HomeMassachusettsNew Bedford › Buttonwood Park

Buttonwood Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 1,357 Google reviews · Running trail in New Bedford, Massachusetts · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Buttonwood Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Stroller / ADATrailhead parking

Public space with picnic tables and a playground, plus tennis and basketball courts, and an on-site zoo.

What runners say about Buttonwood Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (1,357 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 3 mentions

“It is clean and many chairs for parents to sit and watch over the kids playing at the playground.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 3 mentions

“Beautiful animals, clean and fun 🤩”

We went to Boo at the Zoo and they did a great job helping everyone stay distant and safe. Everyone was wearing a mask and doing their best to keep 6 ft apart. I love that the park was 1 way. We went earlier in the morning so it wasn't as crowded as afternoon/evening. The animals were up and eating.

★★★★★ — Rachael , Nov 2020

I absolutely love this Park! There's the Zoo which isn't expensive at all but if you're not looking to spend money there's also a great playground the kids will love. There's free parking, basketball courts, lots of picnic tables, a pond with a lot of geese and ducks.

★★★★★ — Ashley , Aug 2018

Nice walking path. Playground for the children's imagined friends, potential real friends and the actual children themselves. These a duck pond utilized by geese, I've also seen a swan. Little bit of wooded area you sometimes see strange people in, hence 4 stars.

★★★★☆ — Shane , Apr 2023

Great park to bring kids to and spend the day at. Also has great paths for walks and let the kids play on the playground. There's a farmers market that's located there as well. Handicapp accessible. Duck/geese pond.

★★★★☆ — Carissa , Aug 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 1,357 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“There's free parking, basketball courts, lots of picnic tables, a pond with a lot of geese and ducks.”

More trails like this →

Stroller / ADA accessible 2 mentions

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Buttonwood Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websitebuttonwoodpark.org
  • Phone(508) 991-6178
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 9 AM–4 PM
Tuesday 9 AM–4 PM
Wednesday 9 AM–4 PM
Thursday 9 AM–4 PM
Friday 9 AM–4 PM
Saturday 9 AM–4 PM
Sunday 9 AM–4 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Buttonwood Park

Rockdale Ave, New Bedford, MA 02740

Get directions

Running trails near New Bedford

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Clasky Common Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 488 reviews

New Bedford, MA

LitScenicDog-friendly

Relaxed park with a playground, sprinklers and a basketball court.

1.4 miles away

New Bedford Covewalk

4.8 ★★★★★ 288 reviews

New Bedford, MA

Scenic

1.8 miles away

DNRT Dodge Reserve

4.4 ★★★★☆ 14 reviews

Dartmouth, MA

41 mi

1.9 miles away

DNRT Paskamansett Woods

4.7 ★★★★★ 125 reviews

Dartmouth, MA

41 miNatural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

A pond-dotted natural area with trails and stone bridges, plus a few tepees.

2.2 miles away

Phoenix Rail Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 40 reviews

Fairhaven, MA

MixedScenic

Bike path and walking trail with scenic views along a former railway.

2.3 miles away

Cushman Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 34 reviews

Fairhaven, MA

2.5 miles away

All running trails in New Bedford, MA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.