The main Terminal at Seattle-Tacoma (SeaTac) International Airport

Seattle Airport Layover: Things to Do At and Near SEA

Make the most of a layover at SEA, whether you unwind in a sensory room or with therapy dogs inside the terminal or hop a quick light rail ride into downtown Seattle.

Part ofSeattle Travel Guide

Frequently asked questions

Link light rail takes about 40 minutes between the airport and Westlake Station downtown. Trains arrive every 8 to 15 minutes, depending on the time of day.

One-way taxi and ride-share trips to downtown have generally run between $50 and $70. Pickups are on the third floor of the parking garage, and fares can change.

Yes. SEA has two sensory rooms, one near the A Concourse train station and one on the third floor of the C Concourse Expansion.

All rental companies are in an off-site facility. Shuttles run 24 hours a day from outside baggage claim at the north and south ends of the main terminal.

ADA stalls are in General Parking on Floor 5 near the elevator lobbies, plus Floors 1, 3 and 7. Check the airport's official site for current parking rates.

How you spend your time at SEA comes down to how many hours you have before your next flight. On a short Seattle airport layover, stay inside Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and unwind in its quiet sensory rooms, pet relief areas and therapy animal visits. With several free hours, hop on Link light rail to reach downtown Seattle in about 40 minutes, then let the monorail and streetcar lines carry you a little farther.

Relax Without Leaving the Terminal

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport puts real effort into making long waits easier. Many of its best features were built with accessibility in mind, and they work just as well for any traveler who wants a calmer break between flights.

Sensory rooms for a quiet reset

Slip into one of SEA's two sensory rooms when the terminal starts to feel like too much. You'll find one near the A Concourse train station and the other on the third floor of the C Concourse Expansion. Both were designed for travelers with autism or sensory processing disorders, and for anyone who needs relief from terminal noise and crowds.

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Therapy animals and pet relief areas

Keep an eye out for SEA Pups, the airport program that brings registered therapy animal teams into the terminal to ease stress. The teams are registered through Pet Partners and Reading with Rover. Traveling with a service animal or pet? Head to any of nine relief areas, located both before and after security.

Support that makes the airport easier

In 2019, SEA became the first U.S. airport to pilot the sunflower lanyard, which signals that the wearer has a hidden disability and may need extra help. Pick up a free lanyard at any of these information desks:

Two pre-security desks between Checkpoint 4 and Checkpoint 5
The Baggage Claim level near Checkpoint 1
The post-security desk in Concourse A, near gate A5

The Concourse A desk has been staffed from 7 am to 9 pm daily, though hours can change. Blind and low vision travelers can use the Aira app, and live ASL interpreting is available through Mobile Video Remote Interpreting on the free airport Wi-Fi. Pathfinder staff carry translation tools covering more than 100 languages, and the family and single-user restrooms in every concourse are fully accessible and stoma-friendly.

Should You Head Into the City?

Step outside SEA only when your layover gives you enough time to cover the round trip comfortably. The ride downtown takes about 40 minutes each way, with trains every 8 to 15 minutes depending on the hour. Leave plenty of time to get back and clear security again before boarding.

Prefer to stay close? Explore the neighboring cities of SeaTac and Tukwila instead. SeaTac is known for its diverse community, while Tukwila offers a wide range of family-friendly attractions and shopping.

Ride Link Light Rail Downtown

Sound Transit's 1 Line is the simplest way into the city. It runs from Angle Lake Station to Lynnwood with 21 stops along the way, including SEA Airport and Westlake Station in the heart of downtown.

Paying your fare

The adult fare has been a flat $3 for any trip, so a ride downtown costs the same as any other, but confirm current pricing before you board. Choose whichever way to pay suits you:

Buy an ORCA card at any ticket machine, which takes cash, Visa and MasterCard
Tap a contactless credit or debit card, or a digital wallet
Buy tickets on the Transit GO Ticket app for iPhone or Android

Make the Most of Downtown

Westlake makes a handy hub, since two other short rides start nearby. Either one can turn a few spare hours into a real look at the city.

Monorail to Seattle Center

Catch the Seattle Center Monorail from Westlake Center to Seattle Center, which sits at the base of Queen Anne hill. Trains leave every 10 minutes and the ride lasts just 3 minutes. A one-way adult ticket has been $4, and ORCA cards work too. Service runs longer in summer and during events at Climate Pledge Arena. Get to know the neighborhood with our Queen Anne community garden guide.

Streetcar to South Lake Union

Board the South Lake Union streetcar for a 1.3-mile trip with nine stops between downtown and South Lake Union. The route rolls past shops and restaurants before reaching Lake Union's 12-acre waterfront park. Check holiday schedules before you go, since some streetcar service pauses on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

First Hill streetcar

A second streetcar line runs 2.5 miles with 10 stops. It connects with Link light rail at the Capitol Hill and International District stations, and with Amtrak and Sounder trains at King Street Station. For more ideas near the water, browse our Waterfront Park guide.

Find taxis and ride-share pickups on the third floor of the parking garage. A one-way ride downtown has typically cost between $50 and $70, though fares vary. To book a limo, town car or taxi ahead of time, use the traveler information boards in baggage claim or the ground transportation booth on the garage's third floor.

All rental car companies operate from an off-site facility, with shuttles running around the clock from outside baggage claim at the north and south ends of the main terminal. If you plan to drive, note that Interstate 5 upgrades are set to pause from June 8 to July 10 during FIFA World Cup 26 matches, and the Washington State Department of Transportation posts updates.

Accessible Parking and Curbside Help

Look for ADA parking stalls in General Parking on Floor 5 near the elevator lobbies, and on Floors 1, 3 and 7. Accessible loading zones appear at least every 100 feet on both Arrivals and Departures drives, and the entire Arrivals Drive has a zero curb. Check the airport's official website for parking rates, since prices can change.

Call Prospect Airport Services at (206) 246-1550 for free wheelchair assistance from the curb, garage or train station to your ticket counter. From there, your airline takes over through security to your gate. Arriving by hotel shuttle? Ask your driver to contact the Ground Transportation booth ahead of time for curbside drop off.

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