Complete Guide to Seattle's Best Beaches (Top 16 Beaches)

Last Updated on December 26, 2022 by admin

The city of Seattle is bottlenecked between two large bodies of water: Elliott Bay to the west and Lake Washington to the east. In addition to those large bodies of water, there’s also Lake Union, Portage Bay, and Union Bay just to the north of downtown Seattle. To the south, there is the Duwamish River. So, although Seattle is technically not located on an island, it’s practically surrounded by water. That means that there are tons of beaches! You’ll find all sorts of beaches near the city. There are rocky beaches, sandy beaches, secluded beaches, saltwater beaches, and fresh water beaches. Chances are, there’s a beach nearby that you will love. In this post, we’ll share with you our picks for 15 of the best beaches in Seattle.

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Visiting Seattle on a rainy day? No problem! Check out our post on 24 Rainy Day Activities in Seattle.

Travel Tip: If you’re planning a trip to Seattle, consider buying a Seattle CityPASS. You’ll be able to save money if you plan on visiting multiple attractions. For instance, if you plan on visiting the Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium, Museum of Pop Culture, Woodland Park Zoo, Chihuly Garden and Glass, or Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour, we highly recommend that you look into purchasing the CityPASS. For more information about CityPASS, click here.

What to Bring to the Beach

When headed to the beach, you might want to bring a few of these items…

Large beach blanket (You’ll want one that’s easy to wash, since many of the beaches are rocky and have seaweed. This one can fit 4-7 adults.)
Extra beach towels (Many of the beaches are rocky, so you’ll be more comfortable laying on some extra towels)
Hammock (I’ve seen a lot of locals use the travel hammocks at local parks! This one is easy to set up.)
Portable cell phone charger (Don’t lose a battery charge when you’re outside all day)
Water shoes (Again, many of the beaches are rocky with lots of barnacles. Water shoes will protect your feet!)
Large sun hat (Yes, it’s occasionally sunny in Seattle!)

Traveling on a budget? Be sure to see our list of 50 free things to do in Seattle.

Seattle’s Best Beaches

1. Discovery Park

3801 Discovery Park Blvd, Seattle, WA 98199

Discovery Park Seattle's Best Beaches — *Discovery Park*

I may be a little biased because we got engaged at Discovery Park, but this is one of Seattle’s best parks! At 534 acres, it’s Seattle’s largest park too. We have visited Discovery Park dozens of times, and it feels like we are always discovering something new there. The park has tons of trails, fields, and shoreline.

The two beaches at the park are the West Point Lighthouse Beach and the Discovery Park Beach. Both beaches are best accessed from a trail. There’s some limited beach parking. Permits are typically required from the Discovery Park Environmental Learning Center for folks that would have a hard time walking to the beach. During the summer weekends, there used to be shuttles to the beach. These have been paused due to covid, but hopefully they will return. Most people park at the either the East Parking Lot (near the Visitor Center) or the South Parking Lot.

Although the beach and lighthouse are lovely, one of our favorite things to do at this park is look at the water from the hilltop bluffs. There are lots of benches and little alcoves to watch the sunset. (Just be careful not to approach the edge too closely, it’s a steep fall!)

As you wander around this park, you’ll probably notice army buildings. The park was the site of Fort Lawton for many years.

While you’re visiting Discovery Park, you’ll also want to check out Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood. Palisade Restaurant is one of the area’s best restaurants. It’s located right on the marina with views of the water.

Seattle is known for coffee. Want to find the perfect cup? See our post on the best coffee shops in Seattle.

2. Gas Works Park

2101 N Northlake Way, Seattle, WA 98103

Gasworks Park Seattle's Best Beaches — *Gas Works Park*

Whenever we have friends or family visit us from out of town, we take them to Gas Works Park. The park itself is super unique because it was the former site of the Seattle Gas Light Company’s gasification plant. (Hence the rusty structures!) It’s a great place to take photos, especially with downtown Seattle in the background. It’s also on the National Register of Historic Places.

The park is 19 acres and sits on the north shore of Lake Union. Across the lake, you’ll have direct views of the downtown Seattle skyline. A large grassy knoll gives plenty of space for picnics, frisbee, and sunbathing. A sundial at the top of the hill is a popular place for taking photos.

The grassy area juts out to the water along a bulkhead, so there’s not much of a traditional “beach.” Entering the water is prohibited, so this waterfront area is best enjoyed from the grass.

