With all the counters under one roof, convenience is no reason to pay more for one brand over another. When you hunt for a lower rate, compare the companies directly on price and terms, because the shuttle, the walk and the garage are the same for everyone.
A Free Shuttle, Day and Night
The dedicated rental car buses are free and run continuously, day and night, all year. There is no ticket to buy and no ride to book. If one pulls away just as you walk up, simply wait at the stop, since another should arrive shortly.
From Your Flight to the Rental Counter
Once your bags are in hand, head outside to the lower drive on the baggage claim level. You can catch the rental car shuttle from two pickup zones:
- North end: near the Alaska Airlines area of the terminal.
- South end: near the international airlines.
Choose whichever is closer to your baggage carousel. Both shuttles carry you and your luggage to the facility in roughly five minutes.
Inside the Rental Car Facility
Step off the bus and the rental counters are right in front of you. When your paperwork is done, ride the elevators or escalators at the north and south ends of the building up to the cars. Restrooms are on the counter level, down the hallways at each end.
The whole facility is no smoking, so hold off until you have driven away in your rental.
Wheelchair Access on the Shuttle
Every rental car shuttle has a ramp and wheelchair securements, along with marked priority seating, and each bus carries one wheelchair per trip. If you need a wheelchair assistant after your ride, just tell the driver, who will call the airport's assistance provider to meet you at the drop-off area.
Driving Away From the Facility
Follow the overhead signs out of the building onto S. 160th St. and turn right. Continue up the hill and straight through the traffic light, then take the next right, which is the on-ramp toward I-5 and I-405.
From there, the region opens up: head north toward the city, south toward Tacoma or east toward Bellevue. For inspiration once you are rolling, browse our guides to things to do in Seattle and Seattle neighborhoods worth exploring by car.
Returning Your Rental Car
The return trip is where a missed sign can cost you time, so it pays to know the route before you set out. Nearly every approach shares one thread: State Route 518 west toward Burien and the airport. Keep right for the airport, then use the far right exit lane marked for 99 South and Rental Car Return. Stay in the right lane on 99 South, also called Pacific Highway South, and follow the blue Rental Car Return signs.
Return Routes From Around the Region
- From downtown Seattle: take I-5 south to exit 154B for SR 518 west. Take the airport exit and follow Rental Car Return signs toward International Boulevard and SR 99 south, then use the entrance on the right.
- From downtown Tacoma: take I-5 north to exit 154A for SR 518 west. From there, the signs and right-hand entrance match the Seattle route.
- From downtown Bellevue: take I-405 south and merge onto SR 518 west toward Burien. Take the airport exit and follow Rental Car Return signs to the right-hand entrance.
- From Seattle or Burien on SR 509: take SR 99 south across the First Avenue South Bridge, which becomes SR 509. Exit at SR 518, take the airport exit, then follow signs to the Air Cargo Rd exit. Turn right on S. 170th St., right on Air Cargo Rd and right on S. 160th St. This approach uses the entrance on the left.
Once you are inside, overhead signs point you to your company's return lane.
Catching the Shuttle Back to the Terminal
After you drop the car, take an elevator or escalator to the 5th floor. Return shuttles leave from the opposite side of the building from where you arrived, near a set of colorful spinning circles, with the pickup just outside where the customer service counters sit.
Buses are split into North and South terminal routes, so board the one that matches your airline. The North bus drops you near Alaska Airlines, and the South bus drops you near the international carriers. Both stop on the lower drive outside baggage claim, and from there the nearest elevator or escalator takes you up to the ticketing level to check in.
Connecting to Light Rail and Other Rides
Leaving the car behind for part of your trip can save you money on parking in the city. To reach the airport's Link light rail station from the shuttle, get off at the North Terminal stop. Go up one floor to the skybridge level, cross the skybridge and keep left, following signs for Link Light Rail.
For hotel shuttles, taxis and ride-share pickups, go up one floor to the skybridge level and cross to the parking garage. Then head down one floor to the garage's third level and follow signs to your operator.
Before You Go
Shuttle stops and signs can shift with airport construction, so check the Port of Seattle's rental car page for SEA close to your travel date. The Port also offers email and text updates through its website. For a printable layout of the building and stops, grab the rental car facility information flyer, keeping in mind that some details may have been updated since it was published.
With your wheels sorted, set off for some of the city's green spaces. Our guide to Seattle parks is a great place to start.
