SeaTac is a city in southern King County. Its name is a portmanteau of its larger neighbors: Seattle to the north, and Tacoma to the south.
Understand
Most visitors will only visit SeaTac for the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, itself nicknamed Sea-Tac – the city named itself for the airport (albeit without the hyphen in the name, a distinction that isn't very widely known). Outside of the airport and its surrounding bevy of related businesses, including the corporate HQ of Alaska Airlines, there's little to attract tourists, although business travelers may appreciate the cluster of hotels close to the airport.
Get in
By car
From I-5, take Exit 154B (SR-518) for the airport. The same interchange connects to I-405's southern end.
By rail
The region's sole light rail line, Central Link, stops at the airport. SeaTac/Airport Station also connects to a passenger pickup/dropoff just east of the airport, on the east side of International Boulevard at S. 176th St. The only parking at this station is in the airport parking garage. The line travels north through Tukwila to Seattle, reaching Downtown Seattle in just over half an hour. The fare varies by distance traveled, topping out at $3.25.
Get around
See
Do
Buy
Eat
- 1 Sharp's Roasthouse, 18427 International Blvd, ☏ 1 206 241-5744. 11AM-midnight daily. Just down the road from the airport, Sharp's is a tasty welcome after a long flight. Definitely try the maple cornbread.
Drink
Sleep
There are numerous hotels & motels lined up along International Blvd (Hwy 99) through SeaTac that many travelers find better value in staying in comparison to those in Seattle. Tukwila, immediately to the north and to the east (opposite side of the freeway), also hosts several hotels and offsite airport parking. A number of them do offer free (or for a small fare) shuttle to/from the airport terminal and other nearby places (such as car rental offices):
- 1 Best Western Seattle Airport, 20717 International Blvd (International Blvd & S 208th.), ☏ 1 206 878-3300, toll-free: 1 800 780-7234. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon.
- 2 Radisson Hotel Gateway Seattle-Tacoma Airport, 18118 International Blvd, ☏ 1 206 244-6666. Check-in: 3pm, check-out: noon. Nice accommodations, friendly staff, and reasonable rates. It's also conveniently located across the street from the airport.
Connect
Go next
| Routes through SeaTac |
| Seattle ← Tukwila ← | N  S | → Kent → Portland |
| Seattle ← Tukwila ← | N  S | → Kent → Tacoma |
| Seattle ← Burien ← | N  S | → Kent → Tacoma |
| END ← Burien ← | W  E | → Tukwila → END |