Top 5 Dog Parks in the United States
Dog parks come in all shapes and sizes. Whether it is a small urban park themed after a construction zone or a vast grassland with over 100 acres for your pup to run around, there are many different kinds that suit the needs of your pet.
Shelby Farms Park (Memphis, TN)
Located on the outskirts of Memphis, TN, Shelby Farms Park is one of the largest urban parks in the country! At 4,500 acres, this park offers a large amount of land for humans and dogs to explore and sprawl out. Not only does it have 20 bodies of water, horseback riding, and a restaurant, but it is also home to a herd of buffalo.
While the entire park is considered dog friendly, “The Outback” section of the park features more than 100 acres where your pup is able to be off-leash. This section includes water for your dog to cool off in as well as water fountains with doggie bowls and a dog washing station.
Kathi S. - Yelp
NorthBark Dog Park (Dallas, TX)
With over 6.5 Million people living in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, finding a dog park with enough space in such a large city can be hard to come by. Luckily, the NorthBark Dog Park spans 22.3 acres for your dog to run off-leash in the north part of Dallas.
This park has everything you can imagine your dog may need for a day out like drinking bowls, dog showers, pet waste stations, and more! The park also includes 6 foot wide trail loops for enough space to bring your entire pack. Due to its size, this K-9 haven is the largest of its kind in North Texas.
Nikki I - Yelp
Thousand Acres Dog Park (Portland Metro Area, Oregon)
Also known as Sandy River Delta Park, this 1,400 acres of changing scenery and terrain outside of Portland makes this park a dogs dream! Home to open fields, trails, rivers, and even some wetlands, this park is truly unique. Even though this park is not exclusively a dog park, it ranks one of the highest among locals as the friendliest and safest places to bring a dog for a day out. This park is unique in that part of it is a protected wetland so you may even encounter some unique wildlife on your trip.
Amy M. - Yelp
Dog Beach (Fort Myers, FL)
Want to take your pup somewhere a little warmer for the day? Dog Beach in Southwest Florida is an iconic destination for dog lovers to bring their pet while also being able to get their tan on.
This beach is off leash and thanks to private donors, you don’t have to worry about salt all over the backseat of your car because of the showers provided at the entrance of the park. Recreational fishing is allowed at this park but is subject to local guidelines.
Stephanie S. - Yelp
Jackson Bark (Chicago, IL)
Ready to do some urban exploration to a themed dog park? Jackson Bark in the southside of Chicago is truly one of a kind due to its theming as a construction zone!
Complete with a giant fire hydrant, agility courses that look like scaffolding, and water features to cool off, this park is definitely the most unique on our list. This park is also special in that it is community ran which means it is stocked with extras that people bring in like First Aid Kits, Toys, and more!
Wherever you explore, don’t forget to bring treats along! Pack a bag filled with snacks for you and maybe even some jerky bites or small batch biscuits for your adventure pal!
