Navigating to the Seattle Convention Center Arch, located on Pike Street in the heart of Seattle, WA, is a breeze with a multitude of transportation options available. Whether you’re attending a conference, exhibition, or event at this premier venue, understanding your parking and transportation choices is key to a stress-free visit. This guide provides comprehensive information to help you plan your journey to the Seattle Convention Center Arch, ensuring you arrive on time and ready to enjoy your experience.
Parking Options at Seattle Convention Center Arch
For those driving to the Seattle Convention Center Arch, convenient parking is available at the Arch parking garages. These garages are strategically located just off Interstate 5, providing easy access for drivers. With a substantial capacity of approximately 1,490 vehicles, the Arch Garage and the adjacent Freeway Park Garage offer ample parking solutions for daily and monthly parkers. The Arch Garage is directly connected to the SCC Arch building, making it an exceptionally convenient choice for attendees. Summit Garage, while slightly smaller, also provides daily parking options and is another viable choice depending on event location and availability.
For detailed information regarding parking at the Seattle Convention Center garages, including precise directions, operating hours, current parking rates, and options for monthly parking passes, please visit the official Parking Garage Information page.
To further streamline your parking experience, you can also reserve your parking spot in advance through SpotHero. This service allows you to secure convenient and affordable parking near the Seattle Convention Center Arch ahead of your visit, eliminating any last-minute parking concerns. Visit the Seattle Convention Center SpotHero Parking Page to book your parking spot today.
Public Transportation: Link Light Rail
Seattle’s efficient public transportation system offers excellent alternatives to driving. Sound Transit’s Link light rail is a fantastic option for reaching the Seattle Convention Center Arch. The light rail line runs from Angle Lake Station all the way to Northgate station, making a total of 16 stops throughout the city, crucially including downtown Seattle. For those arriving at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA Airport), the light rail provides a direct and cost-effective connection to the city center. The journey between SEA Airport and Westlake Station in downtown Seattle takes approximately 40 minutes, with trains arriving frequently, every 8 to 15 minutes depending on the time of day.
Link Light Rail Schedule:
- Monday-Saturday: 5:00am–1:43am (last northbound train from Westlake Station to the airport departs at 11:44pm)
- Sunday: 6:00am–12:34am (last northbound train from Westlake Station to the airport departs at 11:14pm)
Link Light Rail Adult Fare:
- $2.25-$3.25 (using ORCA cards) – Learn More About Fares
For more detailed schedules and route information, please visit the official Sound Transit website.
Public Transportation: King County Metro Transit Buses
King County Metro Transit provides extensive bus services throughout downtown Seattle and the wider King County area. Buses are a convenient and readily available option for navigating to the Seattle Convention Center Arch from various points in the city and surrounding neighborhoods. With numerous routes serving the downtown core, you can easily find a bus that will get you close to your destination.
King County Metro Transit Schedule:
- Detailed timetables and comprehensive route maps are available on the King County Metro Transit website. Utilize their trip planner tool to find the best bus routes and schedules for your specific starting point.
King County Metro Transit Adult Fare:
- $2.75-$3.25 (using ORCA cards) – More Fare Information
Visit kingcounty.gov for complete details on bus routes, fares, and service alerts.
ORCA Cards: Your Ticket to Seamless Transit
For ease of use across various public transportation options in Seattle, consider purchasing an ORCA card. These reloadable transit passes can be used on streetcars, light rail, buses, and even the Seattle Monorail. ORCA cards themselves cost $3.00, and you can load them with various fares, including an all-day regional transit pass for $8.00. A standard transit pass value covers rides up to $3.50 per ride. ORCA cards simplify payment and make hopping between different modes of transport effortless.
Learn more and purchase your ORCA card at myorca.com.
Seattle Streetcars: Explore South Lake Union and First Hill
Seattle’s streetcar system offers two distinct lines that can be useful depending on your origin and final destination near the Seattle Convention Center Arch.
South Lake Union Streetcar
The South Lake Union Streetcar line is excellent for connecting the vibrant South Lake Union neighborhood to the downtown core, where the Convention Center Arch is located. This line stretches 1.3 miles and includes nine stops, passing through an area filled with shops, restaurants, and the scenic 12-acre waterfront park on Lake Union. While it doesn’t directly serve the Arch, it can be a convenient option if you are coming from or exploring the South Lake Union area.
South Lake Union Streetcar Schedule:
- Monday-Friday: 6am-9pm
- Saturday: 7am-9pm
- Sunday & Holidays: 10am-7pm
- No service on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
First Hill Streetcar
The First Hill Streetcar line offers connections to other major transit systems, potentially making it useful for reaching the Seattle Convention Center Arch indirectly. This 2.5-mile line with 10 stops connects to the Link light rail at Capitol Hill and International District stations, the Sounder Commuter Rail and Amtrak intercity rail at King Street Station, and King County Metro Transit buses at numerous points along its route.
First Hill Streetcar Schedule:
- Monday-Friday: 5am-10:30pm
- Saturday: 6am-10:30pm
- Sunday & Holidays: 10am-8pm
Seattle Streetcar Adult Fare:
- $2.25 (coins, credit, ORCA cards)
- $4.50 (all-day pass) – More Fare Information
For more information on streetcar routes and schedules, visit seattle.gov/transportation/getting-around/transit/streetcar.
Seattle Center Monorail: A Direct Link from Downtown
The iconic Seattle Center Monorail provides a rapid and direct connection between Westlake Center in downtown Seattle and Seattle Center, situated at the base of Queen Anne Hill. While Seattle Center itself is a bit north of the Convention Center Arch, the Monorail can be a fun and quick way to travel between these two points, especially if you are combining a visit to the Convention Center with exploring Seattle Center attractions. The trip takes only 2 minutes each way, with trains departing every 10 minutes.
Seattle Center Monorail Schedule:
- Monday-Thursday: 7:30am-9:00pm
- Friday: 7:30am-11:00pm
- Saturday: 8:30am-11:00pm
- Sunday: 8:30am-9:00pm
Seattle Center Monorail Fare:
- $3.00 (one way; ORCA cards accepted)
Further details, schedules, and FAQs are available on the Seattle Center Monorail website.
Taxis, Limos, Town Cars & Ride Sharing Services
For direct and personalized transportation, taxis, limousines, town cars, and ride-sharing services like Lyft and Uber are readily available in Seattle. At SEA Airport, taxi and ride-sharing pick-up points are located on the third floor of the parking garage. One-way fares between the airport and downtown Seattle typically range from $40-$55.
In downtown Seattle, ride-sharing apps (Lyft, Uber) and metered taxis offer convenient in-city transportation directly to the Seattle Convention Center Arch. All rides can be easily scheduled using smartphone apps, providing on-demand transportation whenever you need it. For pre-arranged limo, town car, or taxi services, utilize the traveler information boards in baggage claim at SEA Airport or visit the ground transportation information booth on the third floor of the parking garage.
Rental Cars & Car Sharing Options
If you prefer the flexibility of having your own vehicle, rental cars are available at SEA Airport and various downtown Seattle locations. All car rental companies at SEA Airport operate from an off-site rental car facility, with dedicated shuttle buses running 24/7 from outside baggage claim. Downtown car rental locations offer an alternative if you wish to utilize public transit upon arrival and rent a car later.
For shorter-term vehicle needs, consider car sharing services like Zipcar (hourly rentals) or GIG Car Share (per-minute rentals). These services can be convenient for quick trips around the city.
Shuttle and Courtesy Vehicles
Various shuttle services, including door-to-door vans and airport shuttles, are available at the Ground Transportation Plaza on the third floor of the SEA Airport parking garage. Premier Airport Shuttle Seattle offers shared and private shuttle services to downtown Seattle hotels, with fares starting from $33 per person, and also provides scheduled transfers for Seattle cruise ship passengers. Many hotels also offer courtesy shuttles, with pick-up and drop-off points on the 3rd floor of the airport parking garage at Islands 1 & 2. Check with your hotel to see if they offer this service.
Bike & Scooter Sharing: Explore Seattle on Two Wheels
Seattle is a bike and scooter-friendly city, offering an enjoyable and eco-friendly way to get around. Ride-sharing apps like Uber integrate bike and scooter rentals. Simply open your Uber app and select the ‘2-Wheels’ option to find and reserve nearby Lime bikes or scooters. Rentals typically start at $1, with per-minute rates thereafter. These dockless rentals are electric-assist, providing a boost of up to 15mph. VEO’s Cosmo-e bikes offer another excellent option, suitable for various physical abilities, with both pedal and throttle options.
Electric scooters from companies like Bird, Superpedestrian, and SPIN are also widely available throughout Seattle, offering another app-based transportation mode.
Free Helmets: Adult-sized helmets are available for free at two locations within the Seattle Convention Center during regular business hours.
Travel by Rail: Arriving at King Street Station
For those arriving in Seattle by train, King Street Station is conveniently located just south of downtown. Five train routes serve this station:
- Sound Transit’s Sounder Commuter Train: Connects Everett (north of Seattle) to Lakewood (south of Tacoma).
- Amtrak Coast Starlight: Routes between Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles.
- Amtrak Cascades: Routes between Vancouver, BC; Seattle; Tacoma; Portland; Salem; and Eugene.
- Amtrak Empire Builder: Routes between Chicago; Minneapolis/St. Paul; Spokane; Portland; and Seattle.
- Rocky Mountaineer: Offers luxury travel between Seattle; Vancouver, BC; and the Canadian Rockies.
King Street Station is well-connected to downtown Seattle and public transportation options, making it easy to reach the Seattle Convention Center Arch from the station.
For any further assistance or guidance on transportation to the Seattle Convention Center Arch on Pike Street, please email us. We are here to help you plan your visit and ensure smooth travels.
