Best Indoor Swimming Pools for Kids and Families Around Seattle

Swimming in the Pacific Northwest is a year-round family activity. Local Seattle-area indoor pools offer splash-tastic fun for babies, tots, bigger kids and grown-ups alike. We are lucky to have pools around the region that feature amenities and events that are sure to delight swimmers and keep them active all year. So, the next time you need to change up your activity routine, check out one of the area’s top indoor pools — they’ll make you feel as though it’s summertime, no matter what the season.

And of course, safety is always top of mind when it comes to any sort of water play. Check out this roundup of swimming lessons and help your little ones gain the confidence and skills they need to fully enjoy these incredible pools. While this roundup is generally focused on tot swim lessons, many places offer classes for a variety of ages.

Seattle-area

Seattle Parks and Recreation Pools

Water temp: Typically about 85 degrees, but can vary by pool

Offerings: Open daily. All pools offer swim lessons and party rentals. Drop-in programs and other offerings vary by location, but include water exercise, recreational swimming and lap swimming.

Pool deals: Check individual pool pages for neighborhood deals, fun nights and other offerings.

Note: Be sure to check each individual pool schedule prior to heading out for more details and info on closures. Reservations are not required for public swim sessions, it’s first-come, first-served. 

• Ballard: Features diving board, rope swing, slide, warm pool/spa, ADA lift, family changing rooms.
• Evans (Green Lake): Features diving board, dry sauna, family changing rooms.
• Madison (North Seattle): Features diving boards, teaching pool, ADA lift.
• Meadowbrook (Lake City): Features diving boards, rope swing, ADA lift, family changing rooms.
• Medgar Evers (Madrona): Features diving board, rope swing, sauna, teaching pool, ADA lift, family changing rooms. Editor’s note: The Medgar Evers Pool is currently closed for maintenance, with an anticipated reopening in early 2026.
• Queen Anne: Features diving boards, rope swing, sauna, ADA lift, family changing rooms. Editor’s note: The Queen Anne Pool is currently closed through Jan. 4, 2026, to repair a water leak.  
• Rainier Beach: Features a leisure pool (93 degrees) with a giant spiral slide, a lazy river and water vortex; a 25-yard-long lap pool with a diving board; a sauna and hot tub; and a shallow splash area with spray features, dumping buckets and gradual entry.
• Southwest (White Center/South Delridge): Features two diving boards, sauna, ADA lift and family changing rooms.

YMCA of Greater Seattle

Water temp: 83 degrees (some locations have an additional, warmer pool, see below for details)

Offerings: Open daily for a variety of pool activities. Recreation and family swim sessions, group and private lessons for kids are all available on select days.

Lessons: See individual pools for swimming lessons offered and pricing. The registration process for swimming lessons has recently moved to a seasonal registration timeline. See the website for more details and info. 

Pool deals: The Y occasionally runs promotions that waive the joining fee for new memberships.

Note: Membership required (joining fee plus monthly dues), and financial assistance is available at all branches. Check out the full list of all Greater Seattle YMCA locations here. Non-members can sign up for swim lessons, but members benefit from a priority registration window.

• Dale Turner (Shoreline): Lap pool, activity pool, hot tub, waterslide and splash features.
• Matt Griffin (SeaTac): Lap pool, activity pool, hot tub, waterslide and splash features.
• West Seattle: Lap pool and hot tub. 

Bainbridge Island Aquatic Center

Editor’s note: In 2026, Bainbridge Island Aquatic Center will switch to a cashless system and will no longer accept cash payments. The center has two pools; the Ray Williamson Pool will close for construction in spring 2026.

Water temp: 79 degrees in the Ray Williamson Pool, 83 degrees in the Don Nakata Pool

Offerings: Swim lessons, water fitness classes, lap swim, open swim and family beach swim

Fun features: The Don Nakata Pool and Waterpark has a 190-foot waterslide, lazy river, toddler frog slide, shallow beach areas and more water features. The aquatic center also has a spa, steam room and sauna.

Pool tips: During open swim, all children younger than 15 must have a swim license for the lap area and deep end. Children younger than 7 without a swim license must have an adult within arm’s reach. During family swim, all children must have an adult in the water with them. Lap swimmers in the Ray Williamson Pool must be at least 8 years old, with level four swimming skills.

Pool deals: Monthly swim passes and monthly family passes are available, as are 10-punch and 20-punch cards. Day passes are discounted for Bainbridge Island residents. 

Eastside

Bellevue Aquatic Center, Bellevue

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

Offerings: Private and semiprivate 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 8 and younger must be accompanied by an adult in the pool at all times (unless they pass a swim test, which allows them to swim independently in the Blue Lagoon pool only). 

