Point Defiance Park — Tacoma, Washington

Address5400 N Pearl St, Tacoma, WA 98407

HoursOpen 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset (Parks Tacoma)

PricesFREE — park entry and parking are free; the zoo and Fort Nisqually inside the park charge separately

Price notesFree public park surrounding Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, both listed separately in this set.

Age notesGeneral public park; no age guidance published or needed.

BookingNo reservation for park entry.

Suggested timeAbout 2 hours

AccessibilityNot confirmed — no access attribute is claimed from the official pages reviewed.

ParkingFree parking throughout the park (Parks Tacoma).

Hours in detailGeneral Park Hours: open 1/2 hour before sunrise, close 1/2 hour after sunset, daily (Parks Tacoma park page).

ParkingThe official park page's features list includes Parking Stalls and Parking Stalls / ADA (accessible parking stalls). No parking fee is stated on the official park page.

AccessibilityThe park page lists Parking Stalls / ADA, hard and soft trails, and seasonal and year-round restrooms among its features. Parks Tacoma's accessibility policy: individuals with disabilities may be accompanied by service animals in all areas open to the public; wheelchairs and manually-powered mobility aids are permitted in any area open to pedestrian use; ADA accommodation requests for programs should be made at least two weeks in advance. The completed Loop Trail offers 1.6 miles of paved trail separating pedestrians and cyclists from vehicles, connecting Wilson Way Bridge, the Pagoda, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, the Environmental Learning Center and Owen Beach, and was built to improve safety, accessibility and connectivity (Loop Trail project page).

Family facilitiesFeatures listed on the official park page include a playground, picnic shelters (drop-in and reservable), barbeque grills, drinking fountains, and restrooms (seasonal and year-round).

Official tipsPark-page news: the Outer Loop of Five Mile Drive is closing permanently to vehicles for safety, following a geotechnical report. Loop Trail Phase II construction is finished (July 2026), detours have been removed, and the road and trail have fully reopened.

Seasonal notesLoop Trail Phase II was completed in summer 2026 (celebration July 31, 2026); all park destinations remained open during construction, with only the signed section of Five Mile Drive restricted.