Seatac to First Hill
January 8, 2025 8:55 AM Subscribe
What is the cheapest, least confusing, and quickest way (in that order of priority I guess) to get from SeaTac to First Hill? I will arrive at 7 am and need to be at a doctor appointment in First Hill at 10. Thank you!
Cheapest:
Catch the light rail from SeaTac (assuming you mean the airport) to the Pioneer Square light rail station. Walk NE on Cherry Street to the First Hill area -- specifics depend on doctor location, but that'll get you to the general area.
There's a somewhat steep hill up Cherry which may affect your walk. If you don't mind a little extra complexity, try this:
Catch the light rail from SeaTac to the International District light rail station. Exit the station and walk a few hundred feet east on Jackson to the First Hill streetcar stop; get on the streetcar and chug on over to First Hill. This is pretty convenient for the hospitals up there.
Public transit will be cheaper but slower than a taxi in this situation. I'd estimate about an hour and a half (allowing for delays) for the options I've listed; a taxi would get you there much more quickly.
posted by Bryant at 9:04 AM on January 8 [1 favorite]
Catch the light rail from SeaTac (assuming you mean the airport) to the Pioneer Square light rail station. Walk NE on Cherry Street to the First Hill area -- specifics depend on doctor location, but that'll get you to the general area.
There's a somewhat steep hill up Cherry which may affect your walk. If you don't mind a little extra complexity, try this:
Catch the light rail from SeaTac to the International District light rail station. Exit the station and walk a few hundred feet east on Jackson to the First Hill streetcar stop; get on the streetcar and chug on over to First Hill. This is pretty convenient for the hospitals up there.
Public transit will be cheaper but slower than a taxi in this situation. I'd estimate about an hour and a half (allowing for delays) for the options I've listed; a taxi would get you there much more quickly.
posted by Bryant at 9:04 AM on January 8 [1 favorite]
+1 to Bryant's cheapest suggestion, with two additions:
1.If you're walking and you're arriving in the winter months, plan for rain.
2. Keep an eye on the Sound Transit Link Light Rail service bulletins -- there's a lot of upcoming Link maintenance that may disrupt your schedule.
posted by Sauce Trough at 9:10 AM on January 8 [1 favorite]
1.If you're walking and you're arriving in the winter months, plan for rain.
2. Keep an eye on the Sound Transit Link Light Rail service bulletins -- there's a lot of upcoming Link maintenance that may disrupt your schedule.
posted by Sauce Trough at 9:10 AM on January 8 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Yes, I mean the airport. Sorry. And I'm basically asking what is the most reasonable option for me here. If it's a car, then it's a car, but I know that will be the most expensive.
posted by HotToddy at 9:16 AM on January 8
posted by HotToddy at 9:16 AM on January 8
Google Maps can give you directions including public transportation routes, just plug in where you want to go. Whether public transportation will work for you will depend on how much walking you're willing/able to do.
posted by inkyz at 9:24 AM on January 8
posted by inkyz at 9:24 AM on January 8
Response by poster: Okay this route is what Google Maps is telling me and seems to match Bryant's suggestion. I don't think the Lynnwood Station issue would affect me but can someone please check that I'm not being stupid? I'm very stressed and find this all confusing.
posted by HotToddy at 9:29 AM on January 8
posted by HotToddy at 9:29 AM on January 8
Bryant's route /that map is the route I'd take, though depending on how comfortable you are with walking up inclines the alternate Google Maps suggests where you take the 1 line to Pioneer Square station & hop on the 40 to get up the hill would be a good option.
(or if you really want to be sure you get right there, take the 1 to Pioneer Square station, then get a taxi from that station to the office. More expensive than taking public transit the whole way but *much* cheaper than taking a private car from the airport)
If they do announce light-rail maintenance that would overlap with your trip, what that means is you would still ride it as far north as you can and then at a point they would have you swap to a shuttle-bus which would stop at each of the light rail stations. So either way, you should be alright.
posted by CrystalDave at 9:42 AM on January 8 [3 favorites]
(or if you really want to be sure you get right there, take the 1 to Pioneer Square station, then get a taxi from that station to the office. More expensive than taking public transit the whole way but *much* cheaper than taking a private car from the airport)
If they do announce light-rail maintenance that would overlap with your trip, what that means is you would still ride it as far north as you can and then at a point they would have you swap to a shuttle-bus which would stop at each of the light rail stations. So either way, you should be alright.
posted by CrystalDave at 9:42 AM on January 8 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: I can walk just fine, I'm mostly worried about making it there in time.
posted by HotToddy at 9:45 AM on January 8
posted by HotToddy at 9:45 AM on January 8
Just to note the somewhat steep hill from pioneer square is over 100ft elevation gain in a handful of blocks. I'm fairly in shape, but overweight and I am uncomfortably sweaty by the time I'm at the doctor's office on even a chilly day.