Pool deals: Discount swim runs Monday through Saturday, 8–10 a.m. ($5.50 per person). Also available are 12–pass punch or three-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 and lap swim

Fun features: Diving board is open Saturdays, 3:15–5:15 p.m., and Sundays, 12:30–1:30 p.m. There is a 3–4-foot shallow end perfect for smaller swimmers. Bring your own toys!

Pool tips: Children younger than 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: 83–84 degrees

Offerings: Private, semiprivate 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.

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. The current schedule is Sunday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–8 p.m.; and Friday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–10 p.m., with one-hour open-swim times throughout the day. The pool also offers water fitness classes.

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 during swim lessons (April–October); and Saturdays from 9 a.m.–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 ½ feet) to shallower (around 2 ½ feet). Kids younger than 6 must have an adult in the water with them. Swim lessons for ages 3 and older are offered seasonally 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 a year-round outdoor and indoor pool, as well as a seasonal wading pool for ages 5 and younger. There’s open family swim, lap swim and a variety of swim lessons to meet each family’s needs. 

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

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.

North Sound-area

Lynnwood Recreation Center

Water temp: 85 degrees (recreation pool), 93 degrees (wellness pool), 83 degrees (lap pool), 98 degrees (family hot tub)

Offerings: This super-popular pool features waterslides, sprayers, a lazy river, diving boards, a wobbly walkway, a swirl pool and fountains. Just remember, the sprayers can be a little intense for very young ones. There are also two hot tubs: one that’s perfect for families and one that’s for adults only, at a higher temperature. Plus, there’s a lap pool and a warm-water wellness pool. The rec center also offers swim lessons for all ages.

For little ones: During Beach Swim times, only the shallow play area is open; water is up to 2 feet deep.

Pool tips: Preregistration is required for open and recreation swims, with an exception for annual pass holders, who are guaranteed entry and don’t need advance registration. Register by phone (425-670-5732), in person or online. Open and Recreation Swim tickets will be available for registration starting on Wednesdays, for the following week’s (Monday–Sunday) swims. Depending on availability you will be able to register in advance for a swim until a half hour prior to the swim, then if space is available you can drop-in.

Pool deals: If you plan to go to the pool often, invest in an annual pass. It grants visitors use of all the recreation center amenities in addition to priority entry for open swimming. Save by purchasing a 10-visit pass.

Note: Children younger than 6 must be accompanied by an adult or teen in the water at all times. The adult or teen (13 years or older) must be actively supervising the child who is younger than 6 years from inside the water. Kids have to be at least 48 inches in height to go down the tube slide and 40 inches tall for the body slide.

Mountlake Terrace Recreation Pavilion

Water temp: 87–88 degrees

Offerings: This epic warm-water pool features a lazy river, water basketball hoops, geysers and pool toys. There’s also a hot tub and sauna located a short distance from the pool. This pool offers a variety of swim lessons for children.

For little ones: The large leisure pool ranges from 6 inches to 3 feet deep, with spray features and pool toys designed for children 6 and younger. Life jackets are available for all ages.

Pool tips: Leisure pool swim times are recommended for younger kids, and recreation swim times are better for older ones. Adults must be in the pool and within arm’s reach of children younger than 4 at all times.

Pool deals: You can purchase an 11-visit pass, a month pass or an annual pass at a discounted rate. 

Note: Children younger than 4 years of age must be accompanied in the pool by an adult; adults should be within arm’s reach of all young children.

Snohomish County YMCA

Water temp: 84 degrees

Offerings: Parent/child swim lessons, preschool swim lessons, school-age kids’ lessons and adaptive swim lessons are offered. Stanwood-Camano offers lifeguard training.

Enroll in swim programs online or contact your local branch:

• Everett Family YMCA
• Marysville Family YMCA
• Mill Creek Family YMCA
• Monroe/Sky Valley Family YMCA
• Mukilteo Family YMCA
• Stanwood-Camano YMCA

Snohomish Aquatic Center, Snohomish

Water temp: 83–86 degrees (recreation pool), 78–80 degrees (competition pool)

Offerings: Recreation and family swim sessions, group, private and semiprivate lessons for kids, swim camps, surf simulation and lessons, diving boards and a 10-lane lap pool. 

Fun features: This 52,000-square-foot swim center in Snohomish is one of the region’s most exciting, boasting the only FlowRider (surf-simulation machine) in the area, as well as the Splashtacular waterslide, a recreational lap pool and a lazy river. Depths range from 2–4 ½ feet. Guests must be at least 48 inches tall and pass a swim test to slide on the Splashtacular slide. Editor’s note: The Splashtacular waterslide is currently closed and in need of structural repairs. In the meantime, there is an 18-foot inflatable waterslide available for guest use.

For little ones: There is a splash play area with buckets to dump water, stairs to climb and two slides.

