Dog Parks in Austin
17 dog parks and off-leash areas in Austin and nearby, in 13 neighborhoods and towns. 6 are fenced, 5 have a separate area for small dogs, and 4 let your dog reach the water. Tap a place for its rules, size and the dog-friendly cafés and restaurants nearby.
17 dog parks13 neighborhoods5 small-dog areasUpdated October 2026
Lake Austin & Northwest Austin
West Austin · 2 dog parks-
Emma Long Metropolitan Park Off-Leash Area (Turkey Creek)
1600 City Park Rd
The off-leash area at Emma Long sits on the park's Turkey Creek side, between City Park Road, the west boundary fence, Turkey Creek and a bluff over Lake Austin. Expect a rugged, wooded hike rather than a lawn.
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Red Bud Isle
3401 Red Bud Trl
A small wooded peninsula at the top of Lady Bird Lake where the whole park is off-leash. Water on three sides makes it a swimming spot for dogs, but parking is tight.
Menchaca & Far South Austin
South Austin · 2 dog parks-
Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park Off-Leash Area
907 W Slaughter Ln
An off-leash zone of about 39 acres at the north end of this big South Austin park, reached by a trail from South First Street. Bring water; sources say there are no water stations.
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Onion Creek Greenbelt Off-Leash Area
7004 Onion Creek Dr
A large, shaded off-leash area and trail along Onion Creek in Southeast Austin. It is not fenced, and dogs can get in the water.
UT Campus & Hyde Park
Central Austin · 2 dog parks-
Shoal Creek Greenbelt Off-Leash Area
2600 N Lamar Blvd
Dogs may run off-leash on the stretch of Shoal Creek Greenbelt between 24th and 29th Streets, at the north end of Pease Park. Leashes are required on the rest of the trail.
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Triangle Park Off-Leash Area
4660 Triangle Ave
A small fenced off-leash yard in Triangle Park near 46th and Lamar, with waste bags and a trash can. Leashed dogs can use the rest of the park.
Zilker & Barton Springs
South Austin · 2 dog parks-
Barking Springs
2105 Andrew Zilker Rd
The spring-fed spillway just downstream of Barton Springs Pool, where people and dogs may swim together. It is listed on the city's off-leash map; signs warn about bacteria.
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Zilker Metropolitan Park Great Lawn Off-Leash Area
2100 Barton Springs Rd
The city lists the Great Lawn at Zilker as an official off-leash area. It is open lawn without fencing, and dogs must be leashed in the rest of the park.
Bouldin Creek & South First
South Austin · 1 dog park-
Auditorium Shores Off-Leash Area
800 W Riverside Dr
An open off-leash lawn on the south shore of Lady Bird Lake. It is not fenced and sits next to a busy road, so a solid recall matters.
Burnet Road & Allandale
Central Austin · 1 dog park-
Great Northern Off-Leash Area
7001 Great Northern Blvd
A grassy detention basin off Great Northern Boulevard in Allandale that serves as an off-leash area, with walking paths and a retention pond. It is not fully enclosed.
Cedar Park
Suburbs · 1 dog park-
Cedar Bark Park
2525 W New Hope Dr
A five-acre fenced dog park inside Veterans Memorial Park with a dog pond, rinse showers and separate yards for dogs under and over 30 pounds. It closes on Tuesday and Friday mornings for maintenance.
Clarksville & West Austin
Central Austin · 1 dog park-
West Austin Park Dog Park
1317 W 10th St
A fenced one-acre dog yard with stone terraces in a small neighborhood park west of downtown. Dogs must be leashed in the rest of the park.
East Riverside & Montopolis
East Austin · 1 dog park-
Norwood Estate Dog Park
1009 Edgecliff Ter
A fenced hilltop dog park by I-35 and Riverside with a double-gate entry, a separate small-dog section and a shaded main yard.
Northeast Austin
East Austin · 1 dog park-
Davis White Northeast Park Off-Leash Area
6705 Crystalbrook Dr
A neighborhood park in Northeast Austin with one unfenced off-leash area, plus playgrounds, courts and trails.
Pflugerville
Suburbs · 1 dog park-
Wilbarger Creek Dog Park
Pflugerville
A newer City of Pflugerville dog park, opened in March 2025 as part of the Wilbarger Creek park project, with separate fenced areas for large and small dogs.
