Dallas is one of the largest and most popular cities in Texas, with a population of more than 1.3 million people. You can find this well-known city in the northeastern area of the state 30 minutes to the east of Fort Worth. Besides being the leading financial, trade, and banking center of the southwest, Dallas is also home to the Dallas Cowboys NFL team and has more actual cowboys (and cowgirls) than any other city in the area.
And with a warm climate all year long, Dallas also lauds a vast array of outdoor activities, from rodeos to rock climbing. It has one of the largest park systems in the United States, with more than 400 parks covering over 21,100 acres. This includes over a dozen lakes as well as hundreds of playgrounds, ball fields, tennis courts, and picnic areas. It also includes about 30 off-leash dog parks for you and your pooch. Here are 15 of our favorites.
Bacon’s Dog Park
The Shacks at Austin Ranch is located in northwest Dallas by the Dallas Airport. It is right at the southeastern end of North Lake at Austin Ranch. The Shacks are actually six restaurants all together in a shaded area with a huge patio, so they are all dog-friendly. Some of these include OMG Tacos, the Tackle Box, and the Dirty Burger Bar, to name a few. And they are connected to the dog park in a way that you can order while your pup plays.
The actual dog park is about one acre and is totally fenced in, so you can let your fur puppy run around and play off the leash for a while. There are plenty of doggie bag dispensers and benches for the pup parents, as well as dog fountains, play structures, and a separate area for little pups to play without the big dogs. Bring extra baggies just in case they run out because this is a popular spot!
Bark Park Central Park
In the middle of downtown Dallas under US-75 and Interstate 345 in Deep Ellum, Bark Park Central Park is the perfect spot to spend an afternoon with your poochie. This is a very cute place with all sorts of cool artwork featuring pups of all types. There are dog ramps and other play stations for your fur buddy to enjoy and lots of bone-shaped benches and shade for humans to relax on. It has just over an acre of space, giving dogs plenty of room to chase each other.
You will also find several water fountains for pups and their people, and pet waste stations with doggie bag dispensers, and even a dog shower because it can get very muddy during and after wet weather. In fact, there are times that they close the park if it is too muddy, so if it has rained recently, check online or call before heading over there.
Barney Wood Bark Park
Larger than a football field at 1.4 acres, the Barney Wood Bark Park is located next to the Farmers Branch Community Recreation Center and the Phillip Shelby Skate Park in north Dallas. The splash pad is probably everyone’s favorite feature because Dallas is hot during the summer and even warm in the winter. There are water spouts that shoot water when your pup gets close, a fire hydrant sprinkler, and water hoops to run through.
The rest of the dog park is pretty awesome, too, with fire hydrants for your cuddly canine to leave his mark, lots of grassy space to chase each other or play ball, and a shaded structure with picnic tables for the pup parents to enjoy. You will also appreciate the waste stations with baggies and water fountains for you and your dog to get a drink. They even host special events like Spooky Pooch in October, where you can dress up your dog!
Bear Creek Bark Park
Bark Park at Bear Creek Park is about 25 minutes northwest of downtown Dallas in the popular Bear Creek Park just off TX-360. There are several different fully-fenced off-leash areas they call paddocks that have different activities, and one for small dogs under 25 pounds. For example, one of the areas has an interactive splash pad open all year long that your cuddly buddy can cool off in. Another area has an agility course with jumps, ramps, tunnels, and other fun equipment.
Much of the ground cover is soft astroturf, easy on pup feet, and keeps them from getting muddy if it rains. But if your canine companion does get dirty, they also have a dog bathing area to clean him up. The park also provides dog cleanup stations with bags, water fountains, and all sorts of dog toys as well as seating in the shade for the pet parents.
Central Bark Park
Central Bark Grand Prairie Dog Park is located at Veterans Park in Grand Prairie, about half an hour from Dallas to the southwest. This large pooch paradise is three full acres of fenced area for your little buddy to enjoy off his leash. This was the very first dog park in Grand Prairie and has three separate areas. One is for the big doggos, one for the tiny Terriers, and another area that rotates to let the grass regrow.
