Northwest Bound: Transportation in Seattle

#5 of six newsletters for students who will study in the Greater Seattle area starting Fall ‘25

July 31, 2025

Hello incoming students!

Do you have questions about transit in the Seattle area? Are you wondering how you'll get to your new home from the airport? How will you travel around the city once you're here? Should you get a car? This email is all about transportation - here, we'll do our best to answer your questions about how you'll get around in your new city.

All the best,

Josef Cole, Manager of Student Programs

FIUTS has created a WhatsApp group to provide students with a space to share housing leads, connect with potential roommates, and share tips on housing and furnishing your new home. Join here!

Apply today for a short-term homestay!

Apply today for a short-term homestay!

Interested in staying with a local family for your first week in the Seattle area? FIUTS hosts are volunteers who open their homes and lives to new students! Students pay only a small application fee to take part in the program once they are placed. Note: Homestay applications are due one month before arrival.

Have questions about homestay? Reach out to Olena Vlasova, FIUTS Manager of Education Programs.

Learn more and apply today!

The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) is located approximately 30 minutes south of downtown Seattle. If you'll be traveling frequently, consider downloading the Fly Seattle App, which has information about airport construction, transportation, food, and more. There are several ways to get from the airport to your accommodations in Seattle. If you are arriving to Sea-Tac airport, they offer a comprehensive list of transportation options, including:

Light Rail: Seattle's Link Light Rail 1 Line is one of the best ways to get to and from the airport because it's fast, easy, and connects directly to several campuses, including the main University of Washington campus. The trip takes approximately 30 minutes to Seattle Central College and 45 minutes to UW Seattle. Trains come every six minutes during peak commute times and 10-15 minutes the rest of the day. From the Sea-Tac Airport main baggage claim area, follow the signs and use the covered walkway to get to the Link light rail station (approximately 5-10 minutes from the main terminal). The last light rail that goes from Sea-Tac all the way through Seattle leaves the airport at approximately 12:10am Monday through Saturday and 11:10pm on Sundays. Full service through Seattle resumes at roughly 4:45am Monday through Saturday and at 5:45am on Sundays. A current Link 1 Line schedule can be found here.

Bus: King County Metro Transit is another option to get to Seattle from Sea-Tac. However, there is not a direct line from the airport into Seattle, so you will have to take on of the available routes and then transfer to another bus. The King County Metro bus stops for routes that serve SEA are located on International Boulevard (State Highway 99) and South 176th Street by the SeaTac/Airport Link Light Rail station. You can use King County Metro’s Trip Planner tool to find bus routes that serve SEA. The best way to get to the stops is to take the walkway through the north end of the fourth floor of the Airport Parking Garage to the Sound Transit Link Light Rail Station and exit to International Boulevard. You can exit to International Boulevard via the elevator or stairs on the west side of the station. The following King County Metro routes pickup adjacent to the light rail station on International Boulevard:

Rapid Ride A-line (Federal Way)

Route 161 (Burien/Kent)

Route 156 (Southcenter/Des Moines)

Route 124 operates on the airport drives between 1 am and 5 am. Departure times are shown on information signs at the bus stop. You also can pick up printed bus timetables at the Ground Transportation Information Booth on the Baggage Claim level near door number 16 (across from baggage carousel 12).

To ride the light rail and bus, you will need an ORCA card. Purchase an ORCA card at one of the vending machines before you get on the train; the ticket machines accept Visa, MasterCard or cash.

Door to Door: This shuttle runs 24 hours, every day, from the airport to several Seattle-area hotel zones. One-way trips from SeaTac Airport depart every 30 minutes during peak travel times and cost around $35 per person. Downtown Airporter departs from Level 3 of the parking garage, in the center of the Ground Transportation Plaza.

Taxis: Taxis are available 24 hours a day. In a taxi, the average fare to central and north Seattle from the airport is about $80. All taxis have meters that they must turn on. It is customary to give the driver a gratuity (tip) of 15% in addition to the fare.

App-Based Rideshare: Uber and Lyft provide services at SeaTac Airport. You must request your ride through the mobile app of the company you choose. After you have arranged for your ride, your driver will pick you up at the Ground Transportation Plaza on the 3rd floor of the parking garage. Fares can range between $40- $80, and will go up during peak travel times.

Seattle has a variety of transit options that can easily get you to where you need to go, including to and from campus. Most colleges and universities will offer you an ORCA card or a special transit pass for you to use to pay for the bus and light rail.

