Did you know is that Orlando is a very pet-friendly city?
In fact, back in 2018 it was ranked as the second-most pet-friendly city in the entire nation, trailing only Scottsdale, Arizona in this category.
Many of the hotels, restaurants, and attractions in Orlando allow for pet access, and the city is home to a number of pet service and supply businesses.
To ensure their resident pets are getting the exercise they require, the city of Orlando, along with private groups, have set aside ample space for both on-leash walking paths and off-leash dog parks, the latter of which we will highlight in the article below.
Being a large and very pet-friendly city, Orlando is home to a wide array of dog parks—off-leash play zones that offer a full range of great amenities and extras.
Collectively, these parks offer wonderful opportunities for exercise and socialization, and because they are completely fenced-in, you can simply sit back, relax and watch your dog burn off energy.
Here are just some of the magnificent dog parks you will find in the city of Orlando:
Lake Baldwin Park
Lake Baldwin Park is situated at 2000 South Lakemont Avenue in the nearby community of Winter Park, Florida.
This off-leash canine nirvana, which is open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, seven days a week, encompasses a whopping 23 acres, including a glistening lake and more trails than you can seemingly count.
A beach adjacent to the lake is ideal for teaching new skills to your pooch, and the pet wash station ensures a “funk-free” ride home from the park.
In addition to all the fabulous amenities and extras that are popular among the four-legged visitors, Lake Baldwin Park also includes features popular among dog owners, like benches under mature shade trees, a roofed pavilion with picnic tables underneath, and clean his and her restroom facilities.
If you plan to visit this wonderful park, take note that is closed before noon on both the second and fourth Wednesday of every month for regular maintenance.
Barber Dog Park
If green is your favorite color, you will absolutely fall in love with the Barber Dog Park.
Located at 3701 Gaitlin Avenue in Orlando, this well-tended and expertly-manicured grass expanse is completely gated and divided into two sections: a main yard for dogs of all sizes and breeds, and a reduced activity zone for smaller dogs under 30 pounds in weight.
Apart from the massive green, green grass it offers, Barber Dog Park also boasts water fountains (for dogs and their owners); plenty of agility equipment (like bridges, tunnels, and cones); a dog wash station and puppy waste bags; and lots of shaded seating for the pet parents.
Barber Dog Park is open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM during the autumn and winter months, but during the spring and summer your dog will rejoice to know those hours are typically extended to 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (or when it starts to get dark).
Hound Ground
Also in a nearby community of Orlando is the perfectly-named Hound Ground, an off-leash dog park that sits at 900 East State Road 434 in Winter Springs, Florida.
Hound Ground is open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, six days a week.
The conveniently-located park is closed on Wednesdays for regularly scheduled maintenance and upkeep.
Now that we have filled you in on the geographic information and hours of operation, let’s talk about all the amenities and bonus features you can expect to find at this popular park.
Upon arriving at the Hound Ground, the first thing that will undoubtedly catch your eye is the enormous grass play area, where dogs are free to roam, run, and sniff to their heart’s content.
On closer inspection you will see all the great agility equipment for your pup to explore and maneuver, and a sparkling pet wash area.
For safety’s sake, the park is divided into two equal sections for larger breed dogs and small dogs under 35 pounds, respectively.
Seating for dog owners is readily available along the exterior of the park, where you will also find a paved walkway that completely encircles the complex.
This allows pet parents to dispatch their dogs into the play zone without ever having to step on the grass—a real bonus on rainy days when the grass can get wet and muddy.
Arbor Dog Park
Last but certainly not least on our list of Best Dog Parks in Orlando is the Arbor Dog Park.
When you arrive at this Orlando-area dog park, it just might be difficult to control your pooch’s excitement between the parking lot and the gates of the facility.
That’s because the Arbor Dog Park has a number of great amenities that dogs love, including grass and gravel dog runs, innovative fountains for drinking and splashing about, and a wealth of natural and manmade obstacles, such as cement tunnels and agility gear, all of which were definitely added with dogs in mind.
The entire park is fenced in for safety; and the play zone is separated into equal halves to accommodate both large and small dogs.
For dog owners, the Arbor Dog Park is a great place to relax and mingle with like-minded pet people.
The evenly-placed benches and seating area are all located under adult trees that provide lots of shade and offer a bird’s eye view of the entire park.
Even better, a newly-added pet cleaning station at the exit of the park ensures your pup is fully “de-mudded” before hopping back into your car.
Whether you desire to actively train your dog on the agility equipment inside the park, or just sit back and relax with a great book as your pooch gallops with his new pals, the Arbor Dog Park is always a popular choice.