Our Favorite Seattle, Washington Skateparks

What are the first things that come to mind when someone mentions Seattle, Washington? If your answer involves coffee culture, Pike Place Market, tech industry giants, and a general love of the outdoors, you’ve got the typical idea in mind. Consistently ranked among one of the 10 best places to live in the United States, the Greater Seattle area is also famous for lush evergreen forests, mountain biking, rainy and gloomy weather, and distinctive landmarks such as the Space Needle. 

But are you aware of the Emerald City’s growing number of sweet skate spots? The skateboarding scene is Seattle has a little bit of everything. There’s a good chunk of skateparks to choose from along with some impressive up and coming DIY spots. 

If you’re heading to the Evergreen State in the near future or just happen to be curious about some of Seattle’s top skating destinations, keep on reading to find out some of our favorite spots. This is by no means a complete list, so be sure to keep an eye out, do your research, and maybe even ask some locals for recommendations!

But first…skate gear.

If you’re going to skate, you need to dress the part. And no, we’re not talking about Thrasher hoodies and Dickies pants. While we know it’s tempting to want to throw on your favorite snapback or beanie to rep your favorite brand, save the caps for another occasion and opt for a proper fitting helmet instead. Pads are also recommended, especially if you’re newer to the sport!

Protective gear should be worn every time you skateboard, even if the skatepark doesn’t require it. Helmet, pads, and other skate accessories are available in a wide variety of styles and designs, ensuring there’s something for everyone to stay safe in. 

Marginal Way Skate Park

Location: 1 S Hanford St, Seattle, Washington 98134

Cost: Free

Hours: 24 hours

Best for: Bowl lovers, transitions, experienced skaters

We’re kicking off our list with a true underdog story. Marginal Way Skate Park is the definition of a DIY skatepark. Back in 2004, a few skateboard enthusiasts began pouring concrete against an underpass wall in hopes of creating a place to skate undercover. What started out on the down low eventually earned official recognition from the city and grew to become Seattle’s symbolic center of skate culture. Often described as the Seattle equivalent to Portland’s Burnside, Marginal Way boasts several distinct sections of gnarly transitions, pool coping, a tile mosaic cradle, and even some insane vert wall obstacles. Beginners be warned. 

Delridge Skatepark

Location: 2414 SW Genesee St, Seattle, Washington 98106

Cost: Free

Hours: 4:00am – 11:30pm 

Best for: Street style, transition lovers

If you’re a fan of transition skating, consider Delridge Skatepark a 13,000 square foot slice of paradise. Designed and built by Grindline Skateparks, Delridge offers a big, open layout with plenty of features to choose from. Street skaters will find ledges, rails, stairs, and a manual pad while bowl lovers will want to take advantage of the park’s defined pool area and flowing transition section. 

Jefferson Park Skatepark

Location: 380 Beacon Ave S, Seattle, Washington 98108

Cost: Free

Hours: 4:00am – 11:30pm

Best for: Bowls, learning tricks, nighttime skating

Calling all bowl lovers. One of Jefferson Park Skatepark’s main attractions is the mega bowl complete with both a shallow and deep end, along with a spine and flat bank wall. If bowl skating isn’t your thing, the shallow end still provides plenty of action (tip: try dropping in on the big flat bank wall). For more advanced skaters, Jefferson Park offers some crazy big rails. If you’re still working your way up to some of the fancier tricks, the park’s got low manual pads and low ledges that are ideal for perfecting technique. 

River City Skatepark

Location: 736 S Cloverdale St, Seattle, Washington 98108

Cost: Free

Hours: 24 hours

Best for: Transition, experienced skaters

River City Skatepark is a free community recreational park. Originally the brainchild of three South Park high school students, this 4,000 square foot park started out as a neglected piece of property. Over the following years, the park has blossomed into a unique skatepark that continues to transcend its original expectations. Shaped like a clover when viewed from above, River City boasts a big circular snake run with another cross-shaped snake run in the middle and four doors at the end of each cross point. Though these obstacles were designed with more experienced skaters in mind, those who aren’t especially trick savvy can still have a blast carving around the park in wide turns! 

Roxhill Skatepark

Location: 9210 29th Ave SW, Seattle, Washington 98126

Cost: Free

Hours: 6:00am – 10:00pm

Best for: Families, street style

Roxhill Skatepark is a must visit destination for street skaters and plaza enthusiasts. This 10,000 square foot modern street plaza is situated in a family-friendly neighbor and has something for everyone, from toddlers on scooters to advanced skaters (so keep this in mind if you’d rather avoid kids). A true street style paradise, Roxhill offers a wide variety of obstacles such as a bank-to-ledge, a bump to flatbar, a series of mellow banks, and a Pier 7 manual pad. 

While Seattle, Washington definitely has a lot more to offer in terms of sweet skate spots, we hope our five favorites listed above are enough to help you get started. So, where are you skating next?