Getting Around Bellevue
Bellevue sits in the Seattle metropolitan area, and its transport network is built around connecting Downtown Bellevue with Seattle, the airport, and the surrounding Eastside communities. For a visitor, the practical picture is simple: light rail and buses cover the core and the main regional links well, walking works in the downtown core, and a car is useful once you head beyond it.
Light Rail
Link light rail is the backbone of car-free travel in Bellevue. The 2 Line serves the city, running from Downtown Redmond through Overlake and downtown Bellevue, and continuing from Lynnwood City Center via Mercer Island and Seattle on I-90. That means you can ride between Bellevue and Seattle without a car, and reach Redmond and Lynnwood on the same system.
Within Bellevue, the line stops at South Bellevue Station, East Main Station, Bellevue Downtown Station, Wilburton Station, Spring District Station, and BelRed Station. Bellevue Transit Center is itself a bus hub and light rail station in Bellevue, so rail and bus connections meet in the downtown core.
Buses and Public Transit
King County Metro runs local bus routes within King County, serving Bellevue along with Auburn, Bothell, Burien, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Mercer Island, North Bend, Redmond, Renton, SeaTac, Seattle, Shoreline, Tukwila, Vashon Island, White Center, and Woodinville. Sound Transit runs express and intercity routes across the Seattle area, including Sounder trains, Link light rail, and express buses.
Almost every King County Metro and Sound Transit bus passing through Bellevue stops at Bellevue Transit Center on 6th Street between 108th Ave NE and 110th Ave NE in Downtown Bellevue. If you are staying elsewhere, Eastgate Park & Ride on 142nd Pl SE and SE Southgate, off I-90, may be closer to you. Bike lockers are available for rental during regular business hours.
Useful routes for visitors include:
- Route 221 from Bellevue Transit Center to Redmond
- Route 226 from Bellevue Transit Center to Eastgate Park & Ride, via Crossroads Mall and Lake Hills Park
- Route 240 south from Bellevue Transit Center, passing Factoria before continuing to Renton
- Route 271 from Bellevue Transit Center to Bellevue College, via Kelsey Creek Park and Wilburton Hill Park, then on to Issaquah
- RapidRide Line B, which runs frequently to Redmond with numerous stops along NE 8th St and turns left at Crossroads Mall
- Route 234 and 235 from Kenmore and Kirkland respectively
- Route 212, a weekday rush-hour express between Eastgate Park & Ride and Downtown Seattle via I-90, with no stops in Mercer Island
- Route 271 between the University District in Seattle and Issaquah, passing through Bellevue
- Route 532 during rush hour from Everett Station, and Route 535 Monday to Saturday from Lynnwood
- Route 556 during rush hour toward Issaquah via Downtown Bellevue Transit Center and Eastgate Park & Ride, from Northgate and the U District
- Route 560 every half hour between Westwood Town Center in West Seattle and SeaTac Airport, via downtown Bellevue, Renton, and Burien
- Route 566 linking Redmond, Bellevue, Renton, Kent, and Auburn
On fares, King County Metro charges $3 for 2 hours, with $1 for seniors 65+ and free travel for youth 0–18. King County Metro can be reached at +1 206-553-3000 and Sound Transit at +1-888-889-6368.
Intercity Buses
For longer trips, intercity coaches also serve Bellevue. Wheatland Express stops at the Novilhos Brazilian Steak House at Factoria Mall, 12405 SE 38th Street, and runs a Weekend Express between Pullman, Ellensburg, and Moscow and Seattle, with a special holiday-season service; its next local stop is at Westfield Southcenter Mall in Tukwila. Wenatchee Valley Shuttle (Flixbus) operates from a Shell station at 3670 150th Ave SE, east of Eastgate Plaza, with several daily departures to Wenatchee and Peshastin in Eastern Washington from Sea-Tac and Bellevue, continuing east toward Spokane Airport. Greyhound, Amtrak, and most other ground transport to Vancouver BC, Portland, Bellingham, Spokane, and elsewhere in the state are available in Downtown Seattle and at the airport.
Trains to the Region
Amtrak serves Seattle's King Street Station. To reach Bellevue from there, take Sound Transit Express bus route 550, which stops just around the corner from the station on 4th Avenue South.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
The source material does not describe taxi or ride-hailing services in Bellevue specifically. In practice, the same app-based and taxi options that cover the Seattle metropolitan area are the usual fallback when transit does not fit your trip, particularly for late nights or destinations away from the transit centers.
Walkability
Walking is a realistic option in the core of the city, where Bellevue Transit Center, Bellevue Downtown Station, and the surrounding downtown blocks put you within reach of shops, hotels, and offices on foot. For trips outside of the core city, you will probably want a car.
By Car
Driving is the most flexible way to reach places beyond the transit network. State Route 520 connects Bellevue to Seattle via the Evergreen Point floating bridge on Lake Washington, and serves as the northern border between Bellevue and Kirkland between the lake shore and Interstate 405. Interstate 90 provides another route from Seattle across Lake Washington via Mercer Island; for Bellevue, exit to Bellevue Way SE or Interstate 405. Interstate 405 is the outer loop of Interstate 5 running from Lynnwood to Tukwila and the airport, through Bellevue. Rush hour traffic can be daunting, so allow generous time.
Note the tolls: the SR-520 floating bridge and the express lanes of I-405 are tolled, with rates varying by time of day and traffic levels. There are no toll booths. If the vehicle has a "Good to Go" sticker on the windshield, the toll is deducted from a prepaid account; otherwise, cameras photograph the license plates front and back and the bill is mailed to the registered owner.
Getting There from the Airport
The nearest airport is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. By road, take eastbound State Route 518 and continue straight toward Interstate 405. By transit, Sound Transit Route 560 runs every half hour between Westwood Town Center in West Seattle and SeaTac Airport via downtown Bellevue, Renton, and Burien, making it a direct bus link between the airport and Bellevue. Intercity services such as the Wenatchee Valley Shuttle also run from Sea-Tac to Bellevue.