04 Aug Best View of the Seattle Skyline at Night: Kerry Park

Kerry Park might be well-known among Seattle locals yet unfamiliar to those from out of town. Personally, I think it holds the best view of the Seattle skyline, both during the day as well as at night. Visitors can see not only the skyline but also Elliot Bay and Mount Rainier (on a cloud-free day). Head over to the park around sunset for a view of a golden-colored Seattle. 

Seattle holds an array of stunning attractions, so why not spend an entire day exploring the city?

Contents:

1) Location of Kerry Park

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

3) The Best Time to Visit

4) Quick Facts

5) Background

6) General Park Information

7) Nearby Attractions

1) Location of Kerry Park – Seattle Skyline at Night

Kerry Park, in my opinion, has the best view of the Seattle skyline, both during the day as well as during the night. As a bonus, it is free to enter the park and enjoy the views. While the Space Needle can also offer a beautiful overlook of the city, it does cost approximately $35 per adult. For reference, Kerry Park is less than 10 minutes northwest of the Space Needle and less than 15 minutes northwest of Pike Place Market.

Parking 

Parking is generally quite easy at Kerry Park. There is parking available on the street surrounding the park as well as on nearby streets. For example, we parked on the street below and walked up some steps to arrive at the park. Do be aware, however, that the streets in this area can be steep. We avoided parking on a steep street and instead opted for a flat, cross street.

Nearby Lodging

If you are in need of lodging accommodations, there are a ton of options surrounding Kerry Park, mainly in the Queen Anne and Uptown neighborhoods.

Nearby Airports 

The closest airport is the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which is located 30 minutes south of Kerry Park.

View of the Space Needle in the distance from Kerry Park

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

First, Kerry Park is open daily from 6:00am to 10:00pm. There are no gates restricting visitors from accessing the park during the closed hours, though the city of Seattle asks visitors to respect the park’s hours as well as those who live nearby by only visiting during the hours noted previously. 

Second, there is no entrance fee for the park. Additionally, there is generally no fee for street parking in the area. 

3) The Best Time to Visit – Seattle Skyline at Night

First, the best time to visit Kerry Park is at sunset. We unfortunately visited a bit before the night began so we did not get the beautiful views of the golden-colored Seattle skyline. Nevertheless, we still had views of the skyline, and I would say it was still 1000% worth the visit. 

Second, plan between 30 minutes and one hour in your itinerary to visit Kerry Park. How much time you spend here truly depends on how many pictures you take and if you want to stay for the whole sunset (if you visit at that time). 

Admiring the Seattle skyline

4) Quick Facts

1. Kerry Park is located in Seattle, Washington, specifically in the Queen Anne neighborhood. 

2. The hours of the park are from 6:00am to 10:00pm daily, and there is no entrance fee.

3. There is parking available on nearby streets at no cost. 

4. Arguably the best time to visit the park is at sunset. 

5. Kerry Park offers views of the Seattle skyline as well as Elliot Bay and Mount Rainier (on a cloud-free day).

5) Background

Kerry Park was constructed in 1927 with the main purpose of offering visitors a place to enjoy views of the Seattle skyline. The park is named after Albert Kerry and his wife Katherine due to the fact they donated the land to the city of Seattle. Furthermore, Kerry’s children had a local artist build a sculpture in the park in the early 1970s. The park is approximately 1.26 acres large. 

Poking the Space Needle from Kerry Park

6) General Park Information – Seattle Skyline at Night

You might be thinking, really? This park that I have never even heard of offers the best view of Seattle? Trust me on this one. Visitors can see the Seattle skyline, Elliot Bay, and Mount Rainier on a clear day. Clouds can of course ruin the view a bit, but that would be true for any location with a view of the Seattle skyline.

My recommendation? Visit Kerry Park at sunset for a beautiful, golden-colored Seattle. Not only will you be able to enjoy the colors of the sunset, but you can watch as the Seattle skyline begins to light up at night. Stay for a little while and you can see the lights of the city as well as the lights of the boats and ships in the harbor.

You might see a few photographers in the park, possibly even setting up a tripod or other equipment to capture the perfect photograph. Although, you can even capture a pretty spectacular picture with just an iPhone and a little editing. Additionally, there is a 15 foot (~4.5 meter) sculpture in the middle of the park.

View of the Seattle skyline from Kerry Park

7) Nearby Attractions

There are a bunch of attractions close to Kerry Park as well as just outside the city of Seattle. First off, I have to mention the Space Needle and Pike Place Market. These are classic Seattle attractions and worth the visit, especially for first or second time visitors to the area. Both of them are within a 15 minute drive of Kerry Park. Second, there are a few even closer attractions such as ice cream shops and restaurants. For example, Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream is a few blocks north. Catch the sunset at Kerry Park then walk to Molly Moon’s for an ice cream treat. That sounds like a perfect night to me.

Third, there are a variety of attractions outside of the city of Seattle. For instance, North Cascades National Park is only a two hour drive north. It has beautiful turquoise lakes, multiple hiking options, and campground rentals. Additionally, you can plan a day trip to Snoqualmie Valley to hike Rattlesnake Ledge and marvel at the famous Snoqualmie Falls.

PIN IT to save it for later!

Do not miss out on the national parks when visiting Seattle: 3 Reasons to Visit North Cascades.

Check out one of the best views in the city of Pittsburgh: Riding the Monongahela Incline.