Take transit to get to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Getting to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (otherwise known as Sea-Tac Airport) from Snohomish County can feel like a journey. You’ve got a long drive, downtown Seattle traffic to battle, and then paying to park your car during your trip. Suddenly, your vacation feels expensive before you even check your bags. 

What if we told you it doesn’t have to be this way? With Community Transit, you can hop on a bus, connect to light rail, and ride all the way to Sea-Tac for a fraction of the cost, without getting stuck in Seattle traffic. 

Getting to SeaTac Airport from Snohomish County  

1. Your trip starts on a Community Transit bus. Many Community Transit and Sound Transit routes that will connect you from cities in Snohomish County directly to light rail. Visit this webpage to see which bus routes will connect you to light rail, and to learn how to transfer from bus to light rail.
   
   
2. From there, get off your bus and get on to the light rail at Lynnwood City Center Station, Mountlake Terrace Station, or  Shoreline North/185th Station. You can take Link light rail all the way to SeaTac — no traffic, no stress. Learn more about bus to light rail connections. 
   
   
3. When you arrive at the Sea-Tac/Airport Station, it’s a  7–10 minute walk to the terminal from the light rail station. Just follow the signs. The walkway is fully protected from the weather, so you’ll stay comfortable on the way. If you need a lift, a free train-to-plane electric shuttle is available.  

Three tips for taking transit to the airport  

• Plan your trip ahead of time. It’s always a good idea to give yourself some extra time to get to the airport. You can use Community Transit’s Plan My Trip tool to map out your trip. Just enter where you’re starting, your destination, and when you want to arrive at the airport — it’ll take care of the rest. You can also call Customer Care for personalized trip planning at 425-353-7433. 

• Be mindful of your luggage. When you're on the bus or light rail, please don’t put your luggage on the seat next to you. Be mindful of other passengers. Keep your bags near your feet and make sure the bus aisle is clear when people are getting on and off the bus. 
  
  
• Use an ORCA card for easy transfers or bring exact change. Make your trip smoother by tapping an ORCA card when you get on the bus and light rail and make use of the funds saved thanks to the two-hour transfer window. If you don’t have an ORCA card, having exact change ready will make your trip easier.  
  
  
• Sign up for Rider Alerts. Know before you go by signing up for Community Transit and Sound Transit rider alerts. Get a text or email if there is a delay or cancellation on your bus or Link light rail. Learn more on our website.

Visit Community Transit’s Sea-Tac Airport page to learn everything you need to know about taking transit to the airport. See which buses take you directly to light rail and watch a video that walks you through the process of getting on and off light rail.