Getting Around Renton
Renton sits in King County, Washington, and like many American suburbs it is easiest to navigate by car. That said, visitors can get by with a mix of public transit, walking, biking, and ride-hailing, provided they plan ahead and accept that some destinations will require a walk from the nearest stop.
By Car
Driving is the most practical way to reach and move around Renton. The city is connected to the wider region by Interstate 405, which links it with Bellevue and Seattle, while State Route 167 comes in from Kent and south King County, and State Route 169 arrives from Maple Valley and the southeast part of the county.
If you would rather not drive your own vehicle, several car rental agencies have locations in Renton, including Avis, Enterprise, and Hertz. Downtown Renton offers street parking and public lots, including parking near the Transit Center and major attractions, and electric vehicle charging stations are available in the city.
Public Transit
Renton is served by a lot of bus routes, and the main hub for them is the Renton Transit Center. The easiest way to plan a trip is to use the route planners provided by King County Metro and Sound Transit.
- King County Metro runs bus, streetcar, and monorail routes within King County, serving Renton along with Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, SeaTac, Tukwila, and many other communities. A single fare covers two hours of travel, with discounted fares for seniors and free travel for youth.
- RapidRide routes provide fast, frequent service connecting Renton to Seattle and surrounding cities. The RapidRide F Line runs between Burien and Renton via Tukwila International Blvd Station, Southcenter Mall, and Tukwila Sounder Station.
- Sound Transit operates express and intercity routes across the Seattle area, including Sounder trains, Link light rail, and express buses. Its Route 560 runs between Westwood Town Center in West Seattle and SeaTac Airport via downtown Bellevue, Renton, and Burien, while Route 566 links Redmond, Bellevue, Renton, Kent, and Auburn.
Several local Metro routes are useful for getting around and out of Renton. Route 101 runs from Downtown Seattle to Downtown Renton, Route 105 connects the Renton Highlands to Downtown, and Route 106 runs from the Renton Transit Center to the International District in Seattle. Route 148 heads south into Fairwood, Route 153 connects Renton and Kent, Route 240 runs to Bellevue through Newcastle and Factoria, and DART Route 907 continues from the Transit Center to Black Diamond via Maple Valley. Many other routes pass through Renton on their way to and from other cities.
Rail, Light Rail, and Streetcars
Renton itself does not have a rail or light rail station. For Link light rail, the nearest station is Tukwila International Boulevard Station, and passengers can transfer to the Link 1 Line there to reach the airport. The RapidRide F Line connects Renton with that station, and Sound Transit routes also link the city to regional light rail corridors. King County Metro's network includes streetcar and monorail routes elsewhere in the county, though these are not based in Renton.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft are widely available in Renton, alongside rental cars, and are a straightforward option for trips that public transit does not cover conveniently.
Walking and Biking
Renton does not have the dedicated bike lanes found in Seattle, but many trails run throughout the city that are exclusively available to cyclists and pedestrians. The Cedar River Trail is a scenic multi-use trail connecting downtown Renton to Maple Valley, and the Lake Washington Loop offers a waterfront route for cycling or walking.
Walking is a realistic option in the downtown and Landing areas, but if you are trying to use public transit to go anywhere beyond those districts, expect to walk some distance to reach your destination.
Getting There from the Airport
The main hub for scheduled commercial flights serving Renton is SeaTac International Airport, located a few miles west and accessible by public transit. The city is also served by King County International Airport, also known as Boeing Field, just northwest in Seattle.
From SeaTac, public transit is a viable option: the RapidRide F Line connects the airport area via Tukwila International Blvd Station, where passengers transfer to the Link 1 Line train to reach the airport, and Sound Transit's Route 560 runs between Westwood Town Center and SeaTac Airport via Renton.
Renton Municipal Airport is a general aviation field next door to the Boeing 737 plant, usable only if you have your own plane, and it also serves as a base for seaplane tours. Friday Harbor Seaplanes offers tours and one-way travel up to Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands from the Renton Municipal Airport, while Northwest Seaplanes provides scheduled and charter seaplane flights from South Lake Washington near South Seattle to the San Juan Islands, Vancouver Island, and British Columbia's Inside Passage.