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Tom Bennett Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 734 Google reviews · Running trail in Bradenton, Florida · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
1.2 mi
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Tree cover
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Tom Bennett 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.

Mixed1.2 miOpen 24hShadedScenicDog-friendlyStroller / ADAFlat & fastRestroomsWaterTrailhead parkingQuiet

Large, serene, clean open space, offering a playground with picnic tables and trails, plus a lake for fishing.

What runners say about Tom Bennett Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (734 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 7 mentions

“Visitors appreciate its clean facilities from restrooms to picnic areas with staff praised for superb upkeep.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 7 mentions

“Overall, the park is beautiful with paved walking trails, nature, volleyball, fitness equipment & disc golf.”

🌳 shaded & cool 5 mentions

“There are many tree groves with benches to sit in the shade as well as barbques with a nearby picnic table sprinkled around amongst the groves.”

🪧 well-marked 2 mentions

“The courses are well marked with concrete pads to throw from and boards that show the length of the hole and direction.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“All told, Tom Bennett Park delivers a thoughtful blend of active fun and natural calm, making it an excellent destination for families, fitness buffs, and nature lovers alike.”

Tom Bennett Park in Bradenton is a well‑maintained, multi‑use gem offering roughly 200 acres of recreation and natural beauty. Centrally located near I‑75, it’s easy to reach and open daily from sunrise to sunset.

★★★★★ — Serge , Jul 2025

I took my kids here to see what was going on I found an amazing park. Plenty of trails to walk wildlife is awesome I think this is one of the biggest disc golf courses I've ever seen also which was around the park and it's so close to 75 you think you would hear a lot of noise butit is fairly quiet.

★★★★★ — Char , Oct 2023

Great place for various activities if you want a volleyball court, disc golf course, playground, pavilion with restrooms, bike and walking paths or nature trails this place is for you. Something for everyone from kids to the adults and spread out enough no one is on top of each other .

★★★★★ — Doug , Oct 2025

Big park with hiking trails that are mostly paved with some shade. They have everything here: restrooms, plenty of parking , playground, volleyball, picnic tables, canoe launch, fishing, frisbee golf course. Lots of wildlife and benches around the water.

★★★★★ — Mike , Aug 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 734 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.

🏞️ Scenic views 8 mentions

“Overall, the park is beautiful with paved walking trails, nature, volleyball, fitness equipment & disc golf.”

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🚻 Restrooms 7 mentions

“They have everything here: restrooms, plenty of parking , playground, volleyball, picnic tables, canoe launch, fishing, frisbee golf course.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 7 mentions

“2-mile looping trail meanders through the grounds, offering a perfect, wheelchair-friendly route for runners, walkers, and dog walkers (on-leash, of course!”

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🛣️ Paved surface 6 mentions

“The courses are well marked with concrete pads to throw from and boards that show the length of the hole and direction.”

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🌳 Shaded / tree cover 5 mentions

“There are many tree groves with benches to sit in the shade as well as barbques with a nearby picnic table sprinkled around amongst the groves.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“They have everything here: restrooms, plenty of parking , playground, volleyball, picnic tables, canoe launch, fishing, frisbee golf course.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“Keep an eye out for wading birds and enjoy the serene escape from the everyday.”

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Flat & fast 2 mentions

“Forget everything you think you know about local parks—Tom Bennett Park is on another level.”

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Stroller / ADA accessible 5 mentions

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🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone

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🚰 Water fountains

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Plan your run at Tom Bennett Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • Distance1.2 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit
  • ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websitemymanatee.org
  • Phone(941) 742-5923
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

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 Tom Bennett Park

400 Cypress Creek Blvd, Bradenton, FL 34208

Get directions

Running trails near Bradenton

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

Heritage Harbour Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 150 reviews

Bradenton, FL

ShadedScenicDog-friendly

Nature-lovers' delight with baseball, soccer and disk golf facilities, as well as picnic spots.

1.2 miles away

Creekwood Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 451 reviews

Bradenton, FL

ShadedDog-friendly

Community area providing an off-leash dog park, playground, picnic pavilion & open green space.

3.0 miles away

Palmetto Estuary Preservation Project

4.3 ★★★★☆ 128 reviews

Palmetto, FL

LoopBoardwalkScenicDog-friendly

Dog-friendly nature preserve featuring picnic tables, a playground, and scenic water views.

4.9 miles away

Buffalo Creek Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 486 reviews

Palmetto, FL

6 miLoopPavedDog-friendly

Local park with lit baseball, soccer, football & little league fields, playgrounds & a pavilion.

5.0 miles away

Riverwalk

4.7 ★★★★★ 5,266 reviews

Bradenton, FL

MixedLitScenicDog-friendly

Picturesque riverside park for strolling & enjoying the sights, with a playground & benches.

5.2 miles away

Palmetto Living Seawall Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 100 reviews

Palmetto, FL

Scenic

Park featuring opportunities for fishing and watching wildlife like manatees.

5.4 miles away

All running trails in Bradenton, FL →

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.