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Traveling with a dog or cat in Palo Alto is easier than it used to be. Most of the big hotels on El Camino Real now take pets and a few downtown hotels do too. The catch is in the details. Weight limits run from 50 to 80 pounds. Some hotels take one pet and others take three. Fees range from nothing extra to a nightly charge. Some hotels accept dogs only, while others welcome cats.
This guide lists the hotels whose pet policies we confirmed on the hotels' own pages and on our hotel profiles in October 2026. We give a fee amount only where a hotel publishes one. Fees change often. Call or check the hotel's page before you book and tell the front desk about your pet when you reserve. Service animals are welcome at every hotel here and are not treated as pets. To compare rates for your dates, search pet-friendly hotels near Stanford and filter for pets.
Pet policies at a glance
| Hotel | Pets allowed | Limit | Fee type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheraton Palo Alto | Dogs | Up to 80 lb | No additional fee listed by Marriott |
| The Westin Palo Alto | Dogs | Up to 3 per room, 80 lb | No additional fee listed by Marriott |
| Graduate by Hilton Palo Alto | Pets | Up to 2, 75 lb | Nonrefundable fee |
| el Prado | Dogs | No weight listed | Nightly cleaning fee |
| Crowne Plaza Palo Alto | One dog or cat | 50 lb, certain rooms | Nonrefundable fee plus damage deposit |
| Dinah's Garden Hotel | Pets | Specific room types | Nonrefundable fee |
| Hilton Garden Inn Palo Alto | Dogs and cats | Up to 2 | Nonrefundable, rises for 5+ nights |
| Homewood Suites Palo Alto | Dogs and cats | Up to 2, 75 lb | Based on length of stay |
| Hotel Citrine | Pets | Up to 2, 50 lb each | Nonrefundable, per stay |
| Park James, Menlo Park | One pet | 50 lb | One-time fee |
| Residence Inn Palo Alto Mountain View | Pets | 80 lb or less | Nonrefundable, per stay |
| Shashi Hotel, Mountain View | Dogs | Up to 2, 50 lb each | $125 per pet |
| Signature Inn Mountain View | One pet | One per room | $25 a night |
| Enchanté, Los Altos | Dogs | Select dog-friendly rooms | Ask the hotel |
| Courtyard Redwood City | Pets | Ask the hotel | $150 per stay |
| Kasa Niche Hotel Redwood City | Pets | Ask the hotel | Ask the hotel |
Policies come from each hotel's own page or brand listing as summarized on our hotel profiles, which link to the sources. A few hotels were rechecked on their official pages in late October 2026. Rules can change without notice, so treat this table as a starting point rather than a promise.
Near Stanford: the El Camino Real pair
The two most dog-friendly hotels in town stand side by side on El Camino Real, across from Stanford land. Marriott's pages for both the Sheraton and the Westin list dogs up to 80 pounds "without additional fees" in October 2026. The Westin adds a limit of three pets per room. Both have outdoor heated pools, paid self-parking and EV charging subject to availability.
The location is the real advantage. You can walk a dog to the Palo Alto Caltrain station, along the edge of the Stanford Shopping Center or up Palm Drive toward the Oval. Downtown is a 10 to 15 minute walk. If you have a large dog and need to be near campus or the medical center, start here. Marriott pages say pets are welcome, but always confirm your dog's size and number when you book, since rules are set by each hotel.
Downtown options
Downtown has fewer choices. Graduate by Hilton Palo Alto, in the old Hotel President building on University Avenue, lists up to two pets per room with a 75-pound maximum and a nonrefundable fee. It is valet only, which is easier with a pet than circling for a space. el Prado on Cowper Street says its guestrooms are dog friendly with what it calls a minimal nightly cleaning fee. Its amenities page does not give a weight limit, so ask.
Nobu Hotel Palo Alto on Hamilton Avenue does not allow pets, according to its FAQ. The smaller downtown hotels do not publish a pet policy on their sites. Call before you book rather than assume a yes.
South El Camino Real
The hotel cluster near the Los Altos and Mountain View lines has the most pet-friendly rooms in one place. Most of these hotels have their own lots, which helps if you are road-tripping with a crate in the back.
- Crowne Plaza Palo Alto. The former Cabana takes one dog or cat up to 50 pounds in certain room types. IHG lists a nonrefundable fee plus a damage deposit. There is a dog area and a pet walking area on site.
- Dinah's Garden Hotel. Pets are allowed in specific room types only, for a nonrefundable fee. The hotel asks you to call the front desk before booking. Its free parking and garden grounds suit dog owners.
- Hilton Garden Inn Palo Alto. Dogs and cats, up to two, with a nonrefundable fee that rises for stays of five nights or more.
- Homewood Suites by Hilton Palo Alto. Up to two dogs or cats with a 75-pound maximum. Every suite has a full kitchen, which makes long stays with a pet simpler.
Across San Antonio Road near Highway 101, Hotel Citrine takes up to two pets of up to 50 pounds each for a fee per stay. Guests there must be at least 21 to check in.
