Ron Bexel
Best Dog Friendly Weekend Getaways California – Looking for a dog-friendly West Coast trail? As a dog mom who has traveled all over California with my beloved pooch, I’m here to give you two of the cutest dog-friendly California road trips to light up your travel plans! This dog-friendly Northern California travel guide has information on the best dog-friendly sites, hikes, beaches, restaurants, and accommodations.
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Best Dog Friendly Weekend Getaways California
If you’re a pet parent like me who swears by “dog travel,” then one of the items on your bucket list should include at least one dog-friendly road trip in Northern California. In the past 10 years traveling around Northern California (we live in San Francisco) with Bobo (our Tibetan mix), we have taken several dog friendly trips from San Francisco, two of them so far. These dog-friendly trips to Northern California are clear winners because of the attractions and restaurants that welcome your best friend.
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Exploring California’s coastal redwoods in the north and the famous 17-mile loop (between Carmel and Monterey) in the south are some of the best West Coast trails you can do with your dog, especially in the winter. So without further ado, here are the dog-friendly spots, stops and details on these two dog-friendly trips along Northern California’s Pacific Coast.
P.S. I have tried my best to provide the most up-to-date information on dog-friendly accommodations, but pet policies change frequently. So be sure to call before ordering.
1) Traveling with dogs should be about their comfort! Traveling with dogs isn’t always easy, and you can read this post about traveling with pets for tips and advice on how to successfully travel with your furry friend! For us, make sure there is enough room for Bobo to rest in a portable car bed with food and water nearby.
Make sure your dog is comfortable driving and try not to make the trip too long (3-4 hours for most of us). For longer trips, break them up into shorter 2-3 hour chunks and visit dog-friendly parks/hiking spots/towns and restaurants along the way.
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For the two trips I mention here, I recommend either Mendocino (read all about Mendocino in this post) or Guerneville/Gualala up north (depending on where you’re coming from). – As a southern sea anchor point. Both of these cities are super dog-friendly, and there are plenty of dog-friendly hotels and restaurants, like these dog-friendly hotels in Carmel.
2) Northern California summers are dark along the coast, disproving the “it’s always sunny in California” idea. It’s cool and breezy at the beach, so dress accordingly, and maybe even bring a coat for your furry friend!
3) Not all California beaches, trails, restaurants and attractions are dog-friendly. You can save yourself the hassle and headache of finding places that accept dogs by reading my dog-friendly California travel guide here!
If you’ve never traveled by car before or if this is your first trip with your dog, you might understand. So to get you started, here are some very helpful resources to help you plan your dog-friendly road trip:
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Best Northern California Drives with the Dog: Route 1 from Mendocino to San Francisco
Starting in the north, the Coastal Highway (Route 1) from Mendocino County to Songma County offers not only spectacular views of the California coast, but also the famous coastal redwoods. The route includes small towns that you will need to explore, so allow at least half a day for the trip.
We’ve visited Mendocino and nearby Fort Bragg (a dog-friendly town with dog-friendly hotels, restaurants and attractions) several times before, and this dog-friendly trip along the Pacific Coast remains our favorite. Read our dog-friendly Mendoza guide to find our top dog-friendly activities to do there.
Heading south from Mendocino, the first stop is the 152-year-old Point Arena Lighthouse, which sits on a strip of land that juts out to sea and doubles as fog washes over the southern shores. The lighthouse requires a $5 entrance fee, and dogs are allowed in the museum and gift shop at Lighthouse Square, the best whale watching spot in California.
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Then, the vineyard comes to the small town of Guala, the final point along the Redwood Coast in Mendocino County and then into Songma County. Gualala is famous for its beaches, great dog rentals and attractions that offer whale watching from December to March, and is a dog-friendly town.
Starting at the Surf Motel trailhead, we explored the dog-friendly Galala Bluff Trail, which is part of the Redwood Coast Conservation Area (no parking there, must park on the street). The road is short and runs just west of the central business district, offering a half-mile stretch of stunning beaches and ocean views.
If you’re looking for more fun with your dog, a short drive takes you to Gualala Regional Park and Beach, and you can check out our dog hikes in this post.
Stop by this modest church in River Ranch off Highway 1. The church was a generous gift from Sea Ranch residents Robert and Betty Buffum and was completed in 1985 by artist and architect James Hubbell. The church and its surroundings are open to the public 365 days a year.
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Wood Cove is the next pint-sized town in Sonoma Beach you’ll pass on this dog-friendly West Coast tour. I recommend stopping for lunch at the dog-friendly Wood Cove Resort (beach restaurant) and going up the stairs to their oceanfront patio with amazing views of the beach.
Fort Ross State Park should be your next stop on Highway 1 toward Jenner, where the Russian River falls into the Pacific Ocean. Besides the Jenner Belvedere (where you can see the Pacific Harbor seals in the distance) and Gleason Lookout, the main attraction here is the unique Fort Ross State Park, which was used as a Russian-American settlement in the 1800s.
This is a rare dog-friendly park where dogs are allowed inside the main buildings within the strong walls. Pay the day fee at the car park and follow the tarmac path to the ramparts, which are home to several original buildings such as the church and Rotiff’s House. Fort Ross also has beaches and beautiful coastal paths to explore.
There are dog-friendly beaches along Highway 1/Coastal Highway in Jenner, all the way to Bodega Bay, which is part of Somona Beach State Park. Among them, the dog-friendly beaches are (from north to south) Russian Gulch State Beach, Blind Beach (Goat Rock Beach in the south) Cove, Portuguese Beach, Schoolhouse Beach, Carmet Beach and Marshall Gulch.
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Note that most of these beaches are only a short walk from the exits/parking lots along Highway 1. Dogs must be on a leash at all times. Remember to wear warm clothes because this beach is windy and cold like all California beaches.
Looking for a dog-friendly place to dine while enjoying stunning views of the Russian River along the Pacific Ocean? Then, with your food order or coffee, head straight to Cafe Aquatic’s grassy outdoor area and watch people kayak or sunbathe on the beach. We love it here and hope you enjoy your dog-friendly trip along the California coast.
Bodega Bay is the last town on the Songmah Coast to visit on your dog-friendly West Coast road trip along Highway 1. This seaside town has dog-friendly beaches and trails to keep your pet happy. Plus, you have the Dream City bodega that Alfred Hitchcock was in
