You don’t have to travel far from Seattle to find peaceful shorelines and breezy waterfront strolls—I found some of my favorite spots just a short drive away. When I needed a quick escape, these beaches near Seattle offered exactly what I was looking for: calm, beauty, and that refreshing Pacific air.
I spent afternoons walking along the water, spotting seals and seabirds, and settling into quiet picnic spots with a view. If you’re craving a little serenity without leaving the city behind, I think you’ll love these nearby escapes. They gave me a whole new appreciation for Seattle’s natural side—and I’m pretty sure they’ll do the same for you.
Highlights:
Best Beaches Near Seattle:
Alki Beach - 20-minute drive from downtown Seattle
Alki is the beach Seattle wants you to notice. Paved walk, volleyball courts, and views that cut from ferries to the Space Needle in a single head turn. I walked along the shore with my shoes in one hand and a mild sunburn on the back of my neck, dodging cyclists and spotting jellyfish in the tide pools.
I ate a warm pita filled with roasted cauliflower and tahini near the edge of a fire pit someone had just left. The smoke still lingered, mixing with salt air and sunscreen. I thought, “I could stay here until the lights across the water blink on one by one.”
Alki Beach At a Glance
- Location: West Seattle waterfront
- Best Time to Visit: Sunset or weekday mornings
- Vibe: Social, photogenic, full-spectrum Seattle
- Facilities: Restrooms, bike path, fire pits
- Food Nearby: Tons—grab Mediterranean or Thai along Alki Ave
Birch Bay State Park - 2 hours from Seattle
Birch Bay was quiet in that soft, low-tide way that makes you talk less. The water was glassy and shallow, and the whole beach seemed to stretch longer the more you walked it. I passed kids flipping over rocks, parents pointing at tide pool finds like they were rare artifacts.
I had pasta salad with peas, dill, and lemon, eaten from a thermos on a smooth rock near a patch of kelp. “The Pacific Northwest is basically a refrigerator,” I thought. “Everything stays fresh longer.”
Birch Bay State Park At a Glance
- Location: Near Blaine, WA (about 2 hours north)
- Best Time to Visit: Midday for tide pools or low tide for long walks
- Vibe: Peaceful, family-friendly, shell-hunting heaven
- Facilities: Parking, bathrooms, picnic areas
- Food Nearby: Grab something in Birch Bay or bring your own
Carkeek Park - 25 minute drive from Seattle
Getting to the beach meant hiking through ferns and moss—classic Seattle. And then the train tracks appear, and beyond that, a beach lined with logs and always one person flying a kite. The Olympics were visible, just barely, through a gauzy line of clouds.
I ate a quinoa and roasted beet salad with cashew dressing, perched on a log that creaked every time I shifted. A dog ran past me twice, full sprint. “This place feels like it belongs to the wind,” I thought.
Carkeek Park At a Glance
- Location: Northwest Seattle
- Best Time to Visit: Late afternoon for soft light and tide watching
- Vibe: Nature-forward, slightly hidden, always breezy
- Facilities: Bathrooms, picnic tables, playground, trails
- Food Nearby: Bring your lunch—this one’s about the view
Dash Point State Park - 40-minute drive south of downtown Seattle
It felt like the beach just kept going. Dash Point had that long, flat tide line and enough driftwood to build a small cabin. I passed clammers, dogs chasing birds, and a group doing yoga on paddleboards.
I ate sesame tofu over soba noodles, sitting against a washed-up stump. The tofu had absorbed just enough soy sauce to taste marinated, not soggy. “If this beach had a soundtrack, it’d be quiet conversations and the crunch of sand under bike tires,” I thought.
Dash Point State Park At a Glance
- Location: Between Federal Way and Tacoma
- Best Time to Visit: Mid-morning or early evening
- Vibe: Wide, open, welcoming
- Facilities: Restrooms, picnic areas, hiking trails
- Food Nearby: Food in Federal Way or bring a hearty lunch
Golden Gardens Park - 25-minute drive via Ballard and Seaview Avenue NW
I got there just as someone was lighting a fire, and the scent of cedar smoke curled into the cool evening air. The beach was classic PNW—rocky in places, but smooth enough to walk barefoot if you commit. The sun dropped behind the Olympics like it knew it was being watched.
I had a ciabatta sandwich with roasted mushrooms, arugula, and goat cheese. It held together for most of it, but the last bite collapsed with flair. “Everything tastes better when there’s salt in the air and woodsmoke on your sleeve,” I thought.
Golden Gardens At a Glance
- Location: Ballard, Northwest Seattle
- Best Time to Visit: Sunset, without question
- Vibe: Social, photogenic, slightly magical at night
- Facilities: Fire pits, restrooms, picnic areas
- Food Nearby: Ballard has everything—grab takeout and go
Green Lake Park - 20 minute drive from Seattle
This one’s a technicality. It’s not saltwater, but it feels like a beach. People sunbathe, paddle, feed ducks, and argue over whose cold brew is colder. The walking loop buzzes with life, but down by the water, it calms.
