Pet parents looking to escape the house and hit the road with their fur babies these days are in luck—there’s never been a better time to travel with pets. Today even the poshest hotels welcome (and pamper) canine and feline guests. Bring Fido along on your next vacation and stay at one or more of California’s pet-friendly hotels.
Check with the hotel before booking, and ask about animal size and breed requirements to avoid doggie disappointment.
LOGE Camp, Mount Shasta
This former motel near Mount Shasta has taken on new life as LOGE: the ultimate outdoorsy basecamp. Canine companions are welcome in rooms and LOGE’s outdoor social areas. Book LOGE’s “Treat Your Pup” package to spoil Rover with a Ruffwear dog leash, bowl, and bed during your stay.
Little River Inn, Little River
Dogs receive a hero's welcome at this inn along the Mendocino Coast. For a $30 daily pet fee, pups receive a welcome basket packed with treats, a list of pet-friendly restaurants, and a guide to the property’s on-leash walking areas. Dine with your doggo at the inn, then let him run off-leash at Noyo Beach. Pups can’t be left alone in guestrooms, but pet-sitting services are available through At Last Farm Dog Day Camp & Boarding.
Inn of the Lost Coast, Shelter Cove
Every dog has its day at this family-run retreat along California’s Lost Coast, where puppies (and kitties) get spoiled with treats, bowls, and a guide to the best pet-friendly places in Shelter Cove. One off-leash option is Black Sands Beach–just a mile away. Note: A $15 pet charge is assessed to deep clean every pet room, and the max allowable animal weight is 40 pounds.
Hotel Nikko, San Francisco
Buster, the resident pooch, greets pets upon arrival at Hotel Nikko, where the daily pet fee ($50) includes food and water bowls, treats, a placemat, and comfy beds. While you can’t leave pooches unattended, the hotel has San Francisco’s only pet terrace for exercising your dog without venturing out. There’s a $65 nightly cleaning fee for dogs under 50 pounds, but it jumps to $200 a night for larger dogs. Book the Pet Pride Package to receive discounted cleaning fees, a portable pet bowl, dog waste bag dispenser, and tennis balls.
Kimpton Buchanan, San Francisco
Located in Japantown near the Fillmore District and Lower Pacific Heights neighborhoods, the Buchanan is ideal for cultural and culinary exploration. Adventurous pets of all sizes are welcomed with no extra fees. Request complimentary food bowls and plush dog-beds if needed. Hire a dog walker from the staff’s suggested list or walk pets yourself around Lafayette or Alta Plaza Parks. End the night outdoors with your pooch at the hotel’s complimentary evening wine social.
Calistoga Motor Lodge, Calistoga
Explore the quieter side of wine country at this former motor lodge that has been transformed into a boutique hotel. Book one of 10 pet rooms to receive a pup bed, bowls, and tasty treats. Guests are allowed to leave animals unattended, but you can also bring fur babies to Romeo Vineyards & Cellars or August Briggs Winery tastings.
River Terrace Inn, Napa Valley
At this downtown Napa boutique hotel located on a riverfront nature preserve, guests are within a short stroll to numerous Fido-friendly wineries, and the Napa Paws Program offers pet perks like special sleeping beds and a themed patio Yappy Hour. Thrown in partnership with Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch, this fun event lets pets and owners mingle—doggie costumes encouraged—with prizes going to the most memorable.
Olea Hotel, Glen Ellen
Explore Sonoma at this cheery hotel in small-town Glen Ellen. Every pup gets treated to a doggie bag with snacks, bowls, and towels for a $25 per night pet fee. Let sleeping dogs lie on plush beds in pet-friendly Hillside Queen Rooms and Lower Garden Cottages, which allow animals of up to 85 pounds. When it’s time to play, explore the nearby off-leash dog park or taste wine at dog-friendly B.R. Cohn.
Basecamp Hotel, Tahoe City
Channeling outdoorsy, laid-back vibes, this North Lake Tahoe hotel allows pups for a $45 one-time fee. From Basecamp, enjoy easy access to the lake and downtown Tahoe City. After a hike on one of the nearby dog-friendly trails, unwind with s'mores around a fire pit.
Hotel Azure, South Lake Tahoe
Pets love Lake Tahoe for its doggone-friendly trails, beaches, and parks. At Hotel Azure, you’re right across from the lake and a short walk to the dog-friendly east end of Reagan Beach. The $28 nightly pet fee includes a bed, food bowl, treats, and a doggie bag. Bring your furry friend to dinner on the patio of Lake Tahoe AleWorX, just down the street.
Tenaya Lodge, Fish Camp
Once your pet steps into Tenaya Lodge, he will be treated like a king. Tenaya goes all out to baby your furry companion with its Deluxe Pampered Pet Package, featuring chef-made dog biscuits, a dog toy, a pet bed, and two hours of pet sitting. Treat him to a dog massage at Ascent Spa and then drive two miles to Yosemite’s south gate for dog-friendly paved park walks.
Groveland Hotel, Groveland
Harken back to the Gold Rush in this luxuriously restored hotel located just 30 minutes from Yosemite National Park’s northern entrance. First-floor rooms welcome canines for $75 a day with no size or breed restrictions. The hotel’s Provisions Restaurant serves farm-fresh fare and always welcomes pets on the patio. If you plan on exploring parts of Yosemite that are not dog-friendly (which is the case for most trails except for paved paths), day boarding is available nearby, day boarding is available nearby at Big Creek Boarding. Or skip the park and take your dog hiking on the Hetch Hetchy Railroad Trail.
