Getting to and from Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

Seattle Tacoma International Airport is one of the largest in the United States of America, as it handles around 32 million passengers per annum. Currently, it is rated as the sixteenth busiest airport in the country for passenger traffic. It also has a high number of aircraft movements and international passengers. The airport can be referred to as the Sea-Tac Airport, due to its location, and by its IATA code of SEA. Seattle Tacoma International Airport directions are quite simple to follow, and recently airport access has been made easier with road improvements. Passengers arriving in their own vehicles will also find several parking areas for their convenience.

The airport serving Seattle and Tacoma is found in the U.S. state of Washington, which is to the west of Idaho and to the north of Oregon. It is also just south of the Canadian cities of Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna. Seattle is surrounded by the area of Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland and Shoreline, and Tacoma is nearby to Lakewood, Auburn and Kent. The airport is found between these two cities, south of Seattle and north of Tacoma. It is in the area of SeaTac, and nearby to Normandy Park, Burien and McMicken Heights, and Angle Lake, Valley Park Ridge, the North SeaTac Park and Ed Munro Seahurst Park are in the nearby vicinity as well. Larger cities to the north of Seattle include Everett and Bellingham, and cities to the south include Olympia, Portland, Salem and Eugene. To the east are the areas of Spokane, Yakima and Kennewick, and to the west is the Puget Sound, a sound that is part of the Salish Sea. Across the water from Seattle lies Bremerton, and just north of Tacoma is Vashon Island.

Seattle Tacoma International Airport is positioned approximately 1.5 miles, or 2.4km west of the Interstate 5, one of its main roads for access, and is also nearby to the State Route 518 and State Route 509. The Pacific Highway 99 runs parallel to the airport’s eastern perimeter, and is also referred to as the International Boulevard. South 160th Street intersects the International Boulevard north of the terminals, and the Airport Expressway takes passengers to the main terminal building. The physical address of the main terminal building can be noted as 17801 International Boulevard (Pacific Highway S), Seattle, Washington 98158.

Directions from the north

From Seattle, motorists will take the Interstate 5 in a southerly direction to the airport. Exit 154 leads to the State Route 518, from where airport signposts can be followed. The Sea-Tac Airport exit should be taken. Along the way, motorists will pass the Boeing Field-King County International Airport, and the areas of Brighton, Dunlap, Rainier Beach and Rainier View. The Interstate 5 is also the route to follow from cities further north of Seattle, such as Bellingham, Marysville and Everett.

Directions from the south

The Interstate 5 is taken from Tacoma in a northerly direction to Exit 154 B. Drive west on the State Route 518 and follow the airport signposts. Similar to above, take the Sea-Tac Airport exit. From this direction, motorists will pass the areas of Northeast Tacoma, Lakeland North, Woodmont Beach and Des Moines. The Interstate 5 leads further south as well, past Lacey, Olympia, Centralia, Kelso and Portland.

Directions from the east

The Interstate 405 is one of the larger roads leading towards the airport from the east. It also directly connects to the State Route 518 which is nearby to the airport roads. The Interstate 405 is useful from areas such as Bellevue and Renton. To the city of Seattle from areas further east, such as Spokane, motorists will travel on the Interstate 90 in a westerly direction.

The large airport of Seattle and Tacoma has a Central Terminal that houses may passenger facilities, as well as four concourses referred to as A, B, C and D. A people mover train from the main building also provides a link to the airport’s two satellite terminals, known as the South and North Terminals. Check-in options for departing passengers will depend on the airline company with which they are flying, but often online check-in and self-service check-in kiosks are an option. The airport has several lounges for its passengers, including the Alaska Airlines Board Room, the British Airways First Lounge, a Delta Sky Club, the Korean Air Lounge and two United Clubs. There is also an extensive conference centre available, with several rooms of various sizes. Additional airport facilities include a full-service US Bank, ATMs, a renovated Mother’s Room, a children’s play area, baggage storage facilities, lost and found offices and a large selection of shops and restaurants. Some of the most popular restaurants are Burger King, the Africa Lounge, Anthony’s Restaurant, Starbucks, The Runway Grill, Manchu WOK, Bigfoot Food and Spirits and the Mountain Room Bar, while all kinds of items can be purchased at the shops of Bose, Hudson Booksellers, Rosetta Stone, Life is Good, Made in Washington and the Seattle Duty Free store.

Seattle Tacoma International Airport is served by buses, trains and taxis, should a passenger prefer not to drive his/her own vehicle. Taxis are available from all areas, and the set rate of $32.00 is applicable when travelling from the Downtown Seattle Hotel District. Public buses operated by King County Metro are available, as well as many private shuttles, that travel from all areas of the city and from further cities as well. They include the Airporter Shuttle, the Bremerton-Kitsap Airporter, Capital Aeroporter, the Downtown Airporter and the Island Airporter. Quick Shuttle provides a service from Vancouver in Canada. The Link Light Rail trains are a very convenient way to travel to the airport, and are available from the Westlake Station in downtown Seattle, as well as from various other stations at which the train stops en-route to the Sea-Tac/Airport Station.

Seattle Tacoma International Airport directions in further detail are available online, at https://maps.google.com, or passengers can contact the airport for more information at (206) 787-5388 or (800) 544-1965.