The best playgrounds around Seattle
A great playground isn't just more slides: soft surfaces, separate toddler and big-kid areas, restrooms and shade, and ideally a spray area in summer. This list is picked on those terms, and many are within ten minutes of home.
The Inspiration Playground at Bellevue Downtown Park is the best inclusive playground in the area; Grass Lawn and Marymoor in Redmond and Sammamish Commons each have their own thing. Farther out, the giant playground at Lake Sammamish State Park sits right by the beach, Saint Edward in Kenmore claims the largest wooden play structure around Seattle, and Magnuson Park and Artists at Play at Seattle Center have climbing towers that make big kids scream.
- 9 places
- 8 free
- 9 stroller-friendly
- closest is 5 min away
9 places
Drive times from Bellevue
Bellevue Downtown Park & Inspiration Playground
5.0Bellevue · 5 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Small free park lot (often full); Bellevue Square garage free for the first 3 hours
Crossroads Park spray park
5.0Bellevue · 10 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot
Grass Lawn Park
5.0Redmond · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot
Marymoor Park
5.0Redmond · 10 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: $1/day inside the park (pay station)
Luther Burbank Park
5.0Mercer Island · 10 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot
Sammamish Commons spray park
5.0Sammamish · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free at the City Hall lot
Magnuson Park
5.0Seattle · 25 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Several free lots inside the park
Gas Works Park
4.0Seattle · 25 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot (full on weekend afternoons)
Seattle Center & Artists at Play playground
4.0Seattle · 25 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Seattle Center garage about $15-25/day; metered street parking on weekends
💡 Good to know
- Spray areas generally run late May to early September; bring a change of clothes.
- Eastside playgrounds are short on shade; go in the morning on sunny days, or pick a treed one like Grass Lawn.