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Top 7 Dog Friendly Beaches in Bodega Bay, CA (2024 Update): Off & On Leash Spots

Gregory Iacono

By Gregory Iacono

two happy welsh corgi pembroke dogs at a beach

A tiny town on California’s southern coast, Bodega Bay is charming, quiet, and a great place to explore with your dog. The beaches here are as picturesque as they come, and a couple of them in Bodega Bay allow dogs and their humans to have a great time together. You’ll find several more dog-friendly beaches within easy driving distance of Bodega Bay, giving you and your favorite canine plenty of options to hit the surf and have fun in the sand and sun. Read on to discover all the amazing dog-friendly beaches in Bodega Bay and have an unforgettable day with your furry friends.

Divider 7The Top 7 Dog-Friendly Beaches in Bodega Bay, CA

1. Dillon Beach

🗺️ Address: 📍60 Beach Ave, Dillon Beach, CA 94929
🕐 Open Times: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
💲 Cost: $10 (weekdays) and $20 (weekends)
🐕 Off-Leash: Varying reports
  • This is a small beach that’s even smaller at high tide
  • It costs $10 to park Mon to Fri, but $20 on the weekends.
  • Go early on the weekend as parking fills up fast
  • Beware of the lagoon area
  • Some sources say off-leash is allowed, and some claim it is not
  • Water and waste bags aren’t provided

2. Doran Regional Park

🗺️ Address: 📍201 Doran Beach Rd, Bodega Bay, CA 94923
🕐 Open Times: 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM
💲 Cost: Possible parking fee
🐕 Off-Leash: Yes, a small area
  • Large on-leash dog beach with a small, rocky area for off-leash play
  • The beach is much larger at low tide
  • Water and waste bags aren’t provided
  • The off-leash area is only accessible at low tide
  • The beach is gorgeous and a lot of fun to walk and explore with your pup,
  • There’s not much shade on sunny days

3. Kehoe Beach

🗺️ Address: 📍1391 Pierce Point Rd, Inverness, CA 94937
🕐 Open Times: 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-Leash: No
  • A small but beautiful and secluded beach for exploring with a leash
  • The beach is very large, especially at low tide
  • A quiet and relaxing area, especially during the week
  • It’s a short but invigorating and scenic walk from free parking to the beach
  • Water and waste bags aren’t provided
  • Dogs aren’t permitted south of the trail from March 1st through September 30th

4. Limantour Beach

🗺️ Address: 📍Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
🕐 Open Times: 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM
💲 Cost: Free (possible parking fee)
🐕 Off-Leash: No
  • A very wide, long beach you can walk for hours with your dog on a leash
  • It’s a 20-minute walk to the beach, and the roads around it need repairs
  • The water is frigid, so be aware if your dog (or you) goes swimming
  • The water’s edge is protected and calm, making it easy to enjoy it with your dog
  • Water and waste bags aren’t provided

5. Monte Rio Public Beach

🗺️ Address: 📍20488 CA-116, Monte Rio, CA 95462
🕐 Open Times: 24/7, 365 day a year
💲 Cost: Free  (possible parking fee)
🐕 Off-Leash: Yes, in a small area
  • A small riverside beach about 30 minutes from Bodega Bay on the Russian River
  • On the west side of the bridge is a small, off-leash area for dogs
  • You can rent a kayak or canoe and have some fun on the river with your dog
  • Mallard ducks are prevalent on the beach and may tempt some dogs
  • Water and waste bags aren’t provided

6. Point Reyes Beach (aka Great Beach)

🗺️ Address: 📍Point Reyes Beach South Rd, Inverness, CA, US, 94937
🕐 Open Times: 24/7, 365 day a year
💲 Cost: Free  (possible parking fee)
🐕 Off-Leash: No
  • Beautiful beach with dark sand and a protected coastline
  • The beach gets much smaller at high tide
  • Water and waste bags aren’t provided
  • Parking is very close to the beach but fills up quickly on the weekends
  • Dogs aren’t permitted north of the North Beach entrance

7. Sonoma Coast State Park

🗺️ Address: 📍3095 CA-1, Bodega Bay, CA 94923
🕐 Open Times: 24/7, 365 days a year
💲 Cost: Possible $7 parking fee
🐕 Off-Leash: Possibly
  • Large state park with several beaches
  • Dog-friendly beaches include Blind Beach, Wright’s Beach, Shell Beach, Gleason Beach, Carmet Beach, and Goat Rock Beach
  • You can also bring your pups to the Bodega Dunes campground
  • Off-leash is tolerated at Blind Beach when it’s not busy
  • The beaches are beautiful, long, and a combination of sand and pebbles
  • Water and waste bags aren’t provided

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Conclusion

Bodega Bay, CA, has a couple of amazing dog-friendly beaches for you and your furry family members to enjoy. There are several more choices nearby, but most of them require leashes. Beach experts recommend checking the tide before you visit any of the dog-friendly beaches in Bodega Bay and, when possible, visiting at low tide. There’s much more room at that time. No matter when you go, we hope you and your canine cohorts have a fantastic time exploring all the dog-friendly beaches Bodega Bay has to offer!


Featured Image Credit: Jus_Ol, Shutterstock

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