San Diego Dog Parks and Dog Beaches
Happy Dog Enjoying a San Diego Dog Beach
With San Diego’s near perfect weather and abundance of outdoor activities it’s no wonder so many people bring along their four-legged friends to enjoy the day with them. Dogs love walking down the beach boardwalk with the wind in their face as they cruise along in the car, but dogs also need a place where they can just be dogs.
San Diegans have a multitude of dog parks and dog-friendly beaches to choose from all across the county which is why San Diego is considered such a dog friendly city.
We have made it easy for you to find the best dog friendly parks and dog beaches in San Diego with the amenities that will make both you and your furry friends happy.
Happy Dogs Enjoying a San Diego Dog Park
Capehart Park (La Jolla & Pacific Beach Dog Park)- Located in La Jolla at 4747 Soledad Mountain Road, this 24 hour Pacific Beach and La Jolla dog park offers 2 completely fenced pens (1 designated for smaller dogs and 1 for larger dogs), areas to provide water for dogs, a drinking fountain, picnic tables and benches and ample parking directly next to the two parks. The two fenced areas are small and so this La Jolla Dog Park is really better suited to small dogs. The people are always friendly and it is a very nice place for small dogs to play in a safe, friendly area. Map and directions to Capehart Park available here.
Fiesta Island Dog Park & Dog Beach- Located in Mission Bay Park; Fiesta Island is open 24 hours and offers a 5.2 mile asphalt path around the island. Most of the island is designated as leash free and there are lots of dunes to play in and calm bay waters for dogs to cool off. The dog park at Fiesta Island is very unique in that it really is a huge open natural area that you can roam around. There are two dog beach areas at Fiesta Island and they are great because the tide is very shallow which means that your dog only has to walk in a few feet before they are swimming. So if your dog likes to swim, both of the two dog beaches here are great because they can begin swimming almost immediately after entering the water. To learn more, click here.
Nate’s Point (Balboa Park Dog Park) – Located in Balboa Park immediately south of El Prado/Laurel Street and east of Balboa Drive, this 24 hour, off-leash dog park is 2.3 acres and is one of the most popular dog parks in San Diego, with many visitors to it every day of the year. This Balboa Park dog park is fenced and includes a drinking fountain, picnic tables and a double-entry gate to ensure no dogs escape. Because it is such a popular San Diego dog park, it is often busy and full of all types of dogs, big and small. For map and directions, click here.
Morley Field Dog Park is located at 2221 Morley Field Dr (its entrance is near the intersection of Alabama St. and Morley Field Dr.). The main off-leash area consists of a large grass field and there is a drinking fountain to fill up dog bowls and several pet clean up stations. It is open 24 hours. Morley Field is in close proximity to the Florida Canyon Nature Trails which dogs can explore back on their leashes. For map and directions, click here.
Grape Street Park (South Park Dog Park in San Diego) - Located at 2800 Grape Street and 28th St in South Park. Just south of North Park and east of Balboa Park, this is one of San Diego’s best dog parks. It is basically one large open field with enough room for dogs to roam from one group to the next while also finding space to explore on their own. This non-fenced dog park is 5 acres and has designated leash-free hours as follows: Monday thru Friday 7:30am to 9:00pm and Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays
9:00am to 9:00pm. Dog owners in this part of town are very nice and outgoing and it’s an easy place to make new friends. But as mentioned, it is unfenced on one side and so if you’re dog tends to explore, this San Diego dog park may not be the best option for you. For map and directions, click here.
Cadman Community Park (Clairemont Dog Park)- Located at 4230 Avati Drive in Clairemont, this park has a children’s playground right next to it so you can watch your kids and dog easily at the same time. This park is not fenced and has off leash hours as follows: During the school year- Daily from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. & 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. Summer vacation- Daily 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. & 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. There are no leash free hours on July 4th and every Saturday from March 1 to June 15. For map and directions, click here.
Dusty Rhodes Dog Park is located on Sunset Cliffs Blvd between Nimitz and West Point Loma. This 1 acre fenced dog park is open from dawn to dusk and offers a separate pen for smaller dogs. There is a drinking fountain, benches, public restrooms nearby as well as a children’s play area nearby.
Torrey Highlands Park- Located on Lansdale Drive off of Del Mar Heights Road (the park is immediately behind the facilities building) this 1 acre fenced dog park offers a half grass and half dirt play area as well as a drinking fountain. This San Diego dog park is centrally located for residents of Del Mar, Carmel Valley and Torrey Highlands.
Doyle Community Dog Park (La Jolla University City)- Located at 8175 Regents Road, this park is behind Doyle Recreation Center and offers two leash-free fenced areas (one for small dogs and one for large dogs). It is open 24 hours a day, but there are no lights. There is a drinking fountain and picnic tables available. For map and directions, click here.
List of Dog Beaches in San Diego & Brief Highlights of Each –
For the dog lovers looking to enjoy the gorgeous San Diego beaches with their pet, here are a few of the local dog friendly beaches:
La Jolla Blue Book Mascot Enjoying Coronado Dog Beach
Dog Beach – Ocean Beach Dog Beach is located in Ocean Beach at the foot of Voltaire Street. This 24 hour beach provides a haven for dogs and their families to run free, play together, dig and swim to their hearts’ content. Dogs are permitted to be off-leash anywhere north of the bicycle path on the north edge of Voltaire Street parking lot. This includes a large area of sand dunes that extend to the San Diego River. Keep your dog leashed when entering and exiting the beach and always be aware of the changing waves and currents to ensure your pet’s safety. For more information, click here.
Del Mar Dog Beach is located at Via del la Valle and Highway 101 at the river mouth. The off-leash area is north of 29th Street; however, dogs must remain leashed June 15th through Labor Day on the beach.There is metered street parking and a few pay lots nearby. A portable public restroom is on sight which is a nice touch. As mentioned, Del Mar Dog Beach requires dogs to be leashed for much of the summer which strips away much of the fun and so we do not recommend it for this time period. When the leashes are off after Labor Day, this is a great dog beach because it is fairly narrow and so dogs can run and play without ever leaving your sight. People are friendly and the weather is always great! For more information, click here.
North Beach Dog Run- Coronado Dog Beach is located at 100 Ocean Blvd. This 24 hour off-leash dog park offers a foot shower, hose, drinking fountain, public restrooms and dog litter bags at the entrance. Dogs must be leashed until you reach the beach. What is great about Coronado Dog Beach is that it has a hose that you can use to wash your dog off which is something completely unique as neither Dog Beach in Ocean Beach nor Del Mar Dog Beach offer this feature. For map and directions, click here.
Did we miss a dog park you think we should have included? Let us know by leaving a comment below. Or if you have a favorite dog park or beach we’d love to hear about it!
