Dog-Friendly Parks Near The Sanctuary at Pinecrest

1) Pinecrest Gardens (Top-Pick!) 

11000 SW 57th Ave, Pinecrest, FL 33156

If you're looking for a fun day across Miami's local fauna and flora with your four-legged pal, visit Pinecrest Gardens, a famous attraction just a minute from The Sanctuary at Pinecrest.

A "paw-some" tourist spot that delivers big on beauty, charm, and nature, Pinecrest Gardens is home to an array of amenities, including a zoo, gardens, and a pond! 

While it's closed to furry visitors during the week, the recreational haven turns into a pup-friendly park on weekends, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., where you and your best friend will have a great time exploring the different trails.

The Pinecrest Gardens staff can also provide anything your dog might need to have a good time at Pinecrest Gardens, including water bowls, drinking water, and cleanup bags. 

Did you forget your leash at home? Park officials have leads they can lend just in case you want to borrow one during your visit. 

Grassy spaces and picnic areas are also peppered around the garden, so you and Fido can enjoy a memorable picnic on the grounds when the mood strikes. 

Dogs are allowed to visit on leashes at Pinecrest Gardens.

3) Dante Fascell Park 

8600 Red Rd, South Miami, FL 33143

Say hello to one of South Miami's largest parks, Dante Fascell Park, 7.73 acres of green spaces just a 4-minute drive from The Sanctuary at Pinecrest.

Home to outdoor sports and recreational areas, Dante Fascell Park boasts a jogging trail, a famous sculpture garden, and picnic tables for a quick lunch or break from excitement. 

You'll also find six clay tennis courts, outdoor fitness equipment, a sand volleyball court, a gated playground and tot lot, vending machines, a basketball half-court, and restrooms.

And don't worry; dogs on leads are allowed in Dante Fascell Park.

5) Van Smith Park 

7800 SW 59th Ave, South Miami, FL 33143

Take a break from the exhausting day to smell the fresh air at the quiet Van Smith Park, a nature spot in South Miami, just a 6-minute drive from The Sanctuary at Pinecrest.

Covering 1.14 acres, Van Smith Park features a short nature trail perfect for a stroll with your pup and a central grassy area for a quick family picnic or lounging under the sun.

Dogs on leashes are allowed inside Van Smith Park.

7) Chapman Trail Dog Park - Chapman Field Park (Top-Pick!)  

13601 Deering Bay Dr, Coral Gables, FL 33158

With 432 acres of pristinely maintained mangroves and saltwater wetlands and 51 acres of outdoor space just for pups, the Chapman Field Park and its famous Chapman Trail Dog Park are a 'no-brainer' if you're looking for an outdoor adventure for dogs and 'hoomans' alike!

The kicker? It's a quick 7-minute drive from The Sanctuary at Pinecrest!

At Chapman Field Park, you can relish sun and surf activities with your furry best friend, including a list of trails, baseball fields for unlimited games of fetch, and grassy areas to run around.

Love the water? Chapman Field Park also boasts kayaking and canoeing areas, where you can try your hand at water sports or cool off after a fun park day.

Meanwhile, its off-leash areas offer separate sections for large and small dogs. 

Clean-up bags are available at Chapman Field Park, but bring drinking water to quench Fido's thirst.

9) Pawcrest Park-Suniland Park (Top-Pick!)  

12855 Pinecrest Pkwy, Pinecrest, FL 33156

Opened in the height of the pandemic, Pawcrest Park in Suniland Park is one of the perfect spots in Pinecrest to bring your pup, just an 8-minute drive from The Sanctuary at Pinecrest.

Prepare for endless tail wags on your visit to Pawcrest Park, thanks to its gated area for four-legged visitors, where they can run around with their furry pals, explore, and get their daily exercise.

It even has a water fountain to ease your pup's thirst.

Meanwhile, Suniland Park is a busy 10-acre park with baseball and football fields, batting cages, a recreation center, basketball courts, a green lawn, and walking paths. 

After the quick retreat at Pawcrest Park, you and your pup can also explore the rest of Suniland Park and check out its amenities and facilities, provided your dog is on a leash.

