Seatac Co
Things to do in Seattle

Seward Park

A 300-acre peninsula on Lake Washington in Southeast Seattle, with one of the city's last stands of old-growth forest, eagle nests, a swimming beach and a 2.4-mile lakeside loop.

Get a ride therePlan a Seattle trip with itTours nearby

The useful answer

Should this fit your day?

Best for
Walkers and cyclists who want a flat lakeside loop, birders and forest lovers, summer swimmers, and families with a free afternoon south of downtown.
Time to protect
Allow about an hour for the 2.4-mile loop at a walking pace, or two to three hours with a forest trail and time at the beach.
Cruise-day fit
Seward Park is in Southeast Seattle on Lake Washington, well away from both cruise terminals, so keep it for a free day or the way to or from the airport. Drop your luggage first.
From the terminals
Pier 66 and Pier 91 are both a long ride north and west through the city, and no public transit serves Pier 91.
Before a flight
Seward Park is about 9 miles from SEA, roughly 20 to 25 minutes by car without heavy traffic, or the 1 Line to Othello Station and a bus. It's a calm stop for a long layover, with a buffer for the drive back before a flight.

A quiet South Seattle half day

Seward Park and Kubota Garden are a few miles apart and both close to the airport.

  1. Start with the loop

    Walk or cycle the 2.4 miles around the peninsula, then take a forest trail through the old growth.

  2. Add Kubota Garden

    A free Japanese garden a few miles south, in Rainier Beach.

  3. Head to the airport

    Both are among the closest parks to SEA, so a ride back is short.

Read the Kubota Garden guide →

What to know before you go

  1. 01

    Seward Park is a free city park covering the whole Bailey Peninsula, about 300 acres of forest, shoreline and beaches on Lake Washington.

  2. 02

    The 2.4-mile bike and walking path follows the shore around the peninsula, with views across the lake. Miles of hiking trails cross the forest inside the loop.

  3. 03

    The forest is the treasure: towering old-growth trees that shelter songbirds and owls, and the park is home to eagles' nests.

  4. 04

    The Seward Park Audubon Center runs guided walks and hands-on nature programs for all ages.

  5. 05

    There's a swimming beach on the meadow side, picnic sites, a play area, tennis courts, fishing piers and an art studio in the park.

  6. 06

    The city bought the peninsula in 1911 and named it after William H. Seward, the secretary of state who bought Alaska. Lowering Lake Washington in 1917, for the Ship Canal, exposed the meadow that leads to today's beach.

  7. 07

    In 1953 a Greek-style amphitheater was carved into the south hillside, where Gustave Stern directed orchestra, chorus and dance productions for years.

  8. 08

    Without a car, Metro route 50 runs to Seward Park from Othello Station on the 1 Line, which has trains straight from SEA.

Beach seasons, trail work and Audubon program times change. Check the Seattle Parks page before you go.

Tours and activities

Tours that visit Seward Park

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 Seward Park: 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 Seward Park.

    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 Seward Park page.

Get a ride there

Drop-off: Seward Park, 5900 Lake Washington Boulevard S

Map of the drive from Seatac Airport to Seward Park: 9.6 miles, about 28 minutes
9.6 mi · about 28 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: Seward Park 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

    Pier 66 and Pier 91 are both a long ride north and west through the city, and no public transit serves Pier 91.

    From Pier 66From Pier 91

  2. Step 2

    Visit Seward Park

    Allow about an hour for the 2.4-mile loop at a walking pace, or two to three hours with a forest trail and time at the beach.

    Tours nearby

  3. Step 3

    Ride on to Seatac Airport

    Seward Park is about 9 miles from SEA, roughly 20 to 25 minutes by car without heavy traffic, or the 1 Line to Othello Station and a bus. It's a calm stop for a long layover, with a buffer for the drive back before a flight.

    Seward Park 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 Seward Park 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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