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Things to do in Seattle

Green Lake

Seattle's favorite loop: a 2.8-mile paved path around a glacial lake in North Seattle, with swimming beaches in summer, boats to rent, and Woodland Park Zoo just next door.

Get a ride therePlan a Seattle trip with itTours nearby

The useful answer

Should this fit your day?

Best for
Walkers and runners, families with strollers or bikes, summer swimmers and paddlers, and anyone who wants to see an everyday Seattle neighborhood at its best.
Time to protect
A lap of the loop takes about an hour at a walking pace. Add a coffee, a paddle or the zoo next door and it's a half day.
Cruise-day fit
Green Lake is in North Seattle, inland from both cruise terminals, so it's a free-day stop rather than a pier-day errand. From Pier 91 or Pier 66 it's a ride of a few miles north. Drop your luggage first.
From the terminals
Neither terminal is close. Pier 66 downtown and Pier 91 at Smith Cove are both a ride of several miles south, and no public transit serves Pier 91.
Before a flight
From SEA, the 1 Line runs straight to Roosevelt Station, then it's about a 15-minute walk to the lake; by car it's about 20 miles, roughly 30 to 40 minutes without heavy traffic. Give yourself plenty of time back to the airport before a flight.

Green Lake, then what

The loop is the easy part. Here's what pairs well with it.

  1. Woodland Park Zoo

    The zoo is just southwest of the lake, in Woodland Park, so a morning lap and an afternoon with the animals makes a full day.

  2. Out on the water

    In the warmer months, rent a kayak or paddle boat at the boathouse and see the loop from the lake.

  3. Fremont and Gas Works

    Head south to the Fremont Troll and the view of downtown from Gas Works Park on Lake Union.

Read the Woodland Park Zoo guide →

What to know before you go

  1. 01

    Green Lake is a free city park, and its 2.8-mile paved inner loop is one of the busiest car-free paths in Seattle: walkers, runners, strollers, skaters and cyclists all the way round.

  2. 02

    The loop has rules: people on foot use the inside lane, at most two abreast, and anything with wheels uses the outside lane, one way in the direction of the arrows, single file and under 10 mph. Dogs stay on a short leash.

  3. 03

    There are two lifeguarded swimming beaches in summer: East Green Lake Beach, by the community center and Evans Pool, and West Green Lake Beach, by the old Bathhouse Theatre, now Seattle Public Theatre.

  4. 04

    The Greenlake Boathouse rents kayaks, paddle boats, rowboats and paddleboards in the warmer months, first come, first served, with paddles and life jackets included.

  5. 05

    The lake was formed by the Vashon glacier, and the Olmsted Brothers made it part of their plan for Seattle's parks. The state gave it to the city in 1905, and dredging and filling over the next 15 years shrank it by nearly 100 acres.

  6. 06

    It's a nature preserve too, with hundreds of kinds of trees and plants and plenty of birds and waterfowl on the water.

  7. 07

    You'll find restrooms, fishing piers, a play area, wading pools, tennis and basketball courts and sports fields around the shore.

  8. 08

    By light rail, Roosevelt Station on the 1 Line is about a 15-minute walk from the east side of the lake, with trains straight from SEA.

Beach lifeguard seasons, boat rentals and construction around the community center change. Check the Seattle Parks page before you go.

Tours and activities

Tours that visit Green Lake

Entry itself is free. These well-reviewed tours include it, with current prices. Check a date to see open start times, then book with Viator.

Tours are sold and run through Viator; booking opens viator.com in a new tab, and Viator confirms the final price and time. Seatac Co may earn a commission.

Free to visit, with tours nearby

There's no ticket for Green Lake: just go. If you'd like a guide, a harbor cruise or another stop the same day, start here.

  • Seattle tours and tickets

    Guided tours, attraction tickets and day trips around Seattle, including options near Green Lake.

    See tours and tickets

Opens a booking partner in a new tab; Seatac Co may earn a commission. For current notices, see the Seattle Parks Green Lake Park page.

Get a ride there

Drop-off: Green Lake, 7201 East Green Lake Drive N

Map of the drive from Seatac Airport to Green Lake: 19.6 miles, about 34 minutes
19.6 mi · about 34 min from the airportOpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap

Starting from

Your fare is worked out for the exact trip on the next step, before you pay. Want the car to wait while you visit? Book by the hour.

Cruise day: Green Lake between the ship and your flight

Off the ship with a few hours before your flight? Book the ride from the pier and the ride on to the airport now, so each driver knows where you are going.

  1. Step 1

    Ride from the pier

    Neither terminal is close. Pier 66 downtown and Pier 91 at Smith Cove are both a ride of several miles south, and no public transit serves Pier 91.

    From Pier 66From Pier 91

  2. Step 2

    Visit Green Lake

    A lap of the loop takes about an hour at a walking pace. Add a coffee, a paddle or the zoo next door and it's a half day.

    Tours nearby

  3. Step 3

    Ride on to Seatac Airport

    From SEA, the 1 Line runs straight to Roosevelt Station, then it's about a 15-minute walk to the lake; by car it's about 20 miles, roughly 30 to 40 minutes without heavy traffic. Give yourself plenty of time back to the airport before a flight.

    Green Lake to the airport

Big bags

  • Pier 66: Same-day bag storage is available. Pick bags up by 3 pm to avoid a late fee.
  • Pier 91: Same-day bag storage in the Crew Center, north of the Ground Transportation Center. Pick bags up by 3 pm to avoid a late fee.

Stored bags mean a stop back at the pier before the airport. To keep them with you instead, book a car by the hour and the driver waits with your luggage.

Planning the whole cruise trip? Keep Green Lake on it with the rides around it.

Plan the whole cruise trip

Not sure which pier? Find your ship and pier or compare Pier 66 and Pier 91.

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