Seattle-Tacoma Airport is the busiest airport in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. More than fifty million passengers use this airport every year. There are direct and connecting flights from this airport to thousands of cities worldwide.
When I first arrived in Seattle, the sky was gray, but the city was anything but gloomy. The cool Pacific air here feels wonderful. You can get to know Seattle best by going up the Space Needle, the city’s symbol, and enjoying the view of Elliott Bay. Right next to it, Chihuly Garden and Glass shows just how extraordinary glass art can be. You can get a better feel for the spirit of the city by heading down to the waterfront and strolling around Pike Place Market. You can follow the path along the Seattle Waterfront for a walk by the water. For a more relaxed and local atmosphere, you can browse the boutique shops in the Capitol Hill neighborhood and enjoy your coffee at the small cafes there. Every day in Seattle will be filled with activities.
Seattle-Tacoma Airport is an international airport located in the town of SeaTac. This airport is approximately 14 miles from downtown Seattle. Seattle-Tacoma Airport is very close to the intersection of the I-5 and SR-518 highways. You can reach downtown Seattle in about 25-35 minutes by car. The airport is 30-45 minutes away from Tacoma.
LINK Light Rail connects the airport directly to Seattle’s busy neighborhoods. You can reach the city center in less than 40 minutes with LINK Light Rail. The train station is on the 4th floor of the parking garage. Trains run every 10-15 minutes.
The King County Metro bus system and Sound Transit regional express buses operate from Seattle-Tacoma Airport. Sound Transit buses run to West Seattle, White Center, Burien, Renton, Newcastle, and Bellevue. Bus route 574 runs to Lakewood via Des Moines, Federal Way, and Tacoma. Taxis at the airport operate 24 hours a day.
Interactive Seattle-Tacoma Airport Map
Seattle-Tacoma Airport Terminal
Seattle-Tacoma Airport has a central terminal. The airport’s four main concourses are connected to this central terminal. Concourse A, Concourse B, Concourse C, and Concourse D are connected to the central terminal. In addition, there are two satellite terminals at the airport: North Satellite (N Gates) and South Satellite (S Gates). To reach these satellite terminals, you must use the underground automated train system. There are a total of 115 gates at the airport.
This is the airport’s main terminal. Check-in is on the 5th floor, and baggage claim is on the 3rd floor.
Konkors A is located in the southeast corner of the terminal. This concourse is reserved for Delta Air Lines and SkyTeam member airlines. Gates A1 through A14 are located here.
Airlines such as Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines use Concourse B. There are 17 gates here.
Concourse C is the heart of Alaska Airlines. Only Alaska Airlines uses this concourse. There are 27 gates here.
Concourse D is used by Alaska Airlines and American Airlines. There are 17 gates in this concourse.
The North Satellite is used by Alaska Airlines. There are 20 gates here. Gates N1-N20 are located here. The South Satellite is used for international flights. British Airways, Japan Airlines, and other international airlines operate their flights from here. There are 14 gates in the South Satellite terminal.
Inside the terminal, there are facilities such as baby care rooms, health and first aid points, multilingual information services, and disabled access. Each terminal has Wi-Fi, restaurants, cafes, shops, and VIP lounges.
Seattle-Tacoma Airport Car Rental
If you want to explore the stunning nature around Seattle, you can rent a car right from Seattle-Tacoma Airport. The city center, home to the Space Needle and Pike Place Market, is approximately 30 minutes away from the airport. In the city center, be prepared for steep hills and rush hour traffic. Mount Rainier National Park is 2 hours away from the airport. A 2.5-hour drive will take you to the world heritage site Olympic National Park. If you want to see the magnificent waters of Snoqualmie Falls, you can get there in just a 45-minute drive.
International car rental companies have offices at Seattle-Tacoma Airport. The rental car offices are located outside the terminal in a separate building. At Sea-Tac, rental car companies are located in a central Rental Car Facility. You can reach this facility via free, 24-hour shuttle buses. Simply board the blue-and-green striped buses at the two different stops located at the baggage claim exits on the north and south sides. A 10-minute ride will take you to the facility where the rental car companies are located.
Hertz, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Dollar, Fox, Alamo, Payless, National, and Sixt operate at Seattle-Tacoma Airport. Avis and Budget are open 24 hours a day, every day of the week. If you are planning a trip to Seattle, especially during the summer months, you should definitely make your car reservation online in advance. It is quite difficult to find a car at the airport during peak seasons.
Seattle-Tacoma Airport VIP Lounge
Seattle-Tacoma Airport has a number of comfortable VIP Lounges that make long waits a pleasure.
The Club at SEA is the most popular lounge area at Seattle-Tacoma Airport. The Club at SEA is located near A Concourse, gate A12. It is open most hours of the day. It offers free Wi-Fi, fresh snacks, and beverage service. There is also a The Club at SEA above gate S10 in the South Concourse.
The United Club is located near gate A9 in Concourse A. It is open from 4:15 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Inside, there are spacious seats, snacks, beverage service, and quiet work areas.
The American Express Centurion Lounge is located on the mezzanine level of the Central Terminal, just above the dining areas. This lounge has a beverage bar, comfortable seating areas, Wi-Fi, and relaxation areas.
The Alaska Lounge serves at three different locations: near gate C16A in Concourse C, above gate N15 on the mezzanine level of the North Satellite, and near gate D1 in Concourse D. Alaska Airlines passengers and relevant program members typically prefer these locations, which are known for their comfortable seating, snacks, and beverage options.
Delta Air Lines Lounges has three separate branches in Terminal A. The Delta Sky Club is near gate A1, the Sky Lounge is near gate A11, and the Delta One Lounge is in the same location.
The British Airways Terraces Lounge, located on the South Satellite side of the terminal, is near Gate S10 in Concourse S. Most lounge areas feature bars where you can sample local Washington wines and panoramic windows offering views of Mount Rainier.
Hotels in Seattle-Tacoma Airport
There are no hotels connected to the terminals at Seattle-Tacoma Airport. However, there are numerous hotels just outside the terminal. Some hotels are within walking distance of the terminal.
The closest hotel to the terminal is the Radisson Hotel Seattle Airport. This hotel is directly across from the airport. You can walk from the hotel to the LINK Light Rail station.
The Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center, Red Lion Hotel Seattle, and Crowne Plaza Seattle Airport are also within a 5-8 minute walk of the airport. The Marriott and Hyatt Regency are located on International Boulevard. If you are looking for a more relaxed and nature-oriented place to stay, you can choose the Cedarbrook Lodge hotel. This hotel is 5 minutes away from the airport.
All hotels located near Seattle-Tacoma Airport offer free Wi-Fi, a restaurant, a fitness center, 24-hour reception, a business center, and meeting rooms. Some hotels have free parking. Each of these hotels offers a 24-hour free shuttle service from the arrivals level of the terminals. When making your hotel reservation, don’t forget to confirm the shuttle times.
Seattle-Tacoma Airport Location
Seattle-Tacoma Airport Address: 17801 International Blvd, SeaTac, WA 98158, United States.
Seattle-Tacoma Airport IATA: SEA.
Seattle-Tacoma Airport ICAO: KSEA.
Satellite view of Seattle-Tacoma Airport. Click to enlarge
Seattle-Tacoma Airport destination map (March 2026). Click to enlarge