Explore Seattle Southside by Light Rail
Love discovering under-the-radar destinations on foot? This one is for you.
Seattle Link Light Rail
This is how to beat the traffic in Seattle. Ideal for the car-free traveler and one of the most popular forms of transit for visitors to Seattle Southside, the light rail can take you from the airport to downtown Seattle in just 30 minutes.
How to Pay for Light Rail
There are several ways to pay for your ride on the Link light rail.
1. Tap to Pay
To use a physical card, look for the contactless payment symbol on your Visa, Mastercard, Discover Network, or American Express credit or debit card. Tap your credit or debit card on an ORCA card reader – that’s it! To use a credit or debit card in Apple Pay™, Google Pay™, or Samsung Pay™ on a phone or smart device, make sure your credit or debit card is loaded into your digital wallet before tapping.
Learn more about Tap to Pay.
2. Buy an ORCA Card
These handy cards provide entrance to light rail, buses, and ferries. Just load them with money, then tap them on any ORCA Card reader at the platforms before boarding. ORCA is accepted on most transit options in the Seattle area, including Community Transit, Everett Transit, King County Transit, Kitsap Transit, Pierce Transit, Sound Transit, and Washington State Ferries.
Purchase an ORCA Card at any station or online at myorca.com.
3. Buy a Ticket
You can buy a one-way, return, or all-day rail ticket at the platforms. Ticket machines accept cash and credit/debit cards such as Visa or MasterCard.
Learn more about all the ways to pay.
Seattle's Link Light Rail Station Map
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Federal Way Downtown Station
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Star Lake Station
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Kent Des Moines Station
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Angle Lake Link Light Rail Station
Get DirectionsJust a short walk away from the station platform, Angle Lake Park is the perfect place to picnic with the family. Need some picnic ideas? Grab Salvadorean pupusas (stuffed cornmeal cakes) from Las Palmas on your way to the park for a delicious treat that’s easy to eat as a picnic food.
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SeaTac/Airport Link Light Rail Station
Get DirectionsStaying close to the airport and looking for a meal to remember? Reserve a table at Sharps’ Roasthouse, where you’ll indulge in slow-roasted prime rib, spit-roasted chicken, and St. Louis-style ribs, cold-smoked over Washington Applewood. It’s dinner and a show with their 25’ in-dining room smoke and grill station
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Tukwila Link Light Rail Station
Get DirectionsHop off here and take a short bus ride to visit Westfield Southcenter Mall, the largest shopping destination in the state with more than 200 retailers and restaurants, a movie theater, two bowling alleys, and Northwest favorite, Nordstrom.
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Rainier Beach Link Light Rail Station
Get DirectionsTranquility awaits at nearby Kubota Garden, 20 acres of rolling hills, waterfalls, and koi-filled ponds. This historic landmark dates to 1927, when master landscaper Fujitaro Kubota began merging Japanese garden concepts with native Northwest plants.
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Othello Link Light Rail Station
Get DirectionsJohn C. Little, Sr. Park provides a wonderful green space to sit down with some of the neighborhood’s deliciously eclectic cuisine. From Tanzanian Pilau rice and Ethiopian sourdough flatbread to lime-marinated Khmer beef salad and shrimp shumai, a stop at Othello is an international dining delight.
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Columbia City Link Light Rail Station
Get DirectionsColumbia City is full of arts and culture, from the Columbia City Gallery with rotating its art exhibitions, to film screenings at the Ark Lodge Cinemas, to the Royal Room where jazz, funk, and rock ‘n’ roll rule. And in between these cultural hotspots are tons of little shops and restaurants to explore and enjoy.
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Mount Baker Link Light Rail Station
Get DirectionsNothing’s more American than baseball and apple pie, and both can be found here. See where the historic Sick’s Baseball Stadium once stood (former home of the short-lived Seattle Pilots), then get yourself an apple pie from Baked from the Hart.
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Beacon Hill Link Light Rail Station
Get DirectionsJefferson Park isn’t just home to the scenic course where golf legend Fred Couples honed his game. It’s a 50-acre hotspot for skateboarders, cricket players, lawn bowlers, and frisbees enthusiasts - with a breathtaking view of downtown Seattle and a food forest to explore
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SODO Link Light Rail Station
Get DirectionsCheck off another bucket list item and join the circus at Emerald City Trapeze Arts, which offers classes and weekend performances. And for the Starbucks fans out there, the SODO Reserve store is located on the first floor of Starbucks’ global headquarters, and is a beautiful space well worth the trip.
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Stadium Link Light Rail Station
Get DirectionsHere for the Hawks or Mariners? Or to root against them? Get to the stadium early and quench your thirst on the outdoor patio of Hatback Bar & Grille. And after the game, head down the street to Showbox SoDo for downtown’s best live music acts.
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Intl. District / Chinatown Link Light Rail Station
Get DirectionsUwajimaya is more than simply the largest Asian grocery store in the state. Aisles and aisles of exotic foods and gifts await, plus lessons on how to play the Japanese game of Go and on-site Szechuan cooking classes.
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Pioneer Square Link Light Rail Station
Get DirectionsIn the heart of old Seattle, you can wander through an eclectic collection of art galleries, revisit your childhood at Magic Mouse Toys, or even explore the early days of the city beneath the city with Bill Speidel’s Underground Tours or Beneath the Streets. Pro tip: you an save money on those tours with the Seattle Southside Savings Pass.
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Symphony Link Light Rail Station
Get DirectionsTwo of Seattle’s most acclaimed cultural icons stand side-by-side just steps from the station: Benaroya Hall, home of the Seattle Symphony, and the Seattle Art Museum, featuring rotating exhibits and a remarkable collection of Native American art.