I mean I do it anyway, but I wouldn't want you to get caught by surprise. Public transport with the light rail to a city bus should be plenty fine though unless your plane is significantly late.
posted by Zalzidrax at 10:25 AM on January 8
I mean I do it anyway, but I wouldn't want you to get caught by surprise. Public transport with the light rail to a city bus should be plenty fine though unless your plane is significantly late.
posted by Zalzidrax at 10:25 AM on January 8
visited Seattle this past summer and the light rail from the airport is straightforward and quick into downtown (although the actual airport station is shockingly far distance from the airport terminal i.e. wear you walking shoes). During our trip into the city we encountered a maintenance event and the resolution was just as CrystalDave mentioned. In our case the train stopped at the station by the football field. We were ushered off the train into a series of buses and they drove the train route stopping near each of the subsequent rail stations. No drama and there were lots of transit employees around if you had questions.
7am landing -> 10am appointment strikes me as plenty of time that you won't be sweating it.
posted by mmascolino at 10:29 AM on January 8
7am landing -> 10am appointment strikes me as plenty of time that you won't be sweating it.
posted by mmascolino at 10:29 AM on January 8
You have plenty of time to take light rail and then walk or bus from downtown to first hill. It will take 1.5-2 hours. Be sure to budget for time to find the right office once you get to the building… the medical buildings of first hill are labyrinthine
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 10:52 AM on January 8
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 10:52 AM on January 8
You could also taxi/uber from the ID station. That would be significantly cheaper than a ride all the way from the airport, but less exhausting and time consuming, and you'd probably miss a lot of the Amazon RTO traffic, which is apparently really making things tough on the 5 in the mornings.
posted by pazazygeek at 12:10 PM on January 8 [1 favorite]
posted by pazazygeek at 12:10 PM on January 8 [1 favorite]
If your flight is delayed and time is short, I'd recommend going to the taxi stand in the parking garage. It's a flat rate to downtown and taxis will be lined up, so it's generally cheaper and faster than uber. But as others said, unless there's a delay you should have plenty of time for transit. The airport signage is pretty clear for both.
If you do take transit and especially you're spending more time in Seattle, I'd recommend getting an Orca card. It's the only way to transfer from train to bus without paying for both. You can buy one at any Link station or online.
posted by davidest at 1:14 PM on January 8 [1 favorite]
If you do take transit and especially you're spending more time in Seattle, I'd recommend getting an Orca card. It's the only way to transfer from train to bus without paying for both. You can buy one at any Link station or online.
posted by davidest at 1:14 PM on January 8 [1 favorite]
I would also consider taking the light rail a little farther to the Symphony station, which is a level two blocks from the RapidRide G bus that goes up Madison through the First Hill hospitals. It might drop you closer to your doctor.
Getting an orca card for transfers is fast and also transferring between modes often doesn’t cost any extra.
posted by clew at 2:07 PM on January 8 [3 favorites]
Getting an orca card for transfers is fast and also transferring between modes often doesn’t cost any extra.
posted by clew at 2:07 PM on January 8 [3 favorites]
The light rail from the airport is easy and I find it to usually be as fast/faster and almost always more relaxing than driving or taking a taxi into Seattle.
As an alternative to the bus after the light rail and what I would do as someone who can only handle so much brainpower on a travel day: take the light rail to the Symphony Station stop at University and 3rd Ave, then catch a taxi/Lyft/Uber to Swedish from there. It eliminates needing to worry about finding the right bus line and getting off at the right spot. If those things feel like no biggie to you, the light rail to the bus suggested on Google Maps is a good option!
