Getting Around Seattle: A Practical Guide for Visitors
Seattle's transportation system reflects its unique geography and history. The city was originally shaped by railways and streetcars that created a well-defined downtown and strong neighborhoods along their routes. Today, while automobiles dominate, Seattle has rebuilt light rail and streetcar lines and maintains an extensive public transit network that increasingly plays an important role in how people move around the city.
Public Transit: Light Rail, Buses, and Commuter Rail
Seattle has two main public transportation agencies. King County Metro operates local and commuter buses within King County, while Sound Transit operates commuter rail, light rail, and regional express buses across the greater Puget Sound region.
The Link light rail system connects many parts of the city, including South Seattle, Downtown, Capitol Hill, the University of Washington, Northgate, Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, and Lynnwood. The light rail is the most reliable way to reach downtown from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
An extensive network of bus routes serves the city and surrounding areas. These routes largely follow the paths of the old streetcar lines that once dominated Seattle's transportation system, connecting downtown to neighborhoods and suburban communities.
Sound Transit also operates Sounder commuter rail trains that connect Seattle's northern and southern suburbs to King Street Station in downtown. These trains generally run commuter-oriented schedules, with service running into the city on weekday mornings and departing in the evenings, though some reverse-commute runs are available.
Getting from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Downtown
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac), located about 14 miles south of downtown in the city of SeaTac, is where most airline passengers arrive. The airport is well-connected by the Link light rail Line 1, which provides reliable, frequent service to many points north, including South Seattle, Downtown, Capitol Hill, the University of Washington, Northgate, Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, and Lynnwood. Sound Transit bus route 560 also provides direct service from Sea-Tac to West Seattle for those heading to that neighborhood.
Alternative airport options exist if you find better flight deals elsewhere. Paine Field (Snohomish County Airport), about 30 miles north of Seattle in Everett, handles limited commercial flights. Bellingham International Airport, roughly 90 minutes' drive north, is served by some low-cost carriers and offers ground connections to downtown Seattle. Portland International Airport, about 3 hours south, is connected to Seattle by Amtrak and Greyhound services as well as frequent direct flights. Vancouver International Airport in Canada, about 2.5 hours north, offers good connections to East Asia but requires customs clearance twice.
Ferries
Washington State Ferries operates the largest ferry system in the United States. Several ferry routes serve Seattle residents and visitors. Passenger-only ferries depart from Colman Dock in Downtown to Vashon Island, while car ferries run from Colman Dock to Bainbridge Island and Bremerton. An additional car ferry connects West Seattle to Vashon Island and Southworth. Ferries offer both practical transportation and scenic views of Puget Sound.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing Services
Traditional taxis operate throughout Seattle, and ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft are widely available as alternatives for getting around the city.
Walkability
Seattle's downtown area and many neighborhoods are walkable, with a well-defined center and strong neighborhoods that developed along the former streetcar lines. Walking is a practical way to explore these areas, though Seattle's geography includes hills that can make some walks more strenuous than others.
Long-Distance Train Travel
King Street Station, located south of downtown near the International District/Chinatown light rail station, serves as Seattle's hub for Amtrak service. Three major routes stop in Seattle:
- The Amtrak Cascades runs between Vancouver, BC and Eugene, Oregon, with two round trips daily between Vancouver and Seattle, and six round trips daily between Seattle and Portland.
- The Coast Starlight operates daily between Seattle and Los Angeles, making stops at major cities along the West Coast.
- The Empire Builder is a long-distance sleeper train that runs daily between Seattle and Chicago, passing through the Pacific Northwest, Northern Rockies, and Great Plains.
Sound Transit also operates Sounder commuter rail from King Street Station to northern and southern suburban communities.
Driving and Major Roads
While public transit is increasingly important, many visitors choose to rent cars. Interstate 5 is the major north-south route through the city, though it is notoriously congested even during non-commuting hours. Interstate 90 is the primary east-west route. State Route 99 serves as a major arterial through the western half of the city. Several floating bridges carry traffic across Lake Washington to the east: State Route 520's Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, Interstate 90's Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge, and the Third Lake Washington Bridge.