11) South Miami Dog Park (Top-Pick!) 

6380 SW 78th St, South Miami, FL 33143

Welcome to South Miami Dog Park, a must-visit park just an 8-minute drive from The Sanctuary at Pinecrest — especially if you've got furry companions to entertain!

Small at 0.13 acres, South Miami Dog Park is a fully-fenced dog haven where your pup can tear around at top speeds entirely off-leash, making it one of the most famous dog-friendly spots in the area. 

Here, you'll find agility equipment for your pup's workout and benches scattered throughout where you can rest as your dog tires out!

South Miami Dog Park also has plenty of drinking water, and Fido can quench its thirst between runs.

Be sure to bring cleanup sacks and promptly dispose of all wastes at South Miami Dog Park's trash receptacles to help keep the dog park clean for all to enjoy.

13) Marlin Park 

6540 Marlin Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33158

With sprawling oak trees providing a welcome shade across 0.44 acres, Marlin Park is a nature-inspired park perfect for children and pups just an 8-minute drive from The Sanctuary at Pinecrest. 

Formerly known as James H. Smith Park, Marlin Park invites visitors to explore its expansive grassy open area and sitting spots amidst large trees and tropical plants! 

Marlin Park also provides ample space for a short dog walk for your pup's exercise, which he'll need while you're on your Coral Gables vacation!

15) Merrie Christmas Park 

4355 SW 42nd Ave, Miami, FL 33133

Boasting Ficus and banyan trees bearing thick twinning trunks is the lush park of Merrie Christmas Park, a 9-minute drive from The Sanctuary at Pinecrest.

But hold on to your hats — this park offers way more than shade and local trees!

Unlike many Miami parks, Merrie Christmas Park focuses on providing open spaces with only a tiny portion of land paved for sidewalks and playground equipment. 

Meanwhile, its rolling lawns make a perfect spot for an on-leash romp or a gentle meandering walk. 

And since it's a sunken park in a natural bowl, visitors are safely contained despite all kinds of play. 

Need a break? Hang out at the picnic tables and benches under, near, and in front of trees around Merrie Christmas Park, providing places to rest and give your good dog some pets.

It's the perfect spot to visit with your pup when looking for shade on a warm, sunny day!

17) Jean Willis Park 

7220 SW 61st Ct, South Miami, FL 33143

A tiny 0.63-acre pocket park adjacent to the South Miami City Hall, Jean Willis Park remains one of the perfect spots for a quick stroll with your furry pal, a 9-minute drive from The Sanctuary at Pinecrest.

Here, you'll find lush green spaces, several picnic tables and mature trees, benches for relaxing, and a picnic area and gazebo for an outdoor family lunch between walks. 

Dogs on leashes are allowed inside Jean Willis Park.

19) Ingraham Park 

4751 Ingraham Terrace, Coral Gables, FL 33133

Feast your eyes on Ingraham Park, a leafy public park with shaded benches, a playground, and scenic water views, one of several nature spots to visit with your dog near The Sanctuary at Pinecrest, just a 9-minute drive.

An eclectic little spot with over two acres of open spaces and picnic tables, Ingraham Park has been revamped into a neighborhood park of elegance. 

From its stunning fountain inspired by the Palace of Alhambra in Granada, Spain, to enhanced landscaping, exercise stations, walking & jogging paths, misting machines, inviting benches, and more, Ingraham Park fills your day with fun outdoor activities to share with your pup.

Oh, and while you're there, don't forget to explore the new bright red bridge connecting to the Commodore Bike Trail. 

The bridge provides bicyclists and pedestrians a safe crossing over the Coral Gables Waterway between Cocoplum Circle and Ingraham Park.

Don't forget your dog's leash!

21) Palmer Park 

6100 SW 67th Ave, South Miami, FL 33143

If you're looking for an opportunity to get active outdoors, visit Palmer Park, an 8.57-acre community park with an array of amenities for recreation, including softball/baseball fields, rectangular multipurpose grass fields, two battling cages, and a picnic area, just a 10-minute drive from The Sanctuary at Pinecrest.

Aside from amenities, visitors can enjoy a playground and tot lot area, including leashed dogs accompanied by their hoomans.