It is a shorter trip to the Symphony station to Swedish on First Hill than the Mt Baker stop on the Google itinerary you linked to above, so it will take about ten minutes and be a fairly inexpensive ride, from $10-25 depending on the app you use and how much you tip. You can schedule a taxi in the Uber app, which is the cheapest option. (In case you’re looking at a map and noticing that there is a light rail stop before Symphony: while the Pioneer Square stop is a bit closer to First Hill, the Symphony stop is a more pleasant and easier spot to wait to catch an taxi/Uber/Lyft; the International District (ID) stop mentioned above is another option that is close but in a busier area.)
Additional info: are you checking a bag? Seatac’s baggage claim can be very slow and worth avoiding if you can. And heed mmasculino’s warning about the distance from leaving the airport to the light rail. It’s a decently long walk! And the signage leaves something to be desired, in my opinion. If you’d like some info on getting to the light rail from the terminal with good pictures, this is a really nice overview for getting to downtown from SeaTac and I think the cost estimates are still pretty accurate, it also includes some tips on using the Orca card system used to pay for public transit in Seattle.
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 2:07 PM on January 8 [1 favorite]
As an alternative to the bus after the light rail and what I would do as someone who can only handle so much brainpower on a travel day: take the light rail to the Symphony Station stop at University and 3rd Ave, then catch a taxi/Lyft/Uber to Swedish from there. It eliminates needing to worry about finding the right bus line and getting off at the right spot. If those things feel like no biggie to you, the light rail to the bus suggested on Google Maps is a good option!
It is a shorter trip to the Symphony station to Swedish on First Hill than the Mt Baker stop on the Google itinerary you linked to above, so it will take about ten minutes and be a fairly inexpensive ride, from $10-25 depending on the app you use and how much you tip. You can schedule a taxi in the Uber app, which is the cheapest option. (In case you’re looking at a map and noticing that there is a light rail stop before Symphony: while the Pioneer Square stop is a bit closer to First Hill, the Symphony stop is a more pleasant and easier spot to wait to catch an taxi/Uber/Lyft; the International District (ID) stop mentioned above is another option that is close but in a busier area.)
Additional info: are you checking a bag? Seatac’s baggage claim can be very slow and worth avoiding if you can. And heed mmasculino’s warning about the distance from leaving the airport to the light rail. It’s a decently long walk! And the signage leaves something to be desired, in my opinion. If you’d like some info on getting to the light rail from the terminal with good pictures, this is a really nice overview for getting to downtown from SeaTac and I think the cost estimates are still pretty accurate, it also includes some tips on using the Orca card system used to pay for public transit in Seattle.
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 2:07 PM on January 8 [1 favorite]
Catch the light rail from SeaTac to the International District light rail station. Exit the station and walk a few hundred feet east on Jackson to the First Hill streetcar stop; get on the streetcar and chug on over to First Hill. This is pretty convenient for the hospitals up there.
This is definitely the cheapest... a car will run you north of $50, maybe closer to $75. It goes right by the main ones - the operator will be happy to tell you.
Oh, and don't worry about the construction. That's way north of where you're going.
Catch the light rail from SeaTac to the International District light rail station. Exit the station...
...and call a uber/lyft/cab. This certainly will get you to the main entrance faster.
Ballparking travel times, I think that landing at 7 means you are on a train at 7:30, which will arrive at ID station at say 8:15. Then hop over to the trolley you are on first hill by 8:40 easily, I'd say. Even allowing 20 extra minutes of waiting, looking up directions, etc, I think you're clear there. But if you're at all worried, just take the train and then a car. You'll still save $50 or so. Treat yourself to a nice lunch after! I hope the appointment goes well, good luck!
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 11:14 PM on January 8
This is definitely the cheapest... a car will run you north of $50, maybe closer to $75. It goes right by the main ones - the operator will be happy to tell you.
Oh, and don't worry about the construction. That's way north of where you're going.
Catch the light rail from SeaTac to the International District light rail station. Exit the station...
...and call a uber/lyft/cab. This certainly will get you to the main entrance faster.
Ballparking travel times, I think that landing at 7 means you are on a train at 7:30, which will arrive at ID station at say 8:15. Then hop over to the trolley you are on first hill by 8:40 easily, I'd say. Even allowing 20 extra minutes of waiting, looking up directions, etc, I think you're clear there. But if you're at all worried, just take the train and then a car. You'll still save $50 or so. Treat yourself to a nice lunch after! I hope the appointment goes well, good luck!
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 11:14 PM on January 8
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posted by inkyz at 9:01 AM on January 8