Riding Light Rail Into Downtown
Hop aboard Sound Transit's 1 Line, which has served SeaTac/Airport Station since late 2009. Your train glides north through Tukwila, the Rainier Valley and SoDo, then dips into the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, where Westlake Station drops you right in the heart of the shopping core.
Fares and How to Pay
Since Link moved from distance-based pricing to a flat fare in 2024, the ride downtown costs the same $3 adult fare as any other trip. Pick whichever way of paying suits you:
- Grab an ORCA card at any station ticket machine, which takes cash, Visa and MasterCard.
- Use Tap to Pay with a contactless credit or debit card or a digital wallet, now available across the Puget Sound region.
- Download the Transit GO Ticket app and buy a ticket right on your phone.
- Buy a paper ticket from a station vending machine.
Pay before you board. Link runs on a proof-of-payment system, and fare ambassadors and transit police carry out random checks on trains.
How Often Trains Run
Expect a train every 8 to 15 minutes depending on the time of day, with gaps shrinking to about six minutes at rush hour. Service runs about 20 hours a day on weekdays and Saturdays and about 18 hours on Sundays and holidays. Landing very late or very early? Check Sound Transit's schedule so you are not left waiting for the first train.
Room for Bags and Bikes
Trains usually run with three or four cars, and each car holds 194 riders with space set aside for wheelchairs and bicycles. Rolling a suitcase aboard is easy enough, though rush hour cars can get crowded.
Taxis, Ride-Shares and Shuttles
For door-to-door convenience, a car makes the most sense, especially for groups, families with small kids or anyone heading somewhere far from a station.
Where to Catch Your Ride
Head to the third floor of the airport parking garage for taxi and ride-share pickups. The Ground Transportation Plaza on that same floor is also where you will find door-to-door vans and airport shuttle services. To book a limo, town car or taxi ahead of time, use the traveler information boards in baggage claim or stop by the ground transportation booth on the garage's third floor.
What You Will Pay
A one-way ride between the airport and downtown generally lands between $50 and $70. Traffic, time of day and ride-share pricing can nudge that number up or down, so check the app quote before you confirm.
Rent a Car Now, or Later
Every rental company serving the airport works out of an off-site rental car facility. Dedicated shuttle buses run around the clock, picking up outside baggage claim at the north and south ends of the main terminal.
Many visitors skip the rental on day one. Ride the train downtown first, then pick up a car later from one of several downtown rental locations. For quick errands, Zipcar rents by the hour, and GIG Car Share offers one-way trips billed by the minute.
Driving on I-5
Work on Interstate 5, the main highway between the airport and downtown, can slow your drive. Check the Washington State Department of Transportation's Revive I-5 page for current road updates.
Help Between the Curb and the Train
Arrivals Drive has a zero curb along its full length, and accessible loading zones sit at least every 100 feet on both Arrivals and Departures drives. Through the airport's contracted assistance service, free wheelchair assistance can take you from the curb, the garage or the train station to your airline ticket counter. Just ask at an information desk to arrange it.
Travelers with hidden disabilities can pick up a free sunflower lanyard at information desks, a quiet signal to staff that extra help may be needed. SEA was the first U.S. airport to pilot the program, starting in 2019.
Onward From Westlake
Westlake makes a handy hub, and a few inexpensive connections start just nearby.
- Seattle Center Monorail: catch it at Westlake Center for a three-minute ride to Seattle Center, with trains about every 10 minutes and a $4 one-way adult fare. ORCA cards are accepted. Seattle Center sits at the foot of the Queen Anne neighborhood.
- Seattle Streetcar: the South Lake Union line covers 1.3 miles and nine stops, while the second line links the Capitol Hill and International District light rail stations with King Street Station. Adult fares are $2.25, or $4.50 for an all-day pass.
- King County Metro buses: reach downtown and outlying neighborhoods for a $3 adult fare, payable with exact cash, ORCA or Transit GO Tickets.
Once your bags are dropped, stroll out to Waterfront Park for an easy, free start to your first afternoon in the city.
