ThreeBestRated.com
BEST RATED RALEIGH, NC PUBLIC PARKS

3 Best Public Parks in Raleigh, NC

Expert-recommended Top 3 Public Parks in Raleigh, North Carolina. All of our parks actually face a rigorous 50-Point Inspection, which includes customer reviews, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction, trust, cost and general excellence. You deserve only the best!

Pullen Park - Raleigh, NC Public Parks - Park Image
Pullen Park - Raleigh, NC Public Parks - Adventure Image
Pullen Park - Raleigh, NC Public Parks - Scenic View Image
Best Public Parks in Raleigh NC - Pullen Park video
11+ YEARS IN TBR
CALL EMAIL

PULLEN PARK

(4.9 Score)
520 Ashe Avenue,
Raleigh, NC 27606 Directions

Since 1887

Specialty:

✓ Kids Ground ✓ Open Space ✓ Aquatic Centre ✓ Greeny Fields ✓ Stone Benches ✓ Tennis ✓ Slides ✓ Swings ✓ Playgrounds ✓ Restrooms ✓ Softball Field ✓ Event ✓ Shelters ✓ Sports Conducting ✓ Statues ✓ Gardens ✓ Volleyball ✓ Historic Carousel Rides ✓ Miniature Train Rides ✓ Pedal Boat Rentals ✓ Kiddie Boat Attractions ✓ Large Playground Complexes ✓ Inclusive and Accessible Play Equipment ✓ Sand Play and Music Activity Areas

"Pullen Park spans over 66.4 acres and offers recreational opportunities for everyone. The park offers a unique mix of recreational activities and amusement features that appeal to visitors of all generations. Visitors can enjoy creative and leisure spaces like the theater, arts center, and community building, and pedalboat ride, swimming classes, a ride on the historic Denzel carousel, and sign up for an art class. Pullen Park also has six tennis courts, two athletic fields, a stage and event lawn, a lakeside, and a multi-use area. The park is an ideal destination for families with children, as they can have a lot of fun with the various activities and playgrounds. The park offers walking and jogging trails that adults can also take advantage of. There is a spacious picnic area available for visitors to enjoy.

2026 Update: It stands as a popular community hub for everyone from local students to families, boasting a dedicated arts center, a theatre, rental shelters for picnics, a snack stand, and a multi-use community center. Its vintage carousel, train rides, pedal boats, and kiddie boats create a classic park experience that is difficult to find in many modern city parks. The park’s standout features are its wide variety of activity centers located within the same campus. Visitors can enjoy athletic facilities, arts programs, swimming amenities, playgrounds, and live performances without leaving the park grounds."

Reviews | Play Video | Write a Review

Price:

Park Tickets (Per Person) $2

Contact:

(919) 996-6468 (919) 996-3285

Mon-Sun: 10am - 6pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

Laurel Hills Park - Raleigh, NC Public Parks - Entertainment Image
Laurel Hills Park - Raleigh, NC Public Parks - Outdoor Activity Image
Laurel Hills Park - Raleigh, NC Public Parks - Leisure Activity Image
Best Public Parks in Raleigh NC - Laurel Hills Park video
8+ YEARS IN TBR
CALL EMAIL

LAUREL HILLS PARK

(4.8 Score)
3808 Edwards Mill Road,
Raleigh, NC 27612 Directions

Since 1975

Specialty:

✓ Playing Equipment ✓ Soccer Fields ✓ Restrooms ✓ Fountains ✓ Event Areas ✓ Hiking ✓ Jogging ✓ Stone Benches ✓ Ponds ✓ Playgrounds ✓ Shelters ✓ Walking Trails ✓ Basketball ✓ Volleyball Courts ✓ Slides ✓ Bike Riding ✓ Pavilions ✓ Gardens ✓ Monuments ✓ Picnics ✓ Statues ✓ Waterfalls ✓ Outdoor Basketball Courts ✓ Youth Baseball Fields ✓ Multipurpose Sports Field ✓ Pond and Scenic Nature Area ✓ Walking Trails and Boardwalk Areas ✓ Picnic Shelter With Grills

"Laurel Hills Park is a multi-purpose park that has a community center, playground, sports fields, ponds, and walking trails. The park has an elaborate wooden play structure of tunnels, towers, swings, bridges, and rings built over soft sand. In the park, the playground is designed for inclusive play for kids of all physical capabilities. Also, the park has a new recreation center, picnic area, kids' ground, athletic fields, and a large pond. Laurel Hills Park is a great park with lots of activities for people. There are a lot of benches and some picnic tables around the park. The park has ample free parking available.

