Getting From the Airport to Downtown Seattle

There are any number of options available for getting from Sea-Tac International Airport to the downtown core of Seattle.

For the adventurous, there is the rental car option (I say adventurous, because Seattle's highways and byways can be harrowing at the best of times).

The following companies have both service counters and cars on-site at the airport:

Alamo Rent a Car
Avis Rent a Car
Budget Car Rental
Hertz
National Car Rental

The following companies have on-site service counters, but off-site vehicle pick up:

Advantage Rent a Car
Dollar Car Rental
Enterprise
Thrifty

Taxi service from Sea-Tac to the downtown hotel area runs about $33.00 one way for two persons (rates subject to change at any time), and may be accessed on the third level of the parking garage (see ground transportation map following later in this posting for exact location).

Limousines are also available on the third level of the parking garage, and cost approximately $40.00 one way for a town car sized vehicle, and $48.00 one way for full limousine.

Shared ride van service is available through Shuttle Express . Rates may be found and reservations may be made on line.

The Gray Line Downtown Airporter will take you to major downtown hotels from 5:30 a.m. to 11:00 pm, with service to additional properties available for a small extra charge. Schedules may be seen and reservations may be made on line. Scheduled Airporters pick up and drop off passengers in the parking lot outside of door 00 at the south end of the Baggage Claim level.

Finally, public transit is available through King County Metro bus. Bus lines that serve the downtown Seattle area are Metro 174 and 194. Line 194 is preferable, as it is express service, while line 174 is local. Public transit bus routes serve the Airport outside Door 6 by Baggage Carousel 5, on the Baggage Claim (lower) level. One needs to be brave to take the bus with more than the smallest carry on suitcase, however, as these buses are often standing room only during the busiest hours of the day, and drivers are occasionally less than happy to allow you aboard during those times (doesn't mean they won't do it, just means that you may have to endure the "exasperated bus driver" look). As of 1 March 2008, fares will be increasing as follows: Youth 5-17 years of age in the company of adults: $0.50. Adult peak hours (6:00-9:00 a.m. and 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.) $2.25 per person. Adult off peak hours $1.75 per person.

A map of the ground transportation pick up and drop off locations may be found here and there is a printable version available from a link on that page.

Of course, all of these methods are available in reverse from downtown back to the airport at the end of your trip.