Volunteer Park: Seattle's Olmsted-Designed Jewel
Discover Seattle's Olmsted-designed gem: a blend of history, art, and nature in the heart of Capitol Hill. Serene escape with city views.
Volunteer Park, a 48.3-acre green space in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, offers a serene retreat with walking trails, the Seattle Asian Art Museum, and a historic conservatory [7, 19]. Designed by the Olmsted Brothers, it features formal gardens, sweeping lawns, and panoramic city views [3, 9].
A brief summary to Volunteer Park
- 1247 15th Ave E, Seattle, Capitol Hill, Washington, 98112, US
- +1206-684-4075
- Visit website
- Monday 6 am-10 pm
- Tuesday 6 am-10 pm
- Wednesday 6 am-10 pm
- Thursday 6 am-10 pm
- Friday 6 am-10 pm
- Saturday 6 am-10 pm
- Sunday 6 am-10 pm
Local tips
- Visit early morning or late afternoon for the best wildlife viewing opportunities [14].
- Explore the Volunteer Park Conservatory, free on the first Thursday of each month [4, 25, 30].
- Climb the Water Tower for panoramic city views [8, 14].
- Check the Volunteer Park Trust website for upcoming events and concerts [16, 18, 30].
- Take the bus to avoid parking hassles, especially during peak hours [16, 18].
Getting There
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Public Transport
From downtown Seattle, the easiest way to reach Volunteer Park is by bus [11, 13, 16, 18, 20]. Take King County Metro bus route 49 from 6th Ave and Pike St towards the park [11, 13]. The bus ride takes approximately 15 minutes and costs $3 [11, 13]. Get off at the 10th Ave E & E Prospect St stop, which is a short walk to the park entrance [11, 13, 20]. Alternatively, routes 10 and 12 also serve the park [16, 20]. An ORCA card is recommended for easy payment [22, 24, 29]. A regional day pass costs $6 and provides unlimited rides on most transit services [22, 28, 29].
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Walking
From the Capitol Hill Station light rail stop, Volunteer Park is approximately a 55-minute walk [20]. Head north on Broadway, then turn right onto E Prospect Street [19]. Continue east on E Prospect Street until you reach the park entrance [4, 10]. The walk is uphill and offers views of the surrounding neighborhood [21]. Be aware that the walk is approximately 2.3 miles [11, 13].
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Taxi/Ride-Share
Taxis and ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are readily available in Seattle [22]. A ride from downtown Seattle to Volunteer Park typically takes 5-10 minutes, depending on traffic [11, 13]. The estimated cost is $10-$13 [11, 13]. Specify the Volunteer Park's address (1247 15th Ave E) as your destination. Note that drop-off locations are available at multiple entrances around the park [10].
Discover more about Volunteer Park
Iconic landmarks you can’t miss
J. W. Bullock House
0.3 km
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The Lake View Cemetery bench
0.3 km
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Bruce Lee and Brandon Lee Grave Sites
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Lake View Cemetery
0.3 km
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P. P. Ferry House
0.4 km
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Egan House
0.5 km
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Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery
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Harvard-Belmont Landmark District
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The Rhodes Mansion
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Bellevue Place
1.0 km
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Boyer-Lambert House
1.3 km
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Montlake Spite House
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Pantages House
1.5 km
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Historic Ships Wharf
1.6 km
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The Steamer Virginia V
1.6 km
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Unmissable attractions to see
Volunteer Park Conservatory
0.1 km
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Black Sun by Isamu Noguchi
0.2 km
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Seattle Asian Art Museum
0.2 km
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Water Tower Observation Deck
0.3 km
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Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral
0.4 km
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Capitol Hill
0.8 km
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Capitol Hill Wishing Tree
0.9 km
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Ward House
1.5 km
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Seattle Japanese Garden
1.5 km
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Lake Union
1.6 km
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Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI)
1.6 km
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Lake Union Park
1.6 km
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Washington Park Arboretum
1.7 km
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Jimi Hendrix Statue
1.8 km
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The Cuff Complex
1.8 km
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Essential places to dine
Cook Weaver
0.8 km
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Altura
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Olympia Pizza & Spaghetti House III
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Single Shot
1.0 km
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Due' Cucina - Capitol Hill
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Rione XIII
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Olmstead
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Kedai Makan Capitol Hill
1.8 km
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Spinasse
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The Tin Table
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Nue
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Tavolàta Capitol Hill
2.0 km
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Terra Plata
2.1 km
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Stateside
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Lark Restaurant
2.1 km
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Markets, malls and hidden boutiques
Kobo Shop & Gallery on Capitol Hill
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Casita International Gift Shop
1.0 km
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Broadway Market
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Station 7
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Revival Shop Seattle
1.2 km
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The New York Xchange
1.2 km
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Capitol Thrill
1.9 km
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Butter Home
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Harvard Market
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Late Night Vintage Market
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Standard Goods
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Glasswing Shop
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The Handmade Showroom
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Spacebase Gift Shop at the Space Needle
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Queen Anne Marketplace
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Essential bars & hidden hideouts
Herb & Bitter Public House
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Hillside Bar
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Montana
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GOLD BAR
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Knee High Stocking Co.
1.8 km
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Linda's Tavern
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Quinn's Pub
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Tavern Law
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Paper Fan Cocktail Bar
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Inside Passage
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canon
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Deep Dive
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The Hideout
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McMenamins Queen Anne
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Streamline Tavern
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Nightclubs & after hour spots
Black Lodge
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Rock Box
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The Rhino Room
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The Woods
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Massive
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Havana
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Cultura Seattle
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Neighbours Nightclub and Lounge
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Kremwerk
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Cherry
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Q Nightclub
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The Mercury @ MachineWerks
2.1 km
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Red Lounge
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Vue Lounge
2.9 km
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Ora Nightclub
3.0 km
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