Tacoma from Seattle
Four ways south, and what to do when you land.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is in the city of SeaTac, between Seattle and Tacoma. Despite the name, the airport is not in Tacoma.
Procedures, pickup areas, fares and timetables are the airport's and the operators'. Links last checked September 18, 2026.
SEA connects to the regional transit network, and Tacoma is reached by continuing south to Tacoma Dome Station, where the T Line and local buses take over. The airport publishes its own step-by-step transit directions from the terminal, and Sound Transit's trip planner is the right tool for the date and time you land.
Rental companies operate from the airport's consolidated rental facility, reached by the airport's own shuttle from the terminal. A car makes Point Defiance, the shoreline and Mount Rainier practical; it also means parking downtown and, on some routes south, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge toll.
Rideshare and taxi pickup at SEA happens in designated areas signed inside the terminal, and those locations change from time to time — follow the airport's current signage and page rather than an old blog post. Cost varies with demand, so it is the flexible option rather than the predictable one.
Tacoma is south of the airport on I-5, and the trip is short in distance but entirely dependent on traffic — which is why we do not print a drive time. Check conditions before you leave the airport.
About half a day, on foot, in one district
The compact version: stay on the downtown waterfront and walk between stops rather than moving the car. Good for a stop between Seattle and the airport, or a short break from a bigger trip.
First · Step 1
Begin at the hot shop on the Thea Foss Waterway, then walk the bridge back toward downtown. Check opening days on the museum's own site before you set out.
Downtown
A waterfront museum built around a working glass studio, connected to downtown by the Chihuly Bridge of Glass.
DirectionsDowntown
A pedestrian bridge installation linking downtown Tacoma with the waterfront museum area.
DirectionsThen · Step 2
Pick a single second museum rather than trying to see the cluster. They sit within a short walk of each other, so the choice is about interest, not distance.
Downtown
A mid-size art museum in the Museum District with a focus on Northwest artists.
DirectionsA state history museum in downtown Tacoma's museum district, next to Union Station.
DirectionsBefore you go · Step 3
Finish with lunch or coffee downtown and a look at the historic station building nearby. Leave margin for traffic if you are continuing to the airport.
Downtown
A restored 1911 railway station in the Museum District, notable for its rotunda and glass installations.
DirectionsDowntown
A flat waterside path along the Thea Foss Waterway, linking the museum cluster with marinas and viewpoints.
DirectionsOpening days, admission and last departures are set by each venue and operator, not by us — check the links on each place page before you set out.