Search Flights from Des Moines to Seattle

Neighboring Canada, the seaport city of Seattle is the largest city in the state of Washington and a major city in the U.S. The city gets its name from an ancient Native American chief and its official nickname is Emerald City due to its lush greenery and beautiful nature.

The city of Seattle is served by the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, a major airport that handled over 42 million passengers in 2015. Also referred to as Sea-Tac Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is used as a major transfer airport due to its proximity to Canada. Located about 24 km from the city, there are a variety of transportation alternatives to get to the city center from the airport that are both quick and easy. The Link Light Rail system provides transportation between Sea-Tac Airport and downtown Seattle, which takes about 40 minutes. Other transportation alternatives to get to the city center from the airport include taxis, shuttle services, and rental cars.

Link Light Rail

The Link Light Rail system is the most commonly used means of public transportation in Seattle. These light rail trains are a great transportation alternative to get to the city center from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. These trains provide transportation directly from the airport to downtown Seattle. The Link Light Rail is accessibly from the parking lot, on level 4. Trains operate every 7.5 to 15 minutes and take about 40 minutes to get to the city center from the airport. Monday to Saturday the Link Light Rail operates from 5 am to 1 am and on Sundays it operates from 6 am to midnight. Tickets can be purchased from kiosks at the station with cash or credit card.

Bicycle

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport features various bicycle resources for passengers who want to travel to and from the airport by bike. The airport features bicycle assembly stations, bicycle parking areas, and long-term storage areas. There are over 50 bicycle rental stations located in the city that are a part of the city’s bike share system. Fees start at 8 USD. You can get to the city center from the airport by following the special bike paths and shared roadways.

Hotel Shuttle Services

Many hotels located in Seattle provide their guests with airport shuttle services. To take advantage of this service make sure to discuss it with the hotel you are staying at in advance. We recommend making a reservation for this service. Hotel shuttle services are an extremely practical and comfortable means of transportation but it can be a bit more expensive than taking a taxi. Depending on your destination in the city it can take about 20 minutes to get to downtown Seattle from the airport. 

Taxi

Taxis are a very convenient transportation alternative to get to the city center from Sea-Tac Airport. Taxis are easily accessible from the taxi stands that are located on the 3^rd floor of the parking lot. A taxi to the city center from the airport costs 50 USD on average and takes 20 minutes if there’s no traffic. The fare and duration will vary depending on your final destination in the city.

Rental Car

Renting a car is another way to get to the city center from the airport. Renting a car is also a great option for getting around in the city during your trip. Rental car companies at the airport are located at the Rental Car Facility. Shuttle buses depart from the terminal exits and provide transportation to the Rental Car Facility. Depending on the traffic it takes about 20 minutes to get to the city center from Sea-Tac Airport. Rental car companies that you can choose from include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar Car Rental, Enterprise, Firefly, Hertz, National, Payless, and Sixt.

Shuttle

There are various shared ride van and scheduled airporter services that provide transportation from Sea-Tac Airport to the city center. Each company has specific drop off and pick up locations. For more information on shuttle services to the city, shuttle operators and fares please visit Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s website.