Plane
SeaTac International Airport (SEA) is a major hub for several airlines. The biggest carrier is Alaska Airlines, with Southwest as a close second. There are direct flights here from Dublin, Tokyo, London, New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, and many other cities. All major U.S. carriers have some sort of flight into and out of SeaTac, as do most international carriers.
SeaTac International is 15 miles from downtown Seattle. If you are arriving from the airport, there are many fantastic options for reaching the Seattle Convention Center.
Rail
Link light rail provides a 50-minute train/subway ride from the airport directly to downtown Seattle. Exit at Westlake Station, and you will be within easy walking distance to the Seattle Convention Center. From Westlake Station, head two blocks northeast along Pine Street to 7th Avenue, then cross and head one block southeast. The Convention Center will be on your left. The cost for a one-way ride via Link light rail is $2.25 to $3.25, and tickets may be purchased on the platform.
If you arrive in Seattle via Amtrak, you will need additional transportation after you arrive at King Street Station downtown. To reach the nearest Link light rail stop, exit through the main entrance (facing east) and turn left (to face south). Continue to the Weller Street Bridge, cross it, and turn left (north) and walk to the end of the block to Jackson Street and 4th Avenue S. Continue east along Jackson Street until you reach the International District/Chinatown transit station. There you will find the Link light rail, Line 1, which will take you to Westlake Station. From there follow the directions above to the Seattle Convention Center.
Bus
King County Metro provides buses, light rail, and streetcar options for travel. You can pay directly with cash on the bus, with the Transit Go mobile app, or with an ORCA card. King County Metro has more information on all three transit payment options.
The closest bus stop to the Seattle Convention Center is at Pike Street and 7th Avenue, accessible by lines 3, 10, 11, 12, and 49. The convention center arch will be directly across the street.
Car
There is limited parking available in the downtown core, but parking garages are plentiful. The Seattle Convention Center recommends the Arch Garage, Summit Garage, or Freeway Park Garage. (Note: The Freeway Park Garage is the farthest out, two blocks southeast of the convention center.) If you are willing to park a little farther out, you can find cheaper street parking down by the waterfront. Parking option pricing can vary from $10 to $50/day. Pro tip: use the SpotHero app to make an advance parking reservation.
Traffic Alert: A word to the wise—we have learned that full lane closures are planned on northbound I-5 from I-90 to Northeast 45th Street on –, overlapping the last three days of Worldcon and the following Monday. This may pose challenges and delays for daily convention commuters approaching from the South. The airport is south of the convention center, so travel time from the convention center to the airport may not be appreciably affected (and the best route for this is on light rail). However, it will be best to minimize driving in personal vehicles during this time, or to allow an additional margin of safety to get to your destination.
Bike
The Seattle Department of Transportation provides information on Seattle’s bike- and scooter-sharing options. Electric bikes and scooters are available for rental if you download the appropriate app. You can choose between Bird and Lime. Just be sure to ride safely and park appropriately. You can park your bike in the Arch Garage on the blue level or the Summit Garage on the purple level, or you can access a locking bike stand on Convention Place, 7th Avenue and Pike Street, and on Pike Street in front of the Center. See the Seattle Convention Center’s Parking Garage webpage for more information.
Foot, Wheelchair, or Scooter
For accessibility information for getting around Seattle, we highly recommend AccessMap Seattle, a project by the University of Washington’s Taskar Center for Accessible Technology.
