Carmel Beach, Carmel by the Sea

In our quest to find dog friendly beaches in California, Carmel Beach ranks #1. It is where Squash first dipped her toes in the Pacific Ocean and it is by far our favorite beach in all of California. And when I say “our” I obviously mean that it is Squash’s favorite spot. But we also love it because of its natural beauty, it’s laid back vibe and easy access to Carmel by the Sea, which happens to be rated as the #1 dog friendly town in America (we can confirm that that is in fact a very accurate rating).

Dogs are allowed off-leash on Carmel beach and at any given time you can see hundreds of dogs happily digging, swimming, playing catch and socializing with other dogs. We love to go early in the morning as that is prime dog hour and you will mostly see dog owners walking their dogs and a few other early risers. But really, any time of the day is a great time to take your dog to Carmel Beach. After a day at the beach, we love to grab a bite at Stationaery, pick up some treats from Diggidy Dog and walk around Carmel.

Fun fact: Stationaery has a dog menu (a must for Squash) and Diggidy Dog has an on-site professional photographer. If you want to read more about our favorite dog-friendly activities around Carmel, we have a blog post with tons of details and the perfect itinerary. The Carmel California website also has some great information on dog friendly activities in town.

Rodeo Beach

Rodeo beach is just 3 miles northwest of the Golden Gate Bridge and just like Muir Beach, it is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in Marin County. The beach is sheltered by cliffs and bounded by a lagoon and it’s a great multipurpose beach. We often see dogs playing off-leash, surfers, families having picnics and even fisherman on the shore.

Pro tip: if you want to do a dog-friendly hike before or after hanging out at the beach the coastal trail hike has a trailhead at Rodeo Beach.

Muir Beach

A short drive from San Francisco, Muir beach is a small, secluded, and stunning beach in Marin County. The beach is never super crowded (unless you go on a hot summer day during peak hours) and you will often find a handful of dogs running around, surfers and sunset watchers. There are hiking trails that branch out from the beach in various directions, allowing you to hike along the coat and explore the headlands. If you hike south for a few miles you will reach a hidden beach called Pirates Cove. Both beaches and the hiking trails along the headlines are dog friendly and offer stunning scenery.

Fun Fact: Muir beach has several fire rings ideal for public use. One of our favorite weeknight activities is to drive to Muir, pick up smores ingredients on the way and set up a bonfire while Squash runs around the beach. It is the perfect sunset spot, especially during the colder winter months.

Stinson Beach

Just like Rodeo and Muir Beach, Stinson Beach is part of the Golden Gate National Recreational Area. Located a few miles north of Muir, the drive to Stinson is steep and winding and has some of the best views of the Pacific Ocean. We absolutely love this beach, in part because unlike Muir and Rodeo, there is a bustling small town with shops and restaurants – perfect place to grab a bite after a long day at the beach. The beach is miles long, one of the longest beaches in northern California, and although the southern part is not dog-friendly, most of the northern area of the beach is. Dogs are allowed off leash in this section and every time we have visited there are tons of dogs running around, swimming and chasing balls. The southern part of the beach, where dogs are not allowed, is usually very crowded but since most people don’t walk too far north and the beach goes on for a few miles, there is a lot of space to sunbathe and let your dog loose. It is one of our favorite northern California beaches.

Dillon Beach

Dillon Beach is one of the first beaches we took Squash to when we moved to California in 2021. It is one of the most beautiful and dog friendly beaches in northern California. It is further north than Stinson, Muir and Rodeo so it’s about an 1:30 to 2:00 hour drive from San Francisco. It is a privately owned beach and therefore there is an entrance fee of about $5 – $10 (depending on the season). Dillon has beautiful Bodega Bay and Point Reyes as it’s backdrop, as well as picturesque sand dunes and hillsides dotted with beautiful homes. It has miles of white sand, and it is used by surfers, fisherman, families, dogs, and kite surfers. Always check the weather before going as it can get a little dicey and at times very foggy.

Pro Tip: Do yourself a favor and grab some of the best soft serve from Dillon Beach Resort after a day at the beach. We usually get the salted caramel for us and a small vanilla cone for Squash. It is by far one of the best soft serves we’ve ever tasted.

Notable Mentions

During our time living in the Bay we have also taken Squash to several beaches in San Francisco and the South Bay, including Baker Beach, Fort Funston and Half Moon Bay. We typically avoid Baker Beach as it tends to be a bit more crowded, especially in the warmer months. Fort Funston is a dog’s paradise filled with sand dunes, miles of beach and hundreds of dogs running around at any given time.