Glide Into Winter: Take Sustainable Trips to the Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink

Posted on November 20, 2025

The holidays are right around the corner, and one of Bellevue’s most beloved winter traditions is back: the Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink! Located at Bellevue Downtown Park, the rink offers a magical setting to skate surrounded by the city lights.

Whether you’re meeting friends, planning a family outing, or heading downtown for a date night, you can make your trip part of a more sustainable Bellevue.

Getting to the Ice Rink Sustainably

Skip the parking hassle and holiday traffic by taking a sustainable ride to the rink! Bellevue offers plenty of ways to get there easily and affordably:

By Bus:

Several King County Metro and Sound Transit Express routes stop within a short walk of Bellevue Downtown Park, including: 240, 241, 249, 250, 271, 532, 535, 550, 556, 560, 566

Bus routes are subject to change due to road closures and congestion from Snowflake Lane (between Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square from NE 4th to NE 8th Street). Please check King County Service Advisories before traveling.

Use the King County Trip Planner or your favorite app (like Google Maps or One Bus Away) to plan your trip!

By Light Rail

Hop on the 2 Line and stop at the Bellevue Downtown light rail station! The Ice Rink is only a 12-minute walk, or a free Bellhop ride away from the station.

Standard adult fare is $3.00, with several reduced fare transit cards available for eligible riders. Free parking is also available at several stations for those coming from further away!

Use the King County Trip Planner or your favorite app (like Google Maps or One Bus Away) to plan your trip!

By Bellhop

Avoid parking during the holiday rush with Bellhop, Bellevue’s free, all-electric, on-demand shuttle service!

Download the Circuit app, hail a ride, and a driver will confirm they’re on the way. Expect wait times of at least 10 minutes, as drivers pick up and drop off other passengers on the way.

By Foot

Walking to the rink is one of the easiest ways to enjoy downtown holiday lights while reducing congestion and emissions!

Walk through the Grand Connection Pedestrian Corridor, a scenic, pedestrian-friendly route connecting the Downtown Bellevue Station to the Ice Rink!

By Bike

Bike-friendly routes, bike racks, and secured bike lockers are available throughout Bellevue!

Check out the 2020 Bike Map [PDF], featuring updated citywide and detailed maps, safety tips, helmet fitting tips, and updated tools and resources.

Bring your bike on the light rail and the bus! Every Sound Transit train, King County Metro bus, and Sound Transit Express bus has dedicated spaces for bikes.

Join the Bellevue After Dark Commute Challenge

Your trips around Bellevue can earn you rewards! Bellevue After Dark, a month-long commuter challenge from Nov. 15-Dec. 15, 2025, encourages you to explore Bellevue’s vibrant after-dark activities using sustainable transportation.

How It Works:

Sign up for the challenge at bit.ly/Bellevueafterdark
Log your non-drive-alone trips each day for a chance to earn rewards. Log at least 14 trips from Nov 15 to Dec 15 and you will have a chance to receive a 10-pack of tickets to the Downtown Bellevue Ice Rink ($220 value), or log at least 10 trips and have a chance to receive a pack of 5 tickets to the Garden d’ Lights ($50 value)! bit.ly/cywbtriplog
You must first sign up for the challenge at bit.ly/Bellevueafterdark and log your trips at bit.ly/cywbtriplog for a chance to win. Winners will be announced on December 19 on our social media channels. Instagram: @ChooseUrWayBell or Facebook: @ChooseYourWayBellevue