Washington offers various beaches along its coastlines, including those on the Pacific Ocean, Puget Sound, lakes, peninsulas, and islands.
In addition to swimming, boating, spotting wildlife, exploring tidepools, and collecting seashells and driftwood, Washington beaches offer sand, pebbles, rocks, and grassy dunes. The sunset on Washington’s west coast is the perfect way to end the day at the beach, even if the water is chilly.
Madison Park Beach, Seattle
Located northeast of downtown Seattle, this small park has a grassy area, a small sandy beach, restrooms, a children’s play area, tennis courts, parking, and lifeguards during summer. A walking path and benches are nearby, and visitors can shop and dine nearby.
Golden Gardens Park, Seattle
In Golden Gardens Park, you can view the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound from one of the most extensive beaches in Seattle. There’s a sand beach for swimming, and kayaking, canoeing, sailing, volleyball, fishing, and hiking are popular. Fire pits on the beach and dogs have their off-leash area.
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Half Moon Bay, Westport Light State Park, Westport
In addition to grassy dunes, picnic tables, restrooms, grills, a lighthouse, and a coastal forest, the 560-acre park has beaches along the Pacific Ocean and Half Moon Bay. Half Moon Bay is separated from the Pacific by a 1.3-mile paved path. The Westport Lighthouse is nearby. Camping is nearby, and dogs are allowed on the beach.
Luther Burbank Park, Mercer Island
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The park offers nearly a mile of Lake Washington waterfront for swimming, boating, and fishing. The park provides picnic fields, barbecues, playgrounds, walking trails, tennis courts, and restrooms. On Mercer Island, dogs are allowed off-leash from October through April.
Idylwood Beach Park, Redmond
A 17-acre park on Lake Sammamish’s northwestern shore has swimming beaches, bathhouses, restrooms, picnic tables, a small boat ramp, a fishing pier, and picnic shelters. A playground, barbecue grills, volleyball, and fishing are also available at Lake Sammamish’s only free recreation facility.