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Westlake Link Light Rail Station
Get DirectionsThis is the center of the city, with the Nordstrom flagship store just steps to the east, the world-famous Pike Place Market and original Starbucks to the west, and the monorail taking you to the Space Needle and MoPop just three floors from the station platform
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Capitol Hill Link Light Rail Station
Get DirectionsOne of the most eclectic spots in the city is at the seven-acre Cal Anderson Park adjacent to the Capitol Hill stop. Ultimate Frisbee, bicycle polo, and live music are among the diversions during the day. Staying after dark? The nightlife around Capitol Hill is unbeatable, with many bars and venues within walking distance of one another.
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Univ. of Washington Link Light Rail Station
Get DirectionsIn town to watch some college football or visit the beautiful UW campus? This is your stop. But don’t miss the gorgeous views of Lake Washington and Mt. Rainier (on a clear day) from along the waterfront trails that wind through campus.
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U District Link Light Rail Station
Get DirectionsLooking for a bit more entertainment near the University? This stop is right next to University Street, locally known as “The Ave”, which is the backbone of offcampus University of Washington life. You can also visit the fascinating Burke Museum of Natural History and its collection of more than 16 million artifacts, as well as the contemporary and performance art of the Henry Art Museum.
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Roosevelt Link Light Rail Station
Get DirectionsThis quiet neighborhood just north of the U District has an adorable retail center around the station, with coffee shops, cafes, and taverns all within easy walking distance of the station. It’s also right by Roosevelt High School, which local favorite Sir Mix-A-Lot attended.
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Northgate Link Light Rail Station
Get DirectionsNorthgate Station is home to the Kraken Community Iceplex, which is where you can catch a Seattle Kraken practice during the season, go skating, or browse the Kraken Team Store.
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Shoreline South/148th Station
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Shoreline North/185th Station
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Mountlake Terrace Station
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Lynnwood City Center Station
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Common Questions About Seattle Link Light Rail
Q: How much does it cost to ride the Seattle light rail?
A: Sound Transit requires paying fares on all buses and trains, except for youth 18 and under.
One-way adult fares (age 19-64) are $3.00. Day passes are twice the one-way fare and are valid for travel only on the date purchased.
One-way low-income adult fares are $1.00. Learn if you qualify for an ORCA LIFT card and where to get one.
Youth 18 and under ride for free on all Sound Transit services. Learn more and apply for a Free Youth Transit Pass here.
One-way senior/disabled Link fares are $1.00 for all trips. Riders 65+ and riders with disabilities can ride at a reduced rate with a Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP).
Q: How fast does the light rail go in Seattle?
A: The Link light rail can accelerate to 55mph.
Q: How do you pay to ride Seattle light rail?
A: You can Tap to Pay with a credit or debit card at ORCA readers before boarding, purchase an ORCA card and load it with money, or buy a one-way or all-day/round-trip ticket.
Q: Is it possible to take Seattle Light Rail to Pier 91 from Seattle Airport?
A: Yes, it's possible, but it takes about 75 minutes. To get from Seattle Airport to Pier 91 in Seattle, take the 1-LINE from Sea-Tac Airport Station to Pioneer Square Station. Then take the Route 24 or 33 bus from the 3rd Ave & James Street stop to the Magnolia Bridge & Pier 91 stop.
Q: Is it possible to take Seattle Light Rail to Pier 66 from Seattle Airport?
A: Yes, it's easy and quick. You can catch the light rail from Sea-Tac Airport Station to Westlake Station in downtown Seattle. From there, it’s only a 10-minute walk to Cruise Terminal 66 through a part of downtown Seattle that's popular with tourists.
Q: How long does it take to get from Sea-Tac to downtown Seattle by light rail?
A: The Link Light Rail ride from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to downtown Seattle takes about 35 to 40 minutes. Trains run roughly every 8 to 15 minutes, depending on the time of day, and drop you right in the heart of downtown, at stations such as Pioneer Square and Westlake Center. It’s one of the easiest and most affordable ways to reach the city—no traffic required.
Tip: Catch the train from the SeaTac/Airport Station, connected to the airport via a short covered walkway on the 4th floor of the parking garage.
Q: Where are the light rail stations near Sea-Tac Airport?
A: The main Link Light Rail station serving Sea-Tac Airport is the SeaTac/Airport Station, located just a short covered walk from the airport’s main terminal. Simply follow the signs through the parking garage skybridge on the 4th floor to reach the platform.
If you’re staying nearby, the next stops north and south—Angle Lake Station and Tukwila International Boulevard Station—also connect easily to airport hotels and park-and-ride lots.
Tip: Trains run every 8–15 minutes, and all three stations connect to downtown Seattle and the University of Washington.
Q: Can I take the light rail to cruise terminals?
Yes! You can take the Link Light Rail from Sea-Tac Airport or other stations directly to downtown Seattle, which is close to both cruise terminals.
- For Pier 66 (Bell Street Terminal), get off at Westlake Station—it’s about a 15-minute walk or short taxi/ride share.
- For Pier 91 (Smith Cove Terminal), continue to Westlake as well, then take a 5-minute rideshare or shuttle to the pier. It’s an easy, affordable way to start your Alaska cruise adventure.
Tip: The light rail is the most convenient, budget-friendly option for cruise travelers arriving at Sea-Tac.
Q: How do you get to the light rail from Sea-Tac Airport?
A: From baggage claim, follow the signs for the Link light rail. Look for baggage carousel 16, and go up one floor to the skybridge level. Head across Skybridge Six and turn left through the parking garage to the light rail station. A free electric shuttle operates between the light rail station and the skybridge. Learn more.