Known for its incredible beaches and numerous parks, Santa Barbara, California, is located on the west coast, about 100 miles north of Los Angeles. And with warm temperatures all year long, it is the perfect place to go whether you want to surf some waves, hike in the woods, or have a picnic. Most of these parks and beaches are pup popular, too, but not all allow your canine companion to be off his leash.
Some of the off-leash parks are just outside of downtown Santa Barbara in the surrounding communities and neighborhoods, but the ones we list here are all closer than 20 miles from the city. Whether you are looking for a huge expanse of space for off-leash exploring or a cozy pup playground where your pooch can play with other off-leash pooches, we listed our favorite 15 dog parks in Santa Barbara here to help you out.
Douglas Family Preserve
- Address: 2551 Medcliff Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
- Open Hours: 24hrs
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: Yes
Just four miles southwest of downtown, the Douglas Family Preserve has close to 70 acres of space for your pooch to run off the leash. However, since it is so large, make sure your canine companion has excellent recall before letting him loose, or you will be spending your day looking for your escaped pooch. It is right next to Arroyo Burro Beach and shares the arroyo, so your pooch can splash in the water if he gets hot.
Take Fido on the one-mile Arroyo Burro Loop Trail to get a glimpse of the whole place from the outer circle. You can also watch paragliders and hang gliders enjoying the cliffs over the water with some incredible views. It is especially picturesque during sunset. You also get some stunning ocean views where you may see some dolphins and whales. The beach is another off-leash space where your fur baby can play. Bring water and doggie bags and maybe some snacks or lunch.
Elings Park
- Address: 1298 Las Positas Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
- Open Hours: 7am to sunset
- Price: $145 per year membership
- Off-Leash: Yes
With a yearly membership, Elings Park is the largest off-leash dog park in the state of California, with 230 acres. The only problem here is that if you are just visiting, it may not be worth it to pay for a whole year’s membership, and they do not have day passes. But this is the place to go if you want unlimited running space for your pooch to play and to get some other entertainment as well, including disc golf.
There is even an RC car track and RC airplane field if you happen to have one to drive or fly. Or you can just watch. For even more exercise, check out one (or more) of the nine miles of trails where you can get some stellar views of the ocean. Other fun here includes baseball, tennis, basketball, and BMX biking. Be sure to pack lots of doggie bags and extra water for your visit, and keep the leash handy just in case.
MacKenzie Park Dog Park
- Address: 3111 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
- Open Hours: 7am – 7pm
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: Yes
Only three miles northwest of downtown Santa Barbara, MacKenzie Park Dog Park has one-half acre of fully enclosed space for your fur baby to enjoy. One section is for small dogs 20 pounds and under and those timid or elderly dogs that cannot handle roughhousing with the big dogs. Located on the southeastern corner of MacKenzie Park, the pooch play space has rocks and boulders for climbing and wood chips to keep the mud at bay.
The park also has lots of seating for pup parents to choose from, shaded areas, and water fountains for the dogs. You will have to bring your own water, though. There are several poop stations with doggie bags for easy cleanup, but it is still a good idea to bring your own, just in case. Put your pup’s leash back on, and he can join you outside the dog park for a picnic or to watch a game.
Tucker’s Grove Park Dog Park
- Address: 4800 Cathedral Oaks Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111
- Open Hours: 8am – 7pm
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: Yes
Also in northwestern Santa Barbara, about eight miles from town, Tucker’s Grove Dog Park can be found in San Antonio Canyon Park by the San Antonio Creek Trailhead, which is also pup popular for off-leash dogs. The large open space has dog bone-shaped benches, tons of trees for climbing and for shade, picnic tables and benches, and water fountains for everyone. In fact, the new dog bowl fountain can serve several pooches at once.
Also, in the Kiwanis Meadow’s Section, the park features a dog washing station where you can clean your cuddly canine companion before getting back in the car. Outside the dog park area, you can bring your fur puppy as long as he is on a leash. They have hiking, biking, horseshoe pits, picnic areas, a playground, and sports fields. You will need to bring your own doggie cleanup bags if you want to visit the rest of the park. It is bad petiquette to take them from the dog park.
Tabano Hollow Dog Park
- Address: 5100 University Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93111
- Open Hours: 8am – 10am and 3pm – 8pm
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: Yes
The 1.2-acre fenced lawn at Tabano Hollow Park is open for unleashed dogs for seven hours a day, every day. It is located just nine miles northwest of downtown Santa Barbara by the conjunction of highways 201 and 101 north of San Antonio Creek. It is just one large open space, sometimes full of lush green grass, other times of the year, it has mostly dirt, so be prepared for a dirty dog if it has rained recently.
There is no separate space for small or shy dogs, so if your cuddly buddy has big-dog anxiety, you may want to reconsider bringing him here. It is a great place to play a game of frisbee or fetch or to just let your canine compadre get rid of the zoomies. Take a seat at one of the benches and watch him romp around with the other pups or run around with him.
