Making your holiday travel as easy as pie
Know when to go to avoid the holiday mad dash.
Sound Transit Link light rail train passes by Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Thanksgiving week is the busiest travel week of the year, with most people leaving town on Wednesday and returning on Sunday. If you have a flexible schedule, check out the best and worst times to travel, and use transit to avoid the holiday gridlock.
Best times to travel
- Thanksgiving Day - Thursday, Nov. 26 is the best and quietest day of the entire week with minimal delays. Before taking transit, be sure to check schedules since some service might not be running, or some routes could be on a Sunday timetable.
- Before Thanksgiving - If you're hoping to arrive before the holiday, leave on Tuesday, Nov. 24 before noon or Wednesday, Nov. 25 before 10 a.m.
- After Thanksgiving - Returning home early in the day on Friday, Nov. 27 before 10 a.m. or late in the evening after 7 p.m. can help you avoid crowds.
Worst times to travel
- Before Thanksgiving - If you can, avoid traveling on Wednesday, Nov. 25 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 24 from noon to 9 p.m.
- After Thanksgiving - Returning on Sunday, Nov. 29 will be brutal, especially from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. when most people are doing the same.
Plan ahead
- Use Plan My Trip to map out the best options.
- Use Find My Bus for real-time information about your next ride.
- Use your ORCA card to pay when taking the bus, train, and ferry across the Puget Sound region.
- Sign up for rider alerts and status updates:
Travel by Air
Whether you're flying out of Snohomish County's small and easy airport or opting for the region's primary hub, getting to and from the airport is easier than ever before.
- Seattle Paine Field International Airport (PAE)
- Take CT Routes 907, Swift Green Line, Everett Transit Route 8
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
- Take Sound Transit Link light rail 1 line to SeaTac/Airport Station from the following stations:
Traveling by ferry
Crossing the Salish Sea from Edmonds and Mukilteo is smooth sailing on Washington State Ferries. It collects fares for walk-on passengers and bicyclists traveling westbound, while the return trip is free.
- Edmonds Ferry Terminal
- Take Community Transit Routes 102, 130, 166, 909
- Take ST Sounder N Line
- Mukilteo Ferry Terminal
- Take CT Route 117
- Take Everett Transit Route 18
- Take ST Sounder N Line
Travel by rail
If you're jumping on a train, check schedules. While Amtrak and Sounder commuter trains are a quick bus ride away, there's no service on Thanksgiving Day. Additionally, Sounder service is down the Friday after Thanksgiving. Plus, ST Link light rail is operating on modified schedules on Thursday and Friday.
- Amtrak
- Everett Station
- Take CT Routes 201, 202, 270, 271, 280, ST 510, ST 512, ST 532, and Swift Blue Line
- Take ET Routes 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 29
- Everett Station
- Sound Transit Link light rail
- Take CT Routes to one of the following stations for the 1 or 2 line:
- ST Sounder N Line (during weekday peak hours only)
- Edmonds Station
- Everett Station
- Take CT Routes 201, 202, 271, 280, and Swift Blue Line
- Take ET Routes 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 18, 19, 29
- Take ST Routes 510, 512
- King St. Station
- Take ST Route 510 to Int'l District/Chinatown Station, which is 1 block away
- Take ST Link light rail 1 or 2 line to Int'l District/Chinatown Station, which is 1 block away
- Mukilteo Station
- Take CT Route 117
Call Customer Care
If you need help planning your route, contact Customer Care or visit the Ride Store at Lynnwood City Center Station:
- Customer Care: (800) 562-1375 or (425) 353-RIDE (7433) or TTY: 711
- Ride Store: 20110 46th Ave W. in Lynnwood