Best Dog Parks in Northern Virginia: The Regional All-Stars

Prince William & Manassas

The K-9 Gunner Memorial Dog Park at 13000 Minnieville Road in Woodbridge is the county's flagship: roughly 46,000 square feet with separate small- and large-dog areas, named in memory of a fallen police dog. Vint Hill Dog Park near the Fauquier line is a community-run 1.25 acres, and Lucky's Dog Park at Dean Park in Manassas plus the Manassas Park Dog Park at Costello Park cover the cities.

Fairfax & Loudoun

Fairfax County runs eleven fenced parks; the standouts are Baron Cameron in Reston with its agility equipment and separate areas, Monticello in Burke, and South Run in Springfield. In Loudoun, Waggertail in Ashburn is the crowd favorite, with Olde Izaak Walton in Leesburg for all-weather mulch runs.

Arlington, Stafford & DC

Arlington's Shirlington Dog Park has a creek through the fenced run, a stream-passed rarity. Stafford's Duff's Dog Park spreads across four acres near the Rappahannock. And in DC, S Street's turf run in Dupont Circle and Shaw's big double-gated park anchor the city. Simpson Stadium Park in Alexandria rounds out the urban set.

How to Pick

• Small dogs first: look for parks with separate small-dog areas, like Baron Cameron, Waggertail, Duff's, Manassas Park, and Shaw.
• Water matters on hot days: Waggertail, Baron Cameron, and Shirlington have it; South Riding and Lansdowne do not.
• Crowds: go early on weekends to the big names, or discover the community parks midweek.
• Every park here is free and open dawn to dusk unless posted otherwise. Leash up outside the fenced areas, always.