By Tucked into northwest Greensboro between the Greensboro Science Center and the Revolutionary War battlefield at Guilford Courthouse, Country Park is the green heart of the city. Across more than 80 wooded acres of trails, picnic groves, and two stocked fishing lakes, it manages to feel like a quiet country escape while sitting minutes from busy Lawndale Drive. Whether you live a few neighborhoods away or you are passing through the Triad, this is the park that locals quietly treat as their backyard.
Why Country Park is worth your time
Country Park is the recreational anchor of the larger Battleground Parks District, a connected 400-acre stretch of more than 13 miles of trails where Greensboro Parks and Recreation, the Greensboro Science Center, and Guilford Courthouse National Military Park sit shoulder to shoulder. Together these neighbors draw close to two million visitors a year, but Country Park itself still feels low-key and unhurried. It is free to enter, open to everyone, and built around two lakes that give the whole place its calm, reflective character.
What sets it apart from a typical neighborhood park is the variety packed into one walkable footprint. You can paddle a boat across the water in the morning, cast a line for catfish in the afternoon, let the kids burn off energy on an accessible playground, and finish with a shaded picnic, all without moving your car. Vehicle traffic is restricted to the parking areas, so once you are inside the park functions as a pedestrian zone, which makes it especially easy with strollers, young cyclists, and dogs.
Things to do at Country Park
Pedal boats on the lake
The seasonal pedal boats are the signature Country Park experience and a rite of passage for Greensboro kids. Boats hold up to five people and rent for $10 for 30 minutes. No reservations are taken: it is first come, first served, with the last boat heading out around 5:30 pm. The city accepts cash and all major cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express) plus tap-to-pay, with no transaction fees.
The pedal boat schedule shifts with the season, so plan around it:
- Weekends only: roughly mid-April through late May
- Daily: late May through late August (peak summer)
- Weekends only: late August through late October
Because exact opening and closing dates move year to year, confirm the current season on the official Country Park page before you go. The boats run weather permitting, so a windy or stormy day can close the dock.
Fishing the lakes
Country Park has two stocked fishing lakes that are popular with families and serious anglers alike. The water holds largemouth bass, crappie, bream (brim), and channel catfish that the city stocks through the season. The lakes are easy to fish from the bank, and the gentle, flat shoreline makes them a friendly spot to introduce a child to fishing. North Carolina fishing regulations apply, so anglers of the appropriate age should carry a valid state fishing license, which you can sort out before you visit.
Trails, walking, and biking
The park is laced with extensive paved and natural trails for jogging, walking, and cycling, and they tie directly into the wider Battleground Parks District network. From Country Park you can connect toward Guilford Courthouse National Military Park and the trails around the Greensboro Science Center, stitching together a much longer loop than the park alone suggests. The mix of lakeside paths and shaded woodland makes it a favorite for everyday runners and dog walkers as well as weekend visitors.
Playground, picnics, and the dog park
There is an accessible children’s playground, plus picnic shelters scattered through the grounds that can be reserved for birthdays, reunions, and group outings. The park is also home to BarkPark, an off-leash dog area, along with the Guilford County Veterans Memorial and a BMX bike course. To reserve a picnic shelter in advance, call the Greensboro Parks and Recreation shelter reservation office at (336) 373-5888 (open 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday); full payment is due when you book.
Make a day of it: the Battleground Parks District
One of the best reasons to visit Country Park is everything sitting right next door. You can build a genuinely full day without leaving this corner of Greensboro.
Greensboro Science Center
A short walk or drive from Country Park, the Greensboro Science Center is a combined aquarium, museum, and zoo at one price. It is located at 4301 Lawndale Drive and is generally open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, with general admission around $11.50 to $12.50 and free entry for ages 2 and under. The Carolina SciQuarium, a 250,000-gallon aquarium with more than 75 species and a cownose ray touch tank, is a highlight, and a carousel sits near the entrance closest to Country Park. Check the center’s hours and prices page for the latest ticketing, since add-on experiences like the OmniSphere theater and ropes course carry separate fees.
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
Just up the road, Guilford Courthouse National Military Park preserves the site of the pivotal March 15, 1781 Revolutionary War battle that helped set the stage for the British surrender at Yorktown. Admission and parking are free. The Visitor Center at 2332 New Garden Road is open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Wednesday through Sunday, with a museum, a battle map program, and a short film; you can also follow a free self-guided audio tour through the NPS app. Reach the park at (336) 288-1776.
Plan your visit to Country Park
- Address: 3905 Nathanael Greene Drive, Greensboro, NC 27455
- Phone: (336) 373-3648
- Hours: Opens daily at 8:00 am, weather permitting
- Admission: Free to enter; some activities (pedal boats, shelter rentals) carry fees
- Website: greensboro-nc.gov Country Park page
- Pedal boats: $10 for 30 minutes (up to 5 people), seasonal, first come first served
- Picnic shelter reservations: (336) 373-5888, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Getting there and parking
Country Park sits in northwest Greensboro off Lawndale Drive, with the main entrance on Nathanael Greene Drive. It is an easy reach from I-40, I-85, and Bryan Boulevard, and there is free parking at the lots inside the park. Since the interior is closed to through traffic, plan to park and then explore on foot. For trip planning across the area, the Visit Greensboro listing is a useful starting point.
Where to stay nearby
If you are traveling in for a weekend in the Battleground Parks District, the cluster of hotels in north and northwest Greensboro near Lawndale Drive, Wendover Avenue, and the airport corridor puts you within a short drive of the park, the Science Center, and the battlefield. You will find a range of Expedia-bookable chain hotels and full-service properties in that area; browse current rates and availability on Visit NC or your preferred travel site to match dates and budget.
A local planning tip
For the classic Country Park outing, aim for a weekend morning in late spring or early fall: the pedal boats are running, the heat is manageable, and the lakeside trails are at their prettiest. Arrive before mid-morning to grab easy parking and a shaded picnic shelter, knock out the boats and playground first, then walk the connector trails toward the Science Center or Guilford Courthouse in the afternoon when the kids are ready for something new.