The fun pak has elevated tunnels for jumping and running, ramps to climb up and down, and a tunnel on the ground for those small pooches that do not like heights. You will also find water fountains with doggie bowls, over a dozen benches both in the sun and in the shade, and a sidewalk to keep your feet clean if it is muddy. And there is tons of space for playing catch or frisbee too.
Hound Mound Dog Park
In Flower Mound, about a half hour to the northwest, Hound Mound Dog Park can be found between Heritage Park and Bakersfield Park. With five acres, Hound Mound Dog Park is split to give large dogs over 30 pounds 2.5 acres, and the small dogs 30 pounds and under get 2.5 acres. Each side has Bermuda turf grass, natural shade, and special natural play structures like boulders to climb on and log bridges to cross over and go under.
There are also ramps, jumps, and tunnels on both sides, so everyone gets to have the same amount of fun. Each side also has pet waste stations, water fountains, and special areas for toy bins. And during the summer, there are always several kiddie pools. You will have many choices of where to sit or you can play a game of fetch or catch with your best furry friend. One thing to note: It is closed on Wednesdays for cleaning.
Jack Carter Dog Park
Grab your cuddle buddy and his leash and head northeast to Jack Carter Dog Park. This great pup park is found in Jack Carter City Park near Plano and the Bluebonnet Trail Greenbelt. The two-acre off-leash play area is located in the southeastern corner of the park and has sections for small and large dogs to play. Each section has water fountains with spigots for dogs and their humans, pet waste stations with baggies, and tons of space to play!
Even without agility equipment, this dog park is one of the local favorites because of all the wide open space. Bring a doggie disc or ball to play a game of catch or just let him run amok. Dogs love to chase each other or run in circles to get rid of the zoomies! And you can have a seat on one of the shaded picnic tables or benches to get some pics to share on social media.
Lewisville Park Dog Park
The Lewisville Dog Park at Lewisville Railroad Park in Lewisville is about 25 minutes north of Dallas. Featuring six acres of pup play area fully fenced for safe off-leash playing, you and your canine companion will love spending the day here. The majority of the space (five acres) is for the big dogs because they need the most room. But if your little pooch needs more space, he is welcome in the big dog section as long as he is used to playing around those bigger than him.
Also known as Lone Star Dog Park, you can find this huge pup paradise on the western edge of the park between the soccer fields and the skate park. There are dozens of benches to choose from, waste disposal stations, drinking fountains, and a ton of space for romping around and having fun. The other 263 acres are also pup-friendly for leashed pups where you will find a trail, fitness equipment, and three lakes.
Main Street Garden Dog Park
Canine companions in downtown Dallas now have a place of their own to play off their leashes at the iconic Main Street Garden Park in the downtown historic district. With such a small space, all dogs play together here no matter the size or breed, so make sure your pooch is well-socialized with all kinds of four-legged fur babies. However, everyone seems friendly, including the dogs and their humans. For many people in the city, this is the only place to go to let Fido run around off his leash.
Whether you are visiting from out of town or are a resident of Dallas, this is a nice modern greenspace to check out. It has 1.75 acres featuring all sorts of family fun, including a splash pad and fountain, playground, and some really cool architecture. You will have to put your pup’s leash back on when outside the dog-run area, but it is still awesome.
Mutt’s Canine Cantina Park
In the northern section of downtown Dallas, Mutt’s Canine Cantina is more than just a dog park, it is also a bar and restaurant. Unlike many similar places, Mutt’s Canine Cantina does not make you pay for an expensive membership. You can get a day pass for a few bucks if you are just visiting, or if you plan to come often, you can join the club and get some cool perks like discounted food and drinks.
Unlike dog parks, you and your fur baby can enjoy a meal together in the park or he can play while you eat. All they ask is that your dog be sociable, spayed or neutered, and have all of their shots. You can also enjoy an adult beverage, from draft beers to a Barkarita cocktail. They even have food for your cuddle buddy. He will love a doggie dog hotdog and frozen peanut butter pupsicle.
