Best Miami-Dade County Parks for Families

A day at the park in Greater Miami and Miami Beach is a worthy option when you want to enjoy some family time outdoors, but need a break from the beach and direct sunshine. You can find parks in Miami in plenty of popular neighborhoods. No matter where you’re staying, there’s a park that has it all within reach. As you plan your next trip, consider these Miami parks to enjoy a picnic, bike ride, trail walk or kid-friendly playground time.

Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah

A spacious 515 acres, Amelia Earhart Park in Miami’s Hialeah neighborhood offers fun both on land and the water. Start at the farm village to visit the petting zoo (the kids can take pony rides, too) and then hit the skate park, biking trails and the 5-acre bark park with your pup. What sets this park apart from the rest, though, is the 90-acre freshwater lake, home to the Miami Watersports Complex, where everyone can paddleboard, wakeboard, wakesurf, waterski, kneeboard – there are coaches and cable assistance available for beginners.

Doral Central Park in Doral

An 82-acre oasis, Doral Central Park is one of the largest parks in Doral. There’s a trail just shy of 1 mile if you want to take a leisurely stroll or jog, along with an exercise station to support strength training. Throw an afternoon picnic and fire up the grills – there are picnic benches to rent – or set up a scenic spot along the lake. If you need to cool off, the water park is nice and refreshing on a hot day.

Tropical Park in Westchester 

The former site of Tropical Park Race Track, the 275-acre Tropical Park in the Westchester neighborhood, is located off the Palmetto Expressway and Bird Road. If you’re looking for fun things to do, open lawn areas lend to endless frisbee and access to more active sports, like basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, pickleball and racquetball. There’s also an exercise course and fitness zones, plus a 2-acre, off-leash dog park.

Covered picnic areas and shelters give you a home base for a full day of fun – from the Equestrian Center to the Boxing Center, along with spending time paddling or fishing on one of 4 lakes. On Saturdays, make a stop by the Bird Road entrance from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Southwest Community Farmer’s Market for picnic produce.

A.D. (Doug) Barnes Park in Southwest Miami

Located in Southwest Miami, off the Bird Road thoroughfare, the 65-acre A.D. (Doug) Barnes Park is a haven for nature lovers. Unplug and explore the family-friendly native forest habitats, including a 15-acre wilderness with a hardwood hammock and pine rockland, great for a hiking excursion rich with wildlife, including white-tailed deer, zebra long-wing butterflies and plenty of bird species. Alternatively, spend time casting a rod at the fishing lake or hit the jogging trails.

If the kids love to swim, the 25-meter, 6-lane heated pool will entertain them for hours, as will the playground when it’s time to resurface. If you want to make it an overnight, you can book weekend reservations for the campground or 2 fully equipped cabins – there’s room for 20 guests per cabin.

Greynolds Park in North Miami Beach

Slightly inland and equidistant to both Sunny Isles Beach and Oleta River State Park, 249-acre Greynolds Park, nestled in North Miami Beach, is known for its limestone rock structures – it was once the site of a rock quarry. Today, the expansive park is known as a popular picnic and playground spot for locals. If you’re looking for things to do in Miami with kids, you can go biking, strolling and running along the nature trails. Ask about family-friendly nature tours for guided exploration.

A short distance away at East Greynolds Park (near the Ancient Spanish Monastery), you can fish, paddle and go birding with scenes of the Oleta River. Camp Greynolds provides a comfortable refuge for families who want to use the overnight camping facility and cabins, plus there’s a bathhouse and mess hall for larger groups that can be reserved in advance.

Veterans Park in Miami Lakes

For a shorter or more targeted visit, Veterans Park, which encompasses the Mary Collins Community Center, is a “passive park” in Miami Lakes. It may not offer as much space or as many activities as others on our list, but it has 2 pavilions for family gatherings, a half-court basketball court, a playground for the young ones, an illuminated walking path and both a progressive ENERGI Total Body Fitness System and Lifetrail Advanced Wellness System if you want to get some movement in.

Peacock Park in Coconut Grove

Spanning more than 9 acres, Peacock Park in Coconut Grove is an awesome family-friendly sports venue if your clan wants to play basketball, softball, soccer or kickball in the open field. There’s also a playground, and if you need a break from the heat, the recreation building has ping-pong and foosball tables inside. But time spent outside is more rewarding, thanks to the boardwalk bridge that overlooks scenic Biscayne Bay. You can take advantage of free yoga or visit Glass and Vine, a restaurant inside the park’s own Glass House.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas Ocean Beach Park in Miami Beach

Located on 3rd Street and Ocean Drive, Marjory Stoneman Douglas Park in Miami Beach offers a quaint and fenced stop near the beach for the kids within a larger multipurpose public park area. This Miami Beach park is the perfect stop between Miami activities. It has a playground split into distinct sections for kids ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12. There are public restrooms available, as well as a water fountain, and it's built to be accessible to all.

Rolling Oaks Park in Miami Gardens

Shady oak trees and lush greenery make Rolling Oaks Park in Miami Gardens a nice atmosphere for a family stroll along the walking trail, complemented by the community garden. Active families can play basketball, tennis or pickleball together. There are grills available to curate the perfect picnic or barbecue – along with pavilions – plus playgrounds, a putting green and an outdoor fitness area to keep everyone busy, depending on their preference.

Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami

Famous for hosting Ultra Music Festival and a rotating roster of concerts in its iconic bandshell, as well as EEEEEATSCON Miami, Bayfront Park is a well-known hub in Downtown Miami, situated along Biscayne Bay. It’s also a great option if you want to spend time together in the city center between sightseeing.

Don’t miss the storied artworks, monuments and landmarks, including a sculpture by Isamu Noguchi, the World War II Veterans Memorial, the Mildred and Claude Pepper Fountain, the Centennial Time Capsule and more. Stroll the wide baywalk and sandy beach area, take a bike ride or spread a blanket under one of the many trees. You can even curate a picnic with to-go goodies from neighboring Bayside Marketplace, a must-visit on your next vacation.

Kids ages 5 to 12 will love playing at the Lee & Tina Hills Playground at the south end of the park, complete with a pirate ship and nautical elements like a play sculpture with waves and sea creatures, plus bouncers, climbing areas and slides to round out the visit.