Seattle Airport to Downtown: Train, Bus, Uber or Car
Seattle Airport to Downtown: Train, Bus, Uber or Rental Car.
In this article
The cheapest way from SeaTac Airport to Downtown Seattle is the Link 1 Line (train): about 38 minutes for a $3.00 adult fare, with kids 18 and under free. A rideshare runs roughly $45 to $65, Metro's bus fare is $2.75 but no bus on the airport's list is described as going downtown, and a rental car makes sense only if you are leaving the city.
That $50-plus rideshare estimate is the first thing that can dent a trip budget. You do not have to take it. Here is how the four ways to get from the Seattle airport to downtown compare, then the details for each, starting with the SeaTac light rail to downtown.
At a Glance
| Option | Cost | Time to downtown | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Link light rail (1 Line) | $3.00 adult; youth 18 and under free | about 38 minutes | Solo travelers, couples, families on a budget |
| Bus (Metro or Sound Transit) | $2.75 Metro adult fare | no direct downtown route listed; check the trip planner | Neighborhoods the train skips, such as Burien, Renton, Bellevue or Tacoma |
| Uber or Lyft | roughly $45 to $65 (estimate) | about 25 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic | Groups of 3 or more, heavy bags, late arrivals |
| Rental car | varies by company and season | depends on traffic | Day trips outside Seattle |
Rideshare prices and times are estimates, not quotes, so check the app.
Option 1: SeaTac Light Rail to Downtown (Best Value)
Going from the Seattle airport to downtown by train is the simplest route. The Link 1 Line bypasses Interstate 5 traffic and drops you in the middle of the city. Trains run about every 8 to 16 minutes, depending on the time of day.
How to ride the SeaTac light rail to downtown, step by step
- Follow the signs from baggage claim. Look for "Light Rail" signs, go up to the fourth floor and cross the skybridge to the parking garage level.
- Walk to Airport/SeaTac Station. Follow the covered walkway. Some guides quote 5 to 7 minutes. Allow extra time with bags.
- Pay before the platform. Tap a credit, debit or ORCA card at the reader, or buy a ticket at a machine (cash, Visa or Mastercard) or in the Transit GO Ticket app.
- Board a train toward Lynnwood. That is the direction that goes to downtown.
- Get off at your stop. Most visitors use Westlake.
Local Tip: Prefer not to walk with luggage? The free Train-to-Plane shuttle runs daily from 5 a.m. to midnight.
Fares
- Adult: $3.00 one-way per Sound Transit's fares page. Confirm at the station.
- Youth 18 and under: free.
- Seniors and riders with disabilities: $1 with a Regional Reduced Fare Permit on an ORCA card.
- Income-qualified riders: $1 through ORCA LIFT.
By the Numbers: $3.00 and 38 minutes. A $50 rideshare split four ways still costs about four times the train fare per person.
Which downtown stop to choose
- Westlake: Pike Place Market, the monorail to the Space Needle and downtown shopping.
- University Street: the Seattle Art Museum and waterfront hotels.
- Pioneer Square: historic hotels and the Underground Tour.
- International District/Chinatown: budget stays and Asian restaurants.
Late-night arrivals
Link does not run all night. Sound Transit's schedule shows late-night trains until about midnight at the north end of the line, and one source we found lists service from about 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday, with an earlier Sunday finish. Confirm the last train from the airport before you rely on it for a late flight.
Option 2: Bus From SeaTac Airport to Downtown
The Port of Seattle lists these routes at the airport: Metro's RapidRide A Line (Federal Way) and Routes 156 (Southcenter, Des Moines) and 180 (Burien, Auburn), plus Sound Transit's 560 (Burien, Renton, Bellevue) and 574 (Federal Way, Tacoma, Lakewood). The page does not say which, if any, go to downtown Seattle.
- Fare: Metro charges a flat $2.75 for adults.
- Metro stops: on International Boulevard at South 176th Street, next to the light rail station. From baggage claim, take the walkway through the north end of the fourth floor of the garage to the station, then exit to International Boulevard.
- Sound Transit stops: the lower drive of the main terminal.
- Timetables: printed copies are at the Ground Transportation Information Booth on the baggage claim level near door 16.
- Pros: the lowest fare, and a direct ride to places the train does not reach.
- Cons: harder with luggage, and you have to follow a schedule.
The Port page still carries pandemic-era notes about fares and reduced service, so confirm current routes, hours and payment with Metro and Sound Transit.
Option 3: Uber or Lyft From SeaTac Airport to Downtown Seattle
A rideshare from SeaTac to downtown is the only option that takes you from the curb to your hotel door. Expect roughly $45 to $65 and 25 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. A group of three or four splitting a $50 fare pays about $12 to $16 each.
- Open the app at baggage claim. Enter your hotel address and compare Uber, Lyft and the estimated wait.
- Follow the app's pickup directions. The Port's page did not list the rideshare level, and pickup zones can change.
- Confirm the driver and plate, and check the final price before you accept.
Taxis wait on the 3rd floor of the parking garage, at the north and south curbs. Flat-rate taxis set prices by zip code and rates vary by taxi association, so confirm with your driver.
- Pros: door to door, no stairs, works at any hour.