Seattle's public bus system is called King County Metro Transit. You will need the exact fare to ride the bus if you pay cash; bus drivers do not give change or accept credit cards. When boarding and using cash, ask the driver for a transfer so that you can obtain a transfer slip and will not have to pay again on the next bus for up to two hours. Busses connect all of Seattle's neighborhoods together. They may not be fast, but it's a comprehensive and useful system. Most bus drivers in Seattle are very helpful, so feel free to ask them for directions. In Seattle, as in any metropolitan area, use caution when traveling alone, with large bags, or at night.

The Link Light Rail 1 Line is a train that runs north/south through Seattle and beyond from Angle Lake to Lynnwood. It is the fastest and most convenient method of transportation. A lot of construction around the city is due to light rail expansion, so new stops will be opening soon. There is also the 2 Line that runs on the eastside of King County from Redmond to Bellevue. In the near future, the 1 Line and 2 Line will have a connection that will allow passengers to take the light rail around King County.

In addition to bus and light rail, Seattle also has several other forms of public transit. The Seattle Monorail is an old train, built for the 1965 World's Fair. It runs just one stop - between downtown Seattle (Westlake) and the Seattle Center. You can use ORCA cards to pay for the Monorail. We also have two Seattle streetcar lines that make it easier to access Chinatown and South Lake Union neighborhoods. These are the First Hill Line and the South Lake Union Line, respectively.

And while you're in Seattle, you should definitely experience a Ferry Boat ride! The Washington State Ferries serve commuters and tourists between Seattle and several nearby islands. Even if you don't live on an island, it's always fun to take a ferry and walk around in the parks and shops.

Bicycling: One popular, inexpensive, and fun way to get around the city is riding a bicycle. There are many bike shops in the area selling both new and used bikes. Most campuses have bike storage, bike clubs, and bike classes available.

Seattle has several companies offering scooters and shared bikes along the streets - most of these are electric, which helps to get around all of Seattle's hills!

Walking: For most students, walking will be a primary form of transportation to and around the campuses. It's also popular to set off on a long walk or city hike through a new neighborhood. There are some great walking maps available for different areas of the city!

Carpooling and vanpooling are great ways to commute to your campus, and they are all part of our city's transit plan. If you are planning to live off campus, ride together and you can save money on gas and parking. You’ll also get access to high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lanes and on-ramps for a faster commute.

And don’t forget that you can always mix up your commute as needed: bus, bike, walk or drive alone on the days you can’t share the ride.

Driving in Seattle

Most students who study at Seattle-area campuses do not purchase a car. Traffic is bad, cars can be expensive to care for, and parking is very difficult to find in the city. Here are a few options for when you'd like to learn more about driving.

Licensing: If you drive in your own country and have a license, you may be able to use it for a short time before completing a drivers test here. The Washington State Department of Licensing maintains a list of countries and the length of time you are allowed to drive with an out-of-country license.

Identification: If you are over 21 and would like to obtain an identification card (so you don't have to carry your passport to prove your age at a bar or to purchase alcohol), these are also available at the Washington State Department of Licensing.

Rental Cars: Car rental can be one way to use a car just for a short time, like a weekend away from the city. Be aware that you must have a valid license and most rental car companies will not rent cars to drivers under the age of 21, and sometimes 25 - so be sure to check with local companies to make sure you are eligible before you try to rent a vehicle. Many of the rental services available have locations at the airport, downtown, and in neighborhoods around Seattle.

Car Share: There are many different companies that offer hourly car share services in Seattle, including Zipcar, getaround, and Turo- and several have parking spots on or near the campuses in the area. They can be an inexpensive way to take a short trip to an area that's challenging to reach via transit. Most use an app-based system for reservations and payment.

Save the Date(s): Welcome to Seattle Week

The FIUTS team is already preparing for this fall’s Welcome to Seattle Week! We’re planning a week of exploration, community building, and celebration as we kick off the academic year for new students from across our community. We will have daily neighborhood scavenger hunts, an international trivia night, a cruise around Lake Union, and a neighborhood cleanup followed by a community bbq/block party. Take a look at the schedule and save the date for your favorite event!

Welcome Week Sponsors

Discover Seattle with FIUTS!

Whether you enjoy shopping, going to museums, listening to live music, or hiking in the mountains, you'll find a variety of fun things to do in Seattle - and adventures are always more fun with friends! FIUTS events, activities, outreach, and leadership programs are designed to help you make the most of your time here in Seattle.

FIUTS offers more than 100 events and programs each year to help students explore our region and build friendships with others. Visit the FIUTS Events & Activities Calendar to see what's coming up.

If you don't already receive it, the FIUTS Weekly E-news highlights upcoming events and programs around the Puget Sound.

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Foundation for International  Understanding Through Students

FIUTS advances international understanding through cross-cultural experiences, student leadership, and community connections.

909 NE 43rd St, Suite 210

Seattle, WA 98105
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www.fiuts.org