Driving into Seattle (Tukwila, Pacific, North Bend: renting, live, price)

[PacifistGod]

I was hoping to drive to Seattle from Portland. Does anyone know of a good place to park and take public transportation into the city? I figured it would be easy enough to rely on buses/trains once I got to the city.

[Twitch2]

You could park at the Seatac light rail station and take the lightrail right into the city. I don't know the fares but go to Soundtransit.org website to find them.

[Ira500]

I think it's the Tukwila station that has free parking on the light rail route, around 154th St and Pacific Hwy South.

[mco65]

When I lived in North Bend, we always drove in and parked at the Seattle Center on the North side by the Needle. Then took public transportation throughout the city.

[jorio]

Unless you need the car for a reason, take Amtrak. It's cheaper, more relaxing, and the scenery is unreal. Plus, if you hit traffic, might even be shorter. Certainly not much longer.

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by mco65

When I lived in North Bend, we always drove in and parked at the Seattle Center on the North side by the Needle. Then took public transportation throughout the city.

Parking is ridiculous anywhere in DT Seattle, due to the rules and cost. Evidently it's been awhile since mco's been here.

I agree either park at the Tukwila station and use the LR (roundtrip = $5) **or** take Amtrak from PDX, it pulls right into DT Seattle.

[PacifistGod]

Amtrak sounds like a great idea. I think I'll forgo renting a car and just use the train to travel. Thanks everyone for your help!

[Hemlock140]

How funny, we're driving to Portland from Seattle. We'll stay in the car because parking is pretty easy, even downtown at Powell's.

[eskercurve]

I second taking the Amtrak. Convenient, not so much longer (3.5 hrs versus 3 hours), don't have to worry about price gouging on parking, don't have to worry about car prowling, each station lets you off pretty close to downtown, etc.

Though, I would highly highly recommend researching or bookmarking King Co. Metro's website for the trip planner or use Google maps option for mass transit.

Why? Seattle doesn't have a light rail system like Portland does. Or as easily and understandable a bus system. Or as convenient (I found being able to text a number and know when the next bus is coming to be really cool and a system we lack here). Or as comfortable. In the end if you forgo a car just be sure to know where you want to go and which bus lines will take you there in advance. It's a bigger and therefore more complicated system.