Salem Woods Dog Park
Salem Woods Dog Park is a park in Kempsville, Virginia Beach, best for off-leash exercise in the Kempsville/Centerville area, separating small and large dogs.
The fifth of Virginia Beach's free public dog parks, and the one furthest into the Kempsville-Centerville suburbs: a 1.72-acre fenced facility divided into two sections so small and large dogs can be split up, shaded by mature trees. It rounds out the city's dog-park network alongside Bayville Farms, Marshview, Red Wing, and Woodstock — all free, all fenced, all built around the same off-leash-in-designated-areas model.
- Dog Friendly
- Free
Amenities
- Two fenced off-leash sections (1.72 acres total)
- Shade trees
- Surrounding park path and green space
Know Before You Go
- Best for: off-leash exercise in the Kempsville/Centerville area, separating small and large dogs
- Parking: Free lot off Salem Road.
- Accessibility: Level, fenced enclosures reached from the park's lot.
- Dogs: allowed — Off-leash allowed inside the two fenced sections; leash required elsewhere on the grounds per citywide park rules.
- Location: 1525 Salem Rd, Virginia Beach, VA
Last verified 2026-07-11.
More Parks Nearby
Woodstock Dog Park
Kempsville's off-leash option: a one-acre fenced area inside Woodstock Park where small and large dogs play together in a single shared enclosure — worth…
- Dog Friendly
- Free
Bayville Farms Dog Park
The best-equipped of Virginia Beach's five free public dog parks: Bayville Farms offers three separate fenced areas so small and large dogs can be split up,…
- Dog Friendly
- Free
Marshview Dog Park
The closest fenced off-leash park to the Resort Strip — critical local knowledge in summer, when dogs are banned from the resort sand all day. Marshview's dog…
- Dog Friendly
- Free
Red Wing Dog Park
The city dog park closest to the southern beaches, set inside 97-acre Red Wing Park on General Booth Boulevard. One acre of off-leash space is split into two…
- Dog Friendly
- Free
While You're in the Area
Back Bay's Farmhouse Brewing Co.
Farmhouse taproom on Kempsville Road pouring both beer and cider, with big outdoor grounds, food trucks, an on-site market, and a coffee shop.
- Outdoor Seating
- Family Friendly
Docker's Karaoke Pub
Family-owned Holland Road pub since 1993 with a dedicated stage and karaoke every night of the week.
- Happy Hour
- Live Music
- Hidden Gem
Fiesta Kainan
Authentic Filipino kitchen on Indian River Road in Kempsville — adobo, pancit, kare-kare, and a halo-halo dessert case.
- Family Friendly
- Hidden Gem
J&K Style Grill
Family-owned Kempsville grill famous for the original Waffle Burger, ranch-jerk wings, and gourmet egg rolls.
- Family Friendly
- Hidden Gem
Kelly's Tavern — Kempsville
Kempsville location of the Hampton Roads tavern chain known for its Award Winning Craft Burgers and family-friendly pub menu.
- Family Friendly
Krossroads Rock and Country Bar
Family-run Pleasant Valley Road bar built around live rock and country bands, with Music Bingo, karaoke, and trivia filling the rest of the week.
- Live Music
- Open Late
Upcoming Events Nearby
Autumn in the Air
November 7, 2026 · annual
A newer addition to the city's Parks & Recreation calendar, this single-day fall festival takes over Mount Trashmore Park with folk, americana, and rock bands on an outdoor stage, food and drink for purchase, and activities scattered across the lakefront lawn. Now in its third year, it's grown into the city's answer to a proper autumn street festival without the Oceanfront crowds -- bring a lawn chair or blanket, since tents and large coolers aren't allowed in the event area. Free admission and parking make it an easy afternoon add for anyone already in Kempsville.
Mount Trashmore July 4th Celebration
July 4, 2027 · annual
Virginia Beach's inland Independence Day tradition fills Mount Trashmore Park -- the converted landfill hill that gives the park its name -- with live music, food trucks, and family activities before a fireworks show over the lake at 9:30pm. It's the free, low-key alternative to the Oceanfront's Stars & Stripes Celebration the same night, drawing families from the Kempsville and Town Center side of the city who'd rather skip beach traffic. Free admission and free parking, with the park's grassy hill doubling as a natural amphitheater for the fireworks.
Town Center Summer Fest Music Series
May 22, 2026 – September 7, 2026 · seasonal (nightly concerts, late May-early September)
The Central Business District Association's free concert series takes over Town Center's Fountain Plaza most nights from late May through early September, with cover bands, tribute acts, and local musicians playing against the backdrop of the plaza's high-rises. Restaurants ringing the plaza put out sidewalk seating within earshot of the stage, turning a weeknight downtown into an impromptu outdoor show. It's the closest thing Virginia Beach's inland downtown has to the Oceanfront's summer concert culture -- free, walkable, and parked in the Town Center garages rather than beach lots.