Arlington County lists 159 parks, 10 dog parks and two nature centers. County parks are open sunrise to sunset; the W&OD Trail is open 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Facts on this page come from Arlington County’s Find a Park, Dog Parks, Nature Centers and park rules pages, and from NOVA Parks.
Arlington County’s park finder lists 159 parks, from quarter-acre neighborhood greens to the 100-acre Glencarlyn Park, plus 10 dog parks and two nature centers. Unless a park posts other hours, county parks and unlit play areas are open sunrise to sunset. To report a problem in a park, call park maintenance at 703-228-6525; for weather closures of fields and courts, call the inclement weather line, 703-228-4715.
What this means for you
- Find a park, playground, court or field by name or feature on the county’s park finder, which also filters for accessible features.
- Dogs must be leashed everywhere in the county except inside a dog park.
- Programs and classes are listed on the Parks and Recreation events calendar.
Big parks worth knowing
- Glencarlyn Park, 301 S. Harrison St. A secluded 100-acre park with two picnic shelters, nature trails and connections to the Four Mile Run and W&OD trails. Parking is limited. It is home to Long Branch Nature Center.
- Alcova Heights Park, 901 S. George Mason Drive. 13 acres with a picnic shelter, restrooms, a playground, a diamond field, a basketball court and a sand volleyball court.
- Benjamin Banneker Park, 1680 N. Sycamore St. 12.5 grassy acres with two playgrounds, one for preschoolers and one for school-age children, with a balance course, rock climbing and slides. It also has a dog park.
- Arlington Hall West Park, 290 S. Taylor St. Seven acres with a playground and a picnic area with a grill.
- Arlington Junction Park, 1051 S. Eads St., the county’s first official park in Crystal City, a series of garden rooms along 11th Street South.
- Potomac Overlook Regional Park, a 67-acre NOVA Parks park in North Arlington (22207) with miles of trails, interpretive displays and an organic garden.
Nature centers
| Nature center | Address | What’s there |
|---|---|---|
| Long Branch | 625 S. Carlin Springs Road (Glencarlyn Park) | Exhibits, a children’s Discovery Room, live animals, gardens, a viewing pond, a Nature Discovery Area |
| Gulf Branch | 3608 N. Military Road | Natural and cultural history exhibits, live animals, pollinator gardens, a vernal pond, a restored 19th-century log cabin |
Naturalists lead walks and family programs at both most weeks. This month’s include a Fall Owl Prowl at Long Branch on Friday, Oct. 23, and owl and pumpkin programs on Saturday, Oct. 31. Registration is through the county’s program site.
Trails
- W&OD Trail. The paved Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park trail runs 45 miles from Shirlington to Purcellville on an old railroad bed. NOVA Parks, which owns it, counts more than 2 million users a year. It is open 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily all year. In Arlington, the trail parallels South Four Mile Run Drive near Shirlington and runs through Glencarlyn Park. NOVA Parks W&OD page.
- Four Mile Run Trail follows the stream past Glencarlyn Park and Allie S. Freed Park, next to Barcroft Park, and links with the W&OD and Lucky Run trails.
- Custis, Mount Vernon and Arlington Boulevard trails are part of the county’s bike network; see our getting around guide for links and the county’s trail projects.
Dog parks
All 10 open at sunrise. Closing times differ.
| Dog park | Address | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Towers | 801 S. Scott St. | 10 p.m. (lighted) |
| Gateway (interim) | 1300 Langston Blvd. | 10 p.m. (lighted) |
| Fort Barnard | 2101 S. Pollard St. | 9 p.m. |
| James Hunter | 1230 N. Hartford St. | 9 p.m. |
| Fort Ethan Allen | 3829 N. Stafford St. | Half hour after sunset |
| Utah | 3191 S. Utah St. | Half hour after sunset |
| Shirlington | 2710 S. Oakland St. | Sunset |
| Glencarlyn (not fully fenced) | 401 S. Harrison St. | Sunset |
| Virginia Highlands (interim) | 1600 S. Hayes St. | Sunset |
| Benjamin Banneker | 1680 N. Sycamore St. | See the county’s page |
The county asks owners to read its dog park rules and its advice on whether dogs should play in streams after storms.
Park rules in brief
- Open sunrise to sunset unless posted otherwise.
- Fires only in facilities built for them, attended and put out before you leave.
- No selling or advertising without a permit.
- On busy courts, give up the court after an hour of singles or 90 minutes of doubles if others are waiting.
Related guides: things to do in Arlington this month, farmers markets and getting around Arlington.
Frequently asked questions
What are the hours for Arlington County parks?
Unless a park posts other hours, county parks and unlit play areas are open sunrise to sunset under the county’s park rules. Lighted dog parks at Towers and Gateway stay open until 10 p.m.
Where are the dog parks in Arlington?
The county runs 10, including Shirlington (2710 S. Oakland St.), Towers (801 S. Scott St.), Gateway (1300 Langston Blvd.), James Hunter (1230 N. Hartford St.), Fort Ethan Allen, Fort Barnard, Glencarlyn, Utah, Benjamin Banneker and Virginia Highlands.
How long is the W&OD Trail?
45 miles, from Shirlington in Arlington to Purcellville. NOVA Parks runs it, and it is open 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily all year.
Does Arlington have nature centers?
Two: Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Road, in Glencarlyn Park, and Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 N. Military Road. Both run naturalist programs most weeks.
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