Washington, DC is a dog-friendly city with many great parks for you and your furry friend to enjoy. Dog parks in Washington DC are not only a great way to exercise your pup, they’re also a great place to meet people and take in DC’s impeccable scenery.
As dog lovers ourselves, we’ve explored all the best dog parks in Washington DC and have compiled this list of our favorites. With great facilities, plenty of room to run, and friendly pups and owners, these dog parks in DC are pup-approved!
If you would like to explore any of the neighborhoods you see below, check out our DC Neighborhoods Guide.
Langdon Dog Park
Located in Northeast DC, Langdon Park is one of the largest parks in Washington., which is saying a lot for the district! The park offers expansive grassy fields, walking paths through various landscapes, beautiful flowers and trees, playgrounds for the kids, and, of course, the Langdon Dog Park.
Langdon Dog Park is a community staple, where neighbors become friends (and furry friends). The park is typically well kept, with plenty of poop bags on supply and water fountains for pups and people alike. The dog park surface is gravel, which the pups don’t seem to mind. Still, there’s plenty of grass outside the fence to walk your pup on if desired.
Swampoodle Park
Located in NoMa, Swampoodle Park is awesome– though it might confuse you the first time you walk by. There’s a neat vertical playground for kids next to the dog park. Hilariously (to me), when it was being built I thought the vertical kids park was part of the dog park. When I first saw children playing in there I scoffed before realizing my mistake!
The Dog Park is just as cool as the kids’ playground, with plenty of neat structures for the dogs to run around, under, and over. The park tends to get crowded at primetime (think 6-7 pm) but people are friendly and it’s a great way to meet the neighbors. NoMa is a fast-growing community and there are already plans for a Swampoodle II, a more expansive green space right across the street.
S Street Dog Park
S Street Dog Park is a cozy green space centrally located between some of DC’s hottest neighborhoods, including Logan Circle, Adams Morgan, and Shaw. Due to its prime location, expect to see a bit of a crowd at this park– particularly during those primetime hours. But the people are friendly and the surroundings are beautiful so it’s one of our favorite dog parks in Washington DC.
Urban lore has it that S Street Dog Park used to be just a random plot of grass. One of the few green spaces in the area, it became the place dog owners would go. Eventually, the street corner started to smell! The park got an upgrade (and a proper name) including fencing and turf material that is easier to clean and maintain– and it keeps the pups cleaner, too!
Newark Street Dog Park
Located in NW Washington near Cathedral Heights, Newark Street Dog Park is a well maintained park with occasional community events. There is a separate play area for small and large dogs, water fountains, poop bags, a few benches, and a tree canopy offering a bit of shade. They even have tennis balls for the pups!
Community events include fun seasonal themes like the annual Howl-o-ween and Ugly Sweater Howliday Party, as well as Community Appreciation and Clean-up Days. The surrounding park area is worth a visit by itself, with a huge community garden space and kids playground area.
The Congressional Cemetery
A dog park with a waiting list? That’s DC for you! The historic Congressional Cemetery is described as the “world’s hippest cemetery,” with fascinating walking tours (such as its LGBTQ+ or Men of Adventure tours), events like cinema pop-ups and book clubs, and– you guessed it– dog walking!
Through a program called Cemetery Dogs, the cemetery offers 35+ spacious fenced areas where members can walk their dogs off-leash. You have to get on their waiting list and it can take years to get off, but people rave about the park and the community of dog owners. It’s worth a shot, particularly if you live in the Southeast DC area!
Our Favorite Dog Parks near DC
This blog post is about dog parks in Washington DC, but we can’t help but offer some special mentions for great dog parks near DC– in Maryland and Virginia.
Shirlington Dog Park – Arlington, Virginia
Arlington is known for its great outdoor space, and Shirlington Park is no exception. The 11.5 acre park offers arguably the best dog park in Northern Virginia– with a creek for pups to play in, plenty of room to run, and separate areas for large and small dogs to play in.
Heurich Dog Park – Hyattsville, Maryland
Heurich Dog Park is a large and popular dog park for residents of lovely Hyattsille, with more than 36,000 square feet of grassy turf and a doggy agility course. The park offers separate, spacious zones for large and small dogs to run around and a great neighborhood vibe.
What are your picks for the best dog parks in Washington, DC?
We hope you enjoyed our picks for the best dog parks in Washington, DC. We would love to know yours– let us know by leaving a comment below!