Menlo Park and Mountain View
In Menlo Park, the Park James on El Camino Real leans into pets more than any hotel nearby. It allows one pet per room up to 50 pounds for a one-time fee and sets the room up with a dog bed and water bowl. Its patio even has a dog dinner menu. The Menlo Park Caltrain station is a few blocks away.
In Mountain View, the Residence Inn Palo Alto Mountain View allows pets of 80 pounds or less for a fee per stay. Suites have full kitchens and breakfast is included. It is a good base for owners of big dogs on longer trips.
Two more Mountain View hotels publish pet fees. The Shashi Hotel on North Shoreline Boulevard takes up to two dogs of up to 50 pounds each for $125 per pet. On El Camino Real, the small Signature Inn Mountain View allows one pet for $25 a night.
Los Altos and Redwood City
In downtown Los Altos, the boutique Enchanté sets aside select dog-friendly rooms. Ask for one when you book, since other rooms do not take dogs.
Redwood City has two more options a short Caltrain ride north. The Courtyard Redwood City on Bair Island Road welcomes pets for a $150 fee per stay. Downtown, the Kasa Niche Hotel Redwood City allows pets. It has no front desk, so check its pet rules online or with its support team before you arrive.
How to book with a pet
- Book a pet room directly. Many hotels hold a limited number of pet-friendly rooms. Third-party sites do not always flag them.
- Give size and number up front. State your pet's weight and how many animals you are bringing. A 55-pound dog does not fit a 50-pound limit.
- Ask about fees in writing. Confirm whether the fee is per night or per stay and whether a deposit is held on your card.
- Ask about leaving the pet alone. Some hotels do not allow pets to stay unattended in the room. Plan meals and outings around that.
- Request a ground-floor or end room. It makes early walks easier and keeps barking away from neighbors.
Good to know
- Fees and limits change. Confirm with the hotel the week you travel.
- Service animals are not pets and do not pay pet fees.
- Nobu Hotel Palo Alto does not take pets.
- Most pet rules apply per room, not per booking.
Walking a dog in Palo Alto
Palo Alto is a pleasant town for dogs, with flat streets and plenty of shade. Leashes are required in most city parks. The city runs several fenced dog runs. The largest is at Mitchell Park in south Palo Alto, where an expanded run of about 0.82 acres plus a small-dog area opened in January 2025. Our guide to dog parks and dog-friendly places lists them along with patios that welcome dogs.
For trails, the rules vary by preserve. Some open spaces in the foothills allow leashed dogs on certain trails and others ban them. Shoreline Park in Mountain View does not allow pets. Check the rules before you drive out. Our traveling with pets guide covers vets, pet supplies and the city's dog rules in more detail.
If you need more space for a dog, a rental home can work for longer stays. Read the house rules closely, since many hosts do not allow pets. You can search homes that allow dogs on Vrbo and filter for pets.
If your first choice says no
Several popular hotels do not take pets or do not publish a policy. Nobu Hotel Palo Alto says no. Some small independent hotels and motels simply do not mention pets online. A short phone call settles it. If the answer is no, the El Camino Real hotels above are usually the easiest switch. They sit a short drive from downtown and Stanford and most have parking. To see several pet-friendly options side by side, compare Peninsula hotels on Expedia and filter by pet policy.
One last tip: Palo Alto summers are dry and sunny, but cars heat up fast. Never leave a pet in a parked car, even for a short stop at a cafe.
Frequently asked questions
Which Palo Alto hotels allow large dogs?
The Sheraton Palo Alto and The Westin Palo Alto both list dogs up to 80 pounds, as does the Residence Inn Palo Alto Mountain View. Graduate by Hilton Palo Alto and Homewood Suites by Hilton Palo Alto list a 75-pound limit. Always confirm the limit for your room type before you book.
Do Palo Alto hotels charge a pet fee?
Most do. Typical charges are a nonrefundable fee per stay or per night, sometimes with a damage deposit. In October 2026 Marriott listed no additional pet fee at the Sheraton and the Westin. Ask the hotel for the current amount when you book.
Is there a pet-friendly hotel in downtown Palo Alto?
Yes. Graduate by Hilton Palo Alto on University Avenue takes up to two pets of up to 75 pounds for a nonrefundable fee. el Prado on Cowper Street says its rooms are dog friendly with a nightly cleaning fee. Nobu Hotel Palo Alto does not allow pets.
Can I bring a cat to a Palo Alto hotel?
Several hotels accept cats as well as dogs. The Crowne Plaza Palo Alto, Hilton Garden Inn Palo Alto, Homewood Suites and Hotel Citrine all list cats. Some hotels accept dogs only, so mention the species when you book.
Are dogs allowed in Palo Alto parks?
Dogs must be leashed in most city parks. The city runs fenced dog runs at several parks, including a large one at Mitchell Park. Foothills Nature Preserve and the Baylands have their own rules, so check before you go.