Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in Carmel and Monterey

Before you go

What happens when you get there

Carmel Beach

Promoted locally as off-lead for dogs under voice control, with a current licence and vaccinations needed and puppies under four months not allowed. Waste bag dispensers sit at the top of every stair access. We haven't confirmed the City of Carmel's own wording, so check the city's rule before you unclip.

Other beaches

Carmel River State Beach allows dogs on a lead, and asks you to avoid the snowy plover resting areas in late winter and early spring. Asilomar State Beach in Pacific Grove allows dogs on a lead on the beach, the trails and the conference grounds, not in the buildings. In Santa Cruz, dogs aren't allowed on Cowell Beach, and we haven't confirmed the rules for other Santa Cruz beaches.

Point Lobos and Big Sur

Dogs aren't allowed anywhere in Point Lobos and can't be left in a parked vehicle there. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, the McWay Falls stop, doesn't allow dogs. At Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park dogs are allowed on the Warden's Path and River Path and in the day-use lots and campground, and on no other trail. The rule for Pfeiffer Beach isn't confirmed, so check with the Forest Service.

Leaving the dog in the room

Not allowed at Carmel Country Inn, Lamp Lighter Inn, Stilwell, Tradewinds, Vagabond's House Inn, Quail Lodge, InterContinental The Clement or Dream Inn. The other four don't publish a rule. Ask about sitters when you book.

Patios

The local tourism board says Carmel restaurants welcome dogs on patios and in select indoor areas. Around the county it names The Grill at Point Pinos in Pacific Grove, Paluca Trattoria on Old Fisherman's Wharf, Folktale Winery in Carmel Valley and the Galante Vineyards tasting room in Carmel. At Pebble Beach, dogs are on outdoor patios only, never indoors.

Monterey

The Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail is a paved 18-mile path from Castroville to Pacific Grove, passing Fisherman's Wharf, Cannery Row and the Aquarium, and all dogs must be leashed. The Monterey Bay Aquarium admits trained service animals only. Monterey-Salinas Transit doesn't publish a pet rule we could confirm, so ask before you rely on the bus.

Pebble Beach

17-Mile Drive costs USD 12.50 per vehicle and is open sunrise to sunset, free for overnight guests of the resort hotels. The resort names The Lodge as its hotel for dogs. No dog rule is published for the stops and beaches along the drive, so ask at the gate.

Unpublished limits

Quail Lodge, Tradewinds, Carmel Country Inn, Vagabond's House Inn and La Bahia publish no weight limit. Carmel Country Inn and Vagabond's publish no maximum number of dogs, and Carmel Garden Inn's limit of two is read from its fee tiers. Give your dog's size when you book and get the answer in writing.

Best walks

Carmel Beach, then Carmel River State Beach on a lead. Asilomar State Beach in Pacific Grove, on a lead on the sand and the trails. The Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail along Cannery Row and Fisherman's Wharf, leashed. In Carmel Valley, Garland Ranch Regional Park at 700 West Carmel Valley Road is described as taking voice-trained dogs, though the park district's own rule isn't confirmed, so check it before you go. Jacks Peak County Park is listed with a lead in the main area and voice control on the trails. In Big Sur, the Warden's Path and River Path at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park are the two trails open to dogs.

When to go

The beaches here have no closed season for dogs that we've confirmed, so this is a year-round trip. The one dated request is at Carmel River State Beach, where you're asked to keep clear of the snowy plover resting areas in late winter and early spring. Fees are the seasonal catch: most hotels here charge per night, so a long summer stay costs far more in pet fees than a weekend. We haven't confirmed any official guidance on heat or seasonal trail closures, so check the park pages for the dates you're travelling.