Few things are more enjoyable than letting your pup run off the leash and watching them chasing another dog or playing fetch in the water. Luckily, you’ll find plenty of places to take your pooch to burn off some energy while having the time of its life. Great off-leash dog parks exist in the Twin Cities, up north, and in the suburbs. Some require permits, while a few are free. While Minnesotans embrace the winter, you’ll also see some indoor venues. After all, temperatures below zero with corresponding wind chills are not out of the ordinary for the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
The Top 10 Off-Leash Dog Parks in Minnesota
- Victory Prairie Off-Leash Dog Park
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🗺️ Address: 📍 44701 Russell Avenue N, Minneapolis, MN
🕐 Open Times: 6:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. (The main park stays open until midnight.)
💲 Cost: Daily or annual pet permit required
🐕 Off-leash allowed?: Yes, with your pup on sight and under control
2.62 acres of open grasslands
Fully fenced
Benches and picnic tables for owners
Popular park that sees a lot of use
- Gateway Dog Park
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🗺️ Address: 📍 4th Avenue S and 11th Street S, Minneapolis, MN
🕐 Open Times: 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-leash allowed?: Yes, if under the handler’s control
Minneapolis pet license required
Clean grounds
Well-supported by users with doggie bags and community water bowls
Fully fenced
- Lake of the Isles Off-Recreational Area
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🗺️ Address: 📍 2845 W Lake of the Isles Parkway, Minneapolis, MN
🕐 Open Times: 6:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Park open until midnight)
💲 Cost: Daily or annual permit required
🐕 Off-leash allowed?: Yes, as long as you keep your pup under control
Lighted areas for nighttime use
Small dog area
Fully fenced
1.87 acres
No on-site parking lot
- Meeker Island Dog Park
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🗺️ Address: 📍 471 Mississippi River Blvd N Saint Paul, MN
🕐 Open Times: Sunrise to 11 p.m.
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-leash allowed?: Yes, for pets are under control and in designated areas only
Open to dogs 4 months or older
Located at the northernmost lock-and-dam on the Mississippi River
Check the site updates before you go for closures due to high waters
Three dog limit
Unfenced play areal
- Carlson Dog Park
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🗺️ Address: 📍 2541 Nevada Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN
🕐 Open Times: 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-leash allowed?: Yes, if under the handler’s control
Seating for owners available
A large, forested area
No water available on-site
Secure gated entrance
- Park Point Beach
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🗺️ Address: 📍 45th Street and Minnesota Avenue, Duluth, MN
🕐 Open Times:
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-leash allowed?: Yes, for pets under control in designated areas
Gorgeous views
Rental facilities on-site
Frigid waters of Lake Superior
Other amenities available for owners
Popular park with lots of traffic
- Minnehaha Off-Leash Recreation Area
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🗺️ Address: 📍 5399 Minnehaha Park Drive S Minneapolis, MN
🕐 Open Times: 6:00 a.m. to Midnight
💲 Cost: Daily or annual pet permit required
🐕 Off-leash allowed?: Yes, from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Dog-friendly shops and restaurants in the nearby area
Walking path and garden for leashed pets only
Three dogs per handler max
Beautiful scenery
Quite busy during the summer
- Unleashed Hounds and Hops
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🗺️ Address: 📍 200 East Lyndale Ave N Minneapolis, MN
🕐 Open Times: Closed; Tuesday-Friday: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
💲 Cost: Free for humans; Pet permits include daily, 5-use, or annual memberships
🐕 Off-leash allowed?: Yes, as long as your pup is in sight and under control
Reservations highly recommended
Small dog area
Online pre-registration with proof of vaccinations submitted before you visit
Restaurant, taproom, and indoor/outdoor spaces
- The Paw
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🗺️ Address: 📍 1741 Premiere Drive, Mankato, MN
🕐 Open Times: 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Saturday; 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Sunday: By reservation only
💲 Cost: Varies with the pet service
🐕 Off-leash allowed?: Yes, for pups under control in designated areas only
Indoor-outdoor experience available
Proof of vaccinations, a must-have
Retail pool shop on-site
Self-serve bathing station for a complete doggie spa experience
Pups of all skill levels welcome
Conclusion We’ve only scratched the surface of the fun off-leash dog parks in Minnesota. Many small towns and park districts have other places to run your pup. Make sure to be a responsible pet owner and pick up after your pet. We are so grateful these places exist. We can’t think of many better ways to provide valuable mental stimulation and socialization opportunities for your canine best friend.
