Known for its love of peaches, Atlanta has more than 70 streets with the name Peachtree in them. But the city barely has any peach trees in it. The capital city of the southern state of Georgia is also known for being the birthplace of Coca-Cola and having the world’s largest drive-in eatery, which sells more Coke than anywhere in the world. But one of the most popular things about Atlanta is its awesome weather.
With summer highs in the upper 80s and winter temps in the middle 50s, it should not come as a surprise to know that the city has more parks than almost any other city in the state. There are a total of 447 official parks including more than 3,000 acres of space. What’s even better is that most of them welcome dogs as long as they are leashed. But, we found a bunch where you can let your cuddly canine off the leash for a while. Here are our top 15 choices.
Brookhaven Dog Park
Brookhaven Park can be found about 10 minutes to the north of downtown Atlanta in the historic village of Brookhaven in the Buckhead neighborhood. It is situated in the larger Brookhaven Community Park which is also dog friendly if your canine companion is on a leash. There are picnic areas, trails, a basketball court, and a modern playground with a tire swing and slides for the little humans to enjoy. But the majority of the park is reserved for the four-legged family members.
Your pupster will love being able to run around and play in the creek on a hot day and dash through the woods looking for squirrels and other wildlife. Running around off the leash is such a freeing way for your dog to spend a few hours and it is the perfect time for you to bond by playing fetch or frisbee. There is no separate space for small dogs but plenty of room to have room for your little ones.
Brook Run Dog Park
Brook Run Park offers four acres of wooded and fenced space in the northeastern section of Atlanta across from the Georgia State University Perimeter College of Dunwoody. Located on North Peachtree Road, Brook Run Park has 110 acres, making it the largest park in the region. It has a two-mile trail, community gardens, a skate park, a Treetop Quest adventure park, a modern playground for the kiddos, disc golf, several fields, and a fantastic dog park for your fur baby.
You will find the pooch park just west of the community garden between the Treetop Quest and the multi-purpose fields. Your cuddly canine compadre will have two acres of wooded space to play off the leash and you will have lots of shaded seating to choose from. There are also cleanup stations with baggies, water fountains, and double-gated entries for safety. Bring some balls or a frisbee. There is lots of space for a game of catch!
Burger Park Dog Park
In Smyrna, about 15 miles north of downtown Atlanta, Burger Park Dog Park boasts almost four acres of wide open space for you and your pupster to play around in. There is a smaller section for dogs under 30 pounds as well as several drinking fountains for pups and pup parents. There is grass here but it gets thinned out from so many visitors so your pooch (and your shoes) may get dirty. But who cares? It is a dog park, after all!
At the back of the park, there is a small creek that is fun for your fur baby to cool off in. If it has not rained in a while, you may not find much water, but Fido will still love sniffing the new scents here. It is in a nice neighborhood and is completely surrounded by a fence so you do not have to worry about your pooch getting out and running off.
Chattapoochee Dog Park
A little further out than the others, Chattapoochie Dog Park is about a half hour from Atlanta on the Chattahoochee River in Duluth. And with such a cute name, you know they really love fur babies here. The park is completely fenced so you can take off the leash as soon as you get inside. There is a one-acre section for dogs under 30 pounds and two acres for the bigger breeds. They each have an interactive fountain and dog play equipment.
If you want to get out and play in the river, put your canine companion’s leash back on and you can take him out into Rogers Bridge Park where you have access to the waterfront. There are steps that actually lead you right into the water where you and your pup are welcome to splash around. There are also trails, a playground, horseshoe pits, and picnic tables with barbecue grills.
Deer Lick Park Dog Park
Just about 20 minutes to the west, Deer Lick Park is a popular county park with more than 65 acres of recreational space lauding something for everyone. Keep your pup’s leash on and he can join you in a game of hoops, disc golf, or volleyball. They also have tennis and bocce courts to enjoy. The kids will love the playgrounds, mini golf, and batting cages but Fido has to step out for those activities.
