The Space Needle is a 605-foot observation tower at 400 Broad Street in Seattle, built for the 1962 World's Fair; its operator says the saucer-shaped Top House gives 360-degree indoor and outdoor views of downtown, Mount Rainier, Puget Sound and the Cascade and Olympic ranges, and the tower also has a rotating glass floor. Entry is by timed ticket, with general admission listed from $35.00* to $55.00* depending on season and time of day; arrival times are set every 15 minutes, and the operator says guests generally take about 30 minutes to get from the entrance to the top, security checkpoint included. All guests and bags are screened, large bags are not allowed (small backpacks and purses are, and bag check is free for 2 hours), and the operator says the site has limited parking and points drivers to Seattle Center's nearby parking facilities; the Seattle Center Monorail also links downtown Seattle with the tower. Posted hours on 14 October 2026 were Monday to Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Friday 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and the operator notes that hours vary by season and that closures are posted on its site.
Mountains to Sound Greenway - I-90 runs within 2.3 miles: the Federal Highway Administration designates it a National Scenic Byway, 100 miles through WA.
*Fees subject to change, please check spaceneedle.com for updated information.
Been here a while
Long-standing places to eat near Space Needle, in the town named beside each rather than at the stop itself. We could not confirm this one as still trading in 2026 — ring ahead. Names link to their sources.
- Ray's BoathouseSeattle (Ballard), WAShilshole Bay seafood restaurant; James Beard America's Classic 2002still trading? unconfirmed
Nearest Airports
Straight-line distance from Space Needle, not drive time.
- Kenmore Air Harbor Seaplane Base (LKE), seaplane base — 1 mile
- King County International Airport - Boeing Field (BFI) — 7 miles
- Kenmore Air Harbor LLC Seaplane Base (KEH), seaplane base — 10 miles
Live Conditions
Wildlife Spotted Nearby
We checked fees, opening hours, reservations and operating status on 2026-10-14. These change without notice — confirm with spaceneedle.com the week you travel.
Sources — 7 claims, 7 checked against the source
| Claim | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|
| General admission is listed at $35.00 - $55.00; the homepage adds that prices vary by season and time of day (checked 2026-10-14) | Space Needle - Plan Your Visit (ticket prices) | Checked monitored · 2026-10-14 |
| Posted hours: Mon-Thu 10:30am-7:30pm, Fri 9:30am-9:30pm, Sat 9:00am-9:30pm, Sun 9:30am-8:30pm; open year-round; the homepage says hours vary by season and asks visitors to review changes and closures ahead of time (checked 2026-10-14) | Space Needle - Plan Your Visit (hours) | Checked monitored · 2026-10-14 |
| Arrival times are scheduled in 15 minute increments from open to close; guests take about 30 minutes between the entrance and the top including security and the history exhibit; arriving more than 5 minutes early or late means asking an attendant for the next available time (checked 2026-10-14) | Space Needle - Plan Your Visit (timed tickets) | Checked monitored · 2026-10-14 |
| All guests, bags and parcels are subject to security screening; no large bags, small backpacks and purses permitted, bag check free for 2 hours (checked 2026-10-14) | Space Needle - Plan Your Visit (building and bag policy) | Checked monitored · 2026-10-14 |
| Parking at the Space Needle is limited and the operator recommends Seattle Center's nearby parking facilities; the Seattle Center Monorail links downtown Seattle and the Space Needle (checked 2026-10-14) | Space Needle - Plan Your Visit (getting here) | Checked monitored · 2026-10-14 |
| 605 feet tall, built as a cultural centerpiece for the 1962 World's Fair, opened April 21, 1962; the 520-foot saucer-shaped Top House offers 360-degree views; the Loupe is a rotating glass floor (checked 2026-10-14) | Space Needle - About & History | Checked |
| Designated a National Scenic Byway by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation; 100 miles in WA; FHWA suggests: 1.5 to 2 hours to drive the byway. Distance from this stop to the route measured against the published byway centreline on the U.S. Department of Transportation map service (geo.dot.gov), which carries no stated licence and predates the 2021 designations; the measurement is ours, the line is theirs and is not reproduced here. 2.3 miles (checked 2026-10-29) | Federal Highway Administration: Mountains to Sound Greenway - I-90 | Checked |