Featured Image Credit: Roman Seliutin, Shutterstock
Few things are more enjoyable than letting your pup run off the leash and watching them chasing another dog or playing fetch in the water. Luckily, you’ll find plenty of places to take your pooch to burn off some energy while having the time of its life. Great off-leash dog parks exist in the Twin Cities, up north, and in the suburbs. Some require permits, while a few are free.
While Minnesotans embrace the winter, you’ll also see some indoor venues. After all, temperatures below zero with corresponding wind chills are not out of the ordinary for the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
The Top 10 Off-Leash Dog Parks in Minnesota
1. Victory Prairie Off-Leash Dog Park
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Kara Ellison (@karampls)
🗺️ Address: 📍 44701 Russell Avenue N, Minneapolis, MN
🕐 Open Times: 6:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. (The main park stays open until midnight.)
💲 Cost: Daily or annual pet permit required
🐕 Off-leash allowed?: Yes, with your pup on sight and under control
2.62 acres of open grasslands
Fully fenced
Benches and picnic tables for owners
Popular park that sees a lot of use
2. Gateway Dog Park
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by FIT Apartments (@fitapartments)
🗺️ Address: 📍 4th Avenue S and 11th Street S, Minneapolis, MN
🕐 Open Times: 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-leash allowed?: Yes, if under the handler’s control
Minneapolis pet license required
Clean grounds
Well-supported by users with doggie bags and community water bowls
Fully fenced
3. Lake of the Isles Off-Recreational Area
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Winston the Corgi (@winstonthefluffiestcorgi)
🗺️ Address: 📍 2845 W Lake of the Isles Parkway, Minneapolis, MN
🕐 Open Times: 6:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Park open until midnight)
💲 Cost: Daily or annual permit required
🐕 Off-leash allowed?: Yes, as long as you keep your pup under control
Lighted areas for nighttime use
Small dog area
Fully fenced
1.87 acres
No on-site parking lot
4. Meeker Island Dog Park
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by B R I G G S Y (@briggs_thegoldie)
🗺️ Address: 📍 471 Mississippi River Blvd N Saint Paul, MN
🕐 Open Times: Sunrise to 11 p.m.
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-leash allowed?: Yes, for pets are under control and in designated areas only
Open to dogs 4 months or older
Located at the northernmost lock-and-dam on the Mississippi River
Check the site updates before you go for closures due to high waters
Three dog limit
Unfenced play areal
5. Carlson Dog Park
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Amber Carlson (@kisspink22)
🗺️ Address: 📍 2541 Nevada Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN
🕐 Open Times: 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-leash allowed?: Yes, if under the handler’s control
Seating for owners available
A large, forested area
No water available on-site
Secure gated entrance
6. Park Point Beach
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Daisy Loretta & Ida “Eeda” Pepita (@daisy_and_ida)
🗺️ Address: 📍 45th Street and Minnesota Avenue, Duluth, MN
🕐 Open Times:
💲 Cost: Free
🐕 Off-leash allowed?: Yes, for pets under control in designated areas
Gorgeous views
Rental facilities on-site
Frigid waters of Lake Superior
Other amenities available for owners
Popular park with lots of traffic
7. Minnehaha Off-Leash Recreation Area
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Gracie (@graciegirltravels)
🗺️ Address: 📍 5399 Minnehaha Park Drive S Minneapolis, MN
🕐 Open Times: 6:00 a.m. to Midnight
💲 Cost: Daily or annual pet permit required
🐕 Off-leash allowed?: Yes, from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Dog-friendly shops and restaurants in the nearby area
Walking path and garden for leashed pets only
Three dogs per handler max
Beautiful scenery
Quite busy during the summer
9. Unleashed Hounds and Hops
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by jackpot (@jackpot_thepup)
🗺️ Address: 📍 200 East Lyndale Ave N Minneapolis, MN