If you like to fish, bring your gear and a license because the lake is stocked with all sorts of bass, catfish, and crappie. Right by the tennis courts, you can find the dog park where you can take that leash off and let him run around for a while with the other fur puppies. They have waste stations with doggie bags, separate sections for small dogs, water fountains, and benches in the shade for the puppy parents.
Frank Boone Dog Park at Swift Cantrell Park
Swift Cantrell Park lauds 130 acres with miles of trails, two playgrounds for the kiddos, and a skate park. The park also features several picnic areas with dozens of picnic tables, barbecue grills, and three pavilions for shade. There is even a seasonal splash pad where you can cool off when it gets too hot. Swift Cantrell has won the Certificate of Excellence Award from TripAdvisor several years in a row for its cleanliness and how much it offers.
In the northwest corner of the park, your pup can enjoy some off-leash playtime at Frank Boone Dog Park. And this park is unique because it has three different areas instead of just two. There are separate fenced spaces for small, medium, and large dogs here. It is one of the most popular dog parks in the Atlanta area even though it is only 1.5 acres because of its family friendly atmosphere, dog fountains, the dog cleaning station, and waste stations.
Freedom Barkway Dog Park
Just a few minutes to the northeast of downtown Atlanta, Freedom Barkway Dog Park is a large fenced pup park at the end of Howl Street off Highland Avenue. The first thing you will notice here is the cleanliness of the neighborhood as well as the park with its perfectly-mowed grass and shiny new fencing. There are two acres for your fur baby to explore without the restraints of his leash and with lots of other pups to romp around with.
It is a friendly neighborhood dog park where you will see the local pup parents hanging out in the shade talking while their pooches play together. There is a special section for large dogs so the little ones will feel more comfortable running around. You will also find several water fountains and waste stations with baggies for picking up. However, it never hurts to bring your own water and doggie bags.
Graves Dog Park
You and your pooch will love Graves Dog Park in Norcross, just 15 minutes northeast of downtown Atlanta. It is located in Graves Community Park where you can find a variety of fun things to do for everyone in the family. The park has 70 acres that include two tennis courts, a volleyball court, a playground for the kids, a soccer field, a 1.25-mile trail, and picnic tables with grills. Your pooch is welcome to join you but he has to have his leash attached while you are not inside the dog park.
The fenced pup park features agility equipment like jumping rails, climbing pedestals, and tunnels to run through as well as a ramp to climb and see-saw to balance on. There is also a separate space for little and shy dogs so they feel safe. You will also find drinking fountains, a doggie pool, and shaded seating for the pet parents.
Lake Court Park Dog Park
About 15 minutes to the northwest of Atlanta, Lake Court Park in Smyrna has almost 13 acres of space for all sorts of fun. Your cuddly canine companion is allowed to join you in the park as long as he is leashed. Lake Court Park has lots of open space for playing frisbee or catch, a bocce court, a sand volleyball court, and a playground for the little humans. There are also picnic tables and barbecue grills if you want to grill up some burgers.
In the southeastern corner of the park, you will find a fun park just for Fido where he can romp around and play off his leash. It has a special fenced area for large dogs so the smaller pooches do not feel scared and lots of room to run. There are special doggie water fountains with built-in bowls and waste stations with doggie bags. However, it is a good idea to bring your own just in case.
Lewis Park Dog Park
A few minutes north of Marietta about 20 miles from Atlanta, Lewis Park features almost seven acres of space for everyone to enjoy including your leashed canine companion. There are four tennis courts that can also be used for pickleball, a paved walking trail, and a modern playground with slides, swings, and climbing equipment for the kids. You can enjoy a picnic or barbecue at the picnic area or just relax and watch the ball games.
The park also has the Lewis Park Dog Park where your pupster can be unleashed to play with the other fur babies. There are several manmade shade structures with seating for the pup parents as well as benches with trees for shade. There is even a canine water fountain and waste stations with Mutt Mitts for the humans. Bring a ball and frisbee to play with your pooch while you are here because there is plenty of space.
Mason Mill Dog Park
Mason Mill Park in Decatur is in Mason Mill Park about 16 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta. The 120-acre park is packed with thick woods and trails that take you through some of the areas. Your pooch is allowed as long as he is leashed. You will find nine walking and biking trails from short and easy walks under a half mile to longer and more challenging hikes up to three miles. The South Peachtree Creek Path is the longest at 2.7 miles.
