bus and light rail
How to get around Seattle by bus, including Metro Transit, Monorail, Sound Transit, Central Link light rail, Greyhound, and Gray Line bus tours.
Seattle has a great bus system that will get you just about anywhere without a car. Find the best route at online trip planner or Google transit.
Tunnel
Many buses and all light rail trains use the transit tunnel that runs under Seattle from north to south. It’s five stations are open from 5 am to 1 am (6 am to midnight on Sunday).
Metro Transit buses serve Seattle and the surrounding county. The bottom half of each bus is painted orange.
Find the right bus to an address or neighborhood, or see bus routes on a map. The current location of all buses appears live on Tracker Map View.
Payment
Fares vary by your age, the distance you travel, and the time of day. Adult fares range from $2.25 to $3.
Pay as you board in most cases.
Drivers cannot give change. Ask for a free transfer ticket if your trip includes multiple buses each way.
Tips
- To get on a bus, stand at a sign that displays the bus number.
- To get off a bus, pull the cord on the wall a block before the stop. Special stops are optional at night.
- Rules allow non-alcoholic drinking but no eating or smoking.
- All buses have free bike racks. No bikes are allowed on escalators.
- Pets are allowed with conditions.
Services
- Customer service: 206-553-3000 (or visit one of their two offices)
- Disability services: 206-263-3113
- Emergency: 911
- Transit police: 206-684-2762
- Graffiti hotline: 206-684-1800
The Seattle Monorail goes nonstop from downtown to the Seattle Center and Space Needle. The one-mile trip takes two minutes (route map).
Ride an escalator to the top floor of Westlake Center (map) or find the elevator near 5th Ave. and Pine St.
Leaves every 10 minutes, 7:30 am to 11 pm. (Opens 8:30 am Sat. & Sun.)
A one-way ticket is $2.25 for an adult or $1 for a child 5 to 12 years old.
Sound Transit buses, which are blue and white, have comfortable seats. They travel longer distances from Seattle to these nearby cities.
East
South
West
• Lynnwood
• Bellevue
• Bothell, Woodinville
• Issaquah
• Redmond
• Federal Way
• Auburn, Puyallup
• DuPont
• Lakewood
• Tacoma
• Gig Harbor
Details
- Adult fare is $2.50 to $3.50.
- Rules ban alcohol, eating, smoking.
- Bicycle carriers are provided.
- Pets are OK in containers.
Customer service is 888-889-6368.
Central Link light rail is the best way to the airport and neighborhoods in south Seattle. It’s clean and cheap.
Buy your ticket before boarding. The machine accepts cash, MasterCard, or Visa. Adult fares vary from $2 to $2.75.
In downtown Seattle, board at one of the five underground tunnel stations. Trains leave every 7.5 to 15 minutes from 5:06 am to 12:37 am. A ride to the airport takes 37 minutes or less.
Stations
Here are the major stations from north to south. See 13 stations; map.
2. University: art museum, library
3. Pioneer Square: historical Seattle
4. Chinatown: international district
5. Stadium: sports stadiums
13. SeaTac Airport: last station
Seattle, WA 98101
214-849-8966 customer service
206-628-5526 Seattle station
Greyhound buses serves 2,300 cities in North America safely, comfortably, cheaply. Buses have restrooms and air conditioning. New models have power outlets and wireless Internet.
Greyhound’s user’s guide says to arrive at the terminal one hour early. Drivers make rest stops and meal stops. Food and beverages are allowed. No smoking, pets, or alcohol.
Customer service is minimal. Limited refunds; transfer your own baggage.
Discounts are available for advance purchase, groups, children, students, military, veterans, and seniors.
Here are some 14-day advance fares and travel times from Seattle.- Tacoma, WA: $7, 45 minutes
- Vancouver, BC: $14, 4 hours
- Portland, OR: $28, 4 hours
- Spokane, WA: $36, 5.5 hours
Northwestern Trailways runs buses twice a day to Tacoma and Everett, then heads east to cities like Monroe, Leavenworth, Wenatchee, Spokane.
Reserve online or call 800-366-6975.
Customized Tours offers bus tours of Seattle, Boeing, wineries, Mt. Rainier.
Grayline of Seattle offers bus tours of Seattle, Boeing, Mt. Rainier.
Show Me Seattle offers minibus tours of Seattle and Boeing.
Savor Seattle leads walking tours of food places like Pike Place Market.
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