Seattle is in Washington state, on the West Coast of the United States in the Pacific Northwest. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the north by Canada, on the south by Oregon, and on the east by Idaho.
North of Seattle, there are four border crossings between Washington state and Canada: Peace Arch (open 24 hours a day), Pacific Highway (open 24 hours a day), Lynden (open from 8am to midnight daily), and Sumas (open 24 hours a day). All international visitors must have a valid passport to cross the border. A valid visa is also required except for nationals or citizens from countries participating in the visa waiver program. Visit cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors for more information.
Seattle is a delightful place to visit any time of year. Summers are cool and refreshing, with high temperatures averaging mid-20˚C (mid-70˚F), so visitors don’t need to worry about extreme heat or humidity. In winter, the mild climate means temperatures almost never go below freezing and snow is uncommon in the city.
Five train routes service Seattle’s King Street Station, just south of downtown. Sound Transit’s Sounder commuter trains travel between Everett (north of Seattle) and Lakewood (south of Tacoma). Amtrak has three routes: Coast Starlight goes between Seattle and Los Angeles, California; Amtrak Cascades travels from Vancouver, BC to Eugene, Oregon; and the Empire Builder route is between Chicago, Illinois, and Seattle.
There are many ways to get around the city without a private vehicle. Check websites where applicable for schedule and fare updates.
Taxis: Approximately $50 from SEA Airport (third floor of the parking garage) to downtown.
Car Rentals: Shuttle buses from the airport to the off-site car-rental facility run all day, every day from the north and south ends of the baggage claim terminal.
Car & Ride Sharing: Services include GIG, Lyft, Uber, and Zipcar.
Paid street parking and parking garages, both covered and outdoor, provide visitors with ample options when driving into downtown. Paid street parking is in effect Monday-Saturday and is generally limited to 2, 4, or 10 hours (all-day). Learn more about paid street parking here.
You can find convenient and affordable parking garages at downtownseattle.org/parking or through SpotHero, the nation’s leading parking reservations app. With SpotHero, search for daily, weekly, or monthly parking facilities and enjoy the convenience of booking a parking spot at your destination ahead of time, ensuring you have a space when you arrive.
Ferries: Pier 52 for Bainbridge Island or Bremerton (vehicles under 4.25 meters plus driver, $16.80). Seasonal schedules. Cash, credit, and ORCA cards.
Water Taxis: Pier 50 to West Seattle ($5–$5.75) or Vashon Island ($5.75–$6.75). Seasonal schedules. Cash (exact), credit, and ORCA cards.
These transit passes can be used on streetcars, light rail, buses, and more. ORCA cards cost $3; load an all-day regional transit pass onto an ORCA card for $8.
App-based services such as Bird, Veo, Lime, Superpedestrian, and Spin offer on-demand personal transport priced by the minute.
Schedule: Trains arrive every 8 to 15 minutes and take approximately 40 minutes to travel between SEA Airport and Westlake Station in downtown Seattle. Mon–Sat, 5am–1:43am ; Sun, 6am–12:34am (last northbound train from the airport departs at 11:14pm). Adult fare: $2.25–$3.50 (ORCA cards or ticket kiosks).
South Lake Union:
Mon–Fri, 6am–9pm; Sat, 7am–9pm; and Sun, 10am–7pm
Downtown to First Hill:
Mon–Fri, 5am–10:30pm; Sat, 6am–10:30pm; and Sun, 10am–8pm
Adult Fare: $2.25 (coins, credit, ORCA cards); $4.50 (all-day pass)
Schedule: Mon–Fri, 7:30am–11pm; Sat–Sun, 8:30am–11pm (extended service for events at Climate Pledge Arena)
Fare: $3.50 one-way (debit, credit, or ORCA cards; no cash)
Access a digital version of Visit Seattle’s convenient walking map at visitseattle.org/maps.
Download the Transit GO Ticket mobile app to purchase digital tickets for King County Metro buses and water taxi, Sound Transit’s Link light rail and Sounder train, Seattle Streetcar, and Kitsap Transit. For more information, go to visitseattle.org/getting-around.
Motorcoach | Transportation companies in Seattle offer a diverse range of vehicles, from sleek black cars perfect for executive travel to spacious sprinters ideal for group outings, and even motorcoaches for large-scale events or tours. Discover the fleet here.