Park · Napa, Napa Valley

Shurtleff Park picnic guide

Picnics welcomeNo alcoholFree entry

Aerial view of Shurtleff Park and its surroundings — From above: circled is where directions lead. USDA aerial imagery, public domain.

Can you picnic at Shurtleff Park?

Yes — Shurtleff Park has picnic areas open to the public. No reservation is needed for the picnic area. Fee: Free. Alcohol isn't allowed here.

Checked September 2026 from cityofnapa.orgBased on consistent published sources

Picnic rules at a glance

Picnicking: Picnics welcome
Bring your own food: Allowed
Alcohol: Not allowed
Purchase required: No
Reservation: Not required
Fee: Free
Groups: No reservable picnic sites; tables are first-come.
Dogs: Designated off-leash dog area (one of three in the city, with Alston and part of Kennedy Park); leash dogs elsewhere and keep them out of playgrounds.
Hours: Daily sunrise to sunset
Season: Open year-round.
House rules: Alcohol: not allowed.
City of Napa parks ban alcohol except by permit at reserved picnic sites in a handful of other parks, and glass containers, smoking, amplified music, camping and fires or grills are not allowed.

What the picnic area is like

A neighborhood park in east Napa with picnic tables and one of the city's only three designated off-leash dog areas, which makes it a picnic spot for dog owners more than for groups.

Picnic tables

Good for: Dogs · Budget-friendly · Quiet

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About Shurtleff Park

Shurtleff Park is a simple east Napa neighborhood park where picnic tables sit next to a city off-leash dog area. No alcohol, glass or grills.

Designated off-leash dog area
First-come picnic tables
Free
No alcohol, glass or grills

More dog-friendly spots in Napa Valley More free spots in Napa Valley

Make a day of it

Stock up at a deli nearby, then picnic close by — a short, easy loop.

Sweetie Pies Bakery
Deli & market · Napa · about 1.9 mi away
Shurtleff Park (this park)
Park · Napa
Skyline Wilderness Park
Park · Napa · about 0.9 mi away

Pick up picnic food nearby

Sweetie Pies Bakery
Napa · 1 mi
Loveski Deli
Napa · 2 mi
Fatted Calf
Napa · 2 mi

More picnic spots nearby

From above

Park

Skyline Wilderness Park

Napa· 0.7 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationDogs OK

A foothill wilderness park on Napa's southeast edge, on State land leased to Napa County and run since 1983 by the nonprofit Skyline Park Citizens Association. Most people come for its roughly 25 miles of hiking, biking and horse trails, but the entrance area also has picnic grounds, a rentable group picnic area with a cook shack, camping, disc golf and a native plant garden.

Skyline Wilderness Park

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026

Own food: yes
Wine allowed: not confirmed
Reservation: Not needed
Dogs: Outside
Fee: $6/vehicle

Nearest picnic food: Sweetie Pies Bakery · 2.2 mi

Details

From above

Park

John F. Kennedy Memorial Park (Kennedy Park)

Napa· 2 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationNo alcoholDogs OK

Kennedy Park is the city's go-to spot for big group picnics, with covered pavilions and more reservable sites than any other Napa park. It also has a Napa River boat launch, a river trail, ball fields and a skate park. It's free to drop in, but you can only drink here with a reserved site and a city alcohol permit.

John F. Kennedy Memorial Park (Kennedy Park)

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026

Own food: yes
Wine allowed: no
Reservation: Not needed
Dogs: Outside
Fee: Free entry

Nearest picnic food: Fivetown Grocery (The Meritage Resort) · 1.6 mi

Details

From above

Park

Veterans Memorial Park

Napa· 2 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationNo alcoholDogs OK

This downtown riverfront park is the most convenient patch of grass for a quick takeout lunch between Main Street tasting rooms. It's a lawn-and-steps spot with river views, not a table-and-grill park, and drinking there is not allowed.

Veterans Memorial Park

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026

Own food: yes
Wine allowed: no
Reservation: Not needed
Dogs: Yes
Fee: Free entry

Nearest picnic food: Napa Farmers Market · 0.1 mi

Details

Park

Oxbow Commons

Napa· 2 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationNo alcoholDogs OK

Oxbow Commons is the open green between downtown Napa and the Oxbow district. Buy food at Oxbow Public Market across the street, then spread a blanket by the river. There are no listed tables or grills, and the city bans alcohol here.

Oxbow Commons

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026

Own food: yes
Wine allowed: no
Reservation: Not needed
Dogs: Yes
Fee: Free entry

Nearest picnic food: Fatted Calf · 0.1 mi

Details

All picnic spots in Napa →

Frequently asked questions

Can you picnic at Shurtleff Park?

Yes — Shurtleff Park has picnic areas open to the public. No reservation is needed for the picnic area. Fee: Free. Alcohol isn't allowed here.

Can you bring your own food to Shurtleff Park?

Yes. Outside food is allowed at Shurtleff Park.

Can you drink wine at Shurtleff Park?

No, alcohol isn't allowed at Shurtleff Park.

Do you need a reservation to picnic at Shurtleff Park?

No reservation is needed to use the picnic area. No reservable picnic sites; tables are first-come.

Is there a fee to picnic at Shurtleff Park?

Free.

Are dogs allowed at Shurtleff Park?

Designated off-leash dog area (one of three in the city, with Alston and part of Kennedy Park); leash dogs elsewhere and keep them out of playgrounds.

Sources & accuracy

We last checked this listing in September 2026 (freshest source: City facility and parks pages live Sept 2026 (undated)). Policies change — especially for groups and holidays — so confirm with Shurtleff Park before you go. How we verify.

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