Northeast Florida

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AMELIA ISLAND/FERNANDINA BEACH (Nassau County)

1. Beaches - Nassau County, which includes the beach communities  on Amelia Island of Fernandina Beach and American Beach, all north of Jacksonville Beach, allows leashed dogs.

2. Nassau Humane Society Dog Park

Located at 617 Airport Road in Fernandina Beach. 

FLAGLER BEACH  (Flagler County) 

1.  Public Dog Pool Park

Located on the grounds of the Bed & Biscuit Inn, 711 John Anderson Highway. To get to Bed N Biscuit, from I-95, east on RT 100, turn right on John Anderson. Bed N Biscuit is on the left about a mile. This is a 4-ft. wading pool, open to the public, with room for 5 large dogs that's kept clean and sanitized. Open 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily except on holidays. Fee is $10 per dog or $30/month.

2. Wadsworth Park

Located at 2200 Moody Blvd. Route 100, which is not far from the Bed N Biscuit Inn listed above. The dog park is a 60,000 square foot fenced facility within the 45-acre county park where dogs can run off leash. Offers sections for large and small dogs and provides benches for the humans.

3. Beaches in Flagler County

Leashed pets are permitted on all beaches in unincorporated Flagler County, including the Hammock area. In Flagler Beach, pets are allowed, except the area that includes the pier. Pets are not permitted on Flagler Beach between the intersections of North 10th Street and State Road A1A and South 10th Street and A1A.

4. Marineland

North of Flagler Beach and 18 miles south of St. Augustine, allows on-leash dogs on their beach. 

JACKSONVILLE/BEACHES (Duval County)

NOTE: Dogs are not permitted on Big Talbot Island or on Little Talbot Island State Parks. Leashed dogs are permitted on the following beaches in Duval County:

1. Atlantic Beach

Dogs allowed year around, during the day and the evening. People may unleash their dog if they and their dog are swimming, but the dog must be leashed while being walked, either in the water or on the sand.  

2. Jacksonville Beach

Dogs allowed year around, but between April 1 and September 30,before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. April 1 through Sept. 30, which includes the busy summer season, dogs are not permitted on the beach between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.  year around, before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. (Thanks to the folks at Sandy Paws Park at Wingate Park Dog Park for info about the times.)

3. Katherine Abbey Hannah Park Located next to Mayport Naval Air Station, north of Atlantic Beach. Has a nice 1.5 mile-long beach that is less crowded than most. All dogs must be leashed and there's a two dog limit. There is a $1 entry (before 10 a.m.) $3 after; annual passes are available for a reduced rate. The park is open dusk-dawn, year 'round.

4. Mayport Naval Air Station

Leashed dogs are permitted on the beach until dusk and as long as visitors stay north of the area near the Navy Marine Corps Relief building, which is north of the direction of Hannah Park.

5. Neptune Beach

Dogs allowed year around, before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. 

6. Atlantic Beach Dog Park

This park officially opened Saturday, January 22, 2011. Located at 268 Aquatic Drive, Atlantic Beach. There is an annual usage fee of $50 for the first dog, $25 for each additional dog. The park offers a small dog area with a drinking water station, poop bags, and a double entry gate. The large dog area has a large pond for swimming, a rinse station, poop bags, drinking water, and a double entry gate.

7.  Confederate Point Dog Park

Located in Confederate Park, 956 Hubbard Street. This city-owned dog park covers 2.87 acres in the Springfield area of Jacksonville. All the entrances are locked except for the one doggie gate entrance on Confederate Street. There is a vinyl-coated 6' fence and a wooden doggie foray into the park which will allow dogs to transition in and out of the park with safety and ease. There are also three doggie depot stations for convenient waste pick-up and disposal. Four additional oaks were planted for shading and fence gaps closed in. It features new fencing, benches trash cans and pavilions. There are separate play areas for large small dogs and water fountains for both people and pets.

8. Dog Wood Park of Jacksonville

A 42-acre dog park located off JTB and Salisburg Road. Grand opening was 11-15-03. Currently 42 acres are fenced. This is a membership-only facility. Hours for visitors are Saturdays 10am-5 pm and Sundays 12pm-5pm. Once you become a member and have your own gate key, you can visit the park any time between dawn and 10 p.m. Dog Wood Park offers Lake Bow Wow, a 2-acre aerated doggie swimming lake with a fountain, a shaded 3-acre relaxing and picnic area, a small dog area for dog under 25 pounds, benches, hammocks, picnic tables, lounge chairs, a digging sand pit for doggie digs, large playing fields, lighted area for night use, a doggie rinse-off shower at the exit, park-provided tennis balls, doggie play/exercise equipment and park-sponsored social events (singles night, specific breed nights, book club, costume parties, holiday events) and more.

9. Ed Austin Dog Park

Located at  11751 McCormick Road, inside the Ed Austin Park behind the skate park along the walking trail. There are 2 separate areas, one for small dogs and one for large dogs.  this is a 4-acre off-leash park for the pups.    

10. Julington Creek Animal Walk

A membership-only dog park that is part of the Julington Creek Animal Hospital Park complex in Mandarin. This 8-acre facility offers a day spa, boarding, doggie day care, a bone-shaped doggie swimming pool a mile-long nature trail, agility field.

