Seattle's
Sea-Tac Airport is 13 miles (21km) south of the city via I-5. Gray Line's
Airport Express and Shuttle Express both offer inexpensive rides to
and from Seattle's major downtown hotels.
Taxis are another option, though they're not for the budget-conscious.
There are plenty of car rental agencies at the airport if you want to
chauffeur yourself.
Metro Transit buses blanket the metropolitan area, with most buses running
through downtown on 4th Ave or in the Bus Tunnel, which has five downtown
entrances.
In the immediate downtown area, all bus rides are free from 6am to 7pm
in the area between 6th Ave and the Waterfront, and between Jackson
St in Pioneer Square and Battery St. Note that Seattle Center is outside
of the Ride Free Area.
Seattle Trolley Tours make for great downtown transport. Visitors are
encouraged to get off and on at leisure, and tickets are good for the
full day of operation. Stops, indicated by bright yellow sandwich boards,
include the Space Needle, Pike Place, Waterfront, Pioneer Square, International
District, Kingdome and Seattle Art Museum. The trolley runs every 30
minutes.
If you're driving to Seattle, you'll probably arrive via I-5 or I-90.
It's usually wise to check traffic conditions before you hit the freeways,
as Seattle's traffic is second only to that of Los Angeles in sheer
hellishness. Downtown Seattle also has miles of one-way streets, and
parking can be a nightmare (as well as expensive).
For trips outside the city limits, the Washington State Ferry system
is a wonderfully scenic way to get around. The views of the city from
out on the Sound are tops, making a ride on a sunny summer day worth
taking whether you need to get anywhere or not. Ferries leave from the
piers along the Alaskan Way waterfront.
Getting There & Away
Seattle's airport, known as Sea-Tac, is the largest in the Pacific Northwest,
offering daily service to Europe, Asia and points throughout North America.
Seattle is also a major hub for local commuter airlines and has frequent
flights to Portland and Vancouver.
Greyhound buses link Seattle to Portland, Eugene and points in California
along I-5 south, as well as to Bellingham and Vancouver on I-5 north.
Buses also serve the I-90 corridor from Seattle to Spokane and on through
northern Idaho and Montana to Chicago. If you're heading to British
Columbia, Quick Shuttle makes daily express runs between Seattle and
Vancouver. Pickup is either at the airport or the downtown Travelodge.
Seattle's King St Station is the terminus of two Amtrak train lines.
The Empire Builder heads east through Spokane, eventually reaching Chicago,
while the Coast Starlight runs between Seattle and Los Angeles, with
stops in Tacoma, Olympia, Portland, San Francisco and points south.
Ferries to Washington destinations (Bremerton and Bainbridge Island)
are state operated, with reservations taken for vehicles only. Reservations
for ferries that pass through Canadian waters are also recommended and
can be made by calling individual operators. The passenger-only Victoria
Clipper departs from Pier 69 in Seattle for Victoria, British Columbia,
mornings daily (2.5 hours). The slower but cheaper Victoria Line plies
the same route in the afternoon (4.5 hours). Travelers should be prepared
to go through Canadian customs upon arrival.
Most national car rental firms have facilities at the airport. There
are also a handful of companies that rent motorhomes (RVs), campers
and motorcycles. As everywhere else in the USA and Canada, driving is
on the right.
