• Nothing Found

Getting from Seattle-Tacoma Airport to King Street Station

King Street Station is a major transport hub in Seattle city centre, servicing millions of passengers a year across its local and regional bus and train network. The station is situated in a beautifully ornate building with high ceilings made of brick and granite, and features a twelve-storey clock tower. It is worth delaying your ongoing travels to spend some time wandering around admiring the many intricate details of the space before resuming your journey.

To get from Seattle Airport to King Street Station there are currently two main transportation options: take an airport taxi or private transfer, or ride the Light link rail train. The most convenient and straightforward option is to travel by car directly to your destination which generally takes around 20 minutes in light traffic, but this can increase to 30 minutes during peak hours. The Light link rail run by Sound Transit departs directly from the airport – also known as Sea-Tac or SEA – and stops at Int’l District/Chinatown Station. From there it’s just a short walk to King Street Station with a total journey time of 32 minutes, excluding wait times.

*In the past, Flixbus provided a bus service from Sea-Tac Airport to downtown Seattle near King Street Station, however, this service is currently not running.

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Seattle at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS
OPTION PRICE DURATION AVAILABILITY
Welcome Pickups €75 20min 24/7 Book
Book
Taxi €40 20min 24/7
Train €5.60 32min 05:59–00:34

How to get from Seattle Airport to King Street Station by taxi

Getting from Seattle Airport to King Street Station by taxi is the fastest transportation option, and also the most reliable one since taxis are available 24/7 from dedicated taxi ranks. If you want to beat the queues on arrival and have a personalised vehicle waiting for you, you can book a private transfer in advance and be on your way to your final destination even faster.

How much is a taxi from Seattle Airport to Amtrak King Street Station?

There are two options when taking a taxi from Seattle Airport to Amtrak Station: a metered taxi or a flat-rate taxi. A metered taxi calculates the fare based on time and distance travelled and will charge a base rate of $2.60 (€2.45) and then $2.70 (€2.50) for every mile thereafter, bringing the total journey cost to around $39 (€36), for up to 4 passengers.

A flat-rate taxi charges at least $40 (€37) for a journey to downtown Seattle and although King Street Station falls slightly outside of this area, you can expect a similar price or more, depending on the taxi company. Regardless of the fare option you choose, your driver will accept cash or card payments but keep in mind that neither rate includes tolls, surcharges or a tip for your driver.

If you prefer to plan ahead and know the cost of your fare up front, you can choose to book a private transfer in advance which comes with the added benefit of a reliable service direct to your destination with 24/7 customer service.

Cost

Trip Duration

20 Min.

*Fares may vary unless booked in advance.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Airport Taxis are available 24/7 from Seattle-Tacoma Airport (SEA).

Where do I take a taxi from?

Metered and flat-fare airport taxis are available from the third floor of the Parking Garage curbside at the north and south end.

Convenience

Sea-Tac airport taxis provide a more direct transport option compared to the Light link rail and are available 24/7, making them a more convenient option, especially if you are arriving early in the morning or late at night. Furthermore, they’ll have you at your destination in just 20 minutes.

Editor’s Note

Taxi fares are the same whether you travel during the day or at night and there are no weekend surcharge fees.

Useful Tips

It is customary to tip your driver 10-20% of the final fare price.
Metered taxis charge an additional waiting fee of $0.50 (€0.50) per minute so make sure your luggage and travel companions are ready to go.

How to get from Seattle Airport to King Street Station by train

The cheapest way to get from Seattle Airport to King Street Station is to take the Sound Transit Light link rail towards Northgate until you reach Int’l District/Chinatown Station. The Light rail has a journey time of 32 minutes, not including wait times, and you will disembark right next to King Street Station.

How much is the train from Seattle Airport to King Street Station?

Tickets for the light rail cost just $3 (€2.80) for each person travelling and can be purchased from ticket machines at the airport using card or cash, or you can download the Transit Go Ticket App and purchase them online.

Cost

€2.80

Trip Duration

32 Min.

Trains run every 8 to 10 minutes other than early morning and late evening when they run every 12 to 15 minutes.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

The Light link rail leaves SeaTac Station at 04:59 from Monday to Saturday, with the last service at 01:43. On Sundays, services operate between 05:59 and 00:34.

Where do I take the train from?

The Light link rail departs from the SeaTac/Airport Link Station. To find it, make your way to Level 4 of the Parking Garage and the follow the signs to the station. Alternatively, you can jump on the courtesy shared Train-to-Plane shuttle at Skybridge 5/6 of the Level 4 Parking Garage which drops you right next to the station.

Convenience

Taking the Light link rail from Seattle Airport to Amtrak King Street Station is relatively quick and easy and is the most affordable option for this journey. If you’re travelling with lots of luggage, this option may not be ideal as the trains are often crowded. Remember to bundle up in the winter or rain because the exposed walkways and waiting areas can get cold and wet.

For a more comfortable and door-to-door journey, consider booking a private transfer with Welcome to have someone assist you with any luggage, avoid walking through the various parking structures, and stay nice and warm as you travel.

Editor’s Note

If you are arriving outside of the train operating hours, we recommend you take a taxi or private transfer directly to King Street Station.

Useful Tips

The SeaTac/Airport Link station is about a 6-minute walk from the main airport terminal.
The Light link rail offers discounted tickets for seniors over 65 years and disabled passengers, and youths under 18 ride for free when they present a valid ID.
Purchase an Orca card from a ticket machine and use it for other public transport trips while visiting Seattle.

Welcome Pickups transfer

Welcome Pickups

Book a trained, English-speaking taxi driver to pick you up at the same price as a regular cab from the line

If you feel more relaxed knowing that somebody is waiting for you, you may as well book a Welcome Pickups transfer. As soon as you arrive at the airport you will be greeted by your driver. He will be waiting for you at the terminal of your arrival with a sign that has your name on it. Your driver will help you out with your luggage and together you will make your way to the vehicle. While he is driving you to your accommodation, the driver can give you some tips and recommendations on what to do during your holidays in Seattle. Our drivers are hand-picked and speak fluent English. No need to worry about miscommunication issues that you may face with the local taxi drivers regarding your destination. Relax and enjoy your ride.

Best drivers

Hand-picked english-speaking drivers

Flight monitoring

Drivers are always on time

Quality support

24/7 email & phone support

Cancel up to 24 hours before the pickup and get an 80% refund

Edit or cancel transfers

Read more

Prices

DAYTIME
€75.0
NIGHTTIME
€90.0
Same price as a regular taxi from the line

PRICES FOR

Sedan Car

4 pax, 4 pieces of luggage

Book Welcome Pickups transfer

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

  • 20 minute gap between transfers

  • Regular Car Sanitisation

  • Contactless ride

  • Sanitiser in every car

Read More

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Seattle Airport to King Street Station?

There are two transportation options to get from Sea-Tac to King Street Station. You can take a taxi or private transfer which takes as little as 20 minutes in light traffic conditions, or you can take the airport’s Light link rail train which takes 32 minutes, not including additional waiting times.

What’s the cost of a taxi from Seattle Airport to King Street Station?

Whether you choose to take a metered or flat-rate taxi from the airport, you can expect to pay around $40 (€37) for up to 4 passengers. The fare price can be driven up by several factors so if you prefer to lock in a guaranteed, competitive price with no hidden costs, it is best to book a private transfer in advance.

What is the distance from Seattle Airport to King Street Station?

The distance from Seattle Airport to Amtrak Station is 21 km (13 mi) which takes around 20 minutes when travelling by car.

Was this helpful?

Pre-book online