Arboretum Directions
Lake Washington Blvd Closure: July 23 to Aug 6
According to WSDOT, SR 520 construction crews are completing drainage and a new permanent roadway just north of the Arboretum. Lake Washington Boulevard will be closed in both directions from 10 p.m. Sunday, July 23, to 10 p.m. Sunday, August 6, between 24th Avenue and Montlake Boulevard. The westbound SR 520 off-ramp to Lake Washington Boulevard will also be closed during this time.
Visitors to the Arboretum should plan their trips accordingly.
FULL DETAILS & ROAD WORK MAP: SR 520 Construction Corner
Street Address
Washington Park Arboretum
2300 Arboretum Drive East
Seattle, WA 98112
“Keep up the good work. I love walking in Arboretum”—L.C.
Walk & Bike
You can access the Arboretum by foot or bicycle from the adjacent Madison Park neighborhood along the new multi-use Arboretum Loop Trail. The trail begins at the intersection of East Madison Street and 31st Avenue East and leads north towards the Arboretum.
If you’re coming south from the University District, cross Montlake Bridge and the SR-520 overpass, and travel southwest through the Montlake residential neighborhood. Access the Arboretum using the historic Wilcox Bridge over Lake Washington Boulevard East at the end of East Lynn Street.
Cyclists using the Loop Trail must observe the 10 mph speed limit and yield to pedestrians. Seattle Bike Map
Bus
Metro bus routes 43, 48, and 980 run near the Arboretum on 24th Avenue, in Montlake. Ask for the McGraw street stop. Walk east on nearby East Lynn Street to access the Arboretum and cross over the Wilcox footbridge to reach the Graham Visitors Center. If you are coming from Madison Street, take route 11, get off at Lake Washington Boulevard East, and walk north into the Arboretum via the Loop Trail (see above). Several buses coming from the Eastside exit at Montlake. Use Metro’s Trip Planner to determine the best route.
Light Rail
Sound Transit’s Link Light Rail UW/Husky Station is just a 1.2-mile walk from the Arboretum. Walk south from the station, cross the Montlake Bridge and the SR-520 overpass, and travel south along 24th Avenue to Montlake Village. Access the Arboretum using the historic Wilcox Bridge over Lake Washington Boulevard East at the end of East Lynn Street.
Car
From Downtown
Drive east on Madison Street, away from the Puget Sound. Follow it through Capitol Hill and the Central District into Madison Valley. Turn left (north) on Lake Washington Boulevard (LWB) to enter the Arboretum. To reach the Graham Visitors Center, continue on LWB and veer to the right after passing under the Wilcox Footbridge onto East Foster Island Road. Turn right onto Arboretum Drive East and take a sharp left to enter the parking lot of the Visitors Center.
From I-5
Take exit 168 for SR-520 East/Bellevue-Kirkland. Merge onto SR-520 and take the first exit, Montlake Boulevard. Continue straight through the signal onto E Lake Washington Boulevard. Continue 0.6 miles and turn left onto E Foster Island Road. After 0.2 miles, turn right onto Arboretum Drive E to reach the Graham Visitors Center.
From SR 520 West
After crossing Lake Washington on SR-520, take the Lake Washington Boulevard (LWB) exit. Turn left onto LWB at the four-way stop sign and drive 0.6 miles. Turn left onto East Foster Island Road at the stop sign (look for the big Arboretum sign). After 0.1 miles, turn right onto Arboretum Drive East to access the Graham Visitors Center.
Parking
Parking is available for the public in several designated areas. Large parking lots can be found at the Graham Visitors Center and the Seattle Japanese Garden.