Patterson Open Space
- Address: 500 Calle Aparejo, Santa Barbara, CA 93111
- Open Hours: 8am – sunset
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: Yes
With almost two acres of space for your fun-loving pooch to play, Patterson Open Space is a large, unfenced area where well-trained dogs can run around and play with other pups. If your fur baby is not voice-controlled, you will have to keep him on a leash because the front of the park is not fenced and is right on University Drive, which is a pretty busy street. Doggie bags and disposal bins are provided, but pack your own bags just in case.
There is no water fountain here, so bring your own water and some for your dog, too. It has a nice little path down to the creek where your cuddly canine companion can cool off if there is any water in it. If not, it still has a lot of dog appeal with all the interesting new scents. This open space does not have a small dog section either, so all dogs play together here.
Hale Park
- Address: 2400 Eucalyptus Hill Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93108
- Open Hours: Sunrise – 10pm
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: Yes
In northeastern Santa Barbara, in the Eucalyptus Hill community, Hale Park has almost 14 acres of recreational space, from wooded eucalyptus and oak forests to huge open spaces of green grass. Your dog is welcome to play off the leash if he is voice-controlled, but it is not completely fenced to keep him inside the park, so be careful. There are poop bag dispensers but no restrooms or water, so bring your own.
If you want to walk the entire park from top to bottom, it is about a quarter of a mile long, with beautiful mountain scenes behind the patches of trees, flowers, and other flora. You may also come across some wildlife too, so keep your pooch nearby. There is almost always some locals walking their dogs or playing a game of fetch with their fur babies, so your pooch can have some social interactions as well if he enjoys that sort of thing.
Toro Canyon Park
- Address: 576 Toro Canyon Park, Santa Barbara, CA 93108
- Open Hours: 8am – sunset
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: Yes
Approximately 10 miles east of downtown Santa Barbara between Carpinteria and Summerland, this large community park has 74 acres of wooded space that includes a special fenced green meadow for off-leash dog play. It is right on the Toro Canyon Ridge Trail, which is a 1.2-mile loop trail that takes about a half hour on average. However, your pup must be on a leash when you are on the trail and in other areas of the park besides the dog park.
There are waste stations near the entrance of the dog area, but it is a good idea to bring your own because this is a popular pup park. In fact, you may even see someone famous because celebrities often hang out here. Pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic at one of the picnic areas, or just have a bite to eat at the gazebo, where you will get a stunning view of the mountains.
Isla Vista Park (Sea Lookout Park)
- Address: 6787 Del Playa Dr, Isla Vista, CA 93117
- Open Hours: 24 hours
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: Yes
In southwestern Santa Barbara in Isla Vista, also known as Sea Lookout Park (for its gorgeous view of the sea), this is a large flat greenspace overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Right between Camino Del Sur Beach and Devereux Beach, this off-leash area does not have a fence so if your pooch does not have excellent recall, you will want to keep him on a leash. The county of Santa Barbara provides puppy poop bags and trash receptacles, but it is always good to bring some of your own.
The soft, thick grass makes this a perfect picnic site, and there is a sand volleyball court where you can almost always catch a game in progress. It is right next to the University of California so it is also a popular hangout for students. There are stairs to the beach on the eastern side of the park where you and your fur buddy can play in the sand or let him splash in the waves.
Hendry’s Beach
Each dog park item should start with the following list:
- Address: 2981 Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
- Open Hours: 8am – sunset
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: Yes
Less than five miles southwest of Santa Barbara downtown, Hendry’s Beach is an off-leash haven for pooches in Arroyo Burro Beach Park in Santa Barbara. Keep in mind the off-leash section is west of Arroyo Burro Beach, where dogs are allowed, but they must be on a leash. This is a great place to spend the day playing in the water, digging in the sand, and just hanging out. But bring your own doggie bags.
There is a cafe called the Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach where you can dine with your dog on the patio or grab some grub and eat on the sand. The waves can be a bit rough, so keep your pooch close to you. Also, if he is not voice-controlled, you should keep a leash on him to keep him from going out too far. Before getting back in the car, there are showers for pups and their humans to clean away the sand and sea.
Shoreline Park Beach
- Address: Shoreline Dr & Santa Rosa Place, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
- Open Hours: 7am – 7pm
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: Yes
You can find the gorgeous sands of Shoreline Park Beach about three miles south of downtown Santa Barbara between Ledbetter Beach and 1000 Steps Beach. The off-leash section for cuddly canines is from the eastern edge of the Douglas Family Preserve to the Shoreline Park Staircase. However, dogs on leash are allowed in the upper section of the park, where you can let the kids play at the playground while you enjoy some stellar views of the ocean. Keep your eyes peeled for whales and dolphins.
The upper park also has picnic areas with barbecue grills as well as a hydration station and trails to explore the 14 acres. It also connects to the 700-mile California Coastal Trail. The Japanese Garden is also a great place to stop where you and Fido can get some awesome selfies. They also have some really cool benches made to look like whale tails for even more selfies.
