters, farm tours in the Capay Valley, new wineries along the Sacramento River in Clarksburg and patio dining throughout.
Read more
The many sides of Mendocino county
Mendocino County is one of Northern California's most dog-welcoming destinations. Pet-friendly inns provide treats and amenities, wineries like Husch let dogs inside the tasting room, and activities range from Skunk Train rides to paddling outrigger kayaks along the coast.
Read more
Nip into napa
Winter in Napa Valley means mustard-covered vineyards, easy restaurant reservations, and hotel deals that make a midweek getaway with your dog especially appealing. From cozy Calistoga cottages to luxury retreats with private patios, the valley rolls out the welcome mat.
Read more
Beyond the crowds in Mendocino county
Mendocino County pairs leash-free beaches, dog-welcoming wineries, botanical gardens, and kayak outfitters with cozy lodging from the Stanford Inn to state park campgrounds. Ride the Skunk Train with your pup or paddle an estuary in a canoe built for dogs.
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
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
The gold country’s golden chain highway
Highway 49 links 330 miles of Gold Rush history, dog-friendly trails, and small-town charm. Base yourself in Oakhurst or Sonora for steam-train rides, state park explorations, living-history weekends at Columbia, and scenic Sierra detours along the way.
Read more
Clearly clear lake
A road trip from Santa Rosa to Clear Lake makes for a great dog-friendly getaway. Stop to hike Hood Mountain, lunch on patios in Healdsburg, browse dog-welcoming wine bars, and float the Russian River before heading north to Lake County.
Read more
Take a walk on the wine side
Mendocino County's Anderson Valley wine region along Highway 128 is full of dog-friendly tasting rooms. Navarro, Toulouse, Husch, and Foursight Wines all welcome four-legged visitors, and nearby restaurants and inns make it easy to stay the weekend.
Read more
Mendocino’s inland empire
Mendocino County's inland treasures include the Anderson Valley wine road with dog-friendly tasting rooms, the drive-through Chandelier Tree in Leggett and farm-to-table dining in Boonville. Wine, redwoods and warm welcomes abound.
Read more
From wine to bristlecone pines
A dog-friendly road trip through the High Sierra follows the Golden Chain Highway through Gold Country, crosses Yosemite via Tioga Pass and heads south on Highway 395 past Mono Lake, Mammoth Lakes and the ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest near Bishop.
Read more
Of cottages and vines
California wine country is full of dog-welcoming retreats, from creekside cabins in Guerneville to luxury cottages at Carneros Resort with private fenced patios. Calistoga Ranch even provides a dog concierge for your pup.
Read more