Best Indoor Swimming Pools for Kids and Families Around Seattle

Bellevue Aquatic Center, Bellevue

Water temp: 82 degrees (lap pool), 92 degrees (warm-water pool)

Offerings:  Private and semi-private swim lessons, open swim and lap swim

Fun features:  Slide and diving board available during family swim

For little ones: The ramped entry and temperature of the warm water springs pool is ideal for very young swimmers and people with disabilities.

Pool tips: Children ages 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult in the pool at all times.

Pool deals: Discount swim runs Monday through Saturday before 10 a.m. ($5.50 per person). Also available are 12–pass punch or 3–month pass cards offering a discounted rate, see fees page for details.

Julius Boehm Pool, Issaquah

Water Temp: 86 degrees

Offerings: Parent/child or grouped child swim lessons, recreation swim (Monday–Saturday), and lap swim.

Fun features: Diving board (open Saturday afternoons), 3–4-foot shallow end perfect for smaller swimmers, bring your own toys!

Pool tips: Renovated in 2015, Julius Boehm has newer changing rooms, lockers, restrooms and showers. Other upgrades include a new pool liner and a deck coating that’s gentler on bare feet. During non-pandemic times, Family Fun Nights featured themed to activities such as Super Soaker Night or movie night (check Recreation Guide for upcoming events, typically the first Friday of every month, to see if and when these programs will return). Children under age 6 must be accompanied by an adult in the water at all times.

Pool deals: Take advantage of the family rate ($15) for everyone in a household for public swim. Save with a 30-day or annual pass. View the pool schedule online. A day pass grants you entrance to the pool and the Issaquah Community Center.

Mary Wayte Pool, Mercer Island

Water temp: 82–84 degrees

Offerings: Private, semi-private and group swim lessons, pre-comp and competitive kids’ swimming, family swim, lap swim, aqua exercise

Fun features: Mercer Island’s only public pool has separate family and lap pools, pre-comp and competitive youth swimming, and amazing clinics. Also, this is one of the few local pools that books weekend birthday parties.

Pool deals: 10-punch and monthly passes available.

Note: Current swim school and event calendars are available on their website.

North Shore Lagoon at McMenamins Anderson School, Bothell

Water temp: 88–90 degrees

Offerings: Located at the McMenamins Anderson School complex in downtown Bothell, this full-size saltwater pool doesn’t have slides, diving boards or other excitement, just plenty of very warm, shallow water; pool toys; and a killer schedule. It’s open long hours every day of the year, 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Sunday–Thursday, and 9 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday, with one-hour open-swim times throughout the day.

Pool tips: The pool is open to the public for one-hour sessions starting every hour on the hour. Arrive up to 30 minutes early to get your wristband. The busiest times at the pool are 5–7 p.m., Monday–Thursday, during swim lessons; and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Children’s life vests and puddle jumpers are available to use at the pool for free.

After your swim:Get snacks and drinks at Nui Nui, the tiki-themed North Shore Lagoon restaurant above the pool. Or check out one of the other restaurants with indoor and outdoor dining options (or the movie theater) on the unique 5-acre premises.

Pool deals: Bothell residents swim free with ID.

Note: Call in advance on foggy days; the pool is partially outdoors so it occasionally closes early or opens late. Depths range from shallow (4.5 feet) to shallower (around 2.5 feet). Kids ages 5 and younger must have an adult in the water with them. Swim lessons for ages 3 and older are also offered at this pool.

YMCA of Greater Seattle

YMCA of Greater Seattle’s facilities include these Eastside-area pools. (YMCA swimming details are listed on the previous page.)

• Bellevue: Features lap swim, family swim, spa, and children’s swim lessons.
• Sammamish: Warmer rec pool with playland, waterslide, lazy river, spray and play park, spa, and additional lap pool. Free swim for Sammamish city residents on Sundays at select times (advance registration required).
• Coal Creek (Newcastle): Lap pool, warmer activity pool and spa. The Mushroom area is less than 3 feet deep and perfect for young children.
• Auburn Valley: Offers a 3-foot-deep warm activity pool with splash and spray fun, lap swim, swim lessons, and free community swim for Auburn residents on select days (no YMCA membership required, pre-registration required). 

Samena Swim & Recreation Club, Bellevue

Water temp: 87 degrees (indoor); 80–81 degrees (outdoor)

Offerings: Samena offers open family swim, lap swim, a wading pool for smaller swimmers, and a variety of swim lessons to meet each family’s needs. Membership facility.

Fun features: Samena offers fun events, such as "Float-In" movies, included with membership. 

Tips: Samena offers a year-round outdoor and indoor pool, plus a wading pool for ages 8 and younger that’s currently open daily. 

Note: This is a membership pool. Non-members can take swimming lessons; lessons are discounted for members and members have access to family swim sessions.

Next up: North Sound-area swimming pools