Rocky Nook Park
Each dog park item should start with the following list:
- Address: 610 Mission Canyon Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
- Open Hours: 8am – 7pm
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: No
Located in northwestern Santa Barbara just north of the Mission Rose Garden and the Santa Barbara Mission, Rocky Nook Park is dog-friendly to leashed dogs. The 20-acre park used to be the home of Mrs. GT Oliver, who donated it to the county in 1928. Loaded with sycamore trees and gorgeous greenery, you can explore the park trails with your pooch to see some historic areas that have been preserved for visitors.
As long as you keep your canine companion on a leash, he is welcome to join you for a picnic at one of the shaded picnic areas, to play a game of horseshoes, or to let the little humans play on the playground. There are numerous boulders in the park for your pooch to climb on, and Mission Creek, running right through the middle of the park, is a fun place to splash around. Do not forget to bring plenty of doggie bags and water.
Alameda Park
Each dog park item should start with the following list:
- Address: 1400 Santa Barbara St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
- Open Hours: 6am – 10pm
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: No
Located right in downtown Santa Barbara next to the Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden, Alameda Park covers two entire blocks between Anacapa and Garden Streets. Although your cuddly canine companion has to stay on a leash the whole time he is there, it will not stop you both from enjoying it. The 10-acre park has been around since 1853, making it one of the oldest community parks in the city. The bandstand was built in 1888 and is still home to local concerts.
This is one of the most popular parks for families because of its playground called Kids’ World. The humongous wooden castle playhouse features numerous hideouts with towers and bridges as well as several slides, swings for kids of all sizes, and some really unique whale and shark climb-ons. There are also a bunch of picnic tables for pet parents, as well as restrooms and a water fountain. But bring your own doggie bags.
Chase Palm Park
Each dog park item should start with the following list:
- Address: 323 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
- Open Hours: 7am – 10pm
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: No
In the East Beach neighborhood in southeastern Santa Barbara, Chase Palm Park is a hidden gem with almost 40 acres. Your fur puppy is welcome as long as you keep him on the leash for the whole time you are there. Also, you need to be sure to have some poop baggies to pick up after your pup. The dog-friendly areas are on the east and western sides of East Cabrillo Boulevard to East Beach. But dogs are not allowed on the beach here, so keep that in mind.
The park is the home of Sunday Arts and Crafts shows and hosts Concerts in the Park in the summer. If you have any little humans with you, they will love the Shipwreck Playground. It has several different sections, each with its own playground equipment. There are tunnels, bridges, towers, monkey bars, climbing equipment, and several maze tunnels, as well as swings and slides.
Parma Park
- Address: 2066 Stanwood Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93108
- Open Hours: 24 hours
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: No
In the hills above Santa Barbara, flanked by Mission Canyon and Rattlesnake Canyon, Parma Park has almost 200 acres where you and your cuddle buddy can explore and enjoy. The park has six miles of trails in the chaparral and oaks and is the largest open space park in the city. Both Coyote and Sycamore Creeks also run through the park, where your pup can splash around and cool off if it happens to be hot. However, sometimes there is no water in the creeks, depending on the recent weather.
The park is also full of other activities, including paragliding and hang gliding, biking, and horseback riding. If you want to see the city from the highest point in the park, head up the Ridge Trail to Rowe’s Table. The parkland was donated to the city for a preserve in 1973 by Jack and Harold Palma, the sons of GB Parma. It is a perfect place for a picnic or just hanging out with your pup.
Final Woof
After visiting all of the parks and beaches you can, there are plenty of other fun things to do with your fur baby. You can see the colorful blooms at Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens or enjoy a glass (or a few) of wine at the Santa Barbara Winery or Grassini Family Vineyards. If you want to see whales and dolphins up close, take your pooch on a whale-watching tour with Sunset Kidd Sailing Cruises, where you can choose from a 1.5 or 2.5-hour trip on a 41-foot yacht. Getting hungry? Crushcakes & Cafe allows pups inside and out, and everything is made on-site, from cakes to turkey sandwiches.
After visiting all the parks and beaches, you can, there are plenty of other fun things to do with your fur baby in Santa Barbara.
You can explore the colorful blooms at Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens or enjoy a glass (or a few) of wine at the Santa Barbara Winery or Grassini Family Vineyards. Both places are welcoming to four-legged visitors.
If you want to see whales and dolphins up close, take your pooch on a whale-watching tour with Sunset Kidd Sailing Cruises, where you can choose from a 1.5 or 2.5-hour trip on a 41-foot yacht, where dogs are welcome.
When it’s time to eat, Crushcakes & Cafe is a great spot that allows pups inside and out, offering everything from cakes to turkey sandwiches made on-site. For more dog-friendly activities and locations in Santa Barbara, be sure to check our dog-friendly Santa Barbara travel guide, where you’ll find a treasure trove of options for enjoying the city with your canine companion.