Round Rock
Suburbs · 1 dog park-
Dog Depot at Lake Creek Park
800 Deerfoot Dr
Round Rock's fenced city dog park sits behind Lake Creek Pool and has agility features, a large-dog yard, a yard for dogs under 40 pounds and a third yard rotated for grass regrowth.
The Domain & North Austin
North Austin · 1 dog park-
Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park Off-Leash Area
12138 N Lamar Blvd
North Austin's largest off-leash area covers about 185 acres of woods and creek trails, plus a small fenced dog park with separate yards for small and large dogs. Watch for mountain bikers.
Nothing matches these filters.
Off-leash areas, neighborhood by neighborhood
- Lake Austin & Northwest Austin (2): Red Bud Isle and Emma Long Metropolitan Park Off-Leash Area (Turkey Creek).
- Menchaca & Far South Austin (2): Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park Off-Leash Area and Onion Creek Greenbelt Off-Leash Area.
- UT Campus & Hyde Park (2): Shoal Creek Greenbelt Off-Leash Area and Triangle Park Off-Leash Area.
- Zilker & Barton Springs (2): Zilker Metropolitan Park Great Lawn Off-Leash Area and Barking Springs.
- Bouldin Creek & South First (1): Auditorium Shores Off-Leash Area.
- Burnet Road & Allandale (1): Great Northern Off-Leash Area.
- Cedar Park (1): Cedar Bark Park.
- Clarksville & West Austin (1): West Austin Park Dog Park.
- East Riverside & Montopolis (1): Norwood Estate Dog Park.
- Northeast Austin (1): Davis White Northeast Park Off-Leash Area.
- Pflugerville (1): Wilbarger Creek Dog Park.
- Round Rock (1): Dog Depot at Lake Creek Park.
- The Domain & North Austin (1): Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park Off-Leash Area.
Austin's off-leash areas
Austin Parks and Recreation sets aside off-leash areas in city parks, such as Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park Off-Leash Area, Norwood Estate Dog Park, Zilker Metropolitan Park Great Lawn Off-Leash Area, Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park Off-Leash Area, Red Bud Isle, West Austin Park Dog Park and more. They come in three kinds:
- Open lawns and fields, like the Great Lawn at Zilker Park and Auditorium Shores on Lady Bird Lake. They are not fenced, so your dog needs a reliable recall.
- Fenced dog parks, like Norwood Estate near Riverside Drive and West Austin Park near downtown.
- Trails and greenbelts, like Walnut Creek in North Austin, the stretch of Shoal Creek between 24th and 29th Streets, and Emma Long on the Turkey Creek side.
The city's guidelines (Austin Parks and Recreation):
- Keep your dog on a leash no longer than six feet on the way to and from the off-leash area.
- One person may have no more than three dogs off leash, and each dog must stay in sight and under voice control.
- Dogs need a current rabies vaccination and must be spayed or neutered.
- Pick up after your dog and fill any holes it digs. Parks are generally open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Swimming spots
Red Bud Isle, a small wooded peninsula at the top of Lady Bird Lake, is off leash from end to end and has water on three sides. Barking Springs, the spillway below Barton Springs Pool, is where people and dogs can swim together; signs warn about bacteria, so check before your dog goes in. Onion Creek in Southeast Austin also lets dogs into the water.
Around Austin
Round Rock's Dog Depot and Cedar Park's Cedar Bark Park, with a pond for dogs, are fenced city dog parks with separate yards for small dogs. Bull Creek, on some older lists, has been leash-only since 2011.
After the park, find a dog-friendly café or a beer garden that welcomes dogs.
Frequently asked questions
How many off-leash dog parks are there in Austin?
Austin Parks and Recreation runs about a dozen off-leash areas. Our list has 17 dog parks and off-leash areas in Austin and nearby.
Which Austin dog parks are fenced?
Cedar Bark Park, Dog Depot at Lake Creek Park, Norwood Estate Dog Park, Wilbarger Creek Dog Park, West Austin Park Dog Park, and Triangle Park Off-Leash Area.
Where can my dog swim in Austin?
At Red Bud Isle on Lady Bird Lake, at Barking Springs below Barton Springs Pool and along Onion Creek. Check the city's water advisories first.
Is Bull Creek still off-leash?
No. Bull Creek District Park has been leash-only since 2011.
Which dog parks have a small-dog area?
Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park Off-Leash Area, Cedar Bark Park, Dog Depot at Lake Creek Park, Norwood Estate Dog Park, and Wilbarger Creek Dog Park.