Dog-Friendly Parks Near Little River

1) Lemon City Park 

27 NE 58TH ST, Miami, FL 33130 

Welcome to Lemon City Park, a solid choice for some exercise/walkathon sessions with your dog under a bit of sunshine, just 3 minutes from Little River.

This neighborhood park has plenty of space to move around—wide-open greens, a basketball court, shaded sitting areas, and a full rec center.

Here, families often gather after school for youth programs or laid-back outdoor time, and the lake view gives it a peaceful, tucked-away feel.

Dogs are welcome on a leash, so bring yours along for a walk, a sniff, or just to soak in the breeze beneath the trees.

3) Manatee Bend Park (Top-Pick!)

465 NE 77th Street Rd, Miami, FL 33138 

On the banks of the historic Little River, wedged up against the bustling neighborhood of Miami Ironside, sits a patch of grass where you can lie about and let your dog run around near Little River.

Welcome to Manatee Bend Park, a 1.2-acre park with open green spaces and fields right on the river, with tall trees that cover more than half of it under shade, located just 4 minutes away. 

Here, dog lovers and their pups can stroll its small, partly-shaded looping concrete trail, perimeter sidewalk, and a concrete trail that follows along the river's edge. 

It offers benches along the edge of the grass and a rocky shore that descends into the water.

One of the best features of this park is the fact that you can view manatees at this park. 

With picnic tables and benches available, there is plenty of room to sit and relax on the shore, where you can view hordes of sea cows relaxing in the water.

Due to this, doggie visitors must remain on a leash while at Manatee Bend Park.

5) Eaton Park

460 NE 61st St, Miami, FL 33137 

Need a quick place to let your dog sniff, stroll, or sit in the shade? Eaton Park gives you the perfect spot sans the exhausting commute, just 4 minutes from Little River.

This compact Upper East Side park includes a basketball court, a multipurpose lawn, picnic tables, and a few shaded corners to catch your breath.

It's a practical stop if you're looking for a clean, leash-friendly space between errands—or just somewhere to get some fresh air with your four-legged sidekick.

7) Legion Park (Top-Pick!)

6447 NE 7th Ave, Miami, FL 33138

A vast park only a 6-minute drive from Little River, Legion Park is home to the famous Legion Dog Park, where you can bring Fido for an off-leash adventure in Miami.

At Legion Park, you'll have seven acres of open spaces for your pup to explore-- on a leash. 

The park also has picnic tables & barbecue areas, a boat ramp, outdoor gym equipment, a kiddie playground, and a dedicated dog park with a drinking fountain where your dog can enjoy free play with its furry pals. 

Best of all, Legion Park is on the waterfront, which sets the mood altogether!

9) Baywood Park

496 NE 71st St., Miami, FL 33138

A small but lovely park in the Upper Eastside neighborhood of the Bayside Historic District, Baywood Park is a straightforward nature spot loved by locals and dog owners alike, just 7 minutes from Little River.

At Baywood Park, you'll find plenty of parking, peace, and a beautiful waterfront view overlooking Biscayne Bay, Bird Key, and Legion Picnic Islands. 

And while it doesn't offer many amenities aside from benches, nor does it have an expansive green space, you can walk Fido around the park, read a book, enjoy the plentiful marine and bird life in the area, or simply enjoy some quiet time with your pup amidst nature.

As a safety precaution, don't forget to bring a leash for your dog when you visit.

11) Military Trail Park (Top-Pick!)

825 NE 89th St, Miami, FL 33138 

Sitting right on the shore's edge is the Military Trail Park, a grassy, expansive park with winding footpaths, benches, and a fenced-off dog area just 8 minutes from Little River.

The park is a bustling and blooming area with tall trees, a gorgeous grassy lawn, trails, and a small gravel parking area on the south side, which is connected to a dedicated dog park by a paved pathway.

At the dog park, you'll find separate areas for large and small dogs, with grass terrain and shade. 

Dog owners will have to pass through a double-gated entrance into the park. 

Dog park amenities include benches, a 5-foot high chainlink fence, a water fountain for humans, kids, and dogs, cleanup stations, and trash bins for use.

Meanwhile, at Military Trail Park, dogs on leashes can explore its entirety, where you can enjoy a shaded playground, picnic tables, a .4-mile trail made from concrete, benches, and water fountains near the play area. 

It's a great area to walk around in a loop to get away from the active dog center of the park.

Don't forget to bring a leash!

13) Moore Park

765 NW 36th St, Miami, FL 33127 

Moore Park is another top recreational park you can visit in Allapattah, just 10 minutes from Little River.

Expansive and brimming with facilities, Moore Park features a basketball court, football field, outdoor gym equipment, picnic area, running track, outdoor sports area, and tennis courts.

The park was also recently renovated to create a new town center for the northeast corner of the Allapattah neighborhood.

It is now home to a newly improved community center that offers administrative offices and multipurpose spaces equipped with a commercial kitchen for catering, computer rooms, arts & crafts rooms, and exercise rooms.

Moore Park offers a daycare center with an outdoor playground area and childcare services, too!

The good news is you won't have to leave your buddy at your accommodation when you visit Moore Park-- all you need to do is make sure it's on a leash, and you'll be all set to go!