While you’re in the area, you might also enjoy checking out the Burke-Gilman Trail. It’s a 27-mile paved urban trail that is popular with cyclists and runners.

Be sure to see our article on 33 of our favorite day trips from Seattle.

3. Golden Gardens Park

8498 Seaview Pl NW, Seattle, WA 98117

Golden Gardens might just be the best sandy beach in Seattle. On a clear day, you’ll be able to see across the Puget Sound to the Olympic Mountains.

There are five beach volleyball courts. One is a drop-in court, but the rest need to be reserved in advance. (You can find reservation information here.) Just be sure to bring your own nets and ball.

The beach also has a fishing pier, boat launch, and an off-leash area for dogs. Depending on the season, the beach fire pits may also be open.

On a warm summer day, this is easily one of the most popular beaches in Seattle.

You might also be interested in reading about some of our favorite beaches in the Olympic Peninsula: Kalaloch Beach , Third Beach, and Ruby Beach!

4. Alki Beach

2665 Alki Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116

“Alki Beach Park” by Seattle Parks & Recreation is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Alki Beach is located in West Seattle and is another very popular beach. I like this beach because you can see Seattle’s skyline across the water. (If you look closely, you can see the Space Needle above the tree line.) This park is also extremely large, with lots of shoreline.

The park has eight volleyball courts, one of which is set aside for drop-in play. The rest should be reserved in advance.

Alki Beach has historical significance, as Chief Seattle first greeted white settlers here in 1851.

Be sure to see our post on the 101 Best Things to Do in Seattle. We put together the ultimate list!

5. Myrtle Edwards Park

3130 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121

“Myrtle Edwards Park” by Seattle Parks & Recreation is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Myrtle Edwards Park is located within walking distance of the Space Needle. (About a mile long walk.) If you’re planning on visiting the Space Needle, see our full post linked here. I like Myrtle Edwards Park because it has great views of Mount Rainier on a clear day. It’s also closer to the downtown area, so it’s more accessible if you’re planning on doing a day of sightseeing in Seattle. The park has a 1.25 mile trail for pedestrians and bicyclists that winds along Elliott Bay. The beach itself is more of a rocky one.

While you’re visiting Myrtle Edwards Park, you’ll want to check out the nearby Olympic Sculpture Park. It’s a free park operated by the Seattle Art Museum that features plenty of outdoor sculptures.

See our guide The Best Hotels in Downtown Seattle to help you plan your trip!

6. Madrona Beach

853 Lake Washington Blvd, Seattle, WA 98122

“SPR Lifeguards” by Seattle Parks & Recreation is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Madrona Beach is a freshwater beach off of Lake Washington. Because it’s a freshwater beach, it’s more popular with swimmers.

The park features a hill that slopes down to a grassy beach, where you will find a sandy swimming area. During the summer, there are lifeguards on duty.

7. Richmond Beach Saltwater Park

2021 NW 190th St, Shoreline, WA 98177

Just north of Seattle in the suburb town of Shoreline is Richmond Beach Saltwater Park. There’s open water access and trails to explore. The beach is a bit rocky, and there’s usually seaweed and logs. The beach has an off-leash dog area that is open seasonally.

8. Seward Park

5900 Lake Washington Blvd S, Seattle, WA 98118

“Seward Park Shelter 2” by Seattle Parks & Recreation is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Seward Park is located on the Bailey Peninsula on the east side of Seattle (facing towards Mercer Island). The beach is a freshwater beach located along the shores of Lake Washington. It’s another one of Seattle’s largest parks, with over 300 acres to explore.

There are picnic shelters within the park, as well as beaches for swimming access.

9. Carkeek Park

950 NW Carkeek Park Rd, Seattle, WA 98177

“People looking at the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound as the train slides by underneath, Carkeek Park, Seattle, Washington, USA” by Wonderlane is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Carkeek Park has beautiful views of the Olympic Mountains across from the Puget Sound. The beach itself is more difficult to access, as it’s across from the train tracks. To access the beach, you’ll walk across a bridge and down some stairs.

10. Lincoln Park

8011 Fauntleroy Way SW, Seattle, WA 98136

“Lincoln Park, West Seattle” by brewbooks is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Lincoln Park is another beautiful park in West Seattle. It’s right next to the Fauntleroy Terminal to go to Vashon Island. (If you haven’t read our post about Vashon Island, check it out here!) The park has 4.6 miles of walking paths, five picnic shelters, and even an outdoor heated saltwater pool! (Which I would definitely recommend over swimming in the freezing cold waters of the Puget Sound.)

There’s a path that runs right along the beach. You can step off at various points to walk down to the water.

11. Denny Blaine Park

200 Lake Washington Blvd E, Seattle, WA 98112

“Denny Blaine Lake Park” by Seattle Parks & Recreation is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Denny Blaine Park is located along Lake Washington, so it’s also a freshwater beach. It’s a smaller park (about 2 acres). The park is especially popular for the lesbian and queer community. During the summer, it’s often a clothing-optional park.

12. Green Lake Park

7201 East Green Lake Dr N, Seattle, WA 98115

“Green Lake Seattle – The lonely island” by alinsf is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Green Lake is one of the Seattle’s most popular urban, green spaces. There is a 2.8-mile paved loop around the lake, which is extremely popular for pedestrians and cyclists alike. During the summer, you’ll see lots of sunbathers in the grassy areas.

There is a beach at this park. It has a local reputation as unclean for swimmers, but there have been recent studies suggesting that rumor may be exaggerated. (See an article about it here.) I personally have never gone swimming at Green Lake, but I have very much enjoyed walking around its beaches!

See our full post about Green Lake here!

13. Fremont Canal Park

199 N Canal St, Seattle, WA 98103

“Fremont Canal Park” by Seattle Parks & Recreation is licensed under CC BY 2.0

The beaches along the Fremont Canal Park are great for walking (but not for swimming). I really like this beach because of its proximity to the hip Fremont neighborhood. Pack a picnic, walk around the neighborhood, and end at the beach canal.

14. Marina Beach Park

470 Admiral Way, Edmonds, WA 98020

marina beach park edmonds — *Marina Beach Park*

Located a bit north of Seattle in the town of Edmonds is Marina Beach Park. We love this park because it has a beautiful beach, a fun playground, and an off-leash dog area.

In addition to this beach, we really like the Olympic Beach Park in Edmonds. If you haven’t seen our post on things to do in Edmonds, be sure to check it out here! It’s a really quaint city right on the water.

15. Pocket Beach

Located in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle, there is a small beach just north of the Olympic Sculpture Park. This beach is small, but it’s an easy beach to visit while you’re in downtown Seattle.

16. Find a “Secret” Beach

The beaches we have listed here are fairly possible. But if you’re looking for something a little more under the radar, you might be interested in one of Seattle’s many Street End Beaches. Thanks to a resolution passed by the City Council in 1996, dead-end streets that end at waterfronts were designated as mini public waterfront parks. You can find a map of all of these Street End Beaches here. Feel free to explore them and let us know which is your favorite!

Where to Stay in Seattle

Booking.com

The Four Seasons Hotel Seattle is a 5-minute walk from Pike Place Market. It’s a gorgeous 5-Star hotel located centrally in downtown Seattle. If you can afford it, this is our first recommendation. The hotel has an outdoor infinity pool with a view of the Seattle waterfront, lots of amenities, and is within walking distance of a lot of Seattle attractions.

The only hotel that’s actually within Pike Place Market is the Inn at the Market. You can’t get a better location! You’ll be able to watch Pike Place Market come alive in the morning, and you’ll be well-positioned to grab lots of delicious meals and snacks. See our full post on Pike Place Market here for food ideas!

The Charter Hotel Seattle is a moderately-priced hotel that’s only one block away from Pike Place Market. It’s also only a mile away from the Seattle Center (where the Space Needle is located). The hotel is sleek and many of the rooms have nice city views.

The Seattle Marriott Waterfront has views of the water, as well as an indoor-outdoor pool. Every room has a view of the mountains and water.

For a full list of hotels in Seattle, click here.

We wrote an article about our favorite hotels in downtown Seattle. You can check it out here! We go into greater detail about hotel locations, amenities, and more.

Summary: Best Beaches in Seattle

Because Seattle is surrounded by various bodies of water, there are lots of unique beaches. We enjoy visiting these beaches year-round. We hope you enjoyed this post on Seattle’s best beaches!

Here’s our summary rankings for our favorite Seattle beaches:

Golden Gardens (Best Sandy Beach)
Discovery Park (Best Views)
Gas Works (Most Unique)
Madrona Beach (Best for Swimming)
Alki Beach (Best for Beach Walks)

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Seattle's Best Beaches — *Pin for later!*

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