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Smothers Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,733 Google reviews · Running trail in Owensboro, Kentucky · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Smothers 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.
Park with a water-play area & a playground, plus 3 signature fountains with a show every 15 minutes.
What runners say about Smothers Park
“The riverfront views are beautiful, the fountains and playground are top notch, and the whole area is clean, relaxing, and family friendly.”
“The riverfront views are beautiful, the fountains and playground are top notch, and the whole area is clean, relaxing, and family friendly.”
“The entire riverfront is serene, clean, and a child's dream come true.”
What an incredible playground park for kids in the 3-12 range. It’s massive first off, with tons of rooms for a lot of kids. It’s got a lot of character too with huge trees you can explore and walk through, rope bridges, climbing walls- and of course complete with a splash pad.
Easily one of the nicest & well-maintained public parks I’ve seen in some time. There are multiple swing/slide options, plenty of obstacles to climb & everything throughout the play area is padded pretty well. The splash pad was also a hit with our kiddo, which is open between Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Such a nice riverfront walk. We enjoyed the water features, the porch style swings with a view of the river and the nicely paved walkway which makes it easy to explore. There is even a large playground along with a splash pad for the kiddos, nestled right next to concession stands full of refreshment options.
Blows my hometown "The River City" out of the water. The entire riverfront is serene, clean, and a child's dream come true. Water fountains with cool shooting and cascading features. 2 dozen large swings right on the river, massive playground, and plenty of room for everyone. Worth a family day trip.
Trail conditions & character
“The riverfront views are beautiful, the fountains and playground are top notch, and the whole area is clean, relaxing, and family friendly.”
“Lots of seating, restrooms, walking distance to nearby restaurants.”
“The entire riverfront is serene, clean, and a child's dream come true.”
“Splash pad, beautiful view of Ohio River and bridge that is lit up at night with multi colors.”
“Water fountains with cool shooting and cascading features.”
Plan your run at Smothers 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.
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadrestrooms, water — reported by runners
- Websiteowensboroparks.org
- Phone(270) 687-8333
Hours
| Monday | 7 AM–10 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–10 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–10 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–10 PM |
| Friday | 7 AM–10 PM |
| Saturday | 7 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday | 7 AM–10 PM |
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