I brought strawberries and a mozzarella-basil sandwich. The berries were firm, sweet, and still cool. I ate cross-legged on a towel while a kid asked his dad if turtles had knees. “Lake beaches count,” I wrote in my notes. “This one more than most.”
Green Lake Park At a Glance
- Location: North Central Seattle
- Best Time to Visit: Weekday mornings or lazy afternoons
- Vibe: Urban escape, always something happening
- Facilities: Restrooms, walking path, small docks
- Food Nearby: Lots of cafés within walking distance
Leschi Park - 10-minute drive from Seattle
At Leschi, the city feels close but quiet. Boats bob in the marina, and across the water Mount Rainier looms—sometimes fully visible, sometimes not at all. I found a shaded bench with a view and stayed longer than I planned.
I had a lentil wrap with crunchy romaine and mustard vinaigrette. It wasn’t pretty but it was satisfying. “This might be the most ‘Seattle’ place in Seattle,” I thought, watching someone juggle three clubs in front of the lake.
Leschi Park At a Glance
- Location: East Central Seattle, on Lake Washington
- Best Time to Visit: Mornings or evenings when the water reflects light
- Vibe: Calm, city-adjacent, ideal for a slow picnic
- Facilities: Park benches, marina, restrooms
- Food Nearby: Leschi Market has everything
Locust Beach - 1 hours and 45 minutes from Seattle
Locust Beach isn’t polished—it’s sculpted by wind and time. The shore is wide, marked by tire tracks and windrows of kelp. I passed kitesurfers rigging their sails and a couple walking barefoot across tide-slicked sand.
I had peanut noodles with scallions and sesame seeds. The sauce stuck to the sides of the container and to my fingers. “This is the kind of beach where the sky does most of the talking,” I thought.
Locust Beach At a Glance
- Location: Bellingham (about 1.5–2 hours north of Seattle)
- Best Time to Visit: Low tide or golden hour
- Vibe: Windy, untamed, oddly peaceful
- Facilities: Minimal—just beach and sky
- Food Nearby: Grab something in Bellingham first
Madison Park - 15-minute drive or scenic bike ride from Seattle
This one felt like the neighbor who always has good snacks. Clean, convenient, with shade trees and just enough space for everyone. Boats drifted by in the distance, and someone’s speaker played soft jazz from a picnic blanket nearby.
I ate a chickpea salad sandwich and tried not to spill parsley in my lap. “This is where you bring someone who doesn’t usually like beaches,” I thought, watching a paddleboarder float by like punctuation.
Madison Park Beach At a Glance
- Location: East Seattle, on Lake Washington
- Best Time to Visit: Midday with a book
- Vibe: Relaxed, neighborhood-favorite
- Facilities: Restrooms, picnic area, grassy lawn
- Food Nearby: A few small restaurants right in the village
Mount Baker Park - 10-minute drive from Seattle
It’s small. It’s tucked away. But it gives you the lake, the mountains (when they show up), and the feeling that not everything in the city needs to be busy. I sat on a shaded bench with water just feet away, letting the breeze tell me when to turn the page of my book.
I had couscous with chickpeas, sun-dried tomato, and arugula. The arugula wilted fast but still brought that peppery bite. “Every city should have places like this,” I thought, not moving for a full hour.
Mount Baker Park At a Glance
- Location: Southeast Seattle, Lake Washington
- Best Time to Visit: Morning for solitude
- Vibe: Calm, green, understated
- Facilities: Restrooms, benches, picnic lawn
- Food Nearby: Grab food in Columbia City on the way
Conclusion: The Water’s Always Watching
Seattle’s beaches aren’t about diving in. They’re about leaning back. They give you big skies, cold toes, thoughtful silences, and food that always tastes better near water. I left with sand in my socks, a notebook full of quotes I didn’t remember writing, and a deeper appreciation for driftwood. If you go, bring something warm to sip, something cool to eat, and a little time to let your thoughts catch up with you.
Jump to a Spot...
- • Alki Beach - 20-minute drive from downtown Seattle
- • Birch Bay State Park - 2 hours from Seattle
- • Carkeek Park - 25 minute drive from Seattle
- • Dash Point State Park - 40-minute drive south of downtown Seattle
- • Golden Gardens Park - 25-minute drive via Ballard and Seaview Avenue NW
- • Green Lake Park - 20 minute drive from Seattle
- • Leschi Park - 10-minute drive from Seattle
- • Locust Beach - 1 hours and 45 minutes from Seattle
- • Madison Park - 15-minute drive or scenic bike ride from Seattle
- • Mount Baker Park - 10-minute drive from Seattle