Destination playgrounds

The playgrounds worth driving for — all-abilities builds, hillside slides, zip lines, and park combos where a toddler can burn a whole morning.

Wright Park Playground FREE
501 S I St, Tacoma · map
Big playground plus free sprayground in a 27-acre arboretum with 600+ mature trees (shade) and the Seymour Conservatory; restrooms on site.
Titlow Park Playground FREE
8425 6th Ave, Tacoma · map
Expansive playground with a dedicated toddler zone, sprayground, and Puget Sound beach with tide pools all in one 75-acre park.
Kandle Park FREE
2323 N Shirley St, Tacoma · map
Playground plus free sprayground plus the wave pool — the easiest all-day water/play combo in Tacoma.
Dune Peninsula & Wilson Way Slides (Point Defiance) FREE
5361 Yacht Club Rd, Tacoma · map
Six 'Chutes and Ladders' hillside slides beside the 605-foot Wilson Way bridge, with Rainier and Sound views; almost no shade — bring hats.
Sprinker Recreation Center Playground FREE
521 Military Rd S, Spanaway · map
Colorful accessible playground from the 2023 $18.7M outdoor makeover, next to the splash pad, outdoor fitness court and paved trail link.
Fort Steilacoom Park FREE
8714 87th Ave SW, Lakewood · map
Castle-themed playground in Lakewood's 340-acre flagship park; paved Waughop Lake loop, 22-acre off-leash dog park, year-round bathrooms.
Playground by the Sound (Chambers Creek Regional Park) FREE
6320 Grandview Dr W, University Place · map
Fenced nautical destination playground with lighthouse-and-crab-shack toddler area, orca sculptures and a 'Galloping Gertie' wobble bridge, near Chambers Bay.
Sehmel Homestead Park FREE
10123 78th Ave NW, Gig Harbor · map
Boundless all-abilities playground in a 98-acre PenMet park with amphitheater, demonstration gardens, trails and restrooms.
Pioneer Park FREE
300 S Meridian, Puyallup · map
Downtown playground paired with the Kiwanis Kids Spray Park, next to the library; Saturday farmers market in season.
Bradley Lake Park FREE
531 31st Ave SE, Puyallup · map
Inclusive playground plus a stroller-friendly lake loop trail and a large covered picnic area on South Hill.
Discovery Playground (Les Gove Park) FREE
910 9th St SE, Auburn · map
32,000 sq ft barrier-free playground with a five-senses sensory garden; spray playground and library on the same campus.
Town Square Park FREE
31600 Pete von Reichbauer Way S, Federal Way · map
Zip line, climbing structure and splash pad packed into one downtown block.
Rainier Vista Community Park FREE
5475 45th Ave SE, Lacey · map
Large play area in Lacey's flagship community park with sport courts, fields and restrooms.
Yauger Park FREE
3100 Capital Mall Dr SW, Olympia · map
Playground with Olympia's biggest mega-slide, plus skate court and community gardens; restrooms on site.
LBA Park FREE
3333 Morse-Merryman Rd SE, Olympia · map
Playground with a kid-favorite zip line, shaded woods trails, picnic shelters and a 0.7-mile loop path.
Wapato Park Playground FREE
6500 S Sheridan Ave, Tacoma · map
Playground, sprayground and a flat stroller-friendly lake loop under big firs (good shade); swimming in the lake is usually off-limits due to algae.

Details change — check the venue's site before heading out. Spot an error or a missing place? Tell us.