Holbrooke Hotel, Grass Valley
After a two-year restoration, one of California’s oldest hotels is once again welcoming pets and their humans. Discover dog-friendly trails using Holbrooke’s mobile app, like Empire Mine State Historic Park, a Gold Rush landmark with mining ruins. Find fenced-in fun at Grass Valley’s Dogs Run Free park, where pets splash in puppy pools and play among ponderosa pines.
Ventana Resort, Big Sur
Ela, Ventana’s resident sheepadoodle, is a fur-ever friend to visiting pets and provides a dog’s guide to Big Sur’s parks and restaurants. Ventana welcomes up to two dogs per room for a $150 fee and includes a plush bed and water bowl for each pet. They even allow doggie guests for breakfast or lunch at The Sur House Terrace.
Cypress Inn, Carmel-by-the-Sea
Late animal activist and Hollywood legend Doris Day ensured dogs were always welcome at her Carmel-by-the-Sea inn. She died in 2019, but the inn still spoils pups with cozy blankets and a relaxing outdoor patio. The entire town loves dogs—Carmel Plaza boasts its own Fountain of Woof–a dedicated doggie drinking fountain. Once you’ve strolled Carmel’s Ocean Avenue, release the beast to run out the wiggles on Carmel Beach. Afterward, rinse Rover’s sandy paws in the outdoor dog shower at Cypress Inn’s courtyard.
Portola Hotel & Spa, Monterey
Paw-ty with your pet at Portola, a downtown Monterey hotel near Fisherman’s Wharf. For a $50 first-night pet fee, the pet concierge (not a typo) delivers a welcome letter, house-made treats, and a plush bed. Treat your pup to a doggie dinner at the hotel’s Club Room and Peter B’s Brewpub. Visit during Peter B’s Yappy Hour for discounted Bark Bowls. When you both need a break, book a paw massage at Carmel’s Signature Paw Spa.
The Leta, Goleta
Santa Barbara’s The Leta (formerly The Kimpton Goodland) is as welcoming to four-legged guests as two-legged ones: Even your Great Dane can visit–with no extra fees for larger animals. Even nightly wine social hours welcome canine guests, and special “Yappy Hours” at the hotel’s Good Bar feature special doggie dinners–and 10 percent of purchases go to the Santa Barbara Humane Society.
Ace Hotel, Los Angeles
Bring your pet to this hip hotel in downtown Los Angeles, where pets are allowed in the lobby, rooms, and rooftop lounge. While your pup rubs paws with other pooches, sip drinks at the rooftop bar. A $25 nightly fee (or $50 per stay) includes up to two pets in a guest room.
Idyllwild Bunkhouse, Idyllwild
Escape to the mountains with your companion at this rustic, small-town retreat with cabin-style suites and private patios. And while animals can’t be left alone in rooms, Idyllwild is as pet-friendly as cities come. (It once elected a dog named Max as mayor, and many restaurant patios allow dogs.) Find leashed adventures at Idyllwild Nature Center or doggie daycare a half-mile from the hotel. A $20 nightly cleaning fee applies for each pet, and there’s a two-pet maximum.
La Quinta Resort & Club, Palm Springs
Pamper your pooch at this desert oasis with La Quinta’s exclusive PAWS Pet Experience. Upon arrival, four-legged friends receive a PupJoy subscription box as well as an oversized doggie bed and treats. Explore the property’s 45 acres of dog-friendly lawns and paths–with marked doggie relief stations along the way–or hike desert trails in the Mission Creek Preserve. Once tuckered out, beloved pups can enjoy a relaxing, hour-long massage in their pet-friendly casitas. There’s a one-time fee of $150 for all pet guests.
Cape Rey Hilton, Carlsbad
A stay at the Cape Rey Hilton will ensure you never run out of fun activities for both you and your furry best friend. Restaurants such as Board & View and The Compass will welcome all, as do boat tours of Agua Hedionda Lagoon (aka Carlsbad Lagoon) and nearby green spaces Magee Park and Stagecoach Community Park. Carlsbad is also home to several dog-friendly beaches such as Carlsbad Lagoon Dog Beach and North Beach Dog Beach.
Loews Coronado Bay Resort, San Diego
Watch the sunset with your canine at this four-star resort on a private peninsula. VIPs (Very Important Pets) score fetching gifts like a new dog tag, food bowl, treats, and map with pet-walking routes. If your dog is born to swim, bring him to Coronado Dog Beach, where you can both learn to surf (seriously) with the Coronado Surfing Academy,
Hotel Indigo Gaslamp, San Diego
Stay in San Diego’s bustling Gaslamp Quarter and walk to the district’s best restaurants or explore the waterfront. Hotel Indigo knows that even Fido deserves a night out and charges no fee for up to two dogs. Pet perks include fluffy beds, tasty treats, and an outdoor pet relief area. Expose your dog to a little SoCal canine history with a walk to Gaslamp’s Pocket Park to visit “Bum the Dog,” a bronze statue of San Diego’s first and only town dog.