Where is Madison Park in Seattle?

Madison Park is at 4201 E Madison St, Seattle, WA 98112, on the western shore of Lake Washington. It sits between 42nd Avenue E, E Madison Street and E Blaine Street in the Madison Park neighborhood, part of the Capitol Hill district.

Does Madison Park have a swimming beach?

Yes. The eastern section of Madison Park, east of 43rd Avenue E, has a swimming beach and a public dock on Lake Washington.

What else is there to do at Madison Park besides swimming?

The western section has a playground, a playfield and tennis courts. Next to the beach is the Madison Park Co-op, a community playhouse for toddlers and children.

Did a ferry once run from Madison Park?

Yes. Ferries ran from Madison Park across Lake Washington to Kirkland from the early 1880s until August 31, 1950, when falling demand after the Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge opened ended the service.

Madison Park: Lake Washington Beach, Dock and Playfield

A public dock reaches out from the western shore of Lake Washington, with a swimming beach along the water and a playground, playfield and tennis courts just inland. This is Madison Park, an 8.3 acre public park at 4201 E Madison St in Seattle's Madison Park neighborhood, where a Lake Washington beach day comes with plenty of room to play. For decades it was also a landing for cable cars, steamboats and the ferry to Kirkland.

Finding Your Way to the Lakeshore

Follow E Madison Street east until it runs out, and you will find the park filling a tidy block right at the end. Lake Washington wraps its eastern edge, 42nd Avenue E runs along the west, E Madison Street frames the north side and E Blaine Street closes off the south.

The park belongs to the Madison Park neighborhood, part of the larger Capitol Hill district. Plug 4201 E Madison St, Seattle, WA 98112 into your map and you are set.

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Pick Your Half: Two Sides Split by 43rd Avenue E

Once you know that 43rd Avenue E cuts the park into two sections, everything falls into place. Each side offers a different kind of day out, so decide which half suits your plans before you arrive.

Beach and Dock by the Water

Head to the eastern section when the water is calling. Madison Park beach is a designated swimming beach, and a public dock stretches out into Lake Washington, so you can take a swim, spread a towel on the shore or simply gaze across the lake.

Right beside the beach sits the Madison Park Co-op, a community playhouse for toddlers and young children. If you are traveling with little ones, it makes a natural stop close to the sand.

Playground, Playfield and Tennis Courts

Cross to the western section for play on dry land. Here you will find a playground, an open playfield and tennis courts. It is an easy place for a group to split up, with some of you rallying on the courts while the kids take over the play area.

Where Cable Cars and Ferries Once Docked

Long before it became a neighborhood beach, Madison Park was a place of arrivals and departures. Sitting at the end of Madison Street and right on the lakeshore, it was a natural meeting point for routes by land and by water.

Cable railway: For its first 19 years, the Madison Street Cable Railway carried riders along Madison Street all the way from Elliott Bay to the park, until the line was shortened in 1910 to end at 21st Avenue.
Steamboat landing: Steamboats working Lake Washington called at Madison Park from roughly 1890 to 1910.
Ferry to Kirkland: Ferries began crossing from Madison Park to Kirkland in the early 1880s. The run lost much of its traffic when the Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge opened in 1940, and after the bridge tolls were removed in 1949 the service could no longer be justified, with the last ferry sailing on August 31, 1950.

Step out onto the public dock and picture the boats that once tied up along this very stretch of shore.

Plan Your Visit

Seattle Parks and Recreation manages Madison Park, so check with the city's parks department for current hours, beach details and any seasonal updates before you go.

Since the park comes in two parts, agree on a meeting spot ahead of time. The beach and dock lie east of 43rd Avenue E, while the courts and playground sit to the west.

Stretch Your Outing: Nearby Parks and Landmarks

Several small parks and historic buildings sit close by, making it easy to turn a beach visit into a longer stroll. Distances below are straight-line measurements from the park.

Lake Court Apartments (landmark), 0.1 mi
Madison Park North Beach (park), 0.2 mi
Hyde Place (park), 0.4 mi
McGilvra Elementary School (landmark), 0.4 mi
Lambert Place (park), 0.4 mi
Samuel Hyde House (landmark), 0.5 mi
McGilvra Boulevard (park), 0.7 mi
Washington Park Arboretum (park), 0.9 mi

Wander over to Madison Park North Beach, the closest option, for more time by the lake, or spend an afternoon at the Washington Park Arboretum, less than a mile away. When you are ready for more green space, browse our guide to all parks in Seattle.