The best outings for toddlers (ages 1–3) around Seattle's Eastside
Every place on this list gets our top rating, 5 out of 5, for 1–3 year olds. That means short, flat paths you can push a stroller on, something to look at every few minutes (animals, water, trains), restrooms nearby, and parking that won't eat half the morning.
Closest to the Eastside, the easy wins are Bellevue's free Kelsey Creek Farm, the Inspiration Playground at Downtown Park, and the KidsQuest Children's Museum; the Juanita Bay boardwalks in Kirkland, with their basking turtles, are a toddler's idea of a hike. In summer, the lake beaches at Idylwood, Juanita Beach and Meydenbauer have shallow water and lifeguards, and for train fans one ride on the Link 2 Line or the Seattle Monorail makes the whole day.
- 46 places
- 26 free
- 44 stroller-friendly
- closest is 5 min away
46 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
Bellevue Square Kids Cove
5.0Bellevue · 5 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Mall garage free for the first 3 hours
Bellevue Library kids' area
5.0Bellevue · 5 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free underground garage
Meydenbauer Bay Park
5.0Bellevue · 5 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free park lot (small, full on weekend afternoons)
Ride the Link 2 Line
5.0Bellevue · 5 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Free at the South Bellevue station park and ride; Bellevue Downtown station is walkable
KidsQuest Children's Museum
5.0Bellevue · 5 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free in the Bellevue Library garage (the museum is next door)
Kelsey Creek Farm Park
5.0Bellevue · 7 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot
Crossroads Park spray park
5.0Bellevue · 10 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot
Grass Lawn Park
5.0Redmond · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot
Marymoor Park
5.0Redmond · 10 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: $1/day inside the park (pay station)
Luther Burbank Park
5.0Mercer Island · 10 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot
Funtastic Playtorium
5.0Bellevue · 10 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free at the Factoria mall
Redmond Library kids' area
5.0Redmond · 10 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot
Idylwood Beach Park
5.0Redmond · 10 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot, full after 11am on summer weekends
Juanita Bay Park
5.0Kirkland · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot at the Market St entrance, fairly full on weekend mornings
Farrel-McWhirter Farm Park
5.0Redmond · 15 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
Sammamish Library kids' area
5.0Sammamish · 15 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot
Juanita Beach Park
5.0Kirkland · 15 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot
Lake Sammamish State Park
5.0Issaquah · 15 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: State park lot, Discover Pass required
Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park
5.0Renton · 15 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free large lot
Seward Park old-growth loop
5.0Seattle · 20 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lots at the entrance and the south end of the peninsula
Saint Edward State Park
5.0Kenmore · 20 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: State park lot, Discover Pass required
Fox Hollow Farm
5.0Issaquah · 25 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free lot
Magnuson Park
5.0Seattle · 25 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Several free lots inside the park
Seattle Monorail
5.0Seattle · 25 min drive
1 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Garages around Westlake about $15-25/day; or the Seattle Center garage
Ferry to Bainbridge Island
5.0Seattle · 25 min drive
3.5 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Garages near Colman Dock about $20/day; 10-minute walk from Pioneer Square light rail station
Seattle Aquarium
5.0Seattle · 25 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly · reservation needed
$$$ · Parking: Waterfront garages about $15-25; 10-minute walk from Symphony light rail station
Seattle Children's Museum
5.0Seattle · 25 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Seattle Center garage about $15-25/day
Snoqualmie Falls
5.0Snoqualmie · 30 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot across the road (with a footbridge), expect a wait on weekend afternoons
Green Lake Loop
5.0Seattle · 30 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lakeside lots (east shore / by the community center), fairly tight on weekend mornings
Remlinger Farms
5.0Carnation · 30 min drive
4 h · stroller-friendly
$$$ · Parking: Free large lot
Northwest Railway Museum train ride
5.0Snoqualmie · 30 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Free street parking around the old depot
Woodland Park Zoo
5.0Seattle · 30 min drive
4 h · stroller-friendly
$$$ · Parking: Zoo lot about $8-10; free street parking nearby but hard to find
Ballard Locks and fish ladder
5.0Seattle · 35 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Paid lot next to the grounds (about $2-4/hour) or nearby street parking
Forest Park Animal Farm and spray park
5.0Everett · 35 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot
Golden Gardens beach
5.0Seattle · 35 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot (full on summer weekend afternoons)
Carkeek Park (salmon slide + trains)
5.0Seattle · 35 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lots inside the park
Edmonds waterfront (Brackett's Landing + Marina Beach)
5.0Edmonds · 35 min drive
2.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free public lots on both sides of the ferry terminal (3-4 hour limit)
Imagine Children's Museum
5.0Everett · 35 min drive
3 h · stroller-friendly
$$ · Parking: Metered street parking or nearby garages (the museum validates for a discount)
Bob's Corn & Pumpkin Farm
5.0Snohomish · 40 min drive
3 h · carrier recommended
$$ · Parking: Free large grass lot at the farm
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
5.0Tacoma · 45 min drive
4 h · stroller-friendly
$$$ · Parking: Free lot
Children's Museum of Tacoma
5.0Tacoma · 45 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Nearby metered street parking / museum district garages
Craven Farm pumpkin patch
5.0Snohomish · 45 min drive
3 h · carrier recommended
$$ · Parking: Free at the farm
Gold Creek Pond Loop
5.0Snoqualmie Pass · 55 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
$ · Parking: Northwest Forest Pass required at the trailhead ($5/day); a Sno-Park permit instead in winter
Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
5.0Eatonville · 80 min drive
4 h · stroller-friendly
$$$ · Parking: Free lot
💡 Good to know
- Eastside playgrounds and beaches fill up on weekend afternoons; 9 to 11am is toddler prime time.
- When it rains, switch to KidsQuest, a library, or Kids Cove at Bellevue Square. The indoor places on this list are your backup plan.