Pool deals: The center offers 10-visit punch cards, along with three-month and annual passes for discounted rates.

Tacoma and the South Sound-area

People’s Pool, Tacoma

Water temp: 85 degrees

Offerings: This Tacoma pool boasts an indoor spray pad, a small lazy river (no inner tubes), floating pads for walk-on-water play and poolside basketball hoops. It also offers swim lessons, but be sure to register early. Lessons are priced by number of sessions and age. 

For little ones: This pool features a separate Tot Zone spray pad with geysers, for kids who want to have some water fun outside of the pool.

Pool tips: Adults must accompany children younger than 7 and/or under 42 inches in height in the water.

Pool deals: Ages 18 and younger swim free at all Metro Parks pools. Sign up for the community center pass here. 

Norpoint Pool, Tacoma

Water temp: 85 degrees

Offerings: Rec and family swim sessions, toddler zone swim and swim lessons (register early, priced by number of sessions and age). The Norpoint pool also has two hot tubs — one for families and one for adults only.

Fun features: Norpoint features a mushroom waterfall, water basketball, family spa and pool toys.

For little ones: The pool has a ramped entry for young swimmers.

Pool deals: Ages 18 and younger swim free at all Metro Parks pools. Sign up for the community center pass here. 

Eastside Community Pool, Tacoma

Water temp: 85 degrees

Offerings: Family and rec swim sessions, toddler zone, and lessons are available at all levels. 

Fun features: This pool is home to a water vortex (perfect for the whirlpool enthusiasts in your family), an aqua zip, a water climbing wall, spray features and a slide.

Pool tips: Children ages 6 and younger must be accompanied by an adult within arm’s reach at all times in the pool.

For little ones: The pool has a Tot Zone shallow end for kids 5 and younger.

Pool deals: Ages 18 and younger are free at all Metro Parks Tacoma pools. Sign up for the community center pass here. 

Editor’s note: Private pool rentals have been suspended until further notice at People’s Pool, Norpoint Pool and Eastside Community Pool. Check the Metro Parks Tacoma website for updates.

Federal Way Community Center Pool, Federal Way

Water temp: 86 degrees (recreation pool); 82 degrees (lap pool)

Offerings: Federal Way’s leisure pool has a two-story waterslide, an inner-tube lazy river with a whirlpool feature, and a spa. Private, semiprivate, group and teen programs are offered for all levels. In addition, there are rec swims, parent-tot swims and private pool rentals. The locker rooms were recently renovated and have reopened with new saunas and steam rooms.

For little ones: Little swimmers will love the 2-foot-deep area with an interactive aquatic play structure and water sprayers.

Pool tips: The pool waitlist fills up fast, and must be completely cleared before a new waitlist is started. A day pass to the pool buys you access to the entire facility. Parents need to be in the water with kids younger than 8, and for the big slide, kids must be at least 4 feet tall. 

Pool deals: Purchase a one-day pass to the community center, which allows you to use the basketball courts, swimming pools, walking/running track and fitness area. Monthly and annual passes are also available with discounted rates for Federal Way residents.

Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center, Federal Way

Water temp: 81 degrees (lap pool), 87 degrees (recreation pool)

Offerings: Recreation and family swim sessions, lessons for all levels for 6 months and older.

Fun features: The centerpiece of the recreation pool is a replica pirate ship with active water shooters and tipping water buckets.

For little ones: The recreational pool has ramped entry for young swimmers.

Pool tips: An adult must be in the pool with children younger than 7, within arm’s reach at all times. During family swim times, all children must be accompanied by an adult in the water.

Pool deals: Day passes for this pool for family swim are the same price for all ages.

Covington Aquatic Center, Covington

Water temp: 85 degrees

Offerings: This South Sound aquatic destination features a diving board, 31-foot waterslide, huge inflatable octopus, floating magic carpet, rope swing, water basketball and pool toys. You’ll find a variety of swim sessions on offer: recreation, family and parent-tot, plus private and semiprivate swim lessons for all ages, as well as private party rentals. Swim times vary, so it’s best to check the schedule online before planning your trip to the pool.

For little ones: Tiptoe across the foam floating magic carpet and play with toys in the shallow end.

Pool tips: There are often special public swims on school early-dismissal days or vacation days. The center offers special seasonal events like the “Spooky Swim” and the “Hollydaze Swim.” The inflatable octopus is in the water on weekends during public swims, and the magic carpet is available during weekday public swims. 

Pool deals: Family discounts, 10-visit discount cards and memberships are available.

Editor’s note: ParentMap staff contributed to this article, which was originally published several years ago and was updated most recently on Dec. 11, 2025, by ParentMap’s family fun editor, Meredith Charaba, with new details and a thorough fact-check on all pool information.