2026 Update: Laurel Hills Park's standout attractions are the Sassafras All Children’s Playground, an inclusive play area created so children of different physical abilities can enjoy the space together. The playground includes wheelchair-accessible structures and interactive equipment that encourage social and sensory play. The park also features a peaceful pond and a surrounding nature area that provides a quieter experience away from the athletic sections of the property. Walking trails, observation points, and educational seating areas create a relaxing atmosphere for families, walkers, and nature enthusiasts."

Reviews | Play Video | Write a Review
License #0359763

Price:

Outdoor Basketball Court Onehour $40
Outdoor Basketball Courttwohour $40
Picnic Shelter $15hour

Contact:

(919) 996-2383 (984) 464-4738

Mon-Fri: 10am - 9pm
Sat: 9am - 3pm
Sun: 1pm - 6pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

Millbrook Exchange Park - Raleigh, NC Public Parks - Outdoor Activity Image
Millbrook Exchange Park - Raleigh, NC Public Parks - Leisure Activity Image
Millbrook Exchange Park - Raleigh, NC Public Parks - Visitor Experience Image
Best Public Parks in Raleigh NC - Millbrook Exchange Park video
8+ YEARS IN TBR
CALL EMAIL

MILLBROOK EXCHANGE PARK

(4.7 Score)
1905 Spring Forest Road,
Raleigh, NC 27615 Directions

Since 1971

Specialty:

✓ Shelters ✓ Picnic Tables ✓ Slides ✓ Frisbee Fields ✓ Stone Benches ✓ Cycling ✓ Museum ✓ Fountains ✓ Playgrounds ✓ Waterfalls ✓ Kids Play ✓ Restrooms ✓ Statues ✓ Basketball ✓ Playing Equipment ✓ Open Space Areas ✓ Bike Riding ✓ Swings ✓ Tennis ✓ Sports Conducting ✓ Soccer ✓ Open-play Sports Activities ✓ Active Adult Recreation Programs ✓ Fitness ✓ Dance ✓ Art and Technology Classes ✓ Off-leash Dog Park ✓ Separate Dog Areas for Large and Small Pets ✓ Dog Agility Equipment and Water Stations ✓ Picnic Shelters With Grills ✓ Rental Rooms and Event Spaces ✓ Walking and Greenway Trail Access

"Millbrook Exchange Park features over 695 acres of land filled with different sports and hobby centers. Its best feature is that all of these great activities are located together in one easy-to-access spot. Millbrook Exchange Park features the community center, which conducts various classes and programs such as Kenpo Karate, STEM classes, and art programming for all ages, including homeschooled students. Millbrook Exchange Park has a fitness center, a facility, a wading pool, and a spray ground. The park has tennis courts, a swimming pool, a dog park, basketball courts, baseball and softball fields, great parking, and vast visitor space. The park offers free parking.

2026 Update: Millbrook Exchange Park is especially well known for its tennis facilities. The on-site tennis center serves as Raleigh’s flagship public tennis venue and includes 23 hard-surface courts with lighting for evening play. The park conducts activity programs, matches, tennis sessions, and gatherings. Another standout attraction is Millbrook Exchange Dog Park, recognized as Raleigh’s oldest off-leash dog park. The dog recreation area is divided into different sections based on pet size and also provides obstacle features, resting spots with shade, access to drinking water, and illumination for visitors during later hours."

Reviews | Play Video | Write a Review

Price:

Park Gymnasium Capacity 300hour $85
Park Room One Capacity49 Hour $65
Park Room Twocapacity49hour $65

Contact:

(919) 996-4156

Mon-Fri: 10am - 9pm
Sat: 9am - 3pm
Sun: 1pm - 6pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

Video

Write a Review for Millbrook Exchange Park

Our Review Process:

  • All reviews matter:We publish both positive and negative reviews to provide a balanced perspective.
  • No censorship: Businesses cannot pay to remove or modify negative reviews.
  • Verification process: All reviews are checked for authenticity and compliance with our community guidelines before publication.
  • Fair representation: We display reviews of all ratings (1–5 stars) to help users make informed decisions.
  • Independence: We are not affiliated with the businesses we review and receive no compensation for favorable ratings.

