Boston Common (Off-Leash Hours)
Boston Common is the oldest public park in the United States, founded in 1634 as a common grazing ground, and the historic head of the Freedom Trail. Under the Boston Parks and Recreation Off-Leash Hours program, dogs can run off-leash from sunrise to 09:00 and from sunset to sunrise on the lawns (not the Frog Pond or the Public Garden side). The morning OLH pack on the Common is one of the city's most reliable dog social scenes, with views to the gold-domed State House and the Granary Burying Ground.
Off-leash zone: All lawn areas during Off-Leash Hours: sunrise to 09:00 daily, and sunset to sunrise. Not the Frog Pond, not the Public Garden across Charles Street. Outside OLH the Common is leash-required.
💡 Come at sunrise on a weekday for the most active OLH pack and the empty Freedom Trail backdrop; the Park Street T stop (Red/Green lines) is at the southeast corner. After 09:00 leash up immediately - the Boston Animal Control patrols the Common at lunch hour.