My Best Friend’s Dog Park
Located in Klyde Warren Park in northern Dallas, less than a mile from the Main Street Garden Dog Park, My Best Friend’s Dog Park is the perfect pup playground for any pooch. The park and its amenities were made possible by the Boone Family Foundation’s donations and the pet parents in the area who keep it clean and safe. The ground is partially soft artificial grass and part pavement to keep your puppy’s paws clean.
It is not a huge park where your canine compadre can run a mile or two, but it is plenty big enough for numerous dogs and their humans to spread out and play. The man-made hills are a nice touch for those pups who need a little more exercise, and there is a lot of seating to choose from. Being next to Klyde Warren Park, you can often enjoy live music, food trucks, and nearby amenities like restrooms and water.
NorthBark Dog Park
NorthBark Dog Park is the largest dog park on the list, with more than 22 acres of off-leash space, and it has everything you could want in a dog park and then some. There is a nice lake where your dog can go swimming, completely fenced in, so he cannot run off. During the summer, you will see lots of local pups and pup parents at the lake. But that is not all there is to do at this fantastic place.
From meadows and fields to trails and woods, you and your little fur buddy can enjoy all types of ground cover. There are hills to run up and down, wide open spaces for playing fetch and frisbee, and a separate area for small and shy fur babies. You will also find multiple seating areas, several water fountains, and even a dog shower to clean your dog before getting back in the car.
Wagging Tail Dog Park
Wagging Tail Dog Park may not have 22 acres, but it is the second-largest pooch playground on the list, with almost seven acres. It was also the first dog park designed by the City of Dallas. And it is the ONLY dog park with a waterfall! Just go to the back of the park, where you will find a 35-foot high platform over White Rock Creek and its gorgeous waterfall. You can even bring your fishing gear and go fishing for some of the largemouth bass here.
The park is just north of Keller Springs Park in far northern Dallas along White Rock Creek and Keller Springs Road. It has a section for small dogs to play, picnic areas with tables and grills, trails to explore, dog fountains with built-in bowls, and dog waste stations to make it easier to pick up after your pup. The park is open Tuesday through Sunday from sunrise to sunset but closed on Mondays for maintenance.
White Rock Lake Dog Park
This fun pooch park has three acres of off-leash fenced space on the northern end of White Rock Lake in northeastern Dallas. It is the only park on the list with a large lake like this, where you can enjoy swimming, boating, and fishing. But when you are not inside the fenced dog area, you will have to put your pup’s leash back on. The lake has several parks, marinas, boat launches, and other fun features you can explore and enjoy with your leashed cuddle pup.
The dog park also has a separate space for little dogs to play, interactive splash pads for all pups to cool off, and a place where you can let your pup do some dock jumping if he is into that kind of thing. Pet parents enjoy all the amenities, too such as shaded seating, solar lighting for evenings, drinking fountains, pet stations for cleaning your canine companion, and lots of waste stations with baggies.
Windhaven Meadows Park Dog Park
Another large park, Windhaven Meadows Dog Park at Windhaven Meadows Park, can be found in northern Dallas by Plano. There are five acres split into two sections for big and small pups, each featuring over an acre of wide-open space to run, wooded trails, all sorts of places to play a game of fetch or frisbee, and drinking fountains for you and your pooch. On the outside of each dog area, there is a dog rinsing station to clean your cuddle buddy if he gets dirty.
There are shade shelters for everyone to stay protected from the hot Texas sun, dog waste stations, and lighting for playing after dark. You will want to know that the park is closed until 4 PM on Wednesdays for cleaning and maintenance. They also have a rainout line app to check the conditions of the park if it has rained lately so you know what to expect before you go.
The Final Woof
Take your best furrry friend to the movies at the Coyote Drive-In, where pups are welcome even outside of your car. In fact, they are even allowed at the Coyote Canteen, which has some awesome burgers, fries, and mozzarella sticks. And they show some great movies, including Transformers and Fast X with Vin Diesel and Jason Momoa. If you are an art lover or a budding artist, check out the dog-friendly Fabrication Yard. They have all sorts of street art here and even offer you a space to leave your own mark. Or how about a trolley ride through the city? McKinney Avenue M-Line Trolley takes you and Fido absolutely free of charge. Just wave at the driver, and he will pick you up!