Your honest opinion helps others make better choices. Whether your experience was excellent, average, or disappointing, we want to hear from you. For more details, check Community Review Guidelines.

Contact Business

PULLEN PARK REVIEWS

Pullen Park is a beautiful, clean, and family-friendly spot in Raleigh. The park offers a great mix of fun activities like the charming train ride, paddle boating, and the classic carousel — all at very affordable ticket prices. One of the best parts is that you can bring your own food and have a picnic, or enjoy a meal at the on-site restaurant. Free entry and free parking make it even better. Overall, a perfect place to relax, play, and spend quality time with family.

We love bringing the dogs here for walks and socialization! The park is kept very clean and they have cool events sometimes with art installations or light installations. The park itself is free, including free parking.

Fun City Park with great playgrounds, a beautiful pond, and a few fun rides. Air conditioning in the bathrooms is really nice on a humid day. Lots of picnic tables and benches scattered around in the shade. And beautiful trees and flowers. Add to a calm serene environment.

These reviews are provided for information purposes and to help you make informed decisions.

To share your experience, click here or send it to reviews@threebestrated.com.

We will display both positive and negative reviews. All submitted reviews are published after verification for authenticity and compliance with our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Community Review Guidelines.

LAUREL HILLS PARK REVIEWS

We attended this park yesterday. It was close to Childrens Surgery Center my son to have surgery at one and I was trying to come from eating and drinking. This was the place to do that. It was perfect many swings and two swings that went back and forth about 30 feet he loved at the most so many different activities and multiple slides. Kids didn't have to wait to take their return because they were so much this park is very big and clean. I wish it was closer to our city.

This is probably our favorite park! The play structures are amazing, and they even have a set to accommodate wheelchairs. Older kids love the zipline. We like to go here whenever we're in the area.

Amazing park with community center, basketball court, playground, and ample of parking! There is a lovely shelter as well!! You can book for events, especially for kids. Very nice price!.

MILLBROOK EXCHANGE PARK REVIEWS

This is a great off-leash dog park that is open to the public from 7am - 10pm daily. I've been here many times and the place has always had lots of dogs for your dog to play with. Very open and covered with mulch. There are small dog areas as well. They have 2 covered shelters and lots of picnic tables. Help yourself to water and free poop bags. You can make donations when you leave.

The park is nice and clean. It has many bleachers for spectators. I wish the community center stayed open later than 3pm for guests to use the restroom. However, I love the setup with the statistician area separately from the teams.

I'm a combat disabled veteran, this area was easy to navigate and the walking trails are awesome. There's also a swimming pool at this location that offers handicap accessibility.

TBR® Inspection Score Report

PULLEN PARK Total Inspection Points: 117/120
Acknowledgments: 9
Legitimate Ratings: 9
Reviews Accuracy of 11.0K: 9
Business Hours: 10
Business Images: 10
Contact Info: 10
Exact Services: 10
Experience: 10
Page Maintenance: 10
Social Media: 10
Video: 10
Website Source: 10

TBR® Inspection Score Report

LAUREL HILLS PARK Total Inspection Points: 115/120
Legitimate Ratings: 8
Acknowledgments: 9
Reviews Accuracy of 1.8K: 9
Website Source: 9
Business Hours: 10
Contact Info: 10
Exact Services: 10
Experience: 10
Location Proximity: 10
Social Media: 10
Video: 10
Website Standard: 10

TBR® Inspection Score Report

MILLBROOK EXCHANGE PARK Total Inspection Points: 103/120
Acknowledgments: 8
Legitimate Ratings: 8
Reviews Accuracy of 1.3K: 8
Website Source: 9
Business Hours: 10
Business Images: 10
Contact Info: 10
Exact Services: 10
Experience: 10
Location Proximity: 10
Video: 10
: