Nicknamed the “Queen City,” Charlotte is the largest city in the state of North Carolina. It is home to the Carolina Panthers, the Charlotte Hornets, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and plenty of other exciting attractions.
Not only is the metro area home to over 2.5 million residents, but this is also a place that attracts many travelers. As dog lovers, it is our duty to find places for our pooches to release their energy and get in some much-needed socialization. What better way to do so than finding a nearby dog park?
Charlotte is home to several dog parks operated by Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation1. These dog parks within the city limits are free of charge and all operate under the same rules. Keep reading to learn more about the area’s dog parks and even two other popular ones worth mentioning that are a few miles out of town.
Skiptown is a pet-friendly social bar in Charlotte’s South End neighborhood.
This is a great place to grab a drink while letting your dog enjoy 24,000 square feet of both indoor and outdoor off-leash play areas.
Your dog can even sip on Skiptown’s dog-friendly bone broth “beer.” Don’t worry, it’s non-alcoholic.
You have to download the Skiptown app to get registered. Your dog must be up to date on Rabies, DHLPP, and Bordetella.
Skiptown is for humans 21 years or older but dogs can get by as long as they are 4 months or older. They must be spayed or neutered if over 6 months though.
McAlpine Creek Park 114-acre community park with a three-acre lake and fishing pier, several soccer fields, bike and nature trails, a gazebo, and picnic areas.
The off-leash dog park is a one-acre, fenced-in area to allow dogs a chance to socialize and play.
There are no separate locations for small dogs, so this may not be ideal for the little ones.
Plenty of benches are available for owners to relax while their dogs romp about.
There is not a lot of tree shade in the park so it can get hot on sunny summer days, but feel free to grab your leash and go for a walk on one of the park’s nature trails.
The dog park at Clarks Creek Community park features one area for larger dogs and another for smaller dogs, which is also a decent size.
The large dog area has a fantastic walking trail with lots of shade.
Tennis balls and buckets of water are always readily available for your dogs to enjoy.
Across the street from the dog park, there are plenty of great areas to take your dog on a walk.
Clarks Creek Community Park has many great things to offer including tennis courts, basketball courts, walking trails, playgrounds, a water slide, and more.
Shuffletown Dog Park has two fenced-in play spaces to accommodate both large and small dogs
The large dog area is four acres, so there’s plenty of room for exploration. There’s even a nice walking path around the perimeter of the wooded area within this enclosure.
You will find plenty of shade at this dog park and there are several benches for humans to sit back and relax.
This area of the park also features a walking path, two volleyball courts, two baseball fields, a multi-purpose soccer field, a playground, and bathrooms.
Canine Commons Dog Park is a popular off-leash dog park located south of Charlotte in Pineville, NC.
This is an expansive off-leash dog park located within a community park in a residential area.
It features a combination of open sunny areas and lots of trees with plenty of space to run around.
Dogs must be 4 months or older, licensed, and vaccinated for rabies and DHLPP. Make sure they are wearing their current license and rabies tags at all times.
Food in bowls, long-lasting chews, and glass containers are not allowed in the park. There is also no eating or smoking permitted in the area.
Conclusion
Charlotte has plenty of dog parks throughout the area and even offers a “Donate to the Dog Park Fund” that is in place to help Mecklenburg County keep building more and more well-maintained off-leash areas for resident dogs and those passing through. There are even some great dog parks outside the Charlotte city limits that have plenty to offer our beloved canine pals.
