Sorry, dogs are not allowed in the Festival. This will be strictly enforced. The only area at Laguna Seca where dogs, properly leashed, will be allowed—although not recommended—is at your campsite. 

Requirements for Having a Dog at Your Campsite

If you are unable to make other arrangements for your dog, they may be in your campsite if they are leashed at all times and closely monitored. 

Please be courteous. Close monitoring includes immediately cleaning up after your dog, and keeping the dog from barking, jumping on or licking others, or interfering with people moving about comfortably.   

Laguna Seca Recreation Area requires that all dogs at the Laguna Seca campsites must be licensed, and the dog owner must provide rabies shot verification, per Monterey County code. A maximum of two dogs per campsite is allowed. 

Failure to abide by all of the above guidelines makes the dog subject to being picked up by animal control and the dog’s owner subject to eviction from the campsite, and Laguna Seca Recreation Area. 

Local Resources

Hey, Snoopy!  Wanna go hang out with some other critters?  As mentioned above, dogs are not recommended at Sea Otter, and dogs are not allowed in the Festival. Even if you are camping at Laguna Seca, you may prefer to take advantage of one of the many local kennels that offer boarding for your pet.  Animal Friends Rescue Project offers a resource list of area kennels. 

Plan B Lodging.  In the event you need to reserve an alternative to camping at Laguna Seca (e.g., your dog’s gone wild, and it becomes necessary for you and your pet to vacate your campsite), a helpful resource is the SPCA of Monterey County. Their informative website includes a list of pet-friendly lodging providers. Better yet, some of those on the SPCA’s pet-friendly list are also among the lodging providers who offer discounted rates to Sea Otter visitors: check out Hyatt Regency, Monterey; Los Laureles Lodge, Carmel Valley; and Mariposa Inn and Suites, Monterey!

Playing around Monterey County. If you are looking forward to also visiting other Monterey County recreational areas during Sea Otter week—perhaps including a walk on the beach—check out the SPCA’s list of pet-friendly recreation areas. You’ll learn which beaches allow leashed dogs, which allow them to run free, and other useful information. Hot tip:  If Carl and Daisy are hoping to make some new canine friends, they’ll find Carmel Beach is dog heaven!