11 Fantastic Dog Friendly Day Trips in the Bay Area [by a local]

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Have you been wondering about dog-friendly day trips in the San Francisco Bay Area?

We have lived in the Bay Area for more than 15 years, so we have been lucky to have visited many of these places with our dogs. You can’t go wrong, it just depends on which dog-friendly day trips in the Bay Area sounds most interesting to you and your pup.

Explore these 11 great destinations that both you and your dog will love. I have organized the day trips by location (closest to the Bay Area first), with a brief description of dog friendly activities Bay Area we think should be high on your list of things to do.

If you are looking to extend your trip, both Carmel and San Francisco make for some of the best getaways on the West Coast. For places to stay check out our recommended dog friendly places to stay in Carmel and San Francisco

Have fun!

Getting Around With Your Pet

If you have your own car, that’s going to be the easiest way to get to all of the places recommended here.

If you don’t have your own transportation, I would strongly suggest renting a car. Discover Cars has some great options for you, so check them out!

Small dogs can go on public transportation such as BART and the ferries in a carrier bag. However, leashed dogs are not allowed.

Also, most of the recommended spots are not in the main urban hubs where public transportation is frequent, so that’s why having access to your own transportation is really your best option.

• Fort Funston: A dog’s paradise, featuring off-leash sandy trails, beach access, and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Our border terrier club loved the fun-day here!
• Crissy Field: A scenic park with an off-leash area, panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, and shoreline access. We enjoyed going here with our Norwich meetup group.
• Golden Gate Park: Off-leash play areas, scenic walking trails, and picturesque gardens, all within an expansive, 1,017-acre urban oasis in the heart of San Francisco
• Stern Grove: A tranquil park providing off-leash areas, walking trails, and charming picnic spots.

• Tilden Regional Park: A vast park with dog-friendly hiking trails, an off-leash area, and the tranquil Lake Anza. This is where we have annual meetups for our border terriers.
• Cesar Chavez Park: A spacious park featuring a 17-acre off-leash dog area, stunning vistas, and walking trails.
• Ohlone Dog Park: a unique and historic dog-friendly spot, as it was one of the first dedicated off-leash dog parks in the United States

• Redwood Regional Park: A nature enthusiast’s dream with over 1,800 acres of forests, grasslands, and dog-friendly trails.
• Oakland Mural Tour: a self-guided walking tour with your leashed dog to explore the colorful murals painted by local artists in various neighborhoods, such as Downtown Oakland and the Fruitvale district
• Lake Merritt: Known as the “Jewel of Oakland,” Lake Merritt is a 3.4-mile urban park that welcomes leashed dogs. There are also several dog-friendly cafes and restaurants nearby with outdoor seating

• Muir Beach: An off-leash beach experience, complete with nearby hiking trails, such as the scenic Muir Beach Overlook Trail. It’s truly breathtaking!
• Marin Headlands: Discover a variety of dog-friendly trails with magnificent views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay.
• Sausalito waterfront and downtown: Stroll along the waterfront, exploring charming boutiques, art galleries, and dog-friendly dining options.
• The Bay Trail near Tiburon: One of the best sections of the San Francisco Bay Trail and is a great way to experience the bay with your dog on leash.

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• Napa:
  • Alston Park: Over 100 acres of off-leash adventure, walking trails, and stunning views of the Napa Valley.
  • Regusci Winery: A winery that is particularly welcoming to dogs and those they bring with them
• Sonoma:
  • Sonoma Valley Regional Park: A delightful park featuring an off-leash dog area for a fun day out.
  • Bartholomew Estate Winery: Savor wine tasting while your dog meets with the four-legged hosts.

• Skyline Drive: One of the great scenic drives in the Bay Area, it is on the way to Half Moon Bay and worth a small side trip. It’s one of our favorites. We often take this route even though it is longer. There are several trails that you can take to explore the redwoods.
• Poplar Beach and Mavericks Beach for pup-approved play and soaking in the California sun
• Jettywave Distillery: a few blocks from Pillar Point and Mavericks beach, great food, drinks and they love to snap a pick of your dog to post on Instagram. I grew up in South Africa, so I really enjoyed the South African curry they had on their menu.
• Devil’s Slide is a 20 minute drive north in Pacifica, but a fascinating hike along the ocean cliffs on an abandoned section of highway. We saw a whole pod of whales right off the coast there last year in June!

• Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: Wander through redwood forests and picturesque trails with your leashed dog. It’s one of my favorite places, but unfortunately, dogs aren’t allowed on the redwood loop.
• Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Join the throngs, the lights, the games of this historic and vibrant boardwalk. My dogs don’t like it here because it is too loud and bustling, but some dogs may thrive in this environment.
• West Cliff Drive: Walk along the cliffs with your leashed dog, watch the surfers catching waves. I think it’s magical and my dogs prefer it to the boardwalk.
• Its Beach: A very popular dog beach, technically it has designated off-leash hours but I have not personally seen them enforced

• Carmel-by-the-Sea: A quaint town that is very welcoming to dogs and whoever they bring with them. Dog-friendly beaches, parks, and restaurants. This is often labled as one of the most dog friendly places in the US.
• Carmel Beach: A beautiful off-leash beach where you and your pup can enjoy the sand, the breeze and the waves. It’s probably the best beach I’ve ever been to with my dogs.
• Cannery Row: Explore Monterey’s historic district with your leashed dog, discovering shops and waterfront dining experiences. We saw seals and otters bobbing around. I wondered if our terriers would care, but they didn’t seem to notice.
• Pacific Grove Recreation Trail: A picturesque coastal trail for exploring the Monterey Peninsula with your leashed pet.

If you are looking for more great recommendations or have some tips of your own, come join the community of our lively Facebook group. We would love to see you there!

Final Thoughts: Dog Friendly Day Trips in the SF Bay Area

If you have a whole weekend, explore our suggestions for weekend getaways from the Bay Area.

Within 2 hours of the Bay Area, there is such an incredible variety of dog-friendly day trips that cater to every taste and interest. From the stunning coastline to picturesque parks, charming towns, and urban adventures, there’s something for everyone and their canine companions to enjoy. If you need a dog-friendly hotel in San Francisco to come back to at the end of your day trip, we have a list for you. So, pack up your leash, treats, and a sense of adventure, and set out to explore the diverse attractions that await you and your furry friend in the beautiful Bay Area.

Happy trails!