Even the fenced dog park has its own trail. It is only .2 miles and includes crossing a creek where he can play in the water if he wants to. You have to take the trail to get from Mason Mill Park to the dog park by crossing over Burnt Fork Creek by Jamestown Road. There are doggie bags and water fountains but bring your own just in case.
Morgan Falls Overlook Park
Head north about 20 miles from midtown Atlanta to find Morgan Falls Overlook Park in Sandy Springs. This is a fairly new park, opened in 2010, and has a modern playground for the little tots to enjoy, picnic pavilions with barbecue grills, and some sensational views of the Morgan Falls Reservoir and Bull Sluice Lake coming off of the Chattahoochie River. It is a popular spot for fishing, swimming, and boating and has its own fishing pier, boat ramp, and dock.
In the southwestern section of the park, you will find a 3.4 acre fenced dog park. Bring your fur puppy here and take off that leash so he is free to run around with the other pooches. There are two separate spaces for large and small dogs as well as plenty of benches and other seating. Some are shaded and others are situated so you can get some sun.
Newtown Dream Dog Park
Just 25 miles to the north, Newtown Dream Dog Park was named one of the best dog parks in the country, which explains the name. Found by the front entrance of Newtown Park, the fenced park has one acre of perfectly produced artificial turf with sprinklers for pooches to enjoy during the summer. But that is not all. You can have a seat on one of the benches and watch your pup run through tunnels, jump through hoops, and chase each other over bridges and ramps.
There are also water fountains for both pets and their pet parents. There are separate sections for different-sized dogs but they both have the same fun amenities. They even have a walking trail, shelter, and lots of room to run. Outside the dog park, you will have to put your cuddly canine’s leash back on but then he is welcome to join you for a hike, or a picnic, or you can meander along the community garden to see what is growing.
Oakhurst Dog Park
Oakhurst Dog Park is just a few minutes to the east of Atlanta’s downtown right next to Oakhurst Park. The off-leash park is fully fenced but does not have a separate section for different sized dogs. They do have dog water bowls in the park but bring your own water and doggie bags because this is a small and popular park. About one-third of the area is wooded, which is fun for pups that like to chase squirrels.
The park also has a hose for cleaning off your pooch if he gest dirty and lots of tennis balls for a game of fetch. If you want to take your fur puppy over to Oakhurst Community Park, put his leash back on and he is more than welcome to join you. They offer baseball, soccer, basketball, tennis, and volleyball for everyone. There is also a modern playground, picnic tables with grills and pavilions.
Piedmont Park Dog Park
Located in midtown Atlanta inside Piedmont Park, Piedmont Park Dog Park is an off-leash pooch park with about three acres of grass and shade trees. There are separate spaces for big and small dogs so your little fur puppies can play without the fear of being stepped on. The park is very pup popular with almost one million dogs and their pup parents visiting every year. It is under the Park Drive Bridge across from the Six Springs Wetlands.
You will not find fancy agility equipment here but you will find tons of wide open space for running, playing catch, and tossing around a frisbee with your best furry friend as well as food carts that sell doggie pupsicles. And outside the dog park, you and your cuddly canine can enjoy the rest of the park with him on a leash. There are playgrounds, numerous gardens, a waterfall, basketball, bocce, and even some food carts and eateries in case you get hungry.
The Final Woof
After playing all day at the park with your fur puppy, you may be ready to enjoy an adult beverage or refuel with some delicious eats. Why not do both? ParkGrounds in eastern Atlanta offers some of the best coffee and espresso as well as breakfast and sandwiches from eggs to roast beef. But they also have tea, hot chocolate, and adult beverages. The outdoor patio and yard allow for pups to play while you enjoy. Also, Fetch Park has two different locations with one right in Atlanta. They are famous for their fun dog area with turf (no mud), agility fun, and lots of space. There is also one in Buckhead, about 20 minutes to the north of Atlanta. And each one has a full bar.