- Cons: the price swings with traffic and demand, and it costs many times the train fare for one traveler.
Option 4: Rent a Car at SeaTac Airport
Rent a car if you plan to leave the city for Mount Rainier, the Olympic Peninsula or a long hike. The rental car facility is about one mile north of the terminal, and a free shuttle runs 24 hours a day from pickup zones at the north and south ends of the main terminal. Follow the "Rental Car Shuttles" signs outside baggage claim.
Companies listed for the airport are Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Fox, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt and Thrifty. We could not confirm prices or age rules, so check with each company.
If you are staying downtown, you probably do not need a car, and hotel parking adds to the cost. See our guide to cheap parking in downtown Seattle before you commit.
Layover? Plan Around Your Bags
If you have a few hours between the SeaTac airport and downtown, drop your luggage first. See our guide to luggage storage at SeaTac during a layover. If your layover turns into an overnight, a hotel with a free shuttle can beat a late train. See our guide to hotels near SeaTac for a layover.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to take the light rail from SeaTac to downtown? Sound Transit lists $3.00 for an adult one-way fare. Youth 18 and under ride free, and seniors and riders with disabilities pay $1 with a reduced-fare permit. Confirm the fare at the station, since fares can change.
Where do I buy Link light rail tickets at Seattle airport? Buy from a ticket machine at Airport/SeaTac Station (cash, Visa or Mastercard) or in the Transit GO Ticket app. You can also skip the ticket and tap a credit, debit or ORCA card at the reader. Pay before you board.
Is it cheaper to take light rail or Uber in Seattle? Light rail is cheaper: $3.00 against roughly $45 to $65 for a rideshare (an estimate, not a quote). A group of four splitting a $50 ride pays about $12 to $16 each, which is still about four times the train fare per person.
Can you use an ORCA card on the light rail from SeaTac? Yes. Tap your ORCA card at the reader before you enter the platform. Transfers between services are calculated automatically.
How far is the walk from the SeaTac Airport terminal to the light rail? You walk from baggage claim up to the fourth floor, across the skybridge to the parking garage and along a covered walkway to the station. Some guides quote 5 to 7 minutes, but allow more with luggage. The free Train-to-Plane shuttle runs daily from 5 a.m. to midnight if you would rather ride.
Which light rail stop is closest to downtown Seattle hotels? It depends on the hotel. Westlake is closest to Pike Place Market and the main shopping area, University Street is near the Seattle Art Museum and waterfront hotels and Pioneer Square is near the historic hotels. Check your hotel's address on a map before you pick a stop.
How do I get from SeaTac to Westlake Station with luggage? Ride the 1 Line toward Lynnwood to Westlake, about 38 minutes. Carry-on size bags are the easiest to manage on the train. If you have large bags and a layover, store them first.
Is the Seattle light rail easy to navigate for tourists? Yes. The 1 Line is a single line, so you ride toward Lynnwood to reach downtown and toward Federal Way to go back. Signs at the airport lead to the station, and the downtown stops are named for what is nearby.
What time does the last light rail leave SeaTac Airport? We could not confirm a published last-train time from the airport. Sound Transit's schedule shows late-night trains until about midnight at the north end of the line, and one source lists service from about 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday with an earlier Sunday finish. Check the 1 Line schedule for your date.
How long is the train ride from Seattle airport to downtown? About 38 minutes to downtown, according to the Port of Seattle.
What is the Seattle light rail schedule from SeaTac to downtown on weekends? We could not confirm weekend times. Trains run about every 8 to 16 minutes depending on the time of day, and weekend frequency and hours can differ from weekdays. Use the Sound Transit 1 Line schedule for your date.
What is the cheapest way to get from SeaTac to downtown late at night? If the trains are still running, Link at $3.00 is cheapest. After they stop, a rideshare split with other travelers is usually the next best choice, and an airport hotel with a free shuttle can be cheaper than a late ride and a downtown room.
Conclusion
For SeaTac airport to downtown Seattle, take the train if you want the best value, a rideshare if you are in a group or arriving late, the bus if it serves your neighborhood and a rental car only for trips outside the city. The SeaTac light rail to downtown is the one most visitors should start with. For the full layover plan, see our [SeaTac Airport transit and layover guide](INTERNAL LINK: SeaTac Airport: A Transit and Layover Guide for Every Kind of Traveler).
References
- Directions to the Airport using Link light rail, Port of Seattle: https://www.portseattle.org/page/public-transit-link-light-rail
- Public transit, Port of Seattle: https://www.portseattle.org/sea-tac/ground-transportation/public-transit
- Taxis, Port of Seattle: https://www.portseattle.org/sea-tac/ground-transportation/taxis
- Fares, Sound Transit: https://www.soundtransit.org/ride-with-us/how-to-pay/fares
- 1 Line schedule, Sound Transit: https://www.soundtransit.org/ride-with-us/routes-schedules/1-line
- Metro switching to single regular $2.75 fare, KOMO News: https://www.komonews.com/news/local/metro-switching-to-singe-regular-275-fare-for-all-adult-passengers
- Car rentals at SEA, Seattle Southside: https://www.seattlesouthside.com/plan-your-trip/transportation/car-rentals/