🕐 Open Times: Closed; Tuesday-Friday: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
💲 Cost: Free for humans; Pet permits include daily, 5-use, or annual memberships
🐕 Off-leash allowed?: Yes, as long as your pup is in sight and under control
Reservations highly recommended
Small dog area
Online pre-registration with proof of vaccinations submitted before you visit
Restaurant, taproom, and indoor/outdoor spaces
10. The Paw
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Pet Expo (@petexpodistributors)
🗺️ Address: 📍 1741 Premiere Drive, Mankato, MN
🕐 Open Times: 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Saturday; 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Sunday: By reservation only
💲 Cost: Varies with the pet service
🐕 Off-leash allowed?: Yes, for pups under control in designated areas only
Indoor-outdoor experience available
Proof of vaccinations, a must-have
Retail pool shop on-site
Self-serve bathing station for a complete doggie spa experience
Pups of all skill levels welcome
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Kara Ellison (@karampls)
A post shared by Kara Ellison (@karampls)
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
- 2.62 acres of open grasslands
- Fully fenced
- Benches and picnic tables for owners
- Popular park that sees a lot of use
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by FIT Apartments (@fitapartments)
A post shared by FIT Apartments (@fitapartments)
- Minneapolis pet license required
- Clean grounds
- Well-supported by users with doggie bags and community water bowls
- Fully fenced
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Winston the Corgi (@winstonthefluffiestcorgi)
A post shared by Winston the Corgi (@winstonthefluffiestcorgi)
- Lighted areas for nighttime use
- Small dog area
- Fully fenced
- 1.87 acres
- No on-site parking lot
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by B R I G G S Y (@briggs_thegoldie)
A post shared by B R I G G S Y (@briggs_thegoldie)
- Open to dogs 4 months or older
- Located at the northernmost lock-and-dam on the Mississippi River
- Check the site updates before you go for closures due to high waters
- Three dog limit
- Unfenced play areal
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Amber Carlson (@kisspink22)
A post shared by Amber Carlson (@kisspink22)
- Seating for owners available
- A large, forested area
- No water available on-site
- Secure gated entrance
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Daisy Loretta & Ida “Eeda” Pepita (@daisy_and_ida)
A post shared by Daisy Loretta & Ida “Eeda” Pepita (@daisy_and_ida)
- Gorgeous views
- Rental facilities on-site
- Frigid waters of Lake Superior
- Other amenities available for owners
- Popular park with lots of traffic
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Gracie (@graciegirltravels)
A post shared by Gracie (@graciegirltravels)
- Dog-friendly shops and restaurants in the nearby area
- Walking path and garden for leashed pets only
- Three dogs per handler max
- Beautiful scenery
- Quite busy during the summer
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by jackpot (@jackpot_thepup)
A post shared by jackpot (@jackpot_thepup)
- Reservations highly recommended
- Small dog area
- Online pre-registration with proof of vaccinations submitted before you visit
- Restaurant, taproom, and indoor/outdoor spaces
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Pet Expo (@petexpodistributors)
A post shared by Pet Expo (@petexpodistributors)
- Indoor-outdoor experience available
- Proof of vaccinations, a must-have
- Retail pool shop on-site
- Self-serve bathing station for a complete doggie spa experience
- Pups of all skill levels welcome
Conclusion
We’ve only scratched the surface of the fun off-leash dog parks in Minnesota. Many small towns and park districts have other places to run your pup. Make sure to be a responsible pet owner and pick up after your pet. We are so grateful these places exist. We can’t think of many better ways to provide valuable mental stimulation and socialization opportunities for your canine best friend.
Featured Image Credit: Roman Seliutin, Shutterstock
