How to Ride Link Light Rail

Seattle’s public transportation network includes a fairly extensive fleet of buses, a monorail, the South Lake Union Streetcar and Link Light Rail. While the light rail doesn’t crisscross the city, Link is fabulously useful and easy to use. Parking lots are located at some stations so you can park and ride, making this a great way to avoid traffic driving into Seattle from the south or from as far north as the University of Washington. Trains run every 7 to 15 minutes, so you never have to wait long either.

Link is one of several modes of public transportation between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Seattle. If you don’t have a ride to the airport, Link is far, far cheaper than taking a taxi or parking at the airport, and the ride is short and pleasant. Yes, you'll need to at least get to one of the Link stations (listed below), but those are located throughout Seattle and surrounding communities so a quick Uber or bus ride is an easy way to get to one, or having someone drop you off.

The trains make several stops, including near CenturyLink Field and Safeco Stadium, so Link is a great way to get to the stadiums on game days, too.

Link also has a line in Tacoma that runs between the Tacoma Dome and Theater District, but this line is called the Tacoma Link…and it’s free!

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Where to Park

Tukwila International Blvd Station — Kristin Kendle

Not all stations have a free place for you to park, or parking at all, so check ahead if you need to park.

Two stations offer ample free parking - Angel Lake Station at 19955 28th Ave South and Tukwila International Boulevard Station at 15426 35th Ave S, with 1160 and 600 parking spaces respectively. For those heading north for sports games, these lots can and do fill up so arrive early.

If you're heading to the Seatac/Airport Station, be aware there is only paid parking near the station. It's better to park one station away at Tukwila as the ride from Tukwila to the airport station is only a few minutes.

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Link Stations

Angel Lake - 19955 28th Ave South
SeaTac Airport - International Blvd & S 176th Street
Tukwila International Boulevard (near International Boulevard and 154^th)
Rainier Beach - 9132 Martin Luther King Jr Way S.
Othello - 7100 Martin Luther King Jr Way S.
Columbia City - 4818 Martin Luther King Jr Way S.
Mount Baker – Rainier Avenue S. near S. Forest Street
Beacon Hill - Beacon Avenue S. & S. McClellan Street
SODO - 500 S. Lander Street
Stadium - 501 S. Royal Brougham Way
International District/Chinatown – 5^th and S. Jackson
Pioneer Square – 3^rd and James, Seattle
University Square – 3^rd and Seneca, Seattle
Westlake – 4^th and Pine, Seattle
Capitol Hill - near Broadway and E John
University of Washington - near Husky Stadium

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How to Buy Tickets

If you have an Orca card, all you’ll need to do is find one of the yellow Orca card readers located near platform entrances and exits. You must tap your Orca card on the card reader before you get on the train as well as after you get off.

If you don’t have an Orca card, you can also pay with cash or credit cards using machines located at each station. Machines are easy to use:

Select your method of payment – cash, card or Orca/ePurse
Select if you’re buying a one-way fare or day pass
Select which station you’re going to. If you’re buying a day pass, select the farthest you plan to go on your trip.
Insert your payment method of choice and out pop your tickets or passes.

Once you have a ticket, you don’t have to scan them or put them through any validation machines, but make sure to keep them on you (especially if you have a day pass—don’t lose it!) as there’s a large fine if you don’t have a ticket or Orca card.

Day passes are a great deal if you have more than one stop to make or if you are attending an event and need to get back onto the Link later. One-way fares vary depending on where you're start and end points are—longer journeys have slightly higher fares than shorter journeys.