11.  Paws Park at Wingate Park

Located on South Penman Road. This dog park opened May 1, 2005 and offers a double-gated entry, a small dog area and a large dog area, benches, poop bags, trash cans, watering stations and an educational bulletin board. This park is the result of what a group of citizens can do. Organized into what they called the "Beaches Dog Park Project," this group worked with the city of Jacksonville Beach to establish Paws Park. Once the park opened, the group became "Friends of Paws Park" and continues to raise funds for park amenities, manage the park's online presence, and organize community events. The group has plans to eventually help establish dog parks in the nearby communities of Atlantic Beach (see above) and Neptune Beach.

12. Poochies Swim and Play Park, Inc.

Located on Oak Lane in Orange Park, behind Walgreen's on Blanding Blvd., across From Knight Boxx Road. On 7 acres, this is a membership-only dog park with a daily fee of $5 or $10. It offers poochie swimming lake, sand digging mountain, toys, exercise and agility equipment, hammocks, swings, benches and a separate area for small dogs.

13. Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve

This National Park is located in the northeastern portion of Jacksonville and allows leashed dogs throughout the property.

14. Oceanway Community/Senior Center

Located at 12215 W.Sago Ave., Jacksonville. Opened June, 2012, this location is open day hours only. It offers an unleashed dog park, with separate areas for small and large dogs. There are also trash cans, poop bags, watering stations, benches, pavilions, restrooms, plenty of shade trees and a nice pond with areas for sitting and/or walking. For more information, please contact 904-696-4331.

NEPTUNE BEACH (Duval County)

Dogs are allowed on Neptune Beach at any hour from Oct. 1 through March 1. But from April 1 through Sept. 30, dog are allowed on to the beach between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. 

MAYPORT BEACH (Duval County)

This beach is part of Naval Station Mayport and just north of Hanna Park, leashed dogs are permitted daily until dusk, but cofficials recommend: "don’t stray south of the area around the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society building." 

PALM COAST (Flagler County)

 1. Washington Oaks Gardens State Park

Located at 6400 North Oceanshore Blvd., two miles south of Marineland, off A1A, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Matanzas River. According to one of our kind readers, part of this park is gardens, but there is also a large picnic area and a nice walking trail by the water where she took her dogs. The park is open daily 8 a.m. to sundown. According to the state, pets are generally welcome in Florida's state parks in designated areas if they are kept on a leash. 

2. Dog Park in James Holland F. Holland Memorial Park

Located at 18 Florida Park Drive, about 1/2 mile north of Palm Coast Highway on Old Florida Road on the left. Open sun up to sun down. The city has fenced in about 1/4 acre within this park and has designated it just for dogs. There is a water station with a drinking fountain for humans and dogs as well as a hose for filling bowls, concrete walkways and pads from the entrance to the park, gazebo and water stations, a double-gated entrance, and handicapped parking. 

PALM VALLEY (St. Johns County)

 1. Beaches

Leashed dogs are permitted year around on the beaches of St. Johns County.

2. Davis Paws Dog Park

Located within Davis Park at 2455 Palm Valley Rd, Palm Valley in St. Johns county,  4.5 miles west of A1A on County Road 210. Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to sunset. This 139-acre park is free to the public and offers a large do

PONg area, mutt mitts, benches, a pond, restrooms, picnic shelter, swimming pond, and benches.

3. Paws Dog Park

Located at 1595 Wildwood Drive, within the Treaty Park Complex. This park is open dawn to dusk. Offers leash-free play, separate small and large dog areas, fencing, watering holes, shaded area with benches, mock fire hydrant. 

ST. AUGUSTINE (St. Johns County)

1. St. Augustine Beaches

Leashed dogs are permitted year around on the beaches of St. Johns County, but use caution, as this area isn't tolerant of dogs not on leashes.

2. Mickler's Landing Crossover

Reader Notes: "This spot in Ponte Vedra Beach allows dogs (on leashes) all day and I've seen many folks riding horses here as well."

3. Paws Dog Park

Located at 1595 Wildwood Drive, within the Treaty Park Complex. Hours: sunrise to sunset daily. Features: fenced area, tables, trees, parking, restrooms, poop bags, trash cans, water source, picnic tables and a separate area for small dogs. Directions: from I-95, take exit 94 North to Wildwood Drive, located between SR 207 and Federal Hwy 1. For more info, write sjcpawpark@cs.com.

4. Davis Park

Located approximately 1/2 mile west of the Intracoastal off County Road 210,(Palm Valley Road), just at the north end of St Johns county, close to Jacksonville Beach and Ponte Vedra. This is a nice 138-acre park that offers a separate area for larger dogs, waste scoopers, benches, a pond, restrooms, and picnic and playground facilities to be constructed at a later date. Open 8:00 a.m. to sunset daily. 

5. Mantanzas Inlet

In the past we've reported this beach, located on A1A, about 15 minutes south of St. Augustine, as leash-optional. But, according to A.J. Legault, Park Ranger at Castillo de SanMarcos/Ft. Matanzas National Monument, while this is a dog-friendly park and beach, pets must be kept on leashes no longer than six feet at all times and violators will be issued warnings or citations.

6. Ron Parker Park

Located on Old Beach Road, behind the St. Augustine Beach Town Hall. This is a fenced park with double gates. There are no separate areas for large and small dogs. Offers shade, picnic tables, cedar chips covering the ground, toys, watering station and poop bags. Children are not permitted at this park.