15 Best Seattle Beaches: The PNW Coastal Guide

Seattle isn’t usually the top destination you think of when it comes to beaches. However, when summer comes to the city, you'll likely be looking for different ways to cool off. 

Seattle has a range of beach parks, some ideal for sunbathing and swimming and some perfect for warm-weather activities and sports. You’ll find a beach in every part of the city—no matter where you’re staying. So, grab your beach towel and sunscreen bottle and check out the 15 best Seattle beaches and coastal parks.

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Alki Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Seattle due to its beautiful city skyline, mountain views and its sandy beaches. The public beach is two and a half miles long, with a paved sidewalk for bikers, runners, walkers and rollerbladers to enjoy. 

In the summer, both visitors and locals enjoy sunbathing on the sand and participating in beach and water sports, like beach volleyball, kayaking and paddleboarding. It’s also one of the few beaches that allow campfires with designated fire pits, making it an ideal spot for families and friends to get together during the summer evenings. After your day at the beach, you’ll find plenty of nearby restaurants, cafes and breweries to dine at. 

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Similar in popularity to Alki Beach, Golden Gardens Park is another favorite spot for locals and tourists alike. Located in the Ballard neighborhood and a little off the beaten path, Golden Gardens has breathtaking views of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. 

Golden Gardens Park offers forest trails for hikers all year round and lovely beaches for sunbathing and lounging. Plus, it’s one of the only Seattle public beaches with designated fire pits, ideal for cookouts and s’mores.

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Discovery Park is Seattle’s largest park, with more than 500 acres. It’s the quintessential Washington coastal park, with walking trails, grasslands and tidal beaches perfect for exploring local marine life. The park is also ideal for bird-watching, for both migratory and year-round birds. Don’t forget to take in the beautiful views of Puget Sound near the park’s famous landmark, the West Point Lighthouse. 

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If you’re visiting Seattle and staying in the downtown area, including Belltown and Pioneer Square, you can walk over to Myrtle Edwards Park. Located on the Elliot Bay waterfront, you can reach Myrtle Edwards Park by walking, running or biking on a pedestrian path that runs from the corner of Broad Street and Alaskan Way on the waterfront all the way up to Centennial Park. 

This is a popular park and beach for locals looking to complete some quick exercise during their workday, stroll along the beach with a friend or enjoy the scenic views of the Seattle waterfront and Puget Sound. 

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Within Warren G. Magnuson Park is Magnuson Park’s swimming beach on Lake Washington. While it’s less a sandy beach and more gravelly rocks, it’s still a local favorite swimming hole. Its beach cove is ideal for taking out inflatable pool floats for lounging on the lake or paddleboarding along the shoreline. It’s a popular spot for families and friends to gather for summer barbecues and holiday parties. 

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If you're spending the day in West Seattle and have already visited Alki Beach, we suggest heading south to Lincoln Park Beach, situated near the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal. Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the mile-long beachfront trail, hike through the blufftop trails and observe the Fauntleroy-Southworth ferries as they arrive at the dock. If you need a break from getting sand everywhere, you can enjoy a clean swim at the Colman Pool, a heated saltwater pool with beautiful seawater views. 

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Green Lake Park is located north of downtown and surrounded by popular neighborhoods like Phinney Ridge and Wallingford. It’s most known for its popular two-and-a-half-mile-long pedestrian path surrounding the lake. 

Green Lake is great for outdoor activities like kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding. The lake also has two designated swimming areas with supervising lifeguards during the summer season. While there’s not much of a beach here, you can sunbathe and relax on your beach towel in the grassy park areas next to the lake. 

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Madison Park Beach is a local favorite that has yet to be fully discovered by visitors. Located on Lake Washington in the Madison Park neighborhood, the beach is ideal for sunbathing, playing beach volleyball and swimming leisurely in the designated swimming area. Take one of the park’s walking paths to nearby tennis courts, restaurants and bars. 

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Located north of Warren G. Magnuson Park is Matthews Beach Park. It also enjoys the warmer waters of Lake Washington and is the largest freshwater bathing beach in the city. It’s a popular spot during the melting summer months for locals to sunbathe and cool down. The beach includes floating platforms with diving boards for swimmers to swim out to while a lifeguard is on duty. Enjoy drying off after your dive-in on the large green lawn that borders the lake. 

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Madrona Park is the go-to beach for those living and staying in the eastern Central District of Seattle. This sweet, small beach is a great escape for those living in the urban city, with its breathtaking views of the water, grassy spaces and large wispy trees to lounge and relax under. Locals enjoy fishing at the freshwater park and swimming in the warm summer months. 

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Located just north of the Blue Ridge neighborhood is Carkeek Park Beach. With over 200 acres of land, the park includes sandy shorelines, forested trails, tide pools and picnic areas for visitors to enjoy. The beach also offers panoramic views of the Olympic Mountains and the Puget Sound. 

One of the smallest beach parks on this list is Howell Park. Located just north of Madrona Park, Howell Park is a small pocket park next to Denny Blaine Park. As it’s a smaller beach, Howell Park is great for those looking for a quiet spot on Lake Washington to listen to the waves and enjoy a few laps in the water. 

Important note: These beaches are well known for nude sunbathing, so keep that in mind if you plan to visit one of them.

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Between Alki Beach and Lincoln Park sits Lowman Beach Park. It offers similar views to its neighboring beaches but is much smaller. This pocket-sized beach is ideal for beach walks, playing at the nearby swing set or tennis courts and checking out the piles of driftwood lying across the shore. 

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Seward Park acts as a great Seattle beach park due to its large and scenic setting. The park encompasses 300 acres, bordered by the waters of Lake Washington. Positioned at the southeastern point of the lake, the Seward Park peninsula is loved for its sandy shorelines, hiking trails and forested parkland. Additionally, the park is a great bird-watching location, particularly for spotting eagles in their cozy nests in the tall trees. 

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Just south of Howell Park, Denny Blaine Park also sits neatly on Lake Washington's shore. Conveniently located within the city, this small yet cozy park offers plenty of amenities. Its grassy shoreline and narrow sandy beach make this Seattle beach a serene place to swim, play volleyball, picnic or just relax. 

Use AAA as your guide for filling up your travel itinerary for any trip during any season. Members enjoy membership benefits and savings, travel planning and additional resources, such as AAA Travel Guides and TourBook®. Use AAA Travel to plan your trip to Seattle to explore today’s beautiful coastal beaches.