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If you’re a dog owner, there are not a lot of cities with more to offer than San Diego, CA. The weather is perfect year-round, and the city is bursting with pet-friendly locations. If your dog loves to run free, San Diego offers multiple off-leash options for them to enjoy, including several beaches! Here are 10 great off-leash dog parks in San Diego, CA, in 2023.
The 10 Nicest Off-Leash Dog Parks in San Diego, CA
1. Nate’s Point Dog Park
Located in Balboa Park
No on-site parking
Fenced, 2-acre park with grass and dirt playing surface
No separate small dog area
Shade, picnic tables, and water fountains are available
2. Morley Field Dog Park
🗺️ Address:
📍2225 Morley Field Dr, San Diego, CA 92104
🕐 Open Times:
24 hours
💲 Cost:
Free
🐕 Off-Leash:
Yes
Located in Balboa Park, near dog-friendly hiking trails
Parking, restrooms, benches, water, and an agility course are on-site
Limited waste bags—bring your own
Respect posted off-leash hours
Keep your dog quiet and under control to avoid disturbing the neighbors
4. Capeheart Dog Park
🗺️ Address:
📍Soledad Mountain Rd. and Felspar St, San Diego, CA 92109
🕐 Open Times:
24 hours
💲 Cost:
Free
🐕 Off-Leash:
Yes
Small, fenced dog park
Parking lot on-site
Separate small dog area
Waste bags, water, seating, and trash cans are available
Large dog side has no grass—dogs may get dirty
5. Rancho Bernardo Dog Park
🗺️ Address:
📍18448 W. Bernardo Dr, San Diego, CA 92127
🕐 Open Times:
Dawn to dusk, closed Thursdays 10:00 AM to noon for maintenance
💲 Cost:
Free
🐕 Off-Leash:
Yes
Fenced 2.66-acre dog park with a grass playing surface
Three separate play areas
Parking lot on-site
Water, waste bags, and seating are available
Restrooms are available in the larger park
6. Dog Beach
🗺️ Address:
📍5156W W Point Loma Blvd, San Diego, CA 92107
🕐 Open Times:
24 hours
💲 Cost:
Free
🐕 Off-Leash:
Yes
One of the oldest dog beaches in the country
Parking lot nearby, but it fills up fast
Walking distance to restaurants and restrooms
Bring your own waste bags
Shared space with swimmers and surfers
7. Dusty Rhodes Dog Park
🗺️ Address:
📍2469 Sunset Cliffs Blvd, San Diego, CA 92107
🕐 Open Times:
24 hours
💲 Cost:
Free
🐕 Off-Leash:
Yes
A fully fenced off-leash area located in a park
Parking lot nearby
Separate small dog area
Shade, water, and waste bags are available
Playground and restrooms are available in the larger park
8. Fiesta Island Dog Park
🗺️ Address:
📍1750 Fiesta Island Rd, San Diego, CA 92109
🕐 Open Times:
4:00 AM–10 PM
💲 Cost:
Free
🐕 Off-Leash:
Yes
Almost fully fenced dog park that includes a beach
Parking lot and portable restrooms on-site
Dogs are also allowed off-leash on the rest of the island except campground and bird nesting sites
Near SeaWorld; it sets off fireworks on some nights
Bring water and waste bags
9. Poway Dog Park
🗺️ Address:
📍13094 Civic Center Dr, Poway, CA 92064
🕐 Open Times:
Sunrise-10 pm
💲 Cost:
Free
🐕 Off-Leash:
Yes
Located just north of San Diego
Three separate, grassy play areas
Parking, restrooms, water, and seating are available
Reservations take priority over public use so you won’t always be able to access the dog park without one
Bring waste bags
10. Ann D. L’Heureux Memorial Dog Park
🗺️ Address:
📍2710 Carlsbad Village Dr. Carlsbad, CA 92008
🕐 Open Times:
8 am-Sunset
💲 Cost:
Free
🐕 Off-Leash:
Yes
Located just up the coast from San Diego
No separate small dog area
Dirt and wood chip playing surface
Parking, shade, water, seating, and waste bags are available
No restrooms on site
Conclusion
Before heading to one of these 10 San Diego off-leash dog parks, check the rules for specific locations. Make sure your dog is up-to-date on vaccinations and licensed as required by the city. San Diego police are known to stop by dog parks and perform spot checks for this information. Because several of these off-leash areas are unfenced, always keep your dog under voice control.
Featured Image Credit: Irsan Ianushis, Shutterstock
Written by
Elizabeth Gray is a lifelong lover of all creatures great and small. She got her first cat at 5 years old and at 14, she started working for her local veterinarian. Elizabeth spent more than 20 years working as a veterinary nurse before stepping away to become a stay-at-home parent to her daughter. Now, she is excited to share her hard-earned knowledge (literally–she has scars) with our readers. Elizabeth lives in Iowa with her family, including her two fur kids, Linnard, a husky mix and Algernon, the worldʻs most patient cat. When not writing, she enjoys reading, watching all sports but especially soccer, and spending time